“The devil it is that’s thy master.”

Lafitte in Shakespeare’s All’s Well That Ends Well (II.iii.190)

Horoscopes 10-29-24

Halloween, Fall Harvest Festival, Samhain, Day of the Dead, All Saints Day, and to some? Pumpkin Spice.

• Moon enters Libra 10/28 10:30 PM
• New Moon 11/1 6:19 AM 9°35’ Scorpio
• Mercury into Sag. 11/2 1:18 PM
• Moon enters Sag 11/2 11:21 PM
• Mars enter Leo 11/3 10:10 PM

Scorpio

Halloween itself is in the weird, dark of the moon time. Not bad. Let me reiterate, it’s not bad, it’s just a time when some characters who lack direction and discipline — not a typical Scorpio trait — individuals with no discipline and direction have trouble with focus and understanding that there is always one last item that needs to be cleaned up, and this is better if it happens before November 1. That item, which requires your birthday, Scorpio attention? Depends. Can be a person who either needs to be told a message, or a person who needs to hear what you’re saying, or it can be a simple task, usually an onerous one, that desperately needs to be completed. Whatever the good, Scorpio direction? I’d suggest, just before All Hallow’s Eve that you finish that one up, whatever it is. Then you can enjoy the rest of the weeks of Scorpio.

Sagittarius

Old habits die hard. I got used to a perfect balance of lightweight and strength in an 8 lb. mono fishing line, usually spider wire brand. The balance was between flexibility, casting platform performance, tactile feedback, and some cohesive stretch to the fishing line itself. The problem with a plastic line like that? When I would tie a hook or lure on the end? I would have to spit — or moisten — the knot itself to protect the integrity of the line’s strength. Living on a shallow lake in old South Austin, that fishing line was the perfect combination of weight, and strength.

When I was fishing at a buddy’s lake house, the other afternoon? Me, just idly spending a few minutes trying for some late fall bass? I used that same kind of line, same weight. The 8 lb. mono (brand name here). I won’t mention the brand because I’m not paid to mention its name. I pulled in a smaller fish or two, and then something really big hit the bait. If I tried stronger fishing line, I think I would’ve been able to horse that feller in, but some skills seem to have faded, and the line broke, just above the hook, so no really big fish. I think the light line was frayed by the earlier action and that is my fault for not paying attention. Losing a single, big fish is no deal breaker. But this does hurt the Sagittarius pride — a little. This was probably a four-pound bass on 8 lb line, in the middle October. Does it really matter? We get upset, what are you going to do if the fish breaks off and keeps the bait?

“Enjoy! I’ll see you next year!”

Capricorn

What is like to happen? A certain Capricorn, not naming names, but a certain Cap will playfully smack another sign on the butt. To the good Capricorn, this is a playful little smack, not unlike just clapping your hands or something. No harm, no foul, no bad intentions, nothing overtly or covertly sexual in the Capricorn action. No malice, intended. It’s a playful slap, to Capricorn. With the weight of Mars, the other stuff, too, but let’s just pretend it’s all Mr. Mars? That tentative show of affection is construed as either an assault or an attack, which, as I’ve noted, it was neither, but the receiving side tends to interpret the Capricorn actions differently. All about where this is and how you act. I’d be extra-careful with the enthusiasm, as I’ve seen that go badly. No one wants that. Circumspect, caution, and restraint serves well.

“I can tie someone up? You said restraint.”

Some days, I wonder if it’s really worth the effort.

Aquarius

“Things” are “fixin’ to” get hectic in Aquarius. The New Moon and then, eventually Mars? The motions of the moon and planets are getting pushy for nominally gentle Aquarius. I tend to suggest that we plant one Aquarius foot on solid ground before letting these planets, and the moon, push us around. I like part of a solid foundation. I like the idea of being rooted in reality. I like the notion that I can pick and choose what directions I get to take, and I can navigate this with patience and forethought. Then something happens, and that rash energy flares up, like an angry fire, sparks sailing into the October sky. “No.” Just that simple, “No.” Not, “No!” Make note, there isn’t an exclamation point, and that smooths over that hectic energy, just a quiet suggestion that our Aquarius selves are not going to react in a rash manner that results in rash actions that results in mistakes.

Ready to go? “No.”

Pisces

There is a message I am doomed to repeat. since we have the nice lunation this next few days? I’ll repeat it one more time, and I hope that at least one good Pisces is listening to what I’m saying, although, I fear my words land on deaf ears. My job, our career path together, what we do? Our goal is to provide information. I provide relative data points, usually layered with sarcasm, wit, personal grudges, and a host of untreated psychological damage of some ilk or another, but that’s not part of this. Or maybe it is. My position is that it is my cosmic duty is to deliver a message. My position is that it is a Pisces cosmic duty to deliver a message; karma dictates that we offer the information, as correct, and as accurate as we can. It’s our goal to make this data available to the intended persons or other targets. That’s the goal: make the message available. What the receivers do with that data, like, do they listen to our warning? You know, that’s where we, especially this week’s Pisces, that’s where we get hurt. Indoor voice, “I wouldn’t do that if I were you.”

“You didn’t follow my advice; did it hurt?”

Aries

“Look! Over there!” I point, and the Aries head whips around, “What?” Then I point someplace else, “You missed it! Over there, now!” The Aries whips around to look wherever it is I’m pointing. This is an example, but it works well, and in my situation, I was tracking a raptor in my own neighborhood, low, hungry, and hunting, one of a brood of hawks not quite adult, but more than adolescent. I’m not much of a bird watcher, but the high-flying meat-eaters are hard to miss in these parts. However, pointing one out? As soon as I say, “Over there?” The red-tail hawk has flown. We can spend a portion of our week together chasing down possible sittings, or we can just sit on the couch and eat Halloween candy — candy is probably reserved for some children, but never mind that now. Your choice, Aries, you get to decide, and personally, I’d chase that illusionary thing you can’t see, like the young hawks, just seems like more fun to me. Maybe a picture from a phone camera?

Taurus

I like watching retailers duke it out. Brawl in the parking lot? Sort of, at least to me. One online place was busy promoting a sale, and the usual price, I’ll stick to one item, OK? Usual retail price? $39.95. Sales price, with a the digital coupon, like copy a number and paste it in? Almost exactly half of that price, $19.95. That’s a good deal, right? There was link to another online place, not naming names, but you can guess, and the same — the exact same — product, same brand, same specifications, everything? $11.99 (with free shipping). Taurus: this is about looking around, and then merely looking a little further. It’s always that link you click on? Or the last place you look? Careful before you buy.

Gemini

I think I’ve gone to a five-year rule. If I haven’t used it in five years or more? Time to recycle. Whether that is sell online, in person, garage sale, donate, or give away? Doesn’t much matter, there’s always going to be an “outbound” stack. I’ve long subscribed to the policy that “Less is more” and in keeping with that? Gemini, the lovely sign of the twins? “Less is more,” and the five year rule, or some other arbitrary setting on your own psyche? Whatever that is? It applies. Maybe not wholesale dump, and by no means do I suggest razing it all to the ground, not now, but gather up and put is all in one spot, the stuff you want to get rid of. “But I don’t want to part with anything in my collections?” Doesn’t have to be material stuff, there’s psychic stuff, leftover emotional trauma and other items like that you might want to get rid of.

Cancer

Recognizing a certain pattern of behavior? That’s what this little lunar cycle, and planetary machinations is all about, really, to me, to you. It’s about a pattern and recognizing that pattern, like, when she (strictly an example from me), but when she sighs, a certain way, that means I need to volunteer information or be willing to help shoulder the load. It’s a certain sound, a resigned, but not giving up or giving in, kind of a noise, and I’m sure you’re familiar with it. Yeah, not saying that’s the way it will go — exactly — but as an example? Sure, works. Means I will be called upon to perform some function, maybe carry something, lift, open, close, fix, break, all sort of depends. I recognize the behavior. You know what’s coming, right? Look: recognize — and acknowledge — the behavior pattern so you know what’s coming up. I also suggest you agree, but that might just be me.

“(Sigh.)”

The Leo

The planets can play at being tricky little bastards, can’t they? Mars is opposite Pluto right before it slips into majestic Leo, and that sets up a strange dynamic. I would be remiss if the notion of rebirth, new and improved, the golden-tinged sepia tones of harvest weren’t all wrapped up in this scopes, but that Scorpio new moon makes no Leo happy, or makes most uncomfortable. It’s transient phase, that’s all, and the discomfort merely highlights where change might be directed, at a more leisurely pace, perhaps a more regal Leo–like tempo instead of the frantic rushing, running, and otherwise hurrying at the last minute. Slow down. Leo: slow your ass down. Remember? They can’t start without you, so there is no hurry to get there.

Virgo

The largest part of my clientele is disembodied voices. Most of what I do is talk on a phone. Earlier, it was as a traveling astrologer, and I worked various circuits that included most of Texas, parts of New Mexico, and over the years, elsewhere, as well. I stuck to Texas, and gradually, as I’ve aged, I’ve switched to just a phone. No physical office, and no overhead, a few local gigs, to see me in person, and still the odd dates in Austin. So the largest part of my clientele is back to being disembodied voices on the phone. It’s both haunting and freeing, engaging, and amusing, and most of all, it’s the way I work. I’ve done those for over three decades, not saying it’s good or bad, just how I work. I had at least one recent client insist on a video call, and she was sorely disappointed. As a good Virgo, you know what you’re good at. You know where those skills shine, what works, what doesn’t work. There are systems, files, processes that all serve your Virgo self best. You know what works. Stick with what works. Happy Halloween.

Libra

Peer pressure, and social influence plays a big part of how this week unfolds. What’s right, for you as an individual Libra, or looking at the Libra pieces in a chart, what’s right for that, those? And what’s right for other peers is an interesting guessing game, a form of watching, observation, and sometimes, not repeating the same action. What’s the best action for Aries, opposite from Libra? Not the same as what’s best for Scorpio, the next sign over. Peer pressure and social influence matters. However, making decisions based solely upon social influence and peer pressure doesn’t always work. The familiar cry, in short? “But we’ve always done it this way!” Doesn’t make it right, or what’s best for your Libra parts. Happy All Saints Day.

• Aperture: ƒ/1.8
• Camera: iPad Pro (11-inch)
• Taken: 29 November, 2022
• Flash fired: no
• Focal length: 3mm
• ISO: 64
• Shutter speed: 1/60s