Planet Weather for the Week of September 27, 2009

NewsBits: Patrick Swayze. Patrick Swayze died of pancreatic cancer on September 14, 2009, 20 months after being diagnosed. He was 57. Swayze was born on 8/18/52 @ 8:10AM, Houston, Texas. In looking at his chart we find 4 planets: Moon, Mercury, Pluto and Sun, and the South Node in fiery, creatively expressive Leo. We also find Mars strong in water Scorpio opposite Jupiter in earthy Taurus. This 180 degree aspect is square (90deg.) to the Leo cluster of planets making a dynamic pattern that packs a powerful punch, is set in its ways, tending to stubbornness, but also loyalty, and impact.

Swayze was an actor, dancer, singer and song-writer. He rose to fame with the films Dirty-Dancing and Ghost, and was subsequently named sexiest man alive by People magazine in 1991. The pattern discussed above is called a T-square and certainly creates charisma and attention. It is bold and big. It is also a pattern that tends to addiction (Mars/Scorpio opposite Jupiter/Taurus) with difficulty in changing habits (fixed Moon/Leo). Swayze was a lifelong smoker. He was also deeply loving. He met his wife when he was 18 and remained married to her until his death.

When he was first diagnosed with cancer, Neptune/Aquarius was opposite his Pluto/Leo, which often indicates a breaking down of systems. He seemed to rally for a while when Jupiter/Capricorn formed a grand trine with his Venus/Virgo, Ascendant and his Jupiter/Taurus. However, a year later, in January 2009, when Jupiter entered Aquarius and exaggerated the dissipation and breakdown of his immune system via Neptune/Aquarius, new tumors formed and spread to other organs in his body. By the summer of 2009, Neptune had reached an opposition to his Leo Sun and sapped his remaining vitality. When he died both Neptune and Jupiter were opposite several planets in his Leo cluster and Saturn/Virgo opposite Uranus/Pisces, (the background 5-part condition we’ve been discussing in Planet Weather) was straddling his Ascendant/Descendant axis (the horizon of the chart). It was time to move on. He was fortunate to make his transition with loved ones at his side.

SkyWatch:  Moon phase of the week: There are no Moon-phase changes this week! This is one of those rare weeks when the Moon remains in a single phase (in this case First Quarter) from Sunday through Saturday. Look for the famous Harvest Moon to start the following week off on a positive note! Skywatching events of the week: Mercury is approaching what is called His "greatest Western elongation" during the following week as well. This is as far ahead of the Sun as Mercury gets. It occurs when Mercury reaches a retrograde station, ceasing apparent backwards ("retrograde") motion along the Zodiac (an illusion caused by the relative orbital motions of Earth and Mercury -- Mercury does not actually move backwards in space) and resuming "direct in motion". During this period Mercury rises ahead of the Sun and is visible low in the East before dawn for about a week before and after. Space news of the week: Data from an Indian lunar probe recently confirmed previous evidence provided by US probes that there is water ice on the Moon, locked up in the lunar soil. This is good news for US plans eventually to establish a permanent Moon base (realistically, sometime in the 2020's). Go out! Look up!

Knowing when VOC Moons occur is key to planning your successful week!

                                                                      

The Void-of-course (VOC) Moon is a kind of limbo. As it reaches the end of a sign, the Moon makes no major aspect to another planet before it enters the next sign. VOC is best for less outcome-oriented activity, since VOC often means detours, distractions, drifting, or delays. If you want specific outcomes, or if timeliness is critical, don’t use a VOC Moon time. VOC is best for processing, imagining, creating, and open-ended activities, like parties, research, or cleaning your desk/closet for instance! It is said that when a new action is initiated during VOC, “nothing will come of it,” or energies go in unplanned directions, which may not necessarily be negative.

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Week of 9/27/09 – Sunday, Tuesday, and Friday are the most active energetically and potentially very productive days – more Moon or planetary aspects for engagement with others or projects, and/or producing results. Tuesday could be challenging or erratic because Mercury turns direct that day. On 9/27/09, the Moon is VOC/Capricorn from 11:33PM to 7:07AM EDT (next day!) – On 9/30/09, the Moon is VOC/Aquarius from 7:35AM to 7:26PM EDT – On 10/2/09, the Moon is VOC/Pisces from 11:29PM  to 5:21AM EDT (next day!)

 

Planet Patterns & Cosmic Headlines for the next few weeks:

 

Summary: Mercury turns direct on Tuesday morning (EDT), expect some delays or dissonance.

 

*Mercury Turns Stationary Direct on 9/29/09 @ 21 Virgo. Mercury turned Stationary Retrograde (Rx) @ 6 Libra on 9/7/09, and re-entered the previous sign, Virgo on 9/17/09. We will have completed the third full Mercury retrograde of 2009. The next one begins on 12/26/09, and ends in January 2010.

 

It’s always useful to review what arose for you during the Mercury retrograde cycle. What did you find, what did you uncover, what did you realize you needed to address? Perhaps something was swept under the rug the first time around. If so, and if it’s important, it will haunt you during the retrograde and as we emerge from the technical retrograde cycle, you may have a clearer sense of things. If you’ve paid attention, you could have reached some greater nuances about issues that you’ve been working on or those that have been gnawing at you. Mercury retrograde is a wonderful processing time and exaggerates all frustrations that already exist, especially those in relationship or work/career and what isn’t working in your primary relationships – because the retrograde is in the signs of Libra and Virgo.

 

Mercury passed the first so-called “shadow point” of 21 Virgo on 8/17/09, the degree at which it turns direct again after its retrogradation, and this is often called the “shoulder” part of the retrograde cycle, bracketed by the two shadow points (Rx and Direct) occurring before the actual (technical) retrograde begins. The full retrograde cycle lasts from 8/17/09 until 10/14/09, when Mercury in direct motion again passes its retrograde (second) shadow point @ 6 Libra.

 

Currently Active Paradigm-Shift Patterns:

 

Saturn in mutable, earth Virgo opposite (180 deg. angle) Uranus in mutable, water Pisces, Part 3 of 5 was exact on 9/15/09 @ 24degrees. We’ve discussed this lengthy cycle regularly since it began on 11/4/08. Technically, it ends in July 2010. This powerful five-part confrontation between the past (Saturn) and the future (Uranus) is disintegrative, after tension and struggle between the old pattern and the new consciousness that wants to arise. As you’ve noted in the news and surely also in your own lives, it’s not often a pretty picture. It is a powerfully challenging series of cosmic combinations. The sign pair, Virgo/Pisces, I call the functional axis – meaning that if this place in the chart (yours or a country’s) has a problem, the whole system has a problem. Virgo/Pisces is the health of the body and soul – one’s work and the meaning (or not) attached to your work or career. Or, put another way, this pairing symbolizes the mundane and the spiritual (soul) aspects of life. These two parts must find a balance or else there is stress. The most obvious example in the news is the healthcare issue. It’s also about the accumulation of little things, the endless irritations that pile up and eventually break the smooth functioning of a system. Part Two of this combination took place on 2/5/09 @ 20 deg. The first four oppositions between these two planets take place in the signs Virgo/Pisces, and the last one in the sign pair Aries/Libra.

 

*Jupiter in fixed air Aquarius conjoined (0deg.) Neptune/Aquarius for the second time @ 26 deg. on 7/10/09. Jupiter and Neptune are still in the throes of their second conjunction – still hovering very close to each other by degree. The first of three conjunctions (meeting in the same sign and at the same degree) between these two planets took place on 5/27/09, and the third and last takes place on 12/21/09. As noted in previous issues of PW, it is rare (and important) to have these two planets that meet by conjunction about every 12 years, make this aspect three separate times in their single cycle. The last triple occurrence of this kind was in 1919-1920, marking the end of World War 1. The next time will be in 2047 –2048! This conjunction is meant to bring hope and to inspire us to a wider understanding of what the meaning is of the lives we have lived and wish to continue to live. It also speaks to our false hope and pet illusions that we must understand with greater internal or soul wisdom. Expect some amazing synchronicity to appear in your life. Be aware of all meetings with others, events and involvements, and what these may evoke in you, and if these meetings and events support the purpose and/or direction and overall dream you have for your life.