We come into October under the light of the Aries Full Moon on the 1st [5:05 PM EDT]. The push – pulls between our own personal interests and those of other people, the differentiation between the individual and the collective, can be ratcheted up.
Not only do we have the Libra – Aries [Other – Self] axis highlighted. We also have Mars retrograde in Aries squaring the three Capricorn-transiting planets of Jupiter, Saturn, Pluto. Rage against the Regime could play out, whether it’s so-called peaceful protests, actings out against continued imposed restrictions, or violent outbursts.
The summer may have been hot, but the intensity does not subside for the foreseeable future. As I have suggested before, and continue to suggest going forward, it is essential that we be mindful and fully aware of the dramatic shifts and changes going on around us. We do not have to be swept up into the craziness, but we do have to be wary of the emotional and psychological impact of the furies occurring in the world.
While the movement of the Sun out of Virgo to enter Libra ended the Earth Grand Trine, this Grand Trine is restored by Venus exiting Leo and entering Virgo on the 2nd of October [4:48 PM EDT]. Over the next three plus weeks, Venus in Virgo will trine Uranus in Taurus and trine the three different Capricorn-transiting planets of Jupiter, Pluto and Saturn.
Our relationships instead of focused on fun and our own creative expressions, which might have occurred while Venus was transiting Leo, now may take on more of a quality of ‘what have you done for me lately?’
We might be more interested in relationships that can help us achieve something we want, but our interactions with other people can also take on a critical attitude. Our own insecurities and anxieties might dampen some of our involvements.
The 4th of October has the last of the Capricorn-transiting planets coming out of retrograde and turning direct. Jupiter turned direct back on the 12th of September, Saturn on the 29th of September, and now on October 4th Pluto turns direct. There can be more forward movement, but as Pluto turns direct, we have to be wary of blasts and explosions and major releases of energy.
Two of my least favorite aspects occur in the second week of October: Mercury opposed Uranus on the 7th, and Mars square Pluto on the 9th.
In tune with the Law of Three that plays out in astrology and often in life itself, Mercury will oppose Uranus three times this autumn. The first is on the 7th of October, the second while Mercury is retrograde will occur on the 19th of October, and the third will happen with Mercury direct on the 17th of November. Adverse aspects between Mercury and Uranus are my least favorite times for air travel. Travel itself can be problematic, disrupted by unexpected conditions. Communications can be off with misunderstandings or messages not received, and there are liable to be computer glitches and Internet issues. It is essential that we be mindful at these times, evaluate and reevaluate what we are saying or doing, and appreciate the liability of issues with transmissions and receptions.
Mars square Pluto can be pugilistic. Things can get out of hand with anger boiling up and over into impetuous actions and violent reactions. Knowing someone with the Mars square Pluto in his natal chart, I’ve seen this energy act out with his being thrown off the police force because of his aggressive behavior towards his “collars”, now in jail awaiting trial for four murders. Joe Biden also has this aspect, and is known as a ‘fighter’, even suggesting that if he were in high school he would take Trump “behind the gym”.
With these two energies in play in the second week of October, we have to be wary that miscommunications and heated arguments don’t devolve into aggressive behavior and physical altercations.
The intensity of this week may continue through the weekend, but with Venus trine Uranus on the 10th of October there could be an interesting encounter with someone who could prove of assistance and relieve some of the stress of the week. If we have been banging our head against the wall, we might become aware of options and alternatives to which we had not been privy.
In the US, the 10th through the 12th is the long Columbus Day [not politically correct?] / Indigenous Peoples’ Day weekend, and in Canada the 12th is Thanksgiving Day.
Although our considerations of our future plans can widen as we engage a broader perspective, the Sun square Jupiter on the 11th might have us assuming that not only are all things possible, but that we can accomplish whatever we set our mind to. Invincibility is a great feeling, but over optimism could lead us down a garden path and wind us up in a bramble patch. It would be wise for us to restrain our enthusiasm and channel our energies into productive outlets.
The 12th has Mercury sextile Venus. If we have had blowups with people over the recent past, this Monday allows us to clarify our position, even make amends if we went off the charts. Since Mercury will be turning retrograde on the 13th, it might be wise for us to complete any significant matters on the 12th before we enter the three-week Mercury retrograde and several days when the energy could prove trying.
The 13th of October has the Sun opposed Mars, and Mercury turning retrograde. The Sun Mars configuration highlights a Cardinal Sign T-Square with both planets square by orb the three Capricorn-transiting planets of Jupiter, Pluto, and Saturn. We may want to be anywhere other than where we are. We might feel like a bird in a gilded cage, unable to fully appreciate what we have and desirous of something beyond our reach. Although responsibilities can be demanding, we have to avoid embracing flights of fancy that are tempting and seductive but have little chance of being implemented.
Mercury turns retrograde on the 13th [9:05 PM EDT], beginning its three-week cycle of liable madness and mayhem. Let’s keep in mind that with Mercury retrograde Murphy’s Law is in effect where ‘whatever can go wrong could go wrong’.
This three-week cycle of Mercury retrograde cautions us to be mindful and alert, evaluate and reevaluate as we go along. It is advised that we postpone any major decisions or significant commitments during these three weeks. This Mercury retrograde continues until turning direct on November 3rd, Election Day in the US. A similar turn of Mercury retrograde to direct motion occurred on Election Day in 2000, an election that was highly controversial and disputed with the final outcome decided by one vote, in the US Supreme Court.
Already, even without reference to the Mercury retrograde, commentators are suggesting that this election on November 3rd will not only be contentious but will be disputed with both major political parties lawyering up to contest whatever the results might appear to be. Awww gawd! Democracy in action or Banana Republic playing out?
The square of the Sun to the Capricorn-transiting planets that began with the Sun square Jupiter on the 11th continues with Sun square Pluto on the 15th, and Sun square Saturn on the 18th.
By orb, we are continuing with the Cardinal Sign T-Square with Mars retrograding through Aries in opposition to the Sun and both square the Capricorn-transiting planets. Although the Cardinal Signs talk about initiations and beginnings, there can be blockages to our efforts by our own arrogant willfulness, by the demands of someone or other people, and by the restrictions and regulations handed down from the powers-that-be.
This period during October could be fraught with various problems and issues, none of which may be satisfactorily resolved. Frustrations and annoyances can be strong with fiery outbursts and people either wanting to or actually pushing back against authority figures and against each other.
While the Libran energy speaks to the question of balance, October may have little balance but more likely reflective of the volatility of these times with wild whipsaws in emotions and actions.
The Libra New Moon on the 16th of October [3:31 PM EDT] accentuates the Cardinal Sign T-Square with its influence over the next two weeks up to the Taurus Full Moon on the 31st of October, Halloween.
Under the influence of the Libra New Moon we could feel during this two-week period any which way but loose. We might try to start any number of new engagements, but our ability to follow through may be minimal at best. Not only are we dealing with a Cardinal Sign T-Square. We are also under the spell of the Mercury retrograde. It would not be surprising if a great number of our involvements take a ‘start and stop’ approach with us being highly active but possibly not getting far, and more likely having a sense of our running in place.
The 18th of October has the final Sun square to a Capricorn-transiting planet, as the Sun squares Saturn. This same day has Venus opposed Neptune. We may feel blocked, depleted, like a helium balloon deflated. As though seeking escape from our mundane reality, we could easily become infatuated with someone or something that seems beyond our reach. Either we can be mooning over unrealistic possibilities or we might become highly critical of our own circumstance and someone else’s lot. This Sunday of the 18th might be a day for us to step away, seek a quiet place, and move into a reflective and contemplative space.
As if trying to counter the deflation the day before, we may decide to push the envelope on the 19th when Mars squares Jupiter, Venus trines Jupiter, and Mercury opposes Uranus. The Mars square Jupiter could have us pushing the envelope, blithely advancing our interests with little forethought but with more optimistic narcissism than reasoned strategy. We also have the second of three of the Mercury opposed Uranus aspect. With Venus transiting Virgo and creating by Sign the Earth Grand Trine with Venus in Virgo, Uranus in Taurus, and the three Capricorn-transiting planets, today starts Venus in exact aspect to the Capricorn planets with Venus trine Jupiter. The two ‘good guys’ of the planetary realm, Venus and Jupiter, in harmonious aspect or connection could impel us to extravagance and ratcheting up our credit card bill. Excess can be strong today without much forethought. And we have my least favorite aspect for air travel., an adversarial connection between Mercury and Uranus. Travel, communications, and computer matters may all be problematic at this time. Our enthusiasm might win out over our common sense. If we do decide to go on a shopping spree, liable to be a buying binge, then it would be wise to keep our receipts, in case we decide with a more reasonable frame of mind to return items bought impulsively. Today asks us to be mindful, but our tendency might be more to cast our fate to the winds.
The 21st has the second of the Venus trine the Capricorn-transiting planets with Venus trine Pluto. This week of the 19th through the 25th has the Venus trine to the Capricorn-transiting planets, first with the Venus trine Jupiter on the 19th, followed by Venus trine Pluto on the 21st, and concluding with Venus trine Saturn on the 24th. Our relationships could be tainted with a primary interest in what other people can do for us. Our social interactions may have a purpose, the purpose of advancing our personal interests. Not only can we be highly adept in moving forward with our long-range goals. We might also present our case with great panache as we determine a place for everything and everything in its right place. This can be a highly productive time and our efforts could win the admiration of various advocates. Success may be well rewarded, but we do need to keep in mind that we are operating during a Mercury retrograde.
The 22nd has the Sun exiting Libra to enter Scorpio [7:00 PM EDT]. We have completed, for the moment, the Cardinal Sign T-Square. We are moving into a fairly intense time, a time when we are likely to be no-nonsense, willing to pare down and to be more effective with less expenditure of energy. Our intensity can ratchet up but so too the ability to be far more resourceful, consider what is truly significant without the window dressing or any foofoo stuff.
The 24th of October has Venus completing the trines to the Capricorn-transiting planets as Venus trines Saturn. This would be a good time to wrap up certain projects, bring things to closure and all without skipping a beat or glossing over details, and still with an appealing style and attractive presentation.
The Sun conjuncts Mercury on the 25th. We may seek a quiet space in order to reflect and contemplate what we are doing and why we are doing it. We might decide to pare down our activities and focus on the truly significant. We don’t want to waste our resources — our time, our monies, or our energy. Things have to be truly significant for us to participate. We could consider a good autumn cleaning, clear up and clean out the extraneous.
On the 27th, we have two significant Sign changes. Mercury retrogrades from Scorpio back into Libra [9:33 PM EDT], and Venus exits Virgo to enter its own Sign of Libra [9:41 PM]. This movement of Mercury and Venus triggers by Sign the Cardinal Grand Cross with the Libra-transiting planets opposed Mars retrograding through its own Sign of Aries, and square to the three Capricorn-transiting planets of Jupiter, Pluto and Saturn. We can be more accommodating, more interested in what is going on with someone, and collaborative in our efforts.
We end the month of October on the 31st, Halloween, and with the Taurus Full Moon with the Moon conjunct Uranus and the Sun opposed the Moon Uranus conjunction. Welcome to the whacky world of intense disruptions and the possible feeling of having the rug pulled out from under. Our stability and security may be shaken to the core as unexpected situations arise like curveballs from out of the blue.
October 2020… finding balance amidst the chaos…
