ASTROLOGY FOR THE WEEK OF OCT 18-24 2021

MON OCT 18.

Both Mercury and Jupiter station direct today, and things can feel very expansive, optimistic, inspiring, but also surreal, overwhelming, and perhaps a bit disorienting. There can be some vulnerability because of this. In spite of this, it can be difficult to ignore the beauty of our particular circumstances and in the world and people around us. Idealism can be high, and there’s a need to step into action mode as the Moon enters Aries in the wee morning hours. It may take a bit to get our bearings, as the Pisces lunation at the tail end of an indulgent and gregarious lunar/Jupiter conjunction over the weekend may have set our heads spinning with fortunate turns and a cornucopia of various ways to indulge ourselves or improve our situations. With a head filled with starry eyed fantasy aimed at high ideals, the direct station of Mercury can have us feeling a bit wobbly, perhaps even a bit daunted and vulnerable initially, -but inspired or even a bit pressed (but enthusiastically so) to take action and get things back on track again after a rather disorienting spell that knocked us off kilter. The planetary station can be the part most prone to weirdness, misunderstandings or communication faux pas, so do be aware of this if people are acting a bit off, or things are a bit much initially, and try to give yourself and others some slack. The Moon opposes Mercury in Libra, but trines Venus in broadminded and adventurous Sagittarius, while sextile Saturn, indicating the potential for some tensions or clashes interpersonally, and a need for diplomacy and staying on task in relation to goals and passions. Whether people like it or not, socially and interpersonally, things are growing and expanding, and this particular Venus phase requires a philosophical and adventurous attitude as people paint in broad strokes and explore their feelings in relation to all things Venus. This requires that people have freedom and space to do so. In November, Venus will enter sensual but serious Capricorn, where the planet of love, self worth, values, and money will spend an unusually long period of time in the goal oriented, sleek and disciplined sea goat, due to a Venus retrograde set to impact us all until March of 2022. This will see a lengthy and serious reevaluation, learning and reflection process where we will have to get very serious about our goals and remain determined, stoic and strategic in the face of any potential obstacles that may arise. Venus in Sagittarius is expanding our options and connections, socially, financially, and interpersonally, and this see’s an adventurous, expansive, indulgent, freeing, and explorative approach to matters of love, money, self esteem, possessions, and values. The Venus in Capricorn retrograde cycle will sort the gold from the dross, but will also bring with it the potential for high pressure, “do or die” situations, difficult choices, some challenges, -and the possibility of some power struggles as we go for what or who we want. So there will be a lot to explore, navigate, observe, think about and prepare for between now and mid March of 2022. Self discipline and self control will be key. We’ve just completed a Mercury retrograde cycle in the sign of partnerships both business and personal, so the chances that everyones personal and financial lives haven’t been thrown into a proverbial blender and set to the “fuck me up, fam” setting, -are pretty low. However, Venus in Sagittarius currently aligns well with Chiron the wounded healer, so there are many positive, healing and beneficial interpersonal influences at play currently, and relationships of various kinds can offer valuable learning experiences, morale boosting, healing, upliftment, and optimism, even if everything feels a bit like an absurdist cartoon or comic book right now. People can be very generous, optimistic, and giving, and there can be a bit of a cosmopolitan element at play interpersonally. A philosophical approach can assist navigating any existing interpersonal tensions today.  Mars in Libra square Pluto can create intense undercurrents this week. Some of this could be compelling attractions with erotic undertones, in other cases there could be some barely veiled animosities or manipulations lurking under the surface. Whatever is the case, relationships are deeply impacted right now and transforming, and interactions of all kinds can be having major impacts on our lives in some pretty hard to ignore ways, and some people can be pretty heavy handed as this aspect perfects towards the end of the week. People pleasing and being overly accommodating for others will be going out the window soon with the entrance of the less compromising Scorpio season around the corner,- but this level of authenticity will feel refreshing.

TUES OCT 19.

Today see’s the Moon in enthusiastic Aries, opposite Mercury and Mars, while conjunct Chiron, sextile Jupiter,  -and trine Venus in Sagittarius. Sweet. In spite of certain vulnerabilities and interpersonal tensions, there’s still a significant amount of optimism, enthusiasm, and a feeling of having everything to play for. Relationships can feel larger than life at the moment, and ideals around them can be very high. A lunar square to Pluto can bring some intense, obsessive, compulsive, perhaps even addictive or somewhat dysfunctional elements into play in certain undercurrents, and it’s possible that we are attempting to gloss over some interpersonal or private complexity or some darker elements within the corners of our mind, environment, or dynamics just a bit, -in order to favor the glossier, sweeter and more uplifting side of our current chapter. That's understandable. Speaking of chapters, a Full Moon in Aries tomorrow signifies the beginning of a brand new one and with this comes the phasing out and release of an old one. Letting things go that are weighing us down and starting fresh is a good way to welcome this Full Moon, as Aries represents new beginnings and fresh cycles, while Full Moons represent conclusions and wrapping things up. We can all be doing a lot of both right now, and possibilities can feel limitless. However, the Venus in Capricorn cycle coming up in November lasting to March will put many of these possibilities to the test of reality. For now, enjoy what is good, and capitalize on it to the best of your ability. Strategies to keep what is good going will become the name of the game in the coming weeks and months. The energies of today and this evening can feel a bit larger than life, and there can be a lot of intensity leading up to the Full Moon, much of which will can be going down interpersonally. It’ll be important for people to keep their cool, with the inflammatory lunar aspects to Mars and Pluto being magnified and blown out of proportion by Jupiter can easily get people carried away. A little goes a long way. Mercury opposite Chiron can make communications sensitive and vulnerable, and a lot of diplomacy is required as situations or dynamics can be highly sensitive, dynamic, and inflammatory, even if they’re ultimately positive. Misunderstandings or disagreements can cause a hypersensitive atmosphere or simply blow things way out of proportion. The Moon is in positive contact with Venus in broadminded Sagittarius for the majority of the day and evening, and along with a sextile to Jupiter, this can see a lot of emotional generosity and supportiveness on the one hand, with tense dynamics on the other. People can be forgiven quickly and easily for fumbling, awkwardness, or overdoing something, because it’s clear they mean well, or are trying to help and be supportive. Problems can arise if disparate elements or personalities are overlapping somehow, or if old chapters are touching or mixing with new ones. There can also be culture clashes or simply differences in customs or personal style or emotional preferences and temperaments to navigate, but for the most part this is a dynamic and positive energy with a lot of potential for positivity and motivation available. 

WED OCT 20.

The Full Moon occurrs this morning in pioneering and independent Aries at 7:57 AM PST, 11:57 AM EST.  It’s opposite the Sun and Mars in Libra, square Pluto, and sesquisquare Venus. Interpersonal tension is certainly not out of the question, and keeping particular interactions and dynamics from different quarters, eras, chapters, or cultures safely and neatly compartmentalized may be a bit of a challenge here. Also challenging can be the maintaining of ones own individual will against a backdrop of competing interests or agendas of other people, groups, scenarios, or dynamic duos.  New chapters overlapping with old ones can be a major theme at this Full Moon, as the Aries theme of fresh starts and clean slates combines with the Full Moon theme of completions, endings, and closures, and this is particularly the case with relationships and partnerships, business, personal, and social. Is it any wonder that the Universe has a long Venus retrograde in the most no nonsense, Saturn ruled sign arranged for everyone? What and who endures and can go the distance will come out in the wash, and serious decisions will be on the line. Even if things feel loose, open ended, and exploratory now, people aren’t fucking around anymore when Venus enters Capricorn in Nov. Mars will also enter uncompromising, do or die Scorpio as well, so nothing half hearted will be on the menu, and people will want what they want passionately or not at all, and they won’t take defeat lying down, and could resort to more shadowy means of achieving their desires if a more direct, open, and transparent route is not an option. In either case this is certainly a dynamic time. The Moon enters practical and sensual Taurus at 12:59 PM PST, 3:59 PM EST, where it squares Saturn and conjoins Uranus. Resilience and an inner sense of calm and plodding stability is required here for yet more changes that can be destabilizing, at least initially. A minor lunar aspect to Neptune can see some exhaustion, loopiness, or feelings of uncertainty or simply tiredness with all the work or practical issues that need to be addressed. But on the other side can be yet another portal to some power moves, so it’s worth it to push through any feelings of “ugh what a slog.” If we push through menial tasks or things we know need to get done, we’ll be glad we did, and may find we have deeper energetic reserves available than we initially felt going into it. It may be one of those rare moments where a change is just as good as a rest, as tomorrow seems to hold a more inspiring and exciting landscape, particularly once we get through the first half of the day.

THURS OCT 21.

Today begins with the Moon in pragmatic Taurus conjunct Uranus and square Saturn, which can see a need to shoulder the responsibility of making dynamic changes or getting settled into a new atmosphere, routine, or practical orientation. This can see the earlier part of the day focused on menial tasks, duties, responsibilities, and can be simultaneously a slog that we just have to get through, while also motivated to make exciting or dynamic changes or improvements. Evening can see a more indulgent and exciting but easy going and relaxed atmosphere. Perhaps a reward or pat on the back for a job well done or task completed is called for, and we can feel satisfied with making some major strides and transformations. Late evening see’s the Moon sextile reflective Neptune and trine powerful Pluto, which see’s the evening wind down on a relaxing note and tomorrow can hold some more transformative efforts to really sink our teeth into something and nail things down to feel more stabilized and within our control. Tomorrow see’s the Sun’s annual ingress into intense and magnetic Scorpio as well, and we can feel less eager to compromise with others or oblige for the sake of harmony as we leave behind the harmony oriented sugar and spice of Libra for the more authentic, instinctual, less accommodating “do or die”,  "all or nothing" extremes of Scorpio. Positively, this can can see intense focus towards very specific ends and can be used constructively.

FRI OCT 22. Today see’s the Moon in indulgent and easy going Taurus square Jupiter while sextile dreamy Neptune and powerful Pluto. Mars and Pluto perfect their tense square which can see some intensity in the air, as people want whatever they want. This is a highly driven aspect that can see compromise feel out of the question, as a need to dig deep and make powerful changes becomes near obsessive. Much can be accomplished today as energy can be very focused with this aspect, but there is also ample creativity, idealism and the ability to stop and smell the flowers or truly appreciate the specialness of our particular circumstances. The Sun enters penetrating Scorpio at 9:51 PM, and there may be a lot to take in and reflect upon or strategize. If an unstoppable force meets an immovable object, a will finds a way, and people can be tired of compromising or needing to deal with others, so a more subversive, secretive, or indirect approach can be considered. Perhaps it’s just a case of needing to reflect a bit on our true desires, or in the very least, the strategies we deploy in the time ahead towards achieving them and making them real. Relaxation, grounding with creature comforts, tuning into our intuitive faculties and reflecting, visualizing, and getting in touch with both body and spirit can soothe the nervous system and settle it down before the Moon enters a more busy and talkative phase around 1 AM PST. 

SAT OCT 23.

The Moon in Gemini trines Mercury in Libra  and Saturn in Aquarius, and this can emphasize communications, social obligations or errands and things that need to get done in the local environment, or even just catching up on texts or phone calls and exchanging news. A lunar opposition to Venus in Sagittarius can even see a lot of traveling around or dealing with others at a distance, and the talkative Gemini Moon’s sextile to Chiron suggests news or communications can boost morale and feel encouraging compassionate, and supportive. This weekend can see a lot to adapt to, and things going on, or communications to catch up with or news to exchange with siblings, neighbors, people in our locale or in our inbox. The Moon trine Saturn suggests this all revolves around increasing stability and security somehow. There may be a lot to keep up with, and much can be going on socially, interpersonally, and a lot of tooing and froing, chatter, and multiple channels of communication open, or a lot of perspectives to take on board, and perhaps even some learning experiences through our relationships or interactions with others, or a strong drive for lively debate, exchange, learning, or philosophical discussion can arise as well. A chatty and stimulating day.

SUN OCT 24.

 Today see’s the Moon in multitasking and curious Gemini making indulgent and expansive aspects to Mercury and Jupiter and a loopy square to Neptune while opposite explorative Sagittarius. Curiosity is piqued. We can’t know everything even if we want to, but it’s easy to talk. It’s also easy to spin tall tales, over exaggerate or maybe omit something kind of important or misinterpret something. People are loopy and dreamy, but friendly, curious, and creative today, and there’s still a lot to adapt and adjust to coming out of Mercury’s shadow. Dust is still settling and there’s a lot of thinking, talking and planning going on. Talking is fun, and ideas are many and numerous, even if people’s nervous systems are a little fried and people feel like they’ve been put through a bit of a spin cycle. Energy kicks up even more with a lunar trine to Mars in the afternoon and things can be fun, dynamic, and motivating, -even if physical and mental energy is still sort of lagging. The Mars link say’s “ONWARD!” In spite of Neptune causing vague hungover feelings. Relationships can be mysterious, stimulating and engaging, and a source of longing as well. Reaching out and talking with others can help take some of the edge off of the uncertain feeling lunar/Neptune dynamic. All in all, a good Sunday to dream, think, talk, and exchange ideas, -and delegate if you feel overloaded and in need of some rest at any point.