Hi Friends,
We have a significant month ahead with lots of cosmic activity. October is a transitional month filled with more optimism and a desire for new experiences. Networking and socializing will be extremely fruitful allowing us to form strong connections with a wide array of powerful allies, both old and new. The month begins with six planets in retrograde mode, however, that will quickly change as several planets move direct throughout the month. We also have an intense Solar Eclipse in Scorpio and mighty Mars begins its retrograde cycle right before Halloween. Mercury will be the first planet to go direct on October 2nd helping to ease our thinking and allowing projects to move forward once again. About a week later, Pluto will finally begin its forward motion as well, offering us an opportunity to advance our long term goals. Saturn will be the third planet to go direct on October 23rd to further get us organized about what we want for the future.
As the month unfolds, the radiate Sun continues to highlight the fair-minded and peace loving sign of Libra. This sign is all about balance and interacting with other people. Keeping things pleasant and beautifying our surroundings will be the theme until October 22nd, after which the Sun will be visiting the dark and mysterious realm of Scorpio. When the Sun visits Scorpio the guiding principle of this transit is “I desire”. Scorpio is the sign of depth, intimacy, and extreme feelings. Superficial behavior is not tolerated during this transit and mediocrity does not satisfy our thirst for knowledge and power. All that is hidden, taboo, secret, or suppressed are brought to the surface and investigated. While the Sun is visiting this passionate sign the energy is provocative, usually in a quiet way, as well as obsessive, strong willed, and forceful. If this transit is used in a positive manner, it could become immensely healing and transformative. However, if used in a negative manner jealousy, vindictiveness, manipulation, and revenge can bring out the worst in us.
Our thinking starts to move forward on October 2nd when Mercury goes direct in Virgo. For the last three weeks we have had to look at the past and come to terms with the choices and experiences we’ve made. But now that Mercury is in forward motion in analytical Virgo, perhaps we’ll see the whole picture now, or at least all of the small pieces that are connected. During this final pass-through Virgo, we’ll have enough time to find out what we want to do with all this information coming to us.
Our sense of purpose gets a boost beginning on October 8th when Pluto goes direct in Capricorn. Pluto is the astrological planet which rules power, control, transformation, elimination, death and rebirth and is often associated in astrology with dramatic upheaval and major changes. The turmoil Pluto brings into our lives is more gradual than it appears, however, with these ‘sudden’ transformations actually tracing their roots back through the years. Because Pluto is currently transiting Capricorn, the major changes it is making concern the very structures around which our society is based – law and order, justice, government, rules, regulations, and it transforming the way we view our purpose.
Pluto moving forward now is about re-shaping the structure of our individual lives, perhaps by shifting methods of working or changing the way we schedule our activities. All of this can seem very unsettling or even unfair; it’s only with hindsight that we can appreciate Pluto’s work – this planet never tears down anything which it doesn’t then replace with something better. Now that Pluto has turned direct, it’s time to practice acceptance of what is going on around us. The more we fight the inevitable changes which are coming, the more painful the journey will be.
This month’s Full Moon on October 9th will highlight the self-directed sign of Aries. During this Full Moon in Aries, which happens in autumn when the Sun is visiting Libra, this is the time when we want to cultivate the energy, to harvest the seeds that we planted six months ago during the New Moon in Aries back in spring. So the Aries Full Moon is the time when those things that we started to do, that were brand new, are now either coming to fruition and working, or not. If the seeds of intension we planted are working for us, we then have to cultivate the crop, we have to harvest — we have to do something with it. And if it’s not working, it’s time to let it go and to move on to something else.
This Full Moon illuminates the conflict between “me” (Aries) and “you” (Libra), and between autonomy and sharing. With the Moon full bright in the sky, symbolic illumination occurs in our own lives. This lunation could bring out emotional declarations. Something has been building inside of us, likely of a personal nature, and now is the time when the energy of the cosmos fairly demands that we let it out. Over the upcoming weeks, we will discover what this declaration means for us. For now, we can’t sit on our feelings. We need to express them.
On October 10th our thinking switches gear when Mercury re-enters Libra. Mercury went retrograde in Libra back on September 9th and now it returns to Libra and stays here until October 29th. When Mercury is in Libra, we are diplomatic and friendly. During this cycle, we are able to bring a more rational approach to one-to-one relationships. It’s a good time to think about ways of improving our negotiation skills. However, in an attempt to see both sides of any given situation, Mercury in Libra can be a vacillating energy. It can be more challenging than usual to make quick decisions, as we can sit “on the fence.” We may too easily accommodate others’ opinions in order to keep the peace.
In our negotiations, we don’t want to assert ourselves in such a way as to appear to be the “bad guy.” This is not a time for hard work or getting down to the nitty gritty. Instead, we prefer to mend fences, socialize, and harmonize. This is a powerful period for considering others’ points of view. We are more inclined to arrive at fair conclusions. We benefit and prosper through communicating more effectively and diplomatically, mediating, and negotiating or compromising. In fact, we might frequently think about ways to harmonize and live/interact more peacefully. Favored now are the law, counseling, partnering, editing, and public relations.
The third planet to go direct this month will be Saturn on October 23rd. Saturn has been transiting the humanitarian sign of Aquarius since March 21, 2020. This cycle has certainly been changing societies all over the world. There seems to be a worldwide rebellion (Aquarius) against governments (Saturn) and power structures. In astrology Saturn demands definitions, structures, and commitments. But for many of us, as soon as something is defined, structured, or committed, we might feel caged, trapped, or limited. Saturn in Aquarius can teach us that freedom and liberation can result from abiding by certain rules, and through some level of self-denial. Now that Saturn is in forward motion once again, this is a time for making clear choices and decisions, for weeding out what isn’t working for us, and for letting go of lost causes, particularly related to our social lives or long-term goals.
The passion in our relationships goes up exponentially on the same day (October 23) when Venus enters intense Scorpio. Deeply obsessive relations are the focus with Venus in Scorpio. Superficial flirtations and contacts do not satisfy now, as we yearn for “body and soul” contact with someone special–contact that breaks the taboos, that is extreme and intense, and that is unforgettable. It’s a highly emotional position for Venus, and its passionate energy.
Equally as important, during this Venus-in-Scorpio cycle, we seek or gravitate to absorbing, deeply engaging, dramatic pleasures, activities, projects, money and material matters. Things that are profound, disturbing, mysterious, or unusual can be more appealing now. This can be a good time for finances, especially when working with others’ talents or resources, whether as an agent, supporter, or partner.
Also on the same day, the Sun enters Scorpio as well. 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 power of Scorpio is like that of hurricane hitting the shore line. Massive amounts of water on the move and nothing is 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.
And if the Scorpio energy wasn’t strong enough, this month’s New Moon is also a powerful Solar Eclipse in Scorpio on October 25th. Wow! Talk about an intense time! With this potent Scorpio energy, we have the chance to make important changes in our lives that will benefit us well beyond this Moon cycle. For some of us, circumstances are such that we need to pay more attention to these matters. An eclipse in the sign of Scorpio relates to intimacy, control, power, money, and sharing will be a strong focus in the weeks and even months after this Solar Eclipse. This eclipse is about new beginnings regarding any of these matters. It’s about strengthening ourselves from the inside out. We can feel extremes of emotion as our fears of loss, betrayal, or the exposure of our vulnerabilities are all uncovered.
The only major alignment to this New Moon will be the conjunction of Venus which will emphasize and reinforces our value system. We could find that people are more cooperative in our quest, and close personal relationships are deeply involved. There can be situations in which we feel pressured to bring more harmony to our relationships. In the sign of Scorpio, matters related to intimacy, control, power, money, and sharing will be a strong focus in the weeks and even months after this Solar Eclipse. This eclipse is about new beginnings regarding any of these matters. It’s about strengthening ourselves from the inside out.
Our imaginations are taking back into the past once more as Jupiter retrogrades back into Pisces on October 28th. Jupiter has been traversing Aries since May 11, 2022 and will go direct in Pisces on November 23, 2022. Finally, Jupiter is back where it belongs — in the final sign of the zodiac, the deep ocean where all the lessons, struggles, and joys we’ve collected filter in and amount to something new. Piscean consciousness has no limits, no boundaries and no reservations. When Jupiter returns to Pisces we begin to delve into our hopes and dreams of reality, what is real? And what is not? Ideas and dreams from the past may resurface in order to bring them to life, to see if they have any validity for the future.
To help figure out what we want, on October 29th Mercury enters Scorpio. When the planet of reason moves into the keenly perceptive sign of Scorpio, you can bet that knowledge will pour in. While Mercury is in Scorpio our thoughts and communications are more probing and intense. While Mercury in Libra urged us to find balance and arrive at reasonable solutions, Mercury in Scorpio instinctively knows that life simply isn’t fair. Mercury in Scorpio seeks truths in all that is hidden. Mercury in the intense water sign of Scorpio brings a period of deep and profound thought…moving from the thrill of sexual excitement to the enlightenment of spirit. We are perceptive and aware. Not that we’ll tell anyone else about what we discover, though! Our thoughts are infused with such deep emotion that it can become just too painful to share our insights with anyone else.
We’ll have plenty of time to question the past as Mars (self) goes retrograde in Gemini (curiosity) on October 30th. While Mars in direct motion is direct, straightforward, assertive, and aggressive, while it’s retrograde, Mars energy is essentially turned inward–it’s internalized, intensified, personalized, and perhaps pressurized. We can be hesitant about taking action, second-guessing our instincts or our natural impulses rather than acting upon them. The way we react to situations under normal conditions doesn’t necessarily work for us now, or we don’t exactly trust our instincts during the retrograde phase of Mars.
Mars is the planet that is associated with our drive and how we go after what we want and desire, for that reason, Mars retrograde is a time the war planet stops acting out and uses alternative tactics to figure out current identity situations and purpose. Being that this Mars retrograde is in Gemini, it’s easy to assess that we will be dealing with communication meltdowns. Hidden anger that’s been building up within will come to the surface and result in a harsh tongue lashing. The results can lead to major issues and arguments that won’t be easy to repair. Therefore, during this transit, it’s best to think before asserting yourself.
When we internalize anger, there can be some rather challenging byproducts, such as tension, resentment, depression, apathy, and even some paranoia. On the other hand, we might choose to personalize it and make it more intimate. Our goal during a Mars retrograde period should not be, however, to simply sit on our impulses or to squelch our enthusiasm. Rather, it should be to better understand our impulses, survival instincts, anger, sexuality, inner courage, and the ways we go about getting what we want from life. The cosmos are asking us to look before we leap rather than throwing ourselves into action, just for the time being.
October 2022 Video Horoscopes
Have a Wonderful Month Folks!
Joseph P. Anthony
