North American West Coasters start the day with a pounding (everybody else takes it on the chin, too, it’s just not their morning eye-opener): a Fist of God with Ceres at 29 degrees square the Earth in Virgo and both sesquiquadrate Juno. The exact Venus/ Zeus opposition doesn’t help, and the Aries Moon makes us a wee bit pugnacious. What to do?

This will at least feed stressful feelings, especially unconscious ones (that 29 degree Ceres will chip away at our sense of authority over our own lives, and for those susceptible may make them feel that others are outright taking that Self-authority away); at worst it could suggest real-world confrontations over who’s in charge of what, the kind of fight that pulls out accounting and details (Virgo) in the quest to win the upper hand. If we keep in mind that empowerment (and by that I mean a personal sense that we are effective and have a say) is the need for everyone, then we may deal with flare-ups that much more effectively, as with some effort we’ll find ways for each party to feel they’re of some significance.

The Venus/ Zeus clash will for some be the focus energy, and it could come in one of a number of forms: female v. male; the worth of things v. the want for things; assets v. Will (for instance, with gambling or shopping); beauty v. muscle; love v. lust; genuine love v. unmet Daddy needs; and so on (see more on Zeus in action in the mag here http://dogandsunflower.wordpress.com/eclipse-in-depth-astrology-for-the-21st-century/) Everyone will feel some disparity between what’s of value and what we want, and serving both becomes an impossible balancing act (and one the Zeus/ Will side likely wins, with the Moon in Aries) unless we remember two things: the Chiron/ Neptune quincunx to Earth, and the fact that Mars is at 00 Leo. If we can avoid making decisions out of hurt or delusion, and if we can know that our urge to action may be premature or not totally formed or informed (the 00 placement), then we may be willing to take our time–and that alone can bring things into clearer perspective, if we allow Venus the chance to move forward and reveal our desires and illuminate our assets without the pressure of Willfulness and want (Zeus). And the Merc/ Mars trine, with the Trickster at 29 degrees, makes us prone to shoot our mouths off, especially in anger; hold off the cuff assertions until the push to speak passes–even though you may see your thoughts as reflecting an ideal or the common good (Pisces) they won’t come off that way.

So what is it a good day for? Taking Self-responsibility. The Aries Moon squares the Nodal axis (10 AM PDT) and we should be extra-aware that what we do will affect our Path. By 10 PM PDT the Moon has moved into trine with Vesta, and a review of how well our choices have served our core values will be in order, with a quincunx to Pallas giving us the wisdom and guidance to course-correct. By 3:30 AM PDT on the 18th the Moon quincunxes Earth, asking for emotions to accomodate realities, and vice versa, and by 7 AM PDT we see the Moon trine Ceres (matters of authority are clear, a relief after yesterday! though intrusiveness could be a problem) with the Void beginning at 9:08 AM PDT. The Moon enters Taurus at 9:29 AM PDT.