Astrology for October, 2022

From Fredeick Woodruff:

OCTOBER BLOWS UP fairly quickly with a set of high tension aspects—the exciting ones—occurring within the first week or so. Two central themes are at play. But first, let’s talk squares (the planetary angle sorts).

The square is the unloved component in astrology and given humanity’s Manichaeistic ideas about good/bad, or difficult/easy—and people's tendency towards sloth—they’ve gained a sinister reputation.

If it weren’t for the squares in my chart (that touch off the water trines) I’d probably be living in a van somewhere down by a river, collecting food stamps, and reading romance novels non-stop. (Not that there’s anything wrong with van-living, or romance novels).

Squares generate. Squares galvanize. Squares make you crazy so you’re forced to get off of your ass and figure stuff out. Give thanks to the 90-degree shit-kicker.

So, right out of the gate this month Venus opposes Jupiter, and then a week later Mars squares Neptune. A refinement (or reevaluation) of what we seek from our interpersonal relationships is highlighted. More importantly what is imagined in distinction to what’s realistic. Whatever you’re projecting on to others needs to be reeled in returned to its place of origin: oneself.

Venus-Jupiter aspects, albeit short and quick, can trigger a compulsion for heightened levity and increased latitude in our social world. This is fitting. After years of COVID a lot of people have forgotten how to put themselves out there. So re-engage for goddess’ sake. This is the month to stop binge streaming.

The Mars Neptune square takes whatever urge for freedom we come away with from the Venus-Jupiter opposition and adds a weird twist. Classic Mars Neptune themes conjure peculiar alchemies:

• action with passivity
• domination with submission
• purposefulness with goalless rambling.

How does one work with such hybrid mixtures? The next six months will reveal a lot about how apparitions (Neptune) are put to work (Mars) as this aspect will drift around in our brain pans, as Mars continues a long transit in Gemini.

Mars finally exits Gemini in late March of next year so you’ve plenty of time to put this spiritualization of the libido to work. Tantra anyone? How will you work with this chimerical Mars-Neptune alignment? Let me know in the comments.

Way trickier than the above two transits is the final pass between Saturn and Uranus, forming an almost-exact square on October 4. Some takeaways:

• Saturn in Aquarius (precise mental discipline) and Uranus in Taurus (practical perfection) have forced each of us to confront the following truth: Without putting skin in the game you can’t expect traction for your dream.

• When folks have asked me about this transit I offer a condensed response: “Something’s gotta give.” Because Saturn’s key function is to preserve, and Uranus’s is to shatter.

• What’s certain and dependable for Saturn is boorish and outdated for Uranus. And yet these two impulses need to harmonize to express what’s essential about their functions. What is wrought?

In mundane astrology, this aspect can play out in predatory and violent ways, as we’re seeing this week with international law (Saturn) being broken (Uranus) with Russia’s annexation of Ukraine. Put this together with the lingering Mars Neptune square and we’re living through some dangerous times re the tricky (Gemini) actions (Mars) of fanciful (Pisces) madmen (Neptune).

 

An October of Slowing Down, Consolidation, and Balance
Posted on September 30, 2022 in Overviews |
By Henry Seltzer for ASTROGRAPH Horoscopes

Similar to the far broader aftermath of the Covid societal reset, this is a month of careful recognition and eventual resumption of activities in a new way, following the potent Mercury Retrograde of September, along with the Libra New Moon of September 25th that featured a Mars-Saturn trine and prominent Pluto. Mercury stations to direct motion on October 2nd, coincident with the Moon’s First Quarter, and will slowly straighten out over the two weeks following. As it re-enters the sign of Libra, where it started, and regains its lost Zodiacal ground, the retrograde symptoms of missed connections and mechanical breakdown will begin to fade. The October 2nd station itself is quite dramatic, occurring as it does in the midst of a potent Pluto lunation cycle, and because Mercury stations at 24 degrees of Virgo in trine with Pluto and inconjunct Eris, triggering the Eris-Pluto- Haumea T-square that has been one hallmark of this early fall period. Transformation is therefore in the air right from the very beginning of the month. You will want to recognize what about yourself and your activities you need to emphasize, and what you need to discard as no longer useful, in the interest of personal evolution. Mars in suspended motion with the trine to Saturn, and preparing to enter its own retrograde period at the end of the month, also encourages us to slow down, to look and to listen, as we in our introspective and almost meditative mode attempt to more closely see into where we are heading, and why.

The Libra New Moon that set the tone for the month features Pluto, as outlined above, and also features Mars in aspect to both Uranus and to Saturn, themselves in square alignment as has been described elsewhere. That these antithetical archetypal entities are in square with each other implies that while there is an impulse within us to jump the tracks of existing limitations and explore new ways of perceiving and of being, there is also something operating within us all that slows us down from moving too far, too fast, and urges a more cautious approach. Pluto is standing almost dead still in the sky as October gets underway, contributing to his current prominence. Situated in Capricorn, the message is that the very structure of our lives, and of our society, needs to be able to transform itself as we move forward into this new 21st century. Watching the news headlines, it is becoming more obvious with each passing day that this is indeed precisely the case.

The Aries Full Moon of October 9th has something vital to contribute as well. The Moon is in close proximity to Chiron, the Wounded Healer, in mid-Aries, indicating that as we proceed with our ongoing personal evolution, we might have to deal with issues bubbling up from the deeply hidden parts of our psyches.

When the closing square of the current Libra lunation cycle hits, on October 17th, this also signals the final and complete emergence of Mercury from its retrograde shadow, having regained the placement in Libra from which is started. Meanwhile the Sun and Moon in square with one another, at the 24-degree mark of Libra and of Cancer, precisely oppose and square Eris in Aries, while the Moon opposes Pluto at 26 Capricorn. The grand square alignment is another classic instance of the potent Pluto cycle that October represents, with all its symbolism of the shift in our personal evolution that is thus indicated.

Then, the Scorpio New Moon and solar eclipse of the 25th has also something special to offer, being in partile or same-degree conjunction with Venus, ruler of the opposite sign of the New Moon, a potent indication that relationships are to be one significant focus of the last week of October and the first three weeks of the following month. It is only by a process of balancing our individual needs and desires with those of our partners, or of anyone that we are in relationship to, that we find our actual way forward. The golden rule is an old saw but it still applies. We win when we triumph for not only ourselves but for everyone that we are in contact with; this is the measure of true success.

When Mars stations to retrograde motion near the very end of the month, on October 30th, an event lasting into the first few months of 2023, this takes place at 25 degrees of Gemini, echoing again that Eris-Pluto square at similar degrees of Aries and of Capricorn. With Pluto still standing almost dead still in the sky as he slowly begins to regain forward momentum following its recent station, this entire month is therefore one of continual transformative pressure upon us in order that we may grow.

A famous and well-beloved astrologer, Alan Oken, who quite recently passed away during Covid, mourned by many, was fond of remarking that the mandate which the universe puts upon us to grow in self-understanding is in fact “the only game in town.” He followed this up by saying “Or, at least the only one worth playing.” And it is true, is it not, that by fulfilling our evolutionary destiny to become the most authentic versions of ourselves that we can muster, we make our best move toward solving the almost intractable social problems of this 21st century. At least we will have done our bit, and although this is all we really can do, it is enough.

 

Astrodienst Newsletter October 2022
This is the monthly newsletter from Astrodienst with a short overview of the current quality of time and news from our website www.astro.com.

THE CURRENT QUALITY OF TIME

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The month of October starts with a friendly constellation: Venus, the lesser benefic (good fortune), is in opposition to Jupiter, the greater benefic (greater fortune), on October 1. However, don't let your senses be clouded by all this good fortune, because Mercury in Virgo, which is usually rather sober, forms an opposition to Neptune in Pisces on October 2 and could misjudge the situation. A realistic view also proves helpful further on in the month, because the quality of time in October is changeable to stormy. For the last time, the square between Saturn in Aquarius and Uranus in Taurus comes into effect now, although the aspect does not become quite exact anymore. The greatest convergence occurs on October 4 with an accuracy of half a degree. This strong tension characterizes the quality of time until around the end of the month and once again makes the conflict between individual expectations and collective responsibility visible. Painful compromises and losses will be hard to avoid.

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In the days around the Full Moon of October 9, uncomfortable moments could mount up. The Moon is in conjunction with Chiron in Aries. This Full Moon brings with it a hefty dose of restlessness and impatience. Misconceived heroism, aggressive action, or naive adventurism could do considerable damage at this time. Venus is also involved, reaching the opposition to Chiron on the 10th. Consciously take time for yourself during these days and try to keep stress levels as low as possible with relaxation, yoga or exercise.

When Mars in Gemini squares Neptune on October 12, you may feel tired and hopeless. Still, try to stay focused and beware of self-pity, because it's not all over yet. The Sun is in trine to Saturn on the 12th, trine to Mars on the 18th, and square to Pluto on the 19th. Venus follows on its heels about a degree apart before the two form a conjunction in the last degree of Libra on the 22nd. Mercury makes an opposition to Chiron at the same time (exact on the 20th). With a realistic, sober attitude, much can be accomplished during this time and long-held plans can be implemented.

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On October 23, Saturn ends its retrograde phase while trining Mercury. Venus and the Sun enter Scorpio at the same time. Everything feels a bit clearer, more urgent and also more intense now, especially during the Scorpio New Moon on October 25, which is accompanied by a solar eclipse (see below). The time of false friendliness is now over, and you should be ready to show your true colors. Power-conscious people can act accordingly now, especially on October 27, when Mercury forms a trine to Mars and a square to Pluto, just before entering Scorpio on the 29th. Jupiter also changes signs around this time, going retrograde from Aries back into Pisces. From October 28 to December 20, it will once again support the unifying aspect and perhaps bring the theme of "peace" back to the forefront. At the end of the month, Mars begins its retrograde phase on October 30, lasting until January 12, 2023. The phase of great conquests is thus over for the time being. Now it is important to secure what has been achieved, but also to critically question the goals you are fighting for.

 

All three of the above sites are good for paid in-depth astrological reports.

One to avoid is Susan Miller's Astrology Zone on Facebook, she may be sincere but writes her stuff geared at white women in New York City with high-end careers only. BORING.

 

This week's forecast for October 16 - 23 from Astrograph:

GENERAL TENDENCIES
Everyday Life / Profession:


This week starts like the last one with some kind of pain. This time the Moon is near Lilith and runs into opposition to Pluto. The Sun and Venus move into tension with Pluto. The constructive connections from last week continue to work or are continued by Mercury, but new problems emerge that you overlooked, because they are not really new. Now there are three constellations that indicate tension. Pluto in Capricorn is about governmental or institutional power, against which you may feel powerless. Whether a charm offensive helps (planets in Libra) may be doubted. It needs rather instruments of justice, which need to be used purposefully and intelligently. Networks can also help. You need fellow fighters and supporters, which is favored by the constellations. Of course, these constellations also serve those against whom you want to fight. Who has the better arguments? With Mars-Neptune you can back down when you realize that you have been wrong. Unfortunately, these constellations also tempt you to whitewash and cajole, if you have too little backbone and can't stand by your mistakes. Mars turns retrograde at the end of the month and then has to reevaluate and make corrections.


Relationship / Love:


Venus and Mars indicate that couples get along well now, despite the many problems. They are no longer so stubborn, but accessible to the other. Now you should always stick to the truth and not let yourself be controlled by your fears (Neptune and Pluto influence). When fears are present, you need to work on yourself. You can be afraid of the consequences of being "too honest" now. Sooner or later, however, the facts must be put on the table....

 

Well if you thought October was awful, November may bring a conclusion to the madness, but it won't be easily achieved.

Tomorrow, Astro.com will be releasing it's report for next month.