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 Blessings

Christine

 Christine Rothwell

' 03 9584 6532

Email: christiner@netspace.net.au

Website: http://www.christinerothwell.com/

 In January I will be speaking at the FAA Conference in Sydney. There will be many well known Australian and overseas astrologers there, so please consider attending if you are serious about your astrology or would like to have your appetite whetted.

1. October Overview
2. Mercury retrograde
3. Pluto conjunct the Galactic Centre
4. Courses and Workshop Information

      Astrology Classes held 7pm Thursday & 10am Friday

      Heart Awareness Workshop, Saturday October 20

      Beltane Celebration: Sunday November 4

5. Consultations and Gift Certificates

 1.    October Overview

1. Mercury retrograde
2. The Full Moon
3. Pluto conjunct the Galactic Centre
4. Jupiter sextile Neptune.

 Jupiter makes two significant aspects during October: it squares Uranus on the 10^th and sextiles Neptune on the 30^th. Jupiter is currently very at home in its own sign of Sagittarius and is challenging us to expand our awareness and see beyond the narrow confines of our everyday reality. Jupiter in Sagittarius is inviting us to explore the meaning of life, become more philosophical and open-minded and learn about the power of THINKING AND FEELING POSITIVE.

 On October 10 Jupiter forms a stressful square to Uranus, the Great Awakener, who is currently travelling through Pisces. This is the third and final waning square between the two planets: the first was in January and the second in May. The Jupiter-Uranus cycle relates to cultural creativity, discoveries and innovations. Both these planets are quite impulsive as well as visionary. The potential is for sudden insight and new discoveries but the danger is indulging in over confidence and self righteousness.

A waning square always speaks of the need for review and revision – perhaps relating back to an impulse that was seeded in 1997 when the cycle began. Uranus symbolizes our desire for freedom and Jupiter is an impulsive energy that seeks to expand its vision. The square aspect suggests tension and conflict so the combination of these two energies may be rebellious, impatient and unpredictable. It also suggests a creative process that is facilitated through tension and conflict.

This transit invites us to stay open to new possibilities and think laterally – previously unimagined possibilities may appear. The danger is rushing impulsively into something new just to release a feeling of constriction.

The Full Moon on October 26 will be a powerful time for meditation, reflection, insight, creativity and channelling higher wisdom. Pluto is exactly conjunct the Galactic Centre on this day, Mercury is retrograde [great for inner work and delving deep] and Jupiter sextiles Neptune in Aquarius. This is extremely powerful energy if you choose to open to it, maybe even if you don’t! It is a time to meditate, ask for visions and guidance, and think laterally and BELIEVE IN MIRACLES. You may receive an answer to something that has been concerning you for some time, so stay open and positive and be prepared to ground your insights and follow your intention with your energy.

Those of you who are consciously working with the ascension process may find it especially worthwhile to schedule some quiet time for reflection on this day, and indeed the following week. The potential for insight and breakthroughs is huge. The image suggests a very direct and potent connection to the higher wisdom of the Galactic Centre and whatever represents your image of divinity. Be especially attentive to any ‘messages’ you receive at this time and be prepared to follow through on your inner guidance.

October 26 marks Pluto’s last exact conjunction of the Galactic Centre, although it will remain within 1ï orb through to the end of November. [For more information about this once in a lifetime transit go to article 3 in this newsletter.]

Jupiter sextile to Neptune is exact on October 30. This is an auspicious aspect that supports the illuminating potential of the full moon and suggests openings, inspiration and creativity.  This is a very idealistic transit that can assist us to expand our visions, faith and awareness. The only danger here could be getting carried away with the potential of something or allowing your inspiration to remain in the realm of possibilities. Remember to ground your visions in reality and practicality: the God/ Goddess helps those who help themselves!

Moon-Venus conjunctions are powerful times for ritual and inner work and October 7 marks the second Venus conjunction of the Moon since Venus reappeared as the Morning Star in August. Sumerian myth referred to these conjunctions as portals or doorways that the Goddess Innana descended through as she journeyed into to the Underworld to visit her sister. At each of the 7 doorways she was made to relinquish a symbol of her power. These symbols correlate with the seven chakras and her descent and ascent is a metaphor for a process of initiation.

The evening of October 6 would be an appropriate time to focus on sixth chakra issues and concerns. Caroline Myss [in Anatomy of the Spirit] says the sacred truth of the sixth chakra is ‘Seek only truth’. At this gateway we have the opportunity to separate truth from illusion. This would be an appropriate time to work with the fear/s that may hold you back from facing the truth and trusting your inner wisdom. At this gateway the Goddess invites us to:

·        reconnect with our inner life

·        look within to discover our inner truth

·        develop mental clarity

·        separate our higher self from our shadow

2.    Mercury Retrograde at 9ï Scorpio

Mercury entered the retrograde loop on September 22 and will retrograde on October 12 in preparation for a new Mercury cycle that will begin on October 24 when Mercury conjuncts the Sun.

he most intense part of this process will be between October 19 and October 28 when Mercury is lost in the blaze of the Sun. In ancient times this was said to be when Mercury assumes his alter ego as Psychopomp and Guide to the Underworld. In this role Mercury is associated with the Egyptian scribe Thoth, who has access to the Halls of Record. Esoteric writers suggest that the retrograde phase of Mercury creates an opening that allows access to the wisdom of our soul. 

This peak time coincides with the Full Moon and Pluto’s last exact conjunction of the GC, making this a very potent time to access the Halls of Record [the Akashic Records] and our inner wisdom, whatever we choose to call it. 

Key dates

·        Exact dates: October 12 to November 2

·        Sensitive degrees: 9ï Scorpio to 23 Libra

·        Full time of influence: September 22 to November 18

·        Time for  insight: October 24 when New Mercury Cycle begins [ Mercury conjunct the Sun]

·        Time for action: between November 2 and 18.

 Currently Mercury is still visible in the evening sky but he will disappear for   about a week and by October 18 he will re-appear in the sky just before sunrise around October 29.  The whole retrograde phase is a potent time for reflection and review – a time when we can become aware of habitual beliefs and thought patterns and make the adjustments necessary to align our thinking with the person we are now. This is a great time to meditate, reflect, research, seek answers, sort out your paperwork, return calls and generally attend to all the things you have been too busy to do earlier. 

This s also a time when normal communications can go haywire and things often don’t run to plan.
[For more information go to www.christinerothwell.com/page5.htm ] 

Remember to be patient, maintain your sense of humour, CHECK ALL PLANS, BACK UP YOUR DATA AND DON’T TAKE IT PERSONALLY IF THINGS GO WRONG!

 As the retrograde cycle moves mainly through the sign of Scorpio and Libra it is inviting us to attend to all things ruled by these signs, especially Scorpio as this is where the new cycle begins. Remember Mercury retrograde always provides us with the opportunity to free our thinking from habitual ruts and develop a more conscious set of mental attitudes and beliefs.

Concerns may arise over the first few weeks and the answers and insight can appear when the new cycle begins on October 24. Sit with your insights until November 2 when Mercury goes direct. The next few weeks are the time to express your insights and put new plans into action. 

3. Pluto Conjunct the Galactic Centre on October 26

This article is an edited version of an article that first appeared in my July newsletter. It contains a few new pieces of information.

The Galactic Centre [GC] is currently found at 26° 57 Sagittarius. This is the central point of the Milky Way galaxy that our Solar System [and the whole galaxy] revolves around. The Galactic Centre represents higher wisdom that we can see as an emanation of the divine source, or a  reflection of that energy that lives within us.

Astrologer Eric Francis writes: The delineation for the point that I've come up with [for the galactic centre] is, "That which we perceive as outside us but which is really within us." He also quotes Philip Sedgwick, the father of Galactic Astrology: "The Galactic Centre radiates brilliant insight to anyone connected with it. This insight craves implementation. This infrared information reveals how to let go of what is in the way to make a clear path for the next step. As soon as an idea is grasped and brought forward, the path of accessing new information refreshes. At all times, new and newer insights spew forth. This carries the tone of consciousness evolution. The collective aim refocuses and retargets with higher and clearer insights at each minute in timelessness. The more considered, the broader the band of consciousness acceptance, then the more assurance can be taken with the focus of life, personal or collective. All this, by the way, occurs a step at a time.

Pluto is a transpersonal planet that serves the soul rather than the ego. Transits of transpersonal planets usually push us out of our comfort zone and into unchartered territory. Pluto conjunct the Galactic Centre is accelerating the process of change, forcing us personally and collectively to face our fears and move forward into what may seem to be a strange new world.

Pluto takes 248 years to orbit the Sun and therefore conjuncts this point once [usually three exact alignments over a 12 month period] in this time. The last time this happened was in 1745, the beginning of the Industrial Revolution. The old agrarian order was giving way to a very different way of life that has altered the fabric of our society irrevocably. We are facing a similar massive paradigm shift right now!
Today we know that our world is changing, but we are not sure what the new order will be like. Many of us are making huge changes in our lives [or wanting to] and are filled with a mixture of hope and excitement mixed with fear and dread. Pluto is a messenger of change; as God of Death and Rebirth he commands us to let go of the past so something new can take its place. Yet the process of letting go is very fearful and brings up primitive survival instincts that prompt us to hold on to what we know, as the only option feels like annihilation.

The Galactic Centre is said to contain a black hole – the ultimate Plutonic void or emptiness - but a space that esoteric writers tell us is the ‘home of the gods’ and a place of mystery and creation. Pluto as the God of Transformation governs the process of Death and Rebirth and invites [or commands] us to enter this void and allow ourselves to experience transformation and regeneration. To do this we must

o       face our shadows and fears – perhaps befriend this part of us and find a way to listen to the kernel of truth that is found in all our fears

o       let go whatever does not serve our wholeness

o       let go the need to control through fear

o       trust in the emptiness that first appears

o       allow for the process of rebirth that is Pluto’s gift.

 People with points [natal or progressed] near the Galactic centre or Anti Centre [late degrees of Sagittarius and Gemini] may be feeling this energy most powerfully. From an esoteric perspective, individuals with planets around these points have most likely been initiates into these Mysteries in past lives and may currently be 
 - experiencing re-awakening past knowledge
-  challenged to once more become a channel for this wisdom
-  remembering past life experiences and perhaps experiencing events that resonate with these lives in order to clear negative karma
- tempted to use this wisdom to gain personal power
- having the opportunity to atone for any past life abuse or misuse of this wisdom

The Plutonic principle is all about letting go and surrendering our ego attachment and the control patterns that come through fear. The fear may be around accepting the role of channel because of past life persecution or abuse of the knowledge. It is possible that you are re-creating a past life scenario or power struggle in order to heal. Pluto transits are always about INITIATION, but often initiation that comes through facing our own dark sides.

My suggestion: centre and allow your heart to guide you. Do what FEELS RIGHT –not what you think is right – or what you have always done.

The image of the Galactic Centre speaks to me of two important messages for humanity.

1. The need to discover and hold our centre during this time of transformation. It is our centre that will anchor us and allow us to stay grounded and connected to spirit through-out this process.

2. The OPPORTUNITY to align with the  potent, transformative wisdom symbolized by the Galactic Centre. This can take us into unchartered realms that may awaken new levels of consciousness and understandings of reality.

We are experiencing what has been called a SHIFT or ASCENSION and transformative changes on this scale are never easy. Pluto is calling us to let go old out dated ways of being and doing. The old ways /models are decaying yet there is no clear path ahead. We must find a way to TRUST THIS PROCESS and face the fears that prevent us moving forward. 

Astrologer Eileen Nauman has a very interesting article on the Medicine Garden website titled A Crack in the Cosmic Egg 2006-2007: Are You Prepared? www.medicinegarden.com/astrology/cosmic_egg_GC.html 

Courses, Workshops and Classes Contact Christine on 9584 6532 or christiner@netspace.net.au for a brochure.

Heart Awareness
 Saturday January 12
This workshop will introduce you to simple yet powerful meditative techniques that will allow you to access the intuitive wisdom and healing power of your heart.
Heart Awareness gives you the tools to use throughout the day to manage stress and feel more peaceful and heart centred. The optional second day on February 9 will introduce you to a process to work through old negative patterns and problems, see them in a new light and discover creative solutions.
 Ring or email for a brochure 

Astrology Classes 
7pmThursday & 10am Friday in Beaumaris
Term 3 classes commence on October 11 and 12. Topics include: aspect patterns, minor aspects, the nodes, the astrological alphabet, retrograde planets, unaspected planets and chart delineation. If you have some background in astrology and would like to join the classes please contact me for more information.
Registration for 2008 classes is now open. First year classes will be held on Monday night and Tuesday morning while the second year classes will be held on Thursday evenings. Please ring or email for a brochure. 

Blessings

Christine Rothwell