life is beautiful, but how can i
keep it that way?
the autumn 2000
forecast
by terry lamb, eve elly, and dana polachowski
first, let me introduce to you my new co-writers, eve and dana. they have been my students over the past two years. as my duties in my professional life shift, i have asked them to use their expertise to write portions of this forecast. eventually, they will be writing the forecast on their own, but i will stay with them (and you) long enough to make a smooth transition. not only have they been trained to work with astrology in the way that i do, but they will bring their own fresh approaches and unique skills to bear in future articles. i know that you'll be just as pleased with their work as i am! in the meantime, if you have any suggestions about how the forecast can work better for you, let us know.
you have often seen me write of the perils of jupiter--its overconfidence, brashness, and willingness to take risks. there is another side to jupiter, the one the ancients associated with religion and spirituality. as jupiter makes major contact with every planet this fall, it's a good time to examine it.
when jupiter activates our chart, there's no doubt--life is beautiful. jupiter brings us optimism, joy in life, and the ability to expand ourselves. we can also experience a visionary side of our nature. when a new cycle involving jupiter begins, we can see far into the future into what can be created. i call it "the world of possibility".
when we are in that realm, we can see what the possible outcomes of our current actions, desires, sense of purpose, and resources. when we ask ourselves where we are headed, we can see quite clearly what the outcomes may be. we feel as though we can pick and choose between them. the challenge lies in choosing well and learning to apply the vision we have in the "real" world.
the first step of the challenge is to choose well. on what should we base our choice? the most important thing is that it fulfill our heart's deepest desire. this is the thing that we will be able to pursue against all odds and by which we will feel suitably rewarded as the cycle completes itself. anything less will be difficult to persevere with, and we will feel like forsaking our chosen path at the first obstacle.
naturally, we want to be practical about it. this is what the world tells us: "take the job with the sure paycheck." "do what others tell you that you are good at." "go after the money." while these could be factors in our final decision, sometimes these kinds of feelings and advice can get in the way of our own creative expression of who we are.
the next step is to apply our vision in the "real" world--this is what magick is about, isn't it? this means taking our dream from the unseen into the seen realm. the trouble is, as soon as the peak moment with jupiter fades, so does the vision. it's like the bubble has burst. so, just when it's time to use some elbow grease to turn our dreams into reality, we begin to doubt. we're not good enough, we can't do it, how could we think we could do that, anyway?! our internal critic goes crazy, and pretty soon we've given up. and so our dreams of happiness and fulfillment have been set aside for "common sense" and "the way life is". thus jupiter becomes that improbable world that isn't really there for us.
this is where we may find ourselves this fall, yet the planets are going to
be giving us extra help over this hurdle. while this added support actually
started to be felt in july, we're really going to be able to work with it over
the next few months. we're going to have time, if we just hold on to our vision,
to develop it and nurture it along. especially this fall, we can use this
auspicious time to revive our flagging spirits (if they are drooping at all).
it's not that there won't be challenges--when is life that easy? it is that the
doorway to opportunity exists if we allow ourselves to believe it is there and
remain open to finding it.
october: will opportunity knock or
will i have to look for it?
the dragon resurfaces-and it
may be you. there's a fire in your belly this month. as a magnificent planetary
pattern occurs early in the month and lasts throughout (with the 3rd,
4th, 13th, and 26th as particularly important dates),
challenges continue to arise to keep you on your toes. the issues to be dealt
with in october involve spirituality, freedom, and-still-long-term goal setting.
but this month it's about those goals/plans/dreams that align you with your true
purpose. the challenges are rife to further refine your vision and perhaps even
ruthlessly cut away dead wood once on your newfound path. there's a sense of
greater spiritual understanding now, and the first steps toward implementing
this in your daily life need to be made. since may you've had a chance to
recover dreams you perhaps thought would never see the light of day. what you
hold in your hands now is yours to keep. in october, "death and resurrection"
accomplished, the universe urges you to look deeper still, dream bigger, and
just do it. opportunity may knock, but unless you are looking for it's arrival,
you may miss the chance to open the door.
the first day of october is a challenge: the mind goes deep within but the spiritual aspirations want to reach outward. it's jarring, but the challenge is to find a way to put the two impulses together. what golden nugget of truth can you relate to everyone on a spiritual level? what have you learned from others that you can use to rethink your own deepest motivations? it goes both ways. negatively, there's a chance of feeling at least confused and, at worst, at an utter loss. since this is the first of many challenges this month, it's of utmost importance to contact faith and stay there. you are planting seeds which will bear fruit next month-on or around november 14th. cultivate carefully.
over the next week-and-a-half, from the 3rd to the
13th, extremely powerful forces make themselves available to you. the
3rd is a day to take an unflinching look at your deepest desires, to
determine that one last thing that could be holding you back, and then take the
necessary steps to make changes. this is a day of high consciousness; it
requires vision, courage, and strength. planetary patterns from the
4th to the 13thprovide you with the opportunity to isolate
yourself if that's what you need to do. overall, through this period there are
alternating patterns of crisis and hope. the challenge is to remain resolute in
the face of despair and charge ahead toward healing, toward a new future. much
has been experienced, and many new realizations are made during this time and
throughout the rest of this month. this period ends with the full moon on the
13th and it coincides with the desire to pursue a new future based on
newly uncovered motivations and needs.
the next few days, the
15th to the 18th, indicate that separations may still be necessary to
process the realizations made since the beginning of the month. by this time
you've probably determined what your future looks like, but there's a hitch:
confusion may rear it's head one last time. to sort out the pieces of the
puzzle, try to recall issues/events on or around january 24th, april
26th, may 7th, and july 27th. most likely these events
were related to creativity, spirituality, imagination, and, of course, creating
your vision of the future. during these few days in october, you'll reassess
these earlier made plans. self-doubt is likely; you'll probably wonder if
pursuing your visions and dreams is worth all the effort. at crucial times like
this it's important to remain open so that the answers can come to
you.
the 15th to the 18th is also about reexamining
your thinking in terms of how you respond and communicate at all levels. there's
a danger of getting caught in old "perceptions," old thought patterns, and old
ways of relating that don't serve you or others anymore; it's possible they were
never useful to begin with. now there is a greater awareness of the need to open
your mind and clean out your mental closets. also, be careful of the secrets you
keep; there may be good reasons for some secrets, but holding onto others may be
unhealthy in the long run.
there's an energy shift on the
22nd, when the sun moves into scorpio. the first part of the month is
intense, but there is lots of "thinking energy" available. the last part of the
month is more introverted and deep; knowledge is being consolidated and focused,
fused with emotional needs and realities. it's a time of going underground, of
pressurizing the carbon to make the diamond. this is the essence of scorpio.
the month ends with a wallop, but in a good way; there's a chance to
reconnect with others after a tumultuous past few weeks (especially if you've
been isolating yourself). since everyone will have undergone much the same
crises, it's a chance to swap "war stories"; perhaps now you'll meet fellow
companions who will assist you on your new path. but don't get too comfortable
commiserating; the heavens are alive and kicking! the new moon, which falls on
the 27th, walks right into the middle of the fireworks: though she
may not be visible, the night skies will be positively illuminated with the
energy luna carries during the last week of october. the crisis directly relates
to what happened on the 1st: a conflict between freedom and
spirituality, aligning yourself with humanity and the greater good, versus the
need to go deeper within to unearth your own treasures. will you connect in a
real way with humanity or with yourself? planetary forces during the last week
of october demand that you do both. what's important here is theconnection to
the question, not to come to an immediate conclusion because that would be
impossible-you don't have all the information. the last week of october provides
the chance to make these connections and to gather the necessary information.
this should prepare you nicely for samhain, celebrated by most on
halloween, but which actually occurs on about november 5th (this is
because the date was set before the calendar adjustments were made a few
centuries ago). this is the time to "let go and let god(dess)"-to release what
is no longer needed and to ask the lord and lady for their help in doing so.
november: old challenges die hard!
a time of
changes and new energies comes in, but to truly embrace it, it's necessary to
get rid of the old modes of thinking, acting, and expressing!
in spite of
all the confusion, there is a positive relationship focus on november 1st. it's
a good day to add some surprises, something new and inventive, into our
relationships-go out to a new restaurant to try different foods than you've ever
eaten before. surprise your partner with a gift they are not expecting or just
leave town to a romantic getaway for the night.
on the 5th, the true
solar cross-quarter (the basis for samhain) occurs. this is when the sun hits
the seasonal midpoint, a "sensitive spot" when ritual is more powerful. even if
you celebrated traditional samhain on halloween (and who didn't), take the time
today to affirm your banishings. we can all stand to lose something, like,
perhaps, poverty, the clutter in our closet, or a few extra pounds.
on
november 6th and 7th, you may feel mentally lighter and more sociable. there
will be a brief rest from the deep inner probing mental energy you've grown
accustomed to since the beginning of october.
on the 7th, mercury returns
to forward motion, and the fog may seem to be clearing. you may finally obtain
clarity and be able to analyze what needs to be changed in your thought
processes and how you communicate. this is not an easy task, especially on the
1st, 6th, 7th, 8th, 14th, and 25th. learn to persevere and you will eventually
push through old attitudes that have been keeping you stuck, and perhaps even a
little depressed, and that simply no longer serve your evolutionary path.
changes in attitude bring renewal and reintegration; they are the key to
achieving goals. even though they seem inconsequential, they are everything. the
full moon on the 11th will further challenge you to look at your issues from a
more realistic standpoint and to adopt a realistic plan in changing them.
you can expect to receive on the 16th an added jolt of energy,
self-confidence, and initiative, and i believe you will want to react to
situations from a more harmonious and balanced place. with the sun going into
sagittarius on the 21st, there's a more expansive and optimistic attitude toward
your path and quest for identity. the new moon on the 25th adds to this already
lighter and more promising energy. this would be a wonderful time to plant the
seeds for rebirth as a more joyful, self-realizing individual who can see the
bigger picture. on the 27th, we reach the culmination of a cycle having to do
with expansion, education, and enterprise. this cycle began on may 7th, with
other related events on september 2nd and 29th. at this time, there will be the
potential for you to come to some new, liberating insight that will lead to
successes in the coming 6 months as well as in the years to come. you will still
feel some of the turmoil and discomfort of this month through december 1st, but
the ability to work on your "stuff" and to ground your visions in reality is
strong.
december: keep the faith
even as some cycles are ongoing, newness greets us as we enter december. it
will be necessary to keep the vision intact and not lose faith in yourself. on
the 2nd through the 6th, the energies fl-o-o-o-o-ow! stay on your toes and keep
a blank mental screen, for this is how you will get the most out of the
unexpected joys of this time! you are likely to feel a new burst of inspiration
as you approach the 6th. it's a good time to put a plan to your dreams (if you
haven't already done so) and get the wheels rolling.
on the 4th, a new
yearly cycle of transformation and deep examination begins. you may get a
glimpse of the impending changes if the planetary energies touch your chart in
the coming year. it's a good day to take notes for future reference. sometimes
world events take us by surprise at the time of this annual event (as they did
when the marine barracks in beirut were bombed under the same pattern), so watch
what occurs on this date. to potentiate your experiences, do rituals and
affirmations related to things you want to change. but watch what you ask
for-you may get it! no matter what challenges may arise, if today you are on the
path that vibrates with your innermost being, know that you have set the best
tone you can for the future and keep the faith!
on the 9th, you may feel
that you have more freedom to express who you really are and let your spirit
shine. with the full moon on the 11th, it's time to work with the knowledge you
have gathered so far and to ground your vision in reality. (a word to the wise:
don't wipe out your bank account.) confidence runs high in relationships today.
if the time feels right, it's a good time to express that confidence in a
tangible form. but think very carefully before you leap into any long-term
commitments and make sure you have or are presently dealing with any deep-seated
wounds/issues either or both of you may be carrying. you may also have some
powerful ideas on this day write them down and expand upon the knowledge base
you already have.
this is also wonderful month for romance: take your
loved one on a trip, do fun romantic things together, and plan for your future,
especially on the 4th, 11th, 12th, 19th, and 23rd. watch out for potential
squabbles on the 29th, though.
the sun enters capricorn on the 21st,
bringing in yule (the winter solstice). the energies become more serious,
thoughtful, solemn, and quiet. you'll want to relax and not rush around so much
in spite of the "holiday crunch." yule is the time to go within and find the
seeds of the future you wish to create as the door is closed on the past year.
it is a time to look back and examine what's been learned so that you can apply
those lessons in the next year to make it more successful. this is a time for
serenity, gathering inner forces, looking back upon the year, and realistically
acknowledging accomplishments and what still needs to be improved upon. it's
also a good time to write down what you would like to accomplish in the new year
and to plant the seeds for it.
the new moon, on the 25th, is also a
solar eclipse. this could distract you from your christmas holiday festivities,
making your experiences more memorable than usual-and not always in a positive
way. relationship conflicts could flare up, and you may feel deeper issues
stirring within. this is not a bad thing. conflicts can clear the air and ease
our relationships if handled well, and the stirring of deep issues leads to
events which allow us to get on with life. whatever happens, the tone will be
set today for the next 6 months, but you won't know what that will be for sure
until the full moon lunar eclipse on january 9th.
december bring you
more light, as the planetary dance creates a harmonious pattern which helps you
deal with deep subconscious issues with more understanding, knowledge, and
flexibility than was possible before. whatever issues, situations, and grudges
you have been holding onto over the past year, you can release and then
reintegrate the lessons. it's truly about blending all parts of yourself with a
deeper understanding and coming from that deeper place within.
happy
yule, and blessed be!
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