Mars opposition Neptune

By the second week in October , we have a brief passing alignment of Mars and Neptune in opposition. Now Mars and Neptune are of themselves strange bedfellows. The drive and action of Mars becomes dissipated or challenged by the Neptune archetype coming into our life via an outside source. Oppositions of planets regularly play themselves out in relationship encounters, where one person carries the qualities of the one planet and the other person adopts the opposing planet’s expression. Neptune here dissipates the action nature of Mars, particularly into subtle escapist activities like the old “wine, women and song trio”. Other crucial activities may potentially get sidetracked if time gets misused and misappropriated. There can be a feeling of insidious procrastination if we’re not constantly keeping the goal in mind, evaluating the priorities, and remaining clear about the fact that life is short and only getting shorter, so we need to use the limited energy and drive that remains left to us for the highest goal.

It’s ok to dream big now, wish upon a star, but just be sure it’s the most important one in your chart. The desire nature can become hard to control or keep focused on that main priority if we’re not careful. Also watch out for getting mixed up in secret or underhand activities that are difficult to control. Neptune is so nebulous in its influence, and unconscious urges may slip out or be played out in our inter-relationship dynamics. Physical ailments representing repressed desires may manifest psychosomatically, so keep a check on any injuries that appear. Ultimately and most importantly, Neptune can so easily play the sob story in a way that you find your sympathies being taken advantage of. If it’s an old pattern, then even more reason to nip it in the bud, because you can.

Mars square Saturn

Thank the astrological heavens that the current Mars square Saturn aspect is past its peak and gradually fading. A square or 90 degree angle between any planets symbolises a challenging interplay because they are in incompatible signs to begin with. And in this particular situation we are talking about the two planets both known as "malefics", as in malevolent (not to be confused with "Malefecent" the movie where the jolly horned villainess actually turns out to have a good side). It suggests a rather frustrating time, with blocked ambitions, libido or ego expression. This in turn leads to negative feelings internally, which then flows into our relationships. Also it's a time when we can be a bit hard on ourselves too.

Of course there is a positive way to channel this influence too. For example this would be the ideal time to go on a fast, practice some self-discipline in the area of our life that may need it, or just embrace the austerity measures imposed on us, knowing that it is just a phase. Also the potential callousness that may manifest can instead be utilised where being thick-skinned is required, especially if we have been over-sensitive or too weak-egoed for our own good. After all what is a callous other than a chunk of thick skin, put there to toughen one's resistance to some external pressure.

So in this way the potential malefic villain can actually be an Angelina in disguise and end up helping us to strengthen our weak points, toughen up our resolve with the ability to soldier resiliently on. Despite the physical aches and pains, or feelings of weakness that we may feel in our limbs for a time.

Mercury retrograde in Libra square Pluto

The recently completed Mercury retrograde in Libra will have Mercury to make a square aspect to Pluto in Capricorn, not once but three times over a period of a few weeks - once while moving forward, once in retrograde, and then once more on the final forward pass.
Now Mercury square Pluto is traditionally known as "the obsessed mind". We may thus each feel this influence in our own unique way of course. One may, for example, be forced to take your computer in for repairs three times as it keeps coming back faulty. And in the obsession to get to the root of the problem, one may imagine ulterior motives where there are none, becoming overly suspicious toward the tech support, thinking he is out to get you. Or in an online written exchange of ideas one may start reading into the replies dark intent where there is none. Or your own provocative replies may cause more problems than necessary. Basically we can end up meeting our own shadows in the written and spoken word of others, manifesting even as a paranoia. Of course if we push on with the steely mental determination to get to the bottom of the matter, to really peel away the falsehoods and expose true motives, then we can find just what it is that shadow is trying to teach us about ourselves. And by the healthy process of introspection, spurred on by this catalytic square aspect, one can make healthy strides forward in self-realization. Just be careful, at the same time, not to overpower others with overly fierce debate or desire to convert others to your way or the highway.
On the positive side too, by the time the third exact square alignment passes by, one should ideally be able to purge, heal or discover the healthy way to channel the intense mental energy available, and to really harness it productively. Even if it means writing it all down with a pen and paper until the laptop returns. Because when it does return, it should be so much more powerful, as more latent unconscious psychic potential is released to conscious use.

Mercury Stationary Direct

On 9 October, after about three weeks of retrograde motion, Mercury appears to stop and remain stationary, before going direct or forward through the zodiac once again. During the cycle, a planet's energy is most powerful (and more likely to generate critical events of universal importance) when the planet makes a station: appearing motionless in the sky. These stationary periods occur near the beginning of the cycle (when the planet first halts as it prepares to move backwards) and midway through the cycle when the retrograde planet slows to a stop before moving forward again as it will on the 9th. This direct station (when the planet halts before moving forward again) is the most powerful and can be used for maximum benefit. Even though there can still be some annoyances after the moment of stationary pause, due to Mercury still moving so slowly, the day of station itself is a valuable one.
Although occurring at the very beginning of Libra, this influence is felt by or available to all, although those born in early Libra or any of the other cardinal signs(Aries, Cancer and Capricorn) may feel its influence more directly. Since the Sun is also still in the sign of Libra now, the qualities of cooperation and companionship still permeate, where teamwork is favoured – as long as it adheres to ones core principles and a sense of what is just. After all, those Libran scales only balance when the input is fair on both sides.

The Life cycle in Astrology

Early Man felt a connection

between himself and the life all around him.

He saw himself as part

of a Greater Whole in which he played a part,

although insignificant.

2As Man's intellect grew,

so did his sense of importance and separateness.

He fell into competition

with the life forms around him

and sought to control them to suit his needs.

Man lost his sense of interdependence with life, and

astrology/religion became just another tool

for trying to control life.

But astrology, which had once

represented holism, can represent it again.

3We need to return to the sense of wholeness that we once had.

To do this, we will have to

reintegrate the lost part of ourselves

that provided this sense of wholeness and harmony:

our spiritual Self.

In fact, if we don’t do this,

the human race may not survive.

Our current direction is

destroying our most basic resources and the earth itself.

If we continue, there will be little left.

4Maybe this is what it will take before we realize

that we can only survive by working together.

What role can ...” one's chosen spiritual path”...... play in this?

First, it can provide the philosophical and spiritual

underpinnings that are missing.

Second, it can provide guidance about how to fulfil our soul's Plan,

chosen path for this lifetime.

Fulfilling our Plan is important to the Whole.

First, let's examine

these philosophical and spiritual underpinnings.

5 Astrology reveals the cyclical nature of life.

It demonstrates that we are part of an orderly universe:

the moon circles around the earth,

the earth circles around the sun,

one season follows another.

Our lives imitate these cycles,

being a microcosm of the great macrocosm.

We can hardly

notice these patterns and cycles

without also conceding to the existence of

a Higher Order,

an organizing

if not creative force—a Logos.

6“Astrology” also suggests that life continues beyond death.

what meaning would our lives have if they

were not part of a larger process of evolution?

Reincarnation explains many of the mysteries of life:

why people are different,

why suffering exists, and

why some people suffer more than others do.

Reincarnation also explains many things about the chart

that cannot be explained otherwise:

some signs in our charts are more developed than other signs and

some patterns run deeper than

just one lifetime could explain.

7Astrology also offers us a glimpse

of the perfection and wonder of the universe.

For anyone who

has used astrology for many years,

it is its own proof

of the existence of something higher.

It verifies the unseen like an oracle,

providing a bridge

designed of symbols

between the spiritual realm and the earthly one.

the archetypal realm

the realm of the Sun moon and planets

the realm of unity of brain hemispheres

unity consciousness

union of ego and superego

dare I say soul and supersoul?

Atma and Paramatma?

Unity and diversity simultaneously that is

Achintya bheda abheda tattva

Astrology is the esoteric translated into symbols.

Astrology also teaches us of holism,

that all of life is interrelated and interdependent.

In a holistic universe,

the parts synergistically combine to form a whole.

Just as we are part and parcel

of the whole.

In quality identical

but in quantity minute in proportion.

The whole is more than the sum of the parts,

and each part is indispensable to the whole.

So it is with our charts. At the same time, the

whole is reflected in each of the parts:

“As above, so below.”

The individual entering life

reflects the energies present in the universe

at the moment of birth.

The energies of that moment can be read

in the sky and are represented in the chart.

Thus, the chart

is a picture of the energies of that moment,

which the individual born at that moment personifies.

8These energies are like a costume

donned for one lifetime to experience the lessons and develop

the talents of those energies.

Still, we are more than these energies;

we are more than our charts.

We are the sum total of all our previous lifetimes of experiences

and their energy patterns (charts).

In many ways, we are like actors on a stage:

we know that we are more

than the character that we are playing,

but for the time being we dress up in our costume and play our part.

The difference is that the actor has no freedom

to choose his lines and actions, and we do.

This is an important difference.

While the actor lives the script written for him,

we create the play as we go along.

We have no direct script.

Our future, our story,

is created by our choices.

But is that all? Is it all choice?

9Let's explore this further.

Just how much of our lives is predetermined

and how much is created by our choices?

Many of us believe that some events in life are predestined,

such as certain meetings.

Nevertheless, although some events may well be prearranged,

how and when they take place can’t be.

This is determined by the circumstances

and events that we create by our choices.

Free will and predestination interweave in our lives.

The few events in our lives that are predestined

are woven into the fabric of life

created by our choices and by the choices of those close to us.

If you stop a moment to think

about the many possible choices

you and others could make,

you can only conclude that

the specifics of the future are not predetermined.

The lessons that our soul sets out to teach us

must therefore be worked into the framework

already created by our choices.

The soul has to "play it by ear"

and wait for suitable opportunities to deliver its lessons.

As a result, predicting the future is

precarious, to say the least.

Therefore, the Plan described in the chart can only be very general.

More will be said about reading the Plan in the discussions that follow.