astral meanders Oct. 2015

Thought for the month: You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.C. S. Lewis

In General: October 2015 is a very energetic month, particularly as it is influenced by a Mars-Jupiter conjunction. The Mars-Jupiter conjunction brings physical competence, and more action. But the Mars-Jupiter tandem can also manifest in a negative way, creating a tendency toward carelessness, excess, silly actions and taking risks. The Mars-Jupiter conjunction forms a nice trine with Pluto. This aspect enhances ambition and is favourable to those who know what they want and are eager to do everything required to achieve their goal. However it is also a time for focus on balance and logic! The Sun is in Libra until the 23^rd. Libra rules relationships with others and shows them as a mirror of ourselves. Meeting others halfway, compromise, and in general working on understanding our relationships better come under the influence of Libra. The focus now is on finding a balance. Mercury stations direct on the 9^th, easing communication issues and travel delays! Let’s breathe out, relax, we are now officially done with Mercury Retrograde for the rest of the year.If you have a birthday this month then expect an active, risk taking year, but also a great sense of grounding and balance! The risks seem calculated and positive! On the world scene, it’s a chaotic time, but reason will in the end prevail. Locally focus on relationship lessons.

 Aries

The start to this month will be hectic! Mercury retrograde does not end until October 9 and you would be wise to realize that this will add to your anxiety and increase the risk of arguments. Until the 10^th its best to think twice before speaking and avoid making key decisions. You will simply be too rushed and all over the place in your head. You may also experience a great deal of confusion with some rapidly changing circumstances.

Taurus

Extra confidence and initiative means this is a good month in which to work hard and make a positive impression in the career arena. By taking the initiative, you will thrive with anything competitive, especially physical activities. October 24th until 27th is the best time of the month for luck with love and money. This will be an especially fortunate and happy time. You can confidently achieve success so aim high.

Gemini

Now is the time for you to make plans that will bear fruit down the road. The seeds you plant now, you’ll spend the next few years watering and watching as they grow. Mercury, your ruler, ends his retrograde in fellow air sign Libra on October 9th. You can now start to feel like your old self again, find your inspiration, creativity, and the appropriate avenues for pleasure. You’ll have more focus for work later in the month.

Cancer

On October 27th, a full moon occurs in earth sign Taurus, and you are likely to leave a group you belong to or take on a bigger role in one, end a friendship or become closer with a friend, give up on a cause or become more invested in it, or let go of a dream or have the opportunity to achieve one. This might sound confusing but it’s about making firmer more realistic decisions. Let yourself have fun in love, without worrying about the future.

Leo

This month, you can see financial opportunities presented to you, or you may even create them on your own, and you can improve things faster. It is also a good time for investing in something of value. Your confidence can be higher, and you feel more secure and steady in life. This is the best financial energy that you will have around you for a long time, so make the most of it. Pursue financial opportunities enthusiastically!

Virgo

Venus, planet of love and sensuality, is in Virgo; also Mars, planet of life force and sexuality, and Jupiter. This triplet full of amorous energy forms a trine with Pluto exactly in Virgo’s house of love. As a result your romantic motivation fires up. You live up to challenges more boldly and can fall in love at the least signal. Try to keep a level head, because you tend to over idealize people and situations.

Libra

You come up with great ideas this month with an extra active imagination, and you can also get a lot done if you are left on your own. With the retrograde over, a new moon in your sign, and the Sun entering your money sector later in the month, things generally start to look up. You can get on board with a new project, plan or journey during the second half of October, and you will regain your energy, determination, and passion.

Scorpio

The Mars-Jupiter conjunction in Scorpio’s 11th house brings solid support for achieving your goals this month. It will also attract protection from the powerful and wealthy, or support from friends or devotees. Avoid the Full Moon period around the 26th, 27th, 28th October for major decisions about relationships. There is inner conflict (for you or someone else) which is not helpful.


Sagittarius

This month is a good time for you guys to investigate new pastimes or be more creatively innovative. Youngsters may be suffering uncertainty and this makes you feel anxious at times. Nevertheless through them or because of them, you may experience rare situations which will be positive. It may be problematic trying to settle into a routine. From the 9th Venus is helping to create more favourable situations with authority figures.

Capricorn

Over the coming month it is time to take the initiative and step up. You feel scrutinized and this is your opening to make a respectable impression. Anything swept under the rug will tend to surface and you will be forced to address it. Some of you guys may feel like making more commitment in a material or emotional sense and be more comfortable with your own ability to create what you really want.

Aquarius

It’s an excellent month for Aquarians concerning access to funds, receiving a sponsorship, scholarship or inheritance, or even valuable gifts. It’s possible however that you’ll experience a tendency toward agitation, anxiety or over-analyzing. Try not to give too much attention to minor issues! Expect the unexpected and embrace the differences in people. You’ll tend not to want to put all your cards on the table with some people.

Pisces

You will put more weight on your career and goals later in October. You may have a hard time focusing going into October, but that changes by the end of the month, and you start to focus on your goals, work hard for what you want, and are clearer about your direction. You feel more positive about life and the prospects you have, and you want to expand your life in innovative ways.

Astral Peeks: Beltane Southern hemisphere October 31^st

Beltane honours Life. It represents the peak of Spring and the beginning of summer. Earth energies are at their strongest and most active. All of life is bursting with potent fertility. As such this is a brilliant moment in the Wheel of the Year to bring ideas, hopes and dreams into action. And to have some fun.....

It is one of eight solar Celebrations.  This holiday includes traditions from the Gaelic Bealtaine, such as the bonfire, but it harks to traditions found in the Germanic May Day festival as well, both in its significance (focusing on fertility) and its rituals (such as May pole dancing)!

For the Celts though Beltane is basically a Fire Festival. The word 'Beltane' originates from the Celtic God 'Bel', meaning 'the bright one' and the Gaelic word 'teine' meaning fire. Together they make 'Bright Fire', or 'Goodly Fire' and traditionally bonfires were lit to honour the Sun and encourage the support of Bel and the Sun's light to cultivate the developing future harvest and protect the community.

As Beltane is the Great Wedding of the Goddess and the God, Earth and Sun, it was and for some of us still is…a popular time for weddings or Handfastings, a traditional promise for 'a year and a day' after which the couple would either choose to stay together or part without recrimination. Another common element of this is 'jumping the broomstick' - The broom marks a 'threshold', moving from an old life to a fresh one.

Jumping or leaping the fire, or broomstick is also about encouraging the growth of the harvest... folk believed that the higher they jumped the higher the crops grew!!

For us in the modern world, it can be a celebration of nurturing our own  soon to be harvest on many levels…we are called to assess what we are caring for and growing in our own lives and how we are doing this! We can put energy and passion into that which we love and choose to see manifest in a wonderful way in our lives! We can renew our vows to a loved one, our promises to ourselves and feed our desires for our future with inspiration and light! We can give energy to seeds we have planted both literally and metaphorically!

Light candles, have a small fire (where this is allowed), feast, dance, sing, drum, Jump a broom, and play joyful games, at best we can celebrate the happiness of being alive!

Meditation moments: Spring… southern hemisphere

The transformation of winter to spring signifies so much in our lives. During this time, we struggle to let go of what has seemingly bogged us down throughout the long hibernation of the winter season, moving forward with positivity and appreciativeness. We can think of "spring cleaning" not only to clear out the clutter in our home, but in our body and mind as well.

Think of one thing that you would like to bring forth into your life in the fresh season. For example, if you would like to utilize your full potential, your mantra will sound like this, "I am inhaling living to my fullest potential." Then, think of one thing you would like to let go of before transitioning to spring. For example, if you would like to let go of clutter, your mantra will sound like this, "I am exhaling clutter out of my life."

When you are ready to begin your meditation, link your inhale with what you would like to bring in, and your exhale with what you would like to let go. It’s that simple!!