Oct. Theme: Transform Greed Into Love

By Simone Butler

Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps opened last weekend, grossing a stunning $19 million. Money and power have lost none of their appeal since Michael Douglas first won Oscar gold playing seductive shark Gordon Gekko in the original 1987 Wall Street.

The sequel is an enjoyable romp--despite his weather-beaten looks, Douglas still has star power. And, in this new release, Gekko's attempt to reunite with his estranged daughter makes us sympathetic to him. Released from prison (for using inside knowledge in his stock market transactions), Gekko pens a best-seller, "Is Greed Good?" The title shows how far we've come since the 80s - the stockbroker's motto, "greed is good," has, post-economic meltdown, become a relevant question. Case in point: A just-released Census report reveals a record gap between rich and poor in the U.S. The top-earning 20 per cent now receive nearly half of all income, while those below the poverty line earn just over three per cent.

The sun shines brightly on Douglas the man right now; Wall Street II opened on his solar return--Sept. 25th, the day he turned 66. Yet all is not rosy for the actor, who was diagnosed with Stage Four throat cancer in August. A tumor at the base of his tongue was discovered just as taskmaster Saturn crossed his Libra Sun (life force), and squared do-or-die Pluto as it crossed his Capricorn Moon (habits). An inveterate smoker and drinker, Douglas' survival depends on his ability to balance his excesses and treat himself more lovingly--a Libra's primary task.

Douglas' struggle--and the theme of his latest movie--are reflected in the approaching conjunction of Mars and Venus in Scorpio, symbolizing the overwhelming sensuality of money and power, and the need to transform greed into love. Cosmic soulmates Mars and Venus have been traveling through all-or-nothing Scorpio since mid-Sept., headed for a rendezvous on Oct. 3rd. Mars, strong in his own sign, will emphasize Scorpionic themes through month's end (sex, power, money, death and transformation). And, descending into an Underworld journey to find her true power, Venus will be retrograde from Oct. 8 to Nov. 18, though she continues exploring Scorpio's intense territory through Jan. 7.

As Libra's ruling planet, Venus loves culture and beauty. While she travels through Scorpio's unfamiliar, shadowy terrain, she is beckoned beneath the surface. Now we are called to transcend our false selves and regain our self-possession. This might mean letting go of an identification with worldly riches and superficial beauty. Or, we may need to confront the irresistible urge which compels us to spend more than we earn, consume what is not healthy, or desire the wrong people. Since Scorpio rules the invisible, magical world, we can access power during Venus retrograde that is otherwise unavailable to us. The strength and knowledge we tap during this cycle form the basis for a greater sense of personal strength. Not the kind that comes from ego--how sexy we look, how rich we are or how much others like us--but an empowerment that's based on self-reliance and acceptance.

The Oct. 7 Libra New Moon, just prior to Venus' retrograde station, crystallizes the theme of self-love and the need to create balance in our lives. Saturn and Mercury, also in Libra at the New Moon, confirm the imperative need for checks and balances, fairness and harmony in our dealings with self and others. The New Moon, together with Venus retrograde, assists us in forming bonds of love, understanding and friendship with the parts of ourselves we most dislike or have lost touch with. With profound soul-searching and tenderness, we can bring these renegade parts back into the fold. Rather than giving in to our shadow urges, we can choose to unconditionally love our less-than-perfect selves.

To aid the process of self-acceptance, Venus in backward mode invites us to re-read our old love letters or appreciative cards from friends, to remind ourselves how much we're valued Or, as Taisha Abelar, author of "Sorcerer's Crossing," did during her shamanic training, we can go off by ourselves to a quiet place and remember every erotic encounter we've ever had, inhale back our authority and reclaim our power. May we all uncover our fierce beauty and true power during this magical Underworld journey!

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