Astrology Highlights:  Scorpio
October/November 2000

New Moon 'Scope
by Dana Gerhardt

"The Owls Are Not What They Seem"

If you watched the early ‘90’s cult show “Twin Peaks,” you likely recall its most cryptic line:  “The owls are not what they seem.”  This is just the right sentiment for this month’s Scorpio New Moon.  With the Sun and Moon square Neptune, and a retrograde Mercury slipping backward into the Sun’s blinding light, you should pause to wonder about the truth of any stories that you hear now -- whether it’s from those around you, or the ones running amok in your very own head.  Maybe things are not as they seem.  Perhaps the polls heading into election night are wrong.  Or maybe they’re right, but having read this, you think they’re wrong, and what I’m saying is off.  It’s like that.  When the Truth takes up residence inside a Chinese puzzle box, what should you do? 

My recommendation is that you start having lots of fun with the dark.  It’s not so bad in there.  It can be creative, mysterious, wondrous not to know what you think you know.  When your eyes can’t see, what will your other senses uncover? Here’s a little ritual to get you in the mood.  One night soon enter a favorite room in your house, turn off all the lights, and stand in the middle of the room.  It’s amazing all you can know and feel when you can’t see, huh?  Now go into your least favorite room and do the same thing.  A little bit different, right?  Stay with it until your fear and resistance dissolve and you start discovering. 

Mercury goes direct on Election Day, but squares Neptune until November 15.  In other words, many of your mysteries will clear up after the November 11 Full Moon.  Til then, expect a greater than average likelihood of Neptune moments.  You know, you’re doing seventy on the highway and all of a sudden you come up on the bumper of a car doing forty.  It used to be you’d immediately know the color of the driver’s hair:  white or gray.  But now it could be anyone.  A soccer mom or a film producer on a cell phone; a stressed-out office worker:  Daily evidence and bell-warnings that lives are out of synch. 

Most urban humans live at an unnatural pace – a problem that only thickens as we head into the end of the year.  At the time when all good bears know to head for the cave, conserve energy, renew and dream, many angry and unhappy humans run around spending the money they don’t have.  (This won’t be you of course.)  But when you run across those other ones this lunar month, the gods Venus and Jupiter will especially smile on you if you practice a largesse of generosity.  Be patient, wise, compassionate and kind.  Be a pre-Christmas saint.  Otherwise, Venus and Jupiter, in tight opposition at the new moon, could start you on a roll of indulgence and overconsumption.

This is Scorpio the season after all.  Jupiter’s opposition to Scorpio’s ruler Pluto suggests an interesting strategy for growth:  You can gain by eliminating.  Shake off unnecessary thoughts and obligations like the trees wisely shedding their leaves.  Make room for mystery.  New empowerments will come. 
 
 

November Astrology Highlights:  Mercury, Jupiter and Saturn retrogrades
by Lynn Koiner, P.M.A.F.A. 
 

MERCURY RETROGRADE: October 18 through November 7, 2000

The traditional statement about Mercury retrograde is that it favors anything that begins with the prefix "re-" -- re-negotiate, re-vamp, re-new, re-vise, return, re-issue, re-visit, re-finance because the word retrograde itself means "to go back and retrace one's steps."

Many people call me about how to handle the decision-making process while Mercury is retrograde. Always, decisions should only be made on contingency! With the element of flexibility added to any change or decision, there seems to be some guarantee of success. This period also favors finishing up work or returning to complete a project. This motion can provide new insights into the material. It favors re-considering prior decisions and getting others to change their minds about a previously-made decision. Precision is always disrupted by a retrograde Mercury. Going with the flow, keeping options open, using contingency methods and intuitively processing as you go along seem to give the flexibility needed to avoid Retrograde Mishaps. 

Most of the time, Mercury retrograde is about as welcome as a tax audit! The left hemisphere of the brain is out to lunch, nothing works when you want it to, and nothing turns out as planned. Generally speaking, this is not a time to make any major commitments or sign any contracts or papers because you will change your mind. It is not a time to place any importance in the decisions or commitments of others since they, too, will change their minds. Sign agreements only on contingency! All changes are subject to delays, last-minute postponements or mix-ups. 

This is a bad time to obtain a medical diagnosis or visit a doctor for the first time. You may not be able to obtain an accurate diagnosis until Mercury turns direct. It is better for a later diagnosis. 

General repairs are not favored when Mercury is retrograde and these frequently have to be done over again. Never purchase anything associated with transportation or communication - such as a car, a bicycle, tape recorder, TV or even shoes. Such purchases will not last long or they will be plagued with malfunctions - if they work at all! 

When Mercury is retrograde and afflicting another transiting planet, this causes major communication and decision-making errors in judgment. It is not a time to travel and, when driving yourself, exercise great caution. People are more inclined to be accident prone. 

Caution Dates are November 1-2 (Neptune).
 

JUPITER RETROGRADE:  September 29 - January 25, 2001

When Jupiter turns retrograde, the action of Jupiter is reversed so that the emphasis is upon inner awareness and inner growth. It is an excellent time to get in touch with personal integrity. Jupiter rules role playing in order evoke a positive external reaction. When transiting Jupiter is afflicting natal planets, you will find yourself dealing with phoniness in both yourself and others. When Jupiter is retrograde, you should evaluate how you are not being honest with yourself because you are playing a role that is disloyal to your true self. When opportunities arise while Jupiter is retrograde, they are the result of seeds planted in the past from people met or connections made in the past. 

Jupiter retrograde is more spiritual and philosophical so it is a time to explore philosophies, possibly something simpler from a time in your past. According to Delphine Jay, this period may produce an event that reminds you of a time when you had a better perspective on life. She furthermore feels that it is an excellent time to complete Jupitarian projects such as going back to school to complete your education, taking a long distance trip that you have postponed, and making a connection with a long lost friendship. It is a good time to take spiritual or philosophical courses with the objective of gaining a better perspective on life. 

Because of the spiritual approach to this Jupiter transit, it is not a time to initiate material activities. A business which starts while Jupiter is retrograde will find that much of the business is connected with altruistic and charitable concerns and good causes. Too much help is given for which the company will not receive payment. Obviously, it is excellent for initiating a humanitarian or fund-raising project. 

In my chart interpretation, I use the key phrase for the House-position of Jupiter retrograde that it is an area wherein you are able to restore to life things or relationships that are considered dead or dying. Jupiter natally retrograde in the 2nd and 4th House is good for restoring objects or property for resale. It is good for restoring troubled relationships ruled by the various houses. Therefore, it can be assumed that, when Jupiter is transiting retrograde, it is a good time to restore any project or relationship that is failing. I consider Jupiter to be the relating principle in a chart - how we reach out and connect with others and what we relate to most easily. During the retrograde cycle, make the effort to revive that which is failing as ruled by the House-position of the transiting retrograde. Make the effort to go back and make the connection.
 

SATURN RETROGRADE:  September 12 - January 25, 2001

Saturn turning retrograde will slow down the normal rate of activity so that better methods and strategies can be developed. Saturn rules the physical and psychological supports, structures and armatures in our life. It produces the rules and regulations by which we guide our lives, our sense of responsibility, and our limitations. It allows us to define boundaries for ourselves by saying NO! When Saturn is natally retrograde, this capacity does not function properly, making us insecure and unable to accurately assess what can realistically be expected in any situation. The most common flaw is the tendency to say YES when we should say NO, especially in activities and relationships ruled by Saturn's house position. Stress hits: November 2 (Pluto) and December 22 (Mars).

During the period when Saturn is transiting retrograde, it is essential that we go back and assess and solidify commitments made, projects started and responsibilities undertaken in the past. This must be done before we can continue. Saturn transiting retrograde provides the opportunity to reassess what we have taken on, to finally say NO, to back out of a commitment and to improve the organization of a project. While the process is going on, while you are working with what you have at hand, you should be warned against taking on any unnecessary responsibilities or long-range commitments. Only deal with issues from the past; do not take on new ones! 

Saturn turning retrograde gives us the opportunity to go back and reorganize or renegotiate any activities or commitments that seem to be a source of frustration. If you merely persist under Saturn frustrations, the frustrations will merely persist! Weed out the source of frustration at this time. Remember, my definition for being responsible is in knowing how much you can do before you start to feel frustrated, trapped or confined - and drawing the line and saying NO before you reach that point! It is essential that you do not start any new business activity while Saturn is retrograde!! You will only find that a lot of reorganizing has to be done before any successes can be made.