October 7th ~ 14th
“Time for the Physician” by Eleanor Fortescue Bricksdale
It maketh and unmaketh, mending all; What it hath wrought is better than had been; Slow grows the splendid pattern that it plans; Its wistful hands between. Such is the Law which moves to righteousness, Which none at last can turn aside or stay. ~ Edwin Arnold (The Light of Asia)
Mercury and Pluto both station direct this month while making a close trine to one another. Mercury stationed on October 2nd at 24º Virgo 12’, and Pluto will station on Saturday, October 8th at 26º Capricorn 07’. Both in earth signs they made an exact trine on October 6th. This is what allows us to cut right through all the fog and confusion and distraction and get right down to the underlying issues that really need to be focused on. Mercury/Pluto delves deeply, analyzes, and leaves no rock unturned. And this is despite whatever creepy crawlers may be unearthed in the process. Earth signs are practical and solution-oriented. This is about getting to the bottom of things and then fixing it.
Pluto is stationing at the very end of Capricorn. By the time that it is ready for its retrograde station on May 1st, it will be in the 1st degree of Aquarius. Therefore as Pluto appears to stand still for these many months, and gradually appears to move forward again, it does so at the closing of an era. The Pluto in Capricorn era is gradually giving way to the Pluto in Aquarius era which gets its inception in 2023-24, and continues through to 2043. From now until 2024, we are in a state of transition.
For 15 years Pluto in Capricorn has been revealing the decaying structures of our lives. Capricorn has rulership over the infrastructures and foundations in society, the governments, governing parties, and leaders, as well as the buildings, bridges, highways and roads. Pluto has been challenging these for stability, strength and relevance, and showing us what needs to be rebuilt and/or revised. And rebuilt in a way that is more sustainable, will last, and is relevant for our current needs and demands.
We also have our own personal foundations, those things that we rely on for our sense of identity, the names and labels we previously owned, but have since outgrown. These labels and identities may have served a purpose at one time. But if they were preventing you from growing, they too would have been challenged, or become irrelevant as Pluto slowly worked its way through the sign of Capricorn.
It takes some courage, humility and a great deal of resolve to face the things that Pluto unearths. The things of Pluto are not for the meek. It exposes our wounds, our weaknesses, our faults, and that which is shameful and forbidden. But mostly it shows us what has become broken, worn out, no longer relevant or sustainable, and in need of repair.
On Saturday, October 8th, Pluto comes to station at 26º Capricorn 07’. And so ends its retrograde phase. For the 5 months that Pluto has been in its retrograde phase Pluto has been revealing all that has been lurking beneath the surface both within society, and in our own lives. What is disclosed are often things that we had hoped to keep buried forever, and would never have to face. These are things we want to avoid. Things that could even bring us to our knees, and fill us with dread: our fears, our obsessions, cravings, the wraiths and demons that possess our souls. And yet these are the very things that need most to be fixed. And as Pluto wends its way through the very last degrees of Capricorn, we can no longer avoid what is being revealed and brought to the surface. And we are now ready to do something about it.
The Pluto station is being illuminated by the Full Moon in Aries which falls on October 9th, at 16º of Aries. Closely conjunct the centaur Chiron, and sextile Saturn in Aquarius we are being reminded that we cannot fight the good fight, or be of any use to others if we don’t take care of ourselves. Much like Pluto, Chiron can expose our wounds, but with the sextile to Saturn we are also being shown and given the remedies for what ails us.
Chiron is also here to remind us that partnerships and alliances are between two equal and coexistent individuals, where neither controls or overshadows the other. Whether individually, in a relationship, or in society in general, everyone counts and has something to contribute.
In the light of the Full Moon this weekend, we are all being asked to appreciate the usefulness of what we each have to offer. Whether that be what you do through your work, for your family, through a gesture, a kind word or deed. We all have our own unique way of expressing ourselves. Ask yourself at the Full Moon:
What new thing have you learned about yourself this year, that you had not previously realized or fully appreciated?
What good qualities do you possess that you might have previously taken for granted? Look for opportunities to share and/or cultivate these good qualities.
What do you need for your own self-care? Or what new self-care initiatives would you like to further explore? Chiron in Aries illuminated by the Full Moon is here to remind us that there is nothing selfish about taking the time and giving yourself space for your own healing and well-being. And the Saturn sextile is a reminder that help is there if we seek it out.
We have a lot of work ahead of us now that Pluto is stationing direct! And the Full Moon in Aries is asking us to bring ourselves to wholeness so that we can be better equipped to be a part of the solution.
In a futile attempt to erase our past, we deprive the community of our healing gift. If we conceal our wounds out of fear and shame, our inner darkness can neither be illuminated nor become a light for others. ~ Brennan Manning (The Cry of the Heart for Intimate Belonging)
For this week’s horoscopes, click below: