The surprise factor: Uranus and the personal planets

Today is Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2011. The Sun is in its last few days of Libra; it will enter Scorpio on Sunday, Oct. 23. As the Sun passes through the last days of a sign, there can be the feeling of wanting to move onto the new cycle. That calls for patience and commitment to closure and completion. As the Sun moves through these last days of Libra, it will be trine Neptune in Aquarius. Given that we’ve just embarked on a week full of surprises, you can depend on the clairvoyant and creative feeling of that Sun-Neptune to help you navigate the next few days and keep your life in balance.

Meanwhile, the Moon is in Cancer all day, and reaches its last quarter phase at 11:30 pm EDT Wednesday, quickly approaching the new Moon. Moon-Pluto has an emotionally sensitive feeling, particularly as the Moon opposes Pluto in the early hours of day. That’s a caution to avoid taking things personally.

Our current environment is full of triggering factors. There is strong personal planet movement right now, as the Sun, Mercury, Venus and Mars make aspects to larger planets. That translates into personal-level movement in our lives, which can sometimes be felt as tension, unexpected factors or conflict. You may have the feeling that ‘the universe is trying to tell you something’. Are you getting the message?

Part of that message is to notice when your buttons get pushed in time to step back from any situation rather than getting dragged back in. Notice what you’re doing, how you’re reacting, and don’t take the reactions of others personally. Culturally, we’ve been really wound up these past ten years; many have used fear to create stability. Now, we’re in an unstable, reactive environment with surprises popping up all over. For many this is inspiring and liberating; for others it’s unsettling, even upsetting to the point of paranoia. Yet in an unstable environment, progress is actually possible as structures (inner and outer) dismantle, dissolve and morph. Creativity is spontaneous. We figure out solutions suddenly, often surprising ourselves with the timing of new insights; openings appear where once there were none, allowing us to act on these new thoughts.

In the span of about a week, we have Mercury, Venus and Mars all making the same trigger (a 135-degree aspect called a sesquiquadrate) to Uranus, the cosmic light socket. This means expect the unexpected, in events and feelings; it’s okay to experience something and move on without clinging to it or your response to it.

Our personal relationships are energized and perhaps unpredictable right now, but there is an aspect offering some balance. The Sun is trine Neptune — a time for actually using, in tangible, external ways, the inner creativity and imagination being stimulated right now by any surprises. Also, with the signs involved — Sun in Libra, Neptune in Aquarius — we have a picture of harmonizing partnerships with group experiences. Think of it like going to the company picnic with your significant other, but still having room to be a full, authentic individual while there — and giving the same room to your partner.

Even so, you may be experiencing the sensation of being far from what you want. If that’s the case, well, take some consolation in at least knowing what you want. If you don’t know (or think you don’t), see about figuring it out. Remember that availability and desire are not the same thing; don’t let a seeming lack of availability determine what you want. Stay flexible and receptive and any surprises in the next few weeks may point you to some new solutions.

Looking for insights on how this week’s astrology affects your personal Sun and rising signs? Try out Planet Waves Light, our streamlined horoscope service. For deeper cultural context and astrological investigation, the premium Planet Waves subscription includes the same horoscopes, plus extensively-researched articles on Fridays.