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Planet Weather for
Weeks 9/4, 9/11, 9/18 and 9/25/11
NewsBits: Who is Michele Bachmann? Minnesotan
Michele Bachmann espouses Tea Party politics and is running for President of
the USA. But who is Michele Bachmann really? Bachmann is married to Marcus Bachman, they have five children and have hosted many foster
children in their home. Her husband has a PhD in psychology but is not licensed
in his home state of Minnesota. The couple manage a
Christian Counseling Center, which was recently in the news for using a program
that promotes helping your gay child become straight. Some of Michele Bachman’s
views include: pro-life, anti-gay
marriage, support for phasing out Social Security and Medicare
and belief that global-warming is a hoax. She is the first woman to be elected
to the US House of Representatives from Minnesota.
Michele
Bachman was born on 4/6/56 in Waterloo, Iowa, time unknown. This gives her a
Sun/Mercury conjunction in Aries, with Mars/Capricorn opposite Uranus/Cancer.
With these two indicators, we have a woman who strives to set goals and is
willing to be controversial and verbal. We don’t know the exact degree of her
Moon but it is in Aquarius and probably close to an opposition with
Jupiter/Pluto in Leo. This combination adds to her ability to stand firm amidst
controversy and includes a strong will to engage. In fact, Bachman has three
major oppositions in her chart, which indicate that her life is one of engaging
with others and finding balance amidst opposing views. The last opposition is
her exact Venus/Gemini opposite Saturn/Sagittarius, which reinforces
conservative views and values along with the impulse to challenge prevailing
views. She has a strong t-square pattern – Mars/Capricorn
opposite Uranus/Cancer and both squared by Neptune/Libra. The open end of this
pattern lies in Aries but her Sun/Mercury there are not quite mathematically in
sync. This pattern suggests a very active drive to succeed with possibly some
need to adjust any goals based on unrealistic assumptions. I highly doubt that
she will be the Republican nominee for President.
Who is Rick Perry? One
of the last to announce his candidacy for President, Perry is a fifth
generation Texan and current Governor of Texas. In fact Perry became Governor
when George Bush resigned to run for President in 2000. In 2002, Perry won the
seat again. A bit of information about Perry: He was a prankster in school and
claims the Boy Scouts gave him necessary discipline. In 1989, he switched
parties to become Republican. He previously supported Al Gore’s run for the
Presidency. He opposes the legal recognition of same-sex marriage, and calls
global warming a “contrived mess.” He also calls Social Security “an illegal
Ponzi scheme.” His handwriting appears to be disconnected as he uses both
printed and cursive letters both (for those interested in what handwriting
reveals!)
Rick
Perry was born on 3/4/50 in Paint Creek, Texas, time unknown. His chart pattern
is primarily an hourglass shape with two separate groupings of planets
basically on opposite sides of the circle. The planet of controversy and
erratic behavior stands alone approximately in the middle of one side of the
opposing groups. It is unaspected and so functions
all the more as a wild card! Although we do not know the degree of his Moon, it
is in critical Virgo close to Saturn/Virgo and opposite his Sun/Pisces, meaning
that he was born near a Full Moon. These two indicators can mean someone who tries
to keep the lid on but goes over the top periodically. His book Fed Up: Our
Fight to save American from Washington was published in 2010, and details
many of the ideas mentioned above. Perry has the one actual opposition
mentioned and no squares in his chart but several potent conjunctions:
Jupiter/Mercury conjunct in Aquarius and Mars/Neptune conjunct in Libra. His
Venus is also in Aquarius. Perry is an ideologue, firm in his opinions and very
willing to broadcast them. I do not think Rick Perry will be out next President.
I mean, another Texas Governor – haven’t we been there done that? He will put
up a good battle to wrest the Republican nomination from Mitt Romney though, a
fellow Piscean, who also has Venus/Aquarius, although Romney probably has more
political weight and savvy (birth data – 3/12/47, Detroit, Michigan). Then
again, people are hungering for a different approach…but how different is different and is it Presidential? Sky Watch for the week of
9/4/11: 9/4 -- The Moon enters Her First Quarter phase at 1:39 PM EDT, at
11 degrees of Sagittarius. Skywatching event for the
week: Mercury is visible low in the East before sunrise all week, preceded by
Mars and Jupiter a few hours before sunrise. Venus and Saturn are evening
stars, Venus preceding Saturn down to the western horizon after sunset, so all
five planets visible to the unaided can now be viewed at various times of the
evening and early morning. Sky Watch for the week of
9/11/11: 9/12
-- The Moon reaches perfect Fullness at 5:27 AM EDT, at 19 degrees of Pisces.
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. The Harvest Moon usually occurs
after the Fall Solstice, when the Sun is in the sign of Libra which is ruled by
Venus, but not this year. Skywatching events of the
week: 9/16 -- The waning Full Moon conjoins bright Jupiter. Their point of
closest approach happens in midmorning as viewed (or not viewed) from the East
Coast after both have set. However, both will rise fairly close together around
midnight the previous night with Jupiter leading the Moon into the sky. Sky Watch for the week of
9/18/11: 9/20
-- The Moon enters Her Last (aka Third) Quarter at 9:39 AM EDT at 27 degrees of
Gemini. This phase begins the so-called "Dark of the Moon",
considered inauspicious for undertaking anything new that requires growth or
manifestation. As the Moon is waning fast, Her
children here below tend to go into hiding with Her. Skywatching
events of the week: 9/23 -- The Moon makes a close pass by Mars at 2:24 AM EDT,
just as the two are rising and perfectly placed for night-owl viewing. Sky Watch for the week of
9/25/11: 9/27
-- The Moon enters Her New cycle at 7:09 AM EDT, at 4 degrees of Libra. Skywatching events for the week: 9/28-29 --The Moon makes
close passes by four out of five of the planets visible to the unaided eye.
Unfortunately, this week, all are too close to the Sun to be visible, forming
with the Sun what is called in astrology a "stellium,"
which is when four or more planets (the Sun and Moon are counted as a
"planets" for this) are located in the same sign. In this case, Sun,
Moon, Mercury, Venus, and Saturn are all packed into Libra. Major! Space News and Weather: Like the iconic Energizer Bunny, it just
keeps going and going and going.... The equally iconic Mars rover Opportunity,
after 7 years of exploring the Red Planet, has yet another mission, exploring a
weird looking crater of a completely new type. To wit -- based on the photos
returned by Opportunity, the floor of this crater seems to be paved with large
flat patio stones. (This couldn't be what it looks like, could it? -- the remnants of an ancient Martian town square? Naw. Gotta be a natural formation....) Go
out! Look up! 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. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Week of 9/4/11 – Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday are
the most active days energetically – more Moon or planetary aspects for
engagement with others, projects, and stimulation for producing results, or
demands/challenges on your energy. On
9/5/11, the Moon is VOC/Sagittarius from 8:31PM to 10:03PM EDT – On 9/7/11, the
Moon is VOC/Capricorn from 4:35PM to 5:42AM (next day) – on 9/10/11, the Moon
is VOC/Aquarius from 1:32PM to 3:26PM. Week of 9/11/11 – Monday (Harvest Full Moon), Wednesday
(Venus enters Libra), and Friday (Pluto turns Stationary Direct!) are the most
active days energetically – more Moon or planetary aspects for engagement with
other or projects, and stimulation for producing results, or demands/challenges
on your energy. On 9/12/11, the
Moon is VOC/Pisces from 9:45PM to 2:49AM EDT (next day!) – On 9/15/11, the Moon
is VOC/Aries from 1:11PM to 3:25PM EDT. Week of 9/18/11 – Sunday (Mars enters Leo), and Friday
(Sun enters Libra – Equinox) are the most active days energetically – more Moon
or planetary aspects for engagement with others, projects, and stimulation for
producing results, or demands/challenges on your energy. On 9/18/11, the Moon is VOC/Taurus from 3:09AM to 4:06AM
EDT – On 9/20/11, the Moon is VOC/Gemini from 12:34PM to 2:53PM – On 9/22/11, the
Moon is VOC/Cancer from 9:22PM to 9:55PM – On 9/24/11, the Moon is VOC/Leo from
10:40PM to 12:49AM EDT (next day). Week of 9/25/11 – Sunday (Mercury enters Libra), Tuesday
(Moon VOC all day!) Wednesday (New Moon), and Thursday are the most active days
energetically – more Moon or planetary aspects for engagement with others,
projects, and stimulation for producing results, or demands/challenges on your
energy. On 9/25/11, the Moon is
VOC/Virgo from 3:47PM to 12:51AM (two days later – a really long one!) – On
9/28/11, the Moon is VOC/Libra from 9:52PM to 12:05AM EDT (next day) – On 9/30/11,
the Moon is VOC/Scorpio from 10:18PM to 12:42AM Next day). Summary: Labor Day
week has one sign change on 9/9/11, leading up to the 10th
anniversary of 9/11, and the crescendo of a Full Moon/Pisces on
9/12/11 – making this week quite emotional in many ways. The week of
9/11/11 brings one sign change and a Pluto Station Direct – which
always stirs the pot, whether financially, politically, or emotionally.
Something that’s been under pressure releases! The week of 9/18 – brings two
sign changes – our initiative gets a boost as Mars enters Fiery Leo –
expect lots of drama and celebrity news and male posturing. Autumn in Northern Hemisphere begins on 9/23/11. The week of 9/25 brings
one sign change. (Note: sign changes require adjustments, recalibrating). Woven
into this month are three planets Venus, Sun, and Mercury sequentially entering
cardinal Libra – and they will make hard aspects to Uranus/Aries,
Pluto/Capricorn, and Saturn/Libra (in that order), also placed in cardinal
signs. This process begins on 9/17 and ends on 10/13/11. Because of this, the
month promises to be quite challenging with lots of activity and social change,
as we seek to redefine and negotiate our balance and the status of various
relationship and alliances.
Knowing when VOC Moons
occur is key to planning your successful week!
Quote of Note: “Simplify,
simplify.” – Henry David Thoreau
Planet Patterns and Cosmic Headlines (Detail):
Mercury re-enters mutable, earth Virgo on 9/9/11, then
passes its Shadow Degree – 1 Virgo on 9/10/11 – that’s the degree at which it
turned Retrograde on 8/2/11. This completes the second
of three 2011 Mercury Retrograde cycles. Head’s up: Next Mercury Rx begins
11/24/11. Here’s a recap FYI of this past cycle. Mercury entered mutable,
earth Virgo on 7/28/11. On 8/2/11 Mercury turned retrograde @ 1Virgo, and
then slipped back into the previous sign Leo, on 8/8/11. Mercury turned Direct
on 8/26/11 @ 18 Leo. (Early shadow at 18 Leo was on 7/15/11). Whatever
the prevailing issue of this Merc Rx was for you it
probably began around 7/15/11 and finally closes on 9/10/11, with the shadow
time completed. Finding the optimal functioning of the heart was the esoteric
message of this retrograde – and fixing what’s broken with heart-wisdom.
Venus enters cardinal, air Libra on 9/14/11 until
10/9/11. One by one three planets enter Libra this
month. The first is Venus and that is one of its home signs (the other is
Taurus). So, Venus is very comfortable here and able to express its basic
nature of finding compromise, fairness and balance. This does not automatically
happen. It simply means that these issues are more apparent when there is
imbalance or disharmony or unfairness. The thrust is to re-balance and
understand and repair when and where unfairness registers. We have three other
planets in cardinal signs Uranus, Pluto, and Saturn. Venus will form
challenging aspects to each of them in turn. We can be sure that balancing or
rebalancing will be required.
Pluto turns Stationary Direct @ 4 Capricorn on 9/16/11
until 4/11/12. Anytime an outer planet slows down, stops, and
reverses direction, its characteristic energy is amplified. Pluto is our
slowest moving planet [Yes] and for several years now it has been processing
the growing discontent with systems that have failed us and failed to provide
the kind of security society expected. We’ve experienced various breakdowns
collectively and personally yielding quite a bit on instability and insecurity.
This station could very well deal with financial issues and the pragmatic
concerns of unemployment, but more directly where the money is, who is holding
it, and why lending isn’t forthcoming. It is quite possible that a bottleneck
will open and more money will flow to fuel jobs and fund business. At least
these seem to be the issues surrounding this Pluto Station. And maybe a
dictator will finally fall.
Mars enters fixed, fire Leo on 9/18/11 until 11/10/11.
Well forget the indecisiveness. Mars in Leo is
nothing if not courageous, bold, and determined to vibrate heart and life. This
Mars can wear its heart on its sleeve and is loyal to those it loves. Watch out
for a sensitive ego and a bit of braggadocio. Mars connects with Uranus early
on (9/23/11), so it hits the ground running (but where to and why?) Next, an
off center contact with Pluto (9/26/11) may cut the ego down to size, then Mars
squares Jupiter (10/3/11), which can be an over the top experience or action,
and lastly makes a hard aspect with Neptune (11/7/11), which may end the dream,
or begin the next one – your choice.
The Sun enters Libra on 9/2311 until 10/23/11. This is
the Autumnal Equinox! It’s time to turn to the next season and here
in the N. Hemisphere that means the colors of Fall – leaves turning and weather
cooling. This is a time to balance out the extremes and find the balance that
will take you through the winter – that may mean strengthening your closest
relationships and finding comfort in mutual support.
Mercury enters Libra on 9/25/11 until 10/13/11. Joining
Venus, the Sun and Saturn in Libra, comes Mercury to bring all the gossip about
so and so and what they did or didn’t do. With this emphasis on Libra (4
planets) there really is the desire to find common ground, fairness, and
compromise. Then again, the divide may be too wide and the blame and
finger-pointing may preclude coming to terms. Still, the energies favor working
on relationship issues and seeing the other’s point of view.
Venus, Mercury and the Sun/Libra, in turn, all square
(90deg.) Uranus and Pluto and conjunct (180deg.) Saturn as they move through
the sign. Expect fireworks in relationships and social events, personalities and
plenty of political discourse. Libra is about realigning with one's intrinsic
values and adjusting relationships based on those values. Recalibrate the
fairness and equity factors and make sure you are operating in win-win mode.
Currently Active Paradigm-Shift Patterns -- Back Stories: Repeats and elaboration of the
major configurations affecting all of us currently.
Jupiter entered fixed,
earth Taurus on 6/4/11 until 6/12/12. Jupiter stays in
Taurus without moving back into the previous sign, even when it turns
retrograde on 8/30/11(it remains in Taurus), which only happens about every
three Jupiter cycles (3 years). Most of the time when Jupiter turns retrograde
in any sign, it moves back into the sign before and then its retrograde cycle
moves between the two signs. We might speculate that this can grant us greater
relaxation and stability from the fast and furious and sudden changes that
we’ve all witnessed since the beginning of this year, at least, while Jupiter
was in fiery Aries. Stable and practical with a certain amount of sweetness,
abundance, or favor is the message of this giving Jupiter in a Venus-ruled
sign. There are possibilities, if we look for them.
Neptune in mutable, water Pisces turned Retrograde @
0degrees on 6/3/11. Almost two months after Neptune first entered
Pisces, it made its station retrograde and left Pisces on 8/4/11 to complete
its cycle in the previous sign, Aquarius. Neptune returns to Pisces on 2/4/12
for the extent of its stay – until 3/31/25. So, we’ve had a taste of Neptune’s
dissolving energies and the power of the water! Anyone with planets near 0deg.
of any sign has been especially imprinted with Neptunian themes such as
paranormal experiences, illumination about some life themes or experiences, and
secrets leaking out, or even some funky illness.
Neptune energies can also manifest as melancholy as we review dreams that may
not have materialized, make necessary adjustments, all the while maintaining
our faith in life, spirit and the meaning of it all.
Neptune entered mutable, water Pisces for the first time in 164
years on 4/4/11. Neptune turned Retrograde on @ 0deg. on 6/3/11 – Neptune
returned to Aquarius on 8/4/11. Neptune re-enters Pisces for the duration of
its 14 year cycle on 2/4/12. This planet’s sign change is the
biggest news in April and has consequences for the next 14 years. Now we have
the third outer planet making a sign change since January 2008, setting in
motion a series of conditions and events that have global long-term effects.
There is much to say about this momentous passage and we only get a taste this
year, since Neptune will retrograde back to Aquarius from 8/4/11, through
2/4/12. Neptune is entering the modern rulership of
its own sign Pisces and expresses itself quite naturally here according to its
intrinsic nature. We can expect the need for greater sensitivity and
environmental protections, as the harm we have done to the planet becomes more
obvious. [And Gaia thinks seriously about giving us an eviction
notice.] We may witness the formation of new religious groups and a
reformation of existing religion as we know it. Secrets may be exposed and more
leaks of information that some people may not wish to be revealed. On the
positive side, new artistic accomplishments will flower in all fields,
especially music, but all across the artistic spectrum. In essence it is a
cultural call for greater refinement and attunement to what we often take for
granted or fail to notice.
Neptune was discovered in 1846, and entered Pisces on 4/26/1847
through 1861. Oddly enough, Uranus was also in Aries (although farther along in
the sign) when Neptune entered Pisces for the first time (since its discovery).
This is only the second time, after Neptune came into our consciousness
awareness, that Neptune is transiting Pisces! Both Neptune and Pisces are
tricky. They operate on a completely different level. Pisces is known for its
hyper-sensitivity, compassion, diffusiveness, spirituality, dream-like
imagination, second-sight, idealism, patronage of the arts, and the ability to dissolve
barriers of all kinds for greater unity. Negative manifestation includes:
dissipation, neglect, addictions, deception, drugs, theft, scandals, and
secrets. Neptune leaves Pisces on 3/31, 2025. A few highlights of Neptune’s
last transit through Pisces include: new social movements, such as Marxism,
emancipation of slaves, the start of the US Civil War, the California Gold
Rush, the Romantic movement in music, and
transcendentalism. You can be sure we’ll be discussing Neptune’s amazing
journey through Pisces in future issues of PW.
We’ve only had four months of Neptune in
Pisces, which we have not experienced for 166 years! As we begin to integrate
with this complex novel energy infusion, you may notice a greater sensitivity
or subtlety. Neptune dissolves barriers and that is one of the reasons a
positive Neptunian response often allows greater compassion for human error and
human frailty. Neptune deals with the unseen and the unnoticed and often
accounts for spiritual breakthroughs and even paranormal experiences. I believe
that this transit of Neptune through Pisces will loosen the boundaries between
the material realm and the spiritual or energetic realms. Many of us will
experience more than can be easily explained through the measurable functions
of science. This can be a time of high magic but also the stripping away of
illusions and deceptions and unless one has a strong inner core, the
disillusionment we find may destabilize us. Practice faith in the joy of being
alive and the true mysticism of that fact alone, no matter what your religious
beliefs may be. Neptune is magical and a component of magic is addiction, as we
seek to recreate the transcendence of blissful states that allow us to escape
the harsher realities of everyday life.
Uranus re-entered Aries on 3/11/11, and remains
there until May 2018. This is the biggest news of March and beyond, and
heralds a new upward spiral in social and cultural evolution. Last summer,
Uranus teased us by parking itself and remaining only at 0deg. Aries (the
powerful degree of the Spring Equinox) from 5/27-8/13/10. Now it really means
business – it has engaged into its full cycle. Any planet in the first sign of
the Zodiac wants to start a fire, begin something new, innovate, and create or
reinvent something in its own image. This combination can certainly be
aggressive, bold, courageous, willful, and because of the influence of Uranus,
unexpected and explosive. Most of the previous text was written well before the
popular uprisings (conflagrations) in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, and other parts of
the Middle East. We are seeing the effects of individuals asserting
themselves in their striving for personal freedoms that they believe are their
birthright. Repressive regimes will no longer be tolerated. Aries represents
the new and renewal – as it emerges from the dreams of the previous sign,
Pisces. It burns with the fire of justice and courage to be free at any cost.
Saturn in cardinal, air Libra turned Stationary Retrograde (Rx) @
17deg. on 1/26/11. Saturn remains Rx until 6/13/11. We’ve
had our share of challenges, burdens and tasks, now haven’t we? When a planet
makes a station, it is demanding that we recognize its energy and pay
particular attention to the message it is transmitting in our lives. In
general, Saturn in Libra addresses the questions of balance, fairness,
relationships, negotiations, and compromise. With Saturn there is always some
kind of evaluation, some testing of standards met or not, and have we achieved
what we set out to do in the various areas of our life? If we feel we are out
of balance, then we will want to rebalance, or renegotiate the contracts we’ve
made. Saturn will be backtracking now, to refine those imbalances and to test
the rebalancing that you’ve begun. What is it exactly that makes for harmony
and contentment in your life? All Libras, Aries, Cancers and Capricorns are
feeling this testing more – and this current retrograde segment affects those
born between early to mid-April, July, October, and January. Ask your
astrologer where and how this Station degree affects your chart.
Saturn entered cardinal, air Libra on 10/29/09. The full cycle
lasts until 10/6/12. Saturn retrograded back into the last
three degrees of the previous sign, Virgo, from 4/8/10-7/22/10. What
can we expect? Let’s speak to the greater implications of this 2.5-year
Saturn-sign cycle. Saturn is exalted in Libra. This so-called “essential
dignity” means there’s more of a commitment to promote cooperation and harmony
among equals. Or, we can say, that is the primary striving in this combination.
The collective will be more focused on what is fair and equitable and what is
not. Generally, the message is to find the imbalances and rebalance as needed.
Where are you giving your commitment and attention? Are the returns you receive
what you really want? If not, then adjust those commitments and relationships
for greater equality and fairness. Saturn in Libra also asks – what matters and
what is valuable? When there is real value, it is easier to make a commitment
for a longer time and with greater attention and intention. All major relationships
and, in particular, those with Libra/Aries Sun, Moon, or Ascendant, will be put
to a greater test. Saturn in a cardinal sign is more proactive than in other
signs, and you may find that you seek order from recent chaos and productivity
from prior stress and mess.