Astro-Update! Feeling the Electric Atmosphere? Eclipses, Mercury Retro & More!!

Hello!  I haven’t written in a while, as I have started an Astro-Updates by Gretchen Facebook “Like” Page (click to check it out!) and I have been maintaining daily posts there.  However, this up-coming month demands some attention!  We are headed into a VERY active and possibly intense astrological period that I just could not ignore.  I needed to write this out in a longer format…..because it’s a “big picture” kind of situation.  Anyway……read on!!

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Current Planetary Positions:

Please reference the Blog entry on the date the planet went into that sign for an explanation.

Sun:  Libra 9/22-10/23

Moon: Changes signs (approximately) every 2 ½ days.

Mercury: Scorpio 9/29-12/5   

Venus: Sagittarius 10/7-11/5

Mars: Virgo 10/15-12/7

Jupiter: Cancer 6/27/13-7/17/14

Saturn: Scorpio 10/5/12-12/24/14

Uranus: Aries 3/11/11-5/16/2018

Neptune: Pisces 2/3/12-3/31/25

Pluto: Capricorn until 1/20/24

Chiron: Pisces 2/8/11-4/18/2018 

Current Retrograde Planets:

Please reference the Blog entry on the date the planet went Retrograde for an explanation. 

Neptune Retrograde in Pisces 6/7/13-11/13/13

Chiron Retrograde in Pisces 6/16/13-11/19/13

Uranus Retrograde in Aries 7/17/13-12/17/13

Coming up! Mercury turns Retrograde in Scorpio on 10/21/13 at 6:29am EST!!

Keep in mind while you read this Blog that I include the time that a transit will be exact so that you can see when it waxes and then when it starts to wane.  The effects of a transit are often felt as long as a day or two (or even longer).  The energy is usually felt more strongly during the time leading up to the height and then it slowly starts to dissipate after.  It’s important to remember that Moon transits tend to last a shorter period of time than planetary transits.  I will no longer be including every transit that occurs, but rather highlighting the most dominant transits (to make the Blog a little easier to read, in response to reader feedback!). 

OCTOBER 18^th -   The height of the Full Moon in Aries (exact at 7:38pm EST).  The Full Moon that takes place closest to the Autumn Equinox is called the Hunter’s Moon, Harvest Moon, Travel Moon, Dying Grass Moon, or the Full Blood Moon. The height of the Full Moon is always signified by the opposition of the Sun (currently in Libra).  Do you have faith in yourself and your abilities or do you defer to someone else?  Are you comfortable being alone or do you always need someone else around?  Which is more important to you; keeping your independence or being in a relationship and functioning as a unit?  Do you have to give up your idea of self in order to be in a relationship or is it possible to marry (pardon the pun) the two?  Autonomy versus partnership!  These questions/themes will be highlighted now.  Full Moons astrologically are considered to be a time of culmination or endings. Aries Moons, however usually signify new starts or beginnings. I feel that a little of both may take place around this time.  I personally like to take this time to meditate and send out prayers for family, friends, and humanity.  The phrase for Aries is I AM.  Make I AM the focus for today.  I AM smart.  I AM health. I AM love…..etc.  Aries’s herbs & flowers are:  Red poppy, geranium, honeysuckle, hollyhocks, thistle, ginger, clove, coriander, cumin, frankincense, and ginger.  By simply adding some of these elements to your day either by drinking tea, burning essential oils, adding to your food, etc. will help your balance to be restored.  Take a quiet moment to reflect on this during the day. 

Then, to give this Full Moon some extra zing, there will also be a Penumbral Lunar Eclipse.  It will mostly be viewable in Eastern Canada who will see the entire event while the rest of Canada and the USA will see moonrise with the eclipse already in progress. Observers in Europe and Africa will also see the entire event, while eastern Asia misses the end because of moonset.  Whether you can view the Eclipse or not, the astrological energy that is felt will be relatively the same. Eclipses in astrology represent a time that is similar to rebooting a computer. The energy of the planet is cut off for just a moment and then turns back on fresh and new. Therefore, it is a wise idea to pay attention to the days surrounding and Eclipse time period and notice if there are changes going on around you.  These energies could be active for as much as six months or more.  Eclipses are associated with transformation and a beginning of a new cycle.  It depends where the Moon/Aries & Sun/Libra falls within your chart in order to know how this will affect you on a personal level. 

OCTOBER 21^ST-NOVEMBER 10^rd -   Mercury in Scorpio turns Retrograde (exact at 6:29am EST).  

Mercury (The God of Communication & Transportation) goes Retrograde for 3 weeks, 3 times per year. (Retrograde meaning: As all planets orbit around one another, they do so at different rates. Long ago Astronomers/Astrologers believed that the planets seemed to slow down and eventually reverse their orbit. This in fact, is an optical illusion caused by different orbit speeds, when viewed from Earth. This process is called a Retrograde in Astrology. In interpretation it means that the planet is somewhat weakened and the energies are harder to access) We will all feel the effects of this influence, but you will feel it more strongly if you are a Mercury-ruled person (Gemini & Virgo), if you have strong Gemini, Virgo, Scorpio, Taurus, Leo, or Aquarius placements in your chart, or if Mercury was Retrograde when you were born. Astrologically, this causes small things to happen that may be considered to be "bumps in the road". Mercury heavily influences technology (how we stay connected to others). So an example of this could be computers crashing, copiers breaking down or jamming, faxes not transmitting, cell phone issues, etc. Communication is another thing affected by Mercury Retrograde. It's a good idea during this time to save e-mail confirmations, postal receipts, and documenting important conversations. Delays with travel can also occur because of miscommunications or breaking down of equipment. Make sure you confirm all reservations and allow extra travel time. This is not a good time to start anything new or to sign contracts (like getting a loan, buying a house, buying a car, etc). If you absolutely need to sign something important during this phase, take the time to re-read the document and pay close attention to the fine print. This is an auspicious time to strategize and do your homework on projects that you may be planning. On the up side (yes, there is an upside), this is an excellent time for the following: re-uniting, re-organizing, re-establishing, re-arranging, re-connecting, re-financing, re-visiting, re-negotiating, etc. Are you noticing a pattern? (I had a friend jokingly say that she was going to re-lax in her re-cliner with a glass of re-d wine!) I personally, look to these 3 weeks as a good time to get filling done, finish up tasks that I have been putting off, tightening up details, etc. I look forward to this time because it's excellent for re-connecting with people in general. This seems to be a time when people you haven't heard from just call "out of the blue" or you may "randomly" run into an old friend while out shopping. You can see that in business, this would be an excellent time to follow-up with past customers or clients. Just remember, if you are in a relationship, try to be understanding with your lover if you have a miscommunication.......these things will happen with Mercury Retrograde, it's not the end of the world! Sometimes old flames will try to come back during this time. This is fine; just remember an ex is an ex for a reason! While Mercury is in Scorpio, the emphasis will be on trust, confidences, secrets, depth, catharsis, detective work, plodding, sexuality, passion, coercion, manipulation, regeneration, and the use of power (hopefully being empowered or using power wisely).  We can all look forward to Mercury turning Direct on November 10^th at 4:12pm EDT!!   

NOVEMBER 1^ST-    This day is HIGHLY complex and active day.  The BIG event will be when Uranus (R) in Aries will form a difficult square with Pluto (R) in Capricorn (exact at 6:30am EST).  This astrological transit will be at its height today but certainly will be felt for many weeks before and after.  You may have heard a lot about the Uranus/Pluto square. It will be the most intense this year on May 20^th and Nov 3^rd  in 2013.  However, this jarring astrological transit will be in the background throughout all of 2012-2015.  The last time Uranus/Pluto formed a series of troubling squares was in the early 1930s around the time of the Great Depression and when Hitler was at the height of his power. These are certainly interesting times that we live in!  Uranus’ nickname is "The Great Awakener" and Pluto's is "The Great Transformer".  These are very powerful astrological energies at play here. This square will come to a height seven different times between 2012-2015. The theme during this time-frame will be tearing down and rebuilding. It is no surprise to me that we are experiencing heightened reports in the news of violence especially in the Middle East and here in the US with the Government shutdown. It is no surprise to Astrologers that all this is happening around this transit!! There's going to be a great need for damage control in order for these energies to work themselves out. Nobody is willing to bend during this time-frame. Pluto's energy can be very much like a forest fire wiping everything out in its path. This energy is going to be somewhat jarring and could even make us feel like the rug has been pulled out from under our feet.  Uranus’ energy can be shocking, disruptive, and surprising.  It does depend where Uranus/Pluto falls within your personal chart in order to know how these energies will affect you on a personal level.  Aries, Capricorns, Scorpios, Cancers, Libras and Aquarians may experience this more strongly especially if they were born in the early degrees of their sign. 

Not only will this event occur but SIX other planetary transits…..all in the same day!  I don’t recall day that is more astrologically active.  It’s as follows:

Sun Conjunction Mercury

Sun Quincunx Uranus

Sun Sextile Pluto

Mercury Sextile Mars

Mercury Quincunx Uranus

Mercury Sextile Pluto

As you can see, the Sun and Mercury will aspect each other and then aspect the Uranus/Pluto square…..giving it even more “juice”.  Whoa!?!  This could be really interesting to say the least.  The Sun is now bringing ego and vitality and Mercury communication and travel.  If at all possible, I would delay any travel plans around this time (especially since Mercury is currently Retrograde).  Even the most grounded individuals may struggle.  Prayer, positive intention, and compassion are what’s needed.  You know that I am not an alarmist…..but this day feels rather “big” to me and I don’t necessarily care for the tearing down and rebuilding theme…..which could be rather destructive.  My hope is that clear communication and talking will help to clear the air and transmute some of this energy.

NOVEMEBER 3^RD-    The New Moon/Total Solar Eclipse will be at its height in the sign of Scorpio (exact at 7:50am EST).  The New Moon is considered to be beneficial for new ideas, new projects, and manifesting.  All of the Scorpio Moon themes will be highlighted/amplified.  I personally like to do space clearing and meditating during this time.  The New Moon is always accompanied by a conjunction with the Sun (also in Scorpio).  This usually makes us feel connected & supported by loved ones with emphasis on relationships.  It’s easier to talk about our emotions during this transit.  With Scorpios influence, we may want to dig under the surface to reveal the true meaning of what is going on around us.  The night before (Nov 2^nd) is a great time to work on manifestation! What are your goals or dreams? During the darkening of the Moon, it is a perfect time to plant the seeds of tomorrow. Write out a list of the things you wish to harvest. Read it just before you go to bed. Sleep with the list in your pillow case and just before you drift off to sleep, visualize those things AS IF THEY ALREADY HAPPENED. Give those images color, sounds, and smells. Leave the "HOW" up to the Universe; just focus on the achievement. The next day (or better yet, wait til the next Full Moon) you can burn the list, shred it, etc....filling your heart with gratitude as you thank the Universe for its infinite bounty!!

Then, to give this New Moon some extra zing, there will also be a Total Solar Eclipse.  The final eclipse event of 2013 is the most interesting eclipse of the year. It is one of the rare hybrid or annular/total eclipses in which some sections of the path are annular while other parts are total.  Its visibility is not as important on an astrological level because it is still felt on an energetic level.  For more information about its path check out this web site:  NASA 2013 Eclipses.  Eclipses in astrology, are associated with transformation and a beginning of a new cycle.  Eclipses in astrology represent a time that is similar to rebooting a computer. The energy of the planet is cut off for just a moment and then turns back on fresh and new. Therefore, it is a wise idea to pay attention to the days surrounding and Eclipse time period and notice if there are changes going on around you.  These energies could be active for as much as six months or more.  Eclipses are associated with transformation and a beginning of a new cycle.  It depends on where the Moon/Sun/Scorpio are located in your chart in order to know how it will affect you on a personal level.

The above transits are often felt collectively but you would need to know where within your chart that they would fall.  As always, I am available for a professional astrological reading.  I now have a variety of charts to choose from (relationship, life path, time-line, etc).  I can do readings in-person, Skype, or over the phone.  Or if you’re not into having a reading, I can just supply a chart.  Please feel free to contact me for more information!  Have a great week!  Bye for now……

Peace & Light,

Gretchen A. Hidell, Astrologer

Intuitive Counselor, Reiki Master, Gem/Crystal Work

Master NLP Hypnotherapy Life Coach

Ordained Minister (Non-Denominational) & Certified Spiritual Healer

(802)-999-4677 

info@GretchenHidell.com