Welcome to Llewellyn's Astro e-newsletter. The long, hot summer may be behind us, but we have busy and eventful weeks ahead. By the end of October you may wonder if you've been tricked or treated this month, the energy will be that changeable.

The month begins with the Sun in airy Libra and then it moves on to watery Scorpio on October 23. On October 1 Mars will turn retrograde and remain so until December 9. There will be two eclipses in October: a solar eclipse in Libra at the New Moon on October 3, and a lunar eclipse at the Full Moon in Aries on October 17. Finally, the Sun will meet up with benevolent Jupiter, on October 22.

That is a short but impressive list of planetary events that occur in October.

We have a tendency to isolate events--a hurricane, Super Bowl game, war, Mars retrograde period, an eclipse--but all events are connected to other events, even to things that happened decades ago. It is so in our lives, and it is so with planetary aspects. When Mars turns retrograde, it will affect the energies of Venus, Jupiter, the Sun and Moon, Neptune, Pluto, and Chiron. Retrograde Mars may also interact (make an aspect to) one or more of the planets in your birth chart. If Mars does not aspect planets in your chart, you may not experience the retrograde to the same extent as someone else does, but you will feel the "brakes" applied in some part of your life.

The connection between Mars, Jupiter, and Pluto will form a yod (also known as "the finger of God") pattern. The yod is formed by quincunxs between Mars and Jupiter, and between Mars and Pluto, at the same time that Jupiter and Pluto are sextile. This wedge-shaped triangle has Mars at the apex. People will tend toward impulsive action (Mars-Jupiter), which will require a subsequent action from Pluto to adjust the outcome of the first action. The potential is high for risky, exaggerated behavior and destructive follow-up action. This could manifest as an opportunity to take control or have power over others. Historically, the individual or the nation that takes aggressive action during a Mars retrograde period is likely to be defeated. Forewarned is forearmed, so consider all your options if you find yourself facing a challenge.

Mars symbolizes personal drive, ambition, and aggression--energy put out into the world. When Mars is retrograde, the energies associated with it become more internalized. Does this mean we turn anger upon ourselves? Not necessarily. We have the ability, through our actions and reactions, to create the events that occur in our present and future together. The retrograde energy of Mars encourages us to look within at repressed anger and hostility we may harbor toward another person or group. We have two months to re-evaluate our actions and recognize our individual roles in events.

Whether you or I can see our self in this description may not even be necessary. But, of one thing we can be sure: we will be changed in the months to come--by the hurricanes Katrina and Rita, by the war in Iraq and the fighting in Afghanistan, and by our efforts to help each other. We can be the vehicles for positive change, or we can be transformed by what will happen around us.

Pay attention to unusual events that take place near the eclipses. They tend to be of the "out of the blue" variety and can turn out to be life altering. If an eclipse falls on your birthday, you can expect an eventful year ahead. Be prepared (as prepared as you can be, anyway) for big changes to occur. Eclipses are notorious for shaking things up.

There are many theories about the benefits of a Sun-Jupiter conjunction, which we'll have on October 22. Some astrologers will say: "It'll be your luckiest day of the year!" And it may well turn out to be so. Others will say: "You will feel very good today--optimistic and positive about life." And, indeed, you may feel very magnanimous toward just about everyone. You might also take inappropriate risks, like accepting a project that is beyond your ability, or signing a contract for a house you really can't afford. My best advice: Enjoy this extremely positive day, and think twice if you're making any really big decisions.