Did you see the news this week? Patricia Dunn, the former chairwoman of HP, has been indicted on 4 felony counts. From an astrology perspective, this would be Saturn stationing on HP's Sun in November and December - "body blow after body blow" were the words in last week's column. Even if she gets off, don't you think HP's mission (in astro terms, the company's Sun) will be hampered by the ongoing investigation? Instead of forging ahead with new technologies, they'll be dealing with lawyers, document requests, testimony ... Saturn.

It is true that Saturn often lives up to its Great Malefic billing, yet Saturn is not all bad. We have Saturn to thank for all things that last. In another curious article this week, a survey of an area of Cuba with an extraordinary number of people living to be over 100 attributed their longevity to coffee (probably organic), cigars (if you have ever had a Cuban you'd understand, a non-addictive herb of peace, a flowering of the heart) and sex!

I mention this because in coming days first Mars, then the Sun, then Venus make a harmonious aspect to Saturn. The Sun's aspect early Monday 10/16 is most important because it involves a mutual reception, a most significant relationship in traditional astrology. This means in coming days we are oriented towards what endures, not just what gets our heart in a temporary tizzy, but what keeps it warm and beating day after day, year after year. This is the difference between flimsy acquaintances and long forged friends; a one night stand and a marriage; between pop fizz music and the classics; beach lit and books that have inspired generation upon generation.

Which leads me to Homer and the Odyssey. In Virgo chapter 6, Homer had been rescued and cleaned up by the young unwed Nausicaa. Libra Chapter 7 begins with Odysseus praying to Athena as the princess makes her way alone back to her home at the palace so not to cast any doubts about her reputation. After biding time, Odysseus sets off. Athena does him the favor of shrouding him in midst so he wouldn't be bothered by the locals; and she appears to him disguised as a young girl. This is a noticeable event because though Athena appeared to Telemachus earlier, and helped Odysseus by prodding action of others, this is the first she has spoken directly the hero albeit in disguise.

Libra has the perspective of we-ness; it naturally thinks of others. Mutual cooperation and benefit is the Libra way.

She shows him the way to the palace of the king and queen of the land. Odysseus 'marveled now at the balanced ships and havens' and the young girl tells him of the Queen of the land. Everyone respects her, Athena says, "She lacks nothing in good sense and judgment - she can dissolve quarrels, even among men, whoever wins her sympathies."

In the Libra chapter we read of the Queen who is a great peacemaker! If you know people with Libra strong in their charts, you probably know the truth of this. Libra never wants to quarrel, and is quite skilled at setting disputes because it can find the harmonious balance in two competing sides of an issue. What is just and fair comes naturally to the Libra scales.

Back to the story. Upon entering the palace, Homer describes the splendid gate in detail, and goes on about the finery of the weaving. Outside the courtyard is an orchard of luxuriant trees with a "harvest all year round for the West Wind always breathing through will bring some fruits to the bud."

What do the paragraphs about the gate and the orchard have to do with Libra? I'll let you in on another secret of the Odyssey. It is about the signs, but also about the divisions of the sky called the lunar mansions, or nakshatras in Indian astrology. Though not part of Western astrology at all, Indian astrology uses the nakshatras extensively. The lunar mansions are divisions of the sky that the Moon travels in one day. The Moon spends a night in each and there is an incredibly detailed set of lore and interpretations for each of the 27.

The first nakshatra of Libra in Indian astrology is called Chitra, which actually begins at the end of Virgo and continues through the first part of Libra. They deity of this nakshatra is Tvastar, the celestial architect. Homer describes the gates like this: "A radiance as strong as the moon or rising sun came flooding through the high-roofed halls of generous King Alcinous. Walls plated in bronze, crowned with a circling frieze glazed as blue as lapis, ran to left and right from outer gates to the deepest court recess, and solid golden doors enclosed the palace." This is just the beginning; he goes on. Doesn't this read like a visual image of the celestial architect?

The second nakshatra of Libra is called Swati, and its presiding deity is Vayu, the god of wind. Recall the image of the garden above - its continued fruitfulness was due to the ever blowing West Wind.

So Homer was writing not only about the signs of the zodiac, but weaving in themes of the nakshatras as well. This is an amazing connection because the nakshatra system is essentially lost to nearly all other astrology texts of the West. It also suggests a common origin or at least connection to the ancient Greeks and Indians.

What does this mean for you, dear reader? I know these investigations into Homer don't have much to do with your job, how relationships are faring, or days good for shopping. And yet understanding of this key myth gives us insight that directly applies to today. It may explain why people with the first 6 degrees of Libra emphasized become architects or are involved with clothes or fashion (remember the reference to weaving); then from 6 to 20 Libra brings us to the ever growing garden. I have a few friends with this area emphasized, and each of them has spoken very particularly about their garden.

Again back to our story. Odysseus then enters the palace and begs for mercy at the feet of the king and queen, who agree to help him out. "Our new friend can travel back to his own land - no toil, no troubles - soon, rejoicing."

Here's another true tidbit about Libra. After workaholic Virgo, Libra typically doesn't want to work too hard. Libra will gladly exert effort when it is creating something beautiful, but even then with lots of breaks for socializing.

The peacemaker Queen recognizes the clothes Odysseus is wearing and then strangely challenges Odysseus. "Who gave you the clothes you're wearing now?" He goes into his story and tells how he landed on the beach and was saved by Nausicaa. Though it was the young girl's idea to part ways to protect her reputation, Odysseus insists it was his idea. Here we see how Libra will bend the truth to avoid conflict. "Your majesty, diplomatic Odysseus answered, don't find fault with a flawless daughter now."

Read with astrology in mind, even phrase after phrase jumps out! Diplomatic is one of words on anyone's list for Libra, and yet the translators have no idea. I can only imagine what an astrologically informed translation might be like. Homer even writes in the Libra motto - the King replies to Odysseus near the end of the chapter that "Balance is best in all things."

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I'm a full time astrologer dedicated towards passing on the wisdom of this venerable tradition to help you live your life. For information on a life or update reading, please visit the Services page. Contact me for an appointment.  

How much does astrology impact us? Enough for me to publicly predict many of the intraday movements of the stock market before the market even opens. For a highlight of the past week, check the calls and moves for Wednesday 10/4 here. 

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