Star Weather Astrology Report 10/13–10/20
©2024 Ronnie Pontiac
Friends, we have a week before us when Venus takes center stage. With Pluto and Jupiter retrograde both stationary, and Pluto dwelling in the degree of its station since 9/2 and until 11/19, the U.S. Pluto return will be on full display. We may see events that would seem to symbolize the culmination of surrender to cynicism, futility, discouragement, denial, anger, and resignation. In such a state the brain runs the show, assembling facts whether true or false, and it doesn’t take many facts to convince most brains that they are right. It’s how we’re wired.
Collectively this is a time of transformation, of confronting the collective shadow. Certainly our politics reflect this, but so do our responses to the other crises looming over the present moment. Individually this can be a time of fear, manipulation, obsession but conversely of deep healing, progress that could be described as evolutionary, and the integration of previously repressed elements of the psyche. Get a good look at what shakes loose. Don’t ignore areas that could benefit from repairs and reforms. By avoiding obsessing on issues that make us feel helpless we can choose to be charitable or creative. At least take a few minutes every day to ignore what you’re thinking and do something fun or soothing.
Sunday 10/13 Mercury square Pluto in the early morning suggests messages from Pluto will be in the news feed this week. Extreme things are said and done in the name of power. Disasters, ruthlessness, uncovered atrocities, talk of war, paranoia, relentless propaganda are obvious possible themes. In our own lives we can cultivate a peaceful patience as we find ways to make necessary improvements, giving up what no longer works, while searching for healing for ourselves and others, these too are Pluto themes. Mercury enters Scorpio at 12:23 PM adding to the Plutonian atmosphere, increasing campaigns of disturbing revelations, many of them lies, multiply as the election nears.
We have here a special opportunity for practicing meditation and detachment, and for focusing on appreciation of the small joys of life, however we may define them. Do what you can. Tell your truth. Do the research with an an open mind. Be okay with not knowing, and with suspense. Here at the culmination of Pluto in the final degree of Capricorn the integration of the shadow is a major theme individually and collectively. So are endings, of people and institutions we once thought would always be there. Mars square Chiron in the afternoon and sun opposition Chiron in the early evening point to continuing threats to public health. In our own lives we want to look at issues around frustration, anger, desire, or ambition and how they relate to health.
Mon 10/14 sun square Mars is exact 45 minutes before the bars close, generally an irritable aspect that can indicate more driving hazards than usual, especially aggressive drivers. In our own lives frustration may lead us to lash out at others or ourselves. We can use that Mars energy to invigorate ourselves and others. Lend a hand. Get something done. Where in our corners of the world might our strength and willingness to fight the power produce the most good? Venus opposition Uranus is exact mid-afternoon. For women and other Venus beings — and for all of us in the areas of romance, creativity, art, music, fashion, beauty — there may be surprises or even shocks. There’s an element of going wild. It can indicate a liberating love, or a synchronistic infatuation, or simply doing something different. With Pluto stationary it’s best to take it easy. Avoid overreacting and don’t get pulled into the free floating anxiety that fills the air like static electricity when many millions of people suffer apprehension that increases each day until the election.
Tue 10/15 Venus trine Neptune is exact in the late afternoon indicating the possibility of soulful love, of graceful charity, or inspiring art, and a greater sensitivity to the harmonies and beauties of the imagination. With this and Venus opposition Uranus this is a time for creativity but not for perfectionism. Experiences from the romantic to the deeply spiritual are possible but a great film, beautiful music, a romantic dinner by water, could liberate the imagination. Watch for synchronicity in matters of Venus.
Wed 10/16 only lunar aspects are exact. Pessoa wrote: “I always live in the present. The future, I can’t know. The past, I no longer have. Some days are entire philosophies in themselves that suggest us new interpretations of life, marginal notes full of acute criticism in the book of our universal destiny.”
Thu 10/17 the full moon in Aries arrives at 4:25 AM. The last of this week’s series of Venus aspects Venus sextile Pluto stationary is exact before dawn then after noon Venus leaves obsessive and intense Scorpio for jovial and restless Sagittarius. With Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto all in aspect with Venus this is a rare moment of potential for endeavors romantic and creative. Relationships may be transformed. But it would be too easy to miss it due to Pluto’s overwhelming obsessiveness. Give this week to Venus in whatever ways you can. Venus in Sagittarius can indicate a yearning for travel, the desire to hang out with friends in groups, and a tendency to exaggerate because a good story is more important than being completely accurate. Find some optimism in the worlds of love and creativity.
Fri 10/18 sun inconjunct Uranus is exact about a quarter to midnight. With sun inconjunct Neptune almost exact this weekend would not be the right one for excessive escapism. Doom scrolling, especially if augmented by intoxicants, could lead to health problems. When we flood our bodies with the chemicals of fight or flight on a daily basis we’re exhausting them. Get some rest. Respect the need to do new things, to update, to sometimes feel free; respect imagination, intuition, and inspiration; and respect yourself.
Sat 10/19 only lunar aspects are exact. Diane di Prima wrote: “Remember
that all you need to remember is what you love. Remember to Marry the World.”
Sun 10/20 sun inconjunct Neptune is exact in the morning. Mars opposition Pluto will be getting closer to exact daily. It’s exact on 11/3, just before the election. Mars will be stationary retrograde on 12/6 and in effect until 1/15/2025. It will be exactly opposing Pluto again mid-April 2025. Mars opposition Pluto can indicate impatience, suspicion, ruthless competition, sabotage, in the big picture war, terrorism, natural disasters, public unrest, in general a time when matters ruled by Mars are frustrated by how things actually are. A big reveal about future course. The point of all this is to evolve how we use Mars collectively and individually. We do not exploit, we protect. But Mars opposition Pluto is the “if you’re not with me you’re against me aspect”. Resist the urge to demonize.
All of this is happening within the range of the US Pluto return. The fate of the republic would appear to be hanging in the balance. Of course, the empire has been festering within the republic for a long time, and one could argue convincingly that the republic is only a convenient mask at this point. Pluto has a way of making fools of all of us. The fate of the nation will not be permanently decided by this election. Major changes are happening next year, astrologically speaking, and 2026–2028 would seem to be years that draw a line between eras. For example, Neptune is currently at the end of a trip around the zodiac, soon to occupy the final degree of Pisces, with Saturn. These are end of an era aspects. Neptune will soon have a fresh start in Aries beginning a new journey through the signs. The Neptune cycle ending now began with the American Civil War.
As for our own lives, with so much irritation, anger, fear and manipulation in the astrological weather all the way into Spring of next year (Mars opposes Pluto three times between early November 2024 and late April 2025), we have the opportunity to face agitating news and perhaps circumstances with calm and balance. We can learn how to control within ourselves the waves of emotions that roil our fellow human beings. We can not lash out, or act out, when stress and suspense become overwhelming as they probably will at times. What activities could we choose instead? Agrippa wrote: “It is requisite that we should here say something of Magick, which is so linked to Astrology, as being her near Kinswoman, that whoever professes Magick without Astrology, does nothing, but is altogether out of the way.”
Sometimes it can be helpful to think of ourselves as today’s (fill in your first name). For example, today’s Ronnie might take on a task so that tomorrow’s Ronnie doesn’t have to. What could you do today that would make you a year from now look back with appreciation? When we think of ourselves in this kindly and helpful way we often find ourselves thinking of others that way, too.
Cynicism, resignation, false certainty
