A Friday the 13th in October is a movie marketer's dream
come true. How many horror films can one set of eyeballs digest in the next two
weeks? Also, who among the purveyors of terror were prescient enough to know that
they'll profit handsomely from having a highly romantic, highly impressionable
Venus-Neptune trine occur the same night? Chills, thrills and sexual sublimation,
all in one shot. The rest of the week is an interesting mix of diplomacy, common
sense and determination as Saturn and Pluto, the entrenched force field, send
out positive vibes, at least for now.

Aries

Look for an opportunity to align with powerful people this week as your Mars ruler
in diplomatic Libra finds favor with Saturn and Pluto, the planets representing
the government and the gangsters. Can't tell the players without a scorecard?
A partner (in crime?) could help you judge who's who and what's what.
If ever you were going to trust someone else's instincts and their information,
now, while Mars is infused with the spirit of cooperation, would be the time.
Come the 23rd, both the sun and the red planet will move on to Scorpio.

Taurus

Friday the 13th could turn into a red-letter night for hopelessly romantic Bulls.
That's because your affectionate Venus ruler perfects a rewarding trine
to Neptune, the planet of imagination and idealism. More susceptible to falling
for an image, an aura, a vibe one cannot get and still claim to be human. As in
“To err is human, to forgive divine.” And if by another stroke of
good fortune, you connect with a charitable landlord, realtor or mortgage broker
later in the week, thank your lucky stars that Pluto is still a force in the astrological
hierarchy.

Gemini

Take a good look around this weekend, get your bearings, and verify if a questionable
situation is stable enough to withstand a surprise. If everything checks out,
e.g., if the house has been retrofitted and the romantic relationship secured,
then prepare to have your mind blown next weekend, when your Mercury ruler teams
up with enthusiastic, expansive Jupiter. That this merger takes place in sexy,
secretive Scorpio (the first time in 12 years) can transport you to a high you
haven't experienced since way back when.

Cancer

The benefits might not be apparent right away, but once you realize that pragmatic
Saturn in your Leo money house is encouraging a positive response to creative,
constructive proposals, you might let loose with a little more cash. Your work
environment also improves when it gets bathed in the light of the Libra sun midweek.
And should a relationship with a co-worker need an infusion of harmony to make
it more efficient, then Venus can fix that as well. You just need to be patient
and let the favorable planetary aspects do their job.

Leo

There's a healthy balance this week between responsible Saturn in your sign
and the sociable Libra sun, Leo's ruling “light.” If you think
it is necessary, now would be a good time to extend a friendly hand to a neighbor
or reach out online to former schoolmates. You might even reconcile with a sibling.
Chances are you won't go overboard or become obsessed with another project.
But if you intend to acquire a new electronic device, better do it soon. Mercury,
ruler of communication and travel, is set to turn retrograde at the end of the
month.

Virgo

Virgos can be insightful commentators without half trying, but inasmuch as your
Mercury ruler is approaching the first of its three meetings with wealthy and
wise Jupiter in your Scorpio house of communication, for the next nine weeks you
really can excel. Because it's been 12 years since the conjunction took
place in this zone of your solar chart, try to remember what lucky break you enjoyed
back then and how your life changed. Did you actually become smarter or did your
audience grow larger? Perhaps you went back to school.

Libra

There's a whiff of contentment in the air that you can use to compensate
for the anger or angst that aggressive Mars in your sign has provided since shortly
after Labor Day. If you don't have the patience to wait until the Martian
evacuation on the 23rd, by all means reach for the goodies, material and emotional,
your Venus ruler is offering while it enjoys the support of disciplined Saturn
and determined Pluto. These are heavy-duty forces that, for a brief moment in
time, are displaying a lighter, brighter touch.

Scorpio

It's a feeling that you cannot take for granted, but when it does come,
you should definitely take advantage. What is it? The fairly rare sextile between
Mars and Pluto, your co-ruling planets. This favorable aspect, in effect, wraps
up whatever began when your two rulers last joined forces, i.e., their conjunction
in January 2005. They'll start something new when next they meet in January
2007. Since you're almost at the end of this biannual cycle, figure out
what you need to provide “closure” and go for it.

Sagittarius

Pluto, that maligned chunk of ice with mysterious powers, is attracting a number
of supporters this week. Since Pluto is rooted in your sign, there's a good
chance that constructive sextiles from Mr. Mars, Ms. Venus and the harmonious
Libra sun will improve your relationships overall, with club members and colleagues
in particular. If political issues are also on your plate, then you'd best
deal with them this week, while the gods are in a favorable mood. Come the traditional
Halloween hijinks, all hell could break loose.

Capricorn

Although the tone of your work is rarely sweet and gentle, nor purely productive,
while Mars, the Libra sun and Venus, in that order, favor your Saturn ruler this
week, it can be a joy to perform. Make the most of their gifts, energy, diplomacy
and charm, because somehow (Saturn in your Leo house of mutual monetary matters?)
it'll pay off. Sure, you'll have another good month during solar Sagittarius,
but between now and then, you'll probably have to deal with a bunch of provocative
squares directed toward Saturn (and you) from the vindictive Scorpio planets.

Aquarius

Who is spreading rumors about you, and are they blatantly false? Separating the
truth from “truthiness” could be the challenge presented by chatty
Mercury (at the top of your chart, where your reputation is forged) to nebulous
Neptune in your sign. The high point of this confusing square aspect occurs on
Sunday; after that, feel free to coast along on the small favors currently offered
to your partner, also to dip into his or her treasure chest of basic business
sense. Those deep pockets can feed your desire to expand.

Pisces

Time for more hypnosis? No kidding: Now would be a good week to use the power
of your oceanic unconscious to overcome a noxious habit or to uncover a hidden
motive. While most of the other planets are participating in a short-lived balancing
act, your Neptune ruler is warding off static emanating from curious Mercury.
Confronting the question being asked and laying it to rest is one alternative;
avoiding the matter or tabling it for a later date, perhaps to deal with while
Mercury is retrograde, is another.

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