October's New Moon Partial Solar Eclipse in Scorpio is an intense and complex blending of astrological elements that are submerging us deeply into the waters of our own unconscious. Eclipses are powerful agents of change that act to move us through energetic gateways between the present and the future, and since this eclipse is a new moon eclipse, it is an even more powerfully-charged atmosphere for setting long-term intentions. The eclipse, which takes place on October 23rd at 5:51 PM EDT, will bring us face-to-face with the darker undercurrents of our own being. Addressing and eliminating fears and insecurities, breaking away from relationships or relationship patterns that no longer serve us, and committing to embrace our own empowerment more fully will be key themes in the weeks and months ahead. 

The Sun's Ingress From Libra to Scorpio; Sun and Moon in Scorpio

As the sun shifts from Libra into Scorpio on October 23, the vibe changes from outward energy focused on partnerships to energy focused inward toward our deepest feelings, fears, and primal impulses. Socializing and the desire to interact in an accommodating, balanced way are trademarks of Libra, but Scorpio is far more focused on going deep within the self and intimate mergers with another. Although the tone will shift dramatically, many elements are still in place that will highlight partnerships, especially relating to sexual intimacy and shared resources of any kind. The moon also makes her ingress into Scorpio on the 23rd, as the Sun and Moon are at the same degree in the zodiac at the time of the new moon. Moodiness and the emergence of fear/neuroticism/shadow tendencies are always common when the moon enters Scorpio. With the Sun and Moon joining in Scorpio for this eclipse, we have a double dose of emotional intensity that will serve to bring hidden elements of ourselves, secrets, or other unseen factors to the surface into the light of consciousness. Elimination is a key word for Pluto, the ruler of Scorpio, and as such, getting sick is not at all uncommon when we are clearing energies that no longer serve us. We may also find ourselves feeling physically drained or restless. Allowing yourself the time and space to explore that which surfaces now, free of judgement, to assist in accepting what is discovered. This will help tremendously in taking any action you feel is necessary to move forward.

Venus, Sun,  and Moon Stellium in Scorpio 

Venus also enters Scorpio on October 23 to play her part in the eclipse. When the Goddess of Love and relationship, values, and pleasure enters Scorpio's territory, she takes on a whole new level of depth and complexity; romance, friendships, and aesthetics/values are taken very seriously, and she can be downright controlling and neurotic at times. Her desire to merge with others for the purpose of self-transcendence, especially via sexual encounters, is strong. Her involvement in this eclipse at 0 degrees Scorpio - the exact same degree that the Sun and Moon will occupy - bring those themes of partnership and relating forward in dramatic ways. Relationships that have served their purpose are likely to dissolve now, and others may go through a healing crisis of sorts. The surfacing of issues buried beneath the surface of partnerships - especially toxic undercurrents that aren't serving the situation - are likely to emerge for the purpose of healing and release. 

You may also find yourself involved in tense money matters with a spouse or others with whom you share resources, or find yourself working through toxic situations in general. Power struggles are likely, and may take on a covert psychological twist. Know that these scenarios have manifested so you can learn to embody your own empowerment more fully. Trust your instincts and act from a place of integrity and self-confidence when dealing with difficult situations that arise.

Pallas Conjunct Venus, Sun, and Moon

A powerful addition to the eclipse energies is the conjunction of the goddess asteroid Pallas to the Sun/Moon/Venus stellium. As Demetra George writes, Pallas represents higher knowledge, diplomacy and tact in addressing situations, healing techniques such as visualization and meditation, and courage. With her energies so prominently involved in this eclipse, we have additional support to temper any low-vibrational expressions of Scorpionic energy - jealousy, vindictiveness, manipulation/cunning, impulsive destruction, self-sabotage - to bring forward a detached approach and higher expression of wisdom in all parts of our lives. Pallas also represents the ability to manifest ideas into reality - such a wonderfully supportive energy to add to the new moon time!

Pluto, Uranus, the Nodes, and Neptune

Pluto, the eclipse ruler, is nearing another tight square with Uranus, the planet of liberation and revolution. This conflicting energy is sure to bring situations to a head, and the involvement of the nodes calls us out of familiar territory and into the future, into our growth and evolution individually and collectively. Neptune is forming a wide trine to the eclipse stellium - an easy, harmonious aspect - which will aid us in transcending any lower-vibrational patterns and limitations that Pluto is working to eliminate. The Divine Feminine principles are strong with this eclipse, as is our ability to access intuition for a greater feeling of connectedness to All That Is. 

In true water sign fashion, there have also been themes relating to women's rights and the Divine Feminine, conspiracy theories, and secrets coming to light in the collective. It is likely that these themes will continue to be prominent in the coming months. If you feel your fears and paranoia spinning out of control, take a deep breath and know that Plutonian/Scorpionic energy can cause us to feel as though we are in danger when no substantial threat exists; let intuition be your guide.

Eclipse Questions For Contemplation

• In which area(s) of my life am I being called to release the old and step boldly into the new?
• Where can I eliminate toxic habit patterns/emotions to move forward into my potential more fully?
• How can I stand more fully in my own deep inner power?
• How can I integrate a more detached perspective when dealing with relationship partners that allows me to balance impulses for control/other shadow issues with wisdom and intellect?
• How can I activate Divine Wisdom, intuition, and the energies of the Divine Feminine within myself for a fuller and more loving integration of self?

To see what areas of life this eclipse will be impacting you most directly, find the house in your horoscope which contains 0 degrees of Scorpio. The issues represented by this house are likely to undergo major transformations in the coming months. 

**Want to know more about how this eclipse season is working to enact profound change in your life? I would love to meet with you for a consultation! Please see "Rates, Specials, and Contact" for more information.**

This month is jam-packed with significant astrological events. In addition to the ongoing Mercury retrograde cycle that's been stirring up deep feelings and taboo topics related to sex, intimacy, and possible shadow tendencies in relationships, the pair of eclipses - the first on October 8 and the second on October 23 - are bringing the full-on effects of necessary endings and powerful new beginnings. Add in the ongoing fire trine between Mars, Jupiter, and Uranus, amping up the urge for freedom and radical action even further, and we have a climate that is ripe for radical change!

Eclipses come in cycles, and are always periods of great changes both personally and collectively. Some people will experience more change and upheaval at this time than others due to where and how the eclipse is impacting the birth chart. Still, unavoidable change is in the air, and I find it helpful to remember that no matter how chaotic things become, these changes are ultimately for the Highest Good. Eclipses - especially lunar eclipses - have a way of throwing us directly onto the path we're meant to be on, whether we think we're ready or not! If you're resistant to the changes that the Universe is guiding you towards now, be aware that resistance will only make any inevitable endings/new beginnings that much more difficult to move through (I've been on the resisting end of eclipses, and believe me, there's not a shred of grace or ease involved in that!). The seemingly fateful energy of eclipses remind me of the Zen proverb "Let go or be dragged." Change is unavoidable now, and it will serve us in profound ways if we summon the courage to follow through!

The Full Moon Lunar Eclipse on Wednesday is at 15 degrees Aries, and we're fully in the swing of the energy now. This event is bringing back themes from the Full Moon Lunar Eclipse in Libra on April 15, so contemplating the themes that were up for you then will provide deeper insights into how this eclipse is operating in your life. Generally speaking, the April 15 eclipse highlighted themes of self vs. other and the need to take brave action to bring our authentic self forward in relationships of any kind more fully. This month's eclipse in Aries is calling us to revisit those themes one last time to make any final, radical moves necessary toward healthy independence and inter-dependence. Jealousy, possessiveness, and other relationship shadow issues are also likely to surface for healing as Venus (the Goddess of Love) squares Pluto (Lord of the Underworld), and Uranus and the nodes work to liberate us from the past. Whether issues are cropping up for you in intimate relationships, friendships, family, or career, remember that these energies are primarily centered on how we relate to others of any kind, and what needs to shift in order to bring balance therein.

Although the eclipse focus is on partnership, it is important to remember that we are the first half of the partnership equation; our most fundamental relationship is the one we have with ourselves. Our external circumstances only ever mirror the energies within us. If we are living a life that is out of alignment with the core of who we are, we are bound to draw in people and situations/life circumstances that are not an authentic match for us. But when we are brave enough to embrace ourselves fully and make choices that honor ourselves out of self-love, all of life begins to align. We find "our people"; we meet an incredible partner; career opportunities that once seemed like a distant dream begin to take shape. When we give ourselves full and uninhibited permission to be who we are, we begin manifesting the life of our dreams.

As an example of how eclipse cycles work together over the long-term and how they can activate change within us is the story of a close family member of mine who had been stagnating in an unsatisfying and draining job for years. His supervisors never recognized his intelligence or leadership capabilities, and he felt more suppressed and undermined as time went on. He had feared making any radical changes because of the possibility of financial instability, but was sacrificing his emotional, mental, and physical well-being in the process. During April's Full Moon Eclipse in Libra, he hit an emotional breaking point and resolved to get on track to find a way out of that job and to discover his next step in life. He came to me for a LaHo-Chi healing session and to receive another powerful energetic blessing. Within weeks, he had the sudden insight and inspiration to start building his own videography business - a field directly aligned with his greatest talents and passions that he had abandoned earlier in life. He gradually drew resources to him, and after making a few key connections, was hired to work part-time as an emcee at an event center. Synchronistically, his supervisor has acted as a mentor to assist him in his videography pursuits by providing networking opportunities and leading him to potential investors.

Last night I got the call that his event center job had taken off to the point of him being able to leave his unfulfilling full-time job; he resigned today on the spot. It is likely that the connections he is making now will lead to more opportunities to build his videography business while having full financial support via his fun new job! As you can see, the process of living a life in alignment with his true self that began during April's eclipse has now come full-circle for as he embarks on a new career path - the right career path in line with his true passions and calling. 

If you're feeling the urge to make a radical change now, trust your instincts and follow through. Do what you feel called to do in order to stay true to yourself and live in a way that honors your needs and talents. The cosmic atmosphere is supporting you in moving more fully into authentic self-expression, and that may mean releasing people, situations, or emotions/habit patterns that no longer serve you. Remember that by unabashedly living out the totality of who you are, you are shining a light that inspires others to do the same, and assist in creating a more joyful world for us all! Make it a point to take extra care of yourself this week as well, since lunar eclipses are full moons - emotions running raw and high - only on overdrive. Love, light, and many blessings to all!

If you want to know where this eclipse is impacting you, find the house in your birth chart that contains 15 degrees Aries. The area of life represented there will show the area for greatest potential change. 

Want to know more about how the eclipses are impacting you and where your greatest current areas of opportunity lie? I would love to assist you! Please see "Rates, Specials, and Contact Information" for details.

This year's final Mercury retrograde cycle begins on October 4 and ends October 25. If you keep up with astrological events, you'll know that Mercury retrogrades are infamous for the miscommunications, equipment breakdowns, last-minute schedule changes, and potentially unavoidable chaos in general. We hear much more about flight delays in the news and are just as likely to experience delays in any short trips we take, and might find ourselves going on "wild goose chases". In short, it's those periods of time throughout the year that are relentlessly hectic for days (and maybe even weeks!) when we just can't seem to get a break!

In astrology, retrograde periods are when a planet appears to move backwards from our earth-based perspective. Since we experience these events psychologically and emotionally on a symbolic level, these periods act as review periods for the functions in the psyche that each planet represents. Since Mercury is the planet of the mind and governs teaching and learning, the linking and transport of thoughts/ideas or goods and services, our Mercury Rx review work happens in the area of communications, transportation and travel, and in our day-to-day routines in general.

While many people curse Mercury Rx cycles up and down and lament about how they can't wait for it to be over, these periods really serve a wonderful purpose: they get us to slow down and tend to things that might need our attention in daily life. It may not go smoothly, since Mercury was known as a trickster in Greek mythology, but in its own seemingly backwards fashion, the chaos actually leads to better situational outcomes than we might have expected. 

Although it can be maddening, there are some things I've learned from consciously weathering many a Mercury Rx cycle that help me maintain much more inner peace and stability.

• Go with the flow! I cannot stress this enough. People (myself included!) will habitually try to fight what's happening when things aren't to our liking in life, which only creates more resistance in the end. The resistance feeds the energies of what we don't want, rather than emphasizing what we do want. Oftentimes we will experience an energetic shift when we accept things as they are - no matter how much we dislike them - which puts us in a much more empowered position to address those issues appropriately. During Mercury Rx cycles, know that some things will go awry, and that this is totally normal (and usually working out in everyone's favor!)
• Expect last-minute schedule changes. Schedule changes, as frustrating as they might be, are very common during Mercury Rx. When you feel frustration creeping in, take a few deep breaths and go back to the first point! 
• Allow for plenty of time to get to your destinations. Delays in travel of any kind are also very common at this time, so build in a few extra minutes (or fifteen-plus!) to get to where you're headed.
• Utilize this time for gathering information and research rather than making important decisions. Because the mental faculties and life circumstances tend to be "up in the air" during Mercury Rx, it's an excellent time to do research work and gather information about any upcoming plans or ventures you're involved in. Since important information may surface throughout this cycle or once Mercury has gone direct, it is not usually a supportive time for making significant life decisions or signing contracts; that is, unless you wish to be able to negotiate the particulars of that situation more easily later on. Keep in mind that projects we begin during Mercury Rx cycles have a way of coming back for review during future Mercury rx periods.
• Review your work carefully. Errors in our work or correspondence is likely to be magnified at this time, so do employ mindfulness when drafting emails, submitting reports, or anything work/communication-related. Also be sure to think things through and be as articulate as you can in your casual conversations, since miscommunications are common now.
• Avoid planning long trips during Mercury Rx periods. Schedule any long-distance trips when Mercury is direct to avoid potentially significant blocks and frustrations. If you must travel, be prepared for plans and schedules to change.
• Build in time for rest and relaxation. Since Mercury Rx cycles can have us chasing our tails for days on end, it's important to give your mind and body time to "check out" from the daily grind. Schedule a massage or energy session, meditate, take a soothing bath with epsom salts, exercise, or do whatever activities clear your mind and restore inner peace.
• Know that this, too, shall pass!  Though frustrations can run high during Mercury Rx, know that it's only temporary, and that in the end, things will probably work out better for you than you had anticipated!