Hi Friends,
We have quite the contradictory month ahead. On the one hand we have six planets in retrograde mode as we start off October, on the other hand we have a strong New Moon in Libra on October 6th that will be powered by forceful Mars. It’s sort of a push-n-pull feeling that is sure to bring some inner conflict. It’s like trying to drive your car with the parking brake on, you’ll move forward, but you won’t get too far.
At the onset of the month, the Sun continues to make its way through the partnership-oriented sign of Libra until October 23rd. Libra Season causes us to turn our attention to how we are cooperating with people in our lives and these around us—or if we need to reassess and renegotiate where we stand with others. Libra is a peace loving sign that wants everyone to get along. Libra rules relationships with others as mirrors of ourselves. Meeting others halfway, compromise, and negotiation come under the rule of Libra. The focus is now on balance and harmony through relationships with others and through beauty.
However, life is not always peaceful with Libra in its attempt to restore balance. Decision-making can be more challenging while the Sun is in Libra. Libra weighs both sides of any situation, and sometimes this process seems endless! In Libra, the Sun is concerned about not rocking the boat and not rubbing others the wrong way. Tactfulness, style, tolerance, and sociability are some of the keywords for Libra. On the shadow side, Libra can be self-serving, indecisive, passive-aggressive, and superficial.
The Libra theme continues thanks to the New Moon in Libra on October 6th. New Moons open a door in our lives depending on where they fall for our birth chart. While something fresh always arrives, you must show the Universe your intent through actions in order to harness the most benefit from this lunation. With Libra energy being infused into the cosmos, we will have a greater focus on balance, harmony, and justice. Partnerships become especially important to us all, and often marriages, unions, or collaborations take place more significantly now. However, with six planets in retrograde, it is not a favorable time to start any new relationships in business or love.
I would strongly suggest waiting until November to make any major partnership decisions if you can. Yet, you can use this New Moon to improve current connections and make new plans together, such as how you’d like to build something over the coming six months. The open door of a New Moon lasts for seven to fourteen days. What you plan now will come to culmination near April 16, 2022. So start planning your future.
To help with the planning, on the same day of the New Moon, Pluto begins to move forward in Capricorn. Pluto went retrograde back on April 27th, giving us an opportunity to process everything from societal transformations to our own subconscious terrain. Since this retrograde occurred in Capricorn, we’ll be dealing with matters involving karma, structure, and stability—both on personal and collective levels. We may also find that we are more career and status-oriented now that’s its moving direct, and we will likely feel eager to get rid of any obstacles that are preventing us from thriving professionally.
Our cosmic messenger, Mercury, continues to revolve backwards through the zodiac sign of Libra this month. This Mercury Retrograde phase began on September 27th and will continue officially until October 18th. Relationship topics will be on the top of our minds, as we want to make sure we are on the same page as our lovers, friends, collaborators, and business associates. Communication breakdowns are likely to take place, and situations or connections from the past may re-emerge now in order to find closure or begin anew once again. The post-shadow phase, where you will finally emerge from the storm, will last until November 2nd.
Some good news arrives on October 7th when Venus (ruler of Libra) enters Sagittarius. Venus is the planet that describes what makes us feel happy and content. This planet enjoys pleasure and the finer things in life. When she moves into Sagittarius, we can expect to feel a more playful, exuberant energy. Sagittarius is full of zest and excitement, so Venus here is in love with fun and games. A wide variety of playthings is an absolute necessity. Sagittarius is a mutable fire sign, meaning that flexibility is combined with a brilliant display. Like a spreading wildfire, it’s here, it’s there, and it’s everywhere. And Venus here thrives on chasing the flames as they jump from tree to the other.
On October 10th Saturn moves direct in Aquarius followed by Jupiter going direct in Aquarius on October 18th. These two heavy weighs have a lot of power in astrology; they are the biggest planets in our solar system and represent major social trends. When both planets are retrograde we have a tendency to go within and withdraw from public activity. Now that both are moving direct in Aquarius this month we will see humanity awaken somewhat. Saturn represents structure, restrictions, limitations, and foundations. It is also associated with governments, corporations, or and large entity that controls society.
During Saturn’s retrograde period we’ve felt the heavy hand of governments and corporations (pharmaceutical companies comes to mind) with regards to implementing their will on society with vaccinations and limitations. Now that Saturn is moving forward once again we begin to feel the need to come together for a greater humanity. With Saturn in Aquarius, Saturn is dignified and functions well. This is a time for turning a critical eye to our dreams, goals, hopes, contributions, social structures, social lives, friendships, and community involvement. It’s a time to move forward as a whole race not just individually.
Assisting with this great movement will be Jupiter as it continues to tour the realm of Aquarius until December 28, 2021. Our Great Benefic takes twelve years to go around the Sun, and wherever he goes, he brings growth and luck. Oftentimes, he will act as a “guardian angel” and bring forth blessings and opportunities. In Aquarius, he will amplify our inventive, innovative, humanitarian, and intellectual natures. There will be a greater focus on equality, diversity, and experimentation—however; this energy will clash with the forces of Saturn so there will be a strong battle between of growth versus restrictions in all of these areas in the coming months.
There will be a sudden boom in science and technology and we could even see a more humanitarian approach rising in some global leaders. There will be a push for progress from Jupiter with a stern focus on limitations from Saturn. In many ways, this period will feel like we are taking two steps forward and then one step back. Communities and social movements will see a renewed vigor on both sides of the fence—conservative and liberal. Organization will become instrumental on how well any group fares during this time.
Globally, we will be especially focused on the “future” and what lies ahead, which will bring astrology, science, and philosophy into the public eye. While there will certainly be an idealistic energy that emerges, the colder view of Saturn will also dominate. Last to note is that there will likely be expansion around global connectivity—through a new internet, new apps or electronic tools, and an evolution of popular new social media channels.
Some clarity returns beginning on October 18th when Mercury turns direct in Libra. When Mercury is retrograde in Libra, our key focus is on finding internal balance and harmony—learning from where that harmony was missing and figuring out how to do things differently next time. The astrologically natural idealism of Mercury in Libra is directed inwards towards our own psyches, rather than outwards into the world. Now though, it’s time to turn our gaze away from ourselves and back out into the wider world. Mercury in Libra seeks balance, whether direct or retrograde, but it’s now the balance in the wider world which concerns us.
The downside of Mercury in Libra (whether retrograde or direct) can be rather unrealistic. The grand ideas this transit brings will come to nothing without grounding, practical action—but this energy thrives on concepts, abstracts, initiatives and ideals. Practical, it isn’t. With Mercury turning direct in Libra, our challenge is to double-check that fine words match with fine deeds. Don’t just dream; create an action plan to underpin your dreams.
The action will certain be in the air on October 20th as the Full Moon will highlight the forceful sign of Aries. A Full Moon occurs when the Sun in Libra forms an opposition to the Moon in Aries. The Full Moon is a time of culmination and the promise of fulfillment of that which was started at the New Moon. It is an emotional time – a time of romance, fertilization, and relationships. The Aries-Libra polarity is a relationship axis, where Aries represents “self,” and Libra represents “other.” Where Aries is about aggressive action, Libra is about compromise.
Through the energy of the Libra Sun, we are aware of the need for relationships and all that comes with maintaining them–compromising, negotiating, graciousness, and balancing. The Aries Moon, on the other hand, is self-assertive, leading, and personally courageous. This Full Moon urges us to strike a balance between meeting our personal needs and attending to the needs of a significant other, and between independence or autonomy and dependence or companionship. With the Sun forming an alignment with Mars and square to Pluto near this Full Moon, there can be pressures and a bit of paranoia attached to our realizations and the courage and passion for taking the next steps forward.
And speaking of passion, on October 22-23 the Sun enters extreme Scorpio. As the Sun moves through Scorpio, we begin to feel a deep sense of strength. We become more secretive and intense about things. We know what we want and we’re going after it! As a water sign, Scorpio is associated with the sub-conscious. Scorpio’s energy is as powerful and mysterious as the oceans. They cover most of the earth, yet we know little about what lies in the depths below.
The intensity of Scorpio is like a hurricane hitting the shoreline. Massive amounts of water on the move and nothing was going to stop it. Scorpio is also a fixed sign, which means it is resistant to change. It holds things in and balks at giving up its old ways of doing things. But when the dam breaks, it really breaks. Contemplate these things while the Sun is in Scorpio.
While the Sun submerges itself within the stormy seas of Scorpio, on October 30th, Mars, the planet of passion, sex, and drive, will also enter Scorpio. Our strength and drive will intensify even more, as we crave to win, transform, and experience things deeply. Our feelings can become more extreme as we do not want “a middle ground.” We want all or nothing. Mars will bring us the fire we need to propel us forward — or burn away what is not working for anymore. Mars will remain here until December 13, 2021.
Mars is one of the rulers of the fixed water sign of Scorpio; Mars is completely at home here. When you think of Mars, think of all those strong things that men do. They wrestle, they play football, they fight, they lift weights, they strut, and they have sex for the sake of sex. I’m sure you can add lots of things to the list. The point is, when this masculine energy combines with the intensity of Scorpio, we care deeply about all of these things. Issues take on a life and death importance. We take everything personally. We obsess over everything. We get possessive and jealous. Half-hearted does not happen here. Scorpio is also a sign of precision and deep perception. If we can get past its tendency to sulk and throw tantrums over not getting our way, the presence of Mars here can provide some powerful insights and intense concentration. And, we’ll have the energy to really push to get things done.
Have a fabulous month folks!
Joseph A.
