This autumn seems a time of black swans a’swimming. Developed by Nassim Nicholas Taleb, black swan theory speaks to situations that arise unexpectedly and have a major impact on conditions and circumstances. Welcome to the new ‘normalcy’. Welcome to the autumn of 2013.
Autumn begins with the Autumnal Equinox as the Sun exits Virgo and enters the Cardinal Air Sign of Libra on the 22nd of September. While we may begin the Fall season with great anticipation, our great expectations may not be fully realized and may have to compete with various curve balls thrown at us as we move more into the season.
The keyword to all of this season is unexpected. Things may seem to go along quite pleasantly until we suddenly hit a speed bump or find ourselves contending with surprising events that force us to adapt and change our plans and shift our direction.
The early Fall period can be quite enjoyable with us searching out autumnal festivities, seasonal fairs and basking in the occasional warm days punctuated by intense storm fronts passing through. It is autumn after all, but we might feel that everything is ratcheted up, both the good times and the intense times.
On the 26th of September, the two “good” guys of the zodiac can be doing a lovely dance as Venus trines Jupiter. Although a sweet interlude, this energy configuration could impel us to indulgence, a tendency to overspend, all with the justification that what we want is what we truly need. We might decide that a Fall makeover is in order with us taking on greater debt and veering towards greater excess. We may not be able to say ‘no’ to our wishes. Once engaged with fulfilling our desires, we could be on a slippery slope of increased expenditures.
Venus square Mars on the 28th of September could fuel our appetites but could also trigger discords with those people who would urge us to be more judicious in our selections and to curb our spending.
Mercury exits Libra and enters Scorpio on the 29th of September. We now have a Stellium of three or more planets in the Fixed Water Sign as Mercury joins Saturn and Venus in Scorpio. Our thoughts and mind can be incisive, and we have the ability to strip away the superfluous to focus on the truly meaningful. We might, however, be a little bit more critical, have a sharper tongue and willing to be concise, succinct and ‘bad to the bone’ in our discussions and evaluations of what we see as going on.
October begins with the Sun transiting Libra square Pluto on the 1st – 2nd, followed by the Sun opposed Uranus on the 3rd. The Uranus Pluto square that has been a prime trigger of much of the conundrum over recent years and that will continue to cause us grave disruptions into 2015 is set off and significantly so with the Libra New Moon on the 4th – 5th.
With the New Moon influencing the next fortnight, the first two weeks of October set into motion a six week period that could demand we keep our wits about us, able to dodge and duck some of the unanticipated variables and curveballs likely to be thrown our way.
The T-Square in the Cardinal Signs asks us to act, not solely react, and calls for us to think outside the box, enlist options and alternatives that may be new to us but that also allow us to stretch and become more aware of the shifts and changes occurring in the landscape and within ourselves.
Let the games begin!
While we might have to transverse minefields, our ability to focus and concentrate on the most important aspects, all the while that we are incisive and highly attuned to the various factors impacting situations, can get us through the night and through the days. Mercury sextiles Pluto on the 6th – 7th of October and Mercury conjuncts Saturn on the 8th. As long as we keep our eye on the ball, we can find the ways to do what needs to be done and done by means of a best practices approach. We have to avoid whining about the circumstances in which we find ourselves and just do what needs to be done.
Venus exits Scorpio on the 7th of October, ending the Stellium of three or more planets in the Fixed Water Sign. With Venus transiting Sagittarius, Venus squares Neptune on the 10th. We might be far more open to expanding our contacts, becoming accommodating and generous to a fault, but we have to be mindful with whom we are doing the dance. The liability to being misled by someone could be strong, whether by their own mercurial qualities or our own tendency to see the best in everyone, even if their potential is far from being realized. Even if we succumb to the wiles of the trickster, we can disengage ourselves and engage interesting new contacts through surprising, serendipitous encounters when Venus trines Uranus on the 16th.
A sense of irrational exuberance with us opening the door to mischief-makers could be triggered by the Sun square Jupiter on the 12th. The 10th through the 12th of October is ripe for enthusiasm and the liability to being led astray by our own optimism.
Mars exits Leo on the 15th to enter Virgo. While we might lose some of the fire in our belly, we may also be more attentive to details and taking care of the many errands on our ‘to do’ lists. We do have to be careful to avoid accidents and misinterpretations around the 19th – 20th when Mars opposes Neptune. Any storm systems could prove quite intense with high precipitation to the point of flash floods and landslides.
The lack of clarity we might have suffered at the hands of other people around the 10th and by our own miscalculations around the 19th – 20th can be heightened as Mercury turns retrograde on October 21st. This Mercury retrograde through Scorpio runs into the 11th of November and may allow us to buy into self-delusions and accept the illusions presented to us by others. This October through November demands that we keep our antennae up, be mindful of any major shifts that seem to be operating below the surface and then act quickly if in deed there are major changes that could severely impact our financial condition.
I have long been concerned about this period of time, for there are various energy patterns operating that could lead to a perfect storm. We may not have full information, but we do need to be vigilant to even subtle shifts that could be the prelude to major changes. I will not suggest that we are presently living in a house of cards, but I would suggest that how things are operating are far more precipitous than we would like to believe.
If we can draw upon our intuitive sense, not get snookered by the hypesters and spinmeisters, then we can act swiftly and effectively before situations go from aggravated to grievous.
The Sun’s entry into Scorpio on the 21st – 22nd of October re-forms the Scorpio Stellium of three or more planets in the Fixed Water Sign as the Sun joins Mercury and Saturn in Scorpio. By Sign, and with the Sun trine Neptune on the 25th, the Scorpio planets trine Neptune in Pisces and enhance our sensitivity and our intuitive sense to feel what is really going on. We might have to step away from the cacophony of bombarding stimuli, but in the quiet of our inner voice, we can hear the soft drumbeats of further changes likely to occur.
Mercury retrogrades back to conjunct Saturn on the 29th. Even if we feel deflated by what we feel to be happening, we can also focus on what we might need to do to safeguard ourselves in the event of some significant episode.
And the Mars trine Pluto on the 31st of October, can give us the impetus to do what needs to be done to secure solid foundations. This Halloween could offer us more of a treat than a trick if we take things in hand and make the necessary adjustments to forestall negative impacts from unexpected situations.
October could give us the hints, a sense of things, and the time to prepare for an intense November. This confluence of various energy patterns seems to heighten into a perfect storm during the early November period.
Let’s keep in mind that life is a series of cycles, sometimes subtle and quiet, other times dramatic and drastic. We may give witness to the indications of possible black swans in the mid to latter part of October, and we could evidence the black swans a’swimming in the first part of November.
Whatever might occur in the world at large or in our own personal world, it would be wise to bear in mind, almost mantram-like, that we never get more than we can handle.
November begins on the 1st with the Uranus Pluto square exact. This day also has Mercury conjunct the Sun and Mercury sextile Mars and both Mercury and the Sun sextile Pluto. Even if something sudden does occur to shake up our world, let’s remember that we have the skill set and the tools to handle whatever comes our way.
The 3rd of November has the Scorpio New Moon and a Solar Eclipse. Influencing the next fortnight, this Solar Eclipse could prove the trigger point for significant eliminations and human catastrophes whether through the elements of nature or through the corruptibility of humankind’s greed or both. This Solar Eclipse is a truly powerful one and is indicative of the confluence of powerful forces and various energy patterns. The Grand Trine in Water is accentuated with the Sun, Moon, Mercury and Saturn conjunction in Scorpio trine by Sign Jupiter in Cancer and trine by Sign Neptune in Pisces. The Uranus Pluto square is exact and by Sign there is a Mutable Sign T-Square with Mars in Virgo, Venus in Sagittarius and Neptune in Pisces.
During this two-week period between the New Moon and the Full Moon on the 17th, we need to keep hold of our wallet, be astute to our financial position and be incredibly resourceful. Some of the indications in late October could become exacerbated during this two-week period. And rain? As the saying goes, ‘when it rains, it pours’. With so much water we have to be wary of being deluged by atmospheric rain, our emotions, and our empathy for those who suffer the vicissitudes of nature unfolding.
Venus exits Sagittarius on November 5th, ending the Mutable Sign T-Square, and enters Capricorn. Our interest in relationships can be geared towards our ambitions and social mobility. We could be considering our interactions with other people primarily from a view as to how they can help us achieve our goals. Our expansiveness in seeking out contacts and new connections can filter down to those who can assist us in some way.
The Sun conjuncts Saturn on the 6th and Jupiter turns retrograde on the 6th – 7th. We may not be quite the happy campers we had hoped to be. The wind can be knocked out of our sails, and we might find our obligations demanding our time. Past issues may need to be resolved, especially if we have allowed irrational exuberance to get the better of us in recent months.
The 8th to the 10th of November can have us dealing with our responsibilities. With Mercury sextile Venus on November 8th, we may be looking to put our best foot forward in order to gain the approval and support of those people we believe could assist us. With Mars sextile Saturn and Mercury trine Neptune on the 9th, we can be highly productive and can draw upon our intuitive sense to come up with a best practices approach.
We do need to recognize, however, that Mercury is stationing, about to turn direct on the 10th. Whenever Mercury is turning direction, whether from direct motion to retrograde or retrograde to direct motion, the crazy-making tendencies of a convoluted Mercury can intensify. Although this period can be effective and productive, we shall need to continually check what we are doing and how we are doing it to take full advantage of the energies. Let’s remember the similarity of Mercury retrogrades to Murphy’s Law with ‘whatever can go wrong could’.
The mid-month of November can be a highly energetic time, a time when we might have regained our self-confidence, felt that we have weathered the worst, and are feeling good about our prospects. Mercury has turned direct, as of the 10th, and Mercury trines Neptune on the 11th, the Sun trines Jupiter on the 12th and Neptune turns direct on the 13th. We are looking good, feeling good.
But similar to the cycles of these times with their whipsaws of energy swings, the November 11th – 13th ‘up’ influences are countered on the 14th – 17th with the Uranus Pluto square triggered by Venus square Uranus on the 14th – 15th and Venus conjunct Pluto on the 15th, followed by the Taurus Full Moon on the 17th. Interactions with other people could prove dicey and relationships fraught with distress from the ‘straw that broke the camel’s back’. Even an insignificant slight or misunderstanding can fracture connections. Some of the underlying concern may be our financial situation and whether we have been impacted by recent events and increasing awareness that the economic recovery is not truly what it is being painted as.
The hiccups, or aggravations, on the 14th – 17th are followed by some upswings as Mars sextiles Jupiter on the 19th, Mercury sextiles Pluto on the 20th – 21st, the Sun enters Sagittarius on the 21st – 22nd, and Venus sextiles Saturn on the 23rd. The Scorpio Stellium of three or more planets in the Fixed Water Sign has ended with the Sun entering the Mutable Fire Sign, a Sign ruled by Jupiter, with the Sun sextiled by Mars at this time.
As though we are affirming the notion that we never get more than we can handle, we can feel as though we can successfully navigate the currents, no matter how rapid they might be. We have an incisive mind and can focus on both the essential aspects and the specific details to productively move ahead. We may be looking at expanding our reach, but whatever we might stretch into we are no longer interested in taking a leap of faith but rather mindful steps incorporating our tai chi energies of working with the energies, no longer assuming that we can master the world, no matter the conditions.
The question of balance during these metronome times of wild swings between the ups and downs is a fundamental act of patience and acute zen-like awareness. Throughout the wisdom teachings, we learn of this concept of balance, balance between happy and sad, balance between active and passive. We hear of it in the middle path of Buddhism, the middle pillar in the Qabalah. And we learn of the essential nature of releasing our attachments, incorporating detachment to realize a state of non-attachment. And so it is for us as we journey through these times with their wild swings of ups and downs. The challenge to maintain a balance, a serenity and not to personalize the events occurring to us and circumstances operating around us.
This autumn provides us many opportunities and many challenges in attaining and maintaining balance.
From the ups of November 19th – 23rd we are challenged on the 24th – 26th as the Sun squares Neptune on the 24th and Mercury conjuncts Saturn on the 25th – 26th. Feeling that the dark clouds had passed and the sun was shining brightly, we could assume that everything will go along pleasantly enough, as if evolution and unfolding were a straight line rather than four-dimensional cycles of swings back and forth, up and down.
And there lies the trap — not appreciating phases, short periods of space-time that change dramatically, even when subtly, in a nanosecond of time-space. Confusion and depression could set in on this November 24th – 26th. We could head off in wrong directions under misguided intentions or misunderstood itineraries. And if we hit the wall, we might not realize that such a hitting of the wall allows us to reconsider, step back, step away and change our direction. Instead, our egocentric sense of self-mastery and mastery over the world around us could be hurt, and us diminished by a sense of defeatism and depression.
Not to worry, however, for these phases of cycles during this autumn swing wildly and shift quickly as we may experience at the end of November as we celebrate in the US what has become the Hallmark holiday of Thanksgiving with bounties of food and indulgences to the max. And this year’s holiday of social gatherings with family and friends is no different thanks to the energies at play. Mercury sextiles Venus and Mercury trines Jupiter on the 27th – 28th, with Venus opposing Jupiter on Thanksgiving Day itself, the 28th, encouraging us to gorge ourselves on excess and indulgences, all in the sentiment of celebration and good times.
We end the month of November with the Sun trine Uranus and enter December with the Sagittarius New Moon on the 2nd – 3rd, a Lunation within orb of a trine to Uranus.
A new month begins, and a new day dawns. Much of the roller coaster ride with some slams along the way that we might have experienced during the autumn seems to slow down. The energies shift from Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride to a Star Trek exploration on the Starship Enterprise. This December and the rest of autumn open doors to wondrous explorations of new adventures, greater possibilities, and options and alternatives that we could not have imagined for ourselves. Magic is in the air, and we might feel as though we have stepped across a transom into a different dimension, a space-time where serendipity and synchronicity are the modus operandi.
We are all being led away from the sequential progression of beginning, middle and end with completions and resolutions. We are being led towards the asequential reality of things occurring in what seem the most random of unfoldings, times where we are in the right place at the right time, and a world of magic and miracles, where we no longer are in control of situations [as if we ever were] or can master our circumstances, but rather a time-space continuum of doing the dance as the pace and rhythm shift and change continuously. The universe is alive and its unfolding, in sometimes the most bizarre ways, enlivens us.
December is alive with wonderful surprises, unexpected ah-has, all with the ability for us to change our plans, change our ways of doing things and change a sense of ourselves, all with the intention of greater autonomy for us and greater freedom of being.
Mercury sextiles Mars on the 3rd of December, just before Mercury exits Scorpio to enter Sagittarius, where Mercury squares Neptune on the 6th and Mercury trines Uranus on the 10th. Our broader focus and wider perspective can open many doors, some true impressions, others misguided interpretations. If we solely draw upon our intuitive sense with a feeling of blind faith and unrefined optimism, we could be led astray. While we might want to make assumptions based upon our own beliefs, we shall have the opportunity of clarity, of the haze dissipating as sudden insights and instant understandings cut through the fog and provide us a true bead on what is really going on.
This autumnal period in December also has Mars exiting Virgo to enter Libra on the 7th. We are moving toward the holidays and with it the energies pushing us toward interactions with other people as we gather for holiday celebrations with good spirits and camaraderie.
Towards the end of autumn, on the 17th of December, the Gemini Full Moon in the decanate of Aquarius occurs with Uranus turning direct. The wonder, magic and mini-miracles we might have seen and experienced during this December may seem ever more accentuated with a sense of a new day dawning and a new world unfolding.
Autumn 2013… the alchemy through testings and awakenings…
