Wednesday is a day of activity, pressure and potential surprises. Mercury is freshly direct, getting mental energy going in the right direction, but he’s still in a tough relationship to Mars, so there may be some requisite headaches and problem-solving required to get the tires unstuck from the mud. A harmonious-but-intense relationship to Pluto, who is slowing down to come off his retrograde, only ratchets up the stakes. Furthermore, the moon’s contact with Saturn and square to Uranus-North Node may throw up some unexpected barriers or deadlines into the mix. This becomes more likely still when considering the Sun and Venus will be shining a spotlight onto Saturn by trine – maybe there are some sacred cows, some principles that need to be respected on the way to accomplishing your goals? Something like that.

In fact, that spotlight may invite us to give a hairier eyeball to structures and authorities within our lives throughout this week, to see if they need to be redefined, made more user-friendly and elegant. This comes from the Sun-Venus transit to Saturn, who has been retrograde and is preparing to turn direct by the end of the month. Some of this may reopen old wounds, pains and insecurities around capability and agency. This comes from the Sun-Venus opposition to Chiron, an aspect which will coincide with their transit of Saturn. This is all likely to come to a head with Sunday’s full moon, which takes place atop Chiron.

As a reminder, and as I previously wrote, “Venus will be accompanying the Sun through his entire walk through Libra, and there seems to me to be great beauty in this arrangement, like a capable and elegant consort taking the Sun by the hand and guiding them through an unfamiliar setting.” Possibly an image to hold in mind through some of this month’s less gentle terrain.

Wednesday (10/6) and Thursday (10/7) are a bit more relaxed. Late Friday into early Saturday (10/8) will see the moon’s movement through late Pisces, and thus its conjunction to Neptune, opposition to Mercury, and square to Mars. The resulting aspect pattern is called a t-square, and it may drive people into revelry and excess at the expense of their responsibilities. But given that cognition and action will be a step harder today, maybe it’s better to put something off and enjoy yourself if the matter is not urgent.

Sunday (10/9) is the full moon in Aries, as well as Pluto’s direct station in Capricorn. As I wrote in my Libra Season write-up, “Aries Moon is one that thrives on acts of service, both received and performed, a rally cap of emotional courage. Chiron throws a bucket of cold insecurity on all of that, but along with the other planets involved, may open avenues to confront healing that is both necessary and possibly long-overdue. Pluto also goes direct on this day, ceasing its retrograde motion through Capricorn. It is still tightly configured to Mercury here, and may show some wise seekers how to properly navigate power, and/or how to uncover what is hidden. News-wise, one hopes that systemic corruption is called to account – not a prediction, but a hope.” By this time, Mercury’s square to Mars has also waned and will be finished by the following day, and at the same time, Sun-Venus will begin locking into Mars by trine. So frustrations around problem-solving SHOULD also wane. Mileage may vary.

In fact, we round out this week’s discussion with a focus on Mercury. He will be in a strange position on Monday (10/10,) as he is still very strong by sign, but very weak by degree. Mercury does what is usually considered his best work in Virgo, but he will be at 29 degrees, “anaretic,” largely thought of as a weak position for any planet in any sign. A sharp blade in a sluggish hand? The following day, Tuesday (10/11,) he’ll make ingress into Libra, joining the Sun and Venus but never quite catching up with them within this sign.

Though not as precise and exacting as he operates in Virgo, Mercury in Libra is capable of great deliberation, being able to hold and weigh multiple paradigms before making judgement. On the other hand, that means that this is not a Mercury known for its swift decisiveness, though it is often associated with negotiation, mediation, pleasant conversation, and with the arts. Mercury already dipped into Libra recently before retrograding out of the sign, and will thus be retracing what are known as his “shadow degrees,” the area he tread on before moving backwards. As a result, he may be wrapping up any problems or fallout from cognitive misfires that occurred during that time. He’ll also be opposing Jupiter. From my Libra Season write-up: .”..[Jupiter] may show the gaps between what we know and what we want to know. Even in opposition, Jupiter is supportive, and will likely cast an aspirational tone on any such divide.” The moon then makes contact once again with Uranus-North Node, by conjunction this time, creating the possibility of surprises and shake-ups in what should otherwise be a relatively placid day.

Until next Hump Day!