Astrology by Lauren

October 26th ~ November 2nd

There are a number of reasons not to jump the gun this week, or make assumptions.  Mars is working very hard to promote truth, even as he is facing off against the rhetoric and untruths of Jupiter retrograde in Gemini, who will say just about anything!  There’s even more bluster than Hurricane Sandy coming up the coast these days.  Mercury, the planet of words, language and communication will be entering Sagittarius as well this week, but rather reluctantly, as the winged one is slowing down for its Retrograde on November 6th.  And as Mercury dips its toe into the sign of righteousness, the message will be distorted by the magic mirrors, and stormy weather being spawned by Neptune in Pisces.  

And in the naked light I saw

Ten thousand people, maybe more

People talking without speaking

People hearing without listening

People writing songs that voices never shared

And no one dared

Disturb the sound of silence.

When Mercury enters Jupiter’s sign of Sagittarius, Mercury and Jupiter will be in mutual reception.  So it could easily feel like truth and facts are being beleaguered by beliefs and blind faith, especially in the presence of Neptune.  This is the picture of mixed messages, indecision and confusion.  It can also create an atmosphere in which either deception or self-deception are more likely.  The next few weeks are not a time of clarity, especially after the Mercury station in November.  Therefore, for the next 6 weeks, decisions should be made very carefully.

“Fools,” said I, “you do not know

Silence like a cancer grows

Hear my words that I might teach you

Take my arms that I might reach you”

But my words, like silent raindrops fell

And echoed

In the wells of silence.

Neptune not only veils, but can literally negate or dissolve.  When Mercury and Neptune are square one another, there is more of a likelihood that these are working at cross purposes, or that something is being lost in translation.  Or that what your intuition is telling you, and what you are seeing, are two different things.  You don’t want to make decisions based on feelings alone, nor can you necessarily believe everything that you are being told or seeing in this weather where one distorts and colors the other.  Mercury/Neptune is also associated with intoxication, because it is similar to having one’s faculties compromised or impaired.  

And the people bowed and prayed

To the neon god they made

And the sign flashed out its warning

In the words that it was forming

And the sign said, “The words of the prophet are written on the subway walls

And tenement halls”

And whispered in the sounds of silence.

Simon & Garfunkel (The Sound of Silence)

Neptune speaks in metaphor, in poetry, music, symbols and feelings.  It is very subjective.  Therefore the feelings that you have now, the worries that you have, may or may not be based on reality, and can be easily colored by what you want or expect things to be (or fear to be), rather than the way they actually are.  On top of this the daily stress from the Mars/Jupiter opposition will be pumping out a lot of adrenaline.  Neptune adds this element of dissolution, mismanagement of time, lost and wasted time.  It makes you feel like you don’t have any time for yourself or to get what you need to do done.  But actually, by allowing some Neptune moments into your busy schedule, it could help you to ultimately manage your time better.

The space and quiet that idleness provides is a necessary condition for standing back from life and seeing it whole, for making unexpected connections and waiting for the wild summer lightning strikes of inspiration - it is, paradoxically, necessary to getting any work done.

~ Tim Kreider (The ‘Busy’ Trap - The New York Times 6.30.12)

In this season of Samhain when the ghosts and creatures from the between time wander through the rift in the veil of time, you do not want to be led astray.  But it is periodically important for us to indulge in these periods of introspection, quiet and inner reflection.  So in the light of a powerful and healing Full Moon in Taurus on the 29th, how can we best use this prevailing Mercury stationing square Neptune energy?  

Neptune/Mercury periods are good for spiritual journeys, spiritual studies, yoga retreats... journeys and explorations with no specific expectations, results or material rewards.  The rewards that Neptune brings are internal.  It’s the inner world that needs tending, over the next several weeks.  Especially after Mercury stations retrograde.  Pay attention to your dreams, to your intuition, but don’t necessarily act on them.  Dream, invent, imagine, and create, just don’t commit if you can help it. This is a time of profound introspection and meditation.  Go on retreat.  Review, remember, reminisce, let yourself get lost in order to find yourself again. Listen for the whispers in the sound of silence.   

For the week of October 26th thru November 2nd, be sure to read your Rising sign as well:

Aries

Often just before a Full Moon, there is a flurry of activity.  This is even more so this week with your ruler Mars in Sagittarius opposing Jupiter, which will just add a little jet fuel to your already smoking rockets.  The Full Moon falls in a sign associated with finances, so there could very well be the feeling of needing to strike while the iron is hot.  However, you don’t need to say ‘yes’ to everything that comes your way, especially if it’s outside of your range of knowledge or comfort zone!  You don’t want to impulsively agree to something that ultimately finds you swamped for time, or way in over your head.  Pace yourself this week.  You’ll have enough to deal with.

Taurus

The Full Moon in your native sign of Taurus this Monday, is both pragmatic and profound, as it joins forces with transformational, and revealing, Pluto.  This can say a lot about healing any rifts that may have opened up in your relationships over the past week.  One thing that is going to be revealed to you in the light of this Samhain Full Moon, is how you share certain values with others, and which values are most important to you, and who you wish to share those values with.  Your ruler, Venus, enters its own sign of Libra this week, just before the Full Moon, which only emphasizes the importance of establishing the right sort of allies.  The sort of allies that are willing to ride this wave with you, support you and sustain you on your journey.

Gemini

Everybody’s going to have an opinion this week.  And it will be pretty difficult for most people to keep their opinions to themselves.  That doesn’t mean that you need to let yourself get drawn into some pretty testy contests.  Sometimes less is more.  Especially in this weather when words get twisted and easily misinterpreted.  In order to avoid misunderstandings, perhaps silence is the better part of valor.  No one really needs to know everything that you are thinking any way.  Try to focus on the facts to keep yourself from going off track.  

Cancer

Full Moons are always important for Cancer, but this one is special, for the Full Moon falls in Cancer’s sign of hopes and wishes.  Can this mean the fulfillment or outcome of a cherished dream?  One can only ‘hope’.  Often things are disclosed around the Full Moon, and this particular Moon has a lot to do with your relationships.  Those that have passed, those to come and how and why you hold on to them.  It’s the deep, meaningful relationships, those people that make you feel whole, healed and special, that are the really important people in your life.

Leo

Out of what was once fear and darkness, comes the light.  It’s when we face our worries, fears, our wounds, that we are then able to pacify, and heal them.  Sometimes all we need is the right sort of guide to lead the way.  On a practical level, if something needs fixing, this is a great week to fix it.  If something needs tending to, something that maybe you’ve been avoiding, this is the week to get it done.  Focus on the work at hand, and you will be amazed at how much you can get accomplished.

Virgo

You must be very clear this week, for any loose ends are only going to be adding to the general confusion and madness that is prevailing.  Being ruled by Mercury, realize that it will be quite difficult to make important decisions.  Especially if there is any dishonesty or misrepresentation afoot.  Do fantasize if you must.  But also be able to distinguish between the fantasy and reality.  Just because you wish things to be a certain way, doesn’t necessarily make them so.  Then seek some peace and quiet somewhere, some how, in order to commune with yourself.

Libra

The day before the Full Moon, your ruler, Venus, enters your home sign of Libra.  This should help you to reestablish some balance, beauty and harmony in your life, or so one would think.  Charm and good manners can go a long way in also establishing what you are or are not willing to compromise on.  Those things that you have been tolerating for some time now, are proving to be less than tolerable as the week commences.  See what changes and adjustments can be made without losing too much of your composure.  An unexpected (but potentially fun & exciting) event may lure you out into the world by week’s end.  Who will you be for Halloween this year?  One can only guess.

Scorpio

 As the Sun recently passed over Saturn in your sign of Scorpio it likely left a sense of overwhelming responsibility, and maybe a bit of exhaustion as well.  In light of the Full Moon what can also be apparent is how much you are able to get done when you set your mind to it.  And also that there are always solutions for whatever obstacles, problems or conundrums you are faced with.  The Full Moon in Taurus is about setting priorities, and realizing what and who are the most valuable and important to you.  These can help you to make a realizable long range plan, keeping it all in perspective.

Sagittarius

Lama Zopa Rinpoche has some advice about worry: “If you can do something about your problem, then why worry?  If you can’t do anything about your problem, then why worry?”  Worry and anxiety are related to dwelling too much in the past about what we should have done or could have done, or projecting too much into the future, thinking about what might happen or could happen.  Therefore the remedy for worry and anxiety are to stay in the present.  Things are feeling pretty hectic right now, and it will be hard to wrap your head around anything.  At times like this, the best thing is to focus on the Now, and tend to each task one at a time, focusing on each task as it comes.  This keeps you from becoming overwhelmed by all of the activity.

Capricorn

It is so important for Capricorn to find a firm footing, to have a solid foundation beneath their feet that they are familiar with and that feels reliable.  The world doesn’t always comply, but if you create that stability within yourself, like a solid anchor, no matter what changes in plans or circumstances, you will be better able to cope and stay on point.  If you want to connect with the right people, this is a good week to do so.  In general this is a good week to make the sort of changes, that may not be all that noticeable on the outside, but can make all the difference in the long run.

Aquarius

The Full Moon on Monday can be rather revelatory about where you stand, either at work, or in pursuing your goals.  It’s good to know, because now you can make some sort of long-range plan for your future.  In the short range, do be prepared for some sort of unexpected, and potentially exciting event that brings you out of your usual routine.  It will be both fun (if you allow it to be so) and irritating (who needs surprises and unexpected events?).  However it does open the door for the potential to have some fun, go out, and meet new people.  Even if you don’t particularly want to.

Pisces

A spiritual retreat sounds awfully inviting, but it may not be in the cards this week with your ruler, Jupiter, opposed by Mars in Sagittarius (think jousting knights, or roaring jets).  You’ll be begging for the sound of silence with what looks like a lot of activity both at home and work, which will make it very difficult to concentrate.  Although this is probably a time that requires a certain amount of secrecy, or delicacy, it is not a good idea to either misrepresent yourself or create elaborate untruthful stories, no matter how well meaning.  With Mercury gearing up for a retrograde, it will only add to the general trend of confusion.  The problem with telling stories is that you have to remember what the story was.  And that’s just impossible in this wet and foggy weather.