October 2006                                                 christiner@netspace.net.au

  

October begins gently with four planets in sociable Libra but the energy shifts as Mercury, the Sun, Venus and Mars all move into the sign of Scorpio by the last week of the month.  The latter three form a threesome at this time, emphasizing themes of intimacy, sexuality and sharing.

 Mercury retrogrades in Scorpio and occults or ‘eclipses’ the Sun in early November, challenging us to let go old belief patterns that no longer serve us.

 New ‘dwarf planet’ UB313, nicknamed Xena, has finally been given a name – Eris, after the Goddess of Strife and Chaos – that reflects not only the controversy around her classification but also the collective strife and chaos the world is experiencing.

 Please note: the November newsletter will not come out until the middle of the month.

 Blessings

 Christine

Christine Rothwell

Email: christiner@netspace.net.au

Website: www.christinerothwell.com

 Contents

1. October Overview
2. Mercury Retrograde
3. New “Dwarf Planet” Named Eris
4. Courses, Workshops and Consultations

      Beltane Celebration: Sunday October 29

      Heart Awareness Workshop: Saturday January 20

      2007 Overview Seminar: Saturday February 10

      2007 Astrology classes begin on Thursday March 15

 

1. October Overview

• October 7: Full Moon at 14 Aries
• October 22: New Moon at 28 Libra 
• October 23: Mars conjunct the Sun
• October 23: Sun to Scorpio
• October 24: Mars to Scorpio
• October 24: Venus to Scorpio
• October 25: Venus conjunct Mars
• October 26: Jupiter squares Saturn [ 23 Scorpio / Leo]
• October 28: Venus conjunct the Sun
• October 29: Mercury Retrograde at 25 Scorpio
• October 29: Neptune direct at 17 Aquarius

 The energy becomes progressively more intense as October progresses as the Sun, Venus and Mars join Mercury and Jupiter in the sign of Scorpio. During the second half of the month Venus and Mars come together to form a conjunction that becomes exact on October 25. This brings together the archetypal planetary lovers, highlighting themes around love, intimacy, romance and sexuality. For those in the Southern hemisphere this is a wonderful line up to celebrate the Celtic Hieros Gamos or Sacred Marriage Festival known as Beltane. Beltane is celebrated on November 1 here while it is the traditional May Day celebration in the Northern Hemisphere.

 

October 28 marks the mid point of the current Venus cycle that began at the inferior conjunction with the Sun [when ♀ was retrograde] on January 14 this year at 23 Capricorn.  The January conjunction invited us to become more conscious of our VALUES and TASTES, especially in regards the house where 23 Capricorn is found.  The superior conjunction of October 28 has a full moon vibration and calls us to REFLECT on our values and become more OBJECTIVE about what is important for us and to make sure these values reflect our true self [i.e.;- our Sun].

 Venus disappeared from the morning sky around September 22 when She came within 10° of the Sun. [Mythologically this marks the time when Inanna entered the Underworld.] Venus will reappear as the Evening Star when She moves about 10° away from the Sun – this will be around December 6.

 Jupiter squares Saturn for the third and final time on October 26. This square aspect is the waxing square of the cycle that began in May 2000 when these two planets conjuncted, beginning a new Jupiter /Saturn cycle, often referred to as the social master cycle as it is a major indicator of social values and major cultural and economic shifts.  This square has been testing the visions, plans and hopes that were seeded collectively and personally during 2000.

 This final square is a call to review our visions and create the structures that are required to give them form. If you have been busy creating these structures since last December when the first square formed, then this period may require just a little adjustment from you. If it seems that all your plans have lost their meaning or no longer seem viable it is not too late to re-evaluate and re-structure, especially in the house where Saturn is currently transiting.  Remember, Saturn is always calling us to pay attention, get real and take responsibility for what isn’t working. When we honour Saturn, our dreams often take care of themselves.

 If you feel like it is all too hard and depressing give yourself space to feel all the pain, grief and negativity that is churning inside BUT then call on Saturn to be your ally and give you the strength, patience and self discipline you need to find a way forwards.

 2. Mercury Retrograde and Occultation

 Mercury enters the retrograde loop on October 9 makes it third and final retrograde on October 29. Mercury begins a new cycle when it conjuncts the Sun on November 9. This particular conjunction is more power packed than usual as Mercury occults the Sun, a similar phenomenon to an eclipse. [Remember the Venus occultation of the Sun in 2004?] As there are only about 13 Mercury occultations of the Sun each century this is quite a significant event. It challenges us all to let go old, out moded belief systems that no longer serve our higher self.

 The actual occultation or transit of Mercury across the Sun will be visible in the Pacific regions but observers in Australia, New Zealand and the U.S. will be able to see part of the transit at sunrise [Australia and New Zealand] or sunset on November 8 for our U.S. friends. Mercury will take about 5 hours to complete its transit but it is so small and so far away that it will be only visible with a telescope fitted with a solar filter.

 The key dates in this cycle are:

• Full sphere of influence: October 9 to December 5 [ Scorpio 9 to 25]
• Exact retrograde dates: October 29 to November 18
• Key time: November 9 when Mercury conjuncts the Sun and begins a new cycle at 16 Scorpio.

The occultation of the Sun makes this retrograde phenomenon much more potent than usual in both positive and negative senses. This is a very powerful time to:

• Meditate
• Reflect
• Seek answers that have eluded you – especially in the house where Mercury is transiting
• Let go old, unconscious, self defeating beliefs and attitudes.

Remember – Mercury retrograde always provides us with the opportunity to free our thinking from its habitual ruts and develop a more conscious set of mental attitudes and beliefs. The retrograde phase marks the end of one cycle and the beginning of a new one.

  The first part of the retrograde cycle is actually the end of an old cycle [like the dark of the moon] and a time to discover and become conscious of out-moded beliefs, while the time from the inferior conjunction [November 9] marks the beginning of a new cycle [like a new moon] and a time when new attitudes and beliefs can be seeded.

The Mercury occultation or transit of the Sun has Mercury in the superior position, suggesting that this is a time when major new paradigms can surface, but there is always a struggle to let go the old and embrace the new.

 Problems may arise in October that seem insoluble or elusive but insight can appear when the new cycle begins on November 9. The insight or solution may require a shift in perspective, so be prepared to be flexible and open to new ideas.

 On a collective level we can expect more of the usual Mercury retrograde chaos and disruption than usual as old communication systems break down and require attention.  For more information about the retrograde phenomenon and the more mundane challenges it poses have a look at my website www.christinerothwell.com/page5.htm 

 3. New ‘Dwarf Planet’ Named Eris

 The new planetary body UB313 that was nicknamed Xena by the astronomers who located her during 2003 has been officially named Eris [pronounced ee-ris] after the Greek Goddess of Chaos and Strife.  This seems a very appropriate naming as Eris has ‘caused ‘all the strife that has lead to Pluto officially being demoted. Eris is larger than Pluto although she is almost twice as far away and she either had to be classified a planet or Pluto had to be reclassified. Have a look at Eris at this link http://usenet.net.nz/apod/ap060918.html

 For those of you with a bit of astrological know how here is a link to a site that has 4 Eris ephemerides so you can find out where she is placed in your birth chart. www.karmastrology.com/NewPlanets/Eris-eph.shtml Everyone alive today will have Eris in either Pisces or Aries as she moves very slowly. It would seem that her house position will be more important than her sign, as is the case with most of the transpersonal planets.

  Eris, like Sedna, signals a new category of planetary awareness that we are ready to awaken to at this time. Astrology will take a while to come to terms with these bodies. Through a gradual process of dialogue and exploration of their myths, their discovery charts and the current events their deeper meaning will evolve.

 Now, to the myth…  Eris caused a quarrel among three of the most prominent goddesses when she threw a golden apple onto the ground at a wedding inscribed ‘For the fairest of the goddesses’ as revenge for not being invited to the celebrations. Aphrodite, Athena and Hera all laid claim to the apple and it was the mortal Paris who was called on to adjudicate. Each goddess privately offered inducements to Paris to decide in their favour but it was Aphrodite’s offer of the most beautiful woman in the world that Paris found irresistible. His prize was Helen who unfortunately happened to be married to King Menelaus and their elopement lead to the Trojan War.

This myth speaks of the need to make judgements and decide what is of most value to us. The Venus occultations [2004 and 2012] mirror this process. I will reflect on the possible deeper meanings of Eris in another newsletter, but she does seem to reflect the chaos that the world is currently experiencing and the need to make decisions and choices.

 Interesting, the ancient Greek, Hesiod wrote that there were two goddesses called Eris: a troublesome and blood thirsty one who was the sister of Ares [God of War] and daughter of the feuding couple Zeus and Hera and a kinder one who was the daughter of Nyx who motivated humanity toward healthy competition. Seems like we have a choice here too! Zane Stein [see the link below] suggests Eris has a link to the sign of Libra as the archetypal Libran dilemma is about judging what is of most value.

 For more information about the astronomy, astrology and mythology of Eris go to this EXCELLENT WEBSITE

 www.zanestein.com/Trans-pluto.htm#UB313

 Here is the official news release from the International Astronomical Union website.

 IAU names dwarf planet Eris

14 September 2006, Munich

The International Astronomical Union announces the names (136199) Eris for the dwarf planet provisionally named 2003 UB 313 and Dysnomia for its moon. The dwarf planet formerly known as 2003 UB 313 received the official designation (136199) Eris, or Eris in short, from the International Astronomical Union on 13 September 2006. The name was accepted almost unanimously by the Working Group for Planetary System Nomenclature (WGPSN) and the Committee for Small Body Nomenclature (CSBN).  Eris is the second dwarf planet in a sub category of objects of which Pluto is the prototype.  The name Eris was proposed by the discovery team. (136199) Eris was discovered 5 January 2005, from data obtained on 21 October 2003 by M. E. Brown, C. A. Trujillo, and D. Rabinowitz at the Palomar Observatory.  Eris is a the Greek goddess of discord and strife. She stirs up jealousy and envy to cause fighting and anger among men. At the wedding of Peleus and Thetis, the parents of the Greek hero Achilles, all the gods with the exception of Eris were invited, and, enraged at her exclusion; she spitefully caused a quarrel among the goddesses that led to the Trojan war.  Eris is pronounced ee'-ris (see link 4). Eris’ moon, formerly known as S/2005 (2003 UB 313) 1 and now known technically as (136199) Eris I, has been named Dysnomia.  Dysnomia is pronounced dis-NOH-mee-uh according to the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.  Dysnomia is the Daimon spirit of lawlessness. She is the daughter of Eris, goddess of chaos and strife, and the counterpart to Eunomia who puts an end to the anger of grievous strife. The name Dysnomia was accepted unanimously by the members of the WGPSN. The name was proposed by Mike Brown (Caltech, USA) on behalf of the discovery team.  The new designations have been approved by the IAU Division III Organizing Committee and by the IAU Officers and have been announced in IAU Circular

 4. Courses, Workshops and Classes

Contact Christine on 9584 6532 or christiner@netspace.net.au for more information or to reserve your place.

2007 Astrology Classes: begin on Thursday March 15