The Astrology Blog 7 October 2019
What are You Afraid of, Turning Should into Could & a Hot Headed Full Moon
“When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be.”
“Care about what other people think, and you will always be their prisoner.”
– Lao Tzu, ancient Chinese philosopher, writer and founder of philosophical Taoism
Lao Tzu was born in 601 BC. This means that his words above are 2,620 years old. There is nothing new under the Sun. It seems that there is something in a human being’s default position that chooses safety and conformity, and once upon a time that would have been essential for survival. Fearing what other people might think is something that we’ve all either experienced in the past or which controls us today. Think about what you would’ve done or would do now if you weren’t giving others this kind of power?
These days more and more is written about how to live our lives and make our decisions in a way that is not based on fear. Nowhere is this message stronger than in the NDE (near death experience) literature and reports. Here’s one I watched yesterday, it’s just ten minutes, about a woman called Cherie Aimee who suffered cardiac arrest and died for 90 minutes. The determination of the medical team not to lose her miraculously paid off. In talking about her experience the main message was how the experience of crossing over to another “realm” and coming back again revealed to her that she had been living her earthly life in fear. And how she didn’t need to continue doing that.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJZCjLNhpik
If you’ve ever read anything about NDEs you’ll know that a common thread is the “life review”, in which those who have “died” are shown the story of their life. In Cherie’s case it was fascinating to hear that her life review was about not just this life but many others, it was about her soul’s journey and evolution. It’s intriguing to read such reports as they’re just that – reports. They’re not fiction or imagination. If you’ve never read this kind of material then a good place to start is Raymond Moody’s classic book, Life After Life.
Scorpio – the 8th House of the Life, Death, Rebirth Cycle
Last week Mercury entered Scorpio, bringing the first glimmerings of the witchy time of year. Halloween (when the Sun is in Scorpio) is said to be when the veil between the physical and spiritual worlds is at its most permeable. This week Venus enters Scorpio too, following in Mercury’s footsteps. At the moment any planet entering Scorpio first has to run the gauntlet of Uranus, as this slow moving giant is currently retrograde in the early degrees of the opposite sign of Taurus.
How Long do Aspects Last?
The Mercury – Uranus aspect was included at the end of last week’s blog as this opposition happened early this morning, after the usual time for sending out the next blog. Does it still count for today? Aspects are traditionally more potent as they’re “applying” (in the process of becoming exact) and then weaken as they’re “separating” (going past their sell by date), but can still make their presence felt for another couple of days.
Monday 7 October
- Mercury 5 Scorpio opposite Uranus 5 Taurus 08.18 BST
- Sun 14 Libra square Saturn 14 Capricorn 20.08 BST
So yes, it still counts, and Mercury – Uranus contacts are usually pretty unmistakeable. Mercury is communication/information, rebellious and anarchic Uranus is the unexpected and/or the dramatic, so this can be anything from sudden changes of plan, arguments that flare up over seemingly little things, news that raises eyebrows or impulsive decisions that spring from frustration or wakeup calls. This is the kind of aspect that can symbolise a tipping point, and the opposition can be just that – something or someone who opposes you, who stands in your way, or who dumps things on you and then freaks out when you don’t fall in with their demands or expectations.
Tread very carefully with teenagers or with anyone who has a history of turning a difference of opinion into a screaming match. If anything like this has happened over the weekend then you may be dealing with the immediate aftermath. I find myself consciously and deliberately staying out of the way re a situation in which two others are trying to involve me. I know that whatever I try to do or say will backfire.
It has to be said that this is not an easy time for making up or for relationship progress other than the hard going kind. The Mercury – Uranus hoo-ha is followed by the Sun in Libra (partnership, cooperation) squaring up to Saturn (brick walls, unavailability) – uphill work to put it mildly. Disappointments, illness or bad timing may also be in the mix. A communication breakdown is something that will need to be looked at, but the big giveaway is knowing how much work and effort (Saturn) we’re willing or not willing to put in to a relationship/situation. Whatever you’re doing because “I should” needs to be questioned. Whatever you suspect is a waste of time probably is, and whatever comes to a screaming halt, for whatever reason, is definitely best accepted and left well alone.
When I sit down to write the blog each week I usually get a clear idea of a dominant theme or a sentence takes shape in my head that feels like an immediate message. This week the message was “get your head down, stay below the parapet, get ahead with work and let the Full Moon at the weekend sort it all out!”
So along the way, Venus the love planet enters Scorpio tomorrow evening, her sign of detriment, as she is in dignity in the opposite sign of Taurus. The signs are not opposite just in the astronomical sense but also in the symbolic, ie –
- TAURUS – Fixed Earth, rules the visible world, the senses, what you can see, hear, touch, feel, taste, go to bed with, loves steadiness, familiarity and safety, risk averse, low on drama, keeps it real, accepts face value, live and let live
- SCORPIO – Fixed Water, rules the teeming world of the unconscious, all that is invisible, hidden, mysterious, taboo, of other worlds, takes risks or courts danger, loves power and needs to be in control, deep thinking, intense, determined, prone to jealousy or vengefulness
So Venus the love planet opening this emotional new cycle and heading for the dust up with Uranus at the weekend is touchy stuff, especially as Mars the other love planet is also aligning with Uranus by the awkward/blind spot minor aspect of the quinqunx (five signs apart), an aspect also being formed between the Sun and Neptune –
Tuesday 8 October
- Venus ingress Scorpio 18.07 BST
Thursday 10 October
- Sun 16 Libra quinqunx Neptune 16 Pisces 04.26 BST
Saturday 12 October
- Mars 5 Libra quinqunx Uranus 5 Taurus 09.01 BST
- Venus 5 Scorpio opposite Uranus 5 Taurus 23.08 BST
Mars is also in detriment at the moment, being in Libra which is opposite to his own sign of Aries. However, once Venus arrives in Scorpio, we will then have what is called a Mutual Reception between these two planets – ie they will be in each other’s signs –
- Venus in Scorpio – Mars’ sign
- Mars in Libra – Venus’ sign
What does that mean? This is helpful because when two planets occupy each other’s signs then there is a potential for some kind of cooperation in what would otherwise be a mismatch or a sad situation. The two planets can operate as if they are in harmonious aspect with each other even if they’re not. It’s like being able to stand in another’s shoes and look at the world through their eyes. In literal physical terms there’s also the potential for “swapping over”, for making a definite choice or change.
In terms of this week’s theme of recognizing what is fear based in your life you may well find that you have a chance to address the issues that have been holding you back. Or you may recognize what you’ve been using as an excuse, hiding behind “should” instead of looking at “could”. Remember that if your fear relates to what others might think or how you might upset them, this will be temporary. People get over things even if they react badly at the time.
Perception of choice is crucial to good mental health. A student on my last tarot course who is also a good friend was struggling with the “should” of staying in a highly paid job, which “should have been” a pinnacle of her career, yet which was falling sadly short of any kind of job satisfaction. Readings during the week revealed her own mindset around this issue and also woke her up to the fact that she’d ended up in an old style management company, ie one who operated on fear and control. On returning home with the courage to quit she almost immediately found a new job, just as well paid and nearer home. Remember that Lao Tzu also says –
“Watch your thoughts, they become your words; watch your words, they become your actions; watch your actions, they become your habits; watch your habits, they become your character; watch your character, it becomes your destiny.”
The sign of Scorpio and its secondary ruler Pluto are also associated with triangles, affairs being the most obvious. So the swapping over can translate into someone leaving one relationship for another. Or it can symbolize enlisting help, such as another pair of hands to help with a care role. Venus also rules money so rearranging finances will also be part of this picture for some. Whatever your personal scenario pay attention to what arises for you, what is offered, especially if you have planets at 5 degrees, particularly Taurus/Scorpio but also any other sign.
A Super Powerful Full Moon
Jupiter is slowly moving towards a minor aspect with Pluto – a semi-sextile (one sign apart) which will be exact in the middle of next week when both will be at 21 degrees of their respective signs. As the Full Moon in Aries falls this weekend at 20 degrees this means that the Sun will align with Jupiter before the Full Moon and with Pluto after it. Again we have an aspect becoming exact early next Monday morning so I include it here –
Sunday 13 October
- Sun 20 Libra sextile Jupiter 20 Sagittarius 19.03 BST
- Full Moon 20 Aries 22.09 BST
Monday 14 October
- Mercury 14 Scorpio sextile Saturn 14 Capricorn 07.57 BST
- Sun 21 Libra square Pluto 21 Capricorn 08.36 BST
This sequence also coincides with Mercury’s second aspect since arriving in Scorpio, the harmonious link to Saturn – who is strong by being in his own sign and also through having recently switched from retrograde to direct (18 Sept). Things are still very slow moving but headed in the right direction. A great aspect for making firm decisions or agreeing on terms, conditions, deadlines etc.
Back to the Full Moon, the monthly lunacy, the time when things clamber out of the woodwork and everything feels a bit crazy. Ask your local A & E or police station. Remember the story from one of my students who was a policeman in his former career, who told me that there was never any doubt on this subject at the station where he worked. With every Full Moon all the staff would say, “get ready for the domestics”, and this month’s falls in fiery hot headed Aries, sign of the ego and the time to assert the self.
In a nutshell Jupiter is Mr BIG and Pluto is change of the total and usually irreversible kind. Jupiter loves to sow seeds while you’re not looking, so one or more of this year’s frustrations could well turn out now to be the proverbial blessings in disguise, especially as Pluto has just turned direct (last week 3 October) but here are the main themes to look out for:
- Jupiter – main principle is expansion, anything that makes our life bigger and better, he’s the Greater Benefic, he’s good for us, creating opportunity, luck, good fortune, liberation, escape routes, travel and anything to do with overseas, learning, truth and justice
- Pluto – main principle is endings/beginnings, often starting with loss but in the spirit of death of the old and birth of the new, starting from scratch, transformative processes, deep healing, determination, resourcefulness, empowerment, wealth and control
Decisive changes, especially ones that have been building up for a long time, are therefore on the cards. This includes recognizing what you have to give up in order to change and move on. Implacable Pluto demands 100% and for any rebirth scenario we have to be willing to sacrifice the little things that bring short-term pleasure in order to achieve the BIG blessings (Jupiter) that require long term vision, commitment and fearlessness.
It’s life changing stuff for beginnings and endings, which of course are inextricably intertwined. When one thing is laid to rest, another is brought to life. When looking back on this time from your “new life” it’s likely to bring thoughts along the lines of “that was the best thing that ever happened to me”, or “why did I wait so long to do that?” even if it was really challenging at the time.
Until next week, wishing you fearlessness!
With love from Greece
Joanna