Using The Void-of-Course Moon

Many of the ancient wise ones practiced a rudimentary form of 
astrology which only dealt with the Moon.  This may seem limiting, but there is a 
wealth of information about the day-to-day affairs of the world which can be 
explored by just using the Moon as she moves through her phases and the signs 
of the zodiac, and makes aspects tot he other planets.

When people start working with lunar energies, they generally start 
by following the Moon as she moves from sign to sign, and learning about 
the influences that shift as she changes signs every few days.  A person 
may also start planning activities according to the phase of the Moon, 
starting projects at or after the New Moon, watching them come to fruition at 
Full, using the waning phases to evaluate and wrap up, and finally ending 
the project as the Moon becomes dark again.

Eventually, the interested person will come across the term void-of-
course Moon, or the indicator v/c or voc.  This is a special condition of 
the Moon, which occurs for varying amounts of time as the Moon moves from one sign to the next and makes aspects to the other planets.  The Moon is 
considered void-of-course immediately after it has made its last major aspect to 
a planet within a sign.  It ceases to be void when it enters the next 
sign.  If used, these void periods can be a very effective way to get the 
cosmic energies to make life go more in your favor.  This article will 
explain what voids do to the ebb and flow of everyday life, how to identify when 
the Moon is void-of-course.

These techniques have little or nothing to do with your personal 
natal astrological chart.  These conditions exist in the world at large and 
affect everyone more or less the same way.  Some people are more sensitive, 
and some are more aware of the influences than others, but the influences are 
there for anyone to use.  These techniques should not be used in 
interpreting a natal chart.  This type of astrology predates natal (birth chart) 
astrology, and is some of the oldest arcane knowledge that has been passed down to us through the ages. The systems have been refined and augmented as time passed, and some of these techniques are more modern than others.  this 
specialized branch of astrology, known as horary and electional astrology, is 
usually practiced today apart from natal astrology (which is the most popular 
astrology the average person is familiar with from horoscope columns).

                                How To Use the Void-of-Course

Among the many things the Moon rules is the masses, people in groups, 
daily routine, habits, instincts and personal patterns.  It is the 
unconscious, and also the unconscious things we do to get through life.  Unless you are just learning to drive, driving a car is pretty automatic for most of us, 
as long as conditions aren't normal.  It's the same with all those things we do in a 
day, brushing our teeth, taking a shower, making coffee, walking to 
the bus--everything we would consider normal and routine.  These little 
tasks, which might not seem so important or interesting, are what make the 
ebb and flow of daily life, and we tend only to take notice of them when they 
don't go as we are used to, whenever our routine is broken.  This is where 
the void Moon can come into play.

Well, now we know that the Moon experiences these cosmic break times, 
but how does that affect the populace at large?  The Moon, which rules daily 
routines, is on break, and so are we, so to speak.  Watch and see how 
the ebb and flow of life changes as the Moon moves fro sign to sign.  Things 
that were very important from one day are pushed aside as new ideas and 
concerns move to the forefront of consciousness.  There is an actual shifting 
of gears when the Moon changes signs.  But, like a manual transmission car, 
there has to be a time when things are in neutral, so to speak, so the gears 
can be changes.  That is the void Moon.

The upshot of it all is that there are things that just don't go well 
when the moon is void, and actually some things that turn out better.
During a void Moon, you should not sign a contract, make plans, close 
a deal, or start a project.  Basically anything which you want to have a 
concrete real-world result should not be started, signed, or sealed.  If you 
do, these things will never get off the ground, never materialize, have to be 
redone, or have so many problems and setbacks as to be useless anyhow.  False 
starts and errors abound and judgment is more fallible.

If you leave on a trip (some say arrive at your destination), on a 
void Moon, be prepared to take what happens.  Plans will be altered, itineraries 
go out the window, and new and strange experiences will manifest.  This is 
fun for a vacation, but bad for a business trip.  During voids, business moves 
meet with unexpected difficulties.

Objects bought during a void Moon either never get used, are "not 
right" in some way, or you don't find what you were looking for in the first 
place.  You can go grocery shopping, but just stick to the basics--don't look 
for special items or try new ones.  You either won't find them or they 
will never get eaten and probably will have to be thrown out.  Expect to forget 
some absolutely essential everyday item (like milk or bread), and be sure 
to carefully count your change and look at the cash register receipt.  
Silly little mistakes are more common during void Moons.  Delay and 
frustration run higher than normal.

If you have to work on a void Moon, stick to routine and don't try 
strange new stuff. If you make plans on a void Moon (or some say, plan to met 
during a void Moon), expect to have mutual misunderstandings.  You might 
show up at the place you agreed but at the wrong time, or your friend might show up at the right time, but in the wrong place.  People are more likely to 
get lost no matter how accurate the directions or how familiar they might be 
with the neighborhood.  You may also discover those strange, interesting 
out-of-the-way laces you would never ordinarily go.  Just be sure to write 
down the location so you can remember where it is if you ever want to return.

Void Moon time is when you lose objects which are in plain sight.  
You literally don't see them.  You may put something away and forget 
where it is afterwards, so it becomes effectively lost. Cheer up.  You may find 
it again during another void Moon.

During a void Moon, you can have a conversation, or read something 
and then totally forget about it later.  Save the trashy romances for this 
time, since you probably won't be able to get any effective work done.  You could do dishes, or laundry, or clean house during a void Moon, but you might 
not finish due to interruptions or distractions.  Staying on a diet can 
be tough, and you are more prone to rationalize cheating.  Resolve and 
willpower in general are a little less strong.  There is a feeling of, "what they 
don't know won't hurt them," or "if nobody knows, then I can get away with 
it."  If you do succumb to temptation, you may have to pay the piper once the 
Moon moves into the next sign.

On the other hand, if you want to drop a bombshell, and yet have fewer 
repercussions in the long run, during the void-of-course Moon is the 
time to do it.  Here is a real example.  Remember President Reagan, 
the "Teflon President," who never got blamed for any of the bad stuff?  Well, he 
was very careful to schedule those presidential news conferences where he 
would answer the hard questions about nasty controversial stuff during void 
Moons.  There would be questions and discussion, yet the next day nothing would 
ever really be said in the paper or on TV.  The topic was just dropped, 
forgotten, or glossed over, and nobody ever really notices.  The void Moon was 
Reagan's Teflon.  Even in August 1988, when Nancy Reagan admitted at the 
Republican National Convention on live TV with Dan Rather that the Reagans used astrology, it was during a void Moon, and nobody really noticed or cared.  
(This is the stuff that causes astrologers to tear out their hair).  
Of course, when President Reagan had something wonderful to say which 
would make him look good and he wanted people to notice, he was very careful to make sure the Moon was not void, so he would receive maximum notice and credit.  He also used other astrological tricks that helped, but the biggest and easiest was the void Moon.

Void Moons are the best for subjective, spiritual, non-material 
concerns; prayer, yoga, play, parties, psychotherapy, sleep, and meditation.  
Take a warm bubble bath, listen to music, and relax.  Decision-making turns 
out to be non-realistic.  Creativity takes unplanned directions, detours, 
and improvisations.  Routine and habit can proceed smoothly, but may need 
adjustment later (when the Moon is no longer void).  ESP is more 
active, (though not necessarily more accurate).


**I am not sure who wrote this.  If you know e-mail me so I can give credit**