Planet Weather for the Week of October 15, 2006  

The next Planet Weather issue will be published November 5, 2006                                                                          

SkyWatch – Moon phase of the week: There is no change in Moon phase this week. A week when the Moon undergoes no change in major phase is a rarity, occurring only a few times a year, but this is one of those times. The Moon entered her Last (aka Third) Quarter phase on 10/13, and is slated to begin her New cycle on 10/22. Skywatching events of the week: 10/16 -- The waning Balsamic Moon passes about 2 degrees North of Saturn just before noon on the U.S. East Coast, when the Moon will be visible high in the South but Saturn will not. However, as the Moon approaches Saturn in the predawn sky, the two will appear very close. 10/17 -- Mercury reaches its greatest "eastern elongation," meaning its greatest apparent distance behind the setting Sun in the evening. One or two days before and after this event represent the only times when Mercury is visible as an "evening star." Shortly after sunset, look just above the point on the southwestern horizon where the Sun was last seen. 10/21 -- The Orionid Meteor Shower reaches its peak about 11 AM EDT, well after sunrise. This seldom is a very spectacular shower anyway and will be even less so this year, but you might try looking towards the constellation Orion (for which the Orionids are named) in the southern sky before dawn to spot a few faint streaks. Space news of the week: Data from the Hubble Space Telescope have revealed a Jupiter-sized planet orbiting Epsilon Eridani, a sunlike star that is a "mere" 11-light years distant. Although this is many tens of trillions of miles, this new world is still the closest extrasolar planet ever discovered. The new planet orbits its star about once every 6-1/2 years, placing the planet within what is called the star's "habitable zone." Thus one or more of its larger moons (if it has any) might harbor liquid water on its surface that could sustain life. This is, of course, a "big if" but the best possibility discovered so far. Go out! Look up!

 This week Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday, are the most active and possibly the most productive energy days. The longest Void-of-Course (VOC) Moon time during the day is on Thursday @ 4:18AM, until 3:19PM. VOC is best for less outcome-oriented activity, since VOC often means detours, distractions, or delays. If you want specific outcomes, or if timeliness is critical, choose another day. VOC is best for processing, imagining, and open-ended activities.

**Planetary influences are expanded this issue for the following several weeks due to travel commitments. The next Planet Weather will be published for the week of 11/5/06.

There are many sextile aspects between the planets this week, which typically means opportunities in various areas of your life – but sextiles have to be consciously activated, exercised, and acknowledged or else the moment slips away and sometimes is not noticed for the budding opportunity or option that it represents.

Mars in cardinal, air Libra sextile (60deg.) Pluto in mutable, fire Sagittarius @ 24deg. on Sunday, October 15, 2006 @ 8:18AM EDT. This presents an opportunity to know oneself and thereby understand both one’s vulnerabilities and strengths. In accomplishing that, one becomes more self-possessed and able to act more powerfully in the world and attain one’s desires or needs.

Mercury in fixed, water Scorpio square (90deg.) Neptune in fixed, air Aquarius @ 17deg. on Sunday, October 15, 2006 @ 7PM. The conditions are right to break through to another level of understanding, but it will take vulnerability and compassion. The old methods are clearly not working; we must rise to a nuance that is more sophisticated, more honest, and more real. We must see through the words to the feelings beneath. It is a question of actions as well as words – not one or the other.

The Sun in cardinal, air Libra sextile (60deg.) Saturn in fixed, fire Leo @ 22deg. on Monday, October 16, 2006 @ 3:29AM EDT. The intention of this aspect is to create harmony and balance in situations of your life. The way to achieve this is through cooperation, fairness, and heart.

The Sun/Libra sextile Pluto/Sagittarius @ 24deg. on Tuesday, October 17, 2006 @ 10:14PM EDT. This aspect requests that we use our power and depth of instinctive understanding to forge powerful relationships based on the wisdom of experience and the desire for cooperative sharing and respect for the rights of others as well as our own.

Venus in cardinal, air Libra sextile Saturn/Leo @ 22deg. on Wednesday, October 18, 2006 @ 3:54PM EDT. This aspect seeks a decision, a commitment, and a sense of purpose or organization. The issues are ones of your values, your sense of appropriateness, of beauty, and of fairplay. It can indicate a day when you seek or enjoy beauty with others or in the environment.

Venus/Libra sextile Pluto/Sagittarius @ 24deg. on Thursday, October 19, 2006 @ 10:40PM EDT.  Venus still traveling through its own sign of Libra loves harmony and social engagement with others. Connecting with Pluto, Venus seeks depth and bonding that comes from closeness and emotional sharing. There is always a lingering of possessiveness or fears of loss with Pluto connections. Expressing fears and vulnerabilities brings them out of the fearful dark.

Mercury/Scorpio conjunct (0deg.) Jupiter in fixed, water Scorpio @ 22deg. on Sunday, October 22, 2006 @ 11:20AM EDT. These two planets rule the opposite polarity of Gemini/Sagittarius and represent the learning and cognitive mind. In watery signs like Scorpio, we are asked to trust our instincts, our emotional center. There is the joy of possibility of big ideas and the willingness to take risks for something that one desires. However, as with all Jupiter aspects, the idea may appear to be more optimistic at first. Practicalities have to be applied for long-term viability. Expect a profound insight – or two!

The Sun/Libra conjuncts Mars/Libra @ 29deg. on Monday, October 23, 2006 @ 2:46AM EDT. This is a take-action combination, but being in Libra, you’re advised to consider how your action will affect other people or situations in your life. There is spontaneity and impulsiveness and a take-charge attitude.

Mercury/Scorpio square Saturn/Leo @ 23deg. on Monday, October 23, 2006 @ 6:07AM EDT. This aspect has some harshness and can be demanding and judgmental if not used wisely. The bottom line is that important decisions have to be made. This is great for determination and deciding based on the pros and cons and possible consequences. Political power plays are also part of this configuration.

The Sun enters fixed, water Scorpio on Monday, October 23, 2006 @ 9:27AM EDT until 11/22/06. As the Sun enters Scorpio we are privileged to journey within. We instinctively know more about or learn about the underpinnings of our lives, relationships and actions. Scorpio is all about desire and the motivation that is fueled by desire into actions, habits, and psychological patterns. Scorpio is the mystery, the dark, and all that lives there, which means it is also everything you don’t like about yourself or others that you don’t want to own and, therefore, are prone to project onto others and situations.

Mars enters Scorpio on Monday, October 23, 2006 @ 12:38PM EDT until 12/5/06.  Scorpio is one of Mars’ home signs (along with Aries) even though modern rulership has given Pluto to Scorpio. Energies are now directed to understanding and uncovering the deeper layers of things. Nothing escapes this Scorpio’s scrutiny. Watch how things previously hidden are revealed both in your own life and in world politics. This probing energy will go after what it wants and not give up until it gets it. There is a relentless and strategic quality, and at the same time this energy can completely shut down when its desires are frustrated. It’s an either-or energy – either on or off. There’s immense power and potential to get at the root of things and to influence, as well as to manipulate people and situations – not all in a negative way either. It depends how the energy is applied. We’ll talk more of this Mars as it continues its journey.

Venus enters Scorpio on Tuesday, October 24, 2006 @ 5:58AM EDT. The Scorpio grouping gets more intense as Venus joins the group. Relationships undergo greater scrutiny and the deeper questions are asked – what are we doing together and why? How can we grow and develop and maximize what we share – our bond and what holds us together? We are reminded of our intense needs and even obsessions, which can cause jealousy and envy and bring emotions out of control. Scorpio positions can easily stir the pot and sometimes things bubble over. However, we can learn to understand each others’ vulnerabilities and walk gently over the sore spots. You can be sure this position will bring to the surface whatever needs to be discussed, acknowledged, understood, or forgiven. Emotional vulnerability can create a stronger bond.

Venus/Scorpio conjunct Mars/Scorpio on Wednesday, October 25, 2006 @ 2:10AM EDT. This is a combination of intense desire. The focus of Scorpio can bring things quickly to a head with this combination. Sensual and sexual as this combination can be, it is also aggressive in going after what it seeks. Again, depending on who is using this energy, their wisdom (or lack of it) and motivation, either the most wonderful things can happen or the very worst. Letting go is the lesson of Scorpio – when to let go is its innate wisdom.

Jupiter/Scorpio square Saturn/Leo @ 23deg. on Wednesday, October 25, 2006 @ 1:26PM EDT. Excess comes to terms with reality. Risk and reality must reach an understanding too. Excess can have to do with resources such as money, oil, etc. – but also with emotions you give from the heart, and decisions have to be made as to whether what you give is too much or too little for the situation. This aspect is one of supply and demand – needing and giving, generosity or withholding. Fifty-fifty may not always be the answer. Ideally, in Scorpio we examine the sum total of all the influences to arrive at the best conclusions and decisions.

** Mercury Retrograde Alert! Mercury turns Rx @ 25 Scorpio on 10/28/06. Mercury remains in fixed, water Scorpio from 10/2/06 until 12/7/06 due to its retrograde motion. One by one, three other planets, Sun, Mars, and Venus join Mercury in Scorpio. Things get more intense and political in all areas of our lives. Assess what your true desires/needs are, and how you are motivated to get what you want. These energies involve manipulation, pressure, vulnerabilities, highly-charged emotions, and the psychological complexes that underlie them – basic human needs for having what we feel we need to survive and thrive as the individuals we are.

Neptune/Aquarius turns Stationary Direct @ 17 Aquarius on October 29, 2006 @ 2:57AM EDT. Neptune’s station marks its journey onward into new degrees of the Zodiac. By the last week in February 2007, Neptune will have retraced its previous path through 19 Aquarius and reach the 20^th degree for the first time in 164 years. So yes, this is brand new for our generation. Neptune continues to beguile us with the complex truths of our lifetime as it moves to 22 degrees and that’s where it will pause the next time and mark its retrograde station in May 2007.

Mercury/Scorpio Rx conjuncts Jupiter/Scorpio a second time @ 24deg. on Monday, October 30, 2006 @ 10:01PM EDT.  Read above. Expects lots of political double-talk – so use your instincts to wade through the rhetoric and vote according to your best evaluation of the information provided – or withheld! Ask yourself, what’s the agenda? Who will best address the needs of our sensitive world situations? Who has the vision, who has the courage, who has the sensitivity to navigate us beyond this first decade of the 21^st century?