MOON VOID OF COURSE

by Janet Booth

In my Janet’s Plan-its™ calendars, I explained Moon Void of Course this way:

A period of time when the Moon has finished its aspects* in its current sign. Until entering the next sign, motivation is low and actions “run out of steam.” It’s not a good time to make major purchases or begin important activities.

*Aspects are distances between planets in their movements. It is theorized that when planets are particular fractions of the sky apart, their influences combine or clash. For example, positions halfway across the sky (180 degrees apart, called “opposition”) are thought to indicate competition, confrontation or completion while positions a third of the sky apart (120 degrees apart, called “trine”) are said to bring harmonious blends between what the planets involved represent.

If you don’t have my calendar handy, you can see when the Moon is Void of Course on the calendars at this cool site: Lunarium.co.uk.  Click Edit to enter your location (then Save Preferences) and the site adjusts the Moon information for your time zone. It shows the times for Moon’s Void periods, entrance into signs and phases. Since this site is in the UK, you’ll need to look at dates the way they do: month first, then day of the month. For instance, America would say July 3 and write it: 07/03. They would say 3rd of July and write it: 03-07. An alternate source is CafeAstrology’s Timing with the Moon page (the Moon Void info is way down at the bottom of the page, after some great explanations).

The Moon moves through the 30 degrees of each sign in about 2-1/2 to 3 days. When it enters a sign, imagine it has marching orders as to certain aspects it will form in that sign. “While I’m in Gemini, I’ll square the Sun and Mercury, trine Jupiter, sextile Saturn and then conjunct Neptune.” After it’s made all the aspects on its list in that sign, it has down time until it enters the next sign and gets new marching orders.

The Moon represents emotions (which fluctuate a lot!) as well as reactions and habits. It’s strongly related to eating, comfort and security. Its aspects show motivations, so when it’s not motivating us, we’re more apt to drift. This is another feature of Moon Void of Course. The name gives the hint: lacking a destination.

During Moon Void of Course, when we wander aimlessly around stores not shopping for anything in particular, we sometimes have good luck. But when we set out to find a particular item, we’re more likely not to end up with a happy result. Later we don’t use that item, or if it’s a gift, the recipient isn’t thrilled with it.

Astrological calendars often list aspects and the time they occur, as well as the time the Moon enters a sign. If they don’t specifically say when the Moon begins a Void of Course period, look for the time of the last aspect the Moon makes before it changes signs. That’s when the Moon goes Void of Course.

Depending on the zodiac positions of the other planets to which the Moon is connecting, that last aspect might be only minutes before the sign changes. Sometimes it’s hours, occasionally it’s days. If other planets are all in the lower degrees of the signs through which they’re traveling, the length of the Void Moon will be longer.

People born with the Moon Void of Course sometimes amble through life without a strong sense of purpose. They are usually of a spiritual bent, or concerned with bringing things to a conclusion.

Check the nature of the last aspect the Moon makes as it turns Void. It carries that energy forward with it through the Void period as the prime motivation, albeit one that is winding down. You can use the keywords from my Cheat Sheet or at the back of my calendars to piece together the aspect’s meaning. For example, if the last aspect was a square to Pluto, squares mean friction or an adjusted approach is required and Pluto signifies what is hidden or what needs to be released, so this aspect can mean that a positive use of the Void period would be to make an adjustment by releasing an emotion or attachment.