Taurus Forecast for October 2008

Lots of new assignments will have you motivated and excited, for your focus seems to be on topics fresh and new. The new moon of last month - falling September 29 - will be quite strong as you enter October, and that's why you'll be so busy. Co-workers will be uncharacteristically cheerful, and that will help the morale of the department enormously. Like little elves you'll help one another and get things out. While you may not whistle while you work, you will be united in a common goal, and that matters because it will be so much easier to get things done.

Mercury will be in retrograde as you begin the month, a holdover from when it first began last month on September 23. Mercury isn't due to go direct until October 15. Don't take that date literally, however, because Mercury won't be fully regulated until October 20 at the earliest. Mercury acts like a little gremlin during these retrograde periods, but doubly so at the start and end dates of these phases.

Any retrograde planet is a planet that's sleeping. All living things need rest, and planets do too, so you'll find that all planets go retrograde. The Sun and moon don't, but those heavenly bodies aren't planets, of course. A retrograde planet will not emit its best energy, so while it is out of phase, we are left to our own devices and do the best we can without that planet's help.

Mercury rules communication, commerce, thinking, perception, negotiation, and contracts, as well as electronics and all moving parts. The world spins on the very areas in life that Mercury rules. We need Mercury to be in top shape because if it is not, human interaction with the performance of computers and machines tend to go haywire, as counter-intuitive as that statement may sound.

Mercury will be in your house of workaday matters this month, so this is where you will see things slip between the cracks. Be careful not to leave a document in the copier you'll wish you had kept private. We've all sent out a group email, but this month you may include one individual in that email in error, so be careful.

You may find that you and others are indecisive or unclear on certain issues. Or, you may hand in a document that has serious errors, so double check everything. Deliveries may be late, or you may have problems with appliances or machines that make it hard to get things done. Ah, life with Mercury retrograde!

For these reasons, it's never wise to make big decisions during Mercury retrograde. It's also not wise to sign a contract during these phases, for if you do, you'd only have to renegotiate the agreement again later, assuming you'd even want to continue the relationship. (It is doubtful that you would.) You shouldn't give a verbal agreement either because it would have the same effect. During a Mercury retrograde period, we don't have all the facts.

In matters of health, early October will bring you an exciting chance to begin a new exercise and fitness routine. If you begin in October's first week, you would likely find a routine or sport you like so much that you will want to follow it throughout the coming winter and spring - and beyond! Indeed, this will be the very best point in the year to get fit and to think about all sorts of health aims. You may also decide to make an appointment to see your dentist, and have those little medical tests with the doctor that you know you should do but for some reason have not.

The full moon this month on October 14 will light your house of secrets and behind-the-scenes activities. It's well angled to Pluto, so you'll likely find this full moon supports the moves and plans you make at the time. You may devise a secret for someone you love - a party for your friend or relative's birthday, for example. Or, another way this may work out is that you may hear a juicy secret that is helpful to you in protecting yourself. An emphasis on the twelfth house could bring you into contact with someone in the hospital, so save time to make a visit if you should hear of a friend or relative who is under the weather.

If you have a habit you'd like to delete, whether it be that you nibble on cookies in bed at night before sleep, or something more serious and self-destructive, you can get the help you need at mid-month to reach your goal.

You might want to take it easy over this full moon period because you feel a little tired and in need of rest. If you usually do lots of errands over the weekends, see if you can take it a little slower over the one that comes before (October 11-12) and after (October 18-19). Your chart does suggest that this would be a good time to take better care of yourself, so if you can, do. If you have children, see if you can treat yourself to a babysitter or college girl mother's helper to get some quiet time over the weekend.

Socially and romantically, this could be a terrific month, and a far cry from the romantic incident you may have experienced last month near September 12-15 (if you felt the fallout from that angry full moon).

First, Venus will now be in Scorpio until October 18, filling your house of partnership, so you should find that interactions with your sweetheart, lover, spouse, or even a business partner should go exceptionally well. Venus in the seventh house of partnerships brings a kind of full moon effect, with warm and tender feelings coming to the surface. (In business, of course, the feelings would not be romantic, but certainly very cordial). Venus rules Taurus, so that means anything Venus does will affect you more - in a month like this, that's great news.

On October 4, Venus and Jupiter will be in a lively conversation, sure to bubble up lots of fun. You may travel over this weekend; if so, you've chosen the perfect time to go. Yet there are more things to look forward to at this time. Guests from afar may visit you, and you may have a really sweet time entertaining them. (Something seems to make you very happy about what do you this weekend.)

The media may play a part of the happy news you get on or near October 4, perhaps in terms of a write-up in the paper or an appearance on TV. Or you may take a class or attend a book signing and be quite inspired.

Watch October 9 as well, sure to be a stellar day when Venus will send a lovely vibe to Uranus, planet of surprise, now based in your house of friendship and social groups. If you are invited to a party on October 9 or 10, send your RSVP - it should be fabulous fun.

If you haven't planned a trip but would love to do so this month, the weekend mentioned earlier would be great, October 4-5 would be wonderful, or choose to go over the weekend of October 25-27 (including Monday). With Mars and Jupiter helping you every step of the way over that latter weekend, you'll find every detail perfect. If for pleasure, all the better, but a business trip would work out well, too. Either way, bring someone along - this person seems to add a lot to the success of the trip, as revealed by the position of Mars and Jupiter.

Once Venus moves into your eighth house of joint finances at mid-month, you may change your investments or make new contractual arrangements that sweeten the pot. Venus' presence always suggests that money matters are looking up. You may not see the upbeat effects of your decisions until December, but that's fine. Sometimes it takes a little time for things to cook. Remember not to make any changes until on or after October 20.

In your career, you seem to be making progress, but it may not be fast enough for your taste. Keep your cool, dear Taurus. Next month, on November 27 - Thanksgiving in America - Uranus will turn direct after having been retrograde since May 9. Since Uranus rules your tenth house of fame, honors, and career status, it may have been hard to make progress. As you see, however, in just a few weeks, you'll be pleased with progress and you'll be moving much more rapidly. Uranus will stay in fine shape for months.

Furthermore, at the end of January and in February, you will have half the planets in your solar system lighting your prestigious career sector. What months those will be for your career ascent! Be ready to make a big move up the ladder of success in late January or in early-to-mid-February. Start to gather together all the information necessary to write a sharp resume - you'll need it soon.

Mars' move through your seventh house of partnerships will focus you on your partner too, and it seems likely that your partner, not you, will drive the relationship forward this month. If you have any areas of disagreement, those topics will be impossible to ignore now and will be forced out into the open. However, with Venus in this same house during the first half of October, you should have an easy time coming to a resolution.

On October 28, one of the most beautiful new moons of the year will appear, one that will be friendly in every way. This happy new moon will allow you to form new and serious, sturdy alliances, the kind that require a contract or deeply felt promise to one another. Pluto will be especially supportive, so it seems any new personal or business relationship you form in the ten days that follow would likely bring substantial prosperity. Mars in perfect angle to Jupiter also points to the same lucrative results.

Speaking of your partner, it appears your significant other - a good friend - will bring you to a Halloween party and if so, you'll have one of the best Halloween parties EVER. If you don't get invited to one, then go to a costume parade, if you know of one. Uranus is the planet of genius, and the designs you'll see this year will knock your socks off!

Summary

Things at the office will be very busy from the moment the month begins. Many new assignments will arrive, and all personnel will be needed to finish them on time and on budget. Fortunately, your co-workers will be in a good mood, and all will work together harmoniously. You won't notice any weak links in your team this month, and for that, thank your lucky stars. An in-sync team can mean the difference between kudos from the client or unnecessary tension or a missed deadline.

Mercury will be retrograde in your workaday sector until October 15. Make a strong effort to counter possibilities for errors. This month, with focused effort, working in collaboration with others could lead to a powerful creative or business breakthrough.

Collaborations of all kinds will bring professional opportunities too, so see what comes up at month's end, from October 28 through November 12. Some occupations naturally lend themselves to partnering arrangements, and so you may be in the perfect position to reap the benefits. For example, if you are an editor, you work closely with writers. If you are an art director, you collaborate with photographers. If you are starting a business, this month you may have, or need, a partner to complement your talents. In October's last week, you can find the right people and endeavors to work on with a partner or collaborator, and you will be on you way.

Romantically, one close relationship seems to be taking lots of your attention, in a good way, reflecting a positive turn of events. With both Venus and Mars moving through your close relationship sector, things should move in the direction you had hoped, especially in the weeks preceding October 18. Mars will bring out any disagreements, of course, but if so, with Venus close by in the first half of October, you will be able to air your thoughts without fear that you will bring on a disagreeable meltdown.

If you've been dating, you may be ready to decide the future of your relationship after the new moon appears on October 28. In the days to follow you may open serious talks with your partner to explore attitudes about children, lifestyle, religion, money, and other important issues. If you've already explored these matters and have an overall plan, you may be wearing or presenting a diamond engagement ring very soon.

If you are single, make an effort to circulate. You can meet new romantic interests, but of course you won't if you hibernate inside. There's a big, interesting world out there, and you seem ready to explore it!

Near the full moon, October 14, you'll likely need rest. Take things slow and easy at this time, for your resistance to colds will be low. Knowing that you'll have a very busy month ahead, pace yourself accordingly. Make it a point to get all the nutrition and rest you need, especially as you get closer to October 14. Also, if you have a habit you'd like to quit or a fear you'd like to face, this would be a superb time to seek out a doctor or coach to talk things over. Take good care of yourself, and you'll enter holiday time feeling like a million.

Halloween should be remarkable this year. Do some deep thinking and design the perfect outfit. The competition is going to be really stiff this year, which only means this holiday will be exciting and fun. Be sure to go out, and if you are not invited to a party, see if you can view a Halloween parade.

Dates to remember:

Romance will be best: October 5, 9-11, 15-16, 24, and 28-29.

Watch for errors that may partly sabotage a project: October 1-20.

Make a romantic or business partnership official: from October 28 to early November.

New assignments at work will make it busy at the office: from the first week.

Fitness and health matters will get a big boost: from October 1-10. Begin a new routine, get checkups, too.

Take care of your mind, body, and spirit at the full moon: October 14.