Mercury transits into Scorpio in the evening of October 1^st, the sign in which Mercury will turn retrograde later in the month. This means that Mercury spends significant time in Scorpio - till 12/7, making it a prime time to ponder concerns and issues that require great concentration. Mental acuity is greatly heightened through Scorpio's influence, and communication takes on profound implications. Mental dilettantism must be shelved for the next two months. Instincts are sharpened and become a valuable source of input, and the general meaning of "communication" will be significantly expanded. Mercury in Scorpio misses absolutely nothing, or if it does, pays a price for inattention. What price? That depends on the nature and magnitude of the factor that's missed. So it's best not to get sloppy or lazy or presumptuous regarding attitudes, communication, and/or knowledge. In The Moment of Astrology, Geoffrey Cornelius notes that "Mercury is directly concerned with the step that crosses from light to dark, dark to light and makes conscious in interpretation." The "dark" doesn't get any darker than Scorpio, particularly when the retrograde period begins on the 28^th. But more about that later...

There are a number of relatively insignificant aspects this month, leading into a decidedly Scorpionic period. The aspects to which I refer are as follows:

10/4	Mars Trine Neptune
10/10	Sun Trine Neptune
	Mercury Trine Neptune
10/12	Mars Sextile Saturn
10/13	Venus Trine Neptune
10/15	Mars Sextile Pluto
	Mercury Square Neptune
10/16	Sun Sextile Saturn
10/17	Sun Sextile Pluto
10/18	Venus Sextile Saturn
10/19	Venus sextile Pluto
10/22	Mercury Conjunct Jupiter
	Sun Conjunct Mars

The one so-called "hard aspect" occurring in all that time is Mercury Square Neptune on 10/15. The "hard" planetary aspects are the ones that make us stand up and pay attention. The others augur for a relatively easy and pleasant time. Issues that seemed difficult now seem contained and approachable, not demanding much notice. Even Mercury square Neptune lasts only a sort time, but indicates confused communication born of befuddled language and misreading of signals. This will not be a good time to try to bring any issue to final conclusion. You just won't be thinking or seeing things clearly, so hold off a few days.

The cue that momentum is changing is revealed through Sun conjunct Mars on 10/22. The following day, October 23^rd, Mercury squares Saturn, and both Sun and Mars enter Scorpio. Venus joins them in Scorpio in the wee hours of the 24^th, where we already find Moon and Jupiter. Did you count them up? That's six - yes, six - planets in Scorpio! Mercury square Saturn pulls us out of the mental fog just in time to plunge into the depths. One does not want to enter into deep waters unaware!! Even though the Moon moves into Sagittarius at 12:53 p.m. on 10/24, five planets remain in Scorpio.

Before characterizing specific aspects of these planets, I'd like to provide a comprehensive conception of Scorpio by quoting excerpts from correspondence between Carl Jung and one of his better-known protégés, Esther Harding. In one exchange, Jung addresses fear by saying, "Be afraid of the world, for it is big and strong; and fear the demons within, for they are many and brutal; but do not fear yourself, for that is your Self." Harding replied, "I said I feared to open the door for fear the demons would come out and destroy. He said, 'If you lock them up they will as surely destroy. The only way of delimiting the Self is by experiment. Go as far as your desire goes, and you will presently find that you have gone as far as your own law allows...Thus, vice, too, if entered into sincerely as a means of finding and expressing the Self, is not a vice, for the fearless honesty cuts that out. But when we are bound by an artificial barrier, or laws and moralities that have entered into us, then we are prevented from finding or even from seeing that there is a real barrier of the Self outside this artificial barrier. We fear that if we break through this artificial barrier we shall find ourselves in limitless space. But within each of us is the self-regulating Self'."

The heavy emphasis in Scorpio calls us to unearth our "self-regulating Self" by confronting our "vices" through "fearless honesty". Barriers must indeed be breached in order to accomplish this by allowing free reign of desire. It is that desire nature of Scorpio coupled with the "demons" that so terrifies people. But those who don't completely surrender to desire are far more likely to allow the "demons" of frustration to pervert their nature; they have not gone far enough to encounter their "own law".

The Sun-Mars conjunction on the 22^nd followed on the 23^rd with their nearly simultaneous entry into Scorpio amplifies the desire nature. Mars is in one of its own signs in Scorpio (the other being Aries), and in this sign Mars is particularly effective in finding and expressing what has lain dormant deep within. The Sun ensures conscious attention will be brought to bear on these issues, presenting the possibility of conscious assimilation. Ask yourself what you truly yearn for, and let that guide you.

Venus' entry into Scorpio on the 24^th raises the stakes even more. Venus is said to be in detriment in Scorpio, meaning that any trouble you may encounter with others will be largely of your own making, and the remedy therefore also lies in your own hands. The trouble would likely be caused by pressuring others with your own desires without considering whether they share your desire. (Please do remember I'm referring to "desire" as Jung references it in his letter to Esther Harding.)

The following day, the 25^th, Jupiter in the 24^th degree of Scorpio squares Saturn in the 24^th degree of Leo. These two planetary symbols correlate with the society at-large, and the two signs specifically contrast being led and even overwhelmed by desire (Leo) versus learning to mold and direct desire (Scorpio). This can simply be called "claiming" personal power rather than giving it out to others, thereby depleting you physically, mentally, and psychologically. Saturn's continued journey through Leo for another eleven months is bringing this issue to the fore. Be circumspect regarding who and what you "give" yourself to, and what motivates you to do so.

The Sun conjoins Venus on the 27^th in the 4^th degree of Scorpio, strengthening the "desire" nature of Scorpio. This is the signature of the coming new Sun-Venus cycle, a period lasting the time from one conjunction (while Venus is direct, not retrograde) to the next conjunction. The last cycle began 3/30/05 in the 11^th degree of Aries, which is also Mars-ruled. We can deduce that the urge to "go as far as your desire goes" will be the defining characteristic of the new cycle, which last until June 2008.

Mercury goes retrograde on the 28^th at 1:16 p.m., in the 26^th degree of Scorpio. The ability to concentrate will be greatly enhanced, and a willingness to seriously consider facts and insights that have been previously rejected and/or glossed-over will be accentuated - or had better be! You may want to re-read the first paragraph of this article, and then magnify its implications x100!

Finally, Neptune goes direct on the 29^th, in the 18^th degree of Aquarius. It's time to begin seeing whether and/or how much certain sensitivities that have been experienced and deepened in the past five months have a correlation in outer reality. Neptune could be defined as intuitive "knowing". Such "knowing", however, requires validation in the here-and-now. Aquarius addresses "group-think", and many of us have become disillusioned with the power and inherent worth of groups we've identified with since Neptune entered Aquarius. Neptune direct can inspire new directions based on new conceptions of everyday reality - conceptions that have been freed from the tyranny of group-think.