AstroForecast October 2001

by Lance Rodriguez

The month of October is the first entire month of the fall season with the Sun transiting the cardinal air sign of Libra. The sign of the scales is symbolic of all one-to-one relationships, balance, peace, harmony, compromise, fairness, justice, equal give-and-take, diplomacy and grace to name a few of the positive attributes. Negative expressions of Libra include procrastination, indecision, passivity, complacency, non-committal behaviors, apathy, indifference, vacillation and laziness.

October 1st at 2:24pm is the station retrograde of the planet Mercury that launches the classic 3-week long Mercury retrograde in the sign of Libra. Individuals that were born the last two weeks of the following cardinal signs in the order given will be most sensitized to this retrograde of Mercury: Libra, Aries, Cancer and Capricorn. Murphy's Law dealing with miscommunication, misunderstanding and misperception happens with all Mercury retrogrades. Transportation, computers and delivery systems tend to be on the fritz beginning on this date until direct motion occurs on October 22, 2001. Keywords associated with this station retrograde of Mercury are establish self-integrity and further self-progress. Assess partial and fragmentary false starts.

The first day of October is also a good day to fashion partnerships that emphasize practicality and goal orientation. Harboring of secrets can be detrimental to partnerships as a left-out partner focuses on any discrepancies that unearth secrets. An instant walling off or barricading ensues with these secretive tendencies.

The annual Full Moon in Aries occurs on the 2nd at 8:49am that symbolizes the release/surrender phase of the Moon over the next two weeks. Areas to concentrate on for release/surrender are anger, frustration, annoyance, irritation, aggravation and/or violation. Impulsive, impetuous and impatient behaviors can also be addressed with this lunation. The angel associated with this Full Moon is Geniel so invoke this angel to give you assistance with this lunation. Keywords associated with this lunation are heritage evolves into new forms and symbols. Surrender outmoded perspectives. Recognize that a conflict can develop between retrogressive and progressive ideals, impulses and desires. Eventually the future evolution will win over the more past-oriented outworn tendencies. A Persian quote can help understand this lunation: "A real prophet will point out the wisdom from your own heart".

The Moon has its bi-monthly ecliptic shift on the 2nd indicating shifts with meteorological, seismological and volcanic activities. A gradual re-orientation occurs in partnerships that emphasize harmony and growth. Out of this re-orientation will emerge new common strategies that partners can enthusiastically embrace.

Wednesday the 3rd are some inharmonious aspects involving Venus and Saturn along with Mars and Jupiter. If partners are unable to work with the previous day's harmonious energy one partner may feel depressed, isolated and melancholic on this Wednesday. Healthy boundaries may be important to work with to counteract these inharmonious energies. Overly compensatory behaviors can appear to be too aggressive or too assertive. Overly competitive behaviors can create ego conflict with some individuals.

Wednesday the 10th is a good day for any holistic/alternative healing therapies. Massage, aromatherapy, reiki, acupuncture and any interests in Tai Chi classes or yoga are excellent for this day. This is also an excellent day for establishing communications that heal past wounds.

Friday the 12th at 10:58pm is a once in every 19-year shift of the Lunar Nodes involving the Gemini-Sagittarius axis of the zodiac. The North Node will enter the sign of Gemini and the South Node will enter the sign of Sagittarius. The following signs will be strongly sensitized to this Nodal Shift in the order given: Gemini, Sagittarius, Virgo and Pisces. The Nodes will complete the entire axis of Gemini-Sagittarius over the next 1-½ years. The North Node can symbolize fate and destiny according to ancient astrological lore whereas the South Node can symbolize old behavioral patterns that any individual can hold on to whether positive or negative. A quote from Albert Einstein illuminates this Nodal Shift: "Perfection of means and confusion of ends seem to characterize our age".

The weekend of the 13th-14th can witness many new technological innovations, breakthroughs and inventions. This same weekend involves inharmonious aspects with the Sun, Mercury and Mars playing significant roles. Around this weekend the potential for military maneuvers is accelerated. Saber-rattling proclamations can instigate wrath and vengeance. Temptations for impatient and rash decisions/actions can waylay the best laid plans. Thoughtful considerations for any action must be adhered. "A herd of deer led by a lion is much worse than a pride of lions led by a deer" a quote by Plutarch helps to clarify this consideration.

The Post-Shadow point of asteroid Pallas Athena occurs on Sunday the 14th referring to the previous degree position this asteroid held last April 5, 2001. Pallas Athena symbolizes the ability to strategize and spearhead tactics for future development. In ancient mythology this was a warrior goddess notable for intelligence and well-executed maneuvers. A quote from the April AstroForecast can help: "Pallas Athena, the astrological strategist and tactician will symbolize the need to review and reassess all strategies especially those concerning foreign affairs". This same day there is a Perigee Moon (closest approach of the Moon to Earth) that can increase emotional volatility.

The combination of astrological influences over these three days in October can potentialize a military response by the United States in regards to the September 11th terrorist attacks in this country. A female journalist attracts great attention at this time.

Venus enters her own ruled sign of Libra on Monday the 15th at 6:42am for her usual 28-day journey emphasizing balance in all relationships, consensus building, fairness, justice, equal give and take, diplomacy and mediation. This same day is the ecliptic shift of the Moon indicating shifts with meteorological, seismological and volcanic activities. This ecliptic shift of the Moon also symbolizes the great need to make decisions and to take action.

The annual New Moon in Libra occurs October 16th at 2:24pm that represents the new beginnings/new initiatives phase of the Moon. Themes to emphasize with this Libra New Moon are peace, harmony, cooperation, consideration, kindness, justice, appropriateness, fairness, equality and balance. Angel Azeruel is associated with this lunation. A special request is asked of everyone to pause for a moment of meditation for world peace. If you would like to work with a meditation mantra the following will aid this world peace meditation: Om Shukraya Namaha and Om Gurave Namaha. Keywords associated with this lunation are facilitate quick analysis with any one-on-one encounters. Participate in the development of a world consciousness that augments compassion, brotherly love and positive selflessness. Keep in mind the following quote: "I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content" Philippians 4:11.

Wednesday the 17th at 8:48pm is the station direct of the planet Neptune that also refers back to the degree position it held last January 18, 2001. Neptune symbolizes the Cosmic Sacred Heart and the Divine Love that issues forth. A new World Peace Movement can be initiated with several harmonious alignments involving Venus and Neptune during the week of October 15-20, 2001. The following is a quote from the January AstroForecast referring to this October date and degree of Neptune: "Keywords associated with this degree are there is a real opportunity for human society to embrace true mediation due to the divine indwelling of universal love. A new kind of awareness frequency opens up to allow spontaneous revelation. The floodgates open for something different to happen". "Soul has been laid in our bodies to grasp the notion of time and feeling" is a quote from Blaise Pascal that is agreeable to this Neptunian energy.

Venus has an ecliptic shift on Thursday the 18th that can symbolize new directions in regards to all relationships, financial affairs and values. Besides the aforementioned paragraphs on positive Venus and Libra attributes care has to be taken in regards to negative expressions of procrastination, indecision, passivity, complacency, laziness, apathy, indifference and/or vacillation.

The third weekend of October is excellent for romantic and elegant soirees as well as charity benefits. New art forms emerge that capture the imagination. Serious discussions that emphasize positive developments in regards to commitments are also highlighted. Asteroid Juno reaches its Pre-Shadow point on Sunday the 21st that will refer to March 27, 2002. This asteroid symbolizes partnerships that build trust, commitment and loyalty as a solid foundation; otherwise great issues can ensue through the lack of support in those areas that can attract jealousy, possessiveness, rage and humiliation. Keywords associated with this Pre-Shadow point of Juno are re-orient to a more psychologically positive sense of well-being that supersedes petty issues.

October 22nd at 7:24pm is the direct station of Mercury thus ending its 3-week long retrograde motion that has created the Murphy's Law of miscommunication, misunderstanding and misperception as well as disruption with transportation, delivery systems and electronics. Mercury has now returned to the degree position it held on September 11, 2001. The September 11th date witnessed the terrorist attack of the World Trade Center in New York City. The astrological chart for the exact moment of the first jet collision of the World Trade Center had Mercury (the mythological god of commerce and trade!) on the eastern horizon. Mercury is also the ruler of Gemini (the Twins; the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center!). Here is a quote from the September AstroForecast: "Keywords for this degree point of Mercury are everything in life moves along in a circle; what is important is to center one's consciousness to hold a perspective of what's moving on the circle. A panoramic viewpoint is compared to the microscopic and to remain detached from both perspectives is to embrace the paradox. "Act as men of thought; think as men of action" a quote from Henry Bergson helps to understand this degree point of Mercury. This day is also very good for intensive studies and factual investigations". The last sentence from this quote is attributed to a harmonious aspect involving Mercury and Saturn that repeats again the day before this October station of Mercury and the day after. Great concern surrounds this date as a potential for new terrorist activity can be ignited whether overtly or covertly.

The majestic Sun enters mysterious Scorpio on Tuesday October 23rd at 3:26am for its annual 30-day journey. Themes of sharing, merging, bonding, intimacy, shared resources, taxes, insurances, the occult, transformation, regeneration and personal rebirths are highlighted with this solar passage. Issues of negative compulsive/obsessive behaviors, jealousy, envy, deep-seated rage due to inhibited emotions from the past, as well as control and manipulation can surface over the next 30 days.

Breakdowns in diplomatic talks as well as great concern for embassies, diplomatic missions, missionaries, religious sites and world trade sites occur due to inharmonious aspect involving Mercury and Venus with Jupiter on the 26th and 27th. Astro*Carto*Graphy Maps pinpoint the Arabian Peninsula, Asia including specifically Japan and Indonesia are associated with these inharmonious aspects to Jupiter. Care has to be taken in regards to being too quick to jump to conclusions and overly conciliatory appeasement to volatile factions.

The Moon has a rare thrice ecliptic shift in a month on October 29th that symbolizes shifts with meteorological, seismological and volcanic activities. This day can also witness negative martyrdom associations. The temptations to be falsely misled in regards to illusions are very strong as well. Petroleum and natural gas supplies as well as petrochemical industries need to be on alert due to volatility in the markets. Pharmaceutical companies can also experience volatility in the financial markets.

Tuesday October 30th at 4:55pm is the direct station of the planet Uranus. Uranus has now returned to the degree position it held last February 10, 2001. Here is the quote from the February AstroForecast: "Keywords associated with this Uranus degree position are clearance of attachments to the material world that disrupt one's inner creative potentials. The Divine Feminine symbolized by the Queen of the Heavens, earnestly seeks to return to the Earth. What is the stumbling block is the exclusivity that some earthly systems insist on maintaining at a high monetary price. The Queen of the Heavens desires inclusivity for members of the entire human race, no matter what the cost. The Queen of the Heavens wants to make a point to humanity that no one needs to be left behind". On this day there are many alignments, harmonious and inharmonious, involving Mercury, Venus and asteroid Ceres, the great mythological harvest and mother goddess. Expect to hear or see reports of visions and/or apparitions of the Great Mother either as Mary, Qwan Yin, the Sophia, the Shekinah and etc.. A true people's peace movement can now be accelerated.

A rare Blue Moon occurs on Halloween Day. A Blue Moon is when there are two Full Moons in any particular month. This one happens to be the annual Full Moon in Taurus that occurs at 11:41pm just in time for a real Full Moon Midnight Madness for Halloween Festivities! This is the release/surrender phase of the Moon over the next two weeks. Release greed, avarice, indulgence, envy, stubbornness, hoarding, gross materialism, possessiveness and jealousy. If you like working with the angelic realm Azariel is associated with this lunation and this angel can help you with the aforementioned issues. Keywords associated with this lunation are the great potential exists for self-renewal through a sharing with others; the remaking of ties and a regathering of visions through the rebirth of world spirit is high. A great longing for true spirit and soul vibrates within all minds and hearts. A quote from Vannevar Bush is appropriate for this Blue Moon: "The scene changes but the aspirations of men of good will persists". According to some Tibetan Spiritual Traditions the souls of the departed finally leave the earthly realm 49 days after death. Forty nine days after the September 11th tragedy will bring us right up to Halloween, an ancient pagan holiday commemorating the ability to set aside the veil between the living and the dead.

I would like to share with all of you a vision I experienced after the terrorist attacks in September. It is associated with the souls of the departed and their message to us who remain with the aftermath. It is in poetic format.

"As I hold my head downward in dismay, filled with woe of destruction;

I gradually lift my head and look forward through tear-streamed eyes,

I listen with soul's intent and ask, how can I help and be of service?

The answer came back; let not your emotions hold undue sway

Let not the cursing of the darkness occur nor condemnation

Or fill yourself with revenge and vicious vindication;

Always remember us in the true spirit of our greatest values:

Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness!"

May God rest their souls and may eternal compassion and mercy be with all their surviving families.