In the Stars October 3-10, 2021...shining light on the astrology of the week: New Moon

Mercury is retrograde now until October 18 when it turns direct. The Mercury retrograde period can result in communication glitches and mistakes, so be patient with mix-ups and delays. Appliance, technological, and automobile breakdowns are more likely to occur. The Mercury retrograde period can be good for re-thinking, revising, re-organizing, and re-doing. It is a good time to clean up your email in box, take care of old business, or re-consider plans.

The week ahead is again rocky. Pluto begins to slow down, amplifying its energies, turning direct on October 6. Eris moves toward its fifth square to Pluto, a volatile aspect, perfecting on October 8th. Saturn also is slowing its pace, turning direct on October 10. This period of early October is one for pausing, reviewing, and going cautiously.

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The time of the month to clean up and get organized ignites us Sunday and Monday. Use this industrious, task-oriented energy to get your life in order. A Mercury-Jupiter trine in air signs Sunday encourages conversation and sharing different ideas, so set aside some social time with friends. A Sun-Chiron opposition fosters healing relationships as well as honoring one’s own needs.

Monday’s Moon-Uranus trine may take us off track in a good way, and bring some nice surprises. A Moon-Neptune opposition widens our perspective and releases us from the perfection for which the Virgo Moon yearns. A Sun-Ceres trine enables us to feel love and support. The Moon-Pluto trine in earth sign enables us to complete a lot of tasks.

The Moon ingresses into peace-loving Libra on Tuesday. However, strong aspects Tuesday and Wednesday generate fury. The Sun is conjunct Mars, creating a fireball of energy in the usually harmonious air sign Libra. The Moon’s trine to Saturn on Tuesday provides focus, and helps us get a lot accomplished. The Moon is at its darkest, drawing us inward before the new lunar cycle.

A rousing New Moon punctuates mid-week Wednesday with strong energies. Mars is exactly conjunct the Sun and Moon. This bold New Moon opposes Chiron and makes a quincunx (150 degree) aspect to Uranus, which requires some adjustment. Yet, the biggest news in the skies is that Pluto stations to turn direct. When a planet stations and turns direction, its symbolism is amplified. The combination of an extra strong Pluto, and Sun-Moon-Mars conjunct with Uranus and Chiron is explosive and challenging. Exercise vigorously. This explosive bundle can bring breakthroughs or destruction. Go slowly and carefully. Later in the evening the Moon squares Pluto, adding more turbulence.

Venus ingresses into Sagittarius on Thursday (see Ten Things to Do with Venus in Sagittarius below) for a three-week stay until November 5. The Moon moves into the deep waters of Scorpio, and squares Saturn, increasing tension. Use it productively to address challenges.

Friday’s big planetary roar is the exact final square of Eris-Pluto. Because of both planets' slow movement this aspect can be stressful for days, and even weeks and months surrounding the exactitude, but it will be good that these two dwarf planets will now begin moving further apart. The Scorpio Moon opposes Uranus, perhaps steering us off-course, or bringing something unexpected. Feelings run deep. A Moon-Neptune trine calms the storm.

The Moon bounces into Sagittarius Saturday morning, bringing enthusiasm to the weekend. Sagittarius rules the thighs, and when the Moon is here, we want to use our legs for biking, hiking, or climbing. Saturday’s aspects make it a great day for a party, as we will want to be socially connected. The day’s aspects includes four conjunctions: Sun-Mercury, Mars-Mercury, Moon-Venus, and Venus-South Node. Later in the day the Moon sextiles Saturn, giving practical energy that could be used for making the party as well as doing the clean-up.

Sunday is a day of opportunities. The Moon makes benefic sextile (60 degree) aspects to the Sun, Mercury, Mars, and Jupiter. However, Saturn stations, turning direct in motion. We could feel the weight of restraint and responsibility, as stationary energy is especially strong.

It may be hard to get going on Monday morning, as the Moon is void of course until 10:15 a.m. PDT. Then we get serious and down to business as the Moon moves into Capricorn. As the day wears on a lot can be accomplished.

The Week in Short: Sunday: Get your life in order, and take time out for connecting with friends.

Monday: Perspective expands. Surprises pour forth. We give and receive support.

Tuesday: Fire and fury can be used for productivity, but exercise caution. Draw inward with the dark Moon.

Wednesday: Explosive New Moon. Pluto stations direct. Turbulence abounds.

Thursday: Emotionally intense day. Address a challenge.

Friday: Strong feelings are evoked, as well as unexpected events.

Saturday: Enthusiastic, social day.

Sunday: Day of opportunities, along with the weight of responsibility. Saturn turns direct.

Monday: Slow start as Moon is VoC until 10:15 a.m. PDT. Then get to work and tend to responsibilities.

Ten Things to Do with Venus in Scorpio (October 8-November 5)

1. Love deeply. 2. Write a poem to express your passionate feelings. 3. Review your investments and research other investment options. 4. Make a commitment to increase your savings and investments. 5. Listen to provocative music that taps into deep feelings. 6. Purge your stuff and give things away. 7. Get a massage. 8. Listen deeply, and say only what is necessary. 9. Read a transformative biography, or a mystery. 10. Take some solitude. 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 is 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. Void-of-Course Moon times for the month ahead (one lunar cycle): Pacific Standard Time: October 5: 1:46 a.m. – 5:40 a.m. (Moon into Libra) October 6 at 10:03 p.m. through October 7 at 7:21 p.m. (Moon into Scorpio) October 8 at 11:05 p.m. through October 9 at 8:24 a.m. (Moon into Sagittarius) October 10 at 9:30 p.m. through October 11 at 10:14 a.m. (Moon into Capricorn)

October 13: 3:53 a.m. – 1:47 p.m. (Moon into Aquarius)

October 15: 5:32 a.m. – 7:21 p.m. (Moon into Pisces)

October 17 at 4:23 p.m. through October 18 at 3:03 a.m. (Moon into Aries)

October 20: 7:56 a.m. – 12:58 p.m. (Moon into Taurus)

October 22 at 9:31 a.m. through October 23 at 12:57 a.m. (Moon into Gemini)

October 25: 7:11a.m.-2:00 p.m. (Moon into Cancer)

October 27 at 11:02 p.m. through October 28 at 2:07 a.m. (Moon into Leo)

October 30: 12:05 a.m. – 11:10 a.m. (Moon into Virgo) GMT (Greenwich Mean Time): October 2 at 23:42 through October 3 at 8:37 (Moon into Virgo) October 5: 8:46 – 12:40 (Moon into Libra) October 7: 5:03 - 14:21 (Moon into Scorpio) October 9: 6:05 - 15:24 (Moon into Sagittarius) October 11: 4:30 - 17:14 (Moon into Capricorn)

October 13: 10:53 – 20:47 (Moon into Aquarius)

October 15 at 12:32 through October 16 at 2:21 (Moon into Pisces)

October 17 at 23:23 through October 18 at 10:03 (Moon into Aries)

October 20: 14:56 – 19:58 (Moon into Taurus)

October 22 at 16:31 through October 23 at 7:57 (Moon into Gemini)

October 25: 14:11 - 21:00 (Moon into Cancer)

October 28: 6:02 - 9:07 (Moon into Leo)

October 30: 7:05 – 18:10 (Moon into Virgo)