The Two Fridas, 1939. Art: Frida Kahlo
A.Word.A.Daywith Anu Garg
PRONUNCIATION:
MEANING:
noun: The essence of a person.
ETYMOLOGY:
From who, from Old English hwa + -ness (quality). Earliest documented use: 1922.
NOTES:
It’s that ineffable quality that makes you you and me me. Not your résumé, not your driver’s license photo, but the sparkle (or snarkle) that can’t be faked. It’s the part of you that survives a bad hair day. The metaphysical equivalent of caller ID. See also, whatness.
Postmortem portrait, circa 1366
~ Meister Eckhart
~ Meister Eckhart
Eckhart von HochheimOP (c. 1260 – c. 1328),[1] commonly known as Meister Eckhart[a] (German: [ˈmaɪstɐ ˈʔɛkaʁt]), Master Eckhart or Eckehart, claimed original name Johannes Eckhart,[2] was a German Catholic priest, theologian, philosopher and mystic. He was born near Gotha in the Landgraviate of Thuringia (now Thuringia in central Germany) in the Holy Roman Empire. (Wikipedia.org)
BY ROB BREZSNY | SEPTEMBER 30, 2025 (newcity.com)
ARIES (March 21-April 19): In Zen Buddhism, satoris are sudden flashes of illumination that are fun and clarifying. I’m happy to tell you that you’re in a phase when these sweet breakthroughs are extra likely to visit you. They may barge in while you’re washing dishes, in the grocery store check-out line, or during your fantasies before sleep. Be on high alert for intimations from the Great Mystery. PS: Some satoris could be gems you already half-knew.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): You are eligible to be named “The Most Brilliant and Effective Complainer” for October. If you want to secure this prestigious award, spend time organizing plans for changing what’s amiss or awry. Decide which irritating off-kilter situations are most worthy of your thoughtful attention. Figure out how to express your critiques in ways that will engage the constructive help of others. And then implement a detailed strategy to compassionately achieve the intriguing transformations.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): On certain medieval maps, an island paradise known as Hy-Brasil had a fuzzy presence west of Ireland. Did it truly exist? If so, it was said to be a blessed land that could restore lost youth and offer extravagant happiness. The place was thought to be rarely visible, and only under certain magical or auspicious conditions. I suspect you Geminis are within range of an experience like this. It won’t appear in a specific location but as a state of mind that settles over you. Don’t chase it. Allow it to find you.
CANCER (June 21-July 22): A stalactite is a stony formation that hangs like an icicle from the ceiling of a cave. It forms over long periods as mineral-rich water drips down and incrementally deposits hard calcium carbonate through precipitation. This marvel is an example of earth’s creativity at its most leisurely. A four-inch-long stalactite might take a thousand years to make. With that as your seed thought, Cancerian, I invite you to attune yourself to the slowest, deepest, most ancient parts of your soul. Important developments are unfolding there. A wound that’s ripening into wisdom? A mysterious yearning that’s finally speaking in your native tongue? Be patient and vigilant with it. Don’t demand clarity all at once. Your transformation is tectonic, not flashy. Your assignment is to listen and be receptive.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): When bilingual speakers engage in the behavior known as “code-switching,” they may begin a sentence in one language and finish it in another. Or they may move back and forth between two different languages as they deliver a discourse. Why do they do it? To enrich their meaning, to dazzle their audience, to play and experiment. In a larger sense, we could say that code-switching happens anytime we swivel between different styles of presenting ourselves: from formal to casual, serious to humorous, cheerful to skeptical. I bring this up, Leo, because you are in the heart of the code-switching season. Have fun!
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): In the Arctic, polar bears move through the world not by sight alone, but through scent trails that stretch miles across the ice. Their sense of direction is olfactory, intuitive and primal. If I’m reading the omens correctly, Virgo, your navigation system will also be more animal than logical in the coming weeks. I advise you to trust subtle cues—like goosebumps, a sweet or sour taste in your mouth, or an uncanny pull toward or away from things. Your rational mind might not be fully helpful, but your body will know the way. Sniff the trail. Access your instincts.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): In ancient Egyptian myth, the goddess Ma’at ruled truth, divine law, harmony and moral order. After death, each person’s heart was weighed against Ma’at’s feather of truth on a scale in the Hall of Judgment. If the heart, which embodied the essence of a person’s actions in life, was equal in weight to the feather, the deceased was assessed as virtuous and cleared to continue to the glorious afterlife. If it was heavier…well, I’ll spare you the details. Ma’at’s scales were not symbols of punishment, but of fairness and justice. That’s also your special power right now, Libra. You have subtle insight into every choice. You understand that your wisdom is best used to bless, not censure. My hope is that you will foster gentle clarity and offer forgiveness to all, including yourself. Lay down the old guilt! Let grace be the law!
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): The “I Ching” is an ancient divinatory book compiled in China over 2,500 years ago, Amazingly, it’s still quite useful. In accordance with astrological omens, I call your attention to one of its oracles: “Work on What Has Been Spoiled.” It tenderly counsels us to be brave as we repair what’s broken. But it’s crucial that we make the correction with patient grace, not blame and anger. The good news, Scorpio, is that you now have an uncanny ability to discern what’s out of tune, what’s crooked, what has been wrongfully abandoned. I hope you will offer your genius for re-weaving. A frayed friendship? A neglected dream? A forgotten promise? You can play the role of restorer: not to make things as they were, but to render them better than they’ve ever been.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): In ancient Egypt, the lion-headed goddess Sekhmet wielded both intense heat and nourishing warmth. She had the power to destroy and heal. When outbreaks of chaos threatened, she incinerated them. Once order and balance returned, she served as a physician. I dare you to summon your inner Sekhmet, Sagittarius. Give your bold attention to an obstacle that needs to be crushed or an injustice that needs to be erased. If necessary, invoke sacred rage on behalf of sacred order. But remember that the goal is not merely combustion. It’s transmutation. Once the fire has cleared the way, unleash your gorgeous cure.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): In Nepal, there’s a tradition among Sherpa mountaineers. Before ascending Mt. Everest, they perform a ceremony led by a Buddhist monk or Lama. It’s a way to honor the sacredness of the mountain, ask for grace during their climb, and return from the journey in good health. As you eye the peak ahead of you, Capricorn, consider making similar preparation. Ritualize your intention. Direct it with clarity and care. Bless your journey before you surge forward.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): When people call something “glamorous,” they usually mean it has an elegant, captivating style. Its beauty is sophisticated and luxurious. But the original meaning of “glamour” was different. It referred to a deceptive magical enchantment designed to disguise the truth, whipped up by a conjurer or supernatural being. That’s the sense I want to invoke now, Aquarius. You have been seeing through the glamour lately—of the media, of consensus reality, of false stories. Now it’s time to go even further: to actively tear down illusions and dismantle pretense, preferably with tact. When you see through the spell, don’t just call it out—transmute it into clarity.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Pisces-born Nina Simone (1933–2003) started playing piano when she was three years old. At age twelve, her debut concert was a classical recital. She developed a yearning to become the first Black female classical concert pianist. But her dream collapsed when the prestigious Curtis Institute of Music refused to let her study there. Then came the plot twist. She redirected her disappointment ingeniously, launching a brilliant career as a singer, composer and pianist that won her global fame. The rebuff from the Curtis Institute was ultimately a stroke of good luck! It became a catalyst for her greatness. In accordance with astrological omens, I invite you to designate a frustration that you will use to fuel future success.
Homework: Make sweet amends to yourself for an error you made. Newsletter.FreeWillAstrology.com
Marianne Williamson Sep 30, 2025 Old thinking will not solve new problems. Our greatest tool for rising to this moment is an expanded version of what it means to be political. Politics comes from a latin root “of the people.” It is the people – each and every one of us – who must now become the conduits through which our country can overcome. The question is not just what we are supposed to do now, but at least as importantly, who we need to be. Psychological, emotional, and spiritual dynamics are as important as traditional political activism in turning us into the people who can handle this moment. Never underestimate your own contribution. Every thought, every word, every action contributes to a collective field of energy. Make yours a powerful expression of love for democracy and love for humanity. Every life and every moment matters. Step by step, we’re on our way to higher ground. Subscribe to Marianne’s Substack: MarianneWilliamson.Susbtack.com
(Astrobutterfly.com)
Phew! Feels good to breathe easy again. The eclipse season is officially over, and October 2025, apart from a square or an opposition here and there, is much smoother sailing.
In fact, “smoother sailing” might hardly do justice to the auspicious energy at play. One of the highlights of October 2025 is the series of grand trines, with the most notable being a grand water trine.
Jupiter in Cancer, Saturn and Neptune in Pisces, and Mercury and Mars in Scorpio all align beautifully in the last week of October. The universe is on our side!
But let’s take a look at the most important transits of the month:
On October 6th, we have a Full Moon at 14° Aries.
Without ‘interference’ – aka aspects from other planets – the Full Moon in Aries will do exactly what it’s supposed to do: expose the dynamic tension of the Aries-Libra axis, this eternal dance of individuality vs. partnership.
The Full Moon will spotlight where it may be necessary to draw boundaries in our relationships and stand up for our own needs. The Aries Full Moon might also remind us that the changes we expect in others might need to start with what we can control: ourselves.
If we want others to accept us for who we are – do we accept them for who they are? If we expect others to meet our needs – do we engage in a type of relating where they can meet theirs, too?
Too much Aries, and we get full-blown independence. No one bothers us, but we’re all by ourselves. Too much Libra, and we get co-dependence – where, without the Other, we don’t know who we are.
The integrated path is interdependence – that space where each person retains their autonomy AND grows together, through a balanced give and take.
On October 13th, 2025, Venus enters its home sign, Libra. Few other placements are as widely misunderstood as Venus in Libra – which is so often painted as some pretty, indecisive lady batting her lashes.
As if! That image would make Aphrodite roll her eyes, or, if she had to play along, bat her lashes in amusement.
In her home sign, Venus knows her worth. With a deep understanding of what makes an exchange not only fair, but a value-multiplier – a true win-win – she navigates life with clarity and discernment.
Fundamentally, Venus in Libra knows how to make the ‘right’ choice. And in a world where the default is to follow trends instead of trusting your own judgment, what a superpower this is!
It also helps that, when entering the sign, Venus becomes the propeller of a kite with Neptune (and Saturn) at the apex.
With Venus as the propeller, our values fuel and elevate those far-off dreams – lifting them skyward, just like a kite or hot air balloon searching for the perfect vantage point and the ideal spot to touch down.
In the following weeks, we’ll be drawn to make choices that are rooted in our deepest values, and aligned with our higher aspirations.
On October 14th, 2025, Pluto goes direct at 1° Aquarius. Whenever an outer planet like Pluto stations, its energy is amplified. All eyes are on Pluto in Aquarius!
The good news? Stationing Pluto forms a grand Air trine with Uranus in Gemini and Venus in Libra. This is an excellent time to form powerful alliances and find support from like-minded people or communities.
On October 20th, 2025, Mercury is conjunct Mars at 19° Scorpio.
When we combine Mercury in Scorpio’s sharp intellect with Mars’ drive and assertiveness, we get a Sherlock Holmes-y type of energy: inquisitive, relentless, but most importantly – determined to get to the bottom of things.
This intense combo is more than just sharp Scorpio remarks: it’s a surge of clarity that has to be voiced. When something matters this much to us, staying silent or doing nothing is not an option.
On October 21st, 2025, we have a New Moon at 28° Libra.
The New Moon is square Pluto and Jupiter. This T-square New Moon is bound to push all our buttons, prompting us to re-evaluate who we are, and the role we want to play in this fast-changing reality.
This is a pressure test New Moon that raises a fundamental “identity” question: what’s truly me, and what’s being shaped by forces outside my control?
Jupiter opposite Pluto is no ordinary tug-of-war; this collision of giants shakes up everything we thought we could count on. But it’s right in the heart of that upheaval that we get to the essence of things.
The New Moon in Libra is a time to bring into awareness what has been overlooked, clarify what’s non-negotiable, and recognize what needs to change going forward.
On October 22nd, 2025, Neptune retrograde re-enters Pisces for a last stroll in the sign. Neptune (following in Saturn’s footsteps) will stay in Pisces until January 26th, 2026.
With Neptune’s recent dip into Aries (March–October 2025), we got a glimpse of the dreams and visions that will define the next chapter of our lives.
But before we move fully forward, Neptune in Pisces invites us to revisit the story we’ve emerged from – to reflect on an entire 165-year Neptune cycle that began even before our birth, even before we got the chance to dream our own dreams.
Now, with greater clarity about where we’re headed, we have a rare opportunity to heal old illusions and make conscious adjustments to our path.
Throughout these last months in Pisces, Neptune forms a supportive trine to Jupiter in Cancer. It’s as if the universe is saving the very best of this Neptune-in-Pisces 14-year era for the last 4 months of the transit.
We’re basically being handed a magic wand to rewrite the final pages before a new era begins.
So take your dream chaser out of the attic, and breathe new life into your vision – because this time, the stars have truly aligned to help you turn your dreams into reality.
Welcome to the Scorpio season!
This is the time of year to journey to the ‘dark side’ – aka that ‘in-between’ realm where we prune what no longer serves and keep what’s essential.
We all have areas of life that need transforming or reinventing – and when the Sun is in Scorpio, we can become intentional and lead the change, rather than just letting it happen to us.
The last week of October brings a series of auspicious configurations, as multiple planets form successive trines.
The Grand Water Trine begins as soon as Mercury in Scorpio trines Jupiter in Cancer on October 24th. Throughout the last week of the month, we’ll have Mercury and Mars in Scorpio, Jupiter in Cancer, and Saturn and Neptune in Pisces all joining forces.
Grand Trines are an astrologer’s dream-come-true transits!
While Grand Trines don’t necessarily stir up dramatic events the way a T-square or an Eclipse does, they offer a subtle, underlying support that makes everything smoother.
It’s like hitting every green light on your journey or catching the perfect wave – everything just moves forward, effortlessly.
With a grand trine, we’re in sync with the pulse of the universe. We are at the right place at the right time. Everything just flows.
On October 29th, 2025, Mercury leaves Scorpio and enters Sagittarius, and the atmosphere changes at the flick of a switch.
That subtle whisper becomes a loud megaphone. Mercury in Sagittarius is eager to broadcast its discoveries and shine a light on everything that was uncovered during its deep dive through Scorpio’s underworld.
Mercury in Sagittarius’ optimism is not naive – it’s rooted in the hard-won perspective gained from exploring those Scorpionic depths. Because if it’s made it to the other side, that’s something worth celebrating, right?
And there’s plenty to feel optimistic about: as soon as Mercury enters Sagittarius, it’s energized by an opposition to Uranus and a sextile to Pluto.
October ends on a high note. After a challenging eclipse season and a series of intense transits, by the end of the month, we’ll remember what it feels like to have the universe’s back.
New Thinking Allowed with Jeffrey Mishlov Sep 29, 2025 Jason Reza Jorjani, PhD, is a philosopher and author of Prometheus and Atlas, World State of Emergency, Lovers of Sophia, Novel Folklore: The Blind Owl of Sadegh Hedayat, and Iranian Leviathan: A Monumental History of Mithra’s Abode. In this video, recorded in 2020, he explores the hypothesis that many UFO sightings can be attributed to a non-governmental, human organization. He proposes that this organization developed extraordinary technology in the late nineteenth century, that it was associated with German nationalists, and that it received financial support from Americans. After WWII, he speculates that this network incorporated newer technologies that had been developed by the Nazi regime. He compares this network to the Spectre organization in Ian Fleming’s James Bond novels. New Thinking Allowed host, Jeffrey Mishlove, PhD, is author of The Roots of Consciousness, Psi Development Systems, and The PK Man. Between 1986 and 2002 he hosted and co-produced the original Thinking Allowed public television series. He is the recipient of the only doctoral diploma in “parapsychology” ever awarded by an accredited university (University of California, Berkeley, 1980). He is also the Grand Prize winner of the 2021 Bigelow Institute essay competition regarding the best evidence for survival of human consciousness after permanent bodily death. He currently serves as Co-Director of Parapsychology Education at the California Institute for Human Science. (Recorded on February 9, 2020)
The Astrology Podcast Sep 30, 2025 Monthly Astrology ForecastsA look ahead at the astrology forecast for October 2025, with astrologers Chris Brennan and Austin Coppock of The Astrology Podcast. We spend the first hour talking about the astrology underlying news and events that happened since our last forecast a month ago, and then in the second hour we begin our deep dive into the astrology of October. The astrology of October features a combative Mercury-Mars conjunction that goes exact around the 20th, and this sets things up for a Mercury retrograde and a second conjunction with Mars in October. This is episode 508 of The Astrology Podcast / astrologypodcast Northwest astrological conference https://Norwac.net Astrologers Co-op Conference http://astrologerscoop.substack.com Austin’s website https://Austincoppock.com Timestamps 00:00:00 Intro 00:00:57 Quick Overview 00:03:01 Chris and Austin Eclipse Stories 00:13:13 Charlie Kirk 00:23:40 Uranus in Gemini 00:30:13 Free Speech 00:45:36 Epstein Eclipse 00:52:08 Palestine 00:53:36 Life on Mars 00:56:44 NYT Zodiac Story 01:00:24 Cosmic Smooches 01:03:11 NORWAC 2026 01:07:36 Astrologers Co-op 01:09:53 Forecast Begins 02:05:12 Election for October 02:14:25 Full Moon and New Moon 02:26:11 Wrapping Up 02:30:21 Credits
