Astro-logical Forecast for Friday 10/19/2012 & the Weekend: Mercury Retrograde Alert

I don’t know about you, but it feels like the week flew by! TGIF! Moon continues its gambol through fiery Sagittarius, egging on the expression of opinions everywhere. Which makes this op-ed by Deborah Tannen about the etiquette of expressing said opinions especially timely (Ms. Tannen is the author of You Just Don’t Understand: Women and Men in Conversation). Fortunately today’s lunar aspects suggest you can keep the jousting friendly. Pretend you have an open mind, even if you don’t. Because the forecast was posted later than intended this week — and some of you may have missed it,  I am re-posting the link to this non-partisan site — isidewith.com —  as a public service. If you take this nifty quiz it will match your beliefs with the presidential candidate who is most in synch. You may be surprised by the results.

After a Moon void starting at 4:27PM ET (head to the bar early!), Moon enters Capricorn at 9:41PM ET — perhaps too late in the evening for East Coasters to notice the enterprising shift in tone. Saturday dawns with a potentially potent jolt, when the make-it-happen Moon is supercharged by clashes with rebel Uranus and ruthless Pluto. News from underground, perhaps? We shall see. But if you’ve got a weekend project to launch, these next two days will speed you on your way to accomplishment.

On Sunday morning the practical vibe is softened by pleasing social and communicative boosts from loving Venus and mental Mercury. It is toward the end of the evening when you may face a challenge to the New Moon agenda you set on Monday, suggested by the First Quarter Moon at 11:32PM ET.

Last, but not least — we are now in the “shadow period” of the next Mercury retrograde, which happens on Tuesday, November 6th at 6:04PM ET — a.k.a. Election Day.  Translation: Mercury is now at 18 degrees of Scorpio. It will continue moving forward to 4 degrees of Sagittarius, where it will be on Nov 6th. It will retrograde back through Sagittarius and Scorpio, until it reaches 18 Scorpio again on Nov. 26th. Then it turns direct.  It will take until Dec. 14th for Mercury to reach 4 degrees of Sagittarius. That’s is when we will be fully clear of the necessary period for focus, review and R & R. More guidance as we get closer…but start backing up your computers and other databanks now, won’t you?