Astrology of October 2008 by Henry Seltzer (www.astrograph.com)

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The Astrology of October features Mercury, Jupiter and Neptune. Neptune is highlighted in the lunations of this time period, beginning with the Libra New Moon of September 29th. Uranus and Saturn are also drawing closer and closer to their exact opposition, taking place next month on November 4th, Election Day. We begin the current month in the midst of another Mercury retrograde period, which started in September and lasts until just after the Scorpio New Moon of the 28th when you consider the shadow period, the two weeks during which Mercury is regaining its lost Zodiacal ground. The actual station is on the 15th when its direction changes. This entire month is therefore characterized by missed connections and mechanical and communicative breakdown, which may on the other hand yield to mental breakthrough as we take time off from pushing ahead and pause to reflect on our situation.

The Libra New Moon took place in the last days of September and made a close aspect to Neptune, while the mid-month Full Moon sextiles Neptune exactly, meaning that this entire monthly cycle partakes of this numinous and potentially confusing planetary archetype. Otherworldly Neptune, at its highest, tunes us in to the multiple layers of reality that coexist with the more obviously visible world all around us and thus represents idealism, and the imagination to rise above the unyielding practicality of this earthly plane. These flights of fancy are well-reflected in the arts, especially music, which corresponds to a spiritual order that goes beyond what we can see and hear with our normal senses. But Neptune is not fully at home in the practical world of everyday events, and its power can also lead to illusion, confusion, even outright deception, a tendency that may be aided and abetted at this time by the retrograde of Mercury in a corresponding Air sign.

In another potent chime with the Neptunian energy, the First Quarter Moon of Tuesday, October 7th, conjuncts Jupiter in Capricorn, a placement that contains within it the dichotomy of earthly realms versus an implicit faith in the benevolence of the universe that allows us to rise above. Relationships and the dynamics of intimacy are also very important in this bridge period between the initiatory impulse of the New Moon and the relaxation, acceptance and flowering of the Full Moon that follows it. This crux of the first two weeks of the month is therefore exciting and magical, with however the potential for misplaced idealism, and the possibility of over-extending.

The Full Moon takes place a week later, on Tuesday the 14th. In addition to closely aspecting Neptune, this Full Moon also conjuncts the recently named trans-Plutonian dwarf planet, Eris. This archetypal energy represents a warrior-like defensive stance against established power. At this time too, the Uranus – Saturn opposition is very active, reflecting the same values of taking a stand against a dysfunctional status quo. We will find ourselves speaking truth to power at this mid-month time, and perhaps reveling in the discontinuity of speeches to events. We can and will occupy either side of the polarity, raging against the machine or trying to reconcile our ideals and our revolutionary goals with practical concerns.

We are currently seeing the fulfillment of the ancient dictum that asks "let me live in interesting times." These are climactic days for all of us, at both the personal and the collective level. The time has come to choose sides and really step up to the plate, for whatever drives your deepest passion. We may lapse into starry-eyed idealism or verge into escapism, but we cannot daydream for very long, since the urgency of the times keeps pulling us back to the central point of the matter. Life is a game for sure but a game played for keeps, as we need to recognize both for the sake of our ailing planet and for the spiritual health of the individuals living within her immense bounty.

Transits to the U.S. Chart

The most important thing that has been happening over the course of the last month has been the financial melt-down of the country. Some sort of financial trouble has been not unexpected, given the difficult transits over the next few years, and several factors become clearer when we look at the astrology. In our last column we stated: "When Mercury retrogrades it forms a Grand trine with Neptune and U.S. Mars, so the days surrounding the 24th could be very interesting. Jupiter stations this month, still opposite U.S. Sun while Saturn sextiles it, so that a sense of grounded optimism prevails." Of course the events did prove to be quite interesting, beginning in earnest on Friday the 26th. With Jupiter opposite the U.S. Sun, there was a sense of gambling that came into the picture, as reflected in the $700B bailout move. Then the nay-sayers amongst the general public, ably symbolized by Saturn, pushed back and the bill was surprisingly defeated. The stock market tumbled and then reversed, reflecting the push-pull of these two energies. Saturn is also getting close to its opposition with Uranus, and Uranus squares U.S Mars, indicating the rapidity of the events.

With Neptune involved, there was also a prediction that deception might come up at this time, and the eventual outcome is certainly hazy and confusing. It remains to be seen whether actual deception is involved in the administration's latest moves or just highly motivated rose-colored glasses.

In the current month, Saturn and Uranus come into closer opposition again involving U.S. Neptune, while transiting Neptune is emphasized and trines U.S. Mars. Jupiter is more exactly opposed to U.S. Sun and is triggered by the First Quarter Moon of October 7th. This first full week of October is when the gambling urge will be at its strongest, and also conveniently a likely time for another bailout proposition to come to the fore. Will it pass this time? Saturn and Uranus are still in the picture at this time as well, so all the same players are assembled, and we will likely see more of the same to-and-fro attitude as the stock market continues to fluctuate. At the Full Moon of the 14th, Neptune is again activated along with U.S. Neptune, so that idealism and higher purpose intention will vie with deception as explanatory principles for what we are seeing. The Obama campaign seems to have a lock on the former and we'll just have to see about the latter as the year and the next term of office wears on.

For more analysis of the U.S. chart, see Henry's Zodiactivism blog.

September 29th New Moon
The Libra New Moon that sets the stage for the current cycle makes an exact sesquiquadrate aspect to Neptune, also aspecting Uranus in Pisces, so that higher mind is a large factor. With Mercury retrograde in the same sign, we are intended to be looking more closely into everything that happens to us, and taking a reflective stance on life in general.

October 7th First Quarter Moon
This is a powerful First Quarter Moon, with the Moon exactly conjunct Jupiter, and Jupiter still trined by Saturn, while Saturn and Uranus near opposition. In addition to these powerful indications, Chiron and the North Node are in close conjunction, aspected by Saturn and squared by Venus. We are likely to be more aware than usual of old wounds regarding both group affiliation and control, and relationship, and of the choices that we make that have the power to transcend them.

October 14th Full Moon
In another potent configuration, this Full Moon closely aspects Neptune, bringing to the fore once again the confusion of these times and also their fundimentally spiritual nature. In addition, this Full Moon also conjuncts the recently named trans-Plutonian dwarf planet, Eris. This archetypal energy represents a warrior-like defensive stance against established power. At this time too, the Uranus – Saturn opposition is very active, reflecting the same values of taking a stand against a dysfunctional status quo. We will find ourselves speaking truth to power at this mid-month time, and perhaps reveling in the discontinuity of speeches to events. We can and will occupy either side of the polarity, raging against the machine or trying to reconcile our ideals and our revolutionary goals with practical concerns.

October 21st Last Quarter Moon
This Last Quarter Moon aspects Pluto in the last degrees of Sagittarius. Pluto is getting ready to re-enter Capricorn come November (on the 26th) and we might get a preview of the action there. Banking institutions are one place that will likely feel the effects of this important transit next month.

October 28th New Moon
This Scorpio New Moon comes just before Halloween, the Scorpio holiday, and features Mars square Chiron and also aspecting Saturn and Uranus in the final stages of the first pass of their opposition, which completes on November 4th. This New Moon time period is therefore an exciting one, with an exciting November ahead. Saturn and Uranus oppose each other exactly a total of five times over the next few years, and Pluto joins in by 2010, exact in 2012, making these next few years extremely dramatic ones, as many astrologers have indicated. We are getting the first taste of these amazing configurations in this fall time frame.