Monday 10/11/2021: Sneak Peek at the Week; Saturn Turns Direct
Allll righty then!
Mercury is still retrograde, but as of 10:16 PM ET on Sunday (as I type), Saturn — which refers to authority, loss, structure, ambition, and necessary controls — turned direct at 6 degrees of Aquarius. It’s sitting right on Mitt Romney’s Midheaven, and if he were playing his cards right, he’d be at a peak in his professional status, recognized as an authority. Perhaps he’ll make an interesting appearance in the news this week, though with Neptune sitting right on his Pisces Sun, perhaps he’s feeling a bit lost or wiped out — instead of the visionary he could be using the upside potential of Neptune.
Anyhoo…
Now that Saturn is moving forward, matters related to wherever it’s been sitting in your horoscope since May are likely to move forward as well. You may see even greater expansion in those matters after October 18th, as that is when Jupiter turns direct. Jupiter is also in Aquarius. October 18th is also when Mercury turns direct, so I’m anticipating a bit of big news.
Here’s how the week goes:
- MONDAY: the Sag Moon went void at 12:30 AM ET, in a jovial harmony with Jupiter. The Moon void continues until 1:14 PM ET, so there’s your excuse if your morning routine includes a twist or flake. That — and Mercury retrograde. Fun fact: astrologers in the 17th century maintained that a Moon void in Sagittarius, Cancer, Taurus, and Pisces was less of a bust than in the other signs. Still, we’re likely to notice a shift in focus once the Moon enters Capricorn and seeks to Make Things Happen.
- TUESDAY: Lots to talk about with your network of unconventional besties — with a bit of technology thrown in. Moon squares Mercury at 11:50 AM ET and trines technogeek Uranus at 12:33 PM ET. Sparks may fly around 8:26 PM ET, as the Moon squares Mars in Libra (facilitating passive-aggressive behavior). At 11:25 PM ET, we’ll have the First Quarter Moon, suggesting a clash between the need to get down to business, frustrated by energy that seeks a more diplomatic, people-pleasing result.
- WEDNESDAY: And yet, taking care of business is supported in the early part of this week, courtesy of harmony between Venus (women, money, art, and social expression) and Saturn (business!), exact at 3:26 PM ET. We may see a power struggle at 6:53 AM ET, as the Moon meets up with Pluto — and then goes void for the next TEN HOURS. Stick to routine concerns; roll with the twists and flakes. Don’t make a mountain out of a molehill and avoid impulse purchases, as things bought during Moon voids often do not live up to expectations. Case in point: on Sunday I discovered that the fab navy blue cotton sweater I snagged for $19 a couple of weeks ago had a literal snag in it! I managed to hide the flaw, and for $19, it’ll do just fine. But still…it was a Moon void purchase and it didn’t quite turn out as expected. You can max out your credit cards after 4:47 PM ET, when Moon enters Aquarius, seeking recognition for its unique social significance. The urge to splurge is reflecting a rare trine between the Sun and Jupiter, exact on FRIDAY, but in effect this week. Isn’t life grand?
- THURSDAY: Perhaps not grand quite yet — at least in the early morning. Moon meets up with Saturn at 4:54 AM ET, which may be sobering. But hey– one hour later, Moon sextiles Venus in Sagittarius, which is only too happy to enthuse over the Aquarius Moon’s humanitarian agenda. Communication flows better than usual for a Mercury retrograde around 1:08 PM ET, as Moon trines Mercury. A pushback or surprise upset — perhaps related to whatever heavy news hit the wires this morning — shakes up the early evening, as Moon squares Uranus at 4:51 PM ET.
- FRIDAY: Overnight action makes for an expansive and/or expensive morning. Moon trines Mars at 3:57 AM ET (action!); Sun trines Jupiter at 7:46 AM ET (did you win the lottery?); Moon meets up with Jupiter at 8:29 AM ET (somebody MUST have won something!); Moon trines Sun at 8:32 AM ET (and it was so easy!). Hope you got everything done before breakfast because the Aquarius Moon is now VOID for nearly 14 hours. You are free to wander, work on your novel and otherwise chill. Moon enters Pisces at 10:21 PM ET, ready to be accommodating and adaptive, and compassionate, especially while basking in the possible glow of this morning’s grand gesture.
- SATURDAY: There are no exact aspects to the Pisces Moon until 5 PM ET when Moon squares Venus in (open mouth; insert foot) Sagittarius, and someone’s feelings may be hurt by someone else’s frank opinion. A cooperative connection (a sextile) between diplomatic Mercury in Libra and Venus at 9:23 PM ET helps smooth things out — for the moment. Moon sextiles Uranus at 11:14 PM ET, and of course, we can still be friends. Caveat: humming in the background for the past few days and exact at 8:12 AM ET on…
- SUNDAY: is a square between the Sun and Pluto, suggesting power and resources are front and center, especially among CEOs and heads of state (ergo, heads may roll). Watch the volcanoes and other news from underground. Indulge in a dreamy escape or vision around 12:59 PM ET, as Moon meets up with Neptune. Moon sextiles Pluto at 7:24 PM ET and then goes void for the next ten hours. Chill! And remember to focus focus focus today and MONDAY, as Jupiter and Mercury both move forward.
And now, the news — written on Monday:
I am fascinated by how well the Sabian Symbol for last week’s New Moon in Libra played out in the news and in real life. It was “a noonday siesta,” suggesting that in a moment of peak illumination (with the sun at its highest and hottest), the apt action was to get out of the heat. I can’t tell you how many people told me they slept in more than once over the past several days and that their dreams were more intense. I did, too. You?
From last week’s forecast for Wednesday’s New Moon and this whole lunar cycle:
Perhaps we become aware of Things As They Really Are — but need more time to actually do something about it, no matter how urgent it is. Maybe a “power nap” is what is needed.
and for Thursday:
Moon must plunge into the emotional depths of Scorpio at 10:22 AM ET. The rest of the day is driven by the Scorpio Moon’s need for knowledge that grants it substance and control. Action may also be driven by a potential blinding fury, as Mars in Libra meets up with the Sun at midnight. …which may be seen in an assertive response to whatever rain fell on someone’s parade…
Oh good grief, it seems there was a big boxing match in Vegas on Saturday and the winner was…Tyson Fury.
Meanwhile, cue Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who spent last week playing games with the U.S. financial system, threatening to push the U.S. into an unprecedented default on our debt. Describing his actions on Wednesday, Heather Cox Richardson wrote:
In a scorching statement that laid all the blame for the crisis on the Democrats, he offered to “allow” Democrats to use normal procedures—that is, the Republicans won’t filibuster them!—to extend the ceiling into December. Democrats indicate they will take that deal.
There is one major takeaway from this manufactured crisis: McConnell was willing to come right to the verge of burning the nation down to get his way. In the end, he stopped just before the sparks became an inferno, but it was much too close for comfort.
As it turned out, McConnell managed to convince ten Republican senators (plus himself) to vote with the Democrats to raise the debt ceiling until early December. In other words, McConnell got out of the heat, but not before sending a “scorching letter” (driven by a blinding fury?) to President Biden…after which (as HCR reported on Sunday), it was suggested that McConnell seems to have lost control of his caucus to the former guy. And indeed, it really was something to see 88-year-old Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) — the ranking member and former chair of the House Judiciary Committee — kiss the ring of the former guy at TFG’s latest gathering on Saturday night. Grassley is running for an 8th six-year term in the 2022 election, told the crowd, “I was born at night but not last night. So if I didn’t accept the endorsement of a person that’s got 91 percent of the Republican voters in Iowa, I wouldn’t be too smart. I’m smart enough to accept that endorsement.”
In the spirit of Mercury retrograde, in which facts previously hidden come to light, the Senate Judiciary Committee released its report on tfg’s attempt to overturn the 2020 election. Grassley published his own report of alternative facts. Astro students and pros may appreciate a look at what we know of Grassley’s horoscope.
A pause, while we consider Beth Owl’s Daughter’s Tarot Card of the Week, which is always in sync with planetary patterns. This week’s oracle relates to the heavier side of Saturn turning direct — and perhaps the weekend’s cathartic Sun-Pluto square, too. We do not have an exact birth time for McConnell, but I have seen a rectification speculating that he has a regal Leo Ascendant, with Pluto sitting right on it, opposed by Venus retrograde in Aquarius, in a T-square configuration with Moon in mine-mine-mine Taurus. If that rectified chart is correct, then transiting Saturn is on his Venus, opposing his Pluto-Ascendant and square his Moon. These are harsh patterns indeed. A noon chart can be found here. Perhap McConnell can commiserate with Chief Justice John G. Roberts, who has lost control of his domain, too. We don’t have a birth time for Roberts, either, but Saturn turned direct right on his 6 Aquarius Sun. Heavy.
Also harsh — but apt for the day Saturn — the original grim reaper — turned direct. A woman in Colombia made news early last week because she planned to be euthanized on Sunday, but the procedure was canceled at the last minute because 1) the story had been broadcast around the world, and 2) her doctors declared that her disease (she has ALS) was not in a terminal stage.
Also canceled — or at least postponed:
- William Shatner’s 10-minute space flight has been pushed back to Wednesday because of “high winds.” Hmm. With Sun, Mars, and Mercury in Libra — the element of Air — are we surprised by the weather?
- Flights in general if you’re a would-be Southwest Airlines passenger. Southwest says the cancelations are due to weather and air traffic control issues, not sick-outs by workers upset by Covid vaccine mandates…
- …which, by the way, seem to be working, as Covid infections in most of the U.S. have come down
- …and a new treatment for head and neck cancer has been making tumors in terminal patients disappear. Mars rules the head.
In other news…
Here’s an item from September 23rd that merits an astro-logical perspective: “FBI data shows an unprecedented spike in murders nationwide” — with the spike happening in 2020. Experts are mystified, of course — except for every mundane astrologer under the sun who said at the beginning of the year that with Mars being retrograde in Aries and squaring Saturn-Pluto in Capricorn three times in 2020, we were likely to see a rise in violence, especially involving firearms.
This month, as you know, Mars is in Libra — which is generally less direct in its expression of aggression. Over the weekend we had a triple conjunction of Sun, Mercury, and Mars in the sign of the Scales, seeking fairness and balance. Oh — and Mercury is retrograde, and Saturn in Aquarius just turned direct — with karma, uniqueness, and friendship in heavy focus. Plus, Libra rules the kidneys. Mix all that up and you might find a provocative feature in the New York Times Sunday Magazine called “Who Is the Bad Art Friend?” In brief, a woman writer donates a kidney to a total stranger and shares her story in an online writer’s forum. What could go wrong? A lot of bad behavior apparently — with yet another tip of the hat to the NYT editors who are always in sync with planetary patterns. How do they do it?
Mars rules men, steel, and the Man of Steel…as in Superman: the Next Generation. Libra strives for balance; and after emerging from the heart of the Libra Sun, DC Comics is pleased to reveal their new Superman swings both ways.
I leave you with Stephen Colbert’s macho Mars monologue from Friday, in which he covers macho man William Shatner’s upcoming space trek; the 25th anniversary of Fox news; plans to blow up an asteroid because –hey –it’s there; and finally, all the stuff we’re running out of, reflecting the disruptions in global supply networks we expected with Saturn in Aquarius (streamlining squeeze on circulation) square Uranus in Taurus (disruption/liberation from literally everyTHING), especially with Mercury retrograde. These shortages may well command our attention in 2022, when Saturn and Uranus will both reach 15 degrees — the halfway point — of their respective signs. That’s also when we’re likely to see some meaningful solutions.
What’s going on in your horoscope? Is Saturn putting you through the proverbial wringer? Here’s the 411 on personal consultations.
Thank you for reading this forecast.