Who Will You Dress Up As This Halloween 2009? (sign by sign)

by Milky Way Maid
Halloween 2009 is dominated by a Saturn square to Pluto in Capricorn, making dark things like night, death, the underworld, and related ideas prominent. Even more worrisome, though is the Mars in Leo square Sun-Mercury in Scorpio. Mars-Mercury aspects can easily lead to arguments, vociferously and loudly expressed arguments. Sun-Mars squares tend to make people dig in their heels and refuse to give up their position. If you are with friends, or even with strangers, try to act reasonable. Offer to buy them a beer if it turns out you are wrong.
The evening also features a Moon sextile to Jupiter exact about 10 pm, so most of us will be in very good, very expansive moods. Just take care not to over-indulge in the liquid libations (i.e., know your limits). Venus is applying to a trine to Neptune, exact on Nov. 2. Woo hoo, get the phone number of whoever strikes your fancy because you could easily fall in love, big time, within days.

Aries: The Moon is in Aries. Bet you dress up as an athlete, adventurer, explorer, or even as a spy. Aries loves spy stuff and prearranged secret meetings and trench coats. Your ruler Mars is in Leo, your solar fifth house. This also accents sports but also action stars, gamblers, and other showy people. Fifth house also favors going to an amusement park or casino.
Taurus: For fun and laughs, hang around with friends or at a friend's house (Uranus in your solar eleventh house). Or you might follow your ruler Venus, which is in its other home, Libra, in your solar sixth house. That may mean dressing up as a nurse or candy-striper, or in the very Libran position as hostess.
Gemini: Twins probably will not feel like going to parties this year, not with mean old Saturn in their solar fifth house. But the energetic Moon in Aries in your eleventh will see you quite happy to hang out with friends or possibly with one special female friend.
Cancer: The Sun, Mercury and Ceres are all in your solar fifth house of parties and fun-fun-fun, so go ahead and accept that invitation. You will probably pick the one that has the best food (Ceres). You might dress up as a waitress or as Mother Nature.
Leo: Leos would probably rather watch a sporting event or play racquetball, since Mars is in your sign this Halloween. If you do go to a costume party, you are likely to dress in an athletic uniform. Maybe you better leave the hockey stick at home, though? Vesta is in your sign, too, and we know she would rather just putter around the house. That's OK, too.
Virgo: Ah, you feel so relieved to have that millstone, Saturn, off your shoulders. Your ruler, Mercury is in your solar third house, Scorpio. Here the mental powers may express as a detective or journalist. Dust off your trench coat in either case.
Libra: Saturn has just entered Libra, so my costume suggestion is to go with your spouse bound by the ol' ball-and-chain. That sums up Saturn in Libra, if you can forgive my saying so. Yes, I know, love is a many splendored thing and all that, but Halloween is good for poking good-natured fun at the stereotypes. Venus is also in Libra, so the alternative is to go as a bride (your favorite) or as a famous couple.
Scorpio: Ceres in your sign suggests dressing up as the Grim Reaper; when you arrive, get everyone to relax by saying you just came for the cake (or the beer, as the case may be). Mercury and the Sun are here, too, so you might dress up as messengers -- the Western Union guy, the Pony Express rider, or Mercury himself. Mercury is also the reporter, so you could just grab a note pad and stick a Press pass in your pocket.
Sagittarius: Sag might find their fun at a shopping center or mall; I say that because the North Node is in your solar second house. Second house suggests a costume as a banker, but they are far too stodgy for Sag to maintain as a character all evening!
Capricorn: Pluto in your sign signifies a natural fit with characters that are dead, undead, or immortal. Examples are mummies, zombies, and Dracula. The Moon is in your solar fourth house, suggesting you will feel like staying home and letting your friends come visit you. Cappy makes a wonderful host and can throw a party on short notice, if need be. But remember, if you are playing Dracula for the night, he never drinks -- wine.
Aquarius: Jupiter and Neptune are still close enough to be considered conjunct this Halloween. Combining the meanings of these two planets makes me think “legendary characters”. These characters may be real or mythical. People like Paul Bunyan, John Henry, Annie Oakley, Superman and other super-heroes, etc. You may wish to costume yourself as any of these or as legendary movie (Neptune) stars like Clark Gable, Mae West, Marlene Dietrich, and so many more.
Pisces: Uranus is in Pisces; Uranus denotes the foreigner, as well as odd folks who resist categorizing. You may costume yourself in a national costume, or talk in a pretend accent, imitate a Swedish lilt or Cockney bluster. Alternatively, you might like a costume as a machine: robot, iPod, computer, car, etc.

Mercury Retrograde through the Houses

by Milky Way Maid

I have had lots of experience with Mercury retrograde. Perhaps because I was born with Mercury retrograde in my chart, I have taken more notice of its effects.

Please do not dread these weeks while Mercury is retrograde. I have tried to note ways that it may be positive in each house, as given below. Mercury retrograde can bring problems to light, so that they can finally be properly fixed. You may find out the truth about a company, person or issue by chance or by checking things out on the internet. You may have made a search before, or asked the same person before, but at last you ask in a way that elicits the desired information.

And lastly, Mercury retrograde can be a fine time to travel memory lane. Pick up the photo album. Talk about the great times you had as a kid. Play that CD or DVD again, or re-read that classic novel and discover new layers of meaning.

Mercury Retrograde in First House: May cause you to misspeak more often, forgetfulness, or make your written communications garbled. Proofread emails and documents before sending, and think how someone will interpret what you say before blurting things out. It can however be a good time to get feedback from others on your thoughts. Some chance of getting lost, taking a wrong turn, falls, stumbles, etc.

Mercury Retrograde in Second House: Affects money and financial accounts, income and sources of income, material possessions. Double-check those bank statements and other financial papers. You may misplace a possession and have to backtrack to find it. You may buy something you never use, or it may not work right.

Mercury Retrograde in Third House: Minor injuries to legs or arms. Hitting hand on doors or furniture. Lost or misplaced mail or email; check the spam folder. Transit difficulties such as getting lost, taking a wrong turn, traffic jams, being given wrong directions. Printers can get overtime or rush orders needed to issue corrected documents and mailings.

Mercury Retrograde in Fourth House: Can mess up communicating with family members, so make sure everyone is clear on who is picking up whom and when, and where. Having errors in home repairs or having to redo home improvements. The repairman doesn't show up or is late.

Mercury Retrograde in Fifth House: Romantic dates go wrong or are canceled. You go out on a double date and wind up switching partners. Changes in schedule or cast for plays and other performances. Actors may forget lines or have to ad-lib when things go wrong. Also sports events may have surprising winners. You gotta roll with the punches with this placement. Also dust off that old game from the attic and re-discover how much fun it is.

Mercury Retrograde in Sixth House: Lab tests or x-rays miss the diagnosis. Surgery may be canceled or delayed due to equipment malfunction. The healthcare provider may be ill. Having to undergo a second surgery to fix what was missed.

Mercury Retrograde in Seventh House: Keep to prepared statements if speaking in public. Try not to laugh too hard at a spouse's errors. Performers may be brought back for an encore appearance.

Mercury Retrograde in Eighth House: Can cause confusion and misunderstandings regarding insurance or what you expect to inherit. Re-read those insurance policies and wills. A corrected claim may submitted successfully this time.

Mercury Retrograde in Ninth House: Can cause snafus in printing your latest book, or lost/misplaced records or homework at college. Keep backup copies of your final papers or book draft. A court case may be rescheduled or dismissed. The lawyer may steal your money. Canceled airline flights or missed connections. Other travel snafus.

Mercury Retrograde in Tenth House: Can cause cutbacks at work, rescheduled meetings or temporary down time due to any cause (but often for computer downtime). And of course the dreaded pink slip or firing. Temporary layoffs. But also work orders and overtime on a rush basis, often to issue corrected versions of company statements or mailings. The boss overhears you say something embarrassing.

Mercury Retrograde in Eleventh House: Can cause canceled or rescheduled get-togethers with friends, or rearranged club meetings where the guest speaker misses a flight. Be prepared with a Plan B; that may mean getting your notes and Powerpoint together if you have to substitute for the original speaker.

Mercury Retrograde in Twelfth House: Possibly the worst place for it, due to shooting yourself in the foot! You blurt things out in interviews when you admit that you did not do much of some key operation. You may also suffer from others' errors, so ask for a review of any decision or fee that goes against you. Gad, maybe you should just shut up and stay home reading a book!