Planet Weather for the Week of October 4, 2009

NewsBits: This and That! – This week David Letterman dealt with bribery and had to admit the truth about his numerous affairs with staffers. Ho-hum, are we all that surprised? And how’s that for a post-Mercury Rx story? Things do emerge that were previously hidden when Mercury retraces its path.

Mercury Rx was part of the story but the real kicker was Pluto returning to and making a station @ 0 Capricorn recently (9/11//09) and exactly squaring Letterman’s Mars @ 0 Aries. My guess is that the briber was making plans for his presentation of facts and photos to Letterman at least since Pluto entered Capricorn the first time end of January 2008. Pluto contacting Mars stimulates unconscious material and brings it up to be purged or sorted in various ways. It registers strongly in the life, since it never repeats itself in the same way in a lifetime to any one birth planet. Pluto contacting Mars pushes strongly against one’s actions, energy or sexuality and somehow transforms one’s understanding of actions, goals, and direction.

David Letterman was born on April 12, 1947 @ 6AM, Indianapolis, Indiana (Rodden data accuracy rating A). This data gives him an Aries Sun with Moon in Capricorn and Taurus rising. Letterman’s chart has also been besieged by the powerful Saturn-opposite-Uranus aspect we’ve been following since well before its first exact occurrence on 11/4/08. Letterman has Mercury/Pisces opposite Jupiter/Virgo and the Saturn/Uranus aspect in the sky is sitting right on top of those planets in Letterman’s birth chart.

SkyWatch:  Moon phase of the week: 10/4 -- The Moon reaches perfect Fullness at 2:10 AM EDT, at 11 degrees of Aries. This is the famous Harvest Moon we've all been waiting for. Why it has the romantic reputation it does (“Shine on, shine on, Harvest Moon, for me an' my gal,” etc., etc., etc.) is somewhat unclear. Maybe it's because, astrologically, Venus rules the sign Libra, which is always where the Sun is during this (by definition) first Full Moon after the Fall Equinox. Skywatching events of the week: 10/6 -- Mercury reaches its greatest eastern elongation, meaning Mercury rises as far ahead of the Sun as it ever gets, so look low in the East about an hour before sunrise for a rare glimpse of the Starry Messenger. 10/8 -- The Draconid Meteor Shower peaks about 3 AM EDT, with the meteor streaks (space rocks burning up in the Earth's atmosphere) appearing to originate in the constellation Draconis, the Dragon (hence their name). This is not a major shower but might be worth a look if you're up. Also, only a couple of hours later, Mercury and Saturn rise together, coming within a fraction of a degree of each other. Fortuitously, their point of closest approach happens about an hour before sunrise on the East Coast. Again, look low to the East. Space news of the week: A Soyuz capsule launched from Russia with a three-man crew consisting of Russian and American crew replacements plus a French space tourist arrived at the International Space Station. Once the American Space Shuttle fleet is retired next year, this kind of space heavy lifting will be done exclusively via Soyuz until the American replacement for the shuttle makes it to the launch pad, not for a couple of years at least. 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 10/4/09 – Sunday, Wednesday, 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. Friday has the most connections between planets for months, some quite challenging, but also stimulating and energizing. It indicates an active, busy and social (Moon in Gemini) day!  On 10/5/09, the Moon is VOC/Aries from 1:46AM to 12:33PM EDT – On 10/7/09, the Moon is VOC/Taurus from 1:19PM to 5:46PM EDT – On 10/9/09, the Moon is VOC/Gemini from 9:35PM to 9:48PM EDT.

 

Planet Patterns & Cosmic Headlines for the next few weeks:

 

Summary: It’s been a rough Mercury retrograde for many of us (Merc Rx in one of its home signs, Virgo) – so this week Mercury tells tales to Uranus, Saturn, and after it moves into Libra, to Pluto. Whatever you were processing, you have the chance to spill it out or spell it out!

 

Mars in cardinal, water Cancer trine (120deg.) Uranus in mutable, water Pisces @ 23deg. on 10/4/09. This is an aspect of unexpected action, activity, fun with a group, or friends, and in general, activity that has a high level of excitement and alertness. Aha’s! are also possible, so open up and let them in! Planning future projects/adventures could bring you satisfaction.

 

Venus in mutable, earth Virgo opposite (180deg.) Uranus/Pisces @ 23deg. on 10/9/09. Both of the main relationship planets are making contacts with Uranus this week – meaning that it’s a great time to be honest, direct, and see the big picture (Uranus) of your relationship patterns. You’ll also benefit from doing something different or exciting to shake things up and generate new responses/insights from and with each other.

 

Mercury re-enters cardinal, air Libra on 10/9/09 until 10/28/09. We’re at the tail-end of the retrograde cycle – moving quickly to the degree at which Mercury went retrograde (Rx), 6 Libra, on 10/14/09. Since most of Merc Rx was in Virgo, which always entails multiple issues or endless details or colliding schedules, issues can now be rebalanced or re-negotiated, with Mercury in Libra, as we collectively think fairness, give and take, and equanimity.

 

Currently Active Paradigm-Shift Patterns:

 

*Mercury Turned 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.

We are ending the “shoulder” part of the Rx cycle soon, and you may wish to review what this cycle meant for you. On 10/14/09, Mercury, now in direct motion again, passes its retrograde (second) “shadow point” @ 6 Libra.

 

The cycle in review: Mercury passed the first so-called “shadow point” of 21 Virgo on 8/17/09, the degree at which it turned direct again after its retrogradation (9/29/09), 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. So, the full retrograde cycle lasts from 8/17/09 until 10/14/09.

 

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. This lengthy (background cultural shift) cycle 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 an easy transition. 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 overhaul of US healthcare. 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, and still working in the background of social consciousness. 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 I. 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 false hopes 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 or purpose you hold for your life.