Solar Eclipse in Libra Newsletter🌑
It’s Eclipse Season, witches!
The veil between the worlds is thinning and emotions are running high, which even for witches and magickal folks like us (who tend to feel energized and uplifted around this time), amplifies a need for more intentional self-care and compassion. Grab a mug of something warm, and keep reading for your astrology for the next four weeks!
Also, the podcast is back! For an audio analysis of today’s Solar Eclipse (and the subsequent Lunar Eclipse on October 28th) plus a breakdown of how to interpret these through the lens of your own personal birth chart (for the intermediate to advanced listener), listen to my new podcast episode here.
Saturday, October 14th. Today’s Solar Eclipse in Libra sits on the South Node in close proximity to Mercury and opposing Chiron. Solar Eclipses in Libra are highly relational recalibration periods and draw our attention to where balance is needed, and with this one aligned to Mercury and Opposite Chiron, interpersonal communication and dialogue within our casual, everyday relationships, business partnerships or platonic friendships (as opposed to deep familial or intimate bonds) are particularly affected. Mercury Opposite Chiron activates a wounded aspect of our psyche, stimulating assumptions or thoughts that are rooted in insecurity or past hurt. This brings the potential for deep healing but also makes this eclipse particularly intense and emotionally activating, while the lunar conjunction to the South Node emphasize this New Moon Solar Eclipse as a release portal: it’s a fantastic time to turn an old grievance into a piece of art, the catalyst for a cool realization or to simply put it behind us with an affirming ritual, considering our formative influences and paving the way for a momentous new beginning post-eclipse season. Mercurial New Moons (let alone solar eclipses) are gateways for mental breakthroughs or cultivating a new mindset — but as always with Eclipse energy, let it come to you (and don’t be surprised if it’s not fully integrated until after eclipse season, though inspiration will be stirring now.) Mercurial eclipses (especially this close to Samhain) activate trickster energy so plan accordingly for communication or tech glitches and if these occur, look for the quirky moral or humor.
Wednesday, October 18th. The Sun exacts it’s alignment to the South Node, an influence that’s been building since the beginning of Libra Season on September 23rd. Anytime the Sun aligns to the Nodes, karmic energy and destiny themes are activated and we’re invited to consider who we are, who we’d like to become and how we’re willing to show up. The Sun in close conjunction to the South Node is an opportunity to reconcile our previous actions or past identities with those of our present and future — this may manifest as a second chance to respond differently to a familiar challenge or dilemma, or a quieter invitation to come to terms with an old choice, pattern or behavior. Whether it plays out internally or externally, we benefit from this transit when we exercise our free will to think about who we’d like to be/who we’re becoming — if we work consciously and intentionally with this energy, it’s an opportunity to release an old identity or outdated way of being so we can move forward unencumbered.
Thursday, October 19th — Saturday, October 21st. Mercury and the sun conjunct, aligning to the South Node and squaring Pluto. The Messenger God conjunct the South Node revives an old way of thinking or compels past connections to resurface, old contacts or acquaintances to re-emerge and cues incoming news or updates regarding someone or something relevant to our past. With the Messenger God and the sun square Pluto nearly in sync, this holds the potential to transform a perspective or mindset and — perhaps unrelatedly — tests existing agreements, relationships and concepts and illuminates or activates underlying ego battles or power struggles. Despite some of the moment’s trickier astro, Mercury this close to the sun is a clarifier — this is not a time to slip backwards into old patterns or trends but to instead consider how our formative influences may shape or empower us in our present. Mercury square Pluto transforms an old way of thinking and inspires deep dialogue, while the Sun conjunct Mercury illuminates dark or shadowy aspects of our psyche and serves as a mental rebirth (just like the New Moon occurs with a sun/moon conjunction, it’s quite literally a “New Mercury”.) Important truths or revelations could be unearthed by thinking back or pondering a situation’s historical roots but not ruminating on the past, indulging in nostalgic thinking, or reverting to habitual comfort zone responses. Today’s astro is intense but helpful and, if we’re open, possibly cathartic — embrace anything that provokes a needed perspective-flip, including meaningful revelations and reveals, incoming intel or deep dialogue.
Sunday, October 22nd. Venus harmonizes with Jupiter today, and Mercury enters Scorpio while immediately forming a trine to Saturn. The former is conducive to relationship harmony, prosperity and groundbreaking dialogue — helping us synthesize and integrate the Plutonic revelations and karmic reconnections of the weekend — while Mercury in harmony with Saturn supports business and interpersonal negotiations and clear thinking. The Messenger God in the sign of Scorpio is fantastic for initiating deep dialogue, solving mysteries and prolonging focus, amplifying our sleuth skills, analytical abilities and mental intensity. However, we can be prone during this transit to plotting, seething, ruminating or obsessing, depending on where we choose to concentrate our intensified mental focus (and especially with Mars also in Scorpio, others are more likely to hold grudges or re-visit scenarios we thought long resolved.) But if you’re wanting to introduce more intimacy or depth into a relationship or dive into research requiring uninterrupted focus, this astro supports it.
Monday, October 23. Happy birthday, Scorpios! The sun enters the sign of the Scorpion and almost immediately harmonizes with Saturn in Pisces. The terrain is conducive for effective change implementation and deliberate plotting, restructuring and transformation, and with the help of today’s Aquarius Moon, bestowing cool objectivity and a detached perspective, we can easily identify where a Scorpionic metamorphosis is needed (and with the sun, Mercury and Saturn in water signs, we can easefully embrace a vibe of fluidity and flow.)
Saturday, October 28th. Today’s Lunar Eclipse in Taurus squares Pluto, conjuncts Jupiter and harmonizes with Saturn. A Lunar Eclipse Square Pluto is ultra intense, particularly in the territorial sign of the Bull. Our primal, most emotional turf feels super activated, and we can quickly find ourselves slipping into patterns of defensiveness or prematurely feeling attacked (while the moon’s alignment with Jupiter augments the emotional impact and hinders our collective impulse control.) We might be feeling more possessive than usual over our values or even our physical belongings or relationships, causing us to act out in ways we wouldn’t usually. The antidote? The Moon’s sextile to Saturn in Pisces, which we can lean on to channel a vibe of pragmatic maturity and quiet confidence. A Full Moon in Taurus is always a prosperity portal (though again, let it come to you) and it benefits us to ponder how we can embody our values as we traverse the emotionality of Eclipse Season. Mars and Mercury oppose Jupiter today, which amplifies the impact of communication and our primal Mars vibe. We benefit this Eclipse from being very careful with our words, which carry more weight now than usual, and exerting extra caution around making massive assumptions, leaping to premature conclusions or utilizing hyperbole or exaggeration at the expense of what’s actually truthful. The Mars/Jupiter Opposition can cause premature aggression, heightened ego or a generally combative vibe — we might notice people acting in ways which seem uncharacteristically assertive, defensive or argumentative — so generally, lay low if possible and steer clear of personalities who are usually turbulent, as they’ll be extra irritated or arrogant today (and with Jupiter’s involvement, small conflict or minor disagreement could blow up quickly and with the Lunar Eclipse Square Pluto, the effects could be long-lasting, inflict permanent damage or fuel a now-ongoing rivalry.) This certainly doesn’t mean to avoid needed conflict or to passively tolerate injustice — it does mean, however, that bold accusations or hostile gestures are likely to get messier before achieving anything productive (so plan accordingly for this and as always during an eclipse, counteract the toll on your nervous system with a deliberate self-care regimen, especially in the form of Taurean pleasures like bodywork, comforting and nourishing foods, tending to a plant, spending time outside, etc.)
Sunday, October 29th. Mercury and Mars perfect their conjunction in Scorpio, a vibe that’s been brewing since the Messenger God joined Mars in the watery fixed sign on October 22nd (where he remains until November 10th.) With both Mars and Mercury in the sign of the Scorpion, information is nearly impossible to conceal — plot-furthering reveals and groundbreaking realizations abound, while both tension and intimacy are more easily seeded (we’re less adept at manufacturing a response contrary to our actual feelings, even if doing so is technically polite — the upside to this is that it helps us find our people and establish deeper intimacy. The downside, obviously, is that it’s a possible irritant for incompatible personalities or forces us to address conflict we’d rather ignore.) It’s supportive astro for those who are actively trying to morph something and honesty — or more appropriately, authenticity — is not only the best policy, it’s kind of our only option. Feigned nonchalance or casual politeness masking deeper unrest don’t work with Mars and Mercury in Scorpio. It’s difficult in the midst of Eclipse angst but if we can try to embody our authentic emotional truth as much as possible, we generate good results.
Tuesday, October 31st. Happy Samhain! This one features Venus trine Uranus — when these two planets synergize, it’s fab for bold fashion or aesthetic choices and makeovers, the formation of rut-busting reset romances and cool moments of creative ingenuity. And, because this is an earth sign, anticipate random breakthroughs around health and wellness and trust the wisdom of the body (and a heightened ability to communicate with plant spirits.)
Friday, November 3rd. The Scorpio sun opposes Jupiter in Taurus while Venus in Virgo opposes Neptune. Two oppositions in the same 24 hour window are very likely to play out interpersonally. The sun in Jupiter amplifies everything, from creativity and ingenuity to ego and hubris. Paired with Venus opposite Neptune, which obscures our perception of relationships and intensifies the need for boundaries with substances and vampiric personality types, impulse control becomes especially important for navigating today’s social scene. Ideally, put off bold relationship moves, gambles or risk-taking until this moment passes. If we can tune into today’s introspective Cancer Moon, we’re prompted to discern what we really need as opposed to grasping for the shiny new opportunity, relationship, risk, etc.
Saturday, November 4th. Mercury in Scorpio opposes Uranus in Taurus, bringing breakthrough dialogue and innovative insights but don’t set out to change anyone’s mind or anticipate flexibility from others — with all the fixed energy in the cosmos, everyone is more staunch and immoveable and while we’re prone to sudden, radical change or unpredictable behavior during a Uranus transit, attempts to sell our stance or convince others of something is only likely to annoy them. Anticipate flashes of awareness or insight (which may be inconveniently-timed or feel outright disruptive) but they’re good, seeding developments and innovation likely to solidify around the impending Scorpio New Moon. Saturn also turns direct today which can be a bit of a downer, causing joint or bone pain to flare up and introducing annoyingly Saturnian factors (i.e. imposing worldly limits, boundaries or bureaucracy.) Saturnian astrology favors practical restructuring, trimming back on excess, radical accountability and tending to metrics, data and details (overlooking or ignoring these factors, or whining in lieu of assuming personal responsibility, can have serious consequences now.) It’s not advisable to rely on charm or enthusiasm alone when Saturn stations direct — a concrete strategy, a solid back-up plan and familiarity with the terrain are the best ways to ensure success in pretty much all ventures.
Monday, November 6th. Venus in the final degrees of Virgo trines Pluto in Capricorn — it’s auspicious astro for a physical makeover or cosmetic morph and is even more supportive of fortifying intimacy and building nourishing, soul-centered bonds. With both Venus and Pluto in Earth signs, relationships formed or intimacy established during this transit are more likely to last or become substantial — traditionally, it’s also a prosperity config good for money magick and abundance rituals. Mercury also trines Neptune today which is fabulous for dreamwork, telepathic communication and creativity.
Wednesday, November 8th. Mercury harmonizes with Pluto bringing deep dialogue and affirmative realizations, made stronger by the fact that The Messenger God is currently moving through Plutonic Scorpio. If you’ve been seeking communication or clarity, today is a good day to approach the other person or just as likely they may surface or reach out to initiate discourse. Particularly coinciding with Venus trine Pluto, this contact is an intimacy-builder and penetrates facades or pretenses, bringing clarity, connection and meaningful revelations. Venus enters her ruling sign of Libra today until December 4th which augments the collective Venusian vibe until then — diplomatic initiatives are more likely to be successful and well-received throughout this period, which favors objective planning and nicely offsets the intensity of Mars in Scorpio, making the collective vibe more cooperative and harmonious. Projecting a balanced, cool demeanor favors us when Venus moves through Libra, and thankfully, we can more easily lean into our innate charm to smooth over awkward situations or minor mishaps.
Friday, November 10th. Mercury enters Sag and immediately forms a mutable square to Saturn in the early degrees of Pisces. Typically, Mercury in Sag is breezy and lighthearted but not when squaring the cosmic rule-maker. Still, the shift from touchy fixed energy to breezy mutability is refreshing, bringing new insights and facilitating expansive movement and dialogue. But Saturn’s influence is always a bit of a downer — others could approach us with topics we’d rather not address or aren’t ready to discuss, and in general the communicative vibe could be heavy, irritating or even feel oppressive. But this passes within a few days as Mercury moves further into the later degrees of Sagittarius, promoting a free-spirited vibe and helping us express our truths more easily (Mercury in Sag is always a truth-teller, even in proximity to restrained Saturn.)
Saturday, November 11th. Mars in Scorpio opposes Uranus in Taurus and when these two planets face-off, ego battles, turf wars or general recklessness could interfere with otherwise brilliant concepts or collaborations. We can always anticipate surprising plot twists when Mars and Uranus oppose, along with robust creative breakthroughs, renegade ingenuity and innovative solutions, and it’s fantastic for liberating oneself through limiting people, concepts or circumstances and metamorphosing stale or stagnant scenarios. But with the moon in close proximity to Mars in Scorpio, it’s emotionally-charged — conflicting urges to exercise ownership or exert authority could clash with a desire to merge, bond, share or couple up. This contact rewards autonomy, self-backing and independent trailblazing but don’t turn down a cool power alliance because of primal instincts to close off.
Happy Eclipse Season, and happy Samhain!
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