Midlife Transits

All month you are scheduled to be your usual capable self when it comes to family and domestic matters. I’m not exactly going to say that everything will run like a well-0iled machine though. Mercury will go retrograde on the 10th and stay that way until the 30th. That may trip a few things up. And since warlike Mars will be stomping through your home and family sector, there may be a few times when you feel like fleeing the house. But the beauty of your chart is that you can. You’ve still got Neptune in your happiness sector (till early next year), and that indicates that you can escape when you need to.

Admittedly, you may end up escaping into your job, but hey if that works… You do actually have some fairly intense energy in your job sector, as Uranus in that part of your chart will be going direct on the 5th. Jupiter will be playing bumper cars with Uranus toward the end of the month, which could indicate a time of super-busyness just after Christmas. Uranus does tend to be a stress case and he loves unusual circumstances, so goodness knows what’ll happen at work when he starts playing games with Jupiter.

The other element of unpredictability for the month comes from a lunar eclipse in Gemini on the 21st. This is the sort of eclipse that can indicate sudden overseas travel or unusual events when traveling outside of one’s own country. Occasionally, it also signals the beginning of a process toward actually relocating to another country. For most, things won’t be that dramatic though. You may get an educational opportunity, a chance to teach or encounter some other circumstance that allows you to show off your intellect. You may also decide to drop some intellectual activity or course of study that just isn’t paying off for you.

Venus re-enters your sign this month, thanks to retrograde action. It re-joins Saturn already in your sign. Having Saturn in your sign is liking climbing the highest mountain you can think of. Having Venus in your sign is like having the scenery be really lovely while you do it.

Yours isn’t the only sign in the spotlight this month, though. This is also Scorpio month. Scorpio is like the medicine man for your financial life. The time around the 5th and 6th is the time to make your annual financial wish at the Scorpio new moon. As long as it’s not too greedy, you’ve got a shot at manifesting it.

Mercury is also in Scorpio until the 8th. Mercury can help you think about the psychological aspect of money, since there’s always a psychological aspect to how we handle money. Venus retrograde in Scorpio until the 7th can either help you bring money in or help you be philosophical about what’s already gone out.

The problematic planet continues to be Pluto, currently taking special aim at those Libras born in late September. Pluto is in your solar 4th house of family, and even those who aren’t born in late September are confronting at least some elements of hosting Pluto in this sensitive spot. Pluto is eventually helpful when in a position like this, but usually before he’s helpful, he brings up displeasure. Something in your family situation is not to Pluto’s liking, and in his efforts to fix it he’ll tend to make you not too happy with things. The bottom line is that you may need to radically re-think at least one family relationship.

Happy Birthday, Libra! This is the month of your birthday wish new moon, which falls on the 7th. Since Saturn is in your sign, this new moon occurs right after a conjunction between the moon and Saturn. For some Libras, Saturn represents a parent or an aging relative that you need to care for. For others, it represents their own sense of parenthood or similar responsibility. In either case, this new moon puts you in touch with your ability to care for others in a practical way. Your wish for the year will probably reflect that in some way.

This month’s full moon is in Aries, the second this year. Last month’s full moon in Aries was on September 23 at the beginning of the sign; this one on October 22 is at the end. That’s twice the full moon is illuminating your shadow, the sign opposite yours. In fact, your shadow is getting illuminated by the skies like crazy, at least as a long term trend. If you’ve ever considered psychotherapy, the next 12 months might be the time to engage in it. Next year, Uranus will move into Aries for the long haul, into your 7th house. The 7th house is the house of counselors and therapists, and it will be bursting with insights for a long time to come.

If you’re already a psychotherapist yourself (a higher than normal percentage of Libras are), your practice is likely to be volatile, exciting, and subject to change over the next year and beyond.

Even if you don’t think you’re interested in psychology, you can learn a lot from the field while Saturn is in your sign. Saturn encourages objective self-evaluation while in a person’s sign; no planet has a clearer eye, and these days he’s interested in you and what makes you tick. Although it’s a weird concept for Libra, the sign of thinking about other people, you have full permission to ponder yourself for awhile. Take advantage of it. It won’t last forever; this one good chance to get to know yourself as you never have before.

Jupiter remains in Aries until the 9th of September. Jupiter is part of a broader trend in your chart that will pick up next year, in which the universe is questioning your committed relationships. Jupiter in the 7th house often bats around the idea of increased freedom. Not in a bad way, just sort of hinting around, putting out feelers, asking what the other party might be into to improve the relationship. If you are not in a committed relationship, Jupiter often urges you to make the first move, ask someone out or at least reach out and get to know some people.

After the 9th, Jupiter will join Uranus in Pisces, where the two will cook up some unpredictable hi-jinks in your job and health sector. You’ve dealt with this energy before, so unpredictability on the job may be ho-hum to you by now.

Mars, Venus, Saturn, and the sun will all be in your sign this month. Venus and Mars start the month in your sign, Saturn’s there all month, and the sun enters on the 22nd. Venus leaves on the 8th, Mars on the 14th.

Mars will want to start quarrels, while Venus will want to patch them up. Mars won’t care about the consequences of your actions, while Saturn will care too much. Saturn will probably emerge as the planetary leader of the gang in your sign, and caution will probably prevail. But one result of all this energy may be a need to talk about yourself and your opinions more than normal, once the sun enters your sign. You may need a bit of out loud processing time, as you contemplate the risks not taken and the options not explored. That’s okay; it’s all a learning process.

The month starts with 2 planets in your marriage and relationship sector, Jupiter and Uranus in Aries. Uranus moves back into your job and health sector on the 14th. Jupiter meanwhile clashes with 4 planets (Pluto in Capricorn, and Venus, Mars and Saturn in your sign) between the 1st and the 16th. The Jupiter square Pluto clash could mean things like planning to take a trip with your spouse and then not being able to because things arise on the home front that need to be attended to. Even shorter car trips are supposedly not well-starred this month as Mercury goes retrograde in Virgo. Some say this does not bode well for even short trips, although I haven’t found that to be the case in practice.

Jupiter also relates to beliefs and opinions or convictions. Mars and Venus in your own sign challenge him this month. This is the sort of aspect that indicates that people’s opinions could hurt your feelings or their stubborn beliefs could limit your scope of action in some way, especially the opinions of a partner.  Saturn in your own sign will also clash with Jupiter. Since Saturn often relates to career, your personal interest in or commitment to your career could clash with your partner’s ideas about how things ought to be. If the clash doesn’t relate to career, it could simply have to do with your own personal progress and evolution these days, clashing with your ideas about marriage and partnership.

Finally, Pluto in your solar 4th house is also making difficult aspects to Saturn, Jupiter, Venus, and Mars. Bottom line: a month of adjustments. Next month–not as hairy.

I’m not going to lie to you; July is scheduled to be a stressful month for most signs, including yours. All four angles of your chart are lit up this month, which basically means the skies are trying to pull you in 4 different directions at the same time, and nothing wants to give.

Fortunately, you have some resources at your disposal. For one thing, there’s energy in the compatible sign of Leo all month long. What this essentially means is that you have access to support from your friends and extended network throughout July.

Also, your ruler Venus will move into Virgo on the 9th. Along with other planets, Venus indicates that your personal sense of spirituality is another great resource for you this month.

If you don’t consider yourself an especially spiritual person, you can look at it another way–have confidence in your own ability. This is a lesson that Saturn is going to be teaching you over the next couple of years anyway–but there’s no harm in getting an early start in understanding that you can rely on yourself.

To put another spin on the general theme–Pluto is moving through the bottom of your solar chart. This can be challenging, but it holds at least one clear message: your power comes from within. It may be that all kinds of outer circumstances are trying to convince you right now that it doesn’t, and that other people have all the cards. But your power does come from within and from your ability to stay grounded. Keep that in mind as things progress.

Finally, you may get an exciting new start or opportunity in your career this month, thanks to an eclipse in Cancer on July 11. Undoubtedly, you deserve it.

Gosh, so much is happening in June. Let’s start with Jupiter moving into Aries on the 6th. Jupiter is supposed to be the planet that brings understanding to the area that he visits, as well as expansion and sometimes good fortune. He’ll be paired up with Uranus, a planet that frequently brings insight as well as change. They’ll both be visiting your solar sector of relationships. Boom! In theory, you get greater comprehension of relationships (or perhaps a particular relationship). Libra loves to understand relationships! So this is seemingly a good turn of events for Libra, playing to the sign’s strong suit. Libras who are not currently in a relationship may get opportunities to enter into one.

This is also an airy month, because there’s lot of Gemini energy going on. Libra’s an air sign, so that’s good, too. Gemini’s a pretty smart sign, and it gets along with the Aries energy. Again, theoretically, you get Libra understanding cheerfully expanding. The Gemini energy is strong through the 24th. Another good way to use the energy is to go on vacation or go on an adventure or explore new experiences.

So far, so good for an upbeat month for Libra. There is one potential glitch around the 26th. A lunar eclipse in Capricorn on the 26th falls in the sector that governs home and family. If the eclipse affects you (not all eclipses affect all people), it would seemingly indicate some sort of ending or upset in this area of your life.

May is mother’s day month. In astrological terms, the holiday comes a bit early because Venus (appreciation) doesn’t enter Cancer (mothers) until the 19th, but the energy is there. For Libra one of the things this Cancer/mothering energy means is mentoring and being mentored. This is your month to both give and receive mentoring in a creative spirit. This is part of a general trend in which things on the job are supposed to be happier for awhile and more successful. In some cases, though, the Cancer energy will relate more to being happy and proud of one’s children’s successes.

A second thing to note is that the time of Mars in Leo is coming to an end early next month. This is your last full month to partake of Mar’s unadulterated joy in going out and not being at home. Now admittedly, the Libra solar chart always takes joy in being out and socializing, but your chart has a little extra oomph in that area right now.

That’s significant because Pluto has embarked on a long project of hammering home the importance of family and family obligations for all Libras, so you need to scoot out the door and get some party time in whenever you get the chance these days.

Last but not least, at the end of the month Uranus moves into Aries and your solar partnership sector. At some point, this will have the effect of shaking things up in your life in profound ways. If you were born on the first day of your sign, you’ll feel it right away. For others, the strongest effects will come later.

Two big planets, Saturn and Uranus, are fighting again this month. Thank goodness you’ve still got Neptune in Aquarius to help you escape. What Saturn and Uranus want to fight about is your job, your health, or your soul. Saturn’s left your sign seemingly to specifically make sure he finishes his dust-up with Uranus in your job sector. This could be good in the sense that you could have some sort of breakthrough this month in a long-standing matter of concern, although the effort could well be so exhausting that you don’t feel much like celebrating even after victory.

Neptune’s job in this month of conflict is to help you escape via play, your children, recreation, love affairs, or a creative project. At the end of the month, Venus will also step in to help you escape via travel if you so choose. After the 24th is the best time to make a trip.

If traveling won’t work, you could also escape into a good book. Spiritual subjects are likely to appeal to you these days. In truth, anything that stimulates your imagination could be helpful this month. For example, if job or health concerns do rear their ugly heads again this month, try visualization, yoga, or stress reduction techniques that allow you to imagine a positive outcome to your situation.

Another technique would be to take advantage of Jupiter in Pisces. When Saturn and Uranus were fighting before, Uranus didn’t have Jupiter on his side. Now that he does, you can utilize Jupiter’s love for learning and continuing education. Take a class, find a mentor, get more information.

The month opens with your chart’s mind on your job or your health. By mid-month, it switches to thinking about something that’s more up your alley–attraction. For most of the month, you have the power to attract. What can you attract? Well, love for one thing. Money may be a bit more of a stretch.

Of course, if we’re going to be realistic, Libra almost always has the power to attract love; that’s one of the characteristics of your sign. It’s just that this month, there are a whole lot of planets in Aries, which is a love sign in your solar chart. And this can ease any feelings of deprivation in this area that you may have felt due to mean old Saturn being in your sign for the past several months.

The kicker comes in the form of Pluto in your family sector not being in a good mood with all that Aries energy. Neither Pluto nor Saturn is feeling all that generous these days, whereas Aries is a very generous sign by nature. So the happy generous love feelings of the Aries planets could feel a little crimped by Pluto and Saturn. Quite frankly, Saturn and Pluto both would be just as glad if you thought about nothing but work.

Maybe you need to work due to family reasons. Or maybe work is your escape right now. Or maybe you do something creative and fulfilling for a living. Whatever your own personal situation, the reality seems to be that you need to balance your Libra nature, the one that values relationships, with the reality of the times, which value gainful employment.

Saturn in your sign wants you to be concerned about your future financial security, because he’s just that kind of a prudent planet. It’s his job to think about stuff like that. For some reason, he’s getting flack from Pluto in Capricorn this month. Pluto’s in the sector of your solar chart that relates to family matters (including your family of origin), and he’s trying to put family interests ahead of yours. These two planetary heavyweights are just not in a good mood with each other right now, and that makes it a bit hard for people of your sign to be carefree, financially or otherwise.

If family is not a financial concern, perhaps your home is, as the sign of Capricorn also relates to your residence. In addition to Pluto, Mercury starts the month in Capricorn, and perhaps you’ll spend the first 9 days of the month either wanting to stay home or needing to attend to some business there. On the other hand, you’ve still got Mars in your party sector, so perhaps you’ll be sneaking out of the house to get together with some friends and blow off some steam.

The good news is that on the 10th, Mercury moves into Aquarius. Aquarius is the sign in your solar chart that makes you popular with your favorite sex, and there’s energy in the sign all month long. Your phone should ring or your sweetheart should be thoughtful. And that could be enough to make your heart sing.

This month, there’s a lot of energy in the sign of Capricorn. That’s the sign that cares about all those practical new year things like paying off your holiday bills. Money may be a little tighter than it was last year, thanks to Saturn in your sign, but things should be manageable. There’s a solar eclipse this month in the part of your chart that relates to home and family; something new is brewing there. It’s possible that you’ll get some ideas for dressing up your residence a little bit or making it more comfortable.

Conditions at work should be improving, and your social life looks to be hopping all the way through June. Libras involved in freelance work in creative occupations may see a decline in receipts this year, as economically beneficial Jupiter leaves your 5th house of creativity on the 17th. By the same token, Libras who’ve been spending a lot of money on their kids should see expenses ease. Expenses and receipts should both go up for those who hold regular hourly or salaried jobs as Jupiter makes this switch. Regardless of your own personal circumstances, Saturn in your sign asks you to watch your pennies. Small amounts add up, and if you are careful about the small things, you should be able to afford the big ones.

As for 2010, the most exciting trend is likely to be Uranus finally leaving Pisces and your work sector for awhile this year. He’ll enter the sign opposite yours and will focus on your relationships. You’ll do a lot of growing in this area, but you’ll probably be glad to get a break from the pressure your sign has been feeling on the job for quite awhile.

December is Sagittarius month and typically reflects the Libra philosophy that more is more. If this works for you, go for it. If frenetic busyness is impractical or just not worth it, consider scaling things back a bit. It’s really your choice.

This year, you have more home-related vibes than has been typical in previous years, so if the weather outside is frightful and the fire inside delightful, well make the delightful choice. On the other hand, if you just live for the sociability of this time of year, you have plenty of astrological support for gathering the neighbors together and forcing them to sing Christmas carols with you up and down the block. Or you could combine the influences and invite them all over to your home to sing in front of that delightful fire of yours.

Now I have to mention the lunar eclipse in Cancer at the end of December. This is a career-related eclipse. Lunar eclipses can be fortunate if you want to get rid of something. If you’ve got a professional project or obligation you’d just love to ditch–this is the time to float the idea. Others may be receptive. If you’re too chicken to mention this, they might pick up on it anyway and try to take the burden off your shoulders. If such an offer does come your way, mull over the potential benefits.

There’s a lot of activity in your solar 2nd house in November, which is normally a very productive house, one concerned with your material welfare. But don’t count on getting a whole lot done this month, cuz the skies just aren’t up for it. Instead, you will probably just be dealing with whatever you have to, since things are scheduled to to come to something of a head this month.

For example, something in your residence is apparently going to need serious attention, perhaps even complicated repairs. You may learn a lot about plumbing that you wish you didn’t need to know. If your residence isn’t affected, a family matter may come to a head.

The aspect causing all the trouble is Pluto in Capricorn squaring Saturn in your own sign. Since this very stressful aspect hits your sign directly, I’m going to urge you to be careful and to protect yourself throughout the month. There may be no actual danger associated with this aspect but Saturn rules fear and that means, naturally enough, that you might feel scared. You may be worried about how you’re going to pay for everything, about liability and legal issues if your water heater explodes and your neighbor’s prize petunias get flooded, or just alarmed by the general nastiness this aspect may provoke in the general population.

The aspect is exact on the 15th, but you may well be dealing the consequences beyond that date. It’s actually the first in a series of squares that goes through August 2010 (next one is at the end of January). Fortunately, Mercury moves into optimistic Sagittarius on the 16th, so you’ll have your wits about you and will be able to deal with things in a positive manner.