October 2011 Horoscope

The price of partnerships

We're in relationship season now as the month starts with the Sun in Libra, the sign of connecting with others, and ends with it in Scorpio, the sign of intimacy. It's a journey from initial attractions -- the dating phase -- to merging with the right person. This transition occurs on both personal and professional levels, testing our alliances to see if they can match our long-term needs. Libra likes people and is generally open to meetings and discussions about joining forces. We're on our best behavior, open-minded and accepting of others. But Scorpio is less idealistic and brings more intense scrutiny, which is appropriate before taking the plunge. What starts as sweet and easy may grow more difficult when we peel away Libra's layers of politeness to get down to the nuts and bolts of joining forces.

Venus is the planet of love and the ruler of Libra. She represents beauty, grace, harmony and attraction. On Oct. 7 Venus forms an easygoing 120-degree trine with spiritual Neptune, evoking dreams of romance and moments of delight. Yet, the dewy-eyed optimism of this aspect won't last very long as Venus is shifting into Scorpio on Oct. 8. This is the first step to looking past the rose petals and seeing some thorns. The price of relationship is going up as we grow more aware of the complications and consequences of entering into a long-term union. Discontent and mistrust are shadowy sides of this transit that can turn hope in a skeptical direction. Yet this is also a necessary step toward intimacy as we encounter deeper emotions that will help to bind together desirable unions and tear down shaky ones. The Full Moon in independent Aries on Oct. 11 raises questions about what we're willing to give up in order to be with another person. Ideally, it helps us recognize that the strongest relationships are those that respect and honor the individuality of each partner.

The process of examining our fears and desires intensifies when mental Mercury enters investigative Scorpio on Oct. 13. The Sun's conjunction with stern Saturn on the same day can cast dark shadows over both old and new alliances. Falling into negativity, though, is not the point. Mercury's transit is meant to connect our minds to our often unspoken feelings. Seeing potential obstacles to success in personal or professional relationships doesn't mean that we should give up or shut up. It's about taking discussions about needs and expectations to a deeper place.

On Oct. 23 the willful Sun enters Scorpio to add creativity and greater consciousness to the partnering process. The stakes in the game of sharing our business or private lives with others are going up. There's more we can gain when we have the emotional maturity to share our feelings with others. Financial rewards and personal fulfillment can result from a willingness to examine our desires more carefully. However, denying major differences can be very costly. We may feel entangled in a web that won't release us or provide the satisfaction we seek.

The New Moon in passionate Scorpio on Oct. 26 is a very powerful event. It's opposite expansive Jupiter in Taurus and forms supportive 60-degree sextiles with potent Pluto, Scorpio's modern ruling planet. These alignments add resourcefulness that can help turn losses into gains and get the most out of our efforts. The exact 120-degree trine between Jupiter and Pluto on Oct. 28 is ideal for entrepreneurial efforts as the grand vision of the former is supported by the potency of the latter. A key to both Scorpio and working with Pluto is recognizing that growing is often about letting go. Giving up a person, project, idea, approach or value that's not as vital as we think frees up energy to far surpass our previous limits.

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