Saturday is Winter Solstice, longest night of the year. “Solstice” means Sun stands still, and we are meant to do the same, especially with Mars retrograde.

Multiple planets in mutable signs call for flexibility, adaptability and completion. Such flux generates many opportunities, but also feels unstable, so grounding practices are helpful.

We feel the shift when Warrior Mars trades his sword for a flashlight and goes down into our underworld. The big questions addressed by Mars retrograde are: How and where do we use our energy? Is that really what is important?

Saturday's New Moon in Sagittarius invites us to see our journey as an exciting adventure. Yes, life has felt stressful and uncertain, but the Sag Archer assures us that we are ready, and the Unknown is the gateway to discovery.

It’s time to exhale that breath you did not realize you were holding. The tense polarity between Mars and Pluto subsides as both planets move into lighter signs and start to separate.

This week carries shake-up energy from the 11/15 Full Moon in Taurus with change-maker Uranus. Outer planet influences may bring subtle or even radical shifts in our sense of self that can feel like rebirth. Mental Mercury is in rare “mutual reception” with benevolent Jupiter, each occupying the other’s home sign, strengthening both with welcome optimism and an expanded Big Picture.

As we approach a pivotal, contentious election, the Cosmos is offering us some high level assistance if we can rise to it. The two most edgy, challenging planets are at the heart of both the political upheaval and our best response to it.

The sign of secrets, revelations, and subtle strategy, Scorpio is ruled by Pluto, Lord of the Underworld, and co-ruled by Mars. The current face-off between these two planets fuels the feeling of intensity and potential explosiveness in the world at large

This week’s Full Supermoon in Aries 10/17 vibrates with the intensity of a Grand Cross: Libra Sun opposes Aries Full Moon, with both at right angles to Mars opposite Pluto, the most Yang planets. This strong formation combines polarity and awareness with power and a push for action.

A partial Solar Eclipse in Libra on 10/2 will complete this Eclipse cycle with intensity and potential for change that is a course correction for our lives.  As a South Node Eclipse, it focuses on releasing the past, yet it's also a super New Moon marking new beginnings.