posted October 23, 2006 11:38 AM            

** Your Starcast for October 23-November 21 **
With six planets moving into Scorpio, prepare for a wild ride ahead -- and be sure to wear a helmet! And then, as if that weren't enough, the heavens deal the cosmos even more turbulence as Mercury turns retrograde October 28th. Keep reading for the play-by-play of what's ahead, and prepare for a month packed with intensity and surprises.

October 23: The Sun and Mars enter Scorpio; October 24: Venus enters Scorpio
Think of the Sun as the director, Mars as the advocate or warrior, and Venus as the mediator or lover. As all three head into Scorpio, the most passionate sign of the zodiac, deep feelings ignite and no one is likely to be lukewarm about anything. They meet up in a triple conjunction, and this powerful trio will be residing somewhere in your own chart. Is that a good thing? If you can harness this determined energy and give it something productive to do, you'll be able to do more this week than you've probably done all year! Mars sets a new course as it enters Scorpio, where it will remain until December 6. You can use this powerful energy to take you wherever you want to go. If you know your own chart, use this energy to reform and transform the life area and relationships represented by the house that Mars is traveling through. With Venus in Scorpio, the urge is to connect profoundly. Less than that simply won't do.

October 25: Jupiter squares Saturn
Both Jupiter transiting through Scorpio and Saturn traveling through Leo are direct, but because of their previous retrogrades, this Jupiter-Saturn square also occurred back on December 17, 2005 and June 22, 2006. This describes a significant change in your worldview, and you are likely to consider making some lifestyle changes. This aspect doesn't occur very often, so it's important when it does. Jupiter represents how we relate to the world, and Saturn represents how we construct the life we want. It's time to cut back on excesses. What are yours? This is also a great time to assess areas of life where you are overcommitted. People who are a drain rather than an asset to your life will get a thorough review now. Are they worth the time and energy you put into them? How about your job? Is it time to consider work that more accurately reflects who you are? This has been a 10-month transit, and you are now ready to put the finishing touches on your life plan.

October 28: Mercury turns retrograde
Mercury goes retrograde for approximately 21 days three times each year. This time, Mercury will be retrograde until November 17. Mercury rules all forms of communication, and when Mercury turns around and goes back through territory it's already traversed, it is time for you, too, to travel back. Nothing beats this time for looping back to old contacts, reviewing your ideas and rethinking how you are scheduling your time. Making future-oriented decisions now can get you into trouble. Misunderstanding, indecision and anxiety occur because not enough information is available. Do yourself a favor and use this astrological information to your advantage. While everybody else is running around fixing all of those mistakes they are making, sit down, pour yourself a tasty beverage and relax!

October 29: Neptune turns direct
Neptune stations direct, finally ending its retrograde, which began on May 22. Neptune goes retrograde each year and has been retrograde in Aquarius since 1998. Neptune in Aquarius represents the quest for a better life, for freedom, equality, peace and contentment. We are tuned in to our hopes, our wishes and our dreams. It's the spiritualization of group consciousness. During the retrograde, it has been important to delve into these themes. Now, it's time to run with them. So, what's your dream? For greater insight, examine the house in your own chart where the yearly retrograde in Aquarius occurs as well as its direct periods.

October 30: Mercury conjuncts Jupiter; November 1: Mercury squares Saturn
As Mercury turns retrograde and returns to conjunct Jupiter and square Saturn, you are delving more deeply into your ideas and how you want to communicate them. Your mind is working overtime. As you search for creative solutions, there are many profitable conversations to be had and plenty of tweaking of projects and plans. You may be challenged to explain your thoughts, ideas and point of view. Do your homework and you'll be fine.

November 5: Full Moon in Taurus
This is a very interesting full Moon: The Moon is in Taurus all by itself opposite a whole lot of Scorpio, including the Scorpio Sun. (The Moon and Sun are always opposite each other at a full Moon.) Now, the relationship planets Venus and Mars stand guard on either side of the Sun, while Mercury and Jupiter are close by in Scorpio. Taurus rules money and the material world, as well as themes of value and worth. This is where your emotions are. With so much Scorpio, a sign of power and other people's values and money, others have something to say, and you may feel pressure to meet someone else's needs or agenda. The full Moon is also an emotional high-tide time. In Taurus, do something that helps you feel materially or physically comfortable, whether you make a plan to save money, vow to treat your possessions more kindly, tune in to nature or formulate values that accurately reflect where you are in your life. The goal is to make the kind of tangible, practical investments in your life that make you feel content and secure. Loyalty is a feature of Taurus, and being loyal to yourself as well as to others is important. In the days following the full Moon but before the next new Moon on November 20, take the time you need to get into your comfort zone.

This full Moon will most affect readers born November 3-7, January 31-February 3, May 1-5 and August 3-7.

November 6: Venus squares Neptune; November 12: Venus squares Saturn
Venus, the planet of love, transiting through passionate Scorpio gets a reality check from Saturn and a dose of romance from Neptune. In your important relationships, you are likely to see-saw between practical considerations and your idealism. The challenge here is to retain you faith in the power of love while also taking into account the human mortal messiness of relationships. That's not too tall an order is it? You'll do fine if you remember that romantic love is enhanced by the healthy boundaries of Saturn.

November 8: Mercury squares Neptune
When Mercury entered the water sign Scorpio on October 2 your thoughts became colored by feelings, and the intensity level of your conversations ratcheted up. When retrograde Mercury backs into a square with Neptune this week, communication can get a little foggy making this a poor time to negotiate or to clear up misunderstandings. There is a fair amount of uncertainty in this aspect. You may not be told relevant information or you may withhold important facts. Make sure you take your time to think things through and importantly listen to others and read between the lines.

November 9: Sun squares Neptune
When the Sun squares Neptune you may feel like you just drove into a fog bank. Figuring out who you are and where you're going without familiar landmarks is the challenge now. So, this week do yourself a favor and don't try to figure out the future. Find a quiet place, whether it's in your bedroom or under a Bodhi tree. Escape from the world and commune with nature, write your innermost thoughts in a journal or listen to music. Logic is not helpful now. Instead, be imaginative, be a visionary.

November 17: Sun squares Saturn
It's time for a reality check as the Sun squares Saturn. Assessment about your responsibilities are highlighted and deciding what you want to be responsible for is just as important as deciding what you don't want to be responsible for. You'll be challenged to weed out superfluous activities as well as balance what you want with issues of the greater good. It's what being a grownup is all about!

November 17: Venus enters Sagittarius
You may feel the urge to experience something new and different as the premiere relationship planet Venus enters fiery, nomadic, philosophically-oriented Sagittarius. Freedom is the focus now along with the urge to break free from limitations. You may ask yourself, 'What is love anyway? Can I be close and free at the same time?' Why not strap on your backpack, get out the roller blades, check out some air fares, or at least go out to the newest ethnic restaurant. And if you feel like it, take someone with you!

November 17: Mars squares Neptune
This week Mars climbs on the see-saw of the Saturn Neptune opposition squaring Neptune this week and Saturn at the end of the month. When Mars, the planet of action, meets all-inclusive spiritual Neptune, actions can become confusing since you want to act on your own behalf while remaining considerate of others at the same time. You may question what you're doing. You may be unsure about the best course of action. This doesn't mean that you don't do anything! Take your time. Mix in the drive of a Scorpio-Mars and blend it with the idealism of Neptune in Aquarius. Not a bad combo.

November 17: Mercury turns direct
As Mercury turns direct in Scorpio, it's time to begin to incorporate everything you've learned during the Mercury retrograde period. Take your time though with Mercury remaining in a tight square with Neptune. Conversations and your mind continue to wander a bit. You'll have so much more clarity in December when you'll be able to institute new plans and decisions with total comfort.

November 20: New Moon in Scorpio
Your desires and passions are strong with the Moon in this intense sign. Take the power of this new Moon cycle and invest in something you want to grow. Scorpio is the sign of transformation making this a perfect lunar cycle to decide what you need to let go of. We all accumulate a bit of emotional baggage over time. It's time to empower yourself by releasing what can't be changed.

This new Moon will most affect readers born November 19-23, February 16-20, May 18-22 and August 20-24.

posted October 23, 2006 01:22 PM            

thank you,

posted October 23, 2006 01:22 PM            

thank you,

posted October 27, 2006 11:27 PM            

Congrats on a new home!! I miss the Northwest especially the ocean which seems so far away now.....
I lived in Vancouver and Longview WA for awhile, but spent most of my life in Seattle.....

Have you read thru the Merc rx thread?? http://www.linda-goodman.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/008449.html
The way I feel about the retro is to be prepared and have contingency plans. Some people seem to think they have to put their lives and responsibilities on hold and wait out the transit -- naaaah. I had my computer repaired when Merc was retro last year!! I think it's just all about covering all the bases, crossing all the t's and dotting all the i's.....

posted October 28, 2006 09:17 PM            

This Merc retro will hit my natal 12th house, I feel it's effects already. Here is what I found in a link on that thread you posted (thank you):

Mercury retrograde in Scorpio impacting your 12th house – You are revising your connection and deep commitment to your inner world. With Scorpio in your house of karma, destiny and inner world, you are revising your awareness of your inner self and how your inner connection is playing a part in adjusting your destiny. You may become very aware of your true purpose as previous lifetime scenarios begin to expand into ways that prompt you to walk your true inner beliefs into the outside world and become the true person you are here to be. This strong inner blue print is prompting you to take action and to adjust the outside world according to your inner commitment to your beliefs and the Divine Plan. The adjustments that are moving through your life at the same time as Jupiter is raising the curtain, allows you to be seen as your true self.