Mercury enters Scorpio: The Power of Thought

 Frozen ice lake in Ulriken-Bergen, Norway (cropped)

photo by Sveter

As Mercury moves into Scorpio at 9:20 (+0/UT, adjust to local time) it's time to start thinking in Scorpio terms and to recognize those Scorpio mannerisms which are now all around us and in the minds of others.

Scorpio is a water sign. It's thus all about our emotions. It's a fixed sign, too - and fixed signs are all about our ability to understand and in learning to tolerate however much we don't understand, to operate productively in spite of whatever insecurity or fear that provokes.

In opposition to Taurus, sign of security, values and self worth, Scorpio tests where we are with regards to those very issues.

So now our thoughts turn to our security, and what we value. Others may question our self worth or do things which amount to tests of our self worth.

Given that, you may ask why the photo of a frozen lake. The answer is this: when emotions (water) become 'fixed'...what does that equal? It equals ice. And this image of Scorpio as ice is an important one to keep in mind. So powerful is this image that when an astrologer finds a horoscope which has no planet set in any earth sign, Scorpio's sheer strength of durable, devoted  feelings and rock-solid loyalties are what they look to next.

This starts with the idea that ice can be thick enough to bear our weight - thus Scorpio is a sign which represents an opportunity. If and where we are able to rise above (and stay above) our own level of fear and/or whatever negative emotions are at hand (symbolically, all the water below the ice) we will be able to literally 'walk on water.' 

Certainly Scorpio is known for passion. But it's also known for feelings which are 'cold as ice.' Decisions arrived at under a Scorpio influence, provided they are arrived at through a 'conviction of correctness' which is not corrupt...those decisions can 'bear weight' - the 'ice' of Scorpio will support them.

At the same time, Scorpio is the plus and the minus of passion: it is dominance and control, it is vulnerability and surrender. Yet on either side of this equation lies the responsibility to own what you do. Being knowingly vulnerable is very different than simply giving up. Domination as a display of arrogance and desirous power is very different than the power of the guardian protector and 'take-charge' leader.

Remember, we're talking Mercury here. So we're talking about our mindset and our ability to think. So during the three weeks or so of Mercury's transit through Scorpio, maintaining control of ourselves and knowing 'what lies below the ice' - in our lives, in our minds, in situations and in the intentions and actions of others - that's  important.

During any Scorpio transit there's a marked tendency to project or focus on 'the other side' rather than to think through one's own rationale and dynamic.

And yet, the key to this sign is like that of all 3rd quadrant signs...whether a planet is transiting Libra, Scorpio or Sagittarius it is the process of interaction which is actually at stake. You need to know your own side, yes. And understanding someone else's point of view is vital too. But it's where and how the two sides meet up which is now the focus. What happens there will define success or setback, advances or costs.

That Mercury enters 0 Scorpio in the company of asteroid Lilith (that which we don't like facing in ourselves) and Panacea (making peace) gives us a clear picture that first and foremost, we need to cope with ourselves. Who we are and what we bring to any moment is all about how we deal with being who we are, how well we understand ourselves and the level of emotional responsibility we take for ourselves.

By implication, some level of peacemaking needs to go on now...and in all likelihood, we will need that in situations of the moment.

Left behind at 29 Libra is asteroid Child; it's apparently time to do a little more growing up.

In opposition stands Kallisto - a literal 'bear' of an image which represents our ability to go through and get past our own 'beastly' or 'animalistic' qualities (past or present) to the point where we can become a star and stand as a constellation in the sky by which others can guide their lives and future.

 The myth of Callisto, for whom is named the asteroid Kallisto,

ends with Callisto being turned into a prominently placed star in

our night sky. Is this a warning or inspiration? Probably both. 

Ursa Major - the Big Bear/Big Dipper - is the constellation which is

now Callisto's home. As photographed from Kalalau Lookout in 

Hawaii's Kokee State Park by Wikipedia contributor Gh5046,

the Great Bear's 'dipper' reminds us to 'contain' ourselves even

while realizing that given earth's precessionary cycle, everything

changes. Today's 'hard solution' may have to evolve - as life does

- slowly but surely, in time becoming something totally different.

 

 Whatever these next few weeks hold, they depend on us - on our ability to tolerate and even grow through those things which challenge us most, including how those things are tested by our interactions and society at large.

October Dateblog

 Calendula officinalis - October's flower

October is the sort of a month when there's plenty to do, but we're not sure what of that we really want to see done. 

Does that sound conflicted? Well it is....But it isn't. We all want results - we're just not sure about the process required to get those results.

October 1 - 2: Sun and Saturn in early Libra indicate a period of focused activity. With Mars and Venus in Scorpio (the sign right after Libra), there is a strong desire quotient in the air and everyone has their eyes on their own particular goal. Where sides aren't in sync (where your interests don't mesh with those of whoever you are dealing with) progress begins to slow.

Mercury in late degrees of Virgo suggests a lot of 'will that actually work?' conversations, but that's just masking a far larger issue - an overhanging uncertainty which is growing by the day.

October 3 - 7: With Mercury moving into Libra and the Sun reaching Libra's more emotional 2nd decanate (degrees 10-19) a Libra/Mercury willingness to discuss and explore evokes deeper and more feeling-based comprehension of what everybody needs, wants and doesn't feel so sure of. Saturn's exit from the shadow of the retrograde it began back in January 2010 indicates finally laying to rest some real issues which have been hanging like clouds off in the distance, freeing mental space to focus on new concerns. 

With Venus slowing to take station and go retrograde in Scorpio, those concerns are multilateral and involve personal values, our willingness to risk our ego standing (with ourselves, most of all) and why or how we tend to make commitments to one thing, not another.

Intense interactions may well occur now; if challenged, don't fight, explore the facts of the matter, especially as the New Moon of October 7th opens new lines of investigation.

October 8 - 13: As Venus goes retrograde and the Sun moves into Libra's 3rd and most public decanate (degrees 20-29) feelings surface under external provocation. For good and difficult, this can be a highly reactive moment which some will face up to, some will exult in and others will react to by 'hiding out' and refusing to communicate.

If you have penetrating questions to ask, ask them now - just be prepared. You may hear the explanation of all time, the evasion of the century or something you couldn't have dreamed in a million years which either delights or dismays you.

 

 

"Road in Maine" by Edward Hopper 

October 14 - 19: A lot of reactions surface, reflecting Mars' move into Scorpio's 3rd decanate (degrees 20-29). Because Mars/Scorpio is all about 'choice,' this may indicate something as simple as a difference or validation of taste or some request - even demand - for some sort of revision.

Where approval and optimism are forthcoming (either on your part or from others) it's likely to be somewhat tempered by 'unknowns' and considerations of what yet has to be done. This may feel like 'wet blanketing' but especially as Saturn is moving into Libra's 2nd decanate (where thoughts turn to feelings) such hesitation is likely to be an expression of thinking something is good enough and worth enough that it merits whatever care is needed to "get it right."

October 20 - 22: Mercury moving into Scorpio indicates a new 'level' of conversation or communication with the theme being 'investment.' This may involve the risk, this may involve the process, this may involve the need to plan out how a goal can be reached in a step-by-step manner or the focus which will be required to take something from 'theory' into 'reality.'

Saturn moving into the shadow of the retrograde it will take during 2011 tells us that it's worth our time to pay attention and think things through. Those who are bothered by having to defer/postpone gratification may be tempted to push the envelope or overplay their hand now - Venus retrograding back into personal (1st decanate) degrees is now adding a sense of 'I don't care - I just WANT....' to all and sundry.

And let's be real...this may work just fine. But take care where your impatience may curtail or eliminate connections and opportunities. This is one of those moments when thinking long term is annoying, yet probably the best thing you can do. Not insisting on 'having it all' (at least today!) leaves doors open where having a tantrum may earn you a bad reputation and thus limited opportunities down the line.

October 23 - 27: The Sun moving into Scorpio clues us on why things suddenly feel more intense, more critical and yet (given Venus in retrograde) more of a bother, more of a drag and less fun all around.

Mars rolling through Scorpio's last degrees also suggest the source of all such 'necessities' comes not from us, but at some sort of external prompting - be that personal or just things in the news or such.

By paying attention and thinking things through in both the personal and 'greater' (group, societal) terms is  enlightening, though there's a trade off to be sure. The  greater your perspective, the less you're likely to gain and solidify in the short run. Yet the larger and more encompassing your parameters, the more what you plan and do today can pave the way to easier success(es) in months - maybe even years - to come.

Opal - here seen as veins of Australian Opal - is

the birthstone for October. (photo by Aram Dulyan) 

October 28 - 31: Mars entering Sagittarius is likely to manifest as the pace of life increasing on the whole. People becoming more willing to 'experiment' or at least consider options is likely - but as this is done, like as not some 'glitches' will show up, necessitating refinements of thought or methodologies.

With Mercury now in Scorpio's more emotional degrees (which is saying a lot, considering we're talking about Scorpio!) there may be debates and what amount to tug-of-wars for control. Or for the last 'say' on things. Remembering that all Scorpio situations are most profitably approached basing the approach on fact not feeling is difficult maybe...but still pays off, so be wise, not triumphant!

...and Happy Halloween!

 A Halloween Jack 'o' Lantern (photo by Toby Ord)

Natalee Holloway: Speaking from the Grave

A nineteen year old named Natalee Holloway disappeared on May 30, 2005 while on spring break in Aruba. The prime suspect in her disappearance was Joran van der Sloot, an eighteen year old native of the Netherlands.  Due to a lack of hard evidence, Joran was never charged.

Five years passes….

In Peru, on May 30, 2010, a young woman named Stephany Flores Ramirez disappears.

On June 2nd, she’s found stabbed to death in the room of one Joran van der Sloot. Joran has fled to Chile but is apprehended there on the 3rd and sent back to Peru where on June 7, he confesses to his crime.

It’s to be vividly stressed that we have no birth times for any of the parties involved in this story. But even without that, given location and date of birth, plenty of things simply scream to be said.

Among all, the most touching is how clearly Natalee’s chart ‘reacts’ to van der Sloot’s doings. It started long ago but continues on, starting with… as he confesses in Peru and that news hits the airwaves, Sedna opposes Natalee’s natal Mercury.

Named for an Inuit goddess, Sedna represents our struggles to escape, hold on to or finally let go of our dreamy childish dependence. The myth (and the dwarf planet named for same) speaks in our chart of the trials we experience as we move from standard childhood ‘longings to be an adult’ into the somewhat chilling realization that with adult freedom and independence inevitably comes some measure of loneliness.

Or…an ‘alone-ness’ which, in isolating us, allows us to (hopefully) know ourselves better and thus move towards realizing our personal potential, providing ourselves with fulfillment instead of having to rely on someone else - replete with whatever they ‘require’ in return for that we think we can’t live without.   

In Natalee’s natal chart, Sedna sits conjunct asteroids Hel (terrible choices) and Phaethon (too headstrong for one’s own good). Obviously going off on her own for spring break brought these images out in a heartbreaking manner.

With an orbital period of 10,500 years, Sedna moves very slowly. But as Natalee arrived in Aruba, it opposed her Scorpio Venus, the first of three conjunct symbols. Seeking self worth from others, Venus in Scorpio tends to be too desirous, too controlling or too vulnerable – and often an uncomfortable mix of all three, particularly prior to when we get settled in our adult (individuated) mentality.

The second symbol is Ixion, a symbol all about entitlement and lack of gratitude which is a problem (though not impossible to manage) in everyone’s chart. Conjunct Natalee’s Scorpio Venus, this would have been her attraction to sensual vibes of the darker kind and probably the ‘bad boys’ among us. 

It’s also one form of description for a sexual predator.

Unfortunately for 19-year old Natalee, Sedna opposing her Venus set everything off. Natalee vanished. And as Sedna inched on to oppose Natalee’s Ixion, Joran van der Sloot, privileged son of a well-to-do judge….Joran walked away. Which is strikingly reminiscent of the mythic Ixion.

The third symbol in Natalee’s Scorpio triad is Mercury a symbol which by turns can manifest as  dedication and loyalty, an alluring quality and the ability to be lured, insight against blindness, denial against manipulation/coercion and honest polarized by total deception. Conjunct Ixion, to whatever degree she was ‘so very good’ she would have attracted the polarity. Even – unfortunately – been fascinated by it; that we do not own we become fixated by in someone else (projection).   

As Sedna finally confronted Natalee’s Mercury five years after Natalee’s disappearance, van der Sloot’s predatory instinct acted out again. And again as in the Ixion myth, then circumstances changed: the entitled son of privileged heritage committed his crime under circumstances which, far from making him nearly immune to punishment (as he seems to have been in Aruba)…now he was in a place where the people were immune to what would seem to be Joran’s ruinously self-entitled behavior.

Time will tell…and we may never know for sure…but astrologically, the clarity of the timing on Natalee’s chart with regards to this second murder of Stephany Ramirez suggests van der Sloot was well aware of the ‘anniversary’ of Natalee’s disappearance. The reasoning is this: if it was random, her chart wouldn’t reflect it with a series of transits as exact as we have seen.

For those of us bearing witness, possibly even worse is the idea that Joran van der Sloot has no strong signals on his chart for any of the dates involved - at least not using a chart without accurate time of birth. All we have is Vesta opposing his natal Juno as he was returned to Peru, where he confessed.

And yes, this may signal Joran feeling it time to own up. Some have suggested his confession is a ploy – a way to avoid the death penalty and get sent off to Peruvian prison where perhaps he could bribe someone and affect an escape before prison conditions (or another convict) gets to him.

Then again, given Vesta as an image of sacred service and Joran’s natal Juno (female integrity) conjunct  Kalypso (altruistic love) conjunct Medea (self-destructive love) is simply telling us that Joran van der Sloot takes a great pleasure in, even worships his own his ability to take a human life.    

One bright note in the morass - one we can only hope is felt by friends, family and victim spirits. As Sedna opposed Natalee’s Mercury and van der Sloot was apprehended, Sedna was also coming into unification with the position of Natalee’s Panacea – holistic inner healing.

And the truth will set you free.  

We hope Natalee and Stephany will now truly rest in peace. 


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