Dear Friend and Reader:
We are in a week that will prove to be interesting, as the Full Moon crests and Mercury stations direct within 24 hours. Mercury is known for casting a spell of mild to hot chaos during those days six times a year when it changes directions; the Full Moon comes with an emotional peak, and this time around happens to be in Aries conjunct the new planet Eris.
Yours & truly,
13 Monday: Moon enters Aries at 3:07 am EDT, moving into the full phase, ahead of Tuesday afternoon’s exact Full Moon in Aries. Mercury, slow and powerful in the sky right now, is about to station direct Wednesday Today it is semisquare Venus. Pallas trine Eros. Sun square Varuna. Sometimes it happens that the simplest comment can turn an entire project in a different direction. It is important to understand why we keep things back and why we choose to speak out. Mercury semisquare Venus says we need to get underground communications out in to the open. More important than that is understanding the emotional reasons behind why we don’t speak up when we need to; and this can include seeing the emotional costs of silence — and the underlying struggle. Sun square Varuna suggests that the option to be truthful might be hard to make due to the fact that what we know may not fit into the agenda we have signed up for. If this the case, I would ask myself how much more energy I am willing to spend on playing along, and what I’m doing it for.
14 Tuesday: Full Moon in Aries conjunct Eris, with the Moon conjunct Eros. Eris is a new planet larger than Pluto, a bit further out from the Sun. Eros is an asteroid. Eros opposite Eris. The god of eroticism has teamed up with the goddess of discord. This is prime time to be daring, for better or worse. We are seeing how futile a daring rescue of the economic system is proving to be with Mercury retrograde. With the Sun, trine Neptune, harmonizing with the planet of dreams and illusion, it is one of two things: either you are being enveloped by your dreams, or they are coming true and you can feel it. Well, it may feel like some chaos as well, with the energy of the Full Moon at full strength in the midst of the Mercury storm. Expect the unexpected would be an understatement.
15 Wednesday: Moon enters Taurus at 5:31 am EDT. Mercury stations direct just after 4 pm EDT. Vesta square Nessus. Sun opposite 1992 QB1. Vesta and 1992QB1 (Radharani, at Eric’s suggestion) are both planets that involve giving yourself in service to others. Specifically, giving yourself in service of the changes of others. Vesta square Nessus speaks to the difficulties that can arise when your own internal darkness takes over that process of giving. Sun opposing QB1/Radharani implies that there must be some exchange in the relationship.
16 Thursday: After Mercury stations direct, it moves very slowly at first, and then recovers the ground that it covered in retrograde motion the past three weeks. This is called ‘shadow phase’ by most astrologers and ‘echo phase’ at Planet Waves. It will cover this ground through Nov. 1, when the retrograde effect will still be mildly lurking in the background; and we get to straighten out some of what went awry during the retrograde itself. Because Mercury is in Libra, it is wise to steer clear of decisions for the long run, and especially wise to get away from situations where someone might be pressuring you into making a decision you are not ready to make. Mercury coming close to a sextile with Pholus reinforces this idea: be ready to back up your words with your actions, mainly to yourself.
17 Friday: Moon enters Gemini at 6:25 am EDT. With the Moon in this sign, it’s a great time to let your ideas get carried away. Neptune square Sedna.
18 Saturday: Waning gibbous Moon: still big in the sky, not not quite with the intensity of full. Venus is in the final degrees of Scorpio, heading for Sagittarius. While Venus is in Scoprio, the power of attraction takes on the tone of a craving, and the divide between what is beautiful and what is ugly can be unclear. It has been a great time to find what you love and avoid what you hate; with Scorpio there is no in between, though it would be nice if it learned a little moderation. As the goddess of affection enters the sign of expansion (Sagittarius), expect to see your loving mind take a more philosophical approach to affection and a more expansive [some would say spiritual] approach to sexuality. Could you be ready to let go of some of the jealousy that has run your life for so long? Could a three- or foursome be in your future?
Things you decided were totally out of the question under Scorpio-Venus will seem not as abhorrent under Sagittarius-Venus. When it comes to loving, the rules are thankfully never set in stone.
19 Sunday: Venus enters Sagittarius. The Moon enters Cancer at 7:40 am EDT. Something odd is going to begin to happen to who and what you consider to be against you and your growth. You might begin to feel like perhaps your growth is inherent in the struggle against these forces, or maybe you will begin to change your mind about the things you promised never to do or feel. Either way, whenever a planet comes into the realm of Sagittarius, it has a magnifying effect. Venus is the planet of love energy, beauty, attraction and the need to attract art and refinement. Sagittarius is the sign of bigger and better and more. Whether you prefer to keep your love burning as a quiet votive, or you prefer to hurl it out there like a Maltov cocktail, these next few weeks will give you plenty of opportunity to incorporate new ideas and resources for your personal altar of affection.