Fall Weather September 22, 2004 - December 1, 2004
Overview
Fall is the time of harvest. Harvesting seeds planted in the Spring. Earth gives nourishment and abundance; means to survive the barren winter soon to come. The fruits and grains gathered are the last stories of life: with the death of plants is the birth and mystery of the seed. All growth is suspended and there is silence within. Fall is a time of thanksgiving and a time of healing.
In the personal sense, Fall is a time of harvesting the fruit of our summer labor, seeded in the Spring. It is a time to prepare for the coming winter by getting quiet, reflecting on the events of our summer, assessing our needs and gathering that which we need for the coming winter. We adjust and heal ourselves as needed in preparation for Winter and its time of shedding old ways and old ideas.
As I look at the planetary dance this winter, I see three main story lines. They are highlighted and brought into our consciousness and our everyday lives by being aspected (two or more planets coming into an angle of 0, 90, 120 or 180 of each other) by other planets.
The three stories are the dance of Venus/Libra energy (with 5 planets moving into Libra), the dance of Saturn and Chiron and the Eclipses of sun and moon. These stories are told in more detail below under “Main Events”. In short, the dances call us to ask ourselves : How am I doing relationships, values, self-worth? How am I balancing the interests of other people versus my own interests? What is true harmony for me, and can I take action to create a more harmonious, beauty-full life? What is most valuable to me, and do I keep to my values despite others? Am I too selfish or too sacrificing in my relationships? Who is my authority? Who is my caregiver? Am I shifting my sense of personal authority in order to heal the wounds and wounded old patterns of looking to others for authority (parent/ president) thinking I'll be safer? Can I believe that I am my only source of security, and not give away my power to external authority? Do I have the courage to define safety, security and home in a healthy way? Am I balancing freedom and fairness without losing my authority or integrity? Am I balancing power with personal values?
Places in your own chart that may be most alive for you this fall are the first degrees of Libra and Aries, late degrees of Cancer and Capricorn. Go to Your Astrological Journal for more details.
Main Events (Aspects)
Main Events (Aspects)
It is significant that 5 out of the 10 planets in the sky will be in the sign of Libra this fall. This brings a heightened sense of Libra energy to our consciousness. I believe that the cycles of the planets in the sky mirror similar cycles occurring on earth in our personal consciousness.
The archetype of Venus/Libra (note that the planet Venus rules the sign of Libra) has been particularly strong in 2004; 1. Venus made a rare transit in front of the sun (an occultation) in June. 2. Venus moved in a retrograde motion (appeared to be moving backwards when seen from Earth) in May & June, strongly calling us to go inward and reflect on our personal values, particularly in relationships. 3. Venus opposed the planet Pluto (was 180 degrees from Pluto) in the Spring and Summer, beckoning us to transform relationships and values as well as asking us to question our truths about power and the powerful and what is fair about both. 4. Five planets move into the sign of Libra (ruled by Venus) in Sep/Oct. 5. A strong solar eclipse takes place at 21 Libra on Oct. 13.
Looking back on this year, you could call it the year of Venus, or the year of Love and War. Our attention has been called to that Venus archetype. We asked ourselves Venusian questions like: What is fair? What is most important to me? Am I living in keeping with those core values? Is it worth treading on other people to get it? Are other people treading over me to get to their personal goals? What is power? What is my relationship to money? How do we use power we have over others? Have I given my power away to another, and is it time to reclaim it? Are my relationships in keeping with my authentic self and my values, and do I need to transform some of my relationships in order to be myself and be in line with my values?
Issues of relationships, fairness, friends and enemies, money, values, needs, and balancing self and other will be spotlighted this fall with 5 planets in Libra. Since Venus has been active for us already this year, these issues have been ones we have been pondering already. Necessary changes have been made by many of us in those places (relationships, money, balance and harmony). This dance calls us to reflect back on these issues for the year, and adjust and heal where we need to.
Look at your own chart and note where the first degrees of Libra fall for you. Which house? The house this occurs in will be the area of life you most feel these issues coming up. Does your chart have any planets in the first degrees of Libra? If so, these will be the archetypes in you that are most sensitive to these questions.
The Saturn/Chiron dance has been going on for some time. Saturn and Chiron have been opposing each other (meaning they were 180 degrees from one another) on and off since September of 2003 when Saturn was at 12 Cancer, and Chiron was at 12 Capricorn. They will continue to move relative to each other, making that 180 degree aspect on and off until June of 2006. The most current opposition of Saturn and Chiron occurred on Aug 15, 04 with Saturn at 21 Cancer and Chiron at 21 Capricorn. The next one will fall on Dec 27, 04 at 25 degrees of those signs.
It is significant to note that the next opposition at 25 degrees of Cancer and Capricorn is the last one Saturn and Chiron make in those signs. The next three oppositions will fall in the signs of Leo and Aquarius.
Let us first look at Saturn. Saturn is the planet of structure, authority, boundaries, goals and responsibility. Saturn is where I want integrity, where I feel purposeful, where I question whether I am on track, where I question whether I am doing my job right. On a lower note, Saturn is also where I would feel lacking, scared, where I feel the only way to be safe is if I am in control (or over-control). Now, Saturn is in the sign of Cancer, so all these things would apply to our emotions and our sense of security and nurturing. Saturn calls us to restructure what does not work for us emotionally. The questions Saturn in Cancer prompts us to ask are: Do I have the right structures in place to feel safe and emotionally secure (this could be a literal home or a structure of emotional support)? I want emotional integrity. Where does my emotional security reside? Who is my emotional authority, if it is not me can I take back my authority? Do I have clear emotional boundaries with others, and if not; can I set them now?
If we turn around 180 degrees and look at Chiron, we see the asteroid (although there is still argument as to what exactly Chiron is, but it is agreed that it is not a planet). Chiron's orbit moves between Saturn and Uranus. The authority and the Maverick. It connects realistic, rule-making, pragmatic Saturn to freedom-loving, rule-breaking Uranus. The archetype of Chiron is the archetype of the wounded healer. Where Chiron is in your chart, you are asked to heal old wounds. Chiron is now in the sign of Capricorn, the sea-goat. Note that Capricorn is ruled by the planet Saturn, and thus has similar issues to cover. Chiron in Capricorn is asking us to heal and shape shift our perception of personal authority, our boundaries and goals. Questions that may come up for us are: Are there old wounded patterns where I project authority onto another (parent / boss/ president) thinking I will be safer, but losing my purposefulness and authority? Are there old wounds I need to tend to and heal around authority in general? Or a particular figure (such as a parent or family issues)? Can I change structures I have in place that I thought made me secure, but they are really wounding me and do not fit me or what I am here to do (ex. dysfunctional support systems, a job that is not healthy for me, family patterns that need healing, etc.)?
The Saturn/ Chiron dance plays out the story of emotional structures versus wounded authority. The story of restructuring my emotional security versus where I lose my personal authority. The dance invites us to ask: Where do I hold on to old structures (job, family, etc.) that don't work to feel emotionally secure (negative Saturn in Cancer), and where do I give my personal authority away to someone else in a way that wounds me (negative Chiron in Capricorn)? Is there a way to make changes that will make me feel more emotionally secure (Saturn in Cancer) that include reclaiming my personal authority and being the boss of me (Chiron in Capricorn)? In other words, can I make this dance work for me, instead of clinging to the two extremes (opposites) that don't work? There is a way that this dance can bring balance to my life, can I ride the higher octave of what it is about and make my life work in a healthier way around these two issues of emotional security and authentic authority.
The solar eclipse on Oct. 13 occurs in the signs of Aries/Libra. The full moon is in Aries and the sun is in Libra. The Sun is in a sign of relating and cooperating while opposing the moon in the sign of needing independence and "ME FIRST". The eclipse calls on us to negotiate those two energies of self versus other. It asks us to seed new energies in Libra (in creating harmony and balance). The focus is on relationships; how do we deal with conflict, cooperation, and equality? Are we too selfish or too self-sacrificing?
The lunar eclipse of Oct 27 is in the signs of Taurus/ Scorpio. The moon is in Taurus (survival, resources needed), and the sun is in Scorpio (power, passion, control). The eclipse calls us to negotiate the energies of right use of power with using our resources cleanly. The focus here is on basic survival at a core level, and the questions that come up are Am I using my resources in a clean way? Are others using their power and power-over without treading on other people's right to survive or right to resources? Can I stand in my power and passion cleanly without manipulating or having power over others?
Lunar eclipses highlight our emotional self. These issues will come up for us on an emotional level, maybe more intuitive or internal level. Since this eclipse is occurring during Halloween / All Hallows Eve time, when the veil between the two worlds is thin, it is a potent time to do ceremony around these issues.
Saturn turns Retrograde Nov 7 (28 Cancer)
What is deeply feeding me emotionally? Where do I project my emotional security onto another? What can I change to provide myself my own emotional security? What do I have control to change?
Mercury turns Retrograde Nov 30 (27 Sagittarius)
Give your normal way of thinking and communicating a rest. Think outside the box. Ask yourself; "what truly has meaning for me?". Try to disengage from being busy. Mercury turned direct at the very beginning of the year at 27 Sagittarius (Galactic Center), and is now turning retrograde at that same degree. This may indicate galactic consciousness accessible during this time, beyond human ego - more transpersonal.
Chiron turns Direct Sep 26 (21 Capricorn)
Chiron was retrograde since May 1. As it turns direct we get the urge to shift our purpose and align ourselves with what we came here to be. Heal wounds around am I doing my job? Ask WHO is assigning my job? Heal wounds around old "shoulds" "jobs".
Neptune turns Direct Oct 24 (13 Aquarius)
Neptune was retrograde since May 17. As it turns direct we get the urge to work with the collective clearly, and to work for humanity.
Uranus turns Direct Nov 11 (3 Pisces)
The Maverick within us wakes up. Time to think outside the box. Time to go forward with changes of what is really calling you within your dreamer self. This may also signify a change or surprise after the Nov. elections.
Mercury turns Direct Dec 19 (11 Sagittarius)
Move forward with what you think is true for you.
Astrological Calendar of Events
Astrological Data of when events occur (ignore if you just want to see English)
Sep 26 Jupiter conjunct Mars (0 Libra)
Oct 6 Uranus Opposing Venus (3 Pisces, 3 Virgo)
Oct 13 Solar Eclipse sun/moon (21 Libra, 21 Aries)
Oct 20 Pluto Square Venus (20 Sagittarius, 20 Virgo)
Oct 24 Neptune turns direct (13 Aquarius)
Oct 27 Lunar Eclipse sun/moon (5 Scorpio, 5 Taurus)
Oct 28 Venus moves into Libra (0 Libra)
Nov 4 Jupiter conjunct Venus (9 Libra)
Nov 6 Saturn Square Mars (27 Cancer, 27 Libra)
Nov 7 Saturn turns Retrograde (28 Cancer)
Nov 10 Mars moves into Scorpio
Nov 11 Uranus turns Direct (3 Pisces)
Nov 14 Mars Conjunct South Node of Moon (2 Scorpio)
Nov 30- Dec 19 Mercury in Retrograde Motion (appears to move backwards at 27 Sagittarius, appears to move direct at 11 Sagittarius)
Dec 5 Mars Conjunct Venus (17 Scorpio)
Dec 19 Mercury turns Direct (11 Sagittarius)
Dec 27 Saturn Opposite Chiron (25 Cancer, 25 Capricorn)
Your Astrological Journal (dates to jot into your calendar, and track in your journal)
Jot the following dates in your calendar, then use your journal to write about how you personally experienced the planetary energies. This is a way to keep in touch with the cycles in the skies and learn how they are reflected for you in your own life.
Another layer to tracking the cycles is to note where these planets fall in your own chart, hence what areas of life are flavored with those planetary energies.
Conjunction = 0 degrees, Square = 90 degrees, Trine = 120 degrees and Opposition is 180 degrees.
Sep 26, Oct 6, Oct 13, Oct 20, Oct 24, Oct 27, Oct 28, Nov 4, Nov 6, Nov 7, Nov 10, Nov 11, Nov 14, Nov 30- Dec 19, Dec 5, Dec 19, Dec 27
Sep 26 Jupiter conjunct Mars (0 Libra)
Time to seed a deeper truth about what is balanced and harmonious in my relationships. Time to start over in my relationships. Take action on creating harmony & beauty for me, so I don't get caught up in illusions and victimization patterns happening in the world.
Oct 6 Uranus Opposing Venus (3 Pisces, 3 Virgo)
Do I have my freedom in relationship? Can I be my authentic self and be in relationship to others at the same time?
Oct 13 Solar Eclipse sun/moon (21 Libra, 21 Aries)
See Solar Eclipse
Oct 20 Pluto Square Venus (20 Sagittarius, 20 Virgo)
Are there power struggles in my relationship? Do I give my power away to other, or do I have power over my significant other? Is my truth about standing in my own power in conflict with wanting to serve/help others? Can I align the two?
Oct 24 Neptune turns direct (13 Aquarius)
Oct 27 Lunar Eclipse sun/moon (5 Scorpio, 5 Taurus)
See Lunar Eclipse
Oct 28 Venus moves into Libra (0 Libra)
Venus is in its own sign, and is therefore strong. After having 5 planets in Libra at the beginning of the month, this calls us to revisit all those Libra issues of relating, values, balance, beauty and fairness.
Nov 4 Jupiter conjunct Venus (9 Libra)
Are my truths about relating and balancing the needs of myself with others' needs in alignment with my values around relationships? Do I feel an urge to start or re-start relationships on a lighter, happier note? Do I want to add adventure, questing and fun back into my relationships?
Nov 6 Saturn Square Mars (27 Cancer, 27 Libra)
Do I project my authority onto another person, and is my sense of fighting for myself asking me to take that back. To say NO, and do what is fair for myself, not to follow someone else's rules for me. To take back my own authority.
Nov 7 Saturn turns Retrograde (28 Cancer)
Nov 10 Mars moves into Scorpio
My sense of taking action and "anger" are moving into the realm of Scorpio. Who has the power, and are they using it in a clean way? Is someone else manipulating me or does he/she have power over me? Do I need to take action to uncover that which is hidden from me? Time to take action on issues of trust.
Nov 11 Uranus turns Direct (3 Pisces)
Nov 14 Mars Conjunct South Node of Moon (2 Scorpio)
Old karmic issues around power and manipulation. Urge to want to take action (use my anger constructively) on being over-powered, manipulated or betrayed. It may feel like a very old karmic story.
Nov 30- Dec 19 Mercury in Retrograde Motion (appears to move backwards at 27 Sagittarius, appears to move direct at 11 Sagittarius)
Am I feeling the energy of needing to stop and turn inward in my thinking? If I am not, are things happening around me encouraging me to slow down and really think about my responsibilities and my role in family/society/career? Are my computer, phone, fax, misbehaving? Am I having trouble communicating, or experiencing misunderstandings? How is Mercury (messenger god) energy giving me a personal wink? Do I have the will to work with this energy and let go of my need for things to be on time/on schedule to see what messages come through. Messages regarding what is truth for me.
Dec 5 Mars Conjunct Venus (17 Scorpio)
Mars and Venus together form the energy of the sacred marriage. The yin and yang. Ask myself, what am I truly passionate about? Can I cut through my excuses and go for it? In Scorpio, we are called on to go deeper in our relationships, and in what we are passionate about. To be impeccably honest, and to be clear about our boundaries with others.
Dec 19 Mercury turns Direct (11 Sagittarius)
Move forward on what you think is true for you. Speak your truth.
Dec 27 Saturn Opposite Chiron (25 Cancer, 25 Capricorn)