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September/October 2001 Starscope
Finding Your Balance While Walking the Razor’s Edge!
Autumnal Equinox and Mercury Retrograde

by Mark Dodich

Mark Dodich

The Fall season is symbolically the time when northern hemisphere people are celebrating the harvest and experiencing days & nights of equal lengths. This autumn, the normally gentle Virgo goddess and romance-oriented Libra zodiacal energy will exhibit a rather sharp edge.

The positive interpretation to the challenging planetary patterns is that you will be motivated to integrate all aspects of your life. To achieve this harmonious goal, you may initially feel pulled apart at the seams before being reassembled into the new and improved you.

Autumnal Equinox is on Sept. 22^nd at 4:05 PM PDT. It signals the balance of light and darkness, or better said, the balance of your inner and outer world. Concurrently, Mercury (planet representing communications, scheduling, and logic) has entered what astrologers call its “shadow period” before turning retrograde in the balancing sign of Libra, October 1-22.

This means that for the three months between Equinox and the December 21^st Winter Solstice, you will be reorganizing, reanalyzing, and reassessing the way you express yourself in the world. Many people roll their eyes when they hear that Mercury will be in its introspective retrograde phase. Delays, scheduling snafus, automotive breakdowns, computer crashes and plans gone awry are all symptoms of Mercury retrograde.

However, Mercury retrograde is a helpful tool – as long as you remember that the Universe does not run by your personal schedule. You must surrender to the Divine Plan for your soul path. In Libra, Mercury motivates you speak diplomatically to achieve harmony, beauty, and grace in all of your relationships. Perhaps it is time to enhance your personal and public image. Redecorate your home, purchase new clothing. Existing relationships of all kinds get reorganized and reviewed. People who are not in relationships will be stimulated to seek that which is missing in their lives.

Libra represents love, partnerships, justice, luxury items, your kidneys, interior decorating, and the balance of opposites. All of these life areas are being challenged over the next three months.

On a spiritual level, you learn that inner beauty is as important as outer luxury. Perhaps it is time to strengthen that meditation practice or meet new friends who are in harmony with your emerging philosophy. You may be ready to take on an increased level of spiritual and/or community service.

In an old movie called “The Razor’s Edge” a man has to choose between wealth, fancy parties, and a woman or a life in pursuit of spiritual Truth. Choosing the path of Truth, he meets a wise teacher in the Himalayas who explains that as a person becomes knowledgeable in the laws of Universal Truth, the road becomes narrower and narrower – until it becomes as sharp as a razor’s edge. As you come to know Universal Truth, you must walk in that authentic integrity regardless of the cost. Ultimately, the reward for taking this narrow path is beyond anything the material world can offer.

This autumn’s planetary energy is very much like the message of the movie. The Sun (your life force), Mercury (ideas), and Venus (relationships) will all be seeking Libra balance. Are you being honest with yourself and your partner in your relationships? Are you working in a way that honors and enhances your vitality? Are you telling people (or yourself) what you think they want to hear, or hiding behind safe, meaningless words?

People born under the signs (or having natal planets in) Libra, Aries, and Aquarius are likely to love the stimulation provided by this autumn’s planetary shifts. Gemini and Sagittarian’s will enjoy the energies as long as they are willing to transform and transmute emotional issues. Capricorn and Cancer signs can use this time to build their dreams, as long as those dreams take the good of the world community into mind. Scorpio, Leo, and Taurus signs will be required to make those uncomfortable, but needed, changes. Virgo’s get a little extra help this season from romantic Venus, and Pisces may feel somewhat cast adrift. Hang in there Pisces; your time is coming!

The strong Libra energy this season calls you to reorganize your life this Fall to help walk this narrow, middle path of integrity and truth. Although the razor’s edge is sharp and demanding, the long-term benefits will far outweigh the short-term challenges.

Mark Dodich has been an astrologer and intuitive consultant since 1980. He is past president of the Oregon Astrological Association, publishes the newsletter ASTROMARK, and provides lectures and consultations internationally. Call for his free newsletter: 503.252.1558 or visit his website at www.europa.com/~mardo/astromark.html