There are big forces at work in the sky this week, most notably, the fourth exact contact of the Uranus-Pluto square (the aspect defining this era) on Friday. A number of other planets are interacting with Uranus and Pluto (and with each other) from various areas of the chart, imparting the sense that life is in motion internally and externally, from several dimensions — making this a week to stay conscious, alert and active in the choices you make.
As Eric said as we discussed this astrology, “Do it while you can.”
We’re still between two eclipses, making this week ‘special’ already in terms of the potential for you to move your life ahead in new directions by leaps and bounds. To have Uranus and Pluto make exact contact with each other, plus with several powerful planets in various ways all at once, suggests that there really are openings for moving things forward — and they need to be taken.
Although the sky always offers new opportunities to approach a challenge from a new direction or to make a discovery about yourself, this astrology will not be in effect forever. The solar eclipse on Nov. 3 and the Sun’s conjunction to Saturn three days later imply a time limit. This is not meant to provoke fear of ‘getting it wrong’ or missing an opportunity; there really is no way to ‘get it wrong’ as long as you’re doing what you can to use what you know.
With several significant planets in water signs, staying sensitive to your intuition is an important factor. Large, oceanic forces are in motion, and to flow with the current (or conversely, keep from getting swept away by your emotions), you have to let yourself feel it and understand the power involved.
Subsequent blog posts this week will get into more of the details of various aspects, but here are a few highlights.
Mars, the planet of action, and Pluto, the planet of change, are in a trine aspect. Mars and Pluto can both feel like aggressive energies, but in a trine they tend to manifest as ambition, confidence and the desire to work hard.
Mars and Pluto are the traditional and modern rulers of Scorpio, respectively. And what do we have in Scorpio? The Sun, North Node, Mercury and Saturn all at the midpoint of the Mars-Pluto trine. The implication is that this is a moment of balance. Aggressive energies can be sidestepped, though it will take intuition. It could be as simple as making the choice to avoid an unpleasant confrontation, or sensitively feeling your way through it. Doing so may very well open up genuine potential for something better to emerge.
Along those lines, Venus is approaching a conjunction to the Galactic Core (the center of our Milky Way galaxy, which is in the direction of late Sagittarius from our perspective here on Earth). Venus-GC is urging a wider perspective. Rather than getting caught up in pettiness, which is ultimately self-defeating, see if you can notice the sense that you are ‘bigger than’ whatever is vexing you.
We can’t forget Uranus in all this, however. Uranus is the surprise, the upset, the shock, the ‘eureka’ moment — but not all of the planets talking to Uranus this week are in comfortable conversations. Uranus signifies the potential for disruption in the midst of all the motion, motivation and sensitivity. Just be sure you stay aware of your surroundings, as well as what’s percolating below the surface inside.
Think of it as looking left and right before crossing the street, or looking over your shoulder once in a while to check for someone on a bicycle. Bicycles are not that dangerous in the grand scheme of things, but they’re nearly silent until they’re right behind you. It’s just another level of awareness and mindfulness that can help you to respond constructively to the unexpected, rather than react out of hand.
All through this, Mercury is still retrograde in Scorpio. You can’t put your entire life on hold to wait for it to station direct — and with astrology like this, you wouldn’t want to. But as Eric writes, “[Mercury is] like an undertow. Even in beautiful and seemingly calm water it is necessary to be conscious of the current and notice how far you are from the shore.” Keep swimming, use all your senses, and do it while you can — whatever ‘it’ may be.
Additional research and writing by Eric Francis
Thanks you Amanda, Len and P. Sophia for responding. The combination of your feedback was very helpful! Amanda – your summary of “i’m trying to trust that as things enter my awareness this week, i’ll be able to move with them”, and Len’s quote “Notice your energetic reaction…” during the Mercury retrograde and let that be your goal-guide”, combined with P. Sophia’s story about jumping at an opportunity that excited her(him) – tells me one thing, which resonates with Amanda’s first sentence – what are you strongly drawn to? I WILL know the minute something positive and worthwhile presents itself – that much I know. I agree with you, P.Sophia re: so action orientated over the last several months that maybe this second half of the retrograde is also a time to just see what exactly comes back to me. I’m still waiting – nothing solid yet. That’s perhaps why I had trouble identifying the “it”. Thank you all. Much appreciated.
Regarding Galactic Core and our keeping a wider perspective, I just searched and this, http://www.cainer.com/ericfrancis/dec9.html was the second article that came up. Although from 2005, it is still timely and worth a read.
Thank you Eric, it is a very informative publication to keep. My Natal GC at 26 degrees is conjunct Ceres at 25 and the approaching Venus-GC conjunction.
Your direction is very helpful Amanda. And Len thanks as well for adding Phil Sedgwick’s comment to notice our ‘energetic reaction’.
An invitation came to me last week to attend and press conference of Mayors, Legislative Congressman and Human Rights leaders in the signing of agreements of collaboration between our progressive, diverse, liberal State and Italy. Also these agreements signed bridging university science research, technology, entrepreneurial think tanks and the cultural arts. I immediately jumped to reply knowing this was where I needed to be. Such a strong feeling of confidence and vision after came over me.
The most impressionable moment of this retrograde so far was a comment that has resonated with me. After the conference, in meeting the gentleman that invited me, I thanked him for reaching out to me. He returned and said, it was because I expressed such an interest in the initiative back in June that he felt ‘obliged’ to include me. I promised to follow up with him to continue our discussion regarding our potential collaboration in contribution to further promote the development of this innovative global initiative. Not sure where it will lead, but this type of campaign is very exciting to me!
Beatup, thanks for asking the question about which ‘it’. Like you, I have also been so action orientated over the last several months that maybe this second half of the retrograde is also a time to just see what exactly comes back to me.
You might also look to the Venus transit in Sagittarius and it’s house position on your chart to see what it is in opposition to. Any natal planets, asteroids in opposition there? Which might also give a clue. I have Venus transit now in opposition to my natal Venus /Mars conjunction in 9th there.
Next up Venus conjunct GC it will transit over my natal GC. Anyone experienced this aspect with awareness / insights of what to remain open to?
Amanda, i agree. You make your point brilliantly It faithfully follows the recent reminder from Phil Sedgwick to “Notice your energetic reaction…” during the Mercury retrograe and let that be your goal-guide. Thank you for your astute guidance today, Amanda!
beatup — where are you being drawn strongly? what does your gut or your intuition say? i realize that it’s easy to get caught in mental circles and wonder, ‘how do i get this right?” i do that, too. but i think as long as you’re moving something (or several things) forward, or can allow yourself to feel an opening for something when it arrives, it’s all good. it can be so easy to get hung up in the “supposed to” line of thinking, but that’s generally a way that we paralyze ourselves.
i think we can definitely allow some poetic license to let “it” be plural (or very flexible) in this case. i wish you luck! (and if it makes you feel any better, i’m not entirely sure i know what my “it” may be, either — but i’m trying to trust that as things enter my awareness this week, i’ll be able to move with them.)
anyone else in the same boat?
So, I have a question – what if you have a number of “it’s” on your plate, like I do? All are important, but not all are driven by my singular
agenda. How do I find the “it” you are referring to that I am supposed to be going for?
Thank you Amanda for your light on the phase 4 of Uranus and Pluto, Venus on the Galactic center would become an opportunity for redemption? with love we can overcome the obstacles as much psychic event level at least for a defined time
November 3rd is “Diwali” or festival of lights in India, the triumph of good over evil.