October 2008 Starcodes Heather Roan Robbins

Something which does not show up in our ephemeris (because it is somewhat unpredictable) but astrologers watch carefully- is the Sun’s cycle of activity. The Sun usually fluctuates on a roughly eleven-year cycle from bright but quiet to aurora-causing solar storms. This Cycle seems to synchronize with history here on earth. When the Sun is quiet, we may talk a good game but it is hard to motivate the collective community for political or cultural change because we tend to work with the answers we have. Our politics heat up when the Sun grows restless, we seem to grow hungry for new answers; the heights of solar activity were recorded around the French Revolution, the American Revolution, and during the mid- 60’s. The Solar flares turn up the volume on all other aspects. And our social revolutions switch off with each new cycle, oscillating between more conservative politics and more liberal fluctuations.

The last Solar Cycle energize a conservative revolution peaking in 2000-2002 with a relatively sedate maximum; since then the Sun has calmed down to its quietest spell in over 50 years. The first Sunspot of the new cycle, expected to swing towards a more liberal search, appeared on January 4th; it was relatively small storm in the grand scale of the Sun, only about as wide as Earth, but began to turn the tide; we expected this change to build momentum as the Sun activated on its regular 11-year schedule this summer. But instead the Sun quieted down (lots of coronal prominences, but no spots or storms) momentum faltered, and the old solutions were left in place.

The next Solar flare occurred in late September just as the recent economic crisis was announced; it correlated with another surge for change. But then the Sun smoothed out, and legislation was passed to patch old solutions. Again the Sun stirred the pot, but the momentum real reform was postponed. The real action of this new Solar cycle is long overdue; it’s expected to pick up any minute now into a very active, history-carving, change-producing maximum over the next few years, but the Sun is capricious and works on its own time table; we’ll just have to keep our eyes open and seize the moment.

This on-again off-again Solar pattern toward change was echoed by revolutionary Pluto, who first entered Capricorn last January 26 (for the first time since the American revolutionary era), then retrograded back to Sagittarius June 14 and took its pressure off, briefly. Pluto enters Capricorn again at the end of November, and is expected to initiate a decade-long reorganization of how we build and structure business, government and structural foundations.

During these recent political crisis we’ve had some help from Saturn (conservative principle) and Jupiter (expansion principle), both now in earth signs and encouraging us to work together to handle the earth stuff, the material form of our world. Together they encourage a bi-partisan approach, recent support and disagreement with the economic bailout has not been along partisan lines. And a bi-partisan approach in our own lives, which can help us get our personal acts together even in hard times.

Saturn is also moving into an opposition with change-master Uranus, an aspect that will be exact on Election Day. This aspect can literally shake the foundations; it challenges the status quo and is sometimes associated with earthquakes or other fundamental shifts. It requires change, but leaves up to us the direction of the change. The last time these two were opposite, also in a very active solar cycle, was 1965.

As October begins we’re urged into action by a series of Mars aspects, but consensus decisions can be painfully hard to come by with Mercury retrograde in Libra until Oct 16. Our thinking is fuzzy and we have incomplete information. This Mercury is great for fiction of all kinds, but can scramble our judgment and our communications. We may have to go back into the past to dig up some clue or missing piece to clarify our situation, and we really have to want to see the truth, not just our hopes and fears, whether we’re looking at our love life or our economy. Mercury Retrograde does help us repair what was broken, do what should have been done a long time ago, but it’s not an easy time to start a whole new process.

The first week of October we may have to take a scalpel to our plans and make some surgical decisions as Mars aspects Pluto and Saturn and then enters Scorpio. It will be important to see the benefits of restraint; feel everything we feel (expect flashes of anger or frustration) but let our wisest selves take action.

As Mars joins Venus in no-nonsense Scorpio it provokes three intense responses: to introspect, to get suspicious and investigate the motives and means of all suspects, and to get even. It is not a forgiving place, but does encourage us to look inwards, and to get to the bottom of a problem. Scorpio loves extremes, it can send us to plumb the depths of discouragement, but also encourages us to take on an impossible challenge. With Venus and Mars in Scorpio we have the capacity for phenomenal emotional concentration, some might even say obsession. The gloves are off; let’s choose carefully how we proceed.

Oct 1-2 take a moment for a deep personal inventory as Venus conjuncts the Moon in Scorpio; we’re less compulsive and more directed if we know what’s pushing us. Some flash from the past can throw us off; we don’t need to open those closed book, but do need to deal with unfinished business as Mars sextiles Pluto. If simmering resentment seeps in unexpectedly, uses it for diagnosis and let it flow out again rather than identify with its mumble.

Oct 3-5 gets edgy as Mars enters Scorpio; vent wisely, anger is easily misplaced and will provoke retaliation. It’s time to get down to a chunk of work as the Moon enters Sagittarius, but be wary of a tendency to want to run away from tension; take a break instead. Bonding on collaboration improves options and optimism. Take an opportunity to grow but watch for crimes of excess or overexertion. Sad stories begin to trickle in, but can instigate compassionate action as Venus aspects Pluto and Jupiter.

Oct 6-7, leadership mingles with ambition; look for a real path up the mountain as the Moon enters Capricorn. Rebuild organizational structure and the rest follows. Be generous but not fulsome with recognition; we need to feel trusted and to have our work recognized or we pull away. Oct 8-10 work together for the common good as Moon enters Aquarius and Sun trines healing Chiron. Personal angers are understandable, but self-indulgent; stick to what furthers. Collaboration cooks, creative solutions can be found and our love life calls for spice as Venus trines Uranus

The middle of October is a brooding, interior time with lots of confusion on the outside. While this is good for introspection and investigation, and good for getting to the bottom of a problem, it can be too emotionally distracting to be pragmatic. We may be tempted to cut out, cut off, pare down, but unless it is part of a long-term plan we’ve been working on for a while, we just can’t see clearly enough right now to make a safe decision. Because deep primal emotions run close to the surface and can distort our thinking. We may sound agreeable, but these primal emotions are strong enough run the show if we’re not careful, and so private we may not recognize even our own motivations.

These strong feelings of suspicion and ambition, possessiveness and transcendent compassion flood just below the conscious level. Bodies can have a conversation of their own. People may seem less friendly but be more attractive, and this vies with a suspicious, possessive streak to make relationships challenging unless we stay very conscious of our actions.

Missing items and people may turn up when least expected. Material sifts up from below; pipes can back up or break open so check foundations for cracks or leaks. Real anger simmers where our national or personal trust has felt betrayed. Political muck is raked from both the darkest corners and from pure fiction so check sources carefully.

But it is a great time for a personal retreat; this active interior world can be an incredible source of inspiration and connection if we peer deep enough to listen to its wild voice but don’t let it run the show. And when all this inner work gets tiring, obsessing on a detailed project or creative outlet can give our souls a rest.

Oct 10-12 we may feel overwhelmed and need privacy, care, or sympathetic company. New input can change our thinking or just make us irritable; adjustments need to be made as the Sun quincunx Uranus. Watch for attitude, accidents, or retribution while Mars challenges Pluto. Leave friends alone if their tail twitches, it probably isn’t personal. Let emotions wash through if moods swing, but don’t believe the story line; the feelings may be authentic but the reasoning pure justification.

Oct 13-14 deep emotional charges spark quickly. A howl-worthy, adolescence-inducing Full Aries Moon turns us inside out; let’s run with the tides but watch what we trip over. Do not, under any circumstances, give unnecessary orders; it will only provoke a revolution. Impatience clashes with a stationary Mercury and can leave us spinning our wheels. Hang in there.

Oct 15-16 our senses sing, our brains do not; if we could only be quiet and cuddle in bed under Taurus Moon as Mercury turns direct. Prioritize safety. Sullen undercurrents tug but an honest hug is great medicine. Speak up tonight, but winnow the truth from moody chaff first as Moon opposes Mars. Slow down mid-week; move and speak with care while Mercury turns direct under volatile aspects, mistakes will be made but we can keep them small. When in doubt, say less, and rest up for the action-packed weeks ahead.

Oct 17-18 a relief, surface sociability over deeper unrest and a chance to ask our questions alas the Gemini Moon forms a grant trine with Neptune and the Sun. Words flow but may dive into an illusion of martyrdom or success, run a fact-check afterwards. Oct 18 Venus enters Sagittarius– and we suddenly speak our heart, after a few awkward sentences beginning "frankly,"- we have more room in our heart to forgive and hope.

Oct 19-20 is moody, but we are empowered by what we do, not what we say. Respond to others mood swings by finding one’s center, rather than react. As the dust begins to clear some secrets or hidden benefit becomes more obvious. Avoid giving unnecessary advice, we’re impatient with anything that holds us back, but don't want to be pushed.

Oct 21-22 the stories come out but egos get touchy under a Leo Moon. Conflicting feelings, pulled between wanting attention and wanting solitude; if we can get around these it could be fun. But strange arguments can blow up, odd disagreements can trigger off a release of energy that is really just a dump of anxieties or insecurities masking as bravado. Everybody should just calm down and enjoy each other’s company. Though our feeling may be authentic, we are more than our feelings. As the Sun enters Scorpio on Oct 22 the situation becomes more serious.

Oct 23-25 get down to work; critiques can sting, but keep it constructive no matter how much fun it feels to throw zingers. Health issues need attention both in the national debate and on the creaks of our body. An obsessive streak can get us hooked on one issue, conflict can conflagrate if there's any fuel. Cut or prune excess, edit fluff, but use sharp knives with care. Careful, careful!

Oct 26–27 prioritize relationships but do not put them on the spot, keep heart open, see the beauty but keep expectations at bay. Repair misunderstandings now; positive attitudes can reframe a conflict so all sides win. Oct 28-29 the Scorpio New Moon feels like the real Halloween, deep and spooky, a good day to hide behind a mask and talk to the ancestors. Brilliant but highly subjective thinking can get us in real trouble. If someone doesn’t want to talk, leave them alone, they may have a good reason for silence as Mercury aspects Neptune and Uranus. Politicians may sharpen their claws on one another.

Oct 30-31 stimulates exciting changes for the next week; place no bets but stay involved with any ongoing decisions as action happens fast while Mercury trines Neptune, Mars trines Uranus and Saturn opposes Uranus. Brilliance and insanity, breaking down of old structures is the first step in rebuilding new and healthier ones; the stars signaled a deconstruction and now we have to guide the reconstruction. On a more personal level-- this can be a wild holiday; we need the release, so let’s dress as our favorite alter-ego, go trick-or-treating and dance the night away.

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