Celestial Notebook Overview October 2007
‘When we awaken this innocent heart, we find our true home. At ease, we celebrate the simple marvels of every day.’ Jack Kornfield
The zodiac constitutes a cyclic process and six great purposes are being worked out in sequence: emergence from chaos (Aries and Taurus), unfoldment of its original potential (Gemini and Cancer) and expression of its potential (Leo and Virgo). Creative self-expression leads to a new level of experience and the stage of reorientation (Libra and Scorpio).
Reorientation literally means to find a new Orient, a new East, a new Source of Power – the rising sun in the East symbolises the source of power and vitality. From Aries to Virgo, as the sun gains strength, the emphasis is on our outward journey toward creating external form and objective maturity.
At Libra, as the night force increases, we need to reorient our self toward the return journey and a more subjective maturity: now our fresh understanding of our self, the shifts in our belief system all have to be incorporated into our daily thinking. Our goal is to be able to deepen our experience of mutuality and inclusiveness and to relate to our self and to others with increasing ease.
The symbol of The Scales highlights the polarities inherent in our existence: we may be pulled apart and suffer psychological paralysis not knowing which way to go. Or we may be illumined by the spark that flows from pole to pole and expand our consciousness: differentiation, discrimination and committed action is the process when we live the Libra-time.
During October most of the planets are in water and air signs: we will create circumstances in which our logic and our intuition will be equally important. Physically as well as psychologically this is a particularly sensitive combination and the warning is to stay grounded – to curb our escapist tendencies or our fantasy-prone malcontent. Fantasies do not satisfy us because they do not allow for change: by communicating our needs we truly give of our self and become so much more able to live a fulfilling life.
On 8 October Venus, Goddess of Love, Beauty and the Arts, leaves the whirlwind world of Leo and demurely joins Saturn in the sign of Virgo.
Our interdependence and the service that we offer to the world becomes our method of self-discovery: doing what we enjoy most is what we do best and offers insight into our inner being. With Venus in Virgo there may be a yearning to simplify our lifestyle: to smell the sunlight on our sheets or to taste the sweet warmth of a freshly picked tomato.
On 9 October Jupiter, King of Expansion, squares Uranus, King of Unpredictability (15 degrees 35 minutes Sagittarius-Pisces). A square is an uncompromising aspect that creates so much stress that it provides us with the vital push to reorient ourselves. This is the third and last of three squares involving sudden expansion (for better or for worse!) – the first in January and the second mid May. This square could bring a breakthrough after a stressful nine-month process involving legal battles, equality in relationships and new inventions and discoveries.
Jupiter is the planet of faith, especially faith in life; Uranus is about our transcendence of social and cultural programming. With Jupiter and Uranus square we may be subjected to experiences that test our faith in ourselves and in life. The secret is to be realistically optimistic, to have faith in ourselves without falling prey to puffed up illusions of our own glory.
On 12 October Mercury, The Messenger of the Gods, turns retrograde (seemingly reversing against the background of the stars) at 9 degrees 4 minutes Scorpio. It turns direct again on 1 November at 23 degrees 22 minutes Libra. For three weeks, instead of flowing outward, the energy of Mercury is directed inward deeper into the mind, toward the unconscious and away from the world. Paying careful attention to detail will reduce vexing delays and mix-ups so particular to Mercury retrograde periods.
If we could still the inner dialogue, this inward turning of the mind in Scorpio and Libra could support us to find unique ways to keep the inner fire burning whilst expressing clearly and easily what lies upon our heart.
The full moon on 26 October (at 2 degrees 23 minutes Taurus) is another SuperMoon: once a month the Moon is in perigee (closest to the earth). A few times a year this coincides with a new moon or a full moon, creating geophysical disturbances such as tidal surges, severe storms and moderate to severe seismic activity, sometimes even accompanied by volcanic eruptions and earthquakes. Usually these happen three days to a week before or after SuperMoons or eclipses. (Richard Nolle is the astrologer who introduced the term SuperMoon.)
The Sabian Symbol for the degree of the full moon (there is a symbol for each degree of the zodiac) underwrites the score for October: Natural steps lead to a lawn of clover in bloom – the gradual expansion of the individual consciousness after a fecundating experience.
This is a time to seek with diligence and determination, but in humility and faith, to reach natural fulfilment.
