Going to Mars School

The October 2005 Forecast

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Past forecasts

Chiron, Uranus, and Neptune are retrograde. Sun is in fall. Venus, Mars, and Saturn are in detriment.

Mars begins backward (retrograde) motion (stationary retrograde S℞)	23°22' Taurus	October 1
Venus opposes Mars (2nd contact of 3)	23°22' Taurus	October 1
Sun sextiles Saturn	8°59' Libra/Leo	October 1
Libra New Moon Solar Eclipse	10°19' Libra	October 3
Mercury sextiles Pluto	22°05' Libra/Sagittarius	October 3
Mercury quincunxes Mars ℞	23°19' Libra/Taurus	October 4
Chiron returns to direct motion (stationary direct SD)	27°48' Capricorn	October 5
Mercury conjoins Jupiter	25°38' Libra	October 5
Venus enters Sagittarius (leaves detriment)	0°00' Sagittarius	October 7
Sun trines Neptune	14°55' Libra/Aquarius	October 7
Mercury enters Scorpio	0°00' Scorpio	October 8
Mercury trines Uranus	7°18' Scorpio/Pisces	October 13
Mars ℞ quincunxes Pluto (2nd of 3)	22°17' Taurus/Sagittarius	October 13
Venus squares Uranus	7°16' Sagittarius/Pisces	October 14
Mercury squares Saturn	10°00' Scorpio/Leo	October 15
Sun sextiles Pluto	22°19' Libra/Sagittarius	October 15
Jupiter squares Chiron (enters last quarter phase)	27°53' Libra/Capricorn	October 16
Venus trines Saturn	10°07' Sagittarius/Leo	October 17
Libra Full Moon Lunar Eclipse	24°13' Libra/Aries	October 17
Mercury squares Neptune	14°50' Scorpio/Aquarius	October 18
Venus trines the North Node (transiting eclipse point)	12°52' Sagittarius/Aries	October 19
Sun squares Chiron	27°58' Libra/Capricorn	October 21
Venus sextiles Neptune	14°50' Sagittarius/Aquarius	October 21
Sun conjoins Jupiter	29°13' Libra	October 22
Mercury opposes Mars ℞	20°11' Scorpio/Taurus	October 20
Sun enters Scorpio (leaves fall)	0°00' Scorpio	October 23
Venus quincunxes Mars ℞ (2nd contact of 3)	19°18' Sagittarius/Taurus	October 25
Jupiter enters Scorpio	0°00' Scorpio	October 25
Neptune returns to forward motion (stationary direct SD)	14°49' Aquarius	October 26
Venus conjoins Pluto	22°40' Sagittarius	October 28
Sun trines Uranus	6°58' Scorpio/Pisces	October 30
Mercury enters Sagittarius (detriment)	0°00' Sagittarius	October 30

All dates are based on Pacific Time.

Blue = harmonious/Red or orange = challenging

Blue-shaded events are part of the same harmonious pattern.

Red-shaded events are part of the same challenging pattern.

Events in bold are more significant.

In last month’s forecast I spoke about the impending Mars retrograde, which occurs once every two years for almost 3 months. Mars turns retrograde — backward — on the 1^st, and before that time it slows down in its motion when seen from our vantage point on the earth. Watching it slow is a bit like observing cars on the freeway running parallel to a faster train on its tracks. As the train approaches its nearest point to the cars moving in the same direction, they appear to slow and go backward. Because Earth’s and Mars’s paths are circular rather than straight, and eventually Mars slows once again, resuming its apparent forward motion once again. Because Earth and Mars travel at nearly the same speed, its retrograde occurs least frequently of any planet — about 7% of the time. For this reason, we are less likely to understand its meaning and how to accommodate it in our lives. It does not occur in a relatively frequent, rhythmic pattern in our lives. One thing we can say for sure: When a planet is retrograde it is closest to the Earth, and this seems to correlate with a concentrate burst of the planet’s energy in our lives during the retrograde. In effect, we enter a “planetary school” during its retrograde. So as of October 1^st, we are in Mars School.

Mars Brings Insight to Longer Range Trends.

Although we could not really imagine what Mars School would be like when it entered Taurus (the sign of its retrograde) at the end of July, it entered its retrograde shadow on August 12^th, and we began to get a glimpse. In the world at large (a good place to see planetary energies unfold), there was the Gaza pull-out, the Rove scandal over the outing of Valerie Plame, Cindy Sheeran’s protest while Bush was in Crawford, the firing of four-star General Byrnes for adultery (but really for fomenting a protest against the ruling neo-cons in the Pentagon against attacking Iran, according to some sources), the squabble over the records of Supreme Court nominee John Roberts, and of course, the usual deaths in Iraq. Gas prices were high (or so we thought) as the per-barrel price refused to drop.

I anticipated the problem with gas prices and heating oil, as Mars rules both forward motion (as from cars) and (in some ways) heat and combustion. However, I did not discuss the deeper problems that would be revealed by events. Now we have the perfect storm of disaster in the Gulf of Mexico causing even greater gas price hikes and the underlying weaknesses in the system that prevent a faster recovery. Dealing with the short-term effects will be timed by Mars, but dealing with the long-term problems — ones that pre-existed the current Mars experience. These are depicted in the planetary panoply by Saturn and Neptune. One interpretation of this is that Saturn is limitation and blockage, and Neptune rules things that flow — like oil. Of course, Saturn ultimately brings our focus to weaknesses so that we can heal them, and that is indeed what we must do. This is a longer term process. Saturn does not actually reach Neptune on this cycle, so the real issue will not reach its peak until fall-winter-spring of 06-07, a year from now. That means we have time to get the message and adapt.

In Our Own Lives

In our own lives, we can see the themes that arose around August 10-12 played out between now and February 16. Events since mid-August and now foreshadow what’s to come. Another way to think about this (strictly the retrograde period from October 1 – December 9) is as a period when we relinquish control of the segment of our life governed by Mars. We’ve had plenty of time to guide our events since the start of Mars’s cycle on September 14, 2004 (23°01' Virgo). Now it’s time to learn how we’ve handled Mars’s energy, while it essentially reflects back to us how we’ve done by bringing to us the culmination of our efforts.

Longer term, this is a time to learn about and adapt based on our own circumstances. Although in the mundane world planetary energies usually present themselves as “problems” and crises, in our own lives they can bring more delightful events. The nature of what we experience is related to how well we have been dealing with the planet’s energies throughout its cycle. Mars will certainly draw your attention, but it need not be in harmful or unpleasant ways. Mars is about how we use our energies to assert our presence in the world. If we take a steady, measured approach to self-assertion (especially while Mars is in Taurus), we will gain more benefit from its retrograde. In over-expressing Mars, we become aggressive; under-expressing can turn us into victims.

A Mars Primer

Mars in Taurus is in its detriment. This means that as a species humans do not generally find it easy to use Mars energy in this sign, and Mars cannot be its movin’, shakin’ self in this sign which slows things down and keeps them rocklike in one place. It also opens the door to redress past misunderstandings about using our assertive side, especially those extending from early childhood. This is a good time to look at your experiences between the ages of 6 months and 7 years with respect to the ways you learned to handle anger and to say “here I am” in your world.

We will almost certainly face challenges in energy expression. With an abundance of Mars energy, we are almost always tempted to feel a sense of urgency and a need to act fast, often to make big decisions hastily. We end up overreaching if we succumb to this inner urging of the ego. If we refuse to be drawn out and instead continually work from a calm, detached, dignified center, we will get the most from this period.

If you have placements at 8–23 degrees in the fixed signs (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius), you will be most affected by Mars’s sojourn backward. These signs are about establishing structures, because they express the stabilizing force. Because so many other planets are currently or will shortly be in these signs (now: Venus and big guys Saturn and Neptune; by the end of the month: Jupiter, Sun, Mercury), there are larger issues afoot related a major restructuring process that we will all experience — of course much needed and beneficial.

The peak of the Mars cycle starts in early November when a series of dynamic planetary contacts are made involving all these planets, but October is not without its turning points. One of them occurs early in the month. This is because right on the heels of the Mars retrograde station (turnaround), there is a solar eclipse, on the 3^rd. This continues to goad those with cardinal-sign (Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn) placements into action in response to changing circumstances. The Mars retrograde will combine with the eclipse to put relationships under the magnifying glass. Deep communication will go a long way toward clearing the air, especially on the 3^rd and 4^th.

Tapping the Jupiter Effect

The solar eclipse is typically a seed-planting time that forecasts longer-term changes, or changes that will take longer to effect. For immediate action/results, look to the lunar eclipse on October 17. Both these events are likely to be breaths of fresh air, coming in the wake of the Jupiterian entourage’s journey through Libra. Like a crowned head of state, Jupiter has made its way quite rapidly through this sign of fairness and objectivity, giving us the chance to get it right rather than bury the truth. We can raise the bar on our experiences in October by focusing more on the fairy dust of positive growth that Jupiter sprinkles on its path. This is especially strong through the 5^th, until Mercury conjoins Jupiter (at 2:39 PM PDT), but the contact can continue to be used through the morning of the 8^th if your timing is right. While these planets work particularly well together, the Sun fuels our Jupiterian glow through the 22^nd and lends more light and inspiration to our path, intentions, and plans nearly all month long. All this Libran harmony receives an even greater boost from Pluto and Neptune, which happen to be in signs that support Libran efforts. Don’t be surprised if peace breaks out in unexpected places! With Mars’s retrograde at the same time, any plans made now will follow a zig-zag path to completion and success, but that is the way of nature and is the shortest road to our destination.

Another Early-October Event

The 5^th is also the date of Chiron’s return to forward motion, lending a healing flavor to the processes of the early part of the month. This actually harmonizes with Mars and Venus, whose strident contact on the 1^st may bring out the most separating of issues in any relationship. However, with Chiron in tow, healing can occur. Complete healing may not occur until Mars returns to direct motion itself on December 9, but the foundation for that healing can be laid now. Health matters that arise now will follow the same general course. Events related to what occurs around the 5^th will move forward around the 16^th and 21^st. Chiron re-enters Aquarius (which it had nipped into early in the year) on December 5.

Red and Blue Patterns

At the beginning of the month, the blue (opportunity) pattern is strong and coherent. By the end of the month, the red (challenge, energizing) pattern is dominant. As always, there are plenty of harmonies to take advantage of. Even if you do not know much about astrology, you tune in to your inner forces of strength, balance, peace, and possibility to tap those energies, because they are always available. Additionally, you can look at the planetary grid above and focus your activities around the “blue” events. For something really big or important, it is worth having a specific chart cast for the best time to initiate action (called an electional chart).

Jupiter Enters Scorpio.

On the 25^th, Jupiter enters Scorpio. This opens doors for and energizes the water signs — Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces. It also activates the fixed-sign pattern that I’ve been talking about for the last 3+ months, in the way that the arrival of a celebrity livens up a party. Look to the house in your chart where Scorpio lies to see what is being expanded in your life.

Don’t Forget Neptune

Master of subtlety Neptune has been retrograde for nearly 5 months, so it’s time for it to return to forward motion in its yearly rhythmic interaction with Earth. This occurs on the 26^th, bringing resolution to situations on which we had to accept the element of the unknown back in May. Now most is revealed for this cycle, and all that remains is to bring the dreams of this year’s cycle into final form and fruition. This cycle began February 3 and will be complete on February 5 next year. If you have dared to trust the unknown your results will be more positive and potent than otherwise. Other dates that tie into these are May 19 and August 8; look for the thread that runs through events on these dates tying them together into a process, situation, or theme.

A Look Ahead

Venus still climbs higher in the western sky at night, reminding us that its retrograde is not far off. We can prepare now by being mindful of the themes that are developing in our relationships and finances, both representatives of what we value. When Venus’s retrograde comes on December 24, you’ll be more in tune with the energies that will emerge as we follow Venus into the Underworld to discover what lies hidden beneath the surface of our lives. It is there that we will rediscover what we truly love.