In the Stars October 15-22…shining light on the astrology of the week: New Moon in Libra
Last week’s post began, “The week ahead seems relatively calm on the cosmic front.” That turned to be not the case for those of us swept into the Northern California firestorms last Sunday night. This event is another effect of the great eclipse in August, along with the Las Vegas shootings, the severe hurricanes, and earthquake and volcanic activities. However, I’ll continue to ponder other possible correspondences. The big planet Jupiter has moved into Scorpio for the next year. Jupiter in Scorpio is an invitation for all of us to personally focus on our finances: investments, real estate, wills, trusts, and debts. A number of planets have or will ingress into their next signs this week. Venus just arrived in Libra on Saturday. Next Sunday, Mars moves into Libra and the Sun moves into Scorpio tropically.
From a Vedic (Eastern) astrological point of view, Saturn is in the highly sensitive degrees of Gandanta, the last few degrees of a water sign sidereally, from October 16 through November 4. This period of time tends to be particularly unstable. Another destabilizing configuration is the Kala Sarpa Yoga October 14-28, when all planets except the outer planets are hemmed in by the North and South Nodes, also known as Rahu and Ketu. These difficult energies combine from October 17-28, an unsettled time when unexpected and/or painful experiences can emerge. We should exercise extra caution and keep life simple during these 11 days.
* * * * * * * * *
The Virgo Moon on Sunday moves us toward the work that needs to be done. Hopefully, you satisfied your weekend’s need for play on Saturday. Now, it’s time to put your task list before you and work toward accomplishing it. You’ll have the wind at your back to put your life in order and clean house before you head into the work week ahead. A Mercury-Uranus opposition may bring a few surprising realizations.
Monday promises to be an industrious day. We can tackle some heavy-duty challenges, such as the fire-driven catastrophe that has affected so many people in the North Bay and beyond. With the power of the efficient Virgo Moon in a benefic trine to Pluto, and the discipline of the Sun-Saturn sextile, we can make tremendous headway on the projects before us. Let’s hope that the heroic and exhausted firefighters at the terrifying and deadly front gain from these alignments and become victorious.
Although there is a Void of Course Moon on Tuesday morning until 10:38 a.m. PDT, we may be able to overcome the uncertainty of the Void Moon with the fiery energy of the early morning Moon-Mars conjunction. Get out of bed and off to the gym for a vigorous workout, or take on a physical task on your property. Schedule meetings for later. The Moon conjuncts Venus in the evening, calling for a sweet, social evening with friends or with one’s beloved.
Mercury enters Scorpio tropically early Wednesday morning, where it tends to harbor secrets and keep thoughts more private. However, contrary to this natural tendency toward secrecy, Mercury conjuncts Jupiter the next couple of days, making it almost impossible not to tell all. Strong feelings may be triggered by the weight of a cardinal (action-oriented) Moon-Pluto square. The Moon is dark, so make some private, quiet time for yourself.
A dynamic New Moon forms on Thursday opposite Uranus and Eris. We may be compelled to take some big leaps, especially in the area of relationships. The potent breakthrough energy of this New Moon is further expanded by its conjunction with Jupiter. There may also be shocks and surprises with this otherwise copacetic New Moon in Libra. Eris and Uranus are also in a Grand Fire Trine, giving support to channel the potential of this New Moon in positive ways. The Sabian Symbol for this New Moon at 27 degrees of Libra is “An airplane sails, high in the clear sky. A consciousness able to transcend the conflicts and pressures of the personal life…the individual can gain a new perspective on human problems and reach freedom and peace in a supernal realm of being…this one introduces us to the realm of unity beyond polarity. It is a stage of TRANSCENDANT REALIZATION.” [Dane Rudhyar, An Astrological Mandala, Vintage Books, 1973]. After a long afternoon with a Void of Course Moon (12:12-6:41 p.m.), the Moon moves into Scorpio through Saturday.
Friday and Saturday are days when we will want to draw inward and garner some private time in the light of the watery, deep Scorpio Moon. Friday’s Moon-Neptune trine encourages us to dream, as well as to loosen the grip of the Scorpio Moon’s hold on our feelings. We can turn tendencies toward control and resentment into faith and forgiveness. Saturday we can feel torn between the past and the future, as the Moon squares the lunar nodes. A Mercury-Pallas Athena opposition helps us think strategically.
The Moon bounces into sunny Sagittarius early Sunday morning. Time to get up and move! Go for a vigorous hike in nature. Mars ingresses into Libra for the next three weeks where it tends to agitate relationships, but may bring conflict to the surface. The Sun ingresses into Scorpio, marking the beginning of a month to draw inward and anchor emotions, deepen partnerships, and invigorate your finances.
* * * * * * * * *
The Week in Short:
Sunday: Work day! Put your task list before you and give it the works.
Monday: Industrious day infused with discipline and efficiency.
Tuesday: Schedule meetings for after 10: 38 a.m. PDT. Sweet, social evening.
Wednesday: Strong feelings are stirred, and secrets revealed.
Thursday: New Moon with surprising breakthroughs. Giant leaps in relationships.
Friday: Take some quiet time for yourself; turn toward faith and forgiveness.
Saturday: Strategic thinking emerges from deep understandings.
Sunday: Sunny, optimistic day framed for adventure. Sun into Scorpio.
Moon Void-of-Course: This is the time when the Moon makes its last major angular aspect with a planet before it moves into the next zodiacal sign tropically. This void time, when the Moon is not aspecting a planet, but rather floating on its own, is a time when things don’t come together and it’s difficult to make good decisions. Purchases made during void Moons often turn out to be unsatisfactory and not work out. Appointments often don’t come together, and meetings don’t result in progress or sound, lasting decisions. We more easily get lost or meander in trying to get somewhere. The VoC Moon times for the next month are listed below so that you can plan meetings, decisions, and purchases at times when the Moon is not VoC; and use the void times for gardening, reading, and routine task work.
Exact Void-of-Course Moon times for the month ahead (one lunar cycle) are:
Pacific Standard Time:
Saturday, October 14 at 10:27 p.m. through Sunday, October 15 at 4:19 a.m. (Moon into Virgo)
Tuesday, October 17: 4:27 a.m.-10:35 a.m. (Moon into Libra)
Thursday, October 19: 12:12 p.m.-6:41 p.m. (Moon into Scorpio)
Sunday, October 22: 4:35 a.m.-4:57 a.m. (Moon into Sagittarius)
Tuesday, October 24: 9:44 a.m.-5:15 p.m. (Moon into Capricorn
Thursday, October 26 at 10:22 p.m. through Friday, October 27 at 5:59 a.m. (Moon into Aquarius)
Sunday, October 29: 9:22 a.m.-4:46 p.m. (Moon into Pisces)
Tuesday, October 31: 2:08 p.m.-11:43 p.m. (Moon into Aries)
Thursday, November 2 at 8:03 p.m. through Friday, November 3 at 2:46 a.m. (Moon into Taurus)
Sunday, November 5: 1:29 a.m.-2:26 a.m. Moon into Gemini)
Tuesday, November 7: 2:39 a.m.-2:44 a.m. (Moon into Cancer)
Wednesday, November 8 at 9:14 p.m. through Thursday, November 9 at 4:29 a.m. (Moon into Leo)
Saturday, November 11: 12:55 a.m.-8:41 a.m. (Moon into Virgo)
GMT:
Sunday, October 15: 5:27 – 11:19 (Moon into Virgo)
Tuesday, October 17: 11:27-17:35 (Moon into Libra)
Thursday, October 19 at 19:12 through Friday, October 20 at 1:41 (Moon into Scorpio)
Sunday, October 22: 11:35-11:57 (Moon into Sagittarius)
Tuesday, October 24 at 16:44 through Wednesday, October 25 at 0:15 (Moon into Capricorn
Thursday, October 26 at 10:22 p.m. through Friday, October 27: 5:22-12:59 (Moon into Aquarius)
Sunday, October 29: 16:22-23:46 (Moon into Pisces)
Tuesday, October 31 at 21:08 through Wednesday, November 1 at 6:43 (Moon into Aries)
Friday, November 3: 3:03-9:46 (Moon into Taurus)
Sunday, November 5: 9:29-10:26 Moon into Gemini)
Tuesday, November 7: 10:39-10:44 (Moon into Cancer)
Thursday, November 9: 5:14-12:29 (Moon into Leo)
Saturday, November 11: 8:55 a.m.-16:41 (Moon into Virgo)
