HOROSCOPES:

astrology with Lilith Rocha

Libra SEP 24- OCT 23

Plenty of festive merriment this month, with the October 9 sun and new moon in Libra celebrating the start of your astrological birthday year. Dual zodiac signs like your twin scales want to reconcile opposing ideas and bring things together: arguing family, mind and heart, outer and inner selves. As the sign of balance, knowing when to take action and when to let action take you is key to living in rhythm, this month and always. The great Sufi poet Rumi, reputedly a Libran, wrote: Let yourself be silently drawn by the strange pull of what you really love. It will not lead you astray.

SCORPIO •OCT 24- NOV 22

Jupiter in Scorpio’s corner has brought a wealth of opportunities over the past year, which continue during the lucky planet’s nal month in your sign. You’ve dived deep into your personal alchemy, and as October bubbles up for air you’ll be thinking big and ready to go all out on a project, passion or professional venture. Venus doing her reverse-cycle commute can stir up love troubles, but Mercury in Scorpio is seductive and sexy. Present planetary energies are also plugging forgiveness: not something that comes easily to your sign, but potentially one of your most rewarding achievements this year.

SAGITTARIUS • NOV 23-DEC 21

Venus performing a planetary back flip can be perplexing for Sagittarians, especially when teamed with this month’s Mercury in the sign of sealed lips. If prising info out of others feels like pulling teeth, don’t bother; focus instead on the promising collaborative offers surfacing around the October 9 new moon. Be careful, though, what you say and to who, because any new crew will need to know they can trust your discretion. And let go as much excess baggage as you can before your fabulous mentor planet, Jupiter, arrives next month for its once-every12-years sojourn in Sagittarius.

CAPRICORN • DEC 22-JAN 20

Venus digging into the sign of deep and meaningful could put relationship dissatisfactions on this month’s debating table. The dark planet Pluto, whose name in Greek means wealth, has been retrograde in Capricorn since April, bequeathing its gifts of deleting what you don’t need for a clear reveal of what you do. Now Pluto’s on the move again after the epic overhaul that’s been unfolding over the last ve months and the new, revised you is free to step fearlessly onstage. Yes, life looks different, so be prepared this month to count the very many ways that’s a good thing.

AQUARIUS • JAN 21-FEB 19

This month’s mandate is balance, as in deciding when to team up, when to be independent; what to say, what to hold back; who to trust, who not to rely on. Actions speak louder than words, so while people might smile, what they aren’t saying could be more important than what they are. Venus in reverse motion while Mars in your sign wants to surge ahead can be a signal for relationship counselling or couples therapy, while some Aquas may contemplate a sex-with-an-ex scenario: all the mind exercises that stimulate Aquarian brainwaves.

PISCES • FEB 20-MAR 20

With this month’s vacillation, procrastination and difficulty making up its mind, it could be frustrating trying to get a straight answer – but since straight isn’t your thing, this won’t faze your sinuous sign as much as it does others. The moon’s sexy sizzle on the 9th highlights new mergers which either re up with future possibilities or fizzle and fade by the late month full moon. While Venus settling into a cycle of reflective reassessment doesn’t guarantee smooth sailing on October’s romantic ocean, it does encourage ditching the rose-coloured lters and distinguishing wishful thinking from the real deal.

ARIES • MAR 21-APR 21

This month’s all about Aries relationships. With retrograde Venus reviewing close connections, friends and colleagues, you might nd yourself asking: Is this partnership harmonious? What am I learning? Is it what I really want? A cast of players from the past are likely to show up and old issues emerge for reworking. Dynamic duos are de nitely on the menu, and if that’s a business team-up, road-test it with a shared project rst to assess long-term potential. On a personal level, October blooms with beautiful opportunities for reconciliation, restoration and a seasonal renaissance of your original, inimitable brand of creativity.

TAURUS • APR 22-MAY 21

October’s inclusive mindset views difficulties not so much as bad but more as part of life’s rich shadow play. Rather than either this or that, you might nd yourself considering this and that, combining ideas or personalities that wouldn’t usually go together in Taurus world. And could your relationship picture do with a makeover? From midmonth onwards communicator Mercury is well placed for intimate discussions and in-depth sharing, also resolving conflicts and rehashing strategies with colleagues or team mates. Then, when the annual full moon in Taurus on the 25th turns its spotlight your way, step up and take a bow for what you’ve achieved.

GEMINI • MAY 22 – JUN 22

Geminis thrive on reinventing things, and the Libra new moon on October 9 invites you to revamp your partnership department by freshening everyday routines: think special dress-ups, exploring different scenes, giving unexpected gifts – you’ll enjoy the results, and others will love you for it. Mercury, your ruler in the sign of shrewd tactics, gives you an edge in nancial and business dealings, plus the savvy to know what not to say during the late month full moon: a volatile time when bonds can either strengthen or separate. And last but not least, wordsmith Mercury’s in the sign of saucy love talk: your personal turn on.

CANCER • JUN 23-JUL 23

Vixen Venus reversing her dance steps in your romance zone for most of October comes with a caution for Crabs and a warning of sudden eruptions, because the love planet in torrid, smouldering mode can behave like Madame Pele, Hawaii’s volcano deity. But there’s no need to panic: the new moon on the 9th is shining her cool, soothing peace beams while persuasive Mercury and lucky Jupiter, also in your relationship sector, help your nearest and dearest see reason. Flag high-beam full moon on October 25 in your house of technology and inventive ideas for a media launch or online business push.

LEO • JUL 24-AUG 23

If backtracking Venus icks a temporary glitch into your majesty’s love life this month, taking things personally isn’t the smart strategy. Of course you’re a person – a personage, really – but if someone lashes out, getting huffy or stand-offish only prolongs problems. Remember who you are: a class act. Others will respond more warmly to your sensitive side than your pride and appreciate willingness to nd a creative compromise. October favours sexy bedroom conversation (gentle that roar to a purr) and artistic entertainment, with the possibility of a late-month promotion, career offer or group professional project reaching successful completion.

VIRGO • AU G 2 4 - S E P 2 3

As Mercury, Virgo’s networking mentor planet, moves into the sign of singleminded focus, your administrative and management skills peak, so use this month’s sharpness for mental acuity but soften its cutting edge in conversation. The old truism “honey attracts more punters than vinegar” applies during October when constructive criticism, however well meant, may not be accepted in the spirit it’s offered, especially when Venus can turn personal communication argumentative. Something or someone that catches your eye around the new moon on the 9th could develop into a beautiful opportunity by late month when the moon is full.