October may be a time of renewal for many, beginning with the auspicious festival of Navratri and ending with Diwali. This month also features Jupiter in its final sojourn of its tumultuous transit in Scorpio.
Venus Transits Libra on October 4 till October 27
Venus moves into its own home, Libra, on October 4, where it will join a happy Mercury. Rather than Saturn’s aspect, now Venus will be getting Rahu’s aspect. Now both Venus and Mercury being free of Saturn’s censure and Mars’ serious focus, may bring feelings of desire for social interaction, making it a great time for dating and socialising.
We can also get busy in the creative realms, getting results, while at the same time fuelling up on bigger foundational shifts that we have been looking forward to for some time now. When it comes to matters of Venus, which include connection with others, creative efforts, artistic expression, entertainment and vehicles, we may feel as if the tides are finally turning and we will regain some enthusiasm and juice for these indications after a long hiatus.
Saturn-Mars Mutual Aspect from September 25 till November 9
Just after the autumnal equinox on Monday, September 23, Mars moved from Leo and into Virgo, joining its exalted ruler Mercury and the debilitated Venus, as well as the Sun itself. This brought a lot of focus onto the sign of Virgo as September becomes October.
With all planets in direct motion, their messages and effects will be more clear. This appearance of Mars in Virgo will create some tension and pressure, as Mars forces his aspect onto the sign of Sagittarius and the planets posited therein, Saturn and Ketu. Saturn from Sagittarius is returning his gaze onto Mars situated in Virgo.
Mars in Mercury’s dynamic sign of Virgo will be ready to convert resources into action and movement while Saturn’s cautious conservatism in faithful Sagittarius will act to delay and obstruct the best laid plans of Mars. Obviously, this could lead to frustration, especially since we have all been waiting so long to move on.
We count on Venus and Mercury to ameliorate this situation and to keep things moving. Mercury moved from Virgo to Libra on September 29, followed by Venus on October 3. This is good dignity for both of these planets. Fall back on the analytical ability, eagerness and humour of Mercury paired with the graceful diplomacy of Venus when the going gets tough.
The mutual aspect of Mars and Saturn does not have to be filled with head-butting aggression and disagreement. With intention, we can make room for both of these agendas. While Mars and Saturn are not friends and have a fascinating, unbalanced relationship, when harmonized, their energies can combine to build strong structures upon firm foundations. The imbalance between them is that Saturn exalts Mars in Saturn’s earth sign of Capricorn but Mars debilitates Saturn in Mars’ fire sign of Aries.
We can have power, courage, plans and initiative as we move forward with new things (Mars in Virgo) while at the same time applying humility, learning from past mistakes and taking responsibility for the harm that we have committed (Saturn in Sagittarius with Ketu.) The key is overcoming Mars’ fiery tendency toward impatience and aggression while letting go of negativity and fear that disturb our minds from Saturn’s ponderous influence.
Full Moon in Pisces in the nakshatra of Revati on October 13
The culmination of the Moon’s waxing comes as we see a full Moon at 26º Pisces on Sunday, October 13 at approx 10 pm UTC. Pisces is ruled by the auspicious planet Jupiter, who will be exactly aspecting the full Moon, as Jupiter will be positioned at 26° Scorpio on that day. Jupiter’s aspect on the full Moon is auspicious and positive for growth.
Revati is the final nakshatra of the zodiac, spanning the final degrees of Pisces and ruled by the planet Mercury. The combination of Jupiter and Mercury rulership in this final nakshatra and final sign of the zodiac signal a culmination and a transition into new territory as we leave behind defunct emotions, irrelevant memories, and lost ideas. The conscious letting go of that which is no longer supporting us is advised during this time. Let’s not forget that the combination of Saturn and Ketu in Venus’ nakshatra, Purvashada, is also urging us to dredge up, cleanse, and move on.
The Sun and Mars in Mercury’s Virgo are opposite the Moon at this time, revealing the data that we need to use in our future plans. There may have been an influx of information that can finally be processed and integrated into current projects. This is a good time for networking, business plans and building relationships. Mercury, nakshatra dispositor of the Moon, will be coming under heavy influence of Rahu at this time, joined by Venus who also rules Libra where this energetic pair are running. Rahu is currently at about 19º Gemini, in his own nakshatra of Ardra. Mercury is also placed in a Rahu-ruled nakshatra at the time, Swati: be ready for light bulb moments, ideas, solutions coming from out of the blue.
Sun Transits Libra from October 17 till November 16
The Sun exits Virgo for Libra on October 17, entering into Venus’ air sign, which also happens to be the place where the Sun experiences debilitation. This annual trek through Libra occurs when the Sun’s appearance in the day sky becomes markedly shorter and weaker in the northern hemisphere.
While this Sun transit through Libra may not be the best for individual pursuits and solo time in the spotlight, it is a good time to compromise individual needs and agendas in favour of group participation and harmony. Even though the Sun becomes debilitated in Libra, it may be slightly an improvement from enduring Saturn’s aspect while the Sun transited Virgo.
Mercury Enters Scorpio on October 23
Mercury is leading the charge of the inner planets for now, plunging into Mars’ water sign of Scorpio on October 23. Mercury tends to pick up the tendencies and desires of the planets he associates with and will be shifting attention from Venus to Mars as he moves into Scorpio.
Scorpio is co-ruled by Mars and Ketu, which will put Mercury and Mars into an exchange of signs between October 23 – November 7, when retrograde Mercury dips back to Libra. This two-week period when Mercury visits Scorpio and engages in an exchange with Mars in Virgo could be very productive. As well, Mercury will join Jupiter in Scorpio at this time, which puts the two dispositors of the nodal axis together in one spot. Mercury is currently the dispositor of Rahu, placed in Mercury’s Gemini while Jupiter is currently the dispositor of Ketu, placed in Jupiter’s Sagittarius. When the nodal axis is activated, it tends to cause situations that are quite meaningful and impactful on our life path. At this time, Jupiter will also be in the gandanta zone, creating situations that are inevitable and fateful.
Venus Transits Scorpio October 27 – November 20
Venus moves into Scorpio, following Mercury who is soon to station and begin a retrograde cycle which will put space between Venus and Mercury as Venus moves into the deep and cold, icy waters of Scorpio and Mercury moves back toward Mars and Sun in the sign of Libra.
This begins a new phase for Venus, recently emerged from a long combustion with the Sun that shifted her appearance from morning to evening. Venus governs the realms of relationships, social contracts, human inspiration and the spark of connection that creates bonds between people. As Venus joins Mercury in the early degrees of Scorpio, Mercury is in an exchange with Mars, creating a flexible bridge of strong creative energy that could be channelled toward anything. At the same time, Jupiter is approaching the final degree of Scorpio, ready to transition to his own sign of Sagittarius.
This combination of the two “guru” planets, Jupiter and Venus, with Mercury, the eternal and eager student, in the depths of Scorpio could help us connect to the right teachers/students and lineages during this time. This will be the last period of time where we are enjoying the exchange of signs between Jupiter and Ketu, who together rule the concept of lineage. This exchange will not occur again until 2113.
On the relationship front, it is a good time to re-assess the value of making efforts to connect, which may bring up the urge to cut ties with some and reinvigorate relationships with others. The Sun, as significator of the individual self and ego will be simultaneously in Venus’ sign, Libra, until November 16, which makes it a good opportunity to identify how relationships are serving us and whether the unions are nourishing or not.
New Moon in Libra in the nakshatra of Swati on October 28
The Moon slides into the arms of the Sun at approx. 3 am UTC on October 28 at 10° Libra. By this time, we may be feeling a bit weary of all the shifting, working and traveling that may have occurred throughout October. All the planets will be hemmed between Rahu and Ketu, and Saturn joins Ketu. This New Moon also marks the annual celebration of Diwali, “festival of lights.” The festival spiritually signifies the victory of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, good over evil, and hope over despair.
The Moon when waning, dark and new struggles to feed us, which leads to feeling tired, uninspired or vulnerable. The Sun will be moving closer to his degree of debilitation at 20° Libra, which may further increase feelings of depression, loneliness or frustration. Additionally, the dispositor of the Sun and Moon, Venus, will be at 0º Scorpio at the moment of the new Moon, further indicating transition and instability. Finally, the Moon and Sun find themselves in Swati nakshatra, ruled by Rahu and also receiving the aspect of Rahu from Gemini. Don’t let this temporary shadow ruin the firm foundations that you are building. Bring out all the tools you have learnt to keep yourself calm and balanced despite the illusions of vulnerability, instability, or weakness that may prevail during this time.
Mercury Retrograde from October 31 till November 20
Mercury will start its retrograde motion on October 31 at around 4° Scorpio, taking Mercury back to 18° Libra by November 20, where he resumes direct motion.
Libra is a good environment for Mercury and will be his location for most of November, where he joins Mars, giving us some energy to keep things moving. However, we need to remember that adding retrograde motion to Mercury heightens the energy and could also aggravate it due to Mars’ presence. Rahu also aspects Mercury during its transit. Beware of Rahu’s influence as he can give us the most brilliant ideas mixed in with the very worst. Try to keep things slow and deliberate even though things may seem urgent at the time.
