Studying the declination positions of the planets along with the horoscope lunar phase charts and observing the solar mapping graphic information adds interesting details to the seasonal long range forecast. The lines on the graph present a picture of the planets as they perform a graceful dance through the heavens in relation to earth. When the planet lines on the graph cross there is a related weather event that is usually more impacting than the average weather for a designated location. At the beginning of the winter season, the Sun is always found at the Tropic of Capricorn or 23.26 degrees southern declination. The Sun will travel to the northern hemisphere for spring in March 2009. Trace the Sun's line (blue) on the graph at zero degrees on December 21, 2008, the first official day of winter and note that the Sun is at the maximum southern position at 23:26 degrees/minutes at the start of the winter season. Note the position of the moon (dark blue line) on the graph; it is currently achieving 27 degrees maximum north and south declination, but now leaving its major standstill position where the maximum numbers achieved will continue to decrease for several years. Here is a website that further explains this natural phenomenon cycle: http://www.iol.ie/~geniet/eng/moonperb.htm

WINTER PLANETS IN DECLINATION

The graph visual shows the Moon line as the fastest moving of all the lines, traveling from north position down to maximum south position three times during the season. As the Moon travels and connects with the planet lines, the weather is stimulated or triggered in certain locations. The graph positions are a standard for the globe. Where the local weather is connected by declination, explained in the weather course, it will give additional backup information to weather conditions. Saturn stands alone in the northern hemisphere until late January when Venus crosses the equator perhaps heralding a bit of warmth. Saturn is in an opposition connection with Uranus that results in severe and wacky weather. The aspect is known in declination terminology as a contra-parallel. In longitude, Saturn and Uranus are separated by 2 degrees 41 minutes. It is possible that the closeness of aspect in both systems is enough to create a weather bomb in the locations where they are prominent. The blue Sun line connects with most of the planets over the course of the season; watch it steadily climb to the equator by the end of the winter season.

Cast your eye to the bottom left of the graph and note that Mars (red) and Mercury (purple) are positioned below the Sun. These two planets are called 'out of bounds' of the Sun. The late Frances McEvoy considered out of bounds planets to be NOT in the gravity field of the Sun. I think that the planets are free agents to create whatever mischief, mayhem or extraordinary influence they hold. Not only once but thrice will Mercury and Mars parallel during this winter season. Mercury and Mars together have an alliance to produce winds that can shake the planet! In the first few days of the winter season, Mercury and Mars will meet just about the time when the Moon will cross their path. There will be a major wind event! Where will the action take place when they blow their fierce winter winds? The local and national highlights of this report may give you a clue as to where. If you are a student of astroweather, be sure to write to the weather list about this configuration and how it may affect you. For New England, the two planets will parallel on December 25th, 2008 at 1:48 am EST. They next meet early in February (around the 10th) and later in the season about March 5th and they begin to separate rapidly in declination.

At the end of November into early December a meeting of many planet lines forms a picture that are sure to produce a lasting stormy period as the lines weave in and out with the Moon line. Some of the lines indicate strong winds and a warmer than normal time in the southern hemisphere. When December begins, the cold fronts become more intense here on our side of the pond, just at about the time of the warmer influences for 'down under'. Moving along on the graph the next multi-planet lines crossing are at the end of January where the Sun, Mercury and Pluto will interact. Turbulent atmospheres with Sun and Mercury plus the intensity of Pluto should have you looking at your lunations for this period in January - the lunation of the quarter Moon January 17. Where are you in the world - what does your location tell you for this lunation? Continuing with the travel of Mars put your finger on the Mars Jupiter and Pluto parallel in the last week of February. If you examine the influence of the planets - Mars - dry, Jupiter -dry, Pluto - intense, then this just about confirms what I was thinking about the winter season being so dry that at the end or the last month, we were looking at the 'dust bowl' again. This kind of alerts me to the current recession and the dry times. Not a pleasant thought at all. When you observe the lines of the planets when they cross, if they coincide with a longitude aspect, then the weather is guaranteed for the influence of the particular planets. However, where this occurs depends on your located lunation; as you know, the weather does not happen the same way over the globe. To reinforce that point, students of the weather course are reminded that the longitude chart produces the basic forecast for a lunar phase and the declination information serves to add more detail. The weather has to be analyzed from certain locations.

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