Life happens while we are busy making other plans. Through astrology I have
learned to patiently observe the cycles - to watch how I and others around me
respond to the ever-changing sky. The cycles are predictable, but our reactions
and responses to them, are always speculative by nature. As an astrologer I
have learned to adjust my vocabulary in an effort to convey that not all of
us respond in a typical fashion. As astrologers, we over time, learn to decipher
the typical responses people have to those predictable cycles. We address the
themes and the most popular events associated with planetary cycles.
To skip intro just read signs: Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, Pisces.
Since the 14th of September we have all been experiencing relationship issues ranging from slight misunderstandings through to the desire to control or guide the lives and path of those near and dear, and the full spectrum in between. Libra is the first sign that symbolizes relationships. Mercury the planet of communication is mid-course his/her journey through the sign of Libra making its third apparent retrograde trek across the heavens from our earthly perspective. In English this cycle is half way through having started at the end of August and extending to the end of October, the close to home period September 14 - October 6. There is an extended write-up on Mercury on another page of this website to read it - click here.
At the Autumnal Equinox, when daylight hours equal nighttime hours, we have a day of balancing, which is a very significant keyword for Libra, whose symbol is the scales and as the image for Libra on this page depicts - Libra represents justice. The Sun enters Libra on the 23rd of September at 12:05 A.M. PDT, summer is definitely over. In reality that shift happened a few weeks ago here in the Pacific Northwest, but with Jupiter in Leo all of August, we did have glorious, hot weather well into September. Now it's official.
Libra is one the prominent relationship signs, it marks the turning point in the zodiac where we start focusing on others rather than being self-involved. In a typical year this is a very social period, meeting people, adjusting to a new school year and getting started on the winter's work. Libra is the sign that signifies mediation, compromise, tact and balance. Usually this period is pleasant, nice, harmonious and inclusive. This year, however, the period starts while Mercury continues to move retrograde, i.e. backwards, retracing his steps for the third time this year. He is doing so in Libra, creating a whole coterie of annoying delays, misunderstandings and leaving behind a messy trail of paperwork. People who were born while Mercury was in one of the air signs, that is Aquarius, Gemini and Libra, are reeling the most. Air represents intellect and logic, imagine when that gets clouded, for me personally this one seems to bring a total ineptitude with numbers for the three-week period it lasts, and I deal with numbers every day. As I have tried to imply Mercury retrograde is excellent for review and playing catch up, good luck (you'll need it) if you attempt to go against the flow and start new projects, these will not launch smoothly, if at all.
Each planet symbolically represents an area of life, events and moods. The Sun is the main object in an astrological chart, while it travels through the symbolic houses of the chart it brings a new area of life into focus for approximately a month. When the Sun is in Libra other people are involved in the issue. To elucidate this point, let's assume that a person has Gemini rising or to a lesser extent is a sun sign Gemini, the house associated would be the 5th house. This house is the one of romance, creativity, gambling, fun and children. The implication would be that those areas would come into an intensified focus now, and cooperation, and compromise would be required and keeping things balanced and harmonious would be important. We know the theme and the mood but who is to say how the details of it would play out . . . It's part of an annual cycle, the other players (that is the planets), however, are somewhat differently situated each year. We all mature and change, things that excite a teenager typically don't appeal to a mature adult.
In addition to the lengthy cycles of Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune and Pluto, we have the two-year cycle of Mars, who is half way through his minor cycle. Mars is travelling as expected for now and his travels like the Sun's bring about action in areas affected. He will join the Sun and Mercury in Libra mid-October. His travel plans are ensuring relationships stay as a main focus for all of us, not just the romantic kind but all of them. We may notice that despite our differences we can work things out, it just takes cooperation and thoughtful communication, aggression is not the Libra way.
Libra is ruled by the planet of love and relationships - Venus. Venus is at the end of her cycle, she has marched on as the evening star considered, contemplative and wise for the past nine months (yes, there has to be a reason our pregnancies last nine months). When a planet gets too far ahead of the Sun, we on Earth experience a period of retrogradation, which simply put is that the planet that got too far appears to be moving backward in the sky from our earth-bound perspective. Well, Venus will change direction astrologically speaking. Her retrograde periods, which occur at 18-month intervals, last those magical (biblical) forty days and forty nights (October 10 - November 21 - that's 42 days this time). On October 10 she makes her retrograde station. Stations in astrology increase the potency of the planet, that are the effects we may feel (the planets symbolically represent life and it's glorious, predictable cycles) are stronger and can have extended influences on our lives. The Scorpio cycle of Venus started in 1962 and repeats every eight years. The one we experienced 18 months ago was in Aries another Mars ruled sign. Scorpio is ruled by Mars in traditional astrology, Pluto is its modern ruler due to many of the attributes that Pluto and Scorpio appear to share.
Venus is in control of not only relationships but our money and values. She has a dominion over our assessment of us and our values. Venus in our charts shows what gives us pleasure and symbolically represents our desires. Through her association with values, she has control over what we consider important and worthwhile. You cannot do something that your conscience objects to, one part of our lives Venus also "controls" she ensures that you check with your higher self before committing to anything.
Scorpio on the other hand at its most extreme can be without scruples (takes one to know one, eh), Venus is not thought to be happy and function well in this the sign of her detriment. Scorpio is the cloak Venus will be wearing until Epiphany on January 7, 2003, as the biblical term for the date the festive season ends implies, by then we should have got the message. (Epiphany = great revelation). Not quick and painless like the Mercury transit. This lasts long enough to make a difference, and it does repeat from 1994 - remember it?
Scorpio energy is intense, passionate and can be unforgiving. It is transforming energy even when weak. Good or bad, never indifferent. The symbols used for Scorpio is the scorpion, which when cornered will kill himself and the Phoenix rising from the ashes. All signs have two extreme manifestations not just Scorpio, but because Scorpio in the zodiac marks our realization of own mortality and brings us face to face with death in order to get us to accept that the body is mortal and the soul immortal, the polarity seems more noticeable. For the soul to ascend it has to transform while cloaked in a body - to put it into somewhat metaphysical terms.
Lady Justice and our fated outlook on life meet while Venus very slowly travels through the zodiacal sign of Scorpio. The first phase is the retrograde while Venus changes from a morning star to an evening star vanishing from view for 12 days too close to the Sun for observation from an astronomical perspective. From a metaphysical perspective she goes into the underworld to be reborn, another Scorpio theme. Scorpios can truly go into hiding and reemerge totally changed. One other important word I need to toss in about Scorpio is secrets, they know how to collect them and hold onto them, while it suits their needs. Remember we have the scorpion and the phoenix as well as the full spectrum in between.
All of the retrograde periods are review times in our lives, now the question becomes does something still hold value to you, be that your closest relationship or that brand new vehicle in the drive way. If what you have is deemed unimportant by you not others, it will be eliminated by you. Others by their actions and words will influence your thought processes, but ultimately the decisions are yours based on your own values as weighted against those of others.
The build up to events and feelings starts prior to the planetary stations, which always precede the retrograde periods. The Venus in Scorpio period builds on the Mercury period, Mercury is after all in Venus' own sign. This adds more weight to what we are feeling. With these two cycles we may be feeling increasing disappointment with the choices those near and dear to us appear to be making, the clashing of values can start gaining momentum here. Scorpio likes to have control, and with this combination of cycles it may be difficult to verbalize what we think and feel, which typically results in us showing our displeasure with our body language. Most of us know how to read that or at the very least we do pick up the mood. In Libra we meet others and in Scorpio we commit to them. That is one of the events this transition represents, we have to remember that there are layers upon layers in each sign and planet, from saintly to satanic and everything in between.
Planetary cycles offer us a brilliant view of how the waters flow. Venus is strongly linked to our emotions. To go against the flow now would be to start a new relationship for all the wrong reasons or ending one for a different set of wrong reasons. This cycle offers us the tools to add strength to our relationships by eliminating behaviours and attitudes that no longer serve a valid purpose. Hasty decisions with financial matters and taxes are not advisable either, wherever possible defer decisions until November 22 or a little later, when you have had plenty of time to consider your choices.
Scorpio is the symbolic representation of death, not just literal but symbolic. It is the sign which represents where we are letting go of things and issues that are no longer feasible, those that cannot survive. This is one of those "tests of time" - did it stand up?
On a spiritual side this is a wonderful time frame to reassess your values, your needs and your desires. To do a cyclical clean up on eliminating unnecessary "clutter" from your life. An excellent time to refocus on what you want out from the next eight years of your life in a specific area of your life.
Remember to be kind to Scorpios for whom this is the most personal of time frames, having to reassess their motivation to live and how to live for the rest of their lives, the ability to focus on just eight years may elude your Scorpio types. Life or death is their theme and they can play that tune to perfection, the older the better the tune gets.
The build up of the Venus cycle started in September and continues clear to
January 7, 2003. We have plenty of time to mull over things. With the evening
star phase drawing to a close we are likely to act more in haste, when we are
aware of this, we can adjust our responses and reactions. The meeting of the
Sun and Venus on Halloween - October 31 begins Venus' morning star phase.
Halloween has evolved from a Pagan celebration of Samhain, the end of summer
and indeed the year. After sunset that night the veil between our world and
the one beyond is thin. This is believed to be an excellent time to communicate
with the spirit world.
It is customary to light a new candle for the "new year". This ritual harkens back to the days when Samhain was one of only two days, the other being Beltane (May 1), when it was considered correct to extinguish the "hearth fire" and then to relight it. If your fire failed at any other time of the year, it was thought to be very bad luck indeed.
The Venus cycle has coincided with Halloween only about four times at eight year intervals with this year's intensity. It can be a truly magical time, whether you practice the pagan ways or not. My understanding of the Pagan rituals is that they celebrate Earth, not that they invoke anything evil rather promotes harmonious living by honouring Mother Earth.
As the evening star Venus is known as the wise woman. Take this time to contemplate and evaluate, avoid hasty actions and by the time Venus forms her direct station November 21 when the Sun is at the last degree of Scorpio, you will be in a position to make considered choices that may bear little resemblance to those you had when the cycle began.
I wrote about Venus retrograde in the 2002 issue of Astrologically Speaking. To read that material click here. Also bear in mind the more of these cycles you have personally experienced since 1962 the less stressful it gets, we do get 12-14 within each Venus cycle, there are five cycles weaving the tapestry of our lives. Older and wiser, right - the astrology of the skies reflects our lives not vice a versa.
I wrote about Venus retrograde in the 2002 issue of Astrologically Speaking. To read that material click here. Also bear in mind the more of these cycles you have personally experienced since 1962 the less stressful it gets, we do get 12-14 within each Venus cycle, there are five cycles weaving the tapestry of our lives. Older and wiser, right - the astrology of the skies reflects our lives not vice a versa.
Now for the indiduals sun signs. Remember this is always written with the Sun
aspect perspective and may apply more strongly is the sign you are reading is
your rising sign.
Relationships and your commitment to others may be issues that have been consuming
your thoughts of late. On the easier side it could just be money, assets and
that, which you think either belongs to you or ought to. Once every eight years
the time arrives when you are afforded the opportunity to look deep within and
reacquaint yourself with your true motivation. Now more than ever you need to
be true to yourself, not at the exclusion of others but with inclusion. You
cannot "dictate" how others should feel and simply demand that you
come first - for now you do come second, my dear.
Half way through your personal year (from birthday to birthday) you get to
view your progress with goals and the direction you have set yourself in the
mirror that it other people. This year it is a triple whammy. Are you seeing
your relationships as those shared or those that are an extension of you? Commitment
is demanded of you, the full spectrum from financial through to spiritual. These
cycles never end they simply mutate because we shift and change as we mature.
A new phase is upon you, time to contemplate where you see yourself eight years
from now and with whom you'd like to share your journey. Remember life is not
a destination but a journey.
The two themes that might be in the absolute forefront are you creative side,
romantic interest and children AND your daily efforts in the real world, deviation
not encouraged. Are you being of assistance to others? Are you using your creative
ideas or just hoarding them? The quest is likely to take you to soul level,
deep within you into crevices you may not enjoy visiting because some of the
things dwelling within are not new and exciting, rather issues that you prefer
to store for a later date when you are in the mood. Well. The mood is here whether
you are ready or not. Life is charming sometimes, but then if you look back
how much have you changed in the last eight years? I am throwing questions at
you. You need to find your own answers.
The emphasis is home and romance, children and your creativity. Changes and
shifts may happen on both fronts, however, this is not the time to dwell on
something ending rather focus your energies into making things stronger. Love
like the fruits of Mother Earth grow stronger on a fertile ground. Scorpio is
fertile, the time Scorpio holds the fort is the time that earth grows dormant
in order to feed the vegetation in the spring. At these times it may be harder
to zoom into the fact that we need to work on ourselves, the better we get the
better our lives become. Maybe this month it might be an idea to reinforce to
yourself that you are worth love and a loving, caring human being. Even with
our flaws we are perfect just they way we are, recognizing that fact helps us
achieve it.
Communication and home are the areas linked and holding centre stage this
month. The theme will continue into the new year. Home is also your subjective
view of self. This is how you see yourself - intense, loyal and devoted. It
may not be the facade you display to the world, but those near and dear know
this deeply feeling side of you rather intimately - do you? It is a deep looking
glass that opens up for you for the entire Autumn and into the new year, this
may be good time to back to your roots to reacquaint yourself with who you were
and who you have become. Deep lasting changes are often implemented at times
like this. Think back 8, 16 years ago - life has changed and your responses
and reactions have altered accordingly. You are a tame lion compared to the
excitable cub of the past. This time frame can coincide with the empty nest
syndrome, or at the very least the realization that while we can look back we
can't actually go back - so the question becomes what am I going to do with
the next eight years, what is it that truly feeds my soul?
Money, values and communication, cars, siblings and short journeys, neighbours
and your routine are the themes that surface for your leisurely scrutiny. The
themes ebb and flow the same as life, this is the time to reconnect with both
your inner and outer world. This period may be more about others than you personally
at least the set of circumstances surrounding you for now. Helping others better
understand the importance of effective communication and about the importance
of planning for the future can help you reestablish your own set of goals. Relationships
with sister, brothers and others who play a similar role in your life can open
a whole new dimension for you. The connection formed at this time are deep and
profound, the new ones tend to be transitory but the existing bonds become stronger.
It is about you now. What is truly important and valuable to you? Yes I know
I said this is the first of the relationship signs, but for now, how can you
have a great relationship until you truly, deeply connect with yourself. Do
you want creative outlets or just live through those of others? What is the
reason you chose to be born in the first place? What is your gift, we all have
one - the scales differ? Meddling in the affairs of others will likely have
a back-lash, do you want to go there? Focus on you and things around will improve,
because your outlook will be different by Epiphany (January 2003), when the
"Ahaa" hits you. The other theme that forms the back drop is about
aspirations, dreaming big - next year the Mercury theme shifts to the element
of earth, translating into the time to act.
Big shifts and more changes, you know the tune by now. The shorter scheme
has been your inner world, which has overshadowed your outer world. Facing your
own fears, doubts and anxieties - perhaps even learning to lift the veil between
the here and now and the here after. It is not that easy to move ahead when
you know the ending . . . and still have to make the journey. Stick to your
long term goals, call whatever is happening a short detour. Life is like that.
Once every eight years you are faced with who you have become and the inner
scrutiny that goes with it. Do you still like and respect yourself? Now may
not be a good time to make grand career plans, rather focus on your quest in
this life, yes we are talking about your avocation. What is it you are being
called to do? The only praise worth anything now is your own appreciation of
who you have become.
Read Scorpio due to the overlapping themes. For you it is about the truth.
You may need to withdraw and spend more time with your own inner world. Now
is the time to go out there and get a dream dictionary or invest in a book that
deciphers the world of symbols. In the next 90 days you could envision your
entire future. What do you want it to be? It is often said, in metaphysical
circles, that if you can dream you can realize it. Time to dream. You are in
the middle of an incredible shift in your consciousness to begin with and now
an added element of seeing the other worldly is right in front of your nose.
Are you going to look or try and negate what you know you know. Not double talk,
just a reminder that we are spiritual beings first and live in a body second.
Dream big and face your fears and doubts head on, the not knowing and understanding
is what creates fears and doubts in the first place. This is a very spiritual
period we are all entering, for you at a deeply subconscious level - you do
have access but you have to open your inner vision to see.
Work and your standing in the world blend with your aspirations for the future.
Ambition coupled with integrity and a deeper sense of purpose. You are a planner
by nature, it is typically easy for you to set those 5, 10 and 25 year plans
in motion. Once in a while there is a spanner in the works, what you do has
to agree with who you are deep down. Now is that time. Shallow plans won't pass
the muster there has to be true goals the ones that agree with your life's purpose.
Normally you get a month of mulling things over but now you get three. You know
your value as an employee, but have you assessed your value as a contributor
to the human race. Insights flow readily but you need to listen to those inner
voices and not be intimidated by visions that appear in thin air. Trust and
faith are needed to take a leap into where most of us fear to go. Total honesty
with self and your motivation is the key.
Remember that theme from May 2002 and how it blended with the ideas you had
in the autumn of 1994? The time has passed and the moment (all three months
of it) is upon you. You had great plans, incredible visions now it is time to
get real, do you still desire what was so important then? Don't force the issue,
dig deep into your personal resources and revisit your convictions. It is so
close you can taste it, was it fame you wanted - it could be yours. Money, well
time to redefine what is plenty. We do not get to take our money with us when
we leave, we can take our accomplishments and good deeds for the ride into eternity.
Are your intentions still pure - not from the perspective of others but from
your own, that's what matters. We have the religious version of judgement day,
but the only one to judge you is you. Be true to yourself in any choice you
make.
The veil is lifted you can see beyond, are you having trouble with the now.
Life is a journey not a destination. While you may know the ending, the journey
is still ahead. Life, death, transformation and discovering your true self,
heavy duty themes to kick of the autumn and winter. I have met Pisces sun individuals
who state "next time, if I get to choose, I am picking a different Sun
sign". This is not an easy sun sign to have, so sensitive and sensitized.
Spiritually Pisces defines the last phase prior to transcending the earthly
plane; it can be difficult to lead an earthly life with that type of mind set.
Escapism doesn't work be that into excessive meditation or excessive drink,
here and now, share you spirituality, delve in deeper. It is the unknown we
fear.
© Anne Massey September 21, 2002