Stellar Insights: October 9 - 15

Eclipse Season is Here!

Here are some insights about the opportunities and challenges that this week’s astrology may offer. May they help you make the most of this moment. Should you want to see what the current planetary movements are catalyzing for you—what your here/now and near future may be inspiring—based upon your personal astrology chart, we can explore that in a Stellar Guidance Session.

This week has the markings of intensity written all over it. And yet, with a war just having broken out in the Middle East—as well as other happenings around the world—it’s not like intensity just begins as this week does. And yet given that over the coming days we have some titanic astrological expressions, it feels important that we should be mindful of our steps and pay attention to what’s arising within and outside of us.

I want to be careful here as I don’t want to convey that it’s just a week of sh*t with upset around every corner. For sure, that is not what I mean. It’s more that it feels like being conscious and honest about the potential wide range of what we see and feel seems especially important, not only for being able to access a greater steady state but to connect to a sense of deeper peace. That said, here are my reflections…

The idea of paying attention seems quite important notably as the week begins with Pluto having seemingly slowed down to a halt as it gets set to shift direct, ending its recent retrograde cycle, on Tuesday. As you may recall in my previous writings, any time a planet “stations” (as Pluto is doing) its archetypal invitations feel quite notable and potent in the world around us. Given it’s the planet associated with the themes of survival, the cycles of life, death and rebirth, power, control, and that which is buried in the dark—not lighthearted topics, to say the least—we may find ourselves quite deeply stirred. Allowing ourselves to bring intense feelings such as the heavyweights of grief, sorrow, fear, and the like to light can be quite healing at the moment. Acting at the behest of an urge to let go of things that are outworn and have minimal vitality—whether objects, attitudes, relationships, et al.—may allow us to circulate and express the stygian energies that are coursing through us.

Helpful practices to undertake to align with the Plutonian invitation including deep cleaning, exfoliating your skin, purging closets, and/or weeding a garden. Also, search for buried treasures. This could be a literal experience; for example, being on the hunt for things that you have lost. It may also be a figurative one, such as delving into your subconscious to excavate thoughts and feelings that have been buried below. Some practices to do so include journalling, shadow work, breathwork, talking with a counselor or trusted friend, and dreamwork.

The invitation to dive into the depths and cast a light on what’s usually shrouded seems even more prominent given that on Thursday action-oriented Mars will plunge into Scorpio, where it will be through November 23. Mars is at home in Scorpio, given that it’s the sign of which it traditionally rules. Its placement encourages the capacity for being motivated by emotions rather than intellect, wanting to champion for causes that are resonant with our true desires, and experiencing a greater sense of endurance and commitment to assert what we truly want. At the same time, we may find ourselves and/or others more prone to be on guard through the veil of secrets, feel more prickly because of a fear of abandonment, and experience an upswing of all-or-nothingness.

All this while, we have officially entered Eclipse Season, with the first of these two special lunations occurring on Saturday (the other will be a Lunar Eclipse on October 28). This week’s is a Solar Eclipse in the sign of Libra.

Solar Eclipses are considered super-charged New Moons. While they often usher in significant new chapters, oftentimes they do so along with the sense that while something may be beginning, it’s accompanied with something else needing to come to an end so as to make space for the new that is about to take root.

During an Eclipse, though, clarity may seem obscured; we may feel into the shifts that are occurring and yet not be quite clear how it will all exactly manifest. That seems to be partially why Eclipse Season is accompanied with stress and consternation. One way to reduce this is to remember that things are not supposed to be fully articulated right now and so try to approach what is unfolding with patience and curiosity.

A Solar Eclipse in Libra may inspire fresh starts in realms related to this sign. This may include relationships, diplomacy, social engagements, works aimed at justice, ways to define fairness and equality, and beauty and pleasure. Looking to see where this eclipse (located at 21 Libra) falls in your chart—in which house it resides and which planets/points it may connect with—can help you to further understand the personal invitations that may be unfolding at this moment. (If you want personalized guidance as to what this and the subsequent Eclipse are inspiring for you, this is something we can explore in a Stellar Guidance astrology session.)

Wishing you a week of beautiful shifts and movements, one that will have you unearth buried treasures that will have you find a deeper sense of resilient balance.

xxStephanie

Astrological Highlights

• October 10: Venus/Saturn Opposition; Pluto Stations Direct

• October 12: Mars enters Scorpio

• October 13: Mars/Saturn Trine

• October 14: New Moon Solar Eclipse

All days reflect Eastern Daylight Time (- 4 hours GMT)

Photos: Laura Skinner, Rene Bohmer, and Majid Rangraz, all via Unsplash