OCTOBER 2005

This month will bring action on political as well as financial and personal scenes. On the 1st Mars turns retrograde (see paragraph on Mars). Military or aggressive actions taken at this time will not go well. Saddam Hussein entered Kuwait under Mars retrograde and did not succeed. However, this may be the right time to begin an orderly transition and withdrawal from our involvement in Iraq. The devastation of Hurricane Katrina on the U.S. gulf coast is a clue that we need our people and resources at home. Mars is the planet of action, so energy can be misused under its retrograde. In Taurus it will stay its course whether right or wrong. Mars in Taurus, Neptune in Aquarius and Saturn in Leo set up a stressful pattern which will affect the U.S. Moon and Nodes, Canada’s Saturn and Pluto, Britain’s Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, Mars and Neptune, Israel’s Sun, Moon, Saturn, Mars and Pluto and Australia’s Moon. This setup will be exacerbated by Jupiter in Scorpio which creates a “make it or break it” pattern, particularly in February of 2006. Two eclipses occur this month – a Solar in Libra (others) on the 3rd and a Lunar on the 17th in Aries (self). The Solar Eclipse occurs near Saturn in the U.S. birth chart, focusing on leadership. The Lunar Eclipse creates a grand cross with the U.S. Mercury and Pluto, focusing on foreign relations and finances. The Sun in Libra until the 23rd supports relationships, balance, negotiation and win/win outcomes in the positive expression, opposition in the negative. The Sun in Scorpio after the 23rd supports motivation, passion, commitment, research, power, control and resources.

Mercury (communications, writing, contracts, commerce) in Libra until the 8th supports face-to-face communication as well as creating partnerships and connecting creative people with clients who need their talents. It is the sign of arbitration, mediation and negotiation. These activities may be necessary in an attempt to keep the energy of Mars retrograde from taking action. Mercury in Scorpio after the 8th supports research, investigation, counseling and therapy. It can also be controlling, manipulative and shrewd.

Venus (values, money, social connections) in Scorpio until the 7th is passionate, committed and motivated. It can support intimacy and sexuality as well as all other issues of shared resources such as income, investments, finance and insurance. Venus in Sagittarius after the 7th supports values of freedom, religion, global trade, travel and belief systems. Venus can be peaceful and balanced, but people can also go to war over opposing values and beliefs.

Mars (initiation, energy, aggression) turns retrograde on the 1st at 23 degrees Taurus. Taurus can be loyal, persevering but also stubborn. It lends energy to tangible things such as the earth, crops, building, machinery and repairs. On the 12th of August Mars entered the shadow of the retrograde. The retrograde spans from October 1st to December 10th and the windup phase lasts until the 4th of February. Since Mars moves more slowly than Mercury, its retrograde is longer and consequently its entry shadow and windup phase are longer. Since Mars rules war and aggression, the people, countries and companies whose charts have planets or angles from 8 to 23 degrees Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius will be most affected between August 2005 and February 2006.

Jupiter (expansion, opportunity, optimism, travel, foreign trade, education, religion) transits 18 to 24 degrees Libra where it was in January and February 2005 and will not repeat these degrees. Birthdays affected most are October 12th-18th, April 8th-14th, July 11th-17th and January 9th-15th as well as persons whose charts have planets or angles from 18 to 24 degrees Libra, Aries, Cancer and Capricorn. Jupiter in Libra brings opportunity thru mediation, cooperation, fairness and arbitration to achieve win-win outcomes. Ruled by Venus, Libra brings a renewed interest in relationships, romance, culture, decorating, art and music. Attention to these helps nurture others and society, sharing each person’s abilities and unique talents for self-expression.

Saturn (structure, foundation, responsibility) transits 8 to 10 degrees Leo where it repeats retrograde in December 2005 and January 2006 and direct in June and July of 2006. Saturn will bring changes in responsibility and career shifts to Leos as well as restructuring in the house of the chart which it rules or where planets in Leo are found. Leo relates to royalty, leadership, performing, children, entertainment and creative talents. During Saturn in Leo, many people could take their hobbies and develop them into businesses. This month’s transits most directly affect those born August 1st-3rd, April 29th-May 1st, November 1st-3rd and January 29th-31st as well as those whose charts have planets or angles from 8 to 10 degrees Leo, Aquarius, Taurus and Scorpio. Saturn’s last transit thru Leo was 1975 to 1978 so it is helpful to review what was happening in your life about 30 years ago, during the half-cycle of 14-15 years (in Aquarius), the quarter cycle of 7 years (in Taurus) and 21 years, the third quarter cycle (in Scorpio) to understand what Saturn’s transit in Leo between July 2005 and September 2007 can mean to you.

Uranus (freedom, rebellion, surprise, invention technology) retrogrades from 7 to 6 degrees Pisces where it was in March and will repeat in December. Birthdays most affected are February 25th-26th, August 30th-31st, May 27th-28th and November 28th-29th. During these times they will need freedom, experience chaos or make radical changes as well as persons whose charts have planets or angles at 6 or 7 degrees Pisces, Virgo, Gemini or Sagittarius. Uranus will be in Pisces until 2011 and supports social revolution. During 1920, the beginning of the previous Uranus thru Pisces, the U.S. Congress granted women the right to vote. It also supports artistic creativity with innovation and intellect with sensitivity, leading to modern ways of helping those in need and suggesting that the only way that humanity will survive is by caring for each other and doing what is best for all, addressing humanitarian and global issues, such as Tsunami and hunger relief, not just issues which individuals or special interests promote.

Neptune (sensitivity, inspiration, escapism, dreams, trust) retrogrades at 14 degrees Aquarius where it was April and July of 2004, January of 2005 and will repeat in November. It goes direct on the 26th. Floods and chemical incidents have happened at the station of Neptune. Neptune relates to intangibles such as art, imagination and inspiration as well as escapism and healing. During the retrograde of Neptune (May thru October 2005) was a good time to release addictive habits, attitudes or behaviors. Birthdays most affected are February 3rd, August 7th, November 7th and May 5th as well as charts with planets or angles at 14 degrees Taurus, Leo, Aquarius or Scorpio. Neptune transits bring a lack of focus or direction, a sense of drifting or the inability to see a betrayal, disappointment, error or weakness until it’s too late. On the positive side this can be a time for healing, faith, psychic insights and artistic creativity. Under Uranus in Pisces you can develop artistic or musical talents, practice meditation and follow intuition and inner guidance. But you may also need to watch your back and balance faith with practicality and fact to see events clearly, not with just wishful thinking or remaining attached to the dream or vision of what you think might have been.

Pluto (power, control, resources, transformation) transits at 22 degrees Sagittarius, repeating where it was in March, April and December of 2004 as well as in July of 2005. Most influenced are Birthdays of December 14th, June 13th, March 12th-13th and September 14th-15th as well as charts with planets or angles at 22 degrees Virgo, Sag, Gemini and Pisces. Since March 2004 they will have experienced major changes in life such as career, relocation, marriage, divorce or financial problems. Counseling or therapy could be required and self-awareness/motivational work found very valuable. Pluto has passed the 20th degree and is two-thirds thru the sign of Sagittarius, bringing transformation and paradigm shifts in education, travel, religion, politics and global trade.

Specific indications for the 12 signs are as follows:

Here are the Specific indications for the 12 signs

Note: In addition to reading about your sun sign, you can get additional information by reading about your moon sign, rising sign and the sign on the Midheaven of your chart.

Nancy Bahlman is a professional astrologer with special interests in relating persons to locations using Astro*Cartography and Local Space Charts. Classes now forming.
(248) 546-5407 chartmates@aol.com