October 2011 Astrocast

Key Events:  

Full Moon (18:24 Aries): October 11, 2011

New Moon (03:03 Scorpio): October 26, 2011

Retrograde Planets: 

Neptune:  June 3, 2011 - November 9, 2011

Uranus:  July 10, 2011 - December 9, 2011

Jupiter:  August 30, 2011 - December 25, 2011

Easy Reference

Sun   Moon  Mercury   Venus   Mars   Jupiter   Saturn   Uranus   Neptune   Pluto  

1st House   2nd House   3rd House   4th House   5th House   6th House   7th House   8th House   9th House   10th House   11th House   12th House

Aspects     Sign Rulers     Fire-Earth-Air-Water     Cardinal-Fixed-Mutable

Moon Void of Course Table   Eclipses

Lunations and Long Term Aspects

Those of you with birthdays right around December 28 are still in the midst of a Pluto transit to your natal Sun.  Having recently had one of those myself as a Christmas baby, you have my heart-felt condolences.  If you look at the symbol for Pluto it looks a lot like a little guy with his arms in the air in surrender ; which is really quite apropos.  On a positive note, when you get to the other side you will most likely be better off, but right now you probably feel as if you're crossing the River Styx.  The effects will be different, depending on which house you Natal Sun occupies, but it will definitely have a life-changing effect.  If you are having a very difficult time with it, if it feels as if everything is falling apart all around you, there are various astrological tools which can help you gain understanding such as a transit report or possibly even your solar return report, considering your birthday is coming up soon and solar returns tend to start phasing in a few months before.  There is also a very good book called "Alive and Well with Pluto" by Bil Tierney, if you're a self-help type. 

Depending on the location of other planets in your chart, you may no sooner get him off your Sun and he's onto something else, dragging it out even longer.  If nothing else bear in mind that "this, too, shall pass."  It may seem as if your entire life has hit the skids and nothing will ever go right again, but this is simply the dark night of the soul that Pluto imposes.  The best thing you can is go with it.  This is another situation where resistance is futile.  Pluto may have been demoted by astronomers but that does not affect his power one bit.  He is one of the most powerful forces out there.  Remember that ultimately Pluto is about healing and he is trying to help you get rid of old corruption of some sort which is holding you back in some way.  Like surgery to remove a diseased organ, the process is painful, but when all is said and done you will be better off.  Really.

Those of you with birthdays later in December and January have this to look forward to in the coming year or years.  This may be about as pleasant as looking forward to a root canal, which is very Plutonian, by the way, but knowing it is but another planetary cycle which will indeed end in due time (usually about 3 years) does help keep it in perspective.  The Universe is a marvelous tutor and simply wants you to grow and progress.  Most lessons you learn in life that really stick are those which were the most difficult.  The level of difficulty a Pluto transit presents will largely depend on how target-rich that part of your life happens to be.  You can't hide anything from the Zodiacal Roto-Rooter. 

So, that said, the Full Moon on October 11 is in fellow Cardinal Sign, Aries, your 4th house of home environment, memories and endings.  If your birthday is right around January 9 this lunation will form a T-square with your natal Sun which will give it a bit more punch and is likely to show up in both your 4th and 10th houses with the 10th comprising your career, public image, reputation and status.  The Sun is conjunct your Sign Ruler, Saturn, which will emphasize responsibility with regard to your career or other 10th house matter.  As your Sign Ruler you already exemplify much of Saturn's energy and it's also good to know that he's in Libra, the sign of his exaltation, meaning he functions very well there and typically in a way that brings out his positive side.  In other words his boundaries, structure, responsibility and hard lessons are tempered by the fair and balanced Libra environment.  Knowing that many of you tend to be workaholics, maybe this is a wake-up call to pay attention to other areas of your life as well. 

Not to obsess on Pluto, which is certainly easy enough to do, but Pluto is involved in some aspects with this lunation worth noting.  The square from Uranus implies that some disruptive or unexpected event at home may set all this in motion.  The trine from Jupiter who's retrograde in fellow Earth Sign, Taurus, however, will be beneficial for some philosophical ponderings with regard to your 5th house of creativity, children, romantic interests, entertainment or speculations.  If you've been neglecting this part of your life which is generally about enjoying yourself, give that some thought.  Venus is sextile Pluto from Scorpio, implying an opportunity with regard to love or money from your house of friends and group associations.  This is competing with whatever is being activated in your 5th, for example your creative endeavors with the resolution coming from Pluto who will provide the introspection you need to figure out how to balance the two or which one you need the most.  There is also the subtle message there that if you're trying to market a creative work that you need to take some of the time you spend there and devote it to marketing via networking.  Just saying.

That disruption at home is also related to your networking or group associations in some way and will require some sort of adjustment or change of course.  Whatever it happens to be, don't expect to solve it entirely by yourself as you are usually wont to do but feel free to call upon others to lend some assistance. 

Mars in Leo is trining the Moon from 8th house of transformations, intense experiences, sex, death and rebirth, debt and shared resources.  One word of caution that Mars in the 8th can predispose you to accidents, so be especially careful during this time whether it's with sharp objects or behind the wheel of your means of transportation.  The trine with the Moon is favorable, however, and suggests you may find closure of some emotional matter during this time as well.

The New Moon on October 26 is in Scorpio, your 11th house of networking, friends, organizations, group activities, goals, hopes and wishes.  This is an excellent time to begin a new endeavor in this part of your life.  Mercury and Venus are conjunct in Scorpio, enhancing communications, but they are also squaring Mars which implies a challenge of some sort which will have a significant impact.  Saturn in Libra is mitigating this somewhat, however, showing there are opportunities hidden there which will be to your benefit.  Others are watching how you handle this and it has the potential to greatly enhance your reputation and public image if you handle things properly.

More changes of direction or adjustments are indicated here as well, again as a result of changes or unexpected events on the home front.  Competition between your creative endeavors and group activities or other goals continues.  Neptune is trying to lend some assistance from your 2nd house of finances, possessions, needs and pleasures, however, perhaps in the form of some money-making ideas, particularly if that is what you're trying to come up with these days along with just about everyone else on the planet.  If this is the case, the benefits of networking are apparent so again, don't try and do it all yourself.

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