Planet Weather for the Week of June 15, 2003

                       

SkyWatch! 6/19 – The waning Disseminating Moon passes less than 2 degrees south of Mars. Their moment of closest approach, 2 AM EDT, guarantees a sighting in clear weather if you live in the Eastern half of the US. 6/20 – Venus passes near Mercury. Their point of closest approach occurs at 10 PM EDT when they're not visible from the continental US. You may see them still close together in the early morning sky if you look to the East a few degrees above the horizon about half-an-hour before sunrise.  However, the pair, Mercury in particular, is likely to be washed out by the solar glare unless you have exceptional viewing conditions. 6/21 – See the Sun get as high in the sky as it ever gets (though be careful not to look directly at it). Astrologically, a planet's influence is strongest when it is culminating or conjuncting the Midheaven, the topmost point in the birth chart. For the Sun, this date is a double culmination – the seasonal culmination of the Summer Solstice, as well as the Sun's daily culmination. In the Northern Hemisphere, solar culmination on the Solstice occurs around 1 PM local time. The Solstice itself occurs at 3:11 PM EDT and so will exactly coincide with the Sun's daily culmination in some western parts of the US. This makes for a powerful solar influence! Go out! Look up!

 

Happy Birthday Gemini, Communicator of the Zodiac!

The Sun is Gemini 5/21/03 until 6/21/03.

You’re in good Zodiac Company with: Franēoise Sagan, George Herbert Bush, Annette Bening, Paul McCartney.

Gemini is a Mutable, Air sign ruled by Mercury (language, connecting, reasoning).

Being a Gemini is not easy. There’s way too much to talk about, endless things to know and the latest fads and ideas to keep up with. And, don’t forget all the juicy gossip about the hundreds of people they know and interact with! As if that wasn’t enough, put it all together into some fancy multitasking, which makes the other signs seem very dull by comparison. Geminis can definitely walk and chew gum at the same time!

The Sun enters Cancer (Summer Solstice) on Saturday June 21, 2003 @ 3:11PM EDT.

Cancer is a Cardinal, Water sign ruled by the Moon (emotions, home, family).

 

OverView – Pluto in mutable fire Sagittarius Rx 3/23-8/28/03. Neptune in fixed air Aquarius Rx 5/15/03-10/22/03. Uranus in mutable water Pisces Rx 6/7-9/14/03, then Rx in fixed, air Aquarius until 11/8/03. (Rx means retrograde - apparent backward motion of a planet along the Zodiac as seen from the Earth). The fledgling Uranus/Pisces energy of ultra-sophisticated emotional intelligence and spiritual awareness and a shift in the universal “mood” is being digested by the culture. Our neurons are rerouting and more compassionate pathways want to be forged. Pisces represents the sea of humanity, the oceans of emotion generated by a wide variety of souls connected by invisible threads, yet nevertheless affecting each other. Uranus re-enters Pisces on 12/30/03, for the duration of its 7 yr. stay, and the forming trend will reverberate even more strongly.

 

Mercury in mutable air sign Gemini 6/12-6/29/03. From last week’s NL, “Within a few days, Mercury squares (90 deg.) Uranus Rx @ 2 Pisces, and this aspect coincides with a Full Moon in Sagittarius, close to the Pluto station of 3/23/03 (Moon also in Sadge) in the first weekend of the war. The combination can bring explosions of various kinds, unexpected revelations, surprises, leaks or scandals.” We’ve had one of the bloodiest weeks in the Middle East for a long time, as scores of both Palestinians and Israelis have died and many others were injured and maimed. It’s hard to believe that on 6/4/03, a short week ago, three parties expressed their mutual desire for peace. Mercury/Gemini opposes (180 deg.) Pluto/Sadge on 6/23/03 and that can once again bring raw feelings to the surface. Mercury and Venus in Gemini, ruling reporters brought the death of David Brinkley a mercurial messenger and icon of our era.

 

Venus in mutable air Gemini 6/9-7/4/03. Venus is very verbal in this sign, so expect a number of good discussions with your significant other, your circle of friends and the chance to widen your associations with others. Venus/Gemini opposes (180 deg.) Pluto/Sadge on 6/24/03, which is the most difficult aspect of its cycle and can cause misunderstandings and entrenched and emotionally laden expression of values.

 

Remember: Aspects and energies are neutral – dependant on how they are used, the motives and intentions of the person/entity using them. All energies/signs/aspects have both positive and negative qualities.

 

Saturn in cardinal water Cancer and Mars’ impending move into mutable water Pisces on Monday 6/16/03 @ 10:25PM, has already seeded new developments in disease (think Monkey Pox) as well as newest scientific developments in discovery of the source of the Aids virus (monkeys again). Water issues are already apparent – excess water in some places, lack in others and renewed concern over polluted water and the toxins that may be present in your tap water.

Mars remains in Pisces 6/16-12/16/03 due to its retrograde motion in this sign. Mars retrogrades only every two years or so.

Mars, perhaps of all the planets, dislikes retrograde motion since Mars by its nature is forward moving, progressive, active and enterprising. Mars retrograde will test your patience as things slow down and possibly become more complicated (especially in Pisces) than one would like. Pisces is often associated with scandals and leaks of secrets and other interesting and important information. It concerns the medical and well as spiritual health and self-expression and compassionate caring for each other, particularly in misfortunate circumstances.

 

Are you feeling the sense of responsibility shifting to areas such as the domestic, the everyday and personal emotional obligations? Get used to it, especially if you have early Cancer or Capricorn planets (a discussion with your astrologer can shed individual light on the situation). Saturn remains in Cancer for the next 2.5 years, 6/3/03 to 6/17/05. Familiar institutions such as our homes and careers and any institutions that cater to the welfare and well-being of people will be reviewed and assessed for workability during this cycle – including hospitals, social services (read budget-cuts) and prison-reform (read privatization). One of the positive movements of late is the reform of Medicare and prescription benefits for the elderly. Cancer/Capricorn is the axis of caring and protection, as well as parenting and all developmental stages from childhood through old age.

 

Quote of Note: …Perhaps there is a pattern set up in the heavens for one who desires to see it, to find one in himself. Plato

 

Mid-East Road Map Shredded! The fact that “the map is not the territory” couldn’t be truer in view of the disastrous first week since the parties agreed to the road map. Sensitivities are exceptionally high and have been in the Middle East for decades. It would seem to make sense to be exceptionally careful when attempting to formulate the first fragile bonds of an uneasy peace. Threats and retaliations didn’t work before, why would they work now? Piscean energy is demanding a greater flexibility, as trust is sought to be built in the tiniest of increments. The chart for the road map shows the intense and entrenched enmities that will make this peace-process a huge challenge. Mistrust and resentments are the biggest roadblocks on the road to peace, as well as the inability to give way or give ground, or make the necessary concessions for a more lasting peace. Until both parties realize this completely, the cycle will continue as it always has, attacks and retribution. These parties will have to find a way out of the irresolvable eye-for-an-eye paradigm. And of course this kind of cycle deepens the hatred and enmity even more. The road map chart has a Moon in Leo, which initially is ego-proud but has the capacity to come up with creative solution because it knows the peace process must move forward. However, the challenges mentioned are due to the strong conjunction aspect between Moon and Jupiter in Leo (excessive pride and stubbornness) and Neptune and Mars in the opposing sign of Aquarius (disruption, terror and shows of force).

 

The 29-30 year Saturn/Cancer cycle in US history! Saturn has a 28.5 – 30 yr. cycle. In last week’s PW, we reviewed the last three times Saturn was in Cancer. A PW reader, Tom Canfield, sent the following history, taking the Saturn/Cancer cycle even further back. “…in 1886 President Grover Cleveland (a late Pisces, almost Aries) was enjoying some good publicity because he married a 21-year-old girl. He was the only President to have a wedding in the White House. Though some might of thought of him as "a dirty old man" since he was 49-years-old, others admired his vigor and virility. On the other hand, thirty years before that, James Buchanan was considered a worn-out old man. He was chosen as a compromise candidate. His first year in office was marked by a financial panic, and the Dred Scott decision, which was a major step toward civil war. Buchanan was an ineffectual Taurus, showing no dictatorial or decisive attitudes that other Taureans have. His lack of leadership let the states drift toward secession. Thirty years before that, in 1828, a Cancer President named John Quincy Adams was facing major opposition from a Tennessee politician (Andrew Jackson) who felt he had rightly won the Presidency four years earlier. The parallels between George W. and John Quincy Adams are so startling, even Bush Senior refers to his son as "Quincy." All of the sins of the Adams administration came home to roost in 1828, namely the elitism, the political deals, and the economic disasters. The only counter-attack Adams could offer was a moralistic attack on the marital status of Mr. & Mrs. Jackson.  The voters rose up and threw out the usurper who had not been elected by the popular vote four years earlier. Thirty years before that, the elder Scorpio Adams was facing major opposition because of the Alien and Sedition acts. His opponents felt he was destroying civil liberties, stifling the press, and making himself a dictator. One fellow named Luther Burbank was arrested for sedition because, in a drunken fit, he declared he would like to "shove a cannon up Adams' arse." The folly of these arrests lead to the rise of Jefferson as President.”  More Saturn/Cancer and the Bush presidency to come.

 

Sun-Gemini (Cancer by 6/21/03), Mercury-Gemini, Venus-Gemini, Mars-Aquarius, Jupiter-Leo, Saturn-Cancer, Uranus-Rx-Pisces, Neptune-Rx-Aquarius, Pluto-Rx-Sagittarius. (Rx means retrograde – apparent backward motion of a planet as seen from the Earth.)            

Fire — 2, Earth — 0, Air — 5 (4 by 6/21/03), Water — 2 (3 by 6/21/03) = Planets in Element distribution.

(Since the Moon moves quickly, 2½ days per sign, it is not included in the tally -- the Moon moves through each element 3 times per month). The Moon flits in and out of earth signs three times a month – other than that, there are no earth planets until 7/30/03. Lack of earth placements typically signifies both a lack of security in various ways and the need to organize and bring stability by assessing the breaches in the foundation. Instability currently comes from feelings that have gone out of control or are confused, frustrated and misaligned. Water-wise, Saturn in Cancer for the next 2.5 years joins Uranus in Pisces 0-2 deg. in 2003 (3/10–9/16/03). The issues are emotional and concern very basic ones like quality of life, food, sanitation, housing, and employment. Air is still dominant (4 placements), but water is close with 3 placements. Ideas and rhetoric are still rampant and new solutions need to be found or old and good ones finally implemented. Hopefully greater sensitivity and common sense arise with increased water placements. The predominant signs occupied are airy Gemini (3), airy Aquarius (2), watery Cancer (1), fiery Leo (1), watery Pisces (1) and fiery Sadge (1). The Gemini planets add much discussion and, with a predominance of mutable planetary energy, conflicting versions of the same events and of the truth. The missing mutable sign Virgo asks us to sift and sort the myriad facts. Five out of nine planets are in mutable signs (Gemini, Pisces, Sadge), increasing discussion of opinions and ideas and bringing new information to the foreground. Three planets in fixed signs and one planet in cardinal mean much discussion, processing and detours but slow overall progress. Whew!

 

Sunday, June 15, 2003 – Father’s Day!

Moon VOC in Capricorn, Cardinal, Earth (achievement, quality).

(VOC=Void of Course. The Moon makes no major contact with another planet before it leaves a sign. Indicates disconnected feelings and random, free-floating moods. An easygoing and less-structured time, not the best time for major decisions or starting new projects. VOC ends as the Moon enters the next sign.)

Ž      Even if things don’t go perfectly today in spite of your best efforts, make the most of what transpires. Consider that time spent with loved ones and honoring fathers and family need not be a big production – simply a loving, thoughtful one.

Monday, June 16, 2003 – Mars enters Pisces!

Moon VOC in Capricorn.

Moon into Aquarius, Fixed, Air (truthfulness, unexpected) @ 8:41PM EDT.

Ž      The mundane can bore you or allow you to feel a certain kind of security bred by habit and familiarity. Good day to make an assessment of the foundation of your lifestyle and whether it meets the demands, challenges and goals you’ve defined.

Tuesday, June 17, 2003 –

Moon in Aquarius.

Ž      “The truth will set you free.” Things have clarity today and a sparkle. You’re quite likely to find the humor in the idiosyncrasies of life, and a good laugh with friends, co-workers or community contacts makes our woes more tolerable.

Wednesday, June 18, 2003 –                                                                                                                        

Moon in Aquarius, VOC @ 9:08PM EDT.

Ž      Recognizing how the complex internal emotional bundle you are influences your daily decisions and viewpoint can momentarily shatter your equilibrium. But you are now freer to be yourself without those unnecessary illusions.

Thursday, June 19, 2003 –

Moon VOC in Aquarius.

Moon into Pisces, Mutable Fire (magical, spiritual) @ 1:57AM EDT.

Ž      If you’re feeling more vulnerable and you don’t know why, you’re probably asking the wrong question. Stay with your feelings instead of banishing them to subterranean depths. Respecting your emotions will give you more in the long run.

Friday, June 20, 2003 –

Moon in Pisces.

Ž      Put aside a chunk of your day for creative, inventive or artistic incubation and percolation. It matters not what the project is or whether it’s for your company or your own business, you need time to rummage for innovative ideas undisturbed.

Saturday, June 21, 2003 – Last Quarter Moon, 29 Pisces @ 10:45AM EDT. Summer Solstice – Sun enters Cancer!

Moon in Pisces, VOC @ 10:45AM EDT.

Moon into Aries, Cardinal Fire (progressive, spirited) @ 11:06AM EDT.

Ž       Changes in the air require new commitments to your values, dreams and goals. Rushing today will cause you to stumble because timing is everything. So pace yourself and allow for inevitable delays and you’ll still be smiling the end of day.