Astrological Forecast for October 19 to 25, 2006

by Ellen Zucker

Astrologically speaking, this is a very full and eventful week - one in which we will experience sharp shifts as part of a larger pattern of shifting energy.

As Mercury slows down to prepare for its upcoming retrograde station (yes, Virginia, Mercury is about to retrograde once again) it has moved to meet Jupiter. The two planets will drift together until the end of the month.

Mercury's retrograde period gives us time to digest and integrate information presented to us in the past few months. This retrograde period will last from October 28th to November 17th - although it is common to feel its effectsa week ahead.

Some people already report Mercury Retrograde-like glitches with their communications and their computers. Mercury is nearly motionless now and the pace of communications is slowed.

So back up your computer, avoid signing major contracts and hold off on your direct mail campaign. For a deeper explanation of Mercury retrograde periods and how to make the time work for you, read this article.

In the past year, there has been a dance of Jupiter, Neptune and Saturn in fixed signs. Fixed signs (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, and Aquarius) stand their ground and move slowly, if at all. In a birth chart, planets in fixed signs give us staying power. The key is not to get into a rut.

At times it has felt like moving through molasses: progress made only with great effort and little to show for it. Two of the dancers, Saturn and Jupiter (accompanied by Mercury), will make their last do-se-do this week. An issue bedeviling you all year comes to a climax now.

Optimistic Jupiter buoys us up and entices us to spendthrift our way through limited resources. Saturn represents the credit card bill in the mail. And Mercury makes certain everyone knows all about it.

This scenario affects us in the national realm as we consider the true costs of our profligate use of fossil fuels and our adventures in Iraq.

You may be touched on a personal level, especially if you have planets or sensitive points at or near 23 degrees of any fixed sign.

Like baby geese following its mother, the personal planets (Mercury on out to Mars), follow the Sun as it makes its journey through the zodiac. Usually it takes weeks for the Sun and its entourage to make the complete shift from one sign to another. (And by then, thejackrabbits will have moved on).

But every so often, the lineup tightly compresses. When this happens, the energy in that area becomes very focused and intense.

As the Sun completes it journey in Libra the lineup of personal planets is tightena to an unusual degree.

Venus, the planet of relationship and attraction has been drawing closer to Mars, the planet of action, aggression, and physicality as they close in on the Sun.

This weekend we will have a New Moon (a meeting of the Sun and Moon) at the tail end ofLibra. This new moon will be in the close company of Venus and Mars. In fact, all four planets will fall within a range of less than two degrees.

This is unusually tight. Relationships and the dynamics of relationships will be on the front burner. It is a very creative, dynamic energy, equally so for artists and non-artists.

The new moon marks the start of what astrologers call a 'lunation' cycle. We can take the information we learned this month as the personal planets made their way through Libra and apply it in a very creative way to transform our partnerships and interpersonal dealings.

Since Mercury will be retrograde for much of this time, we may find ourselves reviewing past actions and working on old connections.

But no sooner than the Sun and Moon touch, the parade marches into Scorpio en masse. The Moon enters Scorpio less than two hours later, followed by the rest of the entourage within the next forty-eight. By Tuesday morning, six planets will be in intense, self-centered Scorpio.

The inner dynamics, particularly power dynamics, of our relationships will be under the microscope. It will become clear if we have paid too large a price for Libran consensus.

Daily Forecast
Specific timing is based on Eastern Time Zone

October 19
With Venus making an easy sextile to powerful Pluto, we can move mountains and bring up dicey interpersonal issues. Venus rules relationships, but it also rules values. Use today's energy to really look at what you want out of life and whom you want to take with you.

October 20
With Moon in harmonious Libra, it is a good day to enjoy your environment and the people who populate it. We are nearing the end of last month's lunation cycle, so the emphasis should be on tying up loose ends and taking it easy.

October 21
Today is an easy day. People are cooperative. Tonight, socialize.

October 22
The moon meets the Sun in the wee hours of the morning, triggering a new lunation cycle before entering intense Scorpio. With Mars and the Sun joining forces, we have a high energy day.

Today, Mercury hanging around Jupiter for the past few days, joins up with him. Expect interesting news or an adventure.

October 24
We get another shot of high energy as both the Sun and Mars enter Scorpio. It is easy to focus and Mars' drive keeps us going. The energy is shifting. We are moving from Libra's emphasis on appearances to Scorpio's desire to embrace the dark as well as the light.

With Mercury clashing with Saturn today, it behooves us to choose our words carefully.

October 25
Today Venus dances with Mars, a creative mix of energy if there ever was one. Magnetic energy abounds. And with moon in Sagittarius, we feel upbeat.

Also, as described above, Jupiter and Saturn grit their teeth and bow to other one last time.

© 2006 Ellen M. Zucker