Check out the Mars Retrograde video on YouTube

In addition to this issue of the Interpsycle Observator, I’ve created a video interview with Luzie Lonsdale, discussing the significance of this Venus phase.  Watch my Mars Retrograde video on YouTube to learn about the astronomical, archetypal, psychological and mundane experiences of this phase, along with what it means to have Mars Retrograde transiting through the 12 houses. We also discuss the some remediation strategies to manage this phase.

Mercury swiftly enters into the beams of the Sun (24 Oct) in its morning position on the east, while the Sun prepares to be eclipsed by the Moon (25 Oct) the very next day. It’s time to lay things to rest. 

The light of consciousness symbolised by the Sun will be turned off, offering the dark feminine perspective to rise out of repression, symbolised by the Moon. The New Moon will be even darker this month, physically and metaphorically. The Lunar Nodes that create the eclipse conditions have no physical form but rather etheric, invisible points of influences that are the harbinger of personal shadows, ghosts and other-worldly guests. 

This eclipse will be held by Ketu, the southern node of the dragons tail, which wants nothing more than to escape the mundane world for the refuge of internal spiritual expansiveness. If you’re feeling particularly tired, drained and unmotivated now, it’s a sign that Ketu is coaxing you away from your mundane affairs – work, projects, activities, people – and enticing you to spend some quality time to deep clean your energetic field. This could look like a need to withdraw from the world or a lack of energy to drive your external life activities.

Spring cleaning, detoxing, fasting, clearing, cleaning, solitude and withdrawal are all good remediation techniques for the current South Node Eclipse. However, if you find yourself in quite the opposite frame of mind and attempting to juggle many full plates, you could notice some heightened emotions, extreme reactions, irrationality and fluctuating moods erupt from within yourself or those around you. Being in the sign of Scorpio where the Moon is naturally debilitated, this eclipse could also incorporate a level of fear, paranoia, obsession, control, manipulation, jealousy, pessimism and anxiety. The fixed nature of Scorpio suggests a dense, rigid and stubborn issue at hand, or one that feels like there’s no end in sight. 

The symbolism of Mercury, Sun and Moon’s astronomical phenomena this week is a permission to let go and move into closure with a view of new horizons ahead. When pruning fruit trees this week with some friends, we were making two types of cuts – ‘heading’ and ‘thinning’ cuts. Thinning cuts will reduce the mass of the tree over time to create better structure, while heading cuts are performed to increase new shoots where you need them to grow more fruit. This current eclipse reminds me of the thinning cut idea. You too may need to consider an attenuation, release or withdrawal from a certain issue in life in order to be structurally stronger in that area over the long term. 

Ask yourself why you’re holding onto whatever it is that’s consuming you – do you really need it? What possibilities lie outside of this thing / issue? What if this wasn’t burdening you anymore? Look to where 2 degrees of Scorpio is in your chart – this will guide you to the area of life that requires that thinning prune. Also consider what occurred in this same area during 2013-2014. It’s possible that you could have made a heading cut in this same area back then, which has caused the weight of too many over-ripen fruit jeopardising your tree’s structural integrity today. Time to make that thinning cut this week.

Mars plays a big role this week because it rules the eclipse while in the process of Stationing Retrograde (30 Oct) and trines the Morning Set Mercury (27 Oct). Hellenistic astrologers summarised Mars’ essence into the concept of severing because it rules over separations, detachments and divisions of a quick, fiery and actionable nature. While the previous week saw the entourage of planets travelling through the collaborative Venusian-led sign of Libra, as well as that special Venus Cazimi,  this week’s takeover by Mars could see an abrupt change in tone to one that’s possibly more urgent, ruthless, conflicting, divisive and controversial. There’s a sense that some of the good from last week could be undone this week. Either way, remind yourself that the transformation process is not over yet. There’s still more shadow work to do…

I’ve created a YouTube video on the Mars’ Station Retrograde (30 Oct) because it’s too enormous to cover here. In short, the Mars Retrograde period can be quite frustrating because the planet of speed and action is forced to stop and move backwards. Consider all the ramifications of this image – the resistance, overdrive, burnout, damage, frustration, anger, resentment, corruption, collapse, conflict, destruction and so on. Luzie Lonsdale and I cover the symbolism, astronomy, psychology, ephemeral and remediation aspects of a Mars Retrograde as well as its impacts through each of the 12 houses. Be sure to tune in and let me know what you think in the comments.

While Mercury’s increasing speed could be tempting you to make your move, the key message of this week is to stop your resistance against any competing forces and retreat to the stillness of being. The combination of the South Node Solar Eclipse, overseen by a Stationing Mars indicates that efforts could be futile if you continue to push forward in the same manner. Rather, a new strategy is required. And before this, thinking time needs to happen. If you can resist the urge to take external action, your time is better spent on contemplation and the purification of your thoughts.

Jupiter’s return to Pisces (28 Oct) will at least help us to lean into trust and hope, which could not be more welcomed at this time. Jupiter first entered Pisces in the last few days of 2021 to May 2022 and has since spent its time in Aries. This week, Jupiters return to Pisces – its home sign – will help you to reconcile some of your thoughts, emotions and life challenges with greater meaning, acceptance and grace. That idea that ‘everything has its purpose for happening’ could be the saving grace as you navigate the contradicting nature of the sky turbulence right now. Lean into that trust and don’t lose sight of your hopes and dreams.

My priority for eclipses is to withdraw and purify, especially a New Moon Solar South Node Eclipse as this one is. The South Node (or Ketu) is best utlised for developing your spiritual connection and personal liberation. It wants nothing of the material world, so trying to manifest or create something on this eclipse could prove to be frustrating or useless. I like to limit (or eliminate) any contacts I have with anyone during the eclipses, as well as to doing a ritual fast for that day. My monthly new moon ritual house clean (based on the Deipnon Ritual to Hekate) will continue to occur but I’ll be making an extra effort this month with my offerings this month.  

How will you work with the eclipse this week? Please offer any suggestions in the comments below.

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See you next Sunday for the next installment of planetary news.

Shu xx