Important astrological changes took place in the second half of September: The Lunar nodes shifted signs, and both Jupiter and Saturn ended their long retrograde movement. These changes are helpful, but as we enter October we are still experiencing challenges from Mars, who goes retrograde this month.
A fiery Mars, contributing to devastating fires in the West, has kept us on our toes.
Mars is red hot and active in Aries, and is also fanned by the dry and airy condition of Saturn in Capricorn, who is in a close angular aspect to Mars. The stationary Saturn is very powerful as it turns direct from being retrograde (Sept 29). This is also the day when the 90 degree angle is exact between Saturn and Mars.
The many thousands of firefighters who bravely defend the land for us also represent Mars.
On October 1st there is a full moon in Pisces, in the nakshatra Uttara Bhadrapada which is known as the serpent of the deep. On October 2nd both Mars and the Moon come together at the deepest gandanta point, 0 degrees Aries. This is a time of potential awakening and can bring us to great emotional depths.
Mars retrogrades back into Pisces on October 3rd.
The Lunar nodes are now becoming more settled in their new signs. Rahu in Taurus desires steadiness and stability, qualities that are hard to come by these days. With Rahu in Taurus there can be a tendency towards being conservative since Taurus does not favor change.
Ketu in Scorpio will give us new insights. Ketu’s transit in this sign will reveal secrets and hidden information.
Mercury goes retrograde on October 13th in Libra and turns direct again on November 3rd, election day in the United States.
Even though Mercury is in Libra, a sign seeking harmony, balance and fairness, it is challenged by all the malefic planets which indicate disharmonious communication. Mercury is aspected by Mars, also retrograde, as well as by Saturn and by the sign aspect from Rahu. A challenged Mercury can make us irritable and nervous.
When the Sun joins Mercury on October 16th, he also receives the malefic aspects, and when Venus moves into Virgo, on October 22nd, this planet will also be aspected by Mars and Rahu. This does not encourage social harmony.
The Sun is debilitated in Libra after October 16th, and Venus, ruler of Libra, is debilitated after the 22nd.
Jupiter is much stronger since going direct and after Ketu left Sagittarius for Scorpio in September. This has strengthened Jupiter’s positive influence.
Saturn is also now direct and strong in his own sign, Capricorn. Saturn helps us to be practical, resilient and organized in the midst of many changes.
Many blessings,
Lina
November 2024 is, not unexpectedly, a very intense month. We will see that Mars in Cancer is a major contributor to the drama.