Planetary news this week: Saturn direct and the Sun/Venus dance
Astrological update for the week of October 17-23, 2022
Retrograde update. The retrograde forces that dominated August and September continue to fade, and after Saturn turns direct this week there will be three planets traveling in retrograde motion (Jupiter, Neptune, Uranus) as well as Chiron. This may seem like a lot, but this is a more normal number of retrogrades and the forces that pull us back into the past to review and reflect are beginning to lessen.
Saturn station. The challenging square from Saturn to Uranus which came very close to an exact alignment over the past few weeks is also starting to fade, and with it the forces of rebellion and conflict which dominated the story of 2021 will also start to retreat. Saturn, the planet that teaches endurance and the value of discipline and hard work, is stationary in the sky right now as it prepares to change direction. When a planet appears to “station” before a change of direction its influence intensifies, especially if you have sensitive planets between 15 and 20 degrees of the fixed signs (Aquarius, Leo, Scorpio, Taurus). Saturn will barely move between now and mid-November, meaning this wise teacher will dominate the planetary energies.
Saturn periods like this one are good times to focus on the hard things that need to be done, but are not the best times for speculation and over-idealistic thinking.
The Sun/Venus dance from Libra to Scorpio. The Sun and Venus meet in conjunction about every 9-1/2 months: once when Venus appears to be at its closest point to Earth when retrograde, and once (like now) when Venus is at its farthest point when traveling direct. From our perspective, the Sun appears to […]
Saturn, which has been traveling retrograde where it has been challenging our understanding and forcing us to go back and confront areas where we are less than good enough, turns direct today and resumes its forward motion through the sign of Leo until September, when it will enter Virgo and a new phase of our earthly instruction. Saturn is the Celestial Taskmaster, the great teacher that cares nothing for our ego but everything for our living a successful earthly life. Over the next few months as it completes the pass through Leo it will reach alternative trines with Jupiter and with Pluto, harmonizing influences that will facilitate the success of the forms that we create.