October 2014: The eclipse season, Mercury retrogrades, freedom, relationships and values

Mercury retrogrades for the final time in 2014 October 4-25. It begins its stationary retrograde October 4-6 at 2 degrees of Scorpio (October 4 at 1:02 P.M., EST), the most intense of signs, and matters you thought were resolved the previous week may turn out to be unsolved, changed and plans of all sort may start to shift. Secrets may be revealed, situations break down, along with equipment, appliances cars and computers and it may become harder to think and focus.

Scorpio is the natural ruler of the 8th house of death, money, taxes, joint finances, sex, change and transformation and it rules the way you feel in a relationship which for some could bring obsessive feelings during this time.

On October 10, Mercury retrogrades back into the sign of Libra where it spent most of September and the focus will shift toward relationships of all types. Now will be the time to focus on what makes us happy or unhappy in our closest personal relationships and partnerships, and for some this will be a time of endings, but if a relationship is basically healthy and happy this transit should pass with little negative effect.

Mercury goes stationary direct October 25-27 and Mercurial energy shifts again, but we are not out of the woods. Sometimes this is the point at which changes occur again, situations change and unresolved situations start to become clear for the first time. As Mercury continues on through its post retrograde shadow period through November 2,  all will be revealed if it hasn't already been shown to us and we may move forward, for some in an entirely new direction and with new viewpoints.

Retrograde Mercury is part of the natural ebb and flow of life. It is not the time to start new projects, get married or buy big ticket items. It is rather a time to focus on our inner world and often situations are revealed to us for what they really are, rather than what we think they are or wish them to be. This is not always negative, as a matter of fact it can be quite positive because no matter what the situation is, the truth will always set us free.

October 4, the Sun squares Pluto and this sets off the Uranus-Pluto square that will occur over the next week, and it will be a wild week for many. Sun-Pluto transits deal with situations, things (including relationships) that have broken down, and this is even more significant with a retrograde Mercury. Transformative circumstances can occur one way or another, and Pluto deals with bullies and those who try and force their will on others. Push someone with this energy and they will push back equally. Big events will occur in the world that will affect us all on some level and Pluto deals with death, destruction, nuclear weapons, oil and bullies in the world take many forms, especially in the hot spots around the globe these days. We will start to see events related to the upcoming eclipse occur and this energy is tense and volatile. Get ready for you world to get tense and unexpected situations arise as we get close to the October 8, lunar eclipse.

October 5, Mars trines Uranus and this is a positive transit indicative of action, new ways of doing things and a degree of excitement amid the tumultuous energy and the opportunity to take different actions in your personal pursuits.

October 7, the Sun opposes Uranus and this indicative of unexpected changes, surprising twists and turns, changes in personal relationships of all kinds and surprise events. Uranus is the planet of freedom, rebellion and change and this transit comes on the eve of the lunar eclipse in Aries making it even more powerful.

Look for major news in the world of a surprising and unexpected nature. Uranus is all about rebellion, freedom at any cost, separating oneself from things that have unduly tied us down and separation from what is the norm, and this will occur on a personal level, with others and in the world among governments and the people they govern.

October 8, a total lunar eclipse occurs at 15 degrees of Aries reaching its peak at 6:51 A.M., EST. Aries is a fire sign and fire has a direct take charge nature. The last time we had an eclipse at this degree was October 8, 1995. If that period was significant, this one may be as well.

This eclipse will affect Libra, Aries, Cancer and Capricorn to the greatest degree or those who have planets in these signs from 12-17 degrees. The eclipse also sets off the Uranus-Pluto square which shows us events will be large in our personal lives if you have planets in your natal chart being aspected as mentioned above, and changes will be big in the world.

The moon is conjunct Uranus and Uranus is about change, freedom and unexpected events of a surprising nature, but most of all freedom at any cost.

As with any volatile energy this is not the time to push issues, issue orders, start arguments, issue ultimatums, or push another individual unless you are totally prepared for the consequences which in all likelihood will not be passive.

Relationship themes are emphasized as this eclipse affects the 1st/7th house axis of relationships and partnerships. Venus is square Pluto and this transit is indicative jealousy, possessiveness, obsessiveness, hurt feelings, and intensity. In some cases couples could achieve an ah ha moment in terms of their feelings/relationship and this could lead to positive transformation, but something else in the chart would have to indicate this outside of the eclipse. Issues we will face at the time of the eclipse concern money and love, partnerships and values.

Needless to say in the world we will be focused on the hot spots/issues and with so much Uranus involved the theme of freedom, rebellions, coups, and change will be the norm. Unexpected weather conditions may crop up and there could be news involving the abuse of women.

This eclipse affects the US chart, Hong Kong, ISIS, Putin, and many others. This is a dangerous, potentially violent, and volatile period in the world and after this eclipse is over many changes will have occurred.

October 10, Mercury retrogrades back into the sign Libra.

October 11, Venus opposes Uranus and this is the last transit that will set off the Uranus-Pluto square at this time. Venus-Uranus transits deal with love, values and money and images. We will see a polarity in values this week in our personal lives and in the world. The values of the Western world as opposed to the values of those who don't value human life come to mind. We could see big market swings on or around this day and some relationships and other situations will end. If you meet someone new it may or may not work out, but don't place high expectations on it, no matter how well you seem to get along. The theme will be unexpected events in our lives and in the world along with the freedom/separation or changes in status for some. We may hear news concerning young women.

October 14, Venus sextiles Pluto and this is a positive transit indicative of social events and love. Around 5:02 P.M. EST, the moon opposes Pluto however and things can go South emotionally for a few hours if you are heavily influenced by the moon.

October 16, the Sun conjuncts Mercury and this can be a mildly irritating and 'willful' transit. As it sextiles Mars things should improve by evening.

October 17, Venus conjuncts Mercury and this is positive for romance, love, and social affairs. Feelings may be expressed more easily.

October 20, Venus sextiles Mars great for romance, social events and important meetings. Mercury sextiles Jupiter another positive transit for communication.

October 23, A solar eclipse/New moon occurs at 0 degrees of Scorpio at 5:57 P.M., EST.

Scorpio is the natural ruler of the eighth house of sex, transformation, other people's money and death. It is the most intense of all signs and Scorpio themes involve money, sex and how a relationships makes you feel. This eclipse conjuncts the Sun, which enters Scorpio at 7:57 A.M., EST, and Venus which also enters Scorpio.

As with the first eclipse, exactly how it plays out in your life depends on what it is aspecting. It will affect Scorpio, Taurus, Aquarius and Leo, especially if you were born in the early degrees of these signs or 1-3 degrees, or you have personal planets in these signs and degrees.

As the moon falls on Venus events will concern money and love affairs or our social lives. If it makes a good aspect in your chart things could go well. Eclipses are not always bad, sometimes they can bring positive events. Now is the time to make changes on the deepest levels and nothing superficial with suffice.

October 25, Mercury goes stationary direct at 16 Libra. The Sun conjuncts Venus and this is positive for love, money and romance.

October 26, Mars enters Capricorn until December 4 and Capricorn rules the 10th house of business and career. Mars in this sign will eventually set off the Uranus-Pluto square mid- November that will bring further changes in the Cardinal signs (and the world).

October 27, Venus trines Neptune and this is positive for romance, creativity, psychic awareness, compassion and spirituality.

October 28, the Sun trines Neptune and this is much like Venus trine Neptune. Venus represents the female, the Sun, male.

                                                                        HALLOWEEN

A gentle breeze rustling the dry cornstalks. A sound is heard, a goblin walks. A harvest moon suffers a black cat's cry. Oh' do the witches fly! Bonfire catches a pumpkins gleem. Rejoice, it's Halloween! -Richard Anderson 1998