Hi Friends,

I’m sure many of you are glad that September is over. October will be a welcome relief after such a challenging month. We saw two eclipses, a retrograde, and unsettling cosmic aspects that continued to shake our core. The overriding question last month was, “What the heck is going on?” Fortunately in October we have a more hospitable welcoming committee beginning with the New Moon in Libra on October 1st, suggesting that we reach out and connect with others. This lunation will be joined by benevolent Jupiter, which entered Libra on September 9th, bringing with it greater opportunities to improve our relationships over the coming year.

 

Emotionally now, it’s important to look to where we can develop our relationships and how we can introduce more harmony into our lives. The Libra New Moon’s square to Pluto and Mars however can be a little irritating. Both planets want control, autonomy and to ‘do it my way‘but the Libra emphasis advocates compromise. Thankfully, a sweet alignment to Saturn may help us to go for the mature approach. Saturn acts like a stabilizer for a wobbly-wheeled bike so it’s easier to find our balance despite the influence from forceful Mars and controlling Pluto.

 

On October 5th, restless Mars, never one to be beaten, moves into a square with Jupiter. Mars and Jupiter can work well together as we can find ourselves with an enormous amount of get-up-and-go under this influence. If you have a big project coming up, use this energy to your advantage. The square however does mean that sometimes we can take on too much or over-reach. It’s difficult to know our limits and the rush of enthusiasm from these two says ‘I can do it all’ Just make sure to follow Jupiter in Libra’s example and ensure the work/life balance is there to prevent burnout.

 

On October 7th, Mercury’s entry into Libra can be a charming influence but with Mars square Jupiter still in the background, there could be a tendency to promise the earth to someone to keep them close. Whilst the urge to people please can make for some delightful conversation, agreeing to more than our fair share could make for a bumpy ride later on. Still, as the Mars-Jupiter influence begins to wane, Mercury’s passage through cerebral Libra can help to clear the mind, especially as our cosmic messenger has now left the shadow zone from last month’s retrograde. In relationships, we’re more diplomatic and find it easier to see another’s point of view. Sitting on the fence however is also a possibility.

 

 

Fiery energy is the air on October 15-16 when the Full Moon in Aries supercharges our desires. Spontaneity will be rampant during this lunation bringing with it a strong yearning to achieve our goals, as long as it doesn’t become something else. With the Moon tightly conjunct retrograde Uranus the focus is on independence in this assertive sign. Mars, ruler of this lunation, is conjunct Pluto so we’re more inclined to be brave little soldiers but with Uranus in the mix, there’s also the potential for assertive mindedness. This lunation could be highly invigorating or be peppered with a desire to shock and break free.

 

We’ll be ready for more adventure on October 18th when loving Venus enters outgoing Sagittarius. Excitement is our primary concern, during this transit. Venus is the planet that describes what makes us feel happy and content. When she moves into Sagittarius, you 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 tree. Don't expect to make any permanent commitments while Venus is in Sagittarius.

 

It’s possible that a little spark could turn into way too hot to handle flame on October 19th when Mars conjuncts Pluto. All joking aside, these two are not to be messed with when they get together. On the plus side, there is intense desire, passionate ambition, powerful energy and a wealth of courage. The shadow side however is that Mars and Pluto together can be somewhat of a warmongering aspect. It can feel like ‘kill or be killed’ and there’s a danger of going to extremes. This is compounded by the fact that magnifying Jupiter is closely aligned to Pluto and Mars and Pluto is also square to unpredictable Uranus. Anger can quickly tip into rage so if someone presses your buttons around this transit, it’s off with their heads, especially if it feels like things are spiraling out of control. The best use of this energy is to eliminate what hasn’t been working for you without even a backward glance.

 

The Sun’s entry into mysterious Scorpio on October 22nd switches the light on in the dark. What was unseen now becomes visible. Whilst we might be more suspicious and less inclined to trust, the more we face our own personal shadows the easier it is to make profound, intimate connections with those we care about. 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 that of hurricane hitting a 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. Contemplating the deeper meaning of things is what the Sun transiting Scorpio is all about.

 

We’re willing to dig even deeper though when Mercury joins the Sun in Scorpio on the October 24th. Mentally now, we’re like a detective following clues. This is an excellent transit for all kinds of research but the tendency towards suspicious minds is increased. Speaking our truth however brings honest conversations and an opportunity to connect more deeply with others. 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.

 

Volatile energy is in the air once again on October 28th as fiery Mars squares off with rebellious Uranus. This is a restless and sometimes reckless alignment full of impulsive actions that stems from impatience. We can get hurt if we try to move too fast or demand ‘my way or the highway’. Generally speaking, Mars square Uranus brings an unpredictable edge which can be surprisingly exciting if you are open to spontaneity. There is a strong desire for complete freedom to act without hesitation or restraint. There is too much physical energy coupled with a voracious appetite for action and excitement. This can result in being accident prone because the energy is a bit careless in what you might choose to do. I would suggest you pay close attention to what you’re doing around this time frame.

 

 

The second New Moon of the month falls in Scorpio on October 30th. This New Moon in Scorpio is like a portal to your inner self, when subconscious mind is very powerful and, if you know how to use it, it will help you to transform your life. With Mars and Pluto still close enough to be conjunct and Venus conjunct Saturn in the chart, the atmosphere feels somber but perhaps, this is in keeping with the time of year as the ancient festival of “All Hallows Eve” (Halloween is shortened from “All-hallow-evening) on  October 31st.

 

With the New Moon in Scorpio trine to soulful Neptune, this is a time to remember those who have passed. The gateway between the world of the living and the world of the dead is thin now and whilst often we don’t want to think about death, we all have to contemplate our own mortality at some point. The cute ghosts and ghouls that come knocking at the door looking for sweets are a modern day reminder to let go of the fear. The New Moon in Scorpio is a cathartic beginning reminding us that all that dies is reborn.