October begins with powerful personal planetary placements that shine the light on relating and relationships. Sun and Saturn traipse hand in hand through early Libra, joined by Mercury on October 3, and then New Moon in Libra on October 7 - 8. It feels more like the Sun and Saturn may be limping or plodding through Libra, bringing up uncomfortable feelings and unpleasant confrontations, or providing situations that we would rather avoid. This is not a light and fluffy start to the month of October, but one laden with responsibility and obligation, and a sense of dealing with reality. As the month goes on things will lighten up. Mars and Venus cavort in seductive Scorpio bringing up issues of sex, money, death and rebirth. The personal shadow is reflected in the fading fall sun light, and others are the mirror to see more clearly our own short-comings.
Sun and Saturn in Libra bring a new twist to the Cardinal t-square which has been occurring all summer, forcing everyone to resolve on-going issues of life and death, health and healing, love and solitude. This configuration presents another level of intensity in the on-going saga of self-realization. The focus for the month will be on relationships, love, noticing the beauty in our lives, and keeping our lives in balance. The symbol of Libra is the scales, we have to take extra care this month not to lean too much to one side or polarize. Balance and moderation are of the essence. Personal and professional relationships will be re-evaluated with an air-like detachment to see if they are worth keeping. Libra wants to keep things superficial and make nice, but Mars and Venus in Scorpio force us to look beneath the surface, and deal with destructive subconscious patterns that may be curtailing your health and happiness.
Venus goes retrograde in Scorpio on October 8, right after the New Moon in Libra, giving more impetus to resolving all relationships issues, including the relationship with your inner mate. Psychologist Carl Jung called the inner female for a man his "anima" and labeled a woman's inner male as her "animus". This is a good time to become intimately acquainted with your "inner mate" so that you can be assured that you have the same agenda with this subconscious part of your self. Perhaps your inner mate is sabotaging your attempts for love and happiness.
Full Moon in Aries occurs on the last day of the Sun in Libra, October 22nd, which signals a phase of completion and resolution. This is a time to reconcile opposites and transcend polarization. What can we eliminate in our lives to regain a new sense of balance? How can we live a life empowered by love? Libra is a sign ruled by Venus, archetype of love and beauty. After a tumultuous summer and early fall of Cardinal cross placements, Libra and Venus urge us to find a peaceful, loving, beautiful existence. Perhaps, surrender is the best way to find this existence. If we push or try to hard, we aren't happy and hit a wall of resistance. To get around that wall of resistance we need to learn how to surrender. Surrender is not giving up. My teacher, Namadeva, Thomas Ashley-Farrand, shared a powerful teaching on surrender last month, as his physical body was frail and weak, riddled with liver cancer. He told us, "I'm learning about surrender. If you can surrender in life, it will be that much easier in death. There are layers to surrender. Learn to surrender now, and you will find life easier..." If we were to die tomorrow - what can we take with us? Nothing physical or material. Perhaps it is more important, what do we want to leave behind? What are the qualities of the soul that transcend physical incarnation? A legacy of peace, love and kindness... I dedicate this issue to my teacher, Namadeva, who was an embodiment of Peace, Love and Kindness ...Jai Gurudev, Namadeva....
