posted October 05, 2004 06:48 PM              

October 1-10
Overview: It looks like the Mercury and Venus show this week, starring these two fast-moving planets. On October 3, Venus enters earthy Virgo for four weeks of cleaning and polishing. Appearances and relationships are due for adjustments, with an emphasis on simplicity and efficiency, rather than drama. Yet, on October 6, an opposition between Venus and Uranus could curl even the straightest hair. Sudden shifts in tastes and unexpected social twists call for flexibility that can produce breakthroughs, instead of breakdowns. Mercury enters the scene conjoining the Sun in Libra on October 5, an alignment of ego and ideas that can inspire fresh perspectives or more objectivity. On October 8, Mercury sesquiquadrates (135°) Uranus, a jolt of mental electricity that speeds up thinking and radically alters the course of conversation. On October 9, Mercury sextiles Pluto and squares Chiron. The former aspect deepens the mind and supports meaningful discussion about difficult issues. The latter tends to bring delicate subjects to the surface, so this is a good time to talk about such things, as long as its done with a gentle touch and a caring attitude.

The month gets off to a spiky start with a quincunx between Mars and Uranus (3° 32' Libra-Pisces) on Friday (Oct. 1). The somewhat stressful aspect between two potentially edgy planets tends to rub most people the wrong way. Irritation, impatience, and an unwillingness to follow the rules are all possible. The usual flow doesn't, well, flow: It spurts and sputters, steams and stomps, and requires original approaches to deal with familiar situations. The urge to rebel feels natural now, but rebellion works best when directed toward creating something new, rather than attacking something old. On Saturday (Oct. 2),the Moon enters adaptable Gemini at 11:55 a.m. The much-needed lightness of this sign helps to reduce tension as we become open to alternatives. Instead of forcing ourselves to come up with answers, this placement encourages more and better questions that widen the field of inquiry and lead to inventive solutions. There's a change of tone, however, on Sunday (Oct. 3),when Venus enters Virgo at 10:20 a.m. The planet of taste can get downright picky in this sign, revealing a Martha Stewart-like penchant for perfection, in spite of a seemingly helpful attitude. Love and service go together now, but it won't be pretty if we're resentful. Giving because you want to is a joyous activity, not a task.

The only significant event on Monday (Oct. 4) is the Moon's entry into Cancer, but that doesn't occur until 11:54 p.m., which makes it more of a story on Tuesday (Oct. 5). The Moon's return to its watery home sign tends to evoke an emotional mood thats highly reactive in both protective and defensive ways. The strong emphasis on feelings is reinforced by trines from the Sun-Mercury conjunction at 12° Libra to Neptune at 12° Aquarius. Intellectual forces are generally present with this conjunction, but the harmonious 120° angle to the planet of dreams and compassion adds a distinctly idealistic note. Expect this to be a day of vision, when thoughts are projected far from our ordinary lives and into a better place and time. A key point will be whether the Moon in tradition-oriented Cancer resists such hopeful thinking from a fear of change (disguised as practicality, of course), or whether we can discard old habits to invest our hopes in an unknown future.

The Moon forms a Last Quarter square with the Sun at 3:12 a.m. on Wednesday (Oct. 6). This challenging right angle from the Moon in Cancer to the Sun in Libra marks a turning point in the monthly lunation cycle. The emotional need for security and safety (Cancer) rubs up against a conscious will to reach out to others (Libra). Subjective, personal instincts may impel us to pull away from newly encountered ideas or people. Navigating between protection and projection can show us how to be more open to others without closing off to our own needs. At 8:23 a.m., a Venus-Uranus opposition (3° 24' Virgo-Pisces) breaks into ordinary reality, wearing a clashing outfit of plaids and stripes that, oddly, doesn't seem that strange. Yup, when weird old Uranus lines up with aesthetic arbiter Venus, there's no telling what kinds of fashion statements will be made. Relationships can experience a bumpy ride, too, as the current rules of love are temporarily suspended. The reward can be freedom from the old limited ideas about what makes one lovable and the narrow rules of socially accepted behavior. Why not show off a bit, too, as the Moon enters expressive Leo at 12:23 p.m. on Thursday (Oct. 7). Feelings are less constrained, since Leo brings both joy and drama.

There's a very unusual event on Friday (Oct. 8) and Saturday (Oct. 9): Mars forms a quintile (72°) with both Saturn and Pluto. This creative aspect between the planet of action and those of order and transformation can make for some wonderfully productive destruction: Breaking down old rules and structures can lead to more effective replacements. However, this also means that Mars is halfway between Saturn and Pluto, the heaviest planetary pair of our solar system. This midpoint contact can also be associated with intense pressure and struggle. Yet, quintiles, including the close bi-quintile (144°) between Saturn and Pluto, tend to favor innovative solutions, even for tough problems. A Mercury®˘Uranus sesquiquadrate at 3:40 p.m. on Friday adds originality but brings nervous energy as well. Capturing this lightning in a bottle requires an adaptable eye that's willing to see situations from a new angle and act quickly without anger. A Mercury-Pluto sextile on Saturday is a more stable aspect that helps to clean up recent misunderstandings and minor errors. Suggesting corrections needn't be judgmental to be effective. The Moon enters Mercury's earthy home sign of Virgo at 11:00 p.m. on Saturday, just before Mercury squares Chiron (20° 37' Libra-Capricorn) at 11:59 p.m. Virgo tends to narrow our focus as individual details grow sharper, which can enhance our analytical skills. The square between Chiron and Mercury, though, taps into our insecurities about our intelligence and our communication skills, so kindness is an essential element of any conversation now.

A Jupiter-Uranus quincunx and a Sun-Uranus sesquiquadrate keep the electricity flowing on Sunday (Oct. 10). The first aspect tends to shift long-term plans and upset the philosophical applecart. Yet, what's the value of a belief system that can't withstand a little shaking now and then? Hard aspects between the Sun and Uranus often bring out the willful side of human personalities. We're tempted to say no to even the best of ideas, just to show that we can. Saying yes to yourself, of course, is really what this is all about.

Week of October 11-17

Overview: We have an unusual New Moon this week, on October 13. The union of the Sun and Moon in Libra is often a delightful kickoff to the new social season (and the beginning of the Jewish New Year). However, there are definitely some shadows around this usually happy-faced event. Firstly, it's a partial solar eclipse, suggesting that unfinished business can play a significant role in relationships (Libra) at this time. Secondly, Saturn is square the New Moon, a serious aspect from a serious planet, which can dampen the mood of any celebration. Yet, it can also provide the responsibility to stabilize shaky partnerships by pinpointing where work needs to be done. Venus is semi-square (45°) Saturn, and Mercury squares Saturn on the 13th as well. These normally easy-going planets can get bogged down with fear or doubt that makes the day less than festive. On the other hand, clear thinking about relationships and clearer thinking in general encourage mature reflection and discussion. But wherever the mind is headed, expect another turn late this week when Mercury enters Scorpio on October 15 on its way to a trine with Uranus on October 17.

There are no significant transits on Monday (Oct. 11), but the Sun-Uranus sesquiquadrate from Sunday is still crackling in the air. The need for change is obvious, but how to alter our lives may not yet be evident. Experimentation is recommended, as long as you're wearing the appropriate safety gear. On Tuesday (Oct. 12), the Moon enters Libra at 6:32 a.m. This cardinal sign facilitates movement, although we may not be ready to choose the direction. A Sun-Pluto sextile (20° 02' Libra-Sagittarius) in the evening adds a constructive dose of gravity that pushes past Libra's desire for everyone to be nice and helps us to peel away aspects of ego that are no longer needed. Cleaning often requires bringing dirt to the surface, so recognize that seeing the darker parts of yourself can be a significant step toward becoming lighter.

Before the New Moon at 7:48 p.m. on Wednesday (Oct. 13), the Libra Sun squares Chiron at 20° 41' Capricorn. Chiron's presence at the lunation reminds us that this is a time for healing, especially wounds involving a lack of recognition or status. That's because the square is between Capricorn and Libra, signs that are particularly sensitive to social standing. Today's hard aspects between Venus, Mercury, and Saturn highlight uncertainty and can bring a more formal tone to relationships. Instead of trusting our instincts about how to connect with one another, we're likely to defend ourselves behind a wall of rules. This New Moon, the first of the season, is one of reorientation, and it marks the trail ahead. However, the most obvious signs are those from the past that remind us of what's not working in our relationships. Drawing on past experience is helpful, but only if we recognize the equal power of the future and its role in inspiring hope despite our previous disappointments. A Venus-Neptune quincunx (12° 38' Virgo-Aquarius), Venuss semi-square with Mercury at 27° 38' Libra, and the Moon's ingress into Scorpio at 11:10 a.m. make Thursday (Oct. 14) another delicate day when emotions can overflow, even in seemingly unemotional situations. Being gentle is essential, but make sure to start with yourself. Feeling raw is no excuse to attack or to withdraw from talking about issues that aren't easy to put into words.

A helping hand appears on Friday (Oct. 15) in the form of a Mars-Neptune trine. This most creative of aspects between the planet of anger and that of forgiveness provides a broad broom for sweeping away the sins of the past. The ability to push gently, to coax ourselves and others while acting with compassion and imagination, is a much-needed gift now. At 3:57 p.m., Mercury enters Scorpio, where secrets are kept. Although our reluctance to speak of dangerous issues is understandable, it's time to be a verbal surgeon, carefully cutting through anger and fear to express ourselves without excessive emotion. Words that touch the most vulnerable points can provoke strong responses and create new problems, but its the long-standing wounds that are crying out for attention. Following our feelings to the deepest point within ourselves can untie knots of unconscious reaction.

When the Moon enters Sagittarius at 1:58 p.m. on Saturday (Oct. 16), moods are generally lifted. Moving from Scorpio's cauldron of collected injustices to the Sagittarian belief in a better tomorrow brings the word fun back into our vocabulary. Having seen the worst of ourselves, we can celebrate our survival, laughing at the demons of the past and raising our glasses to toast the better days ahead. On Sunday (Oct. 17), Mercury trines Uranus (3° 08' Scorpio-Pisces), another sign that the bubble of despair is ready to pop. No matter how darkly Mercury in Scorpio is capable of viewing the world, Uranus's unearthly brilliance casts enough light to dispel all the shadows. Emotions and experiences are acknowledged but are now seen as fuel for further growth and discovery, rather than an implacable weight from the past

posted October 05, 2004 07:13 PM              

** cheers & whistles from the gallery **