Planet Weather for the Weeks of December 27, 2009 & January 3, 2010

NewsBits:  Christmas Day Terror Averted! Between A Sun/Pluto in Capricorn conjunction and a Sun/Capricorn square Saturn/Libra, and Mercury ready to turn retrograde the next day, Nigerian born, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, planned to blow up a NW airlines plane ready to land in Detroit, Michigan. Fortunately for the 289 passengers aboard, he did not succeed. Again, fortunately, Umar chose a day fraught with planetary challenges. The Moon on Christmas Day was in Aries, Aries is ruled by Mars, and Mars had just turned retrograde on 12/20/09. Typically new enterprises/actions begun under a Mars Rx do not move or develop according to plan or in the direction anticipated. Venus also changed signs on Christmas Day to 0deg. Capricorn, expressing the seriousness of the event but also contributing to other unstable energies present in the sky. Perhaps Venus graced the event with some favor and helped to avert a catastrophe of immense proportion.

Abdulmutallab did not fit the profile of the typical terrorist. He came from a privileged background and lived in an expensive flat in one of London’s priciest areas while studying at a University there. He was estranged from his family and expressed loneliness and being misunderstood on his Facebook postings. Some experts think he was sedated to quell anxiety for the flight and the intended bombing. All of the photos that have emerged show a young man who appears dazed and not really present. Fellow passengers say that he was shaking and appeared very afraid after the incident. [As well he might!]

We have no date of birth at present – only that he is 23 years old and was born in 1986. There are four planets that would have remained in the same sign all of 1986 – Saturn/Sagittarius, Uranus/Sagittarius, Neptune/Capricorn, Pluto/Scorpio. The most interesting of those four is Neptune in early degrees of Capricorn and that is where Pluto/Capricorn is transiting in the sky presently! [The Pluto transit to the Neptune placement is indicative of the religious confusion behind his act, a confusion that, based on the evidence of his postings, was considerable. It sounds like he was trying to follow Islamic prescriptions literally without much sensible guidance.] Abdulmutallab is having one heck of a transit pushing at his sense of faith and belief, which is already troubled with two planets in Sagittarius, pressing on his snese of what to believe is true and real. Al-Quaida (Pluto – power and underworld activity) seems to have found and preyed upon a confused, lonely, and disenfranchised (Neptune) young man. Additionally, the Pluto in Scorpio generation (those born between 1984 – 1994) have major issues with the question of death and power. Many of this generation are fighting (and dying or being maimed) in our current wars.

SkyWatch: Moon phase for the week of 12/27: 12/31 -- New Years Eve Full Moon! This somewhat rare occurrence happens at 2:13 PM, at 10 degrees of Cancer, the sign that She rules. This Full Moon is also a "blue Moon", so-called when the Full Moon is the second of the month, making this Full Moon even rarer since it literally occurs "once in a blue Moon". (The first Full Moon of this December occurred on 12/2.) This is also the Winter Solstice Moon (for the Northern Hemisphere) and is known in Folk and Native American traditions as the Long Night Moon. And as if all that weren’t enough, this Full Moon also undergoes a lunar eclipse. The eclipse will not be visible from the US, since it occurs when the Moon is well below the horizon but will be visible from Europe and Africa. Skywatching events of the week: The Long Night Moon is it. Savor Her!

Moon phase for the week of 1/3: 1/7 -- The Moon enters Her Last (aka Third) Quarter at 5:39 AM EST, at 17 degrees of Libra. Skywatching events of the week: 1/3 -- The Waning Moon makes a close pass by Mars when the two are culminating high in the sky a bit after 3 AM Eastern time. 1/6 -- For Her next trick, the Moon does Saturn, although their point of closest approach occurs just after sunrise on the East Coast. (Farther west, their conjoining will be visible before sunrise.)

Space news: Hit or miss! -- The head of the Russian space agency proposed an international mission to nudge the asteroid Apophis off a possible collision course with Earth. Apophis is scheduled to come within less than 20,000 miles of Earth in 2029, with a slight possibility that it could actually smack into us. Apophis is roughly 900 feet in diameter and, while small potatoes compared with the massive dino-buster that nailed Earth approximately 65 million years ago, still, Apophis is sizable enough to cause major damage wherever it might hit. NASA recently re-estimated the probability of such a hit at roughly 1 chance in 250,000, however, and many scientists are skeptical of any plans to shove near-earth asteroids off course out of a fear that the effect might be exactly the opposite of what is intended, causing the asteroid actually to hit Earth instead of missing.... 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.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Week of 12/27/09 – Monday, Wednesday, Thursday are the most active or important days energetically – more Moon or planetary aspects for engagement with other or projects, and stimulation for producing results. Thursday is the Full Moon Lunar Eclipse! On 12/28/09, the Moon is VOC/Taurus from 12:54PM to 8:13PM EST – On 12/30/09, the Moon is VOC/Gemini from 3:29PM to 9:45PM EST – On 1/1/10, the Moon is VOC/Cancer from 10:43AM to 9:41PM EST.

 

Week of 1/3/10 – Monday and Wednesday are the most active or important days energetically – more Moon or planetary aspects for engagement with other or projects, and stimulation for producing results. On 1/3/10, the Moon is VOC/Leo from 4:55PM to 9:52PM EST – On 1/5/10, the Moon is VOC/Virgo from 12:24PM to 11:58PM EST – On 1/8/10, the Moon is VOC/Libra from 1:07AM to 5AM EST.

 

 Planet Patterns & Cosmic Headlines for the next few weeks:

 

Summary: 2009 ends with a Lunar Eclipse and 2010 begins with Mars/Leo and Mercury/Capricorn, both retrograde! Basically, things are off to a slow start.

 

Venus in cardinal earth Capricorn conjunct (0deg.) Pluto/Capricorn @ 3deg. on 12/28/09. Every planet must meet Pluto at some point. This week, Venus goes through her paces first conferring with Pluto about subterranean and deeply held value issues, as well as the source of integrity and questions of commitment in your life. The next day, on 12/29/09, Venus squared (90deg.) Saturn in cardinal, air Libra @ 4deg. This combination of Venus and Saturn brings reality checks and a subdued or pragmatic attitude to our relationships, money, and values. We might ask ourselves what we are committed to and why a particular commitment is so important. These are significant questions with Venus besieged by (astrologically in between) both Saturn and Pluto.

 

Lunar Eclipse Full Moon @ 10 Capricorn on 12/31/09. We’re in an eclipse cycle. Eclipses arrive in pairs and this one is followed by a Solar eclipse in two weeks (1/15/10). There are four eclipses in 2010 (1/15, 6/26, 7/11 and 12/21/10). The first three of these eclipses (including the New Year’s Eve day eclipse) take place in the sign pair Cancer/Capricorn reinforcing the themes of security, responsibility, community, family and the economic picture. The eclipse on New Year’s Eve day is part of the Saros Series 12North, which had its beginnings on 5/19 - 1613! Eclipses are part of a long series that last hundreds of years as the paths of successive eclipses travel from either the North or the South Pole to end at the opposite Pole. Our current eclipse carries the energy of sudden new responsibilities, which can be difficult but may result in greater harmony and self-esteem. (This last sentence paraphrased from the interpretation of the Saros Series by Bernadette Brady from, The Eagle and the Lark).

 

Sun in cardinal, earth Capricorn conjunct Mercury/Capricorn Rx @ 14deg. on 1/4/09. This once per year event brings our current understanding of how we communicate to the forefront. What is being communicated and why? This pragmatic combination seeks security, certainty and stability.

 

Mercury/Capricorn conjunct Venus/Capricorn @ 13deg. on 1/5/09. For relationships, it may be time to address specific and intrinsic concerns. Capricorn always spells that which is most important and vital to the functioning of the system, any system. With Venus involved, fairness is a vital component in the conversation.

 

Currently Active Paradigm-Shift Patterns:

 

**Mercury/Capricorn turned Stationary Retrograde (Rx) @21deg. on 12/26/09 until 1/15/09.  Because Mercury turned Rx late in December, we will begin 2010 with both Mercury AND Mars retrograde. We have to go back before we can go forward, is the message. This Mercury means serious business, keeping things in order and questions of security, integrity, and reorganization of priorities. Make a review of your major life situations, and use this time (January) to set your life in order.

 

**Mars/Leo Stationary Retrograde (Rx) @ 19deg. on 12/20/09 until 3/10/09. A Mars retrograde is a more potent planetary event than most, since it only takes place about every two years! Mars is a naturally progressive and forward-reaching energy and so, as one might expect, it does not enjoy going backwards. But don’t let that deter you from making plans for the future. You need to simply remember that things will go slowly during the retrograde and there is likely to be frustration if you push to move something ahead. This time is best used to plan, to refine, to redefine, reinterpret, or to polish your program or plan. Mars transiting Leo is a strong masculine position and a Rx could create frustrations for ego, pride, and will that can cause some serious upsets in the world. It’s best to attempt to soothe the fires and work with goodwill and heartfelt sincerity. Brand new ventures begun under a Mars Rx are typically premature, ill-conceived, and will, at the very least, encounter lengthy delays before they actually become what they set out to be or do.

 

Saturn in cardinal, air Libra square (90deg.) Pluto in cardinal, earth Capricorn @ 1deg. on 11/15/09. The first of three squares between these two planets. Saturn in a cardinal air sign is always more active and wants to experience movement or progress. In Libra, Saturn is focused on relationships in general, their equality, and how and what we value, how to engage. Clashes in relationships result when people place a different value on something they are experiencing together. As Saturn/Libra squares (prods or stimulates) Pluto/Capricorn (the collective energy) the demand is to get things done – to evaluate the importance of something in the overall balance of a productive lifestyle. Saturn and Pluto together are demanding, especially in cardinal signs, and often push the envelope big time. This is a time of critical mass, when something has reached a crisis point. Is that what’s happening in your life? Part 2 takes place on 2/1/10.

 

Saturn entered cardinal, air Libra on 10/29/09. The full cycle lasts until 10/6/12. Saturn retrogrades back into the last three degrees of the previous sign, Virgo, from 4/8/10-7/22/10. What can we expect? Possibly not much until the energy starts to merge with the collective. But let’s speak to the greater implications of a new 2.5-year Saturn-sign cycle. Saturn is exalted in Libra. This so-called “essential dignity” means there’s more of a commitment to 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 Sun, Moon, or Ascendant will be put to the test. Saturn in a cardinal sign is much more proactive than in other signs, and you may find that you seek order from recent chaos and productivity from prior stress and mess.

 

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 and tension. 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. Part 4 is due on 4/27/10.