Like nature itself in the Northern Hemisphere, this Autumn offers a stripping away to allow us to see the bare bones and the essence of what is really going on. Many of us may have felt as though mixed signals were being presented to us.
We are all certainly aware that there are major changes going on in the world at large and in our own personal worlds. In truth, all of us, as a society and as individuals, are going through a significant transformation, a shapeshifting. We are on the threshold of a dramatic change in regard to life and how we do life.
Old ways no longer work, and traditional formats and institutions are either having to be radically revamped or are falling by the wayside. We are being asked to come up with a new format, new ways of operating and to create new identities for ourselves. While we tend to identify ourselves by what we have and what we do, such definitions may no longer play once we cross the threshold into the new paradigm.
To assist us in the letting go and in trying new options and various alternatives, the energy configurations in effect now provide an opportunity of looking back, ridding ourselves of the outworn and outmoded and impel us to consider possibilities we might never have before taken into account.
We call the major energy configuration of these times the Cardinal Climax, for this energy configuration highlights the Cardinal Signs of Aries, Libra and Capricorn.
Ever since 2008, when Pluto first entered Capricorn, we have seen a scenario of crash and burn. It has played out in regard to real property and the housing market bust. It has occurred with traditional financial systems as the global economy edged close to the precipice of another great depression with the collateral damage of various financial institutions going under, some corporate behemoths being bailed out by government sponsorship, and a cutting to the core of businesses to survive the tsunami-like financial waves with a consequent high unemployment rate.
What we should keep in mind is the fact that eliminations and releases also open the door for the new and different to take their place. This concept is akin to the wisdom teaching that the cup has to be emptied before it can be filled.
While not every one of us may like the process of stripping away, the universe does not like a vacuum and some thing other can take the place of that which is being released.
This Cardinal Climax is in play again as we begin this Autumn of 2010.
On the 22nd – 23rd, the Sun exits Virgo to enter Libra at the Autumn Equinox and the beginning of the Autumn season. The Autumn begins with no planets in the Fire Element, two planets in Earth Signs, three planets in Air Signs and five planets in Water Signs. Three planets are in Cardinal Signs, three planets are in Fixed Signs and four planets are in Mutable Signs. There are three planets in Positive Signs and seven planets in Receptive Signs.
We begin the Autumn with a Stellium of three or more planets in one Sign, with the Moon, Jupiter and Uranus conjunct in Pisces.
While the Cardinal Climax speaks especially to the T-Square of Aries, Libra and Capricorn, Autumn begins with a dissociate aspect T-Square with the Moon, Jupiter and Uranus in Pisces but on the cusp of Aries. Six hours after Autumn begins, we have the Aries Full Moon fully engaging the Cardinal Climax with the Moon’s opposition to the Sun in Libra and both square to Pluto in Capricorn.
The Cardinal Climax, which many of us may have felt during this past August, is back in gear as we begin the Autumn Season.
With no Fire to begin the Season, we may feel like a cork bobbing on the ocean seas, more reactive to situations and the changing world around us than taking a proactive, emphatic approach. This sense could be enhanced by both the over-emphasis upon Receptive Signs to begin the Season and also the weightiness of the Water Signs, with five of the planets inhabiting Water Signs, including the Stellium in Pisces.
We may start this Fall feeling very emotional, possibly concerned about what has been passing away and seeing our losses rather than our prospects or our potential for gains. We might become concerned about our financial situation, a concern aggravated by news headlines indicating seemingly impenetrable high unemployment figures and poverty statistics the worst in fifty years.
It would be easy for us to throw up our hands, feel victimized and powerless and wait for whatever other shoe might drop. By doing so, we would only aggravate our situation and lose sight of the opportunities being presented to us during these times.
When I have gone through very dramatic and extraordinarily wrenching times of losses and eliminations, I would certainly feel the pain. Once I broke through my self-pitying phase, I realized my losses also opened the door to a wide palette of potentials and possibilities. My definition had been ripped from me, and in so doing, new opportunities came forward for me.
During these times, we can grieve what we seem to have lost, mourn the person we considered ourselves to be, but in virtually the next breath we could consider our limitless possibilities and feel free to explore new avenues of our own creative self-expression.
Although we may start the Autumn with an anxiety regarding what might come next, the more we can tie up loose ends, get rid of our clutter and deleverage ourselves from the weight of our past, the better able we shall be to engage new possibilities, some of which may come about in a synchronistic, asequential manner, or virtually out of the blue.
We do have to be wary that we don’t vent our frustrations, or our fearfulness, on those near and dear to us. Although Saturn is moving out of orb of the square to Pluto, with Saturn transiting Libra, the relationship Sign, we may find that we are using other people as the donkey in a pin the tail on the donkey game with the pins being our frustrations, our anger and our willingness to blame other people or situations rather than accepting accountability and responsibility for our own actions.
The Aries Full Moon on the 23rd of September can set up a dance between our own personal needs and those of other people. We may feel that our interactions carry too much of a sense of responsibility or are too limiting to our desire for free-wheeling ways.
As the month of September ends, we could bang our heads against the interests of other people. On the 25th, the Sun squares Pluto and we might feel that our need to shapeshift is being restricted by the limitations placed upon us by other people, or our assumption of how we should behave in front of certain people.
The 30th has the Sun conjunct Saturn. Whenever we are in process of making significant changes, old patterns and old situations come up to challenge us as to whether we want to move forward in new directions or if we feel more comfortable holding back, content in the complacency of our discontent. Whether we are in contact with people from our past literally, or we take a walk down Memory Lane figuratively, we might find ourselves exhausted by considering where we have been instead of giving thought to where we might go.
As we come into October, we may be more interested in doing things around our home base, staying in our comfort zone and spending time with loved ones. Our mind can be sharp and focused, just so long as we do not get carried away with irrational exuberance. The spinmeisters may be out in force, spinning wonderful pictures of what is, which isn’t.
Mercury opposes Jupiter on the 1st of October, followed by Mercury opposed Uranus on the 2nd, and then Mercury moves into Libra on the 3rd, to square Pluto on the 5th. This first week of October could have our mental gears whirring. We could be blinded by irrational exuberance, wanting to believe certain things to be true but also neglecting our due diligence to evaluate whether they are actually true. During this time, we have to be careful regarding our communications, our travel plans and possible computer glitches. Our technology is advancing at lightning speed but the infrastructure to carry the information may be out-of-date or, even worse, cumbersome and prone to breakdowns.
Although our mind can be sharp and focused, we have to take our time and allow ourselves to evaluate and re-evaluate before jumping to conclusions.
If we draw upon other people for our counsel, it would be wise for us to consider the source and their possible agenda. This period is a time when the hucksters can be out in full force — either promoting things as better than they actually are or discounting things indicating them to be worse than they are. The keywords of these times — awareness and mindfulness — are imperative for us not to accept bald assumptions or make wrong decisions. More can be going on than meets the eye.
The 7th of October has the New Moon in Libra with a Stellium of four planets in the Cardinal Air Sign. Our focus for much of the fortnight may be on our relationships and our interactions with other people. We are not looking to be argumentative or in discord with other people. We would far prefer the serenity and placidity that seem to be rare moments during the recent years. We may seek out those people that we have not heard from. Reconnections, reunions and special times with special friends all seem highlighted during this mid-October time. There can also be endings as we pare down our core support group to those people who both truly understand our evolving process and are more in synch with our future intentions.
The 18th – 20th of October can be close to idyllic, albeit with a liability towards the delusional as well. Mercury trines Neptune on the 18th, the Sun trines Neptune on the 19th and Mars trines Jupiter on the 20th, the 20th also being the day that Mercury exits Libra to enter Scorpio, thereby creating a Stellium of three or more planets in the Fixed Water Sign as Mercury joins Mars and Venus in Scorpio.
This period of October allows us to consider our prospects for the future, our plans, our desires and our hopes for brighter days through better ways. We may not know how we get there, but we have a sense that the worst might be behind us. Our sense too could be that we have learned to be flexible and adaptable to the shifting sands of changing circumstances and radically altered conditions. We might feel that we have developed our skill set to deal effectively and productively with these volatile times.
Unfortunately, our skill set might be tested as we come towards the end of October and into the early part of November.
The 22nd of October has the Aries Full Moon, at which time Mercury sextiles Pluto and Mars squares Neptune. We have to be moderate in our actions and able to strip the chaff from the wheat, or rid ourselves of illusions and focus instead on the fundamentals. The Aries Full Moon is right on the cusp of the Moon moving into Taurus and the Sun entering Scorpio on the 23rd.
The Scorpio influence is ratcheted up severalfold during this latter part of October. We can be resourceful and more effective with less expenditure of energy, but only if we are willing to rip away the veil of maya — the appearances and possible illusions — to see what is truly going on.
The luxury of being oblivious and accepting things at face value, tendencies we might have enjoyed a few years ago, no longer is an option for us. We have to been keenly alert, diligent, nimble and quick in our evaluations and our actions.
There is an acceleration going on and as the saying goes ‘time waits for no one’.
This end of October, early November period can be highly productive. If we plan our strategies, hone our methodologies and concentrate on our goals, we could virtually move mountains. We have the persistence, determination and even a bit of synchronistic luck to help us along.
Mars trines Uranus on the 24th of October, followed by Mercury conjunct Venus on the 25th and the Sun sextile Pluto on the 26th. Mars exits Scorpio and enters Sagittarius on the 28th, also a day when the Sun conjuncts Venus.
Early November has Venus sextile Pluto on the 1st and Mercury trine Jupiter on the 4th.
There can be a sense of uplift and a belief that we can get back on track. Much of the intensity of these times may seem to drop away and many of us could be humming ‘happy days are here again’.
Such a sentiment, while upbeat and uplifting and optimistic, could also engage our seeing things through rose-colored glasses. A greater sense of balance could seem to take hold, and things might not seem as perplexing or beyond our control as they might have seemed over the past two years. As if having been off track, we might feel that we are getting back on track and heading in a better direction.
That’s all well and good but such an attitude could also negate some of the problems, gloss over the liable collateral damages and lose sight of other difficult areas that might arise during these transitioning times.
The 6th of November has the Scorpio New Moon with Mercury square Neptune and Mercury trine Uranus. Neptune turns direct on the 6th. Although there can be talk of new programs and especially those to deal with deficits, debt structure and financial liabilities, such talk, while exciting and possibly innovative, may have little basis in reality. During this period and this fortnight, it will be essential for us to read between the lines, not accept things at face value and be certain that we are not carried away by our emotions.
Although we could be prone to buying into deceptions, the interesting factor about this November period is the likelihood that answers can come to us. While it will be important for us to be astute and maintain a healthy skepticism, we might also experience answers coming from the most curious of sources. If we would work with peripheral vision and keep our antennae up, then we’re less likely to get hoodwinked and better able to trust the information coming to us. This November period can be a time of startling revelations, but we need to suspend judgment and be open to answers from wherever they may come. As if on a scavenger hunt, let’s see ourselves picking up the clues regarding the true reality of what is going on.
On the 7th of November, Venus retrogrades back into Libra and on the 8th, Mercury enters Sagittarius.
The mid-part of November seems an exuberant time. We seem confident, happy, feeling once again that the worst is behind us, and ready to move ahead and expand our interests.
On the 15th, Mars sextiles Saturn and the Sun trines Jupiter. On the 17th, Mercury sextiles Saturn. While the Sun squares Neptune on the 18th, this day also sees both of the ‘good guys’ of the zodiac, Venus and Jupiter, turn direct. The 19th has the Sun trine Uranus.
We can accomplish a great deal during this time, especially in looking at our finances and being more cognizant of the likely changes in tax structures and user fees for the coming year. It would be wise for us to spend some time planning our budget, consider our investments and take into account the possibility of our disposable income being negatively affected by next year’s tax changes.
The Taurus Full Moon on the 21st of November is followed by the Sun moving into Sagittarius, creating a Stellium in the Mutable Fire Sign as the Sun joins both Mercury and Mars in Sagittarius. We are likely to feel more upbeat, looking at making our holiday plans and feeling as though a dark cloud has been lifted.
Like a metronome, the volatility of these times allows for wide swings and we have to be cautious in not swinging from despondency to over-optimism.
The 27th of November has Mercury sextile Neptune and Mercury square Uranus, followed on the 29th with Mars square Jupiter and Venus moving into Scorpio. The 30th has Mercury exiting Sagittarius, ending the Sagittarius Stellium, with Mercury entering Capricorn.
Any excess or irrational exuberance can suddenly be seen for what it is at this time. Communications can be off, and there can be travel disruptions and Internet difficulties.
Misunderstandings could trigger wrong actions and honing our sense of being clear regarding the parameters would be important, for otherwise we could be like that notorious character wrong way Corrigan and head off in a different direction than our intended goal.
The end of November, early December could prove a little dicey. We may be pushing the envelope, and we might be insistent about what we want and how we want it. We have to be careful not to move too fast. Our intentions may be good but let’s keep in mind the saying that the pathway to hell is paved with good intentions. Being hasty, impetuous or impulsive could cause accidents, especially around the 3rd of December when Mars squares Uranus.
People could be obstinate and we might need to use our diplomatic skills to garner people’s support.
The second week of December can be especially pleasant. The Sagittarius New Moon on the 5th seems to accentuate good cheer, social interactions and contacting people near and far. We may feel very much in the holiday mood during this second week of December. This week is a good week for mailing packages, sending cards, have holiday gatherings and just enjoy the spirit of this time of year.
The 10th of December has Mercury turning retrograde, which lasts through the end of the month. This retrograde could prove especially difficult and might increase various delays, system breakdowns and frustrations with government and the powers-that-be. It may seem as if everything stops working.
The potential for explosive behavior is ratcheted up severalfold especially around the 13th of December when Mercury conjuncts Mars and they both conjunct Pluto. There can be liabilities of aggressive behavior, violent actions, bomb blasts and earthquake activity. Around this time, it would be wise to be especially vigilant and keep one’s head down. The energy configurations are especially intense. Nothing is done in half measure but tends more to the extremes. This period of December seems the most aggravated of the Autumn season.
Foreign intrigue can be afoot as we end Autumn. The Sagittarius Sun squares Jupiter on the 16th, and sextiles Neptune and squares Uranus on the 18th. Mercury retrogrades out of Capricorn back into Sagittarius on the 18th and the Sun conjuncts Mercury on the 19th. Mercury squares Uranus on the 20th and the Autumn ends on the 21st with Mercury sextile Neptune and Mercury square Jupiter and the Gemini Full Moon Eclipse right on the cusp of Gemini Cancer and just before the Sun exits Sagittarius to enter Capricorn at the time of the Winter Solstice and another trigger point of the Cardinal Climax.
This Autumn has its highs and lows, and asks us to be agile on the balance beam, detached and objective as we are pushed and pulled between irrational exuberance and overblown distress.
Like the alchemical process, we are being asked to temper the base mettle of our passions and emotions in order to realize the gold of transmutation and transformation. We are developing the skill set not only to survive these volatile times but to fully thrive in them.
Autumn… releases, concentration but no need for a fall…
