SkyWatch! This is the week of the Moon-Mars dance! 10/5-10/6 -- The moon approaches Mars on 10/5, just after sunset. By the time Mars becomes visible, both bodies will be fairly high in the southeastern sky, with the Moon leading Mars around towards the West by 8 to 9 degrees. By the time the Moon sets, between 2 and 3 AM local time, it will have narrowed this distance to about 4 degrees. So if you keep checking, you can see the Moon come visibly closer to Mars by the time they set. In fact, the Moon will occult Mars, passing in front of the red planet and blocking its light. But this will happen about 11 AM EDT, and so will not be visible from any part of the continental U.S. On 10/16, the Moon will have passed Mars by sunset, when Mars will be leading the Moon by about 4 degrees, widening the gap to 8 to 9 degrees by the time they set, exactly reversing the course of the previous night! 10/10 -- The Moon reaches fullness at 3:27 AM EDT, so this moment of perfection will be visible in the entire continental U.S. under clear skies. This is the Hunter's Moon, the first Full Moon after the Harvest Moon. After harvest, the Hunter's Moon lighted the search for game to supplement the stored crops during the coming Winter.  Go out! Look up!

 

Happy Birthday Libra, Diplomat of the Zodiac!

The Sun is in Libra 9/23 to 10/23/03.

You’re in good Zodiac Company with: Susan Sarandon, Yo-Yo Ma, Kate Winslet, John Lennon.

Libra is a Cardinal Air sign ruled by Venus (value, cooperation, fairness).

Librans can be direct or charmingly indirect when communicating with others. And sometimes, they can be direct with indirect language. That’s quite a skill – no wonder Librans are the diplomats of the zodiac! It takes great skill to speak about unpleasant or touchy matters without offending but simply debating and discussing the idea or concept objectively.

 

Neptune in fixed air Aquarius Rx 5/15-10/22/03. Uranus in fixed air Aquarius Rx until direct on 11/8/03, but remains in Aquarius until 12/30/03.

(Rx means retrograde - apparent backward motion of a planet along the Zodiac as seen from the Earth).

Neptune in Aquarius makes a station direct on 10/22/03 @ 10 deg. True to its nature, a Neptune emphasis, such as a station direct, can create confusion, illumination, a spiritual insight, something unforeseen emerging or any of these conditions. Venus/Scorpio squares Neptune/Aquarius on 10/17/03, prior to Neptune’s station. This aspect can manifest itself as political scandal, mixed emotions and intense feelings generated in the context of important relationships, a deep spiritual attunement, a creative breakthrough, an unexpected insight into the deeper workings of your unconscious motives and desires.

 

Mercury in Virgo 7/30-10/6/03. Mercury passed its “shadow point” (degree at which it turned Rx) on 10/3/03, and another retrograde cycle completes itself. The last two months have often brought more questions than answers. Questions of perfection, imperfection and various life adjustments linger until Mars in Pisces (opposite Virgo) moves past 26 Pisces (in December), the degree opposite (180deg.) where Mercury went Rx. Remember, both Mars and Mercury danced retrograde at the same time through most of September, creating complex scenarios and issues to sort out and also some stressful times.

Mercury enters Libra on 10/6/03 @ 9:28PM EDT until 10/24/03. Life seeks a greater balance or at least our thoughts linger on how we can negotiate a more balanced life-style and manage our various relationships equitably.

 

Mars in Pisces (Mars stays in Pisces 6/16 – 12/16/03, a long cycle due to its retrograde motion.) Mars and Uranus remain in a close conjunction, just 1 degree apart (although in different signs) through 10/9/03. This out-of-sign conjunction diffuses the energy somewhat but it is still a volatile combination. Uranus back in its own sign of Aquarius is strong and wants to make a statement for its version of the truth. On 10/4/03, a young female Palestinian lawyer felt compelled to sacrifice her life for a cause and in the process killed 19 Israelis in a Haifa restaurant and wounded many others. The sadness of so many lives wasted and families torn apart literally and emotionally is an enormous world tragedy. When will there be peace in the Middle-East?

 

Venus enters fixed water Scorpio10/9/03 until 11/2/03. Venus in Scorpio is not as sweet in this sign. Instead, it sports a gritty honesty and a penetrating, resourceful, scrappy approach to relationships. Don’t mess with this Venus; it has an uncanny sixth sense and can smell a rat better than anyone. If you are emotionally honest, this Venus will trust you – otherwise forget it!

So, for the duration of Venus in Scorpio, dig deep to understand the desires that motivate you and value the powerful bond you are capable of having in your relationships. This Scorpio tests your willingness to be vulnerable.

 

Jupiter in mutable, earth Virgo 8/27/03 until 9/04. In general, Jupiter transiting Virgo will bring job expansion, particularly as it makes a sextile (60deg.), an aspect of opportunity, to Saturn/Cancer (commerce and economic development). At the same time, any problems with workers, the work force, and labor issues will also be magnified. For example, there’s talk of expanding a NAFTA-like proposal to Central America, and then there’s the issue of manufacturing jobs exported to third-world countries for cheap labor. Jupiter tosses the issues out to be debated and resolved. Jupiter makes its first of several sextiles to Saturn at the end of October.

 

Saturn in Cancer for 2.5 years, 6/3/03 to 6/17/05. Saturn sits @ 13 deg., its retrograde degree, from 10/9-11/11/03. Saturn

Makes its Rx station on 10/25/03.  As we’ve mentioned before, this is the exact degree of both the USA Sun and of President Bush. Saturn not only wants an accounting but also asks the tough questions. If the answers don’t hold water, you’ve lost credibility. Saturn in Cancer is concerned with overall quality of life and its interests center around the smaller circle of family and community. That’s one of the reasons Americans are balking over $87 billion spent for Iraq when the states are all struggling financially to keep their social programs going and their infrastructure in repair, not to mention the still sluggish economy.

 

White House Scandal or who leaked the identity of the undercover CIA Agent? One thing or another is bedeviling the Bush administration as Saturn applies its pressure to both the USA chart and Bush’s natal placements. It’s a time of reckoning. We may never know who leaked the undercover CIA identity of Valerie Plame to syndicated columnist Robert Novak. The leak is very suspicious considering that Valerie is married to former ambassador Joseph Wilson who accused the Bush administration of exaggerating the Iraq threat, which brought us into war. Saturn in Cancer is interested in how things are structured and how they are run and who is responsible when there is a breakdown in the system. Saturn’s intention is to find the weaknesses in the system, repair and then rebuild it to optimum strength. Oftentimes that means blame is placed when irresponsibility is discovered.

 

Arnold Schwarzenegger Governor of CA? From body builder extraordinaire to movie star and now to politician – the many lives of Arnold. What are his chances of winning CA? Actually they are quite good! Arnold’s Moon in Capricorn is being blessed with a trine (120deg.) from Jupiter/Virgo. His Mars is in the midst of a Pluto opposition, stimulating his desires to maximize other talents and test his power potential. Saturn/Cancer moving through his 12^th House can indicate his desire to be of service. He has all the fame and money anyone could want, so it’s possible to believe his motives are centered on making a difference and helping the ailing CA economy. Then again the political machine is well-oiled in attempting to gain a Republican governor of the largest state in the Union. Is that a coincidence? Can the two interests operate simultaneously? You decide. However, Arnold has no real political experience. The California Recall is a perplexing issue in itself. If we (supposedly) elect officials for a certain time frame and have the choice of either re-electing them or electing someone else the next time, what’s the point of the recall? Seems rather chaotic and counter productive to the election process.  It is an interesting notion. Are there other politicians we can recall, if we’re displeased with their performance?

 

Sun-Libra, Mercury-Virgo (Libra by 10/6/03), Venus-Libra (Scorpio by 10/9/03), Mars-Pisces, Jupiter-Virgo, Saturn-Cancer, Uranus-Rx-Aquarius, Neptune-Rx-Aquarius, Pluto-Sagittarius.

(Rx means retrograde – apparent backward motion of a planet along the Zodiac as seen from the Earth.)

Fire — 1, Earth — 2 (1 by 10/6/03), Air — 4 (5 by 10/6/03, 4 by 10/9/03), Water — 2 (3 by 10/9/03)

= Planets in Element distribution.

 

(Since the Moon moves quickly, 2½ days per sign, it is not included in the tally -- the Moon moves through each element 3 times per month). This week brings another elemental shift. Air still leads with 4 placements after a short-term roller-coaster  ride up and then back down again. Water placements increase to 3. Earth reduces to 1 placement and ties with 1 Fire placement. Air domination shows us a bigger perspective and supports rational, logical ways of approaching problems and issues. Air energy supplies ideas until a solution can be found, because air, by nature, is communicative and willing to talk and listen to others’ ideas. The air signs Aquarius and Libra in particular are interested in finding fair and viable, humanitarian, truthful solutions. Water holds 3 placements and reminds us to acknowledge, discuss, and seek to understand the different emotions (and politics) fueling current issues. Earth and Fire trail, but Mars, a fiery planet (currently in watery Pisces), is now direct and steady (although often reaches a goal indirectly or intuitively) –  the most satisfying progress is made by following inner guidance. The predominant signs occupied are airy Libra (2), airy Aquarius (2), earthy Virgo (1), watery Pisces (1), watery Scorpio (1), watery Cancer (1), and fiery Sadge (1). Modes of expressing energy shift too, this week, for a balance in all three modes -- 3 Cardinal signs (Cancer/Libra), 3 Mutable signs (Virgo/Pisces/Sadge), and 3 Fixed signs (Aquarius, Scorpio). With no single mode dominating, there’s more likelihood of checks and balances. This combination of elements and modes lasts until 10/23/03. Whew!

 

Sunday, October 5, 2003 – Yom Kippur!

Moon in Aquarius, Fixed Air (eccentric, refreshing).

Ž       General feelings of harmony prevail, and a clear and truthful future perspective. Plumbing emotional depths is likely to yield you a wealth of understanding of your process, your desires, your power and the psychological programs you run.

Monday, October 6, 2003 – Mercury enters Libra!

Moon in Aquarius, VOC @ 9:05AM EDT.

(VOC=Void of Course. The Moon makes no major contact with another planet before it leaves a sign. Indicates disconnected feelings and random, free-floating moods. An easygoing and less-structured time, not the best time for major decisions or starting new projects. Great for parties though! VOC ends as the Moon enters the next sign.)

Moon into Pisces, Mutable Water (dreamy, idealistic) @ 10:20AM EDT.

Ž      The mood shifts to hypersensitive during the day. You’ll manage better if you just let it flow. Trying to control every detail will make you unhappy. Carve out some dreamtime today (it needn’t be long) and wonder, suppose, and imagine.

Tuesday, October 7, 2003 –

Moon in Pisces, VOC @ 7:30PM EDT.

Ž      Some of your recent meanderings and dream images want to take form. Select and then bring focus to what you want most to manifest. A missing piece falls into place about an emotional issue you’ve been pondering these last months.

Wednesday, October 8, 2003 –                                                                                                                    

Moon VOC in Pisces

Moon into Aries, Cardinal Fire (impulsive, energetic) @ 7:07PM EDT.

Ž      Today you’ll have to trust the universe to show you something very special. Any direction you head for today will inevitably lead you elsewhere. This is the universe’s way of testing your faith. Stay open to what appears on the landscape.

Thursday, October 9, 2003 – Venus enters Scorpio!

Moon in Aries.

Ž      A dynamic shift moves your needs and values to contemplate the reasons for your obsessiveness, possessiveness, and even your compulsive impulses. Feelings, of course, are neutral. It’s how you act on them that makes all the difference.

Friday, October 10, 2003 – Full Moon, 16 Aries @ 3:27AM EDT.

Moon in Aries.

Ž      You know you are powerful. You were born that way, why do you forget? Who are you today and where are you going? If you don’t know, how will you get there? Something deeper is bubbling up in your relationships and needs attending.

Saturday, October 11, 2003 – Sukkoth!

Moon in Aries, VOC @ 4:31AM EDT.

Moon into Taurus, Fixed Earth (steady, deliberate) @ 6:05AM EDT.

Ž       Rich experiences of mindfulness shape the sacred in your everyday and shift your recognition of patterns you’ve developed, some over a lifetime. You may wonder how it happened but focus more on the resources unleashed.