Strange Onion Peelings

As befits entry into the dying part of the year for those of us in the Northern Hemisphere, a key theme in October will be Review and Heal. The astrology for the month kicks off with a Solar Eclipse at 10° Libra. Eclipses tend to herald beginnings and endings (which, in the final analysis, are the same thing). When in Libra, the Sun is in his Fall, far from the lofty heights of his exaltation in Aries. A Solar Eclipse here suggests the downfall or humbling of powerful individuals. Crossing the threshold of the 10^th Degree places the Sun in the Second Decan of Libra, which is ruled by Saturn. This Decan is related to contracts, oblgations, and emotional difficulties. All of this suggests an ego check, and a need to reassess what one has committed themselves to.

On October 4^th, Mars enters His retrograde shadow at 17° Cancer, slowing down as He traverses the degrees He will retread once stationing retrograde in Leo on December 6^th. Here we have another Planet in Fall, this time preparing for a retread of issues and themes He’s probably not happy about dealing with the first time around. Mars will likely want to fight his way through problems, but it would be wise to consider whether He wants to have the fallout of those conflicts come back for more fun in a couple of months.

Also on the 4^th, Venus at 14° Scorpio will Trine Saturn in Pisces. Venus is one of the many Planets in challenging condition this month, as Scorpio is her Detriment. Saturn currently dwells in her Sign of Exaltation, Pisces. With a Trine between them, this traditionally would mean that Venus is Exalting Saturn. In other words, putting him on a pedestal or creating high expectations of a Planet that has limited opportunities in his current position. Mars, as Ruler of Scorpio, has the challenges mentioned about, and will tend to exacerbate the natural testiness of Venus in His Sign. It is likely that Venus will end up asking Saturn for more structure than he’s able to give, and Saturn people and situations will end up being a disappointment, though in a Trine they will offer as much help as they can. Individuals may be called on to make a bigger sacrifice than they feel able, and, given the themes suggested by the Eclipse, could end up regretting the decision later.

Continuing the pattern of Planets in difficult condition doing challenging things, on the 9^th, Jupiter stations retrograde at °21 Gemini. In Gemini, Jupiter tends to struggle with getting lost in details when He wants to focus on the big picture. Plan for retreading discussions about over-arching philosophy and values, and trying to reconcile these with the mundane and the nuanced.

October 11^th, Pluto stations Direct in Capricorn, beginning His long retread over the final degree of that Sign and the first few minutes of Aquarius. Though this is the same part of the Tropical Zodiac that He was in during 2020, given that He is not with either of the Malefics this time around, and considering the Square he makes with Mercury on the 9^th, He is likely to portend a contentious debate over the events of that period, rather than a reprise of those specific conditions. Feeding into the overall theme of Revisiting and the humbling of authority, we might see a mass call for accountability for decisions made and now reconsidered.

The Full Moon on October 17^th in Aries will Square both Mars and Pluto. She and Mars are in one another’s Domiciles, so this aspect, while testy, should be mutually beneficial, particularly with the Sextile between Venus and Pluto sweetening the pot (a bit). While emotions are likely to run high, and some might find themselves bulldozed into situations they hadn’t planned for, the outcome has the potential to be worth the difficulty.

There is much more I could discuss, but these few considerations should be enough to hold on to and contemplate for the month. Remember always: the Stars indicate but do not compel, and there is always wiggle room (and magick!)