Void-of-course Moon Moving into Libra

Well! A mistake at the end of yesterday's entry stated that the void-of-course cauldron of transformation ended at 6:42 AM EDT when it continues throughout the day, ending at 6:42 PM. So, what is a void-of-course Moon and how does it affect today's energy?

The Moon is the fastest moving body in our sky, container of moods and feelings, signifier of the natural rhythms of life. She focuses our feelings as she moves through astrological space, touching other planets in the sky as well as points and planets in our own charts. We look to the relationships between the Moon and these other planets and points to gain insight and guide action.

The Moon moves through each sign of the zodiac, from 0 to 29 degrees of each, in about two and half days. Within each sign, she touches everything located at the same degree, in some way. When she no longer touches any other planet, the Moon is said to be void of course. She continues in her path, but has no other touchpoints until she enters the next sign.

Because this void-of-course concept emerged from classical astrology, it takes note only of the classical planets and the Ptolemaic aspects, which are the conjunction, opposition, trine, square and sextile. This leaves out the asteroids, including Chiron, as well as aspects like the inconjunct (also called the quincunx).

The standard advice is to avoid starting anything new during a void-of-course period, as whatever is begun, will not prosper. This comes out of electional astrology, choosing when to sign a contract, make a major purchase, or take some other important action. Voids of course are also considered to be more inwardly focused, reflective times, while the Moon is on her own, not in dialogue with other energies. On the other hand, some astrologers, and many people, pay no attention to voids of course at all.

Voids of course times, as with anything else in astrology, are patterns for us to explore. Astrology is one of many ways the cosmos communicates with us. As we move through our lives, we listen, look, use all our senses to take in the world around us. Then we respond. Are voids of course meaningful for you? Ultimately, only you can answer that.

As I attend more closely to the Moon's patterns, I find that voids of course do feel more reflective, and allow myself more time for meditative thought and practice. Some things about the classical approach I'm not comfortable with, though. It's time to change how I view this pattern, and see where that leads.

Chiron, the wounded healer and mentor who urges us to fully embody our unique selves, is an important archetype and energy in my astrological practice. He's at 28 degrees of Aquarius now, and no other planet is later in degree. So although he is omitted from standard calculations of when the Moon goes void of course, he's actually the last body touched by the Moon at this time. I plan to recalculate the beginnings of voids of course to include Chiron.

The other change I'm making is to include the inconjunct. This awkward angle that requires active adjustment seems to be a powerful one for the emotion-filled Moon. The inconjunct is also the key to the yod pattern, the isoceles triangle formed from two inconjuncts and a sextile.

These changes in my approach have an immediate impact. Classically, the Moon has been void of course since 8:04pm EDT yesterday, and will remain so until she enters Libra at 6:42pm tonight. If we include Chiron and the inconjunct aspect, the Moon is not yet void.

The careful, practical Virgo Moon is moving toward an inconjunct with visionary Neptune that will be exact at 2:41pm EDT. This will be followed by an inconjunct with Chiron at 4:59pm EDT. If you find your moods and reflections today touched with a felt need to balance visionary healing (Neptune and Chiron) with practical everyday life (Virgo Moon), perhaps these patterns are part of your Moon experience as well.

At 6:42pm EDT, the Moon steps gracefully into balanced Libra, and immediately confronts the Cardinal Cross. She will need all her Libran charm and diplomacy as she opposes Uranus (6:46pm), conjuncts Saturn (10:01pm), opposes Jupiter (11:06pm), and squares Pluto (11:38pm). What a lineup! The Moon then moves toward conjunctions with Venus (4:58am EDT Friday) and Mars (9:21am EDT Friday).

The Moon's transit through early Libra becomes a kind of swan song for the Cardinal Cross, as Uranus will retrograde back into Pisces at 11:36pm Friday. Powerful aspects will continue to unfold, and our time of great change is far from over, but as Uranus slips back into the sign of cosmic visions, we can expect an energy shift in that direction as well.

Amid the technical details, here's the emerging theme: The Moon today moves through a reflective time includes some difficult terrain. We may feel uncomfortable, a bit out of balance, as we try to hold both the practicalities of daily life and larger visions of change and healing.

Tonight, the Moon moves into Libra, a sign usually marked by grace and balance, where she will face a series of significant planets and patterns. The Moon brings our feelings into focus around the changes we see around and within us. What does global change mean for me? How am I feeling about what has emerged so far, and where this might lead? Where is my personal balance point? These are perennial questions, to be sure, and the Moon leads is there once again.

The images of the waterlily and the pointe shoe are available through Wikimedia Commons.