We start the week with Mars moving very slowly toward its upcoming square with retrograde Neptune. Mars is only moving at around 49% of its usual speed at the start of the week. This is because it is getting ready to slow down and station retrograde (appear to come to a stop and start moving backwards) at the end of the month. 

Mars will have been within a 1° orb of that square to Neptune since the previous Saturday morning (October 8) and will not reach its exact square with Neptune until just after midnight (12:01 am C.D.T.) on Wednesday the 12th. 

Mars will not move past that 1° orb on the other side of its square with Neptune until the early hours of Sunday. Mars square Neptune can often lead to a lack of energy or depletion of drive and ambition. 

From early evening (6:51 pm C.D.T.) on Monday, Mercury moves from Virgo to Libra. Mercury was at home and exalted in the sign of Virgo, where it is razor sharp and analytical. Mercury loses essential dignity (like brownie points for the planets) by moving into Libra, but it does have its own charms. 

Libra is a cardinal air sign ruled by Venus. So when Mercury (thinking, communications) is in Libra, we tend to be more initiating (cardinal), social, intellectually curious (air), charming, friendly, and harmonious (Venus). 

When Mercury moves into Libra, it will be in the same sign as its ruler Venus, so Mercury can call upon Venus for assistance if needed. Venus is under the beams of the Sun at this time. However, as it is in its own sign, it is said to be “in its chariot”, which means that it is somewhat protected from being burnt up by the Sun. 

From mid-evening on Monday, the Sun moves toward its upcoming trine with retrograde Saturn. The Sun trine retrograde Saturn aspect is exact mid-evening (7:53 pm C.D.T) on Tuesday night and will start to wane from mid-evening on Wednesday. 

Sun trine retrograde Saturn can have us accepting our responsibilities and obligations. There is less likely to be push-back or resentment regarding things that must be done.  

From late morning on Tuesday, Mercury speeds up toward its upcoming opposition with retrograde Jupiter. The exact Mercury opposite retrograde Jupiter aspect will be in the early hours (2:24 am C.D.T.) of Wednesday and start to wane from early evening on Wednesday. 

Mercury recently had an opposition with Jupiter when they were both retrograde. However, this time, Mercury is direct and building up in speed. At the time of the exact opposition, it will be moving at around 135% of its usual rate. It will continue to increase in speed as it gets closer to its upcoming superior conjunction with the Sun next month. 

The Mercury opposite retrograde Jupiter aspect could result in overestimating ourselves. Our thinking and plans might be too grand or overly optimistic. 

From mid-morning on Thursday, Venus moves up towards its upcoming trine with retrograde Saturn. The Venus trine retrograde Saturn aspect will be exact in the very early hours (1:15 am C.D.T.) of Friday and start to wane by mid-evening Friday. 

Venus trine Saturn can bring ease to the ties that bind us. We value our relationships not so much for their excitement but for their reliability and dependability. There is comfort in our commitments. This is not the sexy stilettos of relationships but more the comfortable slippers. 

Venus is moving moderately fast at this time, moving up toward her superior conjunction with the Sun next week, which will initiate a new Venus cycle. 

All times given are for U.S.A. Central Time (C.D.T.)