unraveling, detangling // astrology of october
libra eclipse + water trines + full moon in aries
October 1st - 6th, Grand Water Trine (Venus + Mars + Saturn)
Venus in Scorpio will also approach Mars in Cancer and Saturn in Pisces, forming a grand trine across the water signs from October 2nd - 6th. True to the fluid, interconnected qualities of the element, water signs tend to be more emotional, sensitive, and intuitive, and can run the gamut from clear and quiet to dark and turbulent. In a grand trine, the three planets involved are attempting to work together to help us process something that is perhaps tender, complicated, or heavy. Because Venus is getting involved, around the same time as the Solar Eclipse in her socially-oriented sign of Libra, close relationships are likely to be implicated in the feelings that are stirred up and we may feel like we’re at an emotional crossroads. Much of the astrology this month indicates undoing, release, and endings, intellectually and emotionally.
October 2nd, Solar Eclipse in Libra
Last year, the eclipse cycle shifted into the sign polarity of Aries and Libra — and at the top of the month, we’ll have our final eclipse in Libra for this series (the next one won’t be until 2033). Eclipses in the cardinal, airy, and Venus-ruled sign of Libra tend to activate the topic of relationships. Libran energy encourages us to create balance in our connections with others — or at least to be aware of where imbalance might be occurring. Since this eclipse is occurring near the South Node, a point which astrologers associate with detachment, loss, karma, and wisdom, we may find that we’re reviewing our relationship dynamics and trying to shed some old patterns — or otherwise completing a relational story that began in 2023. This may involve some relationships wrapping up, or simply relating differently within existing relationships. Since this eclipse is ruled by Venus, who will be in Scorpio at the time, we may have some really deep feelings to process along the way. And as this is a Solar Eclipse (which can only happen during a New Moon), we are initiating a cycle that will continue to play out over the next six months.
This particular eclipse will fall at 10°, in the second decan of Libra. This Saturn-ruled decan, in Venus’ sign, is represented in the Tarot by the III of Swords. This card is often interpreted as the pangs of heartbreak, or loss, but I tend to see it come up when a serious commitment or decision is being made — usually one that requires giving up one thing to fully embrace another. Saturn, after all, is exalted in Libra, suggesting that the sacrifices we make for love (of self, of others, of what we believe in) are the noblest (and sometimes hardest) of all. The major cards corresponding to this minor are Justice (Libra) and The World (Saturn). To live a meaningful life, we must be honest with ourselves, and sometimes truth leads to pain. But the only way out is through. The dancer in the World card expresses the joy of completion — of coming out on the other side.
October 6th, Mercury square Mars
Mercury in Libra forms a hard aspect to Mars in Cancer, with the latter now in its retrograde shadow period. We might feel extra frustrated, sharp-tongued, and/or impatient. Avoid arguments if possible, and practice regular emotional hygiene between the 3rd and the 8th of the month.
October 11th, Pluto stations Direct
Pluto has been in Capricorn since 2008, and now that it’s moving direct again, it will finally exit the sign on November 19th — not to return for another 200 years! Pluto’s role, with a nod to its underworld associations, is to reveal secret things that are hidden, buried, or scary. Pluto also brings matters to their expiration date, and like death, Pluto can bring transformation as endings allow energy to move freely from one form to another. Pluto’s last call in Capricorn is an opportunity to look at your Capricorn house and consider how you’d like to write the last paragraph of this 16-year transit over the next month.
October 13th, Mercury square Pluto, Mercury enters Scorpio & Sun trine Jupiter
Mercury in Libra forms its last aspect in this sign, squaring Pluto in Capricorn. Square aspects between Mercury and Pluto can result in deep realizations, new disclosures, and impulses towards digging for hidden information, as well as unexpected power plays or chess moves. Mercury will then slip into Mars-ruled Scorpio, and communication may become more focused, reserved, and private over the next few weeks while it travels there. On the same day, the Sun in Libra will make a trine with Jupiter in Gemini, which may encourage us to expand our intellectual horizons, look on the bright side, or even to be generous in some situations.
October 14th, Sun square Mars & Venus opposes Uranus
The Sun in Libra will square Mars in Cancer, as Venus in Scorpio opposes Uranus in Taurus. This combination of transits could be a bit like a pot of hurt feelings boiling over, especially since their window of influence (October 7th - 19th) will overlap with the Full Moon in Aries. Be cautious around the impulse to make sudden decisions mid-month, and be thoughtful about how you unpack emotional baggage.
October 15th, Venus trine Neptune
A trine between Venus in Scorpio and Neptune in Pisces may help to briefly soften some of our feelings, by reminding us to turn towards universal themes of compassion, empathy, and interdependence. A good time to return to art or spiritual practices for solace and release.
October 17th, Full Moon in Aries
This Full Moon is a bit of a rough ride, and though it is not technically an eclipse, it’s still sharing the sign of Aries with the North Node and is therefore a continuation of our Aries-Libra eclipse story. The reason this Full Moon might be challenging is because it is in a tight square with Mars in Cancer, potentially amplifying tension and drama around sensitive topics. Happening at 24° Aries in the third decan, which is Venus-ruled and corresponds to the IV of Wands, some of that drama might be domestic or related to our vision of stability at home. We’ll need to pay close attention to what comes up around this time, since Mars is now inside of its retrograde shadow and these issues are likely to either remain on the table or to re-surface later in the year.
The major cards associated with the third decan of Aries are The Empress (Venus) and The Emperor (Aries). What these cards share is a commanding quality and a vision of success — but the way they go about expressing and accomplishing those features is quite different. The Empress card represents the receptive, magnetic traits of Venus, which assemble a good life based on beauty, harmony, and abundance. The card of The Emperor, however, depicts the conquering, competitive, and fiery energy of Mars-ruled Aries, which seeks power through force of will. At this Full Moon, we may feel stuck at in choosing which approach (passive vs. aggressive) to take around a problem, or find that a history of favoring one method over the other has created a relationship issue. Our homework will be finding an assertive, yet respectful response to whatever arises, opening up the opportunity for future peace.
October 22nd, Sun square Pluto, Mercury trine Saturn, Sun enters Scorpio
Following the Full Moon, the Sun will approach a square with Pluto before moving into Scorpio, and we’ll feel this transit from October 19th up to its exact aspect on the 22nd. Sun-Pluto aspects tend to illuminate things that were previously obscured or ignored, intentionally or not, and they can put us in contact with a deeper, sometimes uncomfortable level of truth. Sun-Pluto combinations can also indicate power struggles, and this is especially likely since the Sun will be in the social sign of Libra — if you’re feeling this one, look back at the Venus-Pluto square around September 20th - 22nd for any patterns. Mercury in Scorpio will be trine to Saturn in Pisces on the same day, and this may be a constructive influence for getting some perspective and a deeper understanding of our emotions.
October 28th - 31st, Venus square Saturn & Grand Water Trine (Mercury + Mars + Neptune)
Mars in Cancer will form a positive, flowing aspect to Neptune in Pisces, which could help us to see the limits and flaws of conflict, revitalize ourselves through compassionate action, or to find resilience and grit by connecting to higher principles. Mercury in Scorpio will quickly catch up to both planets, ending the month with another grand trine in water. The combination of Mercury, Mars, and Neptune could be useful for applying our ideals in practical ways or communicating our feelings.
In the same time frame, Venus in Sagittarius will square Saturn in Pisces, which suggests that we might be experiencing some bittersweetness or disappointment in relationships, or could come to a place where we recognize the need for greater maturity in them. Connecting across mutable signs, we might be doing some more of the unraveling, detangling emotional work that is a core theme of this month and an echo to the South Node eclipse pattern in Libra.
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