October holds 18 dynamic aspects: one conjunction, one opposition, one shadow point, four squares, four ingresses, three occultations, one retrograde station, one direct station, one full Moon and one new Moon. Vibrant, forceful, stimulative waves govern this months shared energy patterns, all vying for attention. People will respond to confident leadership, however it is up to each person to discern truth. A more cooperative mood arises by October 9th, and throughout the rest of the month a more supportive atmosphere is possible. Both at the month's beginning and ending we will see a cooperative spirit between nurturance and security issues.
10/4 Mercury ESP (Ending Shadow Point) 26:19 Virgo, 1:10 PM. The past month and a half has provided an arena for scrutinizing health and service pursuits. In trying out different patterns in these areas, you have gained experience that has revealed new options for living. Now you may implement these options to help you to map out a more satisfying life direction.
10/6 Sun squares Saturn 12:53 Libra/Cancer, 6:40 AM. People hunger and thirst for responsible and reliable leaders to show them how to repair difficulties in their life patterns. Talk is cheap, but those who provide living examples can win their trust. Be among those who address principles instead of details they are the real problem solvers.
Moon occults Mars 0:42 Pisces, 8:38 AM. Honesty will be supported, and dishonesty will be revealed. Inner processes may suddenly become public, and outer behavior may be intensified by inner turmoil, as emotional patterns may become disconnected. Watch over and show consideration to those who appear vulnerable. If you feel exposed to distractive or disruptive influences, delay action until you can center yourself.
Mercury enters Libra 6:28 PM. Communicate your creative ideas and work with others on team activities. Apply yourself in coordinating goals of fairness, and recognize individual excellence even if it requires you to adjust your previous opinions and observations. Cooperative mediation can result in success.
10/9 Venus enters Scorpio 11:56 AM. Strong, deep feelings arise. Instead of irrational or precipitous actions, take the time to apply patience. Issues of self-control may drain your energy. Find a trusted friend or professional to consult with one who can suggest constructive options without judging you.
10/10 Full Moon 16:35 Aries/Libra west coast 12:27 AM; 3:27 AM. Bringing projects to fruition may be troubled with setbacks. These delays may be blessings in disguise. Overlooked or forgotten components in the projects that may weaken your position can become apparent. West coast environments center on the interaction between foundation or groundwork and their effects on public image. East coast issues deal with individual values and their effects on companions or associates. Here again, patience and diligence are needed to keep the processes flowing and open to more effective choices.
10/14 Mercury squares Saturn 13:07 Libra/Cancer, 7:49 AM. Challenge meets every communication and all commerce. A shakeout period accompanies projects concerned with intellectual properties or collaborations between peers. Many projects will fail unless created with care and built on sound principles. This is a good time to build trust, and to enlist in educational courses. Reciprocal agreements can create powerful relationships.
10/17 Venus squares Neptune Rx 10:24 Scorpio/Aquarius, 8:30 PM. Spiritual projects may attract mature or conscious people, presenting opportunities for the growth and development for all. Intuitive views of future prospects open now. Choose carefully where you put your trust value only that which brings the greatest hope for future achievement. Moderation is imperative.
10/22 Neptune turns direct 10:24 Aquarius, 6:55 PM. This is a magical time, where one step in a new direction can lead to either optimism and expansion, or self-control and new responsibilities. Small adjustments can make the difference between clear vision and illusion.
10/23 Sun enters Scorpio 1:09 PM. Shining light in dark places makes it difficult to keep secrets and to hide from the truth. Introversion and extroversion may surprisingly switch places in a smooth conversion. Creative imagination can be identified and supported.
10/24 Mercury enters Scorpio, and Chiron (13:14 Capricorn) opposes Saturn (13:14 Cancer), 4:20 AM. Another shift in perspective is possible. Approach your goals with new perspectives. Connectivity is not easily accomplished, however. You may feel alone on your path, with no more than wise vision from the past to guide you. Avoid getting caught up in negative thought patterns. Use this time to become aware of your weaknesses and build your inner strength.
10/25 Sun conjoins (superior), and occults Mercury 1:34 Scorpio, 2:58 AM. Practical, linear thinking and common sense may be suspended briefly, but long enough for new patterns to insert themselves. A flow of uncommon and exceptional ideas may become apparent that can lead to transformation and the beginning of a new pathway.
New Moon 1:41 Scorpio, west coast 5:50 AM; east coast 8:50 AM. Begin anew, with open minds and hearts. This begins a period of potential rebirth, through developing the ability to think outside of recognized parameters. To those aspected, nothing will respond in the same patterns to the old ways of thinking. This can lead to frustration for those unwilling to change, and glorious liberation for those willing to embrace extraordinary possibilities. On the west coast, open communication and creative options support personal processes. The east coast environment favors behind the scenes processes supported by transformed talents and values, and transcended principles and honorable action.
Saturn turns retrograde 13:14 Cancer, 4:43 PM. The opportunity to develop and enhance structural projects concerned with domestic issues depends on successfully cleaning up programs that failed to satisfy needs. Some problems cannot be solved using old, outdated methodologies. This retrograde period can be used to investigate new constructive approaches.
10/26 Moon occults Venus 21:12 Scorpio, 11:53 AM. An interruption in the internalized energy flow allows you to identify and make modifications in your desires. Needs attempt to supersede wishes, cravings and longings just long enough to instill a bit of guilt. The trick here is to avoid getting caught up in emotional games. Compare your necessities against your passions. Necessities tend to win, unless they can be delayed or placed on temporary hold. Often things that excite passion make life worth living.
10/30 Mercury squares Neptune Rx 10:25 Scorpio/Aquarius, 11:35 AM. Use your intuition and sensitivity to satisfy a deep curiosity regarding the nature of mind. Spiritual awareness and critical perception merge to address issues of consciousness and reality. Make believe you are successful, and you are literally "making a belief real." Use your ingenuity to support that belief. An intense need to better oneself motivates people to persevere, when they might be tempted to give up.
2003 October Symbology
© September 2003 Roxana Muise
October was named for the eighth month of the old Roman calendar. October is associated with the altruistic Athena, Greek wisdom goddess, and guardian of heroes. October is also sacred to the Roman goddess Astraea. Daughter of Zeus and Themis, Astraea is honored as the goddess of purity, justice and discipline. Astraea brought patience and hope to the world of mortals, as they progressed into ever more violent times. May we now invoke her benevolent energies? October is also sacred to the great goddess, Hathor, whose joyful religion lasted for over 3,000 years, embodies all the feminine possibilities. Goddess of sensual pleasures, and the special guardian spirit of all women and all female animals, Hathor is also identified with the Greek Aphrodite, the spirit of guile and sexuality and the Roman Venus, the spirit of charm and beauty, who governs the sign Libra.
The gemstones linked with October are the opal and the tourmaline. The fire opal, Octobers most spectacular gemstone, may be worn as a talisman of hope, for it embodies the colors of all precious stones. The opal is said to avert painful times and misfortune when worn by those born under the Sun sign of Libra (September 23 to October 23). For the Scorpio part of October, the tourmaline balances the polarity of its wearer and deflects negativity, especially when worn on the forehead at the third eye or at the throat chakra. Tourmaline wands are used in massage and in healing rituals.
October 2 is Mahatma Ghandis birthday. Born in Western India in 1869, he developed a creed of passive resistance against injustice: satyagraha, meaning truth force.
On October 4th, we celebrate the feast of Saint Francis of Assisi. St. Francis had an affinity for animals and for all the elements of creation he was a patron of natural conservation, and he understood the natural cycles of Earth, as you will see in the selection below.
October 5 is Lailat al Miraj, the ascension of the prophet Muhammad. Founder of Islam, he was born in Makkah, present-day Saudi Arabia around 570 C.E.
In Judaism, this October is filled with celebrations of endings. Yom Kippur, on October 5/6 means "Day of Atonement". It is the annual day set aside for repentance. October 11 begins the 9-day festival of Sukkoth (festival of the Tabernacle), which commemorates the booths or shelters that God provided for the Children of Israel during their time in the wilderness. Simhath Torah (October 19), which means "Rejoicing of the Law", observes the turning of the yearly cycle of the daily reading of the Torah, the Jewish holy Book of The Law. October 19 marks the end of the Jewish High Holy Day season and thanksgiving festival.
(Note: Please forgive my error: Sukkoth was mistakenly included in September's Report, which was the date of Sukkoth in 2002.)
Watch the skies surrounding the night of October 21 for the gift of Light and inspiration from the annual Orionids Meteor Shower.
October is also the gateway to the darker part of the year, and many cultures celebrated the end of October in honor of those who have died. The ancient Persians celebrated Mordad, dedicated to appeasing the Angel of Death. The Hindus celebrate a festival of the dead called Durga. The ancient Egyptians celebrated the Day of the Dead in November, and the Mexicans and Peruvians commune with deceased relatives during the "Days of the Dead" that span the end of October and the first day of November. On October 31, Kali, the terrible goddess is invoked to slay the demons within. Hallowe'en (Holy Evening, or All Hallows Eve), called the Day of the Dead in Latin cultures in the Americas, and All Souls Day in western Christian cultures is when prayers for those loved ones who have left this plane of existence are evoked. Their accomplishments and/or their misdeeds are acknowledged, and their souls are remembered in prayer. This sets the stage for All Saints Day, November first, when Christian heroes and heroines are recognized and petitioned to assist us mortals in their quest for a more blessed existence for our souls after death.
October 31 is also the Eve of Samhain (pronounced Sow-wan), the Celtic New Year's Eve, which celebrates the peak of the cycle of rebirth. It is a magical time of shape shifting, when the veil between the seen and the unseen is very thin, and mysteries are revealed to the faithful. It is similar to its yearly opposite, Beltane, with its occurrences elemental mischief and uncanny phenomena.
This is also the season of the Scandinavian goddess, Skuld, the third and last of the Fates, who ruled the processes of life. Skuld honors the Crone, or the final wisdom path of the goddess, also known as Cailleach. Cailleach is the Crone Aspect of the Great Goddess, Creator of Storms, and Goddess of Sovereignty. The Cailleach Beara is one of the oldest living mythological beings associated with Ireland, and is born old at Samhain (Nov 1st) but grows ever younger over time until she is a beautiful maiden at Beltane. Z. Budapest describes Skuld as the Fate that allows transit to the other side of life.
Currently, there are more than 1728 different religions on Earth, most of which have common doctrines, similar histories and allegorical components of ancient beliefs. It is interesting to share the parallels rather than to point out the differences. And most have components that are timeless and valid in today's world.
Excerpt from St. Francis' Canticle of the Sun:
"...Be praised, my Lord, through all your creatures, especially through my lord Brother Sun, who brings the day; and you give light through him. And he is beautiful and radiant in all his splendor! Of you, Most High, he bears the likeness.
Be praised, my Lord, through Sister Moon and the stars; in the heavens you have made them, precious and beautiful.
Be praised, my Lord, through Brothers Wind and Air, and clouds and storms, and all the weather, through which you give your creatures sustenance.
Be praised, my Lord, through Sister Water; she is very useful, and humble, and precious, and pure.
Be praised, my Lord, through Brother Fire, through whom you brighten the night. He is beautiful and cheerful, and powerful and strong.
Be praised, my Lord, through our sister Mother Earth, who feeds us and rules us, and produces various fruits with colored flowers and herbs..."
