NorthPoint Journal: Your Guide to Planetary Energies for October 16 to 22, 2017 by Pam Younghans

NorthPoint Journal

Your Guide to Planetary Energies for  October 16 to 22, 2017

by Pam Younghans

Highlighted Aspects This Week 

MON: Sun sextile Saturn, Sun opposite Eris, Saturn trine Eris
TUE: Mercury enters Scorpio, Mars quincunx Uranus
WED: Mercury conjunct Jupiter, Sun quincunx Chiron
THU: Sun opposite Uranus, New Moon 12:11pm PDT (7:11pm GMT), Sun sesquiquadrate Neptune
FRI: Saturn sesquiquadrate Ceres
SAT: Pluto square Vesta
SUN: Mars enters Libra, Mercury semisquare Saturn, Mercury square Ceres, Sun enters Scorpio

A CERTAIN QUOTE has been running through my mind this past week: "Change is inevitable. Growth is optional." I don't know the circumstances that inspired John C. Maxwell to speak these words, but I struggle with their veracity.

Major transitions occur for all of us, throughout our lives. Many of these fall into the category of the "expected," such as graduating from college, taking a new job, or committing to a relationship. Occasionally, changes occur that are unplanned and dramatically life-altering: fires that consume earthly belongings, floods or earthquakes that wipe out communities, or deaths of loved ones that alter the emotional and relational landscape of our lives.

Do we really go through these types of events and not experience growth on some level? It's hard for me to imagine. But, even if growth of the personality is optional, the evolution of the soul is always underway.

SO MANY CHANGES, internal and external, are occurring now, we are under great pressure to grow. If we are not facing personal loss or experiencing problems that directly impact our daily lives, we are still being challenged to grow in our ability to hold compassion for others, to share our light and our skills in service, and to find the strength and faith that enable us to accept the realities of physical life, with all of its challenges and unpredictable turns.

Another quote related to change and growth comes to mind, this one by Albert Einstein: "We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them."

Perhaps a shift in perspective is one of the higher purposes of the powerful events we've seen occur since the August eclipses. These catastrophes interrupt our usual ways of thinking and feeling, so that we emerge on the other side of the crises in some new form.

WE KNOW that the world is in need of major shifts on many levels. No matter where we focus our attention, we can point to problems that seem insurmountable in their vastness. But Einstein's profound words remind us that being who we've always been, thinking as we've always thought, or fearing what we've always feared will not move us forward. It is only deep inner change that will propel the evolutionary growth we seek. This is true on all levels, of course -- not only for the global questions of social and environmental concerns, but also for the issues and relationships we work with in our daily personal lives.

As we deal with all that has occurred recently, whether our experience has been very personal or more distant, we can allow these events to change us. The thoughts and emotions that move through us can initiate deeper shifts within, which will ultimately alter our course individually and collectively.

THE THEME of radical change continues into the coming week and also into the new lunar cycle that begins on Thursday.

On Monday, there is the possibility of stability amidst transitional times, thanks to Saturn's influence. On that day, the Sun opposes the dwarf planet Eris, which often manifests as discord between opposing factions. However, Saturn is in harmonious aspect to both planets, providing a release valve for the conflict. We can take advantage of this stabilizing force by focusing on a higher philosophy of life that is both our guiding light and our grounding rod (Saturn in Sagittarius).

On Tuesday, a Mars-Uranus quincunx stirs the pot of discontent that has been simmering. Anger comes more readily and irritations seem to be around every corner. This aspect requires an adjustment in how we are proceeding: We cannot force our own agenda without considering others' needs (Uranus in Aries); likewise, we cannot simply set our course based solely on tried and true methods that have always worked for us in the past (Mars in Virgo). As hard as it may be to listen and to collaborate when we are feeling frustrated, we will find that other options lead us nowhere.

MERCURY enters Scorpio on Tuesday and then has its rendezvous with Jupiter on Wednesday. This alignment can bring significant information forward, facts and motivations that have been hidden from view. We are no longer able to ignore the truth, whether our avoidance has been due to complacency or to our belief that diving deeper would just be too time-consuming.

Once this Mercury-Jupiter conjunction occurs, we should have a better idea of how Jupiter's year-long trek through Scorpio will manifest in real-world terms. We'll get more insights early next week, too, once the Sun enters Scorpio and also conjoins Jupiter.

THE NEW MOON on Thursday, October 19, is our astrological highlight of the week. It occurs at 26°35′
of Libra at 12:11 p.m. PDT (7:11 p.m. GMT).

This lunation is significant for many reasons -- highest on the list of "why" is because it is exactly opposite Uranus (at 26°31′ Aries). This opposition weaves themes of radical change and evolutionary growth into the tapestry of the New Moon and the new lunar cycle.

Uranus is also the planetary representative of Higher Mind and expanded awareness. With this higher octave planet so closely involved in the New Moon, we can anticipate that whatever events occur are designed to expand our consciousness and help us access the higher-level information and insights that will help us find solutions for the issues in front of us.

SYNCHRONISTICALLY, the Sabian symbol for the location of the New Moon reinforces these Uranian themes:

"An airplane sails, high in the clear sky: A consciousness able to transcend the conflicts and pressures of the personal life."

Astrologer Dane Rudyhar's interpretation of this image reads in part:

"This picture symbolizes the capacity, latent in every individual, to contemplate the stress of existence in our world of duality from a higher level. Through the use of the mind, the individual can gain a new perspective on human problems and reach freedom and peace in a supernal realm of being. This is a stage of Transcendent Realization."

By acknowledging our ability to view life from a higher level, and by holding the intention to do so, we will gain much benefit from this New Moon and the weeks that follow. And isn't this a primary goal for most of us spiritual seekers -- this perspective on life, this "Transcendent Realization," and the freedom and peace that is the result?

EVEN THE FIXED STARS provide support for our successful traverse of these very Uranian times. The New Moon is aligned with the fixed star "69 Virginis," which astrologer Roderick Kidston writes about in his book The Magic of the Stars:

"Generosity of spirit is important here. The more you practice goodwill -- Buddhists might speak of metta (loving-kindness) practices, or modern New Agers talk about random acts of kindness -- the more the good energy builds and returns to you, and then you give it out again, and so it continues, a constant circle of care and giving. This good energy has a way of multiplying with 69 Virginis, going from strength to strength, building vision and purpose.

"With 69 Virginis, creativity and abundance are the names of the game. You have a way of generating new ideas, new options, or new ways of doing things. High ideals drive you, and a strong urge to protect and cherish, too. You stand firm for principles, and can be a staunch spiritual warrior if the need arises."

Also synchronistically, Kidston's first example of "famous people" with a strong connection to 69 Virginis in their charts is Albert Einstein. I read that paragraph only just now, when I opened Kidston's book to read about his take on the meanings of 69 Virginis. No wonder that quote from Einstein came into my head as I began to write today's Journal!

Wishing you a week of insights and breakthroughs that lead you to expand your consciousness and manifest only the best kind of radical changes in your life.

IF YOUR BIRTHDAY IS THIS WEEK: It is vital for you to stay in balance this year. If you drift into polarities, it will be quite exhausting in the long run. Do your best to be both independent and interdependent, to claim your truth while allowing others to do the same. Speak from a strong place of knowing what you believe in and what is important to you. As you "hitch your wagon to a star," make sure it is a high-frequency star that can inspire you to become your best and greatest expression of Self. You have the potential to access all the insights you need to create a new world for yourself and those you love.

In peace,
 

Pam

 

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