The Light Within: New Moon and Total Solar Eclipse

To observe what is happening in the skies overhead during the New Moon in Scorpio and the total eclipse of the Sun on November 13, visit Earthsky’s website. 

Today is the Hindu festival of lights, Diwali, a time when we focus on the light within as we move into the darkness of the winter season. The New Moon in Scorpio coincides with a total solar eclipse. The Sun, the Moon, and the Earth line up in direct line with one another, temporarily blocking the Sun’s light. Symbolically, we are reminded by the planetary transits, that  though darkness prevails, our inner light and substance and the Divine Light and Wisdom of Creation, nourish, inspire, and provide clarity through even the darkest times. Our ability to discover the light within ourselves individually and to join our light with that of others, enables us to transcend and transform the world in which we are co-creators. 

This solar eclipse begins at sunrise in northern Australia (20.36 UT) and moves west. The eclipse of the Sun is certain to unleash a great deal of energy, and that coupled with the powerful alignment of planets over the last month or so, trigger and unleash clarity in what is ready to burst into being.  Whatever intentions have been set, whatever plans are being made, and whatever connections are destined to be made, are virtually unstoppable at this point.  What you have set into motion, enables you now to bring forth what is within you and to share with others who are receptive and inspired by your beauty, gifts, and essence. For the next two weeks on the energy of the New Moon, we build our desires and intentions to the point where projects can be launched, dreams can become manifest, promises will be kept, and desires will be fulfilled.This is the time we have been waiting for, and now is the moment to seek what your heart desires. It is time to honor our true desires, and remain open, receptive, and fearless in our quest to begin the new leg our our journeys.

Traditionally, farmers have considered the New Moon  a good time to plant crops. It is also a good time to begin new adventures, to put plans into motion, and to set the groundwork for what needs to be done. Now is a time to launch new projects and develop new ideas, begin new relationships or begin the first stages of a new phase of your existing relationships. New moons allow us to open new doors, renew and deepen existing relationships and commitments, and discern what it is that we truly require to love and be loved.

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The New Moon in Scorpio is in a fixed water sign. Scorpio new moons are about beginning or renewing one’s commitment to self mastery. Whatever is required to root out any self-sabotaging behaviors, patterns, or activities. New moons signal new beginnings, and with archetypal  passion and resourcefulness of Scorpio, we can enter this new moon cycle in search of clarity, vision, and guidance toward achieving our goals. It’s an excellent time to clear out whatever debris is blocking, clogging, or cluttering our lives. Unblocking all types of energy blocks allows us to feel better and to operate more effectively in all areas. 

The Sun is in Scorpio, putting us in touch with what we desire. We seek answers and solutions to problems now, and we are in a good position to transform and heal in a big way now, if we are willing to use our passion, intensity and energy to remove all blocks and release whatever is holding us back.  By spending time strengthening our spiritual connections and allowing ourselves to be transformed  into more loving, compassionate, and giving people, we enhance and raise the overall vibration of ourselves, one another, and the entire planetary system.  Love is reflected in love, and Love dispels sickness, disharmony, conflict, and the sense of death. All is energy, and recognition of the endless supply and eternal nature of Love, empowers us and allows us to act to choose life. 

The Sun and Moon in Scorpio form a Total Solar Eclipse on Tuesday, November 13. Solar eclipses always signal major change, and what type of change often has much to do with our attitudes and perceptions. We now have the opportunity of new beginnings around matters of intimacy, shared resources and relationships, power and authority, and finances.  While change may occur on the surface in all these areas, it is much more likely that the change taking place is occurring at the deep, subconscious and unconscious levels of our being.  We may find ourselves desiring to understand our relationship to intimacy from  the level of our psychological, spiritual, and emotional development.  No longer content to “understand” what is going on, we seek true meaning, purpose, and depth. We attempt to unravel the connections our present life and relationships have with those unhealed, suppressed, or otherwise undeveloped aspects of our nature. Scorpio is all about going beneath the surface to find the truth.

Scorpio, the planet where not only the Sun and Moon are transiting, but also Saturn and the North Node are located in Scorpio for long term transits. Our greatest lessons are going to come within the confines of more monogamous and stable relationships. To explore, heal, and grow,  commitment and single-focused marriages and relationships allow us to delve to the depths of our own development in relationship. Emphasis is and will continue to be throughout Saturn’s transit in Scorpio, on developing the quality of our lives within relationships where you and your partner are receptive, authentic, and clear when communicating about needs. Seek to find purpose and meaning within a committed relationship. You will find this more fulfilling and meaningful than you might have ever imagined. Uniting on a soul level with a partner affords us the best opportunity of learning about who we are.  The Scorpio planets now highlight this area of our lives, and depending where Scorpio falls in your chart, these transits will affect you in different ways.

Scorpio in the first house: Scorpio transiting your Ascendant/1st house transforms your sense of self and the way you appear in the world.You may appear more serious, as you work to break patterns that have defined and shaped you in the past. Masks, roles, and the worn out facades fall away to make room for freer self expression. Saturn in particular will make you aware of any aspect of your life and being that is no longer energetically alive. You either release the old, or the old is stripped away like the snake sheds its skin.  Unless you attempt to rationalize or cling to old mental patterns and images of yourself, this process will be liberating, and you will find yourself much more animated and relieved. Release all self-defeating, illusory, and co-dependent behaviors and attitudes. This may be a time when you become more serious about setting your own goals, guiding your own career, and blazing the trail to meet your soul purpose. Time to take care of your appearance, paying attention to health, nutrition, exercise, and hygiene.  Coming face to face with the reality of who you are, and needing to confront any areas that require attention or care. Transformation takes place around your self image.

Scorpio in the second house: Transformation takes place around how you value yourself. If you have allowed yourself to be defined by others, your work, or anything external to your own being, you will be experiencing a grand awakening. How does your life reflect your authentic self? What is keeping you from feeling a sense of worthiness and value?  Whether or not you go through a personal crisis that forces you to change and to value yourself and your worthiness more, depends upon whether or not you are willing to accept your good. If we feel unworthy, we expect little or nothing. Examine how you have come to value yourself, and this will be much easier now, though not necessarily pleasant, as Scorpio brings up all the issues, memories, and subconscious business that has gone into shaping you sense of personal value.  With Saturn’s transit, and the new moon and total solar eclipse in Scorpio, along with the North Node, now is the time when you will be at the start of a major reshaping of how you value yourself. Since much of how we see our value comes through the work and relationships we are involved in, you may see a great deal of transformation and change in these areas. 

Scorpio in the third house. Third house issues and gifts relate to our style of communication, our immediate surroundings and environment, and the area and people in our community. Social and intellectual matters feel the full force of Scorpio at this time. Any aspect of the 3rd house areas of your life will go through whatever has become dysfunctional, dry, lifeless, routine (in an unhealthy, failure-to-thrive manner).  You may find yourself dissatisfied with a variety of areas of your life where communication has become too routine, too banal, and too lifeless.  Scorpio stirs up your desire to express yourself with more authenticity, greater freedom. You seek greater connection and mutuality in all forms of communication. You let go of anything and anyone that keeps you from communicating clearly and fully. You take charge of your life, your work, and your voice, and begin living from the center out; much happier and open to greater fulfillment.

Scorpio in the fourth house. Home and feeling at home receive the brunt of Scorpio’s transits. Now more than ever you fine yourself needing to establish a home. Doing so is necessary for your psychological and emotional well being. Some loss around your home, often whatever connects you to childhood (for good or bad), pushes you into the transformation ahead.  The Scorpio transits bring great transformation through dreams, memories, and reflections of whatever has been suppressed, unhealed, or otherwise not integrated into how you define home as an adult.  Whatever is stirred up psychologically, emotionally, or spiritually, needs to be examined in order for you to grow and transform more fully. What we don’t know or face, can hurt us.  Facing our fears, our memories, our past can, with Scorpio transits in the fourth house, force us to regain or discover for the first time, our personal sovereignty. While we are still trapped in the stories of our past, we cannot build our home in the present.  The gift of these transits is that we are now pushed to claim our own power and define for ourselves a personal sense of safety and home. Being comfortable in our own skin is the gift of these transits; being somewhat uncomfortable with the process is the price we pay.  

Scorpio in the 5th house.  The Fifth house rules our sense of pleasure, creativity, productivity, and life force.  Our desire to be happy and loved rests in this house and is nourished by all the experiences and people who affirm, approve, and cherish us.Fifth house matters pertain to how you answer the question, “What would make me truly happy?” When we find ourselves not enjoying life, we know that our fifth house  matters have become stagnant or a burden. Transits of this house indicate heavy responsibilities or the pull to make this area of our life more significant. What brings us peace and saves us, is finding meaningful ways to live our lives.  Seeking meaning in whatever we do, helps us meet the challenges of Saturn’s transit through the 5th house. The Solar eclipse and New Moon in Scorpio highlight, in a big way, whatever it is that we need to change. We get a clearer sense of direction, and can see the doorway to deepening our ability to create, live from love, and find true happiness.

Scorpio in the 6th house. Sixth house matters are the day to day matters including where you spend your time and your physical body and health. Often read as the workplace, the sixth house is about how we spend our time and the effect our work has on our well being and health. Feeling edgy or anxious may signal the need to rearrange the way you are using time. When we over-program ourselves, we suffer the consequences. Transits through a 6th house of Scorpio signal a need to  reconsider your priorities. Transformation and growth come about through having to redefine and restructure the way we do things. Time do do what is nourishing us and what serves our best interests. Now may be the time when you get serious about a new or intensified health regime (yoga, walking, swimming, developing better eating habits).  We tend to feel compelled during this transit, to take better care of ourselves. We can trust our intuitive sense about what needs to be done for improving our health and for making better choices for ourselves. Taking responsibility for our own health means acknowledging that our health is affected by everything we do, and we do have control over both.  Learn to listen to your intuitive senses, your dreams, and your hunches.  Trust that you have the innate capacity to know what you and your body need, and to act for your own best interests.

Scorpio in the 7th house. The Sun, New Moon, Saturn, and the North Node all transiting the 7th house brings change, change, and more change to partnerships and marriages. You are freed, released, or relieved of whatever relationships are already over on the energetic level. For relationships that are based on trust, openness and authenticity, this will be a difficult time, but not impossible. For relationships that are faltering or where feelings have been suppressed and issues have not been resolved, this will be a rocky time. The New Moon and Solar Eclipse should give you some indication or clarity about what relationships are in need of repair and which ones are on a dead end road. Whether or not you choose to work on the issues of a relationship or let go of it altogether, the need for growth, change, and transformation will come from within; listen to your intuition and that inner sense of truth that only you can know, watch your dreams, and pay attention to your instincts and hunches.  

Scorpio in the 8th house. The ruler of the underworld, our subconscious, psyche, and the unconscious dimensions within and around us, experiences the transits in very significant ways.  Transformation, rooted deep in the depths of the psyche, feels the pull particularly around issues related to authority: matters related to taxes, inheritance, legal issues, or other financial matters. This area of our lives is also where we establish our social identity and worth . Notice on this New Moon and Solar eclipse, what areas of your life are indicated for the long term Saturn transit. Eighth house matters have to do with the goods of the dead, so you might find yourself having to deal with such matters either on the subconscious level,  the physical level, or both. Some aspect of life is dying to the old so that a new stage of life can be born. Since Scorpio rules the underworld, pay attention to any subtle agreements, on the energetic level, you may have that need to either be honored, brokered, or simply acknowledged. Look within to know the truth of situations. Trust that you know what is beneath the surface. It won’t change what must be done or what happens, but it will make the way clear and will settle your mind about what is really going on.

Scorpio in the 9th house. Ninth house matters pertain travel, foreign cultures, higher education and higher thought. Whatever you do in any of these areas, what matters most at this time is connecting your personal intentions to your  personal purpose. Without  a clear vision, whatever you do will seem pointless. If your soul purpose is tied to anything requiring 9th house issues, you will spend an amazing amount of time and energy learning about how important a vision is to making your plans connect to your purpose in life. Vision alone is not enough. You will be learning to read the signs that life is setting forth. Transformation and growth come through expanding your world view, learning the basics required for real growth and understanding. Begin a new journey even though you may not know where you are headed.  Now is the time to trust that the lessons are awaiting you, and what is needed is a receptive heart and mind. 

Scorpio in the 10th house. The tenth house is the house of your soul calling. Transits here right now are indicating what is diverting you from your destiny and what you need to learn to transform and grow.  Watch for doors to close, and spend time establishing yourself in the areas where you excel and wish to claim your rightful place and authority. Watch to have your prayers answered or wishes come true in ways beyond your vision and through acts and events you cannot foresee. What is needed is inner 

clarity and vision, and then patience to learn the lessons and experience the transformation that leads you on paths that seem to diverge away from what you want. All roads lead to Rome; all roads are not the same. Let go of expectations doesn’t mean you have no expectations; it means you can expect that they won’t necessarily happen as you think they will Allow for the flow of the the unconscious to guide you now. Where are you being called to serve, lead, claim your sovereignty, excel, or create? Claim your rightful place through a process of discernment, reflection, and understanding.

Scorpio in the 11th house. Eleventh house matters relate to collaborative efforts. Whatever you have claimed as your rightful place or purpose requires the skill, support, and guidance of others. Transits through Scorpio in the 11th house indicates disruption, change, movement, and a reshuffling of allies and associates. It is crucial that you choose wisely during this time, and whatever happens around this New Moon and Solar Eclipse will give you some indication about where you are likely to be seeing major changes as Saturn works its way through this area of your life. You may see alliances fall apart or old associations disappear. Whatever is released now will make room for better and more reliable, growth-promoting relationships and support.

Scorpio in the 12 house. Home of the great mysteries and subconscious and unconscious connections and entanglements of our soul. Whatever we brought into this life with us, has been traveling with us for a very long time. The New Moon and the Solar Eclipse in the 12th house may awaken long-forgotten memories or arouse deep-seated feelings, emotions, or unconscious needs. Saturn’s transit through the 12th house releases the shadow that now rises up to the surface of our lives through our awareness, feelings, memories, and in the context of life in general. We are experiencing a change from one life to the next; a complete transformation is taking place. We are challenged to connect to the Universal through studies of metaphysics, spiritual traditions, and mysticism. We are awakened deeply through this transit, and it is a very personal, private focus for it reveals to us whatever we have been unable or unwilling to face within ourselves, and demands that we meet ourselves at the deepest most authentic level possible. 

Mercury Sagittarius is retrograde during November and December when it reenters Scorpio.During this time, we have the opportunity to review, reconsider, and test out ideas for changes we have been moved to make recently.  We may find that we are capable of seeing old situations in a new light. Communication takes on new forms with the full intention of sustaining sound and solid principles and ideas.  In areas where we have needed to seek solutions for existing problems or where we still do not see our way clear to discover answers to outstanding dilemmas or solutions to problems confronting us,  Mercury retrograde may find us retracing our steps or reconsidering decisions we have recently made. When Mercury reenters Scorpio after November 17, we will find that our intuitive hunches and subconscious stirrings will remind us what it was that made our new path so clear in the first. place.  Sagittarius, the problem solver, prefers action to discernment, so Mercury’s retrograde motion back into Scorpio can actually serve us well as we find ourselves reassured of our path forward.

Venus in Libra until November 21, provides an period of harmony and celebration.  Venus refines and enhances whatever area of our lives she falls in.  At home in Libra, Venus shines her light on whatever aspects of life lend themselves to creating beauty, encouraging the delicate balance between the masculine and feminine energies.  

Neptune is in Pisces for the first time in 160 years. Unconditional love, transpersonal expressions of love. Neptune has been retrograde since June 4, and begins to move forward in early November. This long transit has just begun, and will have a long-term influence in whatever area of your life it is moving.  By now, you should already be able to determine that Neptune is striking a more emotional and creative chord in whatever house it is transiting.  In trine aspect to the Solar eclipse, the New Moon in Scorpio, Saturn and the North Node in Sagittarius, your dreams and intuition should be highly charged making you more keenly aware of what is connecting you to the path you have chosen to follow, and what your are destined to manifest, based on what you have transformed in your life thus far.  Having released and cleared away old patterns, relationships, and emotional and physical clutter, you have a clear path that is allowing a full release and clearing of channels of energy both in the subtle bodies and within the manifested expression of your life. A deeply transpersonal transformation is well under way, and the sense of time and space are dissolving as we operate on a more fluid and mystical level than we ever have before. There is a magnificent collective energy alive and activated, and within each one of our lives, an awakening has occurred. Any pockets of resistance that are blocking, challenging, or causing us pain, require release so that we do not store up any residual energy, karmic patterns of behavior and belief, or unhealthy emotional, mental, psychological, or spiritual manifestations. 

Passages, Thresholds, and the Journey Forward

Threshold                                                                                                                                                              Catherine Al-Meten

In many ways, we are at the threshold of a new time, a new aspect of our collective journey, and a time when individually we have many choices to make. All of our choices will contribute or take away from our overall health and well being, so the choices and direction we take, require our careful consideration and our willingness to step into uncharted territory. 

As individuals and families, we are experiencing events, upheaval, and changes at an ever-increasing rate. We are ennumdated wtih overwhealming amounts of information, experiences, and options.  How we mindfully maintain a sense of balance while experiencing the changes that are upon us, makes all the difference between navigating the tides of change, and drowning in a sea of helplessness, fear, and passivity.  Learning to understand the prevailing, universal trends, and paying attention to how our body, mind, emotions, and spirit inform and compel us to live in greater harmony, are both important at a time of such transformation.  

I am publishing this article as November begins, and as the Celtic New Year begins as well. It has been a roller coaster ride over the last year, and as this we enter November, we might all feel like we’re riding the waves on the high seas in the middle of a storm. And for many, that is exactly what it is. Perhaps we have forgotten how closely linked our existence is to the health, harmony, and balance of the planet upon which we live. We are being called to respect our place on Earth, and our relationahsip to the Universal energies that support and affect us and life on this planet.

The dynamic transformation of the planet, an ongoing part of living on the Earth, may be becoming more real to more people en masse, than ever before. It’s not like this is the first time large numbers of people have been ennundated by floods, storms, or  earthquakes nor is it the first time people have been in conflict with one another or railing against their leaders and one another. This is the nature of who we are. We in the 21st Century however, have become complacent about our power to control our own destiny and manage the powers of nature.  Now that we have the technology to communicate and view in real time, the power of the both natural and human energy, we are more aware of what heretofore had been experienced regionally, and reported in the annals of history.  

Now we are living in the historical present, and are without all the answers. We do, have however, the power to understand ourselves and one another as spiritual beings living within the material and very real limitations and confines of our physical Universe. As those who have lived through any recent or distant calamity (World War II and the other wars of the Twentieth and Early Twentieth Centuries, storm and their aftermath like Katrina, Sandy and countless other tsunamis, storms, earthquakes, floods, droughts, and other natural or human-induced disasters, we are all affected by whatever goes on by these events.  

Today, feeling like I’m reeling as if I were seasick or car sick, I looked to the ephemeris to see what was happening. I might as well have just reflected, as I and millions of others have been, on the power and energy alive on the Planet at this time.  For those who still rely on “hard facts,” “solid research,” or “100% Proof” of what seems to be obvious changes taking place on this dynamic planet, this time might seem to be like proof of ancient and modern predictions along the apocalyptic types.  And as a biblical scholar and student of history, I can understand why people look for explanations beyond the natural occurrences that can be understood by simply understanding that we live in a dynamic Universe. 

We can study and observe the way we relate to the natural world, for after all, we are part of it. As long as we refuse to see ourselves as part of the natural rhythms of life, we will continue to be surprised and shocked. We will also continue to ignore the fact that we must change with the changes that take place around us.  Growing up as I did, near the ocean, I learned early on that the sea was far more powerful than humans. Building your home on a cliff overlooking the ocean, or on the rim of a volcano, or in a dry river bed, was sure to end badly at some point in time when the question of whether nature was more powerful than human ingenuity was ignored or forgotten. The events that are taking place throughout the world (the rising of the seas and the loss of islands and coastal lands, the melting of the ice caps at an amazing rate, and the climate and geological consequences), have been predicted and have been researched. If we humans choose to ignore that “the Emperor has no clothes,” then we are choosing to ignore the obvious. What is going on now, that we can observe in our own lives, to help us make choices and smarter decisions about how we are going to live, work, and use our resources. 

Today the  Sun is in 8/58  Scorpio, the Moon is in 2/32 Gemini (the airy feeling), Mercury is at 2/ Sagittarius, Venus is at 4/ Libra, Mars is at 17/58 Sagittarius, Jupiter is at 15/08 Gemini, Saturn is at 3/08 Scorpio, Uranus is at 5/20 Aries, Neptune is at 0/12 Pisces, and Pluto is at 7/27 Capricorn. Ceres is in Cancer. 

All month Saturn, Ceres and Neptune continue to  form a Grand Trine in Water. Look to the areas of your life where you are receiving the energy from these planets. 

All month Uranus in Aries, Ceres in Cancer, and Pluto in Capricorn are forming a t-square, which sets off energy suddenly around water and earth-related issues, conditions, and problems. The transformative nature of Pluto continues to uproot, while the shocking and electrifying energy of Uranus jolts us unexpectedly with news, energy, or other disruptive forms of communication and events. Ceres in Cancer, feels the impact with more problems around safety, security in the home, and the basis on which we seek to build the foundations for our homes, cities, and societies. For some, this affects the system of beliefs, for others the actual ground on which your home/life is based.  Look to your chart/life to see where these planets are, and to determine the nature of the energetic movement of the planets and the alignment of these aspects and transits. 

On 11/5 Election Day, Venus, the Morning Star, rising before Saturn representing the leader is in conjunction with the Sun in Scorpio, casting its light on the established leader. When Venus rises in the morning, it lends its gifts and benevolence on the existing leaders. Jupiter, the bestower of abundance and good fortune, is nowhere to be seen as the day dawns. Uranus in Aries at the nadir of the chart over Washington D.C., our capital city, tends to favor established policies and trends. Neptune at 0/22 Pisces is in opposition to the star, Regulus in Virgo. Regulus represents the archetype of the heart of the Lion. Anger unleashed by the results of the election and by how the election was run, will lead to widespread. A plan that seemed to be invincible, will fail due to over confidence and an illusory sense of the source of power and authority. The Saturn-Pluto reception and sextile, (each transiting the house of one another’s ruler), Saturn transiting Capricorn (Pluto’s ruler) and Pluto transiting Scorpio (Saturn’s ruler), provide stability and favors skilled professionals, researchers, scientists, artists, medical workers, and others who are progressive in their views and activities, not wanting to ignore the the pressing needs and issues of our times to return to a retrogressive attachment to outworn values, institutions, and beliefs. Collectively, we are turning toward more long-term views and more cooperative, unifying ways of meeting the needs of our times and our people. The Saturn-Pluto reception began on October 6, 2012, and ends on Christmas Eve of 2014.

Mercury stations Retrograde on Election day, indicating problems and breakdowns in communication. With the devastating storms that brought upheaval to the Northeast U.S. on November 1, and with the possibility of further storms coming as winter approaches, the disruptions have already begun that could have a major impact on this election. That and the information coming out about tampering with and underhanded, unethical practices around voting machines, could see this election end up in court once again. Jupiter in Gemini (Mercury’s ruler) and Mercury in Sagittarius (Jupiter’s ruler) are in mutual reception. Mercury will be in reception with Jupiter on election day, and though Mercury can impact communication, Jupiter can impact results. Mercury made a retrograde square to Neptune earlier in the month, and the deception and lies told at that time are having an effect on what is happening during the first half of November, with repercussions extending far into the future.  

This November, both the New Moon and the Full Moon will be eclipses. The New Moon solar eclipse at 21 degrees of Scorpio occurs on November 14. Anyone with planets or house cusps at 21 degrees will experience new beginnings at this This will bring with it surprises and upsets connected to issues related to power and authority, taxes, inheritance, death and related matters.  The status quo is upset in nearly every area of the world and in both natural and human-induced matters. The path of the eclipse extends from Northern Australia and New Zealand to the west coast of South America. These areas in particular are affected by this eclipse. 

The Full Moon Lunar eclipse of November 28, 2012 falls at 6 degrees of Gemini and peaks at 6:48 PST. The path of that eclipse will also affect Northern New Zealand. Venus will be reaching a sextile (favorable) aspect to Pluto, indicating that the work we have accomplished thus far in transforming whatever areas of our lives we have needed to address, will prepare us for what lies ahead. Gemini, the twins, is about uniting opposites. The challenge for us is that we still need to acknowledge, feel, and face the challenges of the polarities within ourselves and within the world. We cannot live at the extremes of opposites; we must unite bring ourselves into wholeness. If there is ever a place and time when this is evident, it is now.  We see ourselves at one another’s throats about ideas and ideals, and we see ourselves pulling together to help one another through the most difficult of times and experiences. One path leads to destruction; the other path leads to healing and creation. 

We may still be experiencing the effects of October’s T-Square in Cardinal signs: Venus in Libra, Pluto in Capricorn, and Uranus in Aries, and the Uranus-Pluto square, that resulted in the birth of a new time, level of perception, and path for us. We are just at the beginning of a new phase of life, and we are already being hit with one reminder after another of the power of the Universe and our need to raise our level of thinking, acting, and believing to reflect and energize ourselves to meet the challenges that face us all. We cannot solve our problems through violence, anarchy, or self-righteous and self-aggrandizing behavior any longer. It simply will not stand up to the challenges we face. 

The ongoing and transformative nature of the Uranus-Pluto square and the archetype of compassion and spiritual awakening of Neptune in Pisces (the start of a 14-year cycle), sets the stage for the years to come. In many ways, we are just at the threshold of change that will unfold for many years to come. Find your true north, and connect and align yourself with the highest good you can imagine, and work and live to manifest your highest good and most loving and kind creative self. 

Full Moon in Taurus, Grand Trine in Water: Overflowing Potential

October Storm                                                                                                                                                       Catherine Al-Meten
Columbia River, Astoria                                                                                                                                                               2012

Adding a message to acknowledge all the activity and sense of urgency with the major hurricane working its way up through the Carribbean and into the Atlantic Coastline of North America. With so many planets in water signs, it is not surprising that water is playing such a powerful role in calling our attention to our relationship with the planet and Universe we are part of.  Also, along the Pacific Coast, the transformative earth energy and lunar earth energy is sending tremors through the earthquake fault lines. This is a normal aspect of the dynamic nature of the planet we live on.  We need to pay attention to our relationship with the elements of nature, and realize what a powerful part it plays in the way we live our lives.  Take precautions, be prepared for emergencies, and keep a cool head.  In times like this, we can use our power and energy to support and comfort one another. Take this time to get in touch with who and what really matters in your life.  

This month’s Full Moon at 6 degrees of  Taurus, falls on October 29, 2012 at 12:49 P.M (PDT). The Full Moon in Taurus forms an intense trine to Pluto in Capricorn and an opposition to Saturn, setting off powerful energy for change and movement.  This Full Moon is all about power, control, authority, and transformation. Lessons to be learned, a new path unfolding before us, and time to establish ourselves within the base of our own power, identity. and determination. As storms rage on the Atlantic Coast of North and Central America, a large earthquake shakes the Northwest Pacific region near the Queen Charlotte Islands. The full Moon activates the four planets in Scorpio (Sun, Mercury, Saturn, and the North Node) and to a lesser degree, the two in Pisces, Neptune and Chiron, all six points ruled by the aspect of water. 

Called the Full Hunter’s Moon, the Travel Moon, the Blood or Sanguine Moon,  the Dying Grass Moon, this full moon’s  names are derived from traditions and seasonal changes of autumn. This is the time of the year in the North that tribes prepare for the long winters ahead, hunting, preserving, and preparing themselves with the fruits, harvests, and bounty of their fishing and hunting. This is the time of the year which is considered one of the most important feast days in the Northern Hemisphere. It is still a time when we are preparing for winter and celebrating the final days of harvest, the hunt, as we prepare for winter. On the East Coast, people are preparing for the storms, and we are all becoming more aware of how important it is to pay attention to the basic necessities of life.

The Moon rules emotions, habits, patterns of behavior and moods, 

Saturn rules structure and organization, self discipline, endurance and tenacity.  Both the Moon and Saturn are in Taurus, and both archetypes energize us as we use our emotional energy to organize, create workable structures, develop self discipline, and test our capacity for endurance and tenacity in how we live, do our work, care for ourselves and others, and how we establish clear and practical ways of behaving and interacting with one another. 

A Grand Trine in Water signs (Sun, Saturn, Mercury, North Node in Scorpio and Neptune and Chiron in Pisces, with Ceres in Cancer) on a yod formed when the moon strikes right through the middle of the trine, activating all angles and aspects. This beautiful aspect may be compared  to a cut diamond aspect with all its reflecting facets. An increase in consciousness, makes whatever we have been struggling to understand become crystal clear. All the planets in Scorpio stand at the gate of the North Node, the threshold into a new time, a new level of understanding, and a new way for us to develop and more fully engaged and connected to our inner identity and truth and our place within the Divine Consciousness as expressed through the lives we are living, the art we are creating, the love we are sharing, and the service we are giving. This Grand Trine in Water signs is affecting us at the deepest levels of our consciousness, our genetic code and make up, our soul development, moving us into our rightful place on this soul journey. Neptune is moving us through stages of completion in cycles, relationships, stages of development, and initiations into deeper mysteries, allowing us to release whatever traps us or stagnates our development. This is a true moment of transformation--the ending and finalization of one moment and the beginning of the next. What is ending now is essential for growth, for movement, for the next stage of life. Ceres represents the archetype of the daughter in the myth of Persephone and Demeter. The mythology is about the growing up and transformation that results in the daughter standing on her own, and the mother mourning her separation during the winter. The separation is necessary for both mother and daughter as both emerge into womanhood’s different stages.  While the myth speaks of a story to explain the seasons (winter is when Persepahone has to be away from her daughter, Ceres), it also speaks to the times when we have to stand on our own at different points of life. When our roles change, and when our needs and desires necessarily change too. What in your life now is calling to be released? Perhaps an old wound or pattern of behavior that is still blocking your growth? Perhaps a need to stand on your own at a new stage of life. Rather than fighting against a memory, an obvious challenge, or a crisis in relationship or consciousness, now is the time to face and become responsible for coming face to face with whatever fears, challenges, or shadow aspects of our being are calling out to be acknowledged and dealt with.  Rather than blaming, shaming, projecting, or taking the role of the victim, it is time to acknowledge your gifts, talents, abilities, needs, and power to act on your own behalf. No one is to blame for who you have become. No one is responsible for your fears, anger, grief, or unwillingness to move ahead. You have the power of your own consciousness, the power to act on your own behalf, and to claim your life for yourself. 

Whatever has been taken away from you, is meant to be released. Time to discover the gifts left to you in the wake of loss.  With 11 planets currently within the range of 1-7 degrees of their respective signs, and with the prevalence of water and the ongoing movement in Earth energy (Pluto in Capricorn and Moon in Taurus), the transformative energy is being triggered through our own emotional and spiritual natures; both two areas of our being flood us with one example after another of what is working, what is not, and what needs to be changed in order for us to benefit from the transformative elements at work within us and within the dynamic thrust of the world and Universe in which we live. 

The Grand Trine brings disparate energies together, calling us to view the world and our perceptions of ourselves and lives with new eyes and a deeper more spiritually oriented understanding. Relying only on our ability to rationalize or explain our experiences...to answer that question we all seek to answer about the most significant experiences and questions we have...”Why?”  The answer to that only comes when we have moved to act on behalf of healing, new growth, facing the consequences of our choices, and learning that we have to rely on the Wisdom that defies our own understanding. We can all come up with answers, but the lesson is not in coming up with the right answer. The lesson is to live more deeply, fully, authentically, and from our true soul call and divine nature.  We can hear, learn, and connect to this if we watch the signs, the movement, the unfolding of life as it is, not as we will it. 

The Sun in Scorpio is in conjunction with Saturn, bring a contained intensity and  passion under pressure. This is truly a time for acting from our passions, those anchored in divine truth and light. Chiron, the Wounded Healer,  in Pisces trines the Sun, fueling compassion and healing old wounds. quelling fears, hurt, and grief, and healing old wounds. We are compelled by circumstances and by our own awareness, to embrace the healing that is required to become whole and in alignment with the Divine and our Divine nature. 

Now is a time to prepare ourselves for the darker days and winter ahead, and to celebrate and prepare a feast of celebration for the bounty of our lives. Taurus, the preserver, nurturer, and fount of patience through devotion and love, grounds us in our emotional body, filling us as a result of expressing a felt need. Emotions and memories are not just to be experienced, but triggers and activators needed in response to our prayers and needs.  Unless we choose to believe that we live in a world where nothing is connected, and life happens by happenstance, we are well aware of the connected nature of all life.  When we only seek answers in times of crisis or as a result of isolated experiences, we miss the point that our thoughts, actions, dreams, communication, habits, patterns, and choices all send out continuous messages to the world, to the Universe and the Divine Creator, and to our own being....If we live without conscious intention and mindfulness, life seems haphazard and chaotic. As we live more intentionally and mindfully, we come to understand that, though our prayers may not be answered according to our expectations, they are answered. We are given what we need to live life according to what we have set in motion as we understand what we have been given to do and be.  If we are off the track, or if we have somehow incorporated false beliefs into the way we are living, we will find that we seem to run up against one brick wall after another. Plans do not turn out. Expectations are dashed. Life seems not to be working as we had hoped it would.  What’s wrong? By changing our perceptions of what is happening, we may see that we are not understanding the answer to our prayers. 

Recently, I listened to Stevie Wonder describe how grateful he was for being born blind. He described how people learn through their losses, if they are willing. Through whatever we lose or have gone without, we learn a deeper compassion for others. We learn how strong we are in ways that we wouldn’t otherwise, and we learn lessons about what we are capable of doing and being. This does not mean we should seek loss or intentionally create sadness, grief, or illness, but rather when faced with imbalance, disease, loss, or some other challenge, our healing comes through learning the gifts in the garbage.  What lessons can I take away from the situation, past or present, that caused me harm? How can I be courageous enough first to face that which I fear. There is nothing wrong with feeling and acknowledging that which has harmed you. To fail to do so, is called suppression, and it turns into something much worse when not faced. Allowing ourselves to face our fears, feel our anger, or acknowledge our sadness, is the first step to healing.  Second, we need to to allow ourselves to bring our souls back from the places where they are trapped...in memories, in longings, in worrying about the future, or despairing about the past. The timing couldn’t be more perfect for this.  Along with the time you spend preparing yourselves for the changes to come with the seasons, allow yourself to prepare for the next stage of your soul’s journey. Continue allowing your practice of mindfulness and intention guide you into practices, decisions, and patterns of behavior that nurture your health, bring you into deeper communion with all of life, your relationships, and the work you choose to do.  

Scorpio is the messenger of that which we don’t see. That which is unseen but deeply felt, is calling you now, to be acknowledged. We can now use our dreams, intuition, calling, and intentions into creating a greater sense of abundance in our lives, in manifesting healing and greater understanding, and in raising our level of connection to conscious awareness. The Sun, how we express the energy of life, Mercury, how we communicate and receive inspiration and information, and Saturn, how we learn the greater lessons of life, are all in the sign of Scorpio. Look at your chart to see which house/area of life this is most affecting. Notice what is calling you.

The Full Moon in Taurus in opposition to the Sun, is creating sextiles (positive activating energy) to Neptune and Chiron in Pisces. Pluto, the Great Transformer, trines the Moon, and forms sextiles to the Sun and Chiron. Venus has entered her ruling home sign of Libra, and she sextiles Mercury in optimistic and outgoing Sagittarius, making this an inspirational time for all forms of communication, especially words and expressions of love. Mars is also in Sagittarius, opposite its ruler, Jupiter in reflective Gemini. Uranus in Aries, is making some minor aspects to the Sun, maybe resulting in a bit of edginess or dissatisfaction.  Focus on what’s working, not what’s not. The positive and powerful energy is best used for good. Avoid obsessive thinking or behavior...it wastes you and your energy on unnecessary and/or unanswerable concerns.

The lineup of the planets, the Star/Sun, and the Moon all provide a backdrop and generate energy that affects us. However, we are the ones who make the choices, control the patterns and behavior, shape our attitudes, moods, and perceptions. We can use the power of the universe, the energy of the world and our being, for good or not. The choice is up to us. Think of astrological knowledge as akin to the weather and the climate.  It affects your life; it does not compel it.  You choose how to approach life given your understanding and willingness to adapt, change, or view what is going on.  Use this powerful and beautifully energetic time to grown in mindfulness, to become more willing to be intentional and persistent with the growth of your whole being, body, mind, and spirit.  Use the energy, the gifts, the talents, and the intuitive knowledge you possess to make your life better, to help others who need your service, gifts, and talents, and embrace life with intention, mindfulness, and discernment. Be open to the gifts of Spirit, and be respectful of the power of the Divine.  Be courageous in discovering the mysteries of the Sacred and of seeing how powerful your spiritual nature is. It is not only for yourself you seek to be more fully whole and enlightened; it is for the good of all. You came here with a special soul mission, and it requires all of you to manifest and share. Embrace it. Have courage. Open to the truth of your own being.

The Patron Saint of Impossible Things, St. Jude, and Ganesh, the Remover of Obstacles, are but two archetypal expressions of our human desire to receive divine support to help fix our lives. Even Cheshire Cat, in Alice in Wonderland, said, “I dream of impossible things every day...”  Why not dream of something impossible, and then, with intention, mindfulness, and faith in power beyond your own, seek answers through prayer, meditation, dreams, or life for those questions, crises, or concerns that weigh heavily on your heart at this time. See if you can’t find a sign, a piece of guidance, or some direction to allow you to move beyond whatever it is that weighs you down, traps you, or in some way remains lodged in your being as pain, anger, frustration, or hurt.  While the veils are thin and while the energy is so highly intuitive and powerful, test out the waters of your own intuitive gifts and see what kinds of answers you receive. Blessings and harmony to you and yours. 

And the Rains Came Down

Back to the Garden                                                                                         Catherine Al-Meten
Astoria, Oregon                                                                                                                            2012

On October 22, late in the afternoon on the West Coast of North America, the Sun entered Scorpio. Today, the Sun, Mercury, Saturn, and the North Node (gateway to the future) are all in the early degrees of Scorpio. Between today, October 23 and October 26, the Scorpio Sun conjuncts Saturn, aligning in the same degrees, and bringing profound transformation to whatever area of your chart/life the Sun and Saturn are transiting. This conjunction gives you a strong indication of the type of transformation Saturn will be bringing into your life over the next few years. Deep and profound transformations will be taking place. Whatever the secrets of the heart and subconscious will now rise to the surface. Whatever was hidden, is revealed. Whatever your deepest desires, now cannot be denied. This is also the time that whatever corruption, deceit, or unethical behavior has gone undetected will now be revealed. The transit of Scorpio, the ruler of the unconscious, heart of hearts, and depths of consciousness, triggers the transformative nature of Saturn's journey through Scorpio. Whatever area of your life this pertains to, will become more evident this week. 

Since this transit is affecting everyone everywhere, the trends in world politices, events, finances, science, literature, ecology, indeed, all areas of life on and off the planet, expect to witness some powerful and astounding events and discoveries. The potential for grand and positive movement and experiences is just as great as the potential to turn potential into negative expressions of the Scorpionic energy.  We all have the Scropio archetype ruling, affecting, and helping shape part of our life.  Look to your astrological chart or observe the areas of your life that seem most affected by the four aspects in Scorpio this week. The Sun/Pluto conjunction, indicates an area of your life that is being triggered for major transformation over the next few years. Mercury in Scorpio, indicates communication, messages, information, and knowledge pertaining to the transformative potentialities are active and awakened both in you and around you. While communication and information exchanges will be part of this, a major shift within us is opening us to a deeper awareness and channel of knowledge that is streaming into us through our dreams, intuition, senses, and unconscious interactions and connections. Mercury in Scorpio is vibrating on a higher frequency than it has been for quite some time, and is energized by the Sun and Saturn. It's an important time to meditate, pray, study, and create using the knowledge and information that is streaming into us. The North Node is also transiting Scorpio, indicating that the doors are open to new beginnings, again, in the area of life where Scorpio is ruler. 
We are experiencing the threshold experience between the Saturn transit that we just completed, and the new transit into Scorpio. The fact that the North Node opens a threshold for everyone at this point, signifies a major shift into depths and realms yet unexplored, within the context of our current technology, information, and interactive connections and communciation. At no time in our human history have we had such potential for good and such potential to waste or miss the opportunity to act from the heart of goodness. It is vital that we each choose to act from pure, authentic, and loving intention and motives.

This is a time when the nets we have cast out on the waters of life, and the prayers, meditations, thoughts, and intentions we have expressed, will be answered. Regardless of our religious or spiritual traditions and practices, this is a time when we experience and touch the Divine in ways that pass all understanding. It is vital to detach from anything that is not life-affirming and uplifting now. Creation is giving birth to itself, and we are raising in vibration and energy in order to create, love, and lift ourselves from that which destroys, damages, abuses, or harms in any way.
Sun/Saturn conjunction of these next few days, brings up in our consciousness, anything that must be purged, anything that must be brought to life, and anything that must be done to assist this Divine process. Watch your dreams, and see what it is that you are being called to do, be, change, understand, and acknowledge.

On October 23-24, the Sun in Scorpio trines Neptune in Pisces, indicating a time when positive and uplifting transformation takes place. Whatever or whoever needs to be rescued, will be. Some will have the opportunity for second chances. It is a time when  visions, intuition, insight, and revelations abound. Prayer and intercession connect us in our desire to heal, love, and create beauty, in our vision to end suffering, bring light and understanding, and transform the ways we resolve disputes, conflict, differences, and discension. Now, more than ever, we have the ability to see and read the signs of our times, and to make certain we are walking in harmony with all beings and in synchronization with the Universal essence. Take time to find stillness within and within your daily activities, to reflect and become more aligned with the natural flow and rhythm of the world and the spiritual energy of the Universe.

From October 26-29, the Sun in Scorpio quincunx Uranus in Aries  indicates that there will be sudden and shocking endings, instantaneous life transformations, and the end to aspects of evil that have lost their power or relevance. What was hidden, is revealed, and changes the course of the tide. Corruption, negativity, self-centered greed and malice are seen for what they are, and cause their own demise. Clarity of vision and intention enables us to see in an instance, the truth or reality of a situation or person's motivation. We have clear vision, clear understanding, and clear knowledge now, and it is time to shine our light into the darkness, our own and that of any situation that is harming, disturbing, or in any way, destroying goodness in our lives and the lives of others.  The ancients and elders understood our need to understand our unity and obligation to walk the path of harmony for the good of all our planet. We now learn and acknowledge where we are in need of cleansing, confirming, and creating a closer walk in harmony with one another. Do this in memory of the Ones who came to unite us.

Scorpio time is a time to go into the hidden depths of our beings and clear our lives of that which degrades, harms, dismisses, or no longer serves our highest good. Rid yourself of relationships that are toxic, embrace only in love, release what is unnecessary or burdensome, free yourself from habits, patterns of thought, and behavior that harm yourself or others, and embrace your goodness, gifts, talents, and life energy to live out your soul purpose. There is no other Now to live for. Go within and connect to your deepest desires and acknowledge the soul's call to serve, love, create, and affirm life as it is. 

Autumn Shifts: Turning Inward

Spider Woman's Web                                                                                                      Catherine Al-Meten
Astoria, Oregon                                                                                                                                          2012

Free me from my fears! Let my innate courage emerge! And let me be of the greatest use on the planet, for whatever I'm meant. Let me be used by You in service to the Light" (from Tosha Silver).  

Now is the time to spend some time preparing for the next part of the shift from Libra to Scorpio energy.  While Venus will just be entering Libra at the end of the month, the cycle of planets that have accompanied Saturn’s journey through the end of Libra, are coming to the threshold and passage. We are still in the energy and flow of the New Moon in Libra, and we are approaching the first quarter square to that New Moon at the same time the Sun enters Scorpio on October 22. What’s in the lineup for the next few weeks ahead astrologically?  The major shifts include: 

Sun enters Scorpio Oct. 22 at 8:14 P.M.

Venus Enters Libra at 9:04 AM October 28

Mercury enters Sagittarius at  11:21 P.M Oct. 29

Nov. 6, Mercury enters retrograde phase

Nov. 11 Neptune turns direct at 2:53 AM

Nov. 14 Retro. Mercury re-enters Scorpio

Saturday, October 20  the  Moon is in Capricorn and she sextiles Saturn (in Scorpio, the Great Teacher) , and Chiron, the Wounded Healer (in Pisces).  With both Saturn and Chiron in water signs, the nature of both our learning and healing come through our willingness to first of all, be open to learning, and second, to learn from the pain and wounds of the past.  As the saying goes, “the past is prologue,” and if we are unwilling to face what has happened to us in the past, we are likely to carry the wounds forward and act through them rather than healing from them and learning a new way to act, be, respond, and move forward. 

The Moon in Capricorn squared Uranus in Aries 7:19 am this morning, perhaps waking us with a start or shaking us up with a jarring dream. A passing effect, right now our emotions are triggering a deeper need to “do something” about whatever needs to be changed, altered or managed. Relax a little, and put this type of energy to work  clearing, cleaning, exercising, or doing something creative and active. 

The Capricorn Moon allows our feelings and emotions to be expressed with greater reserve and calm. The Moon is reflected in our emotional nature and the manner in which we feel, store, and express those emotions. For those with earth sign moons (Capricorn, Taurus, Virgo), the more reserved energy makes us feel more comfortable in our own skin.  For those used to expressing themselves more expressively or with greater outward thrust (fire signs: Aries, Sagittarius, Leo), or those used to deeply spiritual or internally emotional expression (water signs: Pisces, Cancer, Scorpio), or for those whose emotional expression is generally more mental or intellectually based (air signs: Aquarius, Gemini, Libra), the Capricorn Moon allows us a time to express our emotions in pragmatic, practical, grounded ways.  Through our actions we express our feelings. Through our actions, we connect with feelings and emotions. A good time to take action as a way of expressing what needs to be expressed.

This morning, October 20, Mercury in 13 degrees of Scorpio is in hard aspect to Uranus in 5 degrees Retrograde of Aries. With Mercury in Scorpio, our thoughts seem deeper, more introspective and questioning. We look for hidden motives, our own and those of others, and we seek answers as to what has been deeply buried or suppressed. We seem to need to know the truth, even if the truth we discover or create in our minds, is not what we expected or wanted to hear. Failing to face fears or confront anxiety, anger, worry or situations/conditions that need to be changed, is not the answer. Whatever fears, anger, conditions are unaddressed, become toxic and drain us of our resources and energy. When we face situations, seeking true and open communication with ourselves and others, we move into the difficulties, darkness, and whatever confusion, anxiety, frustration, fear, or other negative element block us, we soften it. We discover as we allow ourselves to be more forthright and honest with ourselves (about the hard and difficult truths of our lives), we are less afraid and stronger than we thought we are.

As Winnie the Pooh reminds us, “If ever there is a tomorrow when we’re not together...there is something you must always remember. You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.“ This is true for all of us, and what we need most to help us see and experience that, is good, strong friendships and family connections, and that unwavering belief that we are braver, stronger, and smarter than we may think. Mercury in Scorpio is the herald, announcing and communicating in a deeply, Scorpio-like way, the messages of the soul and inner being. 

On Monday, October 22, the Sun enters Scorpio, allowing us to further awaken from the depths of our beings.  Scorpio, a water sign, expresses itself through our desires. We seek depth of intimacy and we experience a range of feelings. While the transiting Sun is passing through Scorpio, whatever area of your life that touches is stirred to the depths. For those with Sun, Moon, or Ascendants in Scorpio, this is a time when you seek greater intimacy, a deeper and more profound sense of meaning in life, and feel more at home in the watery, hidden depths of who you are.  You become more aware of the intuitive knowledge that guides and informs everything about you.  Not only is the a time of great healing and transformation, but also it is a time when you experience the more passionate and provocative aspects of your nature and those of your soul mates (by this I mean those friends and partners, children and confidants who truly “get” you on every level, and happily affirm and support you.)

As the last few days of the Sun in Libra complete a major cycle for ushering out Saturn, and seeing major movement and changes, the Sun will now be moving into Scorpio, where for the first time in a long time, the Sun will be in positive alignment with Saturn and Chiron. Scorpio’s rulers, Mars and Pluto (action and transformation), work on the a more emotional, subconscious, deeper level of consciousness and being in each of us now.  We feel awakened to depths, passions, and energies that demand attention, for some, for the first time in many years. Next week, we will explore the entry of the Sun into Scorpio in more depth. For now, we want to take one last look at what we have been clearing out, releasing, and letting go for the last few years. What is left to be swept away? What, if anything, has been ignored, left undone, or kept us distanced from our true self?  Spend the next few days in meditation, prayer, contemplation, as you nest for the changing season ahead.

Venus remains in Virgo through the 29, continuing to encourage the expression of our love through the way we live, serve, and share with others. The very pragmatic expression of Venus focus on how what we do, say, and share with those we love makes sense to them as well as to us.  We can help those we love by sharing a burden, giving some kind of service, or understanding that love, for Virgo, is more about how you show it than what you say you will do or feel. Truly, “Actions speak louder than words” is the keynote for the earth-signs of Virgo, Capricorn, and Taurus.  

Mars is in Sagittarius through the rest of October and into November. On the 16th of November, Mars will go into Capricorn, but between now and then, actions are highly motivated by  our energetic idealism. This is a time when we are putting more and more energy into those projects, relationships, and ideas that we believe in the most. We may find ourselves more edgy and anxious, particularly when handling detail-oriented tasks. I noticed earlier this week, it was harder for me to stick to a routine-like task than it was to be creative. The focus and attention it took for me to learn a new software program in order to do create a newsletter I found maddening, while writing an essay flowed.  It’s not possible for some of us to just not take care of detail-oriented tasks, but just knowing any anxiousness or edginess may be linked to the energy of Mars in Sagittarius. So what to do? Slow down, pay closer attention, and be careful around fire energy (stove burners, electrical appliances, candles), and take it easy driving.  Drive defensively (a Mars thing) and watch out for the sporadic or unexpected from other drivers (the negative side of Mars energy). Remember, Mars in a fire sign fueled by idealism (Sagittarius) is powerful. Use your energy for good, and be cautious with yourself and others. Let your head and your Venus in Virgo balance out the fiery energy of Mars.

Saturn has now taken its place in the depths  of Scorpio, and we are probably beginning to feel the shift. Anything we have carried over will continue to seek release, and whatever rose to the surface as we explored our relationships and the way we enter into, conduct ourselves, and complete commitments. Now is the time we must  thoroughly dig into and understand the dynamics of those relationships that we are committed to. We begin looking more closely at the power structure of relationships, and our roles in them.  Issues around control, manipulation, using and being used are becoming more and more evident and important to understand. If you’re in a relationship, and if you want to be authentic in that relationship, it is vital to understand the power dynamics in which you’re engaged. 

As Saturn in Scorpio begins to grow stronger as an influence in our lives, we will also experience increased awareness of fears, anxieties, and concerns over how we are going to be able to maintain the relationships we are in, or engage in new ones without repeating toxic patterns of past relationships. Our relationships reflect our growth and development. When they become stagnant or stale, they become toxic.  When relationships fail to grow and adapt both to our individual growth, maturation, and soul deepening, and to the life and soul of our relationships, we experience imbalance, toxic behavior, and unhealthy conditions both personally and in partnership. All relationships, marriages and love, friendships and family relationships, work and creative arts, social and community connections, neighbors and our view of cultures, traditions, and belief systems outside our own connection or understanding, all propel us into learning more about who we truly are and about what is needed in order to serve others and help co-create a better, healthier, more harmonious world.  Everything we do, and every person we come into contact with, is part of the web of life. Everyone and everything requires our concern and connection, on the level where we are able to have any kind of influence. For example, a kind word or smile to someone we hardly know, time spent praying for or serving someone in need, a quiet, open heart and willingness to listen to someone else’s voice...even such simple acts help us create a more peaceful world. 

At this time of the year here in the Pacific Northwest, we witness the web of life in a very real and dramatic way. Starting near the end of summer and the beginning of fall, the spiders begin weaving their webs everywhere you can possibly imagine, and some you might never suspect.  For two years I have had a spider living in my car’s rearview mirror.  Daily, I come outside to find fresh webs woven between the mirror and the door handle, or between the mirror and a tree near the car.  One day, when unloading groceries and carrying them up the stairs to my apartment, between a trip into my apartment of less than a minute, a spider who lives at the hallway entrance, managed to spin several strands across the doorway in just that short amount of time.  Spiders in this region, according to indigenous lore, signify creativity and all that goes into being creative. For years, I have developed a healthy respect for spiders, rarely if ever feeling the need to hurt them.  Throughout the world, the spider is part of numerous Creation stories. Creation stories are the most sacred stories of each culture, and are intricately tied to healing and other sacred rites and ceremonies.  

When spiders begin emerging from their safe, warm hiding place in late summer and into the fall, they become very active as they seek warmth.  They begin coming indoors, and at night when you run into one in the middle of the night, avoid panicking as they are simply seeking a warm spot. Very shy, spiders tend to their webs, gathering food to take them through the winter. Most spiders are harmless, and we humans have co-existed with them for thousands of years. This autumn as you watch spiders weaving their beautiful webs, remember the stories that are told throughout the world about the spider.

The Spider, is identified with the female creative principle, and is often revered in matrilineal cultures (such as many of the Northwest clans and tribes). Several North American tribes have legends connected with Spider. Spider Woman appears in the mythology of several Native American tribes, including the Navajo, Keresan, and Hopi. 

One of the Hopi stories is told of Tawa, the Sun God (active male creative principle) and Spider Woman, the Earth Goddess. In the beginning, all the mysteries and power in the Above belonged to  Tawa, while all the magic of the Below  were the realm of Spider Woman. Tawa and Spider Woman loved one another, and their children became gods who lived Below.  In the land Below, nothing existed but their children, the  sacred spirits. The only thing else that existed was water, which covered Below. As the story is told, one night Tawa had a dream about fish, birds, animals, people, and all manner of living things. Between them, Tawa and Spider Woman, using only their thoughts, created the Earth between the Above and the Below. At first, Spider Woman used clay to mold people, animals, plants and all living beings, but they remained lifeless. Tawa wanted things to move and have life as in his dream, so Spider Woman helped Tawa weave a fluffy, white blanket. The blanket was like a cloud but had magic in it. They put the blanket over the clay figures that Spider Woman had made, and they covered the figures with the blanket they had made. Still, the clay objects did not move. Spider Woman picked the clay figures up, and held them to her breast. They looked at the figures, and sang a song of life over them, and the clay objects came to life.

As you move more deeply into the depth and darkness of Autumn, consider what you can learn from the Spider.  What webs are you creating to link the disparate parts of your life together in some meaningful and purposeful way?  What are you holding close to your heart to give life to? How are you preparing your heart, mind, emotions, physical body, home, family, car, and lifestyle for the deepening depths of fall and winter? We are still in the time of harvest season, and there is still time to prepare ourselves and our homes for weathering the storms that lie ahead.  Autumn and Winter remind us in the Northern Hemisphere, what really matters for our survival.  We also need to nourish our souls, hearts, and build up a fresh supply of joy and optimism for dealing with those days and times when life is more of a struggle than a day on the beach. 

Weave, from your dreams, heart’s desire, imagination, and intuition, a creative plan to house you and your heart through the seasons ahead.  

Seek the joy of Jupiter’s abundance, transiting now through the mutable sign of Gemini. Adapt an optimistic, generous, sense of well being about life. Our perspective (the lens through which we see and , experience our lives) has more to do with how life appears and feels to us than the raw facts and data. Jupiter in Gemini represents the archetype of adventure. Whatever Pluto plows up in the way of transformation, and whatever Saturn awakens in the depths of your psyche to be embraced, learned, and synthesized into you and your life, are now activated by the mental playground of Jupiter in Gemini. We may feel more tolerant, open-minded, and ready to work in partnerships, finally able to see all angles of the coin, not just the either-or mode that we cling to when we’re holding onto our beliefs as an alternative to learning to live together in cooperation, mutual respect, and tolerance.  Time to lighten up a little more. Learn to laugh at yourself, and begin to appreciate the value of a good sense of humor.

Look for opportunities to communicate, grow, learn, and broaden your life experience.  Write, listen, talk, and open yourself to more contact and communication. We may find we need to reign in our intellectual discussions, particularly if we are taking ourselves or issues way too seriously.  Even during the most challenging and difficult times, nothing is ever so serious or important that we can’t afford to laugh, relax, or take a break.  Clinging to either beliefs, intellect, roles, or positions, are not helpful in convincing anyone of much of anything.  When we cling to our point of view to the point where we shut others down and give the impression we have not heard what they have to say, we act from a position of power over rather than one of openness.  Jupiter in Gemini may awaken the intellect, but it also calls for a sense of bringing the disparate parts of the whole together...in what we do personally, in how we get along with others, and in how we operate as a society of communities.  Zeal can be turned into energy to heal, produce, create, or extend resources, or it can be used to shut progress down.  Be wise, considerate, and respectful of how you use your energy and power.  If you find yourself trying to sell your ideas, point of view, or position too hard, you might want to spend some time contemplating how that is bringing something to life or how it is blocking life from emerging.  Pay attention to the higher vibration of Jupiter by looking for the bigger perspective.  Look to the house in your chart (indicates the are of life) where Jupiter in Gemini is now transiting.  This is the area of your life where you  might benefit from greater joy.  

Next week, from October 24-25, Venus sextiles Mercury making that a time that favors some joy, playfulness, and increased communication between partners and loved ones. This aspect often indicates a good time for declarations of love, promises and commitments, and clarifications and positive communication in love. 

Also Venus parallels Uranus Oct. 27-29 indicating a time when we are more open to new, innovative, and out of the ordinary types of encounters and experiences. We become less fearful, and more aware of how the door to love  through friendship is often a wiser path than that of the erratic attraction energies that are peculiar, avant garde, or unstable. On Oct. 28, when Venus is quincunx Neptune (planet of delusion and illusions), it is wise to be aware that there are times (like these) when we see, hear,  and accept what we want to believe about love, instead of seeing things as they really are. If it’s too good to be true, it probably is.  If it’s worth it’s weight in gold, that won’t change because you step back a bit and wait things out.