Planet Weather for Weeks 1/29 & 2/5/12

NewsBits: Seal and Heidi Klum Split! A few days ago, I heard an interview with Seal and was impressed with his clarity, intelligence, and ability to express his emotions so compellingly and accurately. He would not say and no one knows (at least not now) what went on behind closed doors in his relationship with model and TV personality, Heidi Klum. (“You’re out” her famous phrase from Project Runway.) The widely loved couple announced their separation last week. Seal was born on 2/19/63, London, England, time unknown. Seal’s Sun is at 0 degrees Pisces and between 4/4/11, and 8/4/11, that’s exactly where Neptune was transiting. On 2/3/12, Neptune will once again reach 0 Pisces and then remain in Pisces for the next 14 years. This is a once in a lifetime powerful transit. (The conjunction of Neptune to the Sun will never happen again in Seal’s lifetime – he had a square to the Sun earlier in his life in January 1970 and may live to get another square – that’s about 42 years away.) A Sun/Neptune transit suggests a complete disintegration on any number of levels and the need to completely revise or understand the meaning of their role in life. It can be a time of great disillusionment and the need for illumination, faith, and/or redemption. Seal had a terribly sad and violent childhood, and the last time Neptune contacted his Son was when he was six years old and was a time of great transition when he left his foster home and moved in with his birth-father who beat him almost daily until he left home at age 15. One can be fairly certain that some of the feelings back then are surfacing again at this time. Neptune can manifest as confusion, delusion, depression, betrayal or lies, in its negative state. In the positive it can mean forgiveness and compassion both for self and for others.

Heidi Klum was born on 6/1/73, Bergish, Germany, time unknown. According to the chart we have, Heidi does not have a direct contact from Neptune to any of her planets. Instead, Heidi is experiencing the shock of Uranus/Aries opposing her Pluto/Libra @ 1degree. This may be experienced as a wrenching awareness and a flash of truth that changes the landscape of relationship quickly. The couple have 3 children from their union, and Heidi has another from a previous relationship. Right now the couple is separating, so there may be a chance they can still mend their rift.

Politics (As Usual)! We had another Republican candidate debate (four left standing) and because it took place with the Moon in Pisces opposite the freshly placed Mars retrograde (Rx) in Virgo, there were some bright sparks that flew. (We predicted that would happen! A Moon/Mars contact generates energy and often anger or willingness to confront (Mars) as someone/something gets under your skin or churns/burns up your emotions (Moon). The two front-runners are strongly affected by Mars/Virgo Rx too. Romney, who with a new debate coach took Newt head-on, was born with Mars/Pisces; the Moon of the day conjoined it and Mars/Virgo was opposite it. He definitely confronted Newt about disparaging comments he (Newt) made regarding Romney’s position on immigration and about his wealth and investments. The confrontation left Newt momentarily speechless. It made for good TV and continued the circus of the Presidential election season. Newt's getting planetarily hammered too by Mars/Virgo Rx square his Sun/Gemini. Neptune is coming along on 2/3/12 as it returns to 0 Pisces and squares Newt’s Mercury/Gemini exactly. (I wrote about Newt’s fall from the top over a month ago in PW in anticipation of these aspects to his chart).

President Obama is also affected by this Mars/Virgo Rx. It conjoined President Obama's birth sign Mars - he was feisty and on fire as much as an earthy Mars can be - (but then we can't forget his Sun in fiery Leo) delivering his State of Union address. He said "I will not back down," and "I will fight obstruction.” Some of his very Virgo buzz words: re-employment, closing loopholes, inspections, clean energy, broken, serving and clean energy. It’s also worth mentioning that Newt Gingrich described President Obama as being from another planet and planet Obama. I got a real chuckle out of that. Obama has Jupiter and his Ascendant in Aquarius, which typically indicates a different style and approach and the ability to see the bigger picture and entertain future trends. I suppose that kind of attitude, in contrast with short-term, self-serving thinking would seem like coming from another planet.

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SkyWatch for the Weeks of 1/29-2/5/2012:

Moon phase for the week of 1/29: 1/30 -- The Moon enters Her First Quarter phase at 11:10 PM EST, at 10 degrees of Taurus, where She is deservedly exalted. Skywatching events for this week: 1/30 -- The Waxing Moon makes a close pass by Jupiter. Their point of closest approach occurs a well after they have set as viewed from the US East Coast. But the sight of the Moon approaching Jupiter from below as they set together a couple of hours earlier should be well worth a glance.

Moon phase for the week of 2/5: 2/7 -- The Moon reaches perfect Fullness at 4:54 PM EST, at 18 degrees of Leo. In Native American and folklore traditions, this is the Snow Moon. This year, at least for much of the East Coast, this name belies the almost springlike weather with only sparse patches of melting snow. This Full Moon is also sometimes traditionally known as the Hunger Moon. Skywatching events for this week: All week -- in contrast to the Sun, the Moon is high in the sky, almost directly overhead at Her zenith, rising just after sunset and presiding all night over the sky. Interestingly, the positions of the Sun and the Full Moon are reversed for all the seasons, with the Moon being low in the sky in summer when the Sun is high and vice versa. Skywatching events of the week: 2/10 -- The waning Full Moon makes a close pass by Mars just after midnight Eastern time, when the two will be high in the sky and still rising. Catch their relative motion by watching from Moonrise to Moonset, as the Moon rises ahead of Mars, moves slowly eastward along the Zodiac towards and then past Mars, and then finally sets behind Mars.

Space News and Weather: Armaggedon lite! Yet another asteroid narrowly missed the Earth late last week, whizzing past us at a distance of a mere 36,000 miles, give or take. This one somewhat caught observers by surprise, with a lead time of only about a day or so between the time it was first spotted and its point of closest approach. However, even if it had been on a collision course with Earth, it was forturnately too small to do much (or any) damage but it served, at least, to put asteroid watchers on alert. Astronomers are referring to this one as a "bus-sized asteroid." Thankfully, we missed the bus (or the bus missed us!...) 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.

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Week of 1/29/12 – Monday, Wednesday, and Friday (Neptune re-enters Aquarius) 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 1/30/12, the Moon is VOC/Aries from 1:09AM to 1:28AM EST – On 2/1//12, the Moon is VOC/Taurus from 2:06PM to 2:15PM EST – On 2/4/12, the Moon is VOC/Gemini from 12:06AM to 1:04AM EST.

Week of 2/5/12 – Monday, Tuesday (Saturn turns Retrograde), Wednesday (Venus enters Aries) and Thursday 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 2/6/12, the Moon is VOC/Cancer from 7:31AM until 8:24AM EST – On 2/9/12, the Moon is VOC/Leo from 11:42AM to 12:32AM EST – On 2/10/12, the Moon is VOC/Virgo from 12:11AM to 2:54PM EST.

Quote of Note: "It's not the events of our lives that shape us, but our beliefs as to what those events mean."
- Tony Robbins (A very good Neptune/Pisces comment! See below.)

Summary: Don’t worry if you’re feeling a bit out of it or out of sorts – we’re still adjusting to Mars retro and now Neptune is moving into Pisces for the duration of its 14 yr. cycle. That’s enough to put anyone in a daze! Details below…

Planet Patterns and Cosmic Headlines (Detail):

Mars is Retrograde (Rx) in Virgo! Mars turned Rx in Virgo on 1/23/12 @ 23 deg. until 4/13/12. Mars entered mutable, earth Virgo on 11/10/11, and remains in Virgo (including its retrograde time) until 7/3/12! It’s significant that the first half of 2012 is dominated by a Virgoan theme at the same time that Neptune is entering Pisces for the next 14 years (see below). In short, the two energies are opposite. Virgo is about the details and Pisces about the unity of the whole. Both are necessary and need to be balanced. It’s easy to be overwhelmed when Mars Retro makes us aware of the many loose ends we’ve left hanging or the many tasks that seem to suddenly demand out attention.

Let this cycle teach you how to manage your stress level better. Pace yourself and stop when you find yourself obsessing – take a break then and switch to another activity, one that relaxes you. Virgo is one of the signs that govern health, as in the positive functioning of the body, as well as your schedule. Do you have play time and friend time built into your schedule, as well as a good diet, regular exercise and enough sleep? Virgo is the delicate system or mechanism (body/mind/spirit) that allows us to function well. Make sure you maintain it regularly so that it can do its job well.

Neptune re-enters mutable, water Pisces on 2/3/12 for the next 14 years until 3/31/25. It’s time to sing a different tune. Neptune in the very last sign of the Zodiac requires nuance and subtlety for one thing and a lot of faith for another. In fact you may be tested on your faith. Neptune is sticky and tricky (the title of one of my old lectures on Neptune). It is the search for meaning even in the midst of things dissolving around you and events that seem inexplicable. Neptune is the power of the water; it takes everything in and brings it back in another form entirely. It breaches all barriers and so on a mundane level we may find out secrets about people, places and things that have long been hidden.

Neptune is the intoxication with the ideal and all that takes us beyond the harshness of mundane life. And that’s why it’s also associated with addictions. There’s a yearning in Neptune for beauty and union with tastes and glimpses of the divine, with magic, with grace, forgiveness and compassion. This renewed emphasis on the urge to transcend will likely bring a surge of new music, film, and a renaissance in all other art forms.

Saturn turns Stationary Retrograde @ 29 Libra on 2/7/12 until 6/25/12. Re-evaluate your position and your relationships. Saturn has been traveling in the sign of the scales (balance) for about 2 years and it will leave in October 2012. But before it does that it has one more retrograde cycle. Along with Mars also retrograde, things slow down but also tend to break down. So, the opportunity is to rebuild the foundation step by step. First though, evaluate and remind yourself of the criteria you are using to make your plans. It’s possible you’ll need to revise and reassess them. Relationships are still in the crosshairs of scrutiny with Saturn/Libra. Some have broken down and new ones have formed. Typically imbalances in a range or arena create the friction in relationship and the balance of give and take is tipped. Sometimes the scales cannot rebalance themselves but at other times, when both parties have the will and commitment, the relationship is renewed and becomes even stronger.

Venus enters cardinal, fire Aries on 2/8/12. With Venus in Aries, Mars Rx as the ruler of Aries, picky, picky, prickly will describe relationship life. Confrontation and the accumulation of many transgressions can create friction. Best not to let annoyance pile up. Determine how important those annoyances really are, let some go and process the really important one. Remember you are annoying too at times. We all are, so be fair. Find ways to have fun, freshen up the relationship by being pro-active and creating energy that stimulates and enlivens and remember to manage your temper. Patience is a keyword for Venus/Aries with a Mars retrograde. Exercise, play sports, take a walk to release pent up energy that could say things it doesn’t really mean!

Currently Active Paradigm-Shift Patterns -- Back Stories: Repeats and elaboration of the major configurations affecting all of us currently.

Jupiter Stationary Direct @ 0Taurus on 12/25/11, Christmas Day! Whatever good was held back or delayed will now move toward you, that is – if it was already heading in your direction to begin with! Ask your astrologer to map this out for you. A planet changing direction is always a big event and with Jupiter, the biggest planet in our Solar system, expect some magnification of events – maybe even exaggeration, and also some surprises. Jupiter/Taurus is generous with whatever resources it has and is patient and enduring. Jupiter entered fixed, earth Taurus on 6/4/11 and stays 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 spans 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 are willing to look for them and allow them.

Neptune turned Stationary Direct on 11/9/11 until 6/5/12! The scandals leaked out – Herman Cain’s sexual harassment skeletons and child rape abuses at Penn State University. With this surge forward again, Neptune soon leaves the sign Aquarius not to return for another 164 years! Neptune is now moving steadily toward Pisces, where it Stationed @ 0deg. on 6/3/11 and sat at 0 degrees between 4/4-8/5/11. On 2/3/12, Neptune returns to 0 deg. Pisces and will then continue its journey through Pisces for the next 14 years, until 3/31/25. We can only imagine what changes in the culture and our sensibilities this will bring. There is a grand focus on the environment and greater sensitivity within the web-like network that binds us closer together than ever before. New visionaries will emerge, as well as new ways to believe and questions of what to believe. The way in which each one of us is connected to and responsible for every other living being on this planet will become increasingly and utterly apparent.

We’ve only 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.

With Neptune’s foray into Pisces, 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. 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. Ed.] 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. 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.

We’ve only had four months of Neptune in Pisces so far in 2011, 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.

Pluto turned 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 of 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. (The gold bubble and Germany’s bailout in the Euro crisis with defaulting Greece.)

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 entered cardinal, air Libra on 10/29/09. The full cycle lasts until 10/6/12. 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.

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 the most.

Copyright 1997-2012 Dorothy Oja -- All rights reserved – General editing and science editor, John Flagg.

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MINDWORKS services include: Timing and Electional work (dates for surgery, weddings, business openings etc.), Composite/Davison Relationship and Couples analysis, Children's Profiles and private tutoring. Meta-Coaching sessions involve eliciting the astrological and sacred dynamics of your chart to empower realization of your goals and find satisfaction in self-expression. An active writer for national magazines and online sites, collections of Dorothy's articles are available. upon request. Dorothy writes a free, weekly ezine, Planet Weather, published for the past 12 years for enthusiastic subscribers, which includes social, cultural and political commentary. Dorothy has frequently appeared as a guest on TV, hosted her own radio shows and has been interviewed in the print media. In October 2000, Dorothy published her text, Compatibility & Conflict for Romantic Relationships, as a computer interpretive report, followed by Compatibility & Conflict for Friendship and Business in October 2002. Dorothy currently serves the community as Chair of the ISAR Ethics Committee including Ethics Awareness Training.