AstroCast: September 22 - October 4, 2012

**Times where noted are Pacific Daylight Time; degrees where noted are rounded to the nearest whole degree.

The heavens continue to multitask in all sections of the zodiacal pie as the Sun moves into Libra on September 22nd.  Although each planet may have the appearance of acting independently, in reality of course each continues to interact with the family of bodies in our solar system generating a conference of energies that correlate to our lives here on Earth.  In the mindful air sign of Libra, the Sun illuminates the human need to relate and the interdependence we have with one another.  It understands there is strength in numbers, advantage in cooperation and deep fulfillment in the connections we make with others.  Libra is also the sign of the diplomat and in its space the Sun’s vital influence on our collective will to harmonize relationships will hopefully offer much needed temperance to the disruptive extremist factions operating noisily and in some cases violently around the globe as the era-changing Uranus/Pluto square continues its march.

Mercury, also in Libra busily speaking his mind about socio-political and artistic issues, trines Jupiter at 16 degrees Gemini on September 26th to bring a heightened sense of intelligence, faith and justice to the conversation.  Any insights reached during this time are well worth exploring and could generate indispensable wisdom.  However, with distant Pluto being the only planet in an Earth sign at this time, it may not be until Venus enters Virgo in a couple of days that practical and creative ways of manifesting any great new ideas will present themselves in an accessible manner.   Best to take lots of notes!

The classic “battle of the sexes” configuration happening on September 27th may reveal deep-seated differences in each camp’s methods for dealing with the multitude of conflicts at hand: proud Venus at 23 degrees Leo squares Mars in all-or-nothing Scorpio.  While this aspect is sure to generate some sparks to excite the cells and motivate action, the challenge is to find a way to incorporate the concerns of each side.  Mars’ sexual desire is at its strongest in Scorpio and isn’t concerned with the niceties of a relationship.  But he does want it to be passionately authentic, deeply present in the moment of embrace.  In public, this energy leads to a powerful assertion for control and a fight to the death attitude with adversaries.  With this type of potent energy at play, it is especially important to be conscious of how it is used.  Personal integrity may be the key to wooing Venus in Leo as she above all is interested in the nobleness that basks her being when she is in the presence of deep respect for Other.  Whether or not the liaison endures, if we open the floodgates of our heart’s innate generosity in the moment the encounter occurs, we just may experience true love.

Uranus and Pluto have a hell of a square dance on September 29th when the Sun and Moon come promenading into their degree space. The calling begins shortly after midnight with the Sun’s opposition to Uranus at 7 degrees Libra/Aries.  By brunch time the Sun squares Pluto at 7 degrees Capricorn.  This is another case of a faster moving body queuing up to unleash the energies of the slower moving planets in harsh aspect to each other.  Following in Mercury’s starsteps last week shortly after the second exact square between Uranus and Pluto, the Sun at 7 degrees Libra now has his turn at swinging into a T-square with the titans of the sky.  The difference between the Sun and Mercury in this position is found in the relevant perspectives of the heart and mind, spirit and reason.  With the Sun amassing to all but .02% of the total volume of bodies in our solar system, it is safe to assume that whatever transpires when it throws its weight around will be profound.  This is not your average do-si-do.

By the time the Sun sets on September 29th, the Moon kicks up its heels and in the space of about an hour and a half it conjuncts Uranus at 7 degrees Aries, squares Pluto then culminates its grand chain with the Harvest Full Moon.  This annual opposition of the Sun in Libra to the Moon in Aries pits the individual against the collective and as always during the heightened emotional nature of the full moon it can help to focus our energies by envisioning a bridge between the polarized needs for freedom and cooperation.  If we imagine ourselves walking to the center so we can see the inherent gifts of each side then possibly we’ll see how they can be united into a balanced greater whole.  Efforts to do this will be challenged under the intense influence of the outer planets.  Will Uranus be explosively unruly or just bring a great deal of excitement and innovation?  Will the darker side of Pluto ply his destructive powers or will his transformational side reveal secrets that have the potential to regenerate the depths of our being?  This is when it is most important to practice any kind of spiritual discipline so we can be prepared to manifest the most powerfully creative potential of these demanding aspects.  Wherever we see instability, we could then support it in some way to avoid catastrophe. If chaos and breakdowns do occur, then look for alchemic opportunities rather than getting unconsciously caught up in zealous behavior.  If we can muster the collective ability to consciously be the calm eye of the storm then we will have managed to have some small part in the evolution of life on Earth.

As we reflect on the parts we played in the last few days, Venus offers a quieting shift change into modest Virgo about a minute before midnight on October 2nd.  The fine eye of the virgin looks for purity of expression in art and love.  She also adds a practical dose of keen observation that has the ability to see exquisitely organized patterns of behavior that can elevate the individual into an ordered society.  While not everyone will fully appreciate Miss Manners, she does have a great sense of refinement that can transform the beast into beauty.

By mid-afternoon on October 3rd, Venus calls in her higher octave to make magic when she opposes Neptune at 1 degree Pisces.  The profound sensitivity of Neptune, heightened even more by being in the sign he rules, influences the elegant nature of Venus in Virgo to the level of transcendent allure.  While we could be led into an exalted romance made in heaven, it is advisable to keep at least one foot back in earthly Virgo to avoid being seduced by the glamour of it all.

Jupiter shakes us from our romantic reverie when he stations direct at 16 degrees Gemini bright and early on October 4th.   Time to upgrade to a faster processor!  Increase internet bandwidth!  Definitely add more gigabytes of memory because faith in an abundance of information and the ability to process it with holistic understanding has been the theme of Jupiter’s transit through the communication sign. It’s been like a massive influx of galactic energies bombarding us relentlessly, challenging even the most adept at communication data management.  At its most potent when hanging in the sky seemingly motionless, Jupiter’s laser like focus in this degree space could mark the beginning stages of nothing less than mental metamorphosis.  This is a great opportunity to upgrade the way we perceive and synthesize our vast body of knowledge to lead us into our next stage of growth.