September 30th ~ October 7th
“Sailing in the Mist” by Ivan Konstantinovich Aivazovsky
Just so. Opening your eyes is all that is needing. The heart lies and the head plays tricks with us, but the eyes are true. Look with your eyes. Hear with your ears. Taste with your mouth. Smell with your nose. Feel with your skin. Then comes the thinking, afterward, and in that way knowing the truth. ~ George R. R. Martin
On October 2nd Mercury stations in preparation for its apparent direct motion. And so ends the current retrograde phase of Mercury. But not so fast. It will take a bit for Mercury to pick up speed once again. And in the days leading up to the station we are also gradually adjusting to what we are accustomed to calling ‘normal’. There are shifts in perception as things are trying to fall into that semblance of normalcy.
But here’s the issue: As Mercury stations direct this week, it is also opposing nebulous Neptune. Mercury is strong in Virgo and is desperately trying to put the pieces of the puzzle all back together again. But under the confabulating rays of Neptune, it cannot trust what it is seeing, hearing and sensing. The fog rolls in, the tides are swirling, and the light is dim. And as if that is not enough, Mars too is joining the fray.
Mars is now slowing for its retrograde station on October 30th. And as it does so it is also applying to a square to Neptune, creating a mutable t-square between stationing Mercury in Virgo opposite Neptune in Pisces, and square Mars slowing for its station in Gemini. This is, by the way, the stuff of which foul weather brews. And here we are in the midst of Hurricane season, while a category 4-5 hurricane having just barreled its way into the state of Florida. We’ll all be feeling this personally as well.
These prevailing Neptune afflictions hovering in the background can make us all feel as if we are adrift, uncertain or inundated in our own diluvian storm surge. Things get beyond us. We lose track. We are confused by mixed messages. The dishes pile up in the sink, and the laundry does not get done. Thankfully the Mercury/Neptune transit does not perfect. Mercury comes very close to the opposition, and then turns tail. And thankfully so. And that’s where stationing Pluto takes over.
Pluto will station direct on October 8th. And whenever planets station they are strong and present. And as Mercury stations this weekend, it is making a strong trine to Pluto. There are two exact Mercury/Pluto trines: one on September 27th, and again on October 6th. And this is what saves the day. So that even as we are awash in the veil of all that Neptune uncertainty, and even as we don’t quite trust our own senses yet, Mercury/Pluto cuts through all the lies, the confusion and the chaos with the proverbial sword of discrimination. Usually an opposition would be able to trump a trine, but in this case the opposition to Neptune is like a lingering hangover, while the trine to Pluto is a well honed and sharpened blade.
What this weather is good for:
Compassion and connection: When Neptune dissolves boundaries and inundates us, it also lays bare the reality that we are all here swimming together in this great ocean of experience we call life. We are all intricately bound to one another on these subtle planes. But when Neptune comes to call it simply can not be denied. Recognizing these subtle interconnections awakens our compassion, and opens our hearts.
Getting to the bottom cause of an issue and fixing it: Mercury/Pluto delves deep beneath the surface. Therefore this is an excellent time for therapy and self-realization, in addition to understanding why the technology isn’t working the way it should.
Solving a mystery or figuring out a puzzle: Same as above. Mercury/Pluto is focused and determined to solve the puzzle, and will relentlessly stay focused on figuring it out to the exclusion of all else.
Following through with a hunch: This is deeply intuitive weather. Neptune aims to open up the senses, and Pluto sees the patterns in the tea leaves. Virgo follows up with practical application.
Making sense of the insensible: Mercury in Virgo is strong and well organized! And resourceful. It organizes the drawers, itemizes the bills and cleans all the dishes piled up in the sink. It is not deterred by the fog rolling in, or the lights turning off, but is prepared with batteries and flashlights as needed.
Revealing that the Emperor has no clothes: Mercury/Pluto sees through all the subterfuge, the lies, our own fears, doubts and hesitance, and cuts straight to the truth. It sees true. And is not afraid to say so.
For this week’s horoscopes, click below: