April in Paris & Elsewhere KEN PAONE
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OR CENTURIES, the ever-changing face of the weather has been the object of man’s attention and study. His continual observation of the shifting seasons, the winds and rains, the storms and frosts, soon led him to conclude that local weather conditions were synchronized with the movements of the planets. Each planet became known for its special influence on the weather. u was equated with cold; y with moderate temperatures. t ruled over heat and dryness; r over warmth and gentle showers. e stirred the winds while the w governed the tides and the distribution of moisture. The q brought heat and marked the general character of the seasons. At some point, it became apparent that when these planets were found on the angles of key charts their influences were manifested on the weather. The strongest angle is that of the Midheaven but the IC as well as the Ascendant and Descendent are effective in these regards. This April will offer us a number of opportunities to see important planetary aspects at work both on the angles and on the weather. Some of these celestial configurations assume angular positions over Paris but, of course, affect France in general as well. We’ll also find them at work over different areas of the United States and we’ll note the most likely weather patterns that will result. 6th April 2004 brings a square between t and y. Since both these planets raise temperatures, this combination usually produces warmer conditions. The square aspect has a disruptive effect on weather patterns and therefore t-y at 90º angles is also considered an acute storm breeder. The 6th of April brings e’s retrograde station as well. We usually expect increased wind velocities and cold fronts at these stations due to e’s affinity with air currents. The long-range weather forecaster’s arsenal also includes solar eclipse charts, which at times are spurred to life by the transits of the outer planets. Two such previous eclipses are triggered around this time. The solar eclipse of 31st May 2003 is set off by the conjunction of t on 4th April, while on 8th April the solar eclipse degree of 4th December 2002 will receive an opposition by t. In order to localize the influence of the t D y and e’s retrograde station on the earth’s surface, we refer to the Spring Solar Ingress chart and the New Moon chart, both of which begin on 30th March 2004.
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