Hurricane Irene, Dark Moon, New Moon, Mercury Direct

Hurricane Irene rolled up the eastern seaboard of the United States under a dark Moon forcing us to comply with the Lunar dictates of quiet, meditative inner work while the Moon finishes one cycle and prepares for the new.  Rain, wind and power outages were the enforcers of those dictates. What else could you do? The New Moon occurs on Sunday night at 11:04 PM EDT in the sign of Virgo. This New Moon has a lovely trine, an aspect of ease, between Venus and Jupiter. Not a bad influence for the upcoming month. In traditional Astrology Jupiter is known as the Greater Benefic while Venus carries the moniker the Lesser Benefic.  They are money planets and also have a much to do with international diplomacy, treaties and negotiations. They can bring about to much of a good thing as well. With Mercury direct, the New Moon under our belt, and Irene trekking into the interior the work week begins with a burst of energy and activity. Projects and plans that have been on hold or that have hit a dead end begin to move forward as new ideas and information change the picture.  The trine between Jupiter and Venus becomes exact in the wee hours on Tuesday morning, August 30^th shortly before Jupiter turns retrograde. The capitalist, bankers, lawyers and diplomats will react. In the afternoon when Moon enters Libra at 2:25 PM EDT the real negotiations will begin. Libra Moon brings a strong desire to socialize as people want to connect with their fellows. This is a good time to form partnerships or to work on a team.  Libra Moon loves balance and harmony so take advantage of this Moon to iron out any differences you may have with friends, loved ones and co-workers. The cooperative energy remains until Moon moves into Scorpio.  Moon in Scorpio pulls in the energy of Scorpio’s rulers Mars and Pluto. People are sensitive and take things very personal.  Feelings get hurt and folks lash out.  It is hard to forgive and forget under Scorpio Moon but it is wise to remember that when Scorpio and Pluto are involved it is best to take the high road.  These deep emotions offer the opportunity to connect on a soul level with those around you. On Friday Sun kicks off the weekend by making nice-nice with Jupiter. Sun is in Virgo and loves the details; Jupiter always sees the big picture. An aspect of ease brings a nice blend of these two opposing ideals. When Moon enters Sagittarius on Saturday, September 3^rd, there’s a general feel of restlessness and the urge is to get up, get out and do something. Folks are warm and friendly so it is a good time for socializing, especially if it involves a sporting event. The Moon, in the waxing phase, offers a great time to begin new projects and with Mercury in direct motion all systems are fired up and ready to go. Take action.

A Classic Mercury Retrograde Blunder

In writing about the Moon’s waning phase this week and the jangle of energy winging its way along as the night sky darkens; in true Retrograde Mercury fashion I neglected to mention one of, if not the most important shift of the week. That is the Sun’s entry into Virgo on Tuesday morning at 7:21 AM EDT. As mentioned in the prior post, Monday evening Sun opposed Neptune in Aquarius. (This is the last aspect the Sun makes before moving into a new sign and will be kicking up some dust.) The Sun’s annual trek through Virgo signals the end of summer and prompts preparation for the upcoming Autumn and Winter. This is the harvest time. Sun in Virgo is discerning, able to differentiate between the wheat and the chaff. The Sun’s energy brought to bear in Virgo enhances our ability to differentiate between what is valuable and what is junk.  Virgo will achieve the most while doing the least because of a natural bent towards efficiency.  The Virgo energy of astute perceptiveness may be hampered while Mercury continues in Retrograde motion. But rest assured once Old Murky goes direct it’ll be clear sailing. While Sun remains in Virgo get rid of the useless, clean out closets and cupboards and get organized.  Virgo Sun will send those bright beams down and help you tackle the sometimes difficult task of parting with possessions that no longer serve. An assist we can all use.

Another Fun Week! The Change Comes From Within

The Last Quarter Moon reaches perfection at 5:54 PM EDT on Sunday, August 21, 2011 kicking off a busy week of planetary sign and direction changes.  Quarter Moons call for action, in the waning phase the action/change occurs on the inner planes.  This is the time to finish projects, do some tweaking here and there and take a little break, especially as we segue into the Balsamic phase. The Crescent Moon is shrinking and soon the night sky is dark. Dream the future, stop, smell the roses and listen.  In the quiet new ideas formulate and creativity percolates preparing for the start of the next cycle, the New Moon on the 28^th/29^th of August. Hold off beginning the new until after this New Moon. Before we reach this new phase we will have to get through this week of fluctuating energy. On Sunday, Venus moves from fiery Leo to the more sedate Virgo. Venus loves to indulge herself and Virgo has no patience for fancy frills and extravagance. The love of Venus in Virgo is a more practical love. Venus in Virgo will weed your garden or cook you a pot of soup.  Venus in Virgo minds the budget and is reluctant to spend on luxury items. A new stove is fine; a silk scarf questionable.  Moon moves into Gemini Sunday night. Waning Moon in Gemini is a great time to clear your desk of all communications that require a response. People are busy, busy, talky, talky while Moon is in this sign. On Monday, the Sun opposes Neptune bringing a jangle of discordant news and exposure of a few dark deeds. The real truth of it all comes out after Mercury turns direct on Friday, August 26^th at 6:03 PM EDT. In the meantime Gemini Moon keeps pumping out the information until Wednesday morning when Moon slides home to Cancer. Things begin to get emotional. Gemini Moon thinks; Cancer Moon feels. Wednesday could turn out to be an emotional roller coaster, try not to base any decisions solely on emotions. On Thursday morning Mars in Cancer squares off with Saturn in Libra. Think difficult. In traditional astrology these two are considered the Greater and Lesser Malefics. Things could get ugly. Disputes, fights, foul weather, and some nasty explosive types of events are possible. Moon goes Void of Course at 9:04 AM. When Moon is Void of Course the best course of action is one of kicking back and letting life flow around you.  Actions and decisions made during Void of Course periods have a funny way of running in unexpected directions. So whatever the Mars/Saturn configuration stirs up the wise will remember to take those ten deep breathes before reacting. In the evening, Venus plays the diplomat with powerful Pluto.  Political shenanigans come to mind. On Friday noonish Moon enters Leo. People want to be loved and appreciated when Moon is in Leo. The creative, playful side emerges. Leo Moon is a great way to start a fun weekend.  At 6:03 PM Mercury shifts into direct motion. Over the weekend new information surfaces and the news, scandals and false reports all receive a makeover as the truth finally comes out. Let the dust settle and wait until Monday before deciding, acting or beginning anything. 

After Last Week, What Next?

True to the symbolism of Mars, Uranus and Pluto in unhappy aspect last week can best be described as turbulent.  We saw that volatile energy reflected in societal unrest as well as in the political and financial worlds. Here in the United States the big event that occupied a huge chunk of the news cycle was the Iowa Straw Poll involving the Republican hopefuls.  This poll, begun a couple of hours before the Full Moon with retrograde Mercury opposing Neptune, has no legal standing but is highly symbolic and a win is much sought after by potential candidates.  Michele Bachman won with Ron Paul pulling a very close second. Mercury rules the vote, in a standoff position with Neptune and retrograde to boot, the message is often false and misleading. The Full Moon axis fell on Ms. Bachman’s Natal Jupiter/ Pluto conjunction bringing luck and good fortune but transiting Retrograde Mercury was sitting right on top of that conjunction as well.  Little Mercury rings the bell of false promise and false power. She will face tough competition from the likes of Ron Paul, Rick Perry as well as Mitt Romney.

Now that we are past the Full Moon we enter the disseminating phase where we must use or lose the energy generated from New to Full Moon.  Actions, ideas and emotions are ripe for the picking.  This is the time to share what you have learned. Scatter them little nuggets of truth. The Pisces Moon from Sunday to Tuesday offers a time to reflect and touch base with our more intuitive and sensitive side.  On Tuesday, August 16, 2011 Sun, Venus and Mercury make nice, nice and we find people once again at least talking to one another in a civil manner.  This will not last long as Moon moves into Aries on Tuesday night.  People often act before thinking under Aries Moon, they want to start something and always be on the move. On Wednesday it all hits the fan when Cardinal Aries Moon lights a fire under Uranus, Pluto, Mars and then Saturn.  This will be a “hump day” to remember.  Expect more fireworks on Thursday when Mars and Jupiter stir the pot. Late Thursday into early Friday morning EDT, Aries Moon sparks the diplomatic inclinations of the Sun, Venus, Mercury trio before settling down and entering the more stable sign of Taurus.  Taurus Moon favors the practical, the real and the lasting.  People tend to stubbornness while Moon travels through this fixed, earth sign. Here the energy of the Full Moon begins to crystallize as we prepare for the Last Quarter phase beginning on Sunday.

The volatility, instability and unpredictability of the times continues. Somewhere amid this chaos we need to find our still center. Many events we cannot control but we can control our own actions. From that still center we find our rock of stability. Try to act and react from that rock keeping the chaos at bay.

You Think Last Week Was Tough? Get Ready for More

After teetering on the edge of default Congress finally reached an agreement to raise the debt ceiling; an agreement that many are not happy with. They reached this agreement on Tuesday just before Mercury went retrograde. In typical Mercury retro fashion (nothing resolved) the agreement included a plan to form a committee of 12, 6 from each party to review the budget cuts, revenue and debt ceiling again at the end of the year. If they don’t do this, automatic spending cuts will be implemented in a wide variety of programs. On Friday Standard and Poors downgraded the United States credit rating, from AAA to AA+ citing “the difficulties of bridging the gulf between political parties.”  On top of all this, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell to its lowest since December 2010.

In the July 4, 1776 horoscope of the United States the money planets, Jupiter and Venus are conjunct in the early degrees of Cancer.  Pluto, the great destroyer and ruler of debt, taxes and interest rates is presently sitting directly across from these planets at 5 degrees of Capricorn.  Revolutionary Uranus currently at 4 degrees of Aries has been and will be creating a stressful square to the US Jupiter and Venus as well as to transiting Pluto. The energies created by the dynamic action between Uranus and Pluto impact financial, political and social constructs all over the world. Their last conjunction, occurring in the tumultuous sixties, should give you an idea as to how they shake up society. Today in their waxing square aspect we have most of Europe, along with the US, is in the financial toilet, revolutionary fire spreading across the Middle East; terrorism rearing its ugly head in the most unlikely places, natural disasters and weather extremes creating human misery across the globe.

Here on the eastern seaboard of the United States, Mars entered Cancer early Wednesday morning on August 3, 2011.  Zero degrees of any Cardinal sign; (Aries, Cancer, Libra or Capricorn) is a potent degree. These are the degrees that change the seasons, a lot of energy there.  Pluto and Uranus are in the early degrees of Cardinal signs as is the Jupiter and Venus of the United States. Pluto and Uranus are already messing with these money planets and when Mars enters the picture, well he is the original Action Jackson.  

Last week there was quite a bit of turmoil in the United States, politically as well as financially.  There is more to come. Today, Sunday, August 07, 2011 transiting Mars is conjunct the US Venus. Before the week is out he will connect with the United States Jupiter bringing more money woes for sure with the diplomatic arena not looking to healthy either. Transiting Saturn, hip deep into the Cardinal sign Libra will move into stressful square aspect to the United States Sun.  As the Sun in a mundane chart signifies Heads of State it is safe to assume that Obama’s got himself a big headache.  Transiting Saturn often puts you between a rock and a hard place.

Monday morning at 5:46 AM EDT, pesky little Mercury retrogrades back into Leo and then he opposes Neptune in Aquarius.  I would check every fact and figure that crosses my radar. Don’t take anything at face value. Do your homework and avoid snap decisions.  On Tuesday, 12:34 PM EDT, Mars, Mr. Action, squares off with Uranus, Mr. Upset and later in the afternoon the Moon enters Capricorn and the fun begins as Old Lunar kicks off those Cardinal Degrees.  By Thursday when Mars opposes Pluto be ready for scorched earth, literally and figuratively.  Major events are unfolding now and we may not know or understand what is really happening or what the fallout will be for many Moons. Whatever the case may be, this week’s run up to the Full Moon in Aquarius on Saturday will be volatile, unpredictable and violent.