Passion, Valor, and Shadow Puppets
Dates and times are given for U.S. Pacific Time zone.
Shadow Puppets
Picture yourself in a forest, making camp for the night. You’re luxuriating in the beauty of nature, looking forward to a little stargazing and a quiet dinner by the bonfire.
But it’s cloudy, so you can’t see the stars. And just as you get your bonfire roaring, the skies open up and dump rain on it. You crawl inside your tent and indulge in a moment or two of self-pity. But then you catch a glimpse of your shadow on the wall of the tent, illuminated by your lantern. You remember something your family used to do on camping trips – and you spend a happy hour entertaining yourself by making shadow puppets by lantern light, listening to the patter of rain on the roof of your tent.
When Venus in Sagittarius squares Neptune in Pisces (Oct. 26, 2021, 6:06 pm PDT), a particular fiery pleasure risks being extinguished by disappointment. The challenge lies in finding enjoyment in whatever happens – and fortunately that’s a talent that Sagittarius and Pisces, both ruled by Jupiter, share in common.
Gold rush
Those who are dazzled by Leo’s dramatic flair are often surprised to find that it covers seriousness and a respect for the status quo. The Sabian symbol for this week’s Leo Last Quarter Moon (Oct. 28, 2021, 1:05 pm PDT), An old-fashioned lady and a flapper, gets to the heart of this dichotomy. Leo is a fixed sign, after all, and doesn’t particularly love it when unexpected changes happen around the kingdom.
The Sun in Scorpio is on the Sabian degree A gold rush. At this Last Quarter Moon, there may be a feeling of pressure to compete in new or changing environments. But here, our Leo selves have an advantage: we can perform effectively in both realms, the past and the present – even if it makes us uncomfortable.
This is the last critical point in a Lunar Phase cycle that began with the July 31, 2019 New Moon at 8.36 Leo. What house of your chart contains that degree? Did you initiate a project then that has since come to fruition? This is the time to reflect on how well it turned out, and the changes you might make to ensure an even better outcome next time.
Testing
The Sun in Scorpio shines in situations, relationships, and pursuits that are built on intimacy and honesty. Scorpio prefers to focus on a single passion and tirelessly, methodically, uncover its mysteries.
As the Sun in Scorpio squares Saturn in Aquarius (Oct. 30, 2021, 2:53 pm PDT), that passion meets with a cool, impersonal reception. Your deeply-felt artistic creation fails to engage a lighter-hearted audience. The person you thought was your intimate suddenly demands space. The job that you’ve given your best effort suddenly reduces your hours.
Saturn tests us, sometimes through rejection. This is particularly painful for the Sun; but it also reveals the depth of your commitment. If your true self is rejected, is the answer to become less yourself – or to find the situations where you’re appreciated for who you are?
Wielding the sword
Mars can be a tricky sword to wield effectively. When we fail, the self-serving forces of dominance and brute force overtake us. But for every threatening, scary attribute of Mars, there’s a courageous and valiant one. A wild animal threatening a child is displaying Mars – but so is the courageous mother who places herself between them. An angry, abusive boss is showing us Mars, but so is the brave worker who demands better treatment.
As Mars moves into Scorpio (Oct. 30, 2021, 7:21 am PDT, through Dec. 13), one of its strongest signs, it certainly may embolden the world’s corrupt, violent, and abusive forces. But it also encourages the brave ones, and those with a purity of purpose. This is a time to stand up for what we passionately love, lest it be overtaken by equally passionate enemies.
What are you passionate about? Clues lie in the Scorpio house of your birth chart. That’s where you’re ever-watchful against enemies and attacks, and where you are a passionate defender of truth, and of the truly defenseless.
A treat, not a trick
On Sep 20 and Oct 3 (while retrograde), Mercury made the first two of three trine aspects to Jupiter. This week brings the final meeting in this particular Mercury/Jupiter series (Oct. 31, 2021, 9:18 pm PDT). If encouraging news in September or early October didn’t exactly pay off in happy developments, that may be remedied this time around. This Halloween aspect is most definitely a treat, not a trick. Look for 22.39 degrees Libra and Aquarius in your chart to find out where the offer is coming from (Libra) and where you’ll see the payoff (Aquarius).
Writing and images © 2021 by April Elliott Kent
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