Planet Weather for the Week of May 28, 2006

                                                                                                                                  

SkyWatch – Moon phase of the week: 6/3 -- The Moon enters her First Quarter phase at 7:06 PM EDT, at 13 degrees of Virgo. As usual with this phase, look for her high in the southern sky at sunset. Skywatching events of the week: 5/30 -- The waxing Crescent Moon approaches within a few degrees of Mars, with their point of closest approach happening about 11:00 PM EDT, after moonset in most U.S.locations. However, Mars and the Moon will still be enchantingly close earlier in the evening. 5/31 -- The Moon also comes within a few degrees of Saturn, with their closest approach occurring at about 5:00 PM EDT, before sunset in the U.S. However, again like the Moon and Mars on the previous night, the Moon and Saturn should still offer a pretty sight after sunset in the western sky. Space news of the week: Russian orbital golf shot postponed! The plan was for International Space Station (ISS) commander Pavel Vinogradov to smack a golf ball into orbit outside the station during a planned spacewalk next week, but this "extravehicular activity" has been postponed while NASA undertakes further studies to ensure that no damage to the ISS will be done. The publicity stunt for a Canadian golf equipment company will be performed later in the mission after safety concerns have been put to rest. Go out! Look up!

 

Mercury entered airy Gemini on Friday, May 19, 2006 @ 4:52PM and remains until 6/3/06. This position is one of Mercury’s home signs (the other being Virgo) and so it is particularly talkative and facile at communication. Mercury/Gemini makes a final powerful opposition to Pluto/Sagittarius on 6/1/06 just days before it leaves the sign. This annual aspect denotes deep and powerful, often transforming communication or revelations, either within yourself, through conversations with others, or through information via media sources. This aspect can indicate a tendency toward manipulation or, in its higher manifestation, reveal a strong determination toward attaining something one wants. The aspect at source is emotional and kinesthetic and is based on the current state of your beliefs about life and what is possible. Use this energy to be clear as to what it is you really want and express those desires verbally to friends or by journaling. These actions make the energies more solid or grounded.

 

Mercury enters watery Cancer on Saturday, June 6, 2006 @ 7:21AM EDT. Normally objective and coolly rational Mercury becomes more subjective in the water sign, Cancer. Mercury transiting Cancer makes a grand water trine in the sky with Jupiter retrograde/Scorpio and Uranus/Pisces. It will be in orb (within a few degrees of exact) primarily between 6/9-6/14/06. This is the time to tune into your emotional intelligence and evoke your instinctive understandings. It’s also a time of deep knowing and revelations that emerge through feelings and times when you are more open and your usual “guard” is down.

 

The Sun entered airy Gemini on May 21, 2006 @ 12:32AM EDT. During the coming month there will be more desire and focus on communication, understanding, and hopefully new wisdom generated and remembered from the ways in which we were imprinted from childhood. Some of this is due to the fact that, at this time of year, the Sun opposes Pluto/Sagittarius and events take place that force us to question and analyze the wisdom of our beliefs and subsequent actions based on those beliefs or information provided. Bigger issues are likely to arise, especially ones that have been brewing beneath the surface of consciousness. In the world, this aspect represents in part the way leaders internationally are dealing with the worlds resources. Therefore, this time period may bring forth renewed discussions and concerns. Other questions continue to be asked – who holds the power and influence and why?

 

Neptune made a station Retrograde (Rx) @ 19 Aquarius (air) on Monday, May 22, 2006 @ 9:06AM EDT and remains Rx until 10/29/06. Less than a week ago Neptune, planet of mystery, magic, deception, illusion, and spiritual seeking appeared to reverse its course in the sky. Neptune events force us to question the meaning of our lives and the situations that we are involved with. Confusion may arise with Neptune transits but also wonderful magic and serendipity. Neptune reveals the structure of our dreams and fulfills them often in surprising ways. You can work with Neptune best by being as clear as possible about your dreams and yearnings. Neptune will deliver but often using meandering, mysterious ways.

 

Venus enters earthy Taurus on Monday, May 29, 2006 @ 8:41AM EDT until 6/23/06. Venus is in one of its home signs (the other being Libra) and is very comfortable being generous and affectionate here. This Venus focuses on security and comfort. It does not like confrontation and prefers pleasure in all aspects of life. While Venus is in Taurus, financial concerns may become more of an issue in relationships or become a primary focus of your attention particularly around the time that Venus squares (90deg.) Saturn/Leo on 6/4/06.

 

Mars enters fiery Leo on Saturday, June 3, 2006 @ 2:43PM EDT until July 22, 2006. Mars is a fire planet and when it transits a fire sign, things can get very hot, so get ready. I call this position the superman Mars, as it is a combination of Mars and the Sun (ruler of Leo) and likes to shine brightly. This is big masculine energy which can also include a huge ego. Male energies are likely to be strongly expressed and very visible, and leaders and leadership will be tested. Courage, boldness, and risk-taking are also part of this combination.

 

News Bits: Indonesian Earthquake! Disaster strikes Indonesia again. Barely recovered from the massive tsunami of a few years ago, Indonesians suffered yet another natural catastrophe, which left more than 4,300 dead. The 6.3 Richter quake centered in Bantul on the island of Java, where most of the victims lived. The strongest aspect in the sky was an exact inconjunct (150deg.) between Mars @ 25 Cancer and Pluto @ 25 Sagittarius. Mars and Pluto in any combination wield great power to create or destroy. Mars in the sign Cancer indicates families and people in general, while Pluto in Sagittarius increases or exaggerates the dimensions of events. The Neptune station retrograde @ 19 Aquarius on 5/22/06 was probably a trigger for the quake, as well as the approaching New Moon @ 5 Gemini. The chart of Indonesia (12/27/47 9:22AM GMT, Jakarta, Indonesia – Book of World Horoscopes) shows its Saturn @ 19 Virgo linked by inconjunct aspect to the exact degree of the Neptune station. Inconjuncts create strain and struggle of disparate elements. Saturn/Leo was also opposite (180 deg.) Indonesia’s Jupiter/Aquarius by two degrees, indicating a reversal of fortunes.

 

Enron Indictments! This past Thursday, Kenneth Lay, former CEO of Enron, was convicted on six counts of fraud and conspiracy, making false statements, etc. Jeffrey Skilling, also short-term CEO of Enron was also convicted. Both men face sentencing and will potentially remain in prison for the rest of their lives. This brings to a close one of the most notorious white-collar scandals which resulted in the disgraceful evaporation of millions of dollars worth of Enron employees’ retirement funds. Lay was convicted with Pluto exactly trine his Sun @ 25 Aires and Jupiter Rx square his nodal axis @ 12 Virgo/Pisces. Mars @ 25 Cancer squaring his Sun exactly was also a trigger. My sense is that his ultimate sentence will be lighter than expected due to the trine from Pluto to his Sun and eventually to his Moon @ 29 Aries.