Wondrous Planets: This image from the Hubble Space Telescope in 2005 shows Pluto, its moon Charon (below and right of center) and two newly discovered moons to the right. All the planets exert influence (gravity, etc.) on one another… and so upon Earth.

Time changed, falling back one hour, on a sleepy Fall Sunday. We also saw the Moon (Emotions) working in conjunction with Mars (Initiation) to bring the right mood to get things done. These can be home projects, shopping, cleaning, or maybe some work on a work project to get the jump on the week ahead. Venus is also glowing on Sunday, so you might even add in some love spice to the mix this week.

“Emotionally, you can make a breakthrough at work which could lead to a transfer or promotion, and in your relationship you could come to new understandings about where you’re going.”

Monday starts off a bit slow with a feeling of staying safe within boundaries in the air. This is not the day to make a risky move at work, or even at home. There’s a time for change, and also a time to stay the course and let it run. You also have an opportunity to look at some tension in your relationships today. Learn more about it by listening carefully to those you love.

On Tuesday, we find the Moon working in conjunction with Pluto — planet of transformation. What does that mean? Emotionally, you can make a breakthrough at work which could lead to a transfer or promotion, and in your relationship you could come to new understandings about where you’re going. How does it happen? Celestially, we also see the Moon (Emotions) in harmony with Chiron and Neptune — healthy spirituality. Emotions provide the impetus, and the Spirit carries us forward.

Midweek dawns with a note of tension in the air on Wednesday. Remember that a certain amount of tension — even stress — is what is required to get things done. Think of shooting an arrow — no tension in the bow, and the arrow goes nowhere. Deadlines bring a kind of tension too. You will need to communicate well today, and that means really listening, to get what you need to do completed. Even though you might feel boxed in, that won’t last forever. Just do what you know is right.

Planets of other Stars: NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope has discovered carbon dioxide in the atmosphere of a planet orbiting another star. This artist’s concept shows purple rings around it — evidence of carbon dioxide, and also of the possibility of life.

Weekend Astro-Update

Happy Halloween on Sunday, a day when it is best to roll with things and enjoy the holiday. Emotionally, there’s an opportunity to examine what’s holding you back in your romantic relationship. As always, this will require that you get any emotional roadblocks out of the way of your communication. Remember that the Truth will always come out, so it’s best to deal with things from the bright spot of your heart — sooner, rather than later.

“Emotionally, we like staying in our “comfort zone.” Get out of it.”

Monday rolls in with Pluto, planet of transformation, playing a triple roll — it’s in harmony with the Moon (Emotions), which in turn is in harmony with Venus (Love), so some of your relationship “work” can pay off today. But there’s still a bit of tension in the area of Communication, so use the “love light” to speak your truth quietly and clearly. Follow your gut instincts… intuition plays an important role today.

On Tuesday, the Election Day in the USA, we see an emotional opposition with Jupiter — the planet of Jupiter. This make sense, since just about every American agrees that our current debt and spending habits are unsustainable. Emotions are high and flowing toward leaders that will stand for prudent government. We also find emotional tension in the areas of Spiritual matters — another sign that spirits are running high and so some stress with all the viewpoints out there. Celebrate that — it’s what makes free people stronger.

Wednesday dawns with new purpose even though there are still some roadblocks in the way of progress. Emotionally, we like staying in our “comfort zone.” Get out of it. Neither a country, a state, a government, a business, or an individual can afford to ignore change and what is needed for growth toward wise values and goals. Pay careful attention to the ways of the Spirit today. Pray for discernment in politics, business, and in your home life.

Celebrate Our Milky Way: NASA has used its Hubble Space Telescope, an infrared view from the Spitzer Space Telescope, and an X-ray view from the Chandra X-ray Observatory to create one multiwavelength picture of the Milky Way — our home galaxy that is one of billions in the heavens above.

Astro-Weekend Update…

Saturday kicks off the weekend with the Moon dancing in trine with Venus… planet of love. Whoo Hooo.  You know what to do.  The Moon (emotions) also shows harmony with Mercury (planet of Communication) today.  Great.  Love and Communication.  At the core, this deep dialog with your mate and those you love is what it’s all about.  Don’t hold back.  Talk about what is in your heart.  Do what needs to be done.

“Remember that tension brings good focus on important details in your life. Embrace the tension.”

Sunday finds the Moon squaring off with Pluto, working in conjunction with Uranus and Jupiter and showing tensions with both Mars and Mercury. Ok… focus first on the emotional energy of new ideas and expansion.  Emotional energy?  Yes, your mind can think of new ways to proceed in your love relationships, and career — but it is when you feel good about moving forward that progress will happen.  Figure out your roadblocks, deal with them, then you can move forward.

The week starts out busy on Monday, as the Moon dances in harmony with the Sun. There’s some tension in the air, and that’s good.  Remember that tension brings good focus on important details in your life.  Embrace the tension.  Remember that creative tension is behind all inventions, and you should not block it because it is the key both to health and the success of your love life.  Work with good tension (creative tension) and seek to understand and so banish unproductive tension (holding a grudge) from your life.

Tuesday brings a lot of celestial energy to bear with the Moon dancing in trine with Saturn, Mars, and Pluto, and in harmony with Neptune and Chiron. Simultaneously, Mars stands in opposition with Chiron.  This sets up a pattern where you are close to settling something in your life that will do you much good — but there is one more hurdle to jump before you can get there.  What hurdle?  Communication with those close to you will bring this into sharper focus.  Seek to learn what has held you back so far, then set a course to “break through” that wall.

Midweek we find Mercury (Communication) again playing a key role, on Wednesday squaring off with Neptune (Spirituality). What concerns of the Spirit can you surface to smooth the way in your life?  At work, this could be the spirit of getting things done — just plow through it.  At home, this could be the spirit of healing and finishing any things that have become baggage and so are holding you back.  How?  Honest, heartfelt communication where a big part of it is listening.  Not waiting to speak… just listening.

Above, NASA Hubble Space Telescope image of the Antennae galaxies (NGC 4038 & 4039) shows this merging pair of galaxies. During the course of the collision, billions of new stars will be formed. (Click to Enlarge)

Welcome to Friday…The Moon (Emotions) is doing a dance with Venus (Love) as we end our week, and cooperating with Mercury (Communication), so look forward to a romance filled Friday. But remember that the key is Communication, and that means BOTH talking and listening. It also means giving careful consideration to what you wish to say, and how to say it so the other person can hear it “in their own language.” What language? Well, I mean English, but relationship advisers often point out that people respond to different words and adjectives. Do you know your mate’s “love language?”

On Sunday, the Sun and Moon are in balance, and the Moon is playing with Pluto — a planet with energy vibrating for rejuvenation

Earlier in the week, there was a feeling of renewal in the air as the Fall season really came on and you took a look at annual projects to determine ways to do them better this year. This with the power of the Aries full Moon on last Tuesday evening brought a sense of purpose, heightened still more by the Moon’s conjunction with Mars — the planet of initiative. Time to get things done — you can carry this into your weekend.

Saturday finds the Moon squaring off with two big, but distant planets — Saturn (Practicality), and Uranus (New Ideas). Remember those new projects you brainstormed earlier? Go ahead and use those new ideas in a practical, down to earth (compare Lowes to Home Depot, for best prices, etc.) way. The Moon is also dancing nice with Neptune, paradoxically the planet of both Religion and Illusion. How do you discern the difference? You can pray for that discernment. Reminds me of the old Moody Blues poem that ends, “but we decide which is right — and which is an illusion.” To that I would just add that God already knows.

On Sunday, the Sun and Moon are in balance, and the Moon is playing with Pluto — a planet with energy vibrating for rejuvenation. You could use a little “R and R” — couldn’t you? After all, a certain amount of stress can come about from the “work” required in love relationships (shown by a stressful position with Venus), so a break will do you good. At least get away to a park — before the weather heads into the Winter zone.