Tag Archives: Mars

Secrets and Surprises

By Amanda Painter

In one week, on Oct. 31, Mercury stations retrograde in Scorpio. On the way there, this Saturday, the Sun and Moon make a conjunction — the Scorpio New Moon — which is opposite Uranus. One translation of all this: the next seven-plus days may well be characterized by secrets and surprises. The question is: what determines whether such things feel like tricks or treats?

Illuminated offering at the 2016 Sacred and Profane Festival, Peaks Island, Maine. Photo by Amanda Painter.

Illuminated offering at the 2016 Sacred and Profane Festival, Peaks Island, Maine. Photo by Amanda Painter.

The short answer is, “you.”

More specifically, it’s things like your perspective, attitude, agility in responding to new information, and emotional attachments (whether to people, to certain ways of doing and thinking about things, to the familiar, to what you think you know about yourself and others) that will contribute to whether life feels like an enticing mystery that you’re unraveling, or a haunted hayride you didn’t want to go on in the first place.

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The Day of the Penetrating Gaze: Birthdays and Planet News

If Your Birthday is Oct. 9
The Day of the Penetrating Gaze | Order the 2019-20 Libra Astrology Studio | All Other Signs

A particular project has now reached a point where the goal is in sight. You may be feeling some impatience to get there and move on, though it will help you to make sure all of the ground is covered. Rushing may cause you to retrace some steps, and in fact you have plenty of time — enough to take the scenic route and enjoy each stage of the journey. It might even be argued that having something to delight in, at regular intervals, is as important and useful for you as completing your mission.
— by Amy Elliott

Do you have your Sun, Moon or rising sign in Libra? If so, Eric has much to say about stabilizing your relationships in the chaos of the internet, getting some traction in your career, and most of all, how to frame your own reality. in the 2019-2020 Libra Astrology Studio, now available for instant access. Check out the video preview for the reading here.

Written in the Planets

Is anything about yesterday or this morning feeling like someone’s confronting you with some facet of your sexuality that you tend not to show or express? Do you feel able to have the conversation? Or are you responding with defensiveness, or trying to glide over things without getting your hands dirty? With Mars in Libra opposing the minor planet Salacia (and Chiron) in Aries today, something along these lines could crop up.

Once the Moon enters Pisces just after noon EDT (16:05:04 UTC) you may find it’s easier to be introspective about things. Mercury’s making planetary contacts that suggest some complicated emotions could emerge into your awareness. Yet there also appears to be an opportunity to cross a threshold of some kind, in relation to these feelings and thoughts, if you’re willing to be present with them. That opportunity could come in the form of another person mirroring them back to you. The Pisces Moon suggests that art and music could be particularly useful in moving some of this energy in gentle, creative, and maybe even beautiful or soul-expanding ways — especially if you’re very specific about your intentions.
— by Amanda Painter


My autumn readings, called In These Times, offer a place of refuge, an opportunity to suspend self-judgment, and my careful reading of the charts. I offer you reasons to be motivated, and strategies for handling the strange complexity of society at this time. To this work, I bring all of what I have learned as a journalist, editor, astrologer, spiritual student and man of the world; and I offer it to you for an affordable price. Read more here.

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The Day of High Romance: Birthdays and Planet News

If Your Birthday is Oct. 8
The Day of High Romance | Order the 2019-20 Libra Astrology Studio | All Other Signs

You have something beautiful to bring into the world, and you need to do so boldly and without apology. There are ways to use diplomacy and tact that don’t involve compromising what is important to you, though in any case your needs, and not other people’s convenience, are paramount. Your determination and passion, along with a little chutzpah, will get you past any significant bumps in the road, and your progress will likely be accompanied by big strides in personal healing.
— by Amy Elliott

Do you have your Sun, Moon or rising sign in Libra? If so, Eric has much to say about stabilizing your relationships in the chaos of the internet, getting some traction in your career, and most of all, how to frame your own reality. in the 2019-2020 Libra Astrology Studio, now available for instant access. Check out the video preview for the reading here.

Written in the Planets

Venus enters Scorpio this afternoon. And though this placement of Venus signifies passionate emotions and at times greater inclination toward possessiveness and jealousy, the Aquarius Moon could offer some stabilization and a slightly detached mood to help balance things — at least, today and tomorrow. Midweek through the weekend could get a little less predictable, emotionally speaking.

For now, just be sure to notice how you’re feeling and why; the more willing you are to track these shifts to their roots, the better you’ll able to keep perspective. With a Full Moon approaching on Saturday, perspective will be useful.

Also today, Mars in Libra opposes Chiron in Aries. With both Mars and Chiron representing a form of warrior energy, consider two things: one, how you tend to handle confrontations; two, how you would like to handle confrontations. Not everything has to be a blowup or have a ‘winner’ and a ‘loser’; at the other end of the spectrum, trying to avoid all confrontation rarely achieves that outcome in the long run.

There is a middle path: determining what you want and how you feel, and then asking whoever else is involved what they want and how they feel. From there, it’s possible to have a conversation to reach a solution. It’s deceptively simple, yet many people get stuck before they even begin, usually out of fear (of an argument, of consequences, of being told “no”). It’s this fear that amps up the tension. So if you’re feeling afraid of addressing an issue directly with someone, what’s that really about? If you can see it for what it is, chances are you can stop it from running the show — and then work some actual diplomacy.
— by Amanda Painter


My autumn readings, called In These Times, offer a place of refuge, an opportunity to suspend self-judgment, and my careful reading of the charts. I offer you reasons to be motivated, and strategies for handling the strange complexity of society at this time. To this work, I bring all of what I have learned as a journalist, editor, astrologer, spiritual student and man of the world; and I offer it to you for an affordable price. Read more here.

In These Times is now available for instant access!

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The Day of the Incorrigibles: Birthdays and Planet News

If Your Birthday is Oct. 4
The Day of the Incorrigibles | Order the 2019-20 Libra Astrology Studio | All Other Signs

Now is your moment to step into the next phase of your journey, or to kick-start that project you wanted to get underway. You’re likely to be busy. This year’s astrology isn’t just on skates; it’s driving a Ferrari. You’ll want to stay alert, and be prepared to steer the energy in a productive direction — in particular, toward your personal growth and healing. If what you’re doing now isn’t contributing to that, you may want to consider doing something different. Check in regularly with your inner guidance system.
— by Amy Elliott

Do you have your Sun, Moon or rising sign in Libra? If so, your sign is directly aligned with the single most significant astrological event beginning 2020. Eric will walk you through the most effective ways to approach your year in the 2019-2020 Libra Astrology Studio, now available for instant access.

Written in the Planets

Mars enters Libra at 12:22 am EDT (4:21:50 UTC) today. This is one of those ‘funny’ Mars placements, in that signs ruled by Venus are not easy places for Mars to be. It can describe enthusiasm and an active approach to relationships, but also can express as less self-directed than in other signs. People with this natal placement can swing between mild-mannered and hot under the collar.

That is a signal to stay conscious of your unexpressed desires and frustrations: usually it’s the things we have not figured out how to express or act on — or which we’re afraid might rock the boat — that trip us up eventually. Awareness in this realm could be especially useful this afternoon. The Moon enters Capricorn at 1:43 pm EDT (17:43:07 UTC) and immediately squares Mars. Although Moon transits do not last long, they can have impact.

In this case, that could mean emotions getting the better of people (including you), irritability, or acting rashly. Notice if you’re letting small annoyances rile you up, when really there’s some larger grievance you’re trying to avoid facing. That’s the kind of set-up that can lead to unnecessary misunderstandings. And really, who needs that on a Friday? If you’re willing to lean on Mercury, newly in Scorpio, to think a little deeper into your feelings, you may be able to get beneath the petty stuff and deal appropriately with what’s really bugging you.
— by Amanda Painter


My readings offer a place of refuge, an opportunity to suspend self-judgment, and my careful reading of the charts. I offer you reasons to be motivated, and strategies for handling the strange complexity of society at this time. To this work, I bring all of what I have learned as a journalist, editor, astrologer, spiritual student and man of the world; and I offer it to you for an affordable price. Read more here.

Now available for instant access!

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Action and Resolution at the Quarter Moon

By Amanda Painter

Full Moons and New Moons tend to carry more weight in astrology writing. Yet this weekend’s first quarter Moon happens to connect with one of the more important aspects we’re building up to, as does another event this week.

What's in there? Mercury in Scorpio wants to find out. Photo by Amanda Painter.

What’s in the dark under that rock? Mercury in Scorpio wants to find out. Photo by Amanda Painter.

On Saturday, the Capricorn Moon squares off against the Libra Sun. That’s the quarter Moon, traditionally describing an opportunity to lean into projects and processes you can build some early momentum with.

Yet the Moon will also be conjunct its own South Node and the planet Saturn. The South Node can represent what is familiar, ‘comfortable’ and habitual in a way that does not help us to grow. You can also think of it as karma: repeated patterns that we’re trying to learn from, so we can move on toward a greater sense of lived purpose. Saturn, of course, holds the line of authority, responsibility, limits and restrictions. Its presence also connects this quarter Moon to the Saturn-Pluto conjunction in January.

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The Day of Verbal Acuity: Birthdays and Planet News

If Your Birthday is Oct. 2
The Day of Verbal Acuity | Order the 2019-20 Libra Astrology Studio | All Other Signs

There’s a somewhat edgy or liminal quality to your astrology at present, as if you’re gearing up for a big breakthrough in either your situation or your consciousness. You may need to employ patience, and focus on making the best use of the resources you currently have, of which there are plenty. Whatever change you’ve been working toward will likely happen at precisely the time it’s meant to. In the interim, support your inner growth as a continuous journey. Much progress can be made in these threshold moments.
— by Amy Elliott

Do you have your Sun, Moon or rising sign in Libra? If so, your sign is directly aligned with the single most significant astrological event beginning 2020. Eric will walk you through the most effective ways to approach your year in the 2019-2020 Libra Astrology Studio, now available for instant access.

Written in the Planets

Diplomacy could get briefly challenging today. The Sun, Venus and Mercury are all in harmony-loving Libra, yet Mercury is moving into that sign’s last degree. Planets in the last degree of a sign can feel a little antsy; for Mercury in Libra, this could translate as indecisiveness.

Mars is also in the last degree of Virgo until Friday, describing a potential layer of physical/mental frustration around wanting to move forward in a very specific way. Indecision around what to say or how to say it could feed any edginess around wanting to do things ‘just right’. Pholus contacting these planets from Sagittarius suggests the effect could be exaggerated or feel exacerbated.

Even so, once the Moon enters Sagittarius at 7:44 am EDT (11:44:13 UTC), optimism, adventurousness and an urge to ‘just wing it’ could help you to glide over any snags or hesitation. Simply keep adjusting to whatever the day brings, bearing in mind that a series of continual small adaptations will likely bring more relief and forward movement than big decisions and actions might (even if only briefly each time). If you’re currently faced with a pattern you need to stop on the one hand, and a threshold you’d like to cross on the other, this approach could be especially effective.
— by Amanda Painter


My readings offer a place of refuge, an opportunity to suspend self-judgment, and my careful reading of the charts. I offer you reasons to be motivated, and strategies for handling the strange complexity of society at this time. To this work, I bring all of what I have learned as a journalist, editor, astrologer, spiritual student and man of the world; and I offer it to you for an affordable price. Read more here.

Now available for instant access!

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The Day of Glaring Truth: Birthdays and Planet News

If Your Birthday is Sept. 30
The Day of Glaring Truth | Pre-order pre-order the 2019-20 Libra Astrology Studio | All Other Signs

You are something of a natural in terms of mental exploration, and presently you may be experiencing more curiosity than usual. Yet there is only so much you can grasp from theoretical knowledge. If you want to understand how something operates, interact with it on a practical level, as far as is safe. Along the way, there may be an opening for you to bring your inventive abilities into play: that is, to fix a problem you see, or improve on a working model. This is likely to be useful all round.
— by Amy Elliott

Do you have your Sun, Moon or rising sign in Libra? If so, your sign is directly aligned with the single most significant astrological event beginning 2020. Eric will walk you through the most effective ways to approach your year in the 2019-2020 Libra Astrology Studio, now available for pre-order.

Written in the Planets

If you’ve been wanting to ‘go deep’ in some way, especially with another person, this could be a good day for it. For one thing, the Moon enters Scorpio this morning at 5:42 am EDT (9:41:37 UTC). That automatically signals a potentially immersive or compelling emotional tone, and describes an affinity for getting under the surface. With the Scorpio Moon briefly opposing Uranus in Taurus, this could translate into emotional responses to the unexpected that are a little more intense than usual.

Venus in Libra is exactly square the centaur planet Chariklo in Capricorn, and squares Pluto exactly tomorrow. On one level, this describes a need to seek emotionally or sexually heightened interactions. On another level, this may suggest that it’s time to acknowledge changes in a relationship. Can you hold space for your own mix of emotions and needs, and for those of the other person? Both are real, and both are valid. You may be able to avoid sliding into co-dependent behavior by using tools like active listening (paraphrasing what is said to be sure you’ve understood clearly) and “I” statements. Discerning true needs from strong desires and idealized expectations is also key.

Assistance with that process is described by a trine between Mars in Virgo and Vesta in Taurus. This looks like support for a less personal, truly service-oriented way of approaching some matter of desire, sex, healing or teaching. If you’re finding it easy to connect the details of a situation with some hands-on mental or physical effort and a sense of emotionally grounded purpose, this aspect may be what you’re tapping into.
— by Amanda Painter


My readings offer a place of refuge, an opportunity to suspend self-judgment, and my careful reading of the charts. I offer you reasons to be motivated, and strategies for handling the strange complexity of society at this time. To this work, I bring all of what I have learned as a journalist, editor, astrologer, spiritual student and man of the world; and I offer it to you for an affordable price. Read more here.

Now available for instant access!

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The Day of the Heartbreakers: Birthdays and Planet News

If Your Birthday is Sept. 28
The Day of the Heartbreakers | Pre-order pre-order the 2019-20 Libra Astrology Studio | All Other Signs

The New Moon on your birthday signals opportunities to initiate a significant new cycle in your quest to realize ambitions. This leg of your journey may require adjustments related to financial interests or partnership issues of some kind. Express yourself with as much conscious awareness as possible. You can further your interests or instigate unnecessary conflict, depending on your agenda. Creative expression can open important doors, yet to maximize that potential will require your focused discipline. Social engagements likewise should work in your favor, and certain relationships with those in your immediate network could move to a whole new level.
— by Victoria Emory

Do you have your Sun, Moon or rising sign in Libra? If so, your sign is directly aligned with the single most significant astrological event beginning 2020. Eric will walk you through the most effective ways to approach your year in the 2019-2020 Libra Astrology Studio, now available for pre-order.

Written in the Planets

Today the Sun and Moon meet for the Libra New Moon, early in that sign (exact at 2:26 pm EDT / 18:26:14 UTC). The closest other object is the asteroid Isis — about as close as you can get. Named after a primary Egyptian goddess, one of the major Isis myths involves how she had to put the body of her husband Osiris back together. From this, we get astrological themes for Isis such as re-unifying, recombining, reconstructing, reconciling, synthesizing, and also feminine strength.

Cozied up in the same degree of Libra with the Sun, Moon and Isis are the objects Makemake and Logos. One possible delineation for Makemake is, “the mystery of how things came to be the way they are.” Logos not only relates to words, but to logic and reason.

So there appears to be something in this New Moon — the dark, inward-looking lunar phase — about finding the tipping point (or the sweet spot) between the mystery of how things came to be the way they are, and the logic of how they have become this way, and using that space between to reconcile or synthesize the two. In other words, today could signal an opportunity for you to seek balance in your life through a new approach.

Consider what has and has not been working; meditate on what is becoming clearer and more real as Jupiter and Neptune continue to separate from their square. If you’ve been focused more on someone else’s glow or glare, this could be a good time to sort through your own responses — to them, and to yourself. Today may not feel super high-energy, but you could have an urge to enact steps in a plan — particularly if it feels like a second chance to ‘get it right’. There may not be any such thing as ‘perfection’, but the Golden Rule and cosmic law do offer solid ethical guidelines.
— by Amanda Painter


My readings offer a place of refuge, an opportunity to suspend self-judgment, and my careful reading of the charts. I offer you reasons to be motivated, and strategies for handling the strange complexity of society at this time. To this work, I bring all of what I have learned as a journalist, editor, astrologer, spiritual student and man of the world; and I offer it to you for an affordable price. Read more here.

Now available for instant access!

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