No, I’m not speaking gibber-jabber here, but these                                                             three terms do suitably help to describe the current times along with the current astrological influences (this will be a Western Astrology post). Today is All Hallows Day, the first day of the Celtic month of Samhain, which marks the beginning of the dark half of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. Beginning with sunset on Halloween until sunset All Hallows Day, it is said that the veil, the illusion, between the material/living world and the spiritual/dead world is the thinnest. Ghosts, demons, and spirits appear among the living, and the living pretend they are zombies, goblins, and fairies. Which is witch (haha, a pun! Yes, I’m having fun with language today!) can be unknown and confusing.

We are in a period on Earth in which we are moving towards greater awareness and higher consciousness. We are in the Dawning of the Age of Aquarius as we slowly transition out of the Age of Pisces. Pisces is a water sign ruled by Neptune, who opens us up to transcendental, mystical, and spiritual experiences. Neptune is the god of the oceans, the watery depths. In order to for us to open ourselves up to these experiences, we have to remove all the murky water from our lives that causes deception, illusions, and false realities, including deeply hidden emotions (water). Currently, Neptune is in his own sign of Pisces (until 2025) accentuating the task of discerning what is illusion and what is true.

Neptune

Along with Neptune in Pisces is the asteroid Chiron (until April 2018). According to Ancient Greek mythology, Chiron was a centaur, who became a great and wise astrologer and oracle, and most of all, a healer. While Chiron and Neptune are traveling together through Pisces, many of us, especially those with strong water signs in our natal charts, will experience intensely deep emotional healing. Turbulent waters will cause upwellings of emotions and old emotional issues will rise to the surface. We may feel emotionally confused and make hasty decisions during these emotional tidal waves. We need to experience what comes up so that we can learn to ride the waves instead of letting them toss us around helter-skelter.

There has been much going on in all the water signs lately, which only adds to the emotional ebb and flow. Jupiter is in Cancer (until mid-July 2014), a water sign ruled by the Moon. The Moon itself influences the ebb and flow of the tides on Earth, the flow of the menses, and the rhythm and cycles of other animals and plants. Some even say that the Moon also throws their emotions all topsy-turvy. In general Jupiter is a benevolent influence, especially in connection to the Moon. Though these are emotionally transitional times, this aspect indicates things will turn out fortunately.

In the third water sign, Scorpio, things are very busy right now. Scorpio is the sign of transitions, change, death, loss, the occult, the mystical and spiritual, and the unknown. It is symbolized by the scorpion and the eagle. A strong Scorpio influence gives us a choice: to soar like the eagle toward the light or to hide in the dark and murky waters. With the Sun in Scorpio for a month, it is fitting that this is the time of year that in many cultures we celebrate the mystical, spiritual, ghostly, and the dead. On the physical level we are faced with all things scary; on the emotional level we should try to face our fears, understand from deep within, and accept the transitions that make life life. Without death, there would not be life on this planet as we know it. Death should not be feared, but honored and celebrated.

Saturn

Also transiting Scorpio are Saturn (until late Dec. 2014) the North Node (until late March 2014), and Mercury (until early Dec. 2013). Amidst all the pell-mell emotions, Saturn can be our rock. Saturn is the slow wise teacher. His Greek name is Chronos, Father Time. He throws hurdles and obstacles in our path, not to strike us down, but to make us slow down, take our time, and fully experience the present moment for there is likely much more going on and much more to learn right now than we may realize. Saturn is also represented by the Grim Reaper because by surrendering to the process we can bring about great change and transitions both in our physical lives and to our inner spiritual selves.

The North Node represents our material/physical drives and our karma and lessons to be learned. Along with Saturn, this indicates incredible growth is in store, but growing pains and difficult lessons must be endured. Mercury in Scorpio adds a very intellectual view to all this emotional healing. While retrograde until the 11th, the desire to over-analyze our emotions and intuition may cause some delays and set-backs, but this can also help to clear the waters and put things into a clearer perspective.

Retrograde motion usually intensifies and deepens a planet’s influence, both the positive and the negative, and need not be feared. Just remember to slow down and be open to seeing and listening to the messages and synchronicities. Currently Neptune (until the 14th), and Chiron (until the 20th) are also retrograde, with Jupiter turning retrograde on the 8th, encouraging us to go even deeper into the waters, into our emotions, into our old wounds, and into our psyches, and stir things up so we can sift out what needs to be let go.

On top of all this emotional intensity, on Sunday November 3rd, we will have the New Moon and Solar Eclipse in Scorpio. Solar eclipses usually indicate new beginnings, new perspectives, and possibly sudden changes, all of which require an ending or death of something old to make way for the new. All this emotional disorder, confusion, and hasty change is not to be feared. We and Mother Earth herself need to churn our waters to do the deep healing we need to do to learn, grow, and transition physically, emotionally, and spiritually. These astrological influences are there to energetically support us and give us the assurance that we are on the right track.

Have faith that the Universe has our back. Trust in the process even if to get to that place of growth and emotional health and peace we need to sail some turbulent seas. Let’s all, in however way we choose, celebrate these times and this season of death and transition. Happy Halloween, Samhain, All Saints’ Day, All Souls’ Day, and El Dia de Los Muertos!