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Well it will come as no surprise to any of you that a great deal of attention is being directed these days to our relationships. Granted that for a lot of people, this is a constant focus of activity, but lately this has been for some very good reasons (obsessions with self relative to partners relative to self are not particularly good reasons!). First of all, Saturn is now firmly in Libra where he will stay for the next 2 years. Saturn in Libra teaches us (especially people with strong cardinal placements), about the need for balance and right responsibility both to ourselves and others. He is exalted in this sign, so his lessons are meant to be given out gently but as always with Saturn, firmly. And hey, with all the astral floatation cushions we usually ride on, a dose of reality-firmness is a good thing!

Secondly, Venus (ruler of Libra) is the ruler of the current New Moon Cycle. This lasts until the next New Moon on November 6 in Scorpio (more about this later). Venus happens to be retrograde in Scorpio—not the nicest of positions for Aphrodite. It is here that she takes on some of her unforgiving bitchy elements. In essence she becomes a temptress that wants to pull us back into the past of some unforgiving lack-of-self-esteem elements of obsessive relationship dynamics. Not a pretty sight! Yet, if we can read through her mask of snakes and charms, she is telling us that it is only through the regeneration and transformation of such poorly placed self-judgments and the relationships that these produce, that we can move forward in life. This means death to all non-regenerating sexual and financial relationships and the habit patterns that cause them.

Backing up Venus retrograde in Scorpio is Mars in Scorpio holding the sword of death to all traitors to our real Self. Mars enters Sagittarius on the 28th of this month a few days after the Sun enters his sign, Scorpio. So this will point to the possibility of our being armed in Wisdom to move forward on the "field on honor" (which for many people is the bedroom!) and conquer our relationship demons. Well at least to give it our best try! All in all dear ones, let the bastard go—an empty canvass at least gives you the opportunity to paint a new portrait as long as it isn't Dorian Gray.

Venus retrogrades back into Libra on the 8th of November, goes direct on the 18th and then reenters Scorpio where she stays until early January. Well the effects of Venus in Libra and Mars in Sagittarius are a lot milder than when they are both in Scorpio, so relationship intensities will simmer down from November 8 until the end of the month. But this does not mean that you should forget the lessons you have been learning under the more tough Scorpionic influences. You let him/her back in under your own peril—and the him/her I mean is just not the person under discussion it is the Unregenerated, Untransformed YOU that "him/her" represents. You are not alone; it is not the other; the other is you (too).

There is a constant energy field at work in the heavens these past few months, one about which I have spoken and written at length. This is the Uranus/Jupiter conjunction now in Pisces where it remains in close proximity until the end of January. This conjunction gives a lot of difficult weather patterns especially in terms of floods and storms. Just examine the latest news coming out of Hungary, Pakistan, India, China, and elsewhere to see what I mean. Such weather patterns and natural disasters are apt to continue for the rest of the year.

Let´s proceed now and take a look at some of the more astrologically interesting days during this period:

October 23: The Sun enters Scorpio at 12:36pm; strong Scorpionic influences through October 27.

These next four days are indeed very Scorpionic in energetic quality and content. In addition to the Sun, Mercury, retrograde Venus, and Mars all tenant this sign. The tendency will be for people to act out on highly charged emotional levels, so expect less in the way of logical responses from others. Take care that your own feet are out of the astral bathtub as well. This is done through centering in the higher mind of the Observer and then objectifying the emotional interplay in the worlds around (and within us). HOW to develop this "witnessing ability" and how to remain constant in terms of our ability to "gain purchase" to it, is part of the training of the Spiritual Path, and beyond the scope of these brief comments to teach, at least here through this newsletter. Let me just say as words of support to those who have been able to achieve this state, and as words of promise to those who have not as yet been able to do so that this next step on the ladder of consciousness is indeed available. In any event, the emotional current of these four days will be so strong that it will behoove you to avoid dramas. Be mindful, watchful, lovingly detached, and non-judgmental. If you manage to do this, these four days will teach you much.

October 28: Mars enters Sagittarius at 06:49am with the Sun conjoining Venus at around 5° of Scorpio.

Mars remains in Sagittarius until December 8th. As an Aries with Scorpio rising, the passing of Mars into the Centaur is very promising of greater freedom of personal expression in terms of travel, learning and sharing. I will be in Nepal visiting temples, monasteries, lamas and monks during this period (as well as having some more earthly fun as well as per the Centaurian nature). The influence of Scorpio is always transformational, always challenging, always promising of evolutionary growth through some form of conflict. When such growth is won, then the conflict has served its purpose. If however conflict is assumed and the goal is lost, then the result is exhaustion. This is always the "tight rope" upon which Scorpionic experiences tread. I would assume that anyone with the Sun, Moon, Venus, Mars, Pluto, the Ascendant or Midheaven at or near 5° of Scorpio (or Taurus, Leo, or Aquarius), would find that some very intimate personal contact, some major player in your life, is presenting a big test for you today and/or you for that person.

November 1: Venus retrograde is sextile Pluto from 3° Scorpio to 3° Capricorn.

This is a good day for rebuilding and reinforcing structures in relationships, especially in business relationships. As always, this has most relevance for you if these degrees closely contact your natal chart.

November 5: Mercury square Neptune at 25 Scorpio to 25 Aquarius.

Logic gets tossed out the window; idealistic opinions take the place of objective assessment of reality. Check your chart to see if these degrees touch "home base." If they do, don´t buy a used car today or lend your checkbook to anyone!

November 6: The New Moon is at 13.40 Scorpio at 04:53am.

Very watery sky: Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, and Uranus are all "wet." Potential for very heavy storms, thunder and lightning abound. Even if the outer weather is dry where you live, the inner human subjective condition will tend to be unstable, unclear, and illogical. Making new plans on the basis of subjective feelings may not be wise. Those who have managed through intense hard work on themselves to rise above the lower, muddy waters, may find the path open to a beautiful attunement to Truth. The Path is not an easy Road, but the rewards when trodden upon correctly are incredibly beautiful in their simplicity.

November 8: Mercury enters Sagittarius at 11:44pm and Venus enters Libra retrograde at 30° of the sign.

This combination is much milder in terms of its ability to support more gentle interchange between people then when these planets are in the "dive deep until you can´t breathe" energies of Scorpio. Of course once you unlock the treasures hidden in Scorpio´s depths, you find that breathing even under water becomes easy.

November 15: Sun is trine Jupiter from 23° Scorpio to 23° Pisces.

A great day to go fishing for truth. Those people with 22°-24° of Cancer, Scorpio, or Pisces in their natal chart, may just find it.

November 18: Interesting day with many influences—Venus goes direct at 27° Libra; Sun is square Neptune at 25° Scorpio/Aquarius and trine Uranus at 26° Scorpio/Pisces a few hours later; Jupiter turns direct at 23° Pisces.

Well, in a word this all adds up to a lot of "idealism." It would not surprise me if there were a lot of international negotiations going on about now. Check out what is taking place in the Mideast today. (Personal take on the situation: given the status quo nothing much can ever change that quagmire. Israel will continue to establish its Statehood as it should. Palestine will continue to struggle to define itself as a State and hopefully with huge aid coming from other Arab nations, it will. But without such aid in terms of land, money, jobs, and correct education, Palestine will remain in tatters and a hotbed for radical terrorism no matter what the justification. There can be no real peace in the Middle East for decades to come unless there is a huge shift in the collective archetypes that govern the evolution of the races of people that inhabit those lands and both sides of the Jordan River.) Organizations promoting World Goodwill and the thousands of people who work with such groups may make some breakthroughs in their efforts over the course of the next few weeks.

November 20: Mercury conjunct Mars at 17° Sagittarius.

"I shot an arrow into the air. It fell to Earth, I know not where," wrote the poet. This is a good day to aim arrows high in terms of reaching new heights in life especially where education is concerned. Should 17° of Sagittarius, Leo, or Aries figure prominently in your natal chart, you will most likely have a very upbeat and promising day. Just remember that no matter how high you shoot the arrow, it will perforce have to return to Earth.

November 21: The Full Moon occurs at 29° of Taurus/Scorpio.

The test of these two signs when they interact is always one of desires. On the level of the personality, this is the desire for more things, forms, and sensations. On the level of the Soul, this is the desire to destroy things, forms, and sensations that inhibit the evolution of a greater Love. Enjoy the Light of the Moon—just remember that it is an illusion as it is but the pale reflection of the Solar Force.