October Elections

Welcome to a magical October! This month finds a welcome combination of both benefits in dignified signs and even Mars in domicile without afflicting the rest of the planets. Saturn has returned to Pisces, allowing us the opportunity to work with Jupiter unafflicted by the malefics before his own retrograde puts our Jupitarian elections on hold from November 11 through March 10.

The election this month is close to perfect with only a few considerations! I recommend doing divination to confirm whether you should make the talisman and checking Jupiter in your own chart to see how well you work with Jupiter. Jupiter is the greater benefic so this is more out of caution and good practice, but still important!

Here is what we are working with in October:

• The Sun is in Fall in Libra until he ingresses Scorpio on October 22
• The Moon visits each sign, as always
  • Waxing from 21Sagittarius to 14Aries
  • Waning from 15Aries to 28Libra
  • Waxing again from 29Libra to 25Aquarius
• Mercury is in Libra until October 6
• Venus is in Fall in Virgo until she ingresses her Domicile, Libra, October 13 through the rest of the month
• Mars is in Domicile in Scorpio throughout the month
• Jupiter is exalted, direct, and visible all month
  • Jupiter is no longer afflicted by squares from both malefics this month!
  • It is worth noting that due to his phase with the Sun, he rises in the middle of the night throughout October, which means he culminates around Sunrise!
• Saturn remains retrograde in Pisces all month

As a refresher, the basics we are looking for in an election are for the planet to be well dignified, rising or culminating during their own hour and preferably day, and for the planet and the Moon to be unafflicted. We have two opportunities this month to work with Jupiter at these angular positions during his own hour with the Moon applying from a good place and both of them unafflicted. See both charts below and use the ritual for whichever you choose!

Our election finds Jupiter culminating on Jupiter day during Jupiter hour with the Exalted Moon applying in a sextile. Both are unafflicted. I wish the Moon were waxing, but that is a result of the time of year. If this feels prohibitive for a talisman, simply use this as a petition or election instead. Jupiter is also in mutual application to a trine with retrograde Saturn. Some sources would allow this because it is a trine aspect while others would avoid it. This is another great reason to apply divination and your own intuition about whether or not to make a talisman or to simply use the elected time for other activities.

Here is an overview of the chart calculation and ritual process:

 

October 9, 7:35 am ET (Jupiter culminating, Day, Hour, Moon waning in Taurus)

(NOTE: Be sure to adjust the chart for your time zone. We are looking for Jupiter to be applying to the MC during Jupiter’s hour. You can double check the hours using astro-seek.com as a free resource!)

 

Example Intentions (source: William Lilly):

• Gratitude
• Wealth
• Boons
• Honor

Optional Ritual:

• Prepare ritual space, using 4 Red or Azure candles and dressing in similarly colored clothes.
• At elected time, light the candles and burn Clove, Nutmeg, Licorice, or Mint.
• Meditate on desired outcome or perform the elected action

Orphic Hymn to Jupiter (credit: Christopher Warnock and www.renaissanceastrology.com):

O Jove, much-honour’d, Jove supremely great,

To thee our holy rites we consecrate,

Our pray’rs and expiations, king divine,

For all things to produce with ease thro’ mind is thine.

Hence mother Earth and mountains swelling high

Proceed from thee, the deep and all within the sky.

Saturnian king, descending from above,

Magnanimous, commanding, sceptred Jove;

All-parent, principle and end of all,

Whose pow’r almighty shakes this earthly ball;

Ev’n Nature trembles at thy mighty nod,

Loud-sounding, arm’d with light’ning, thund’ring God.

Source of abundance, purifying king,

O various-form’d, from whom all natures spring;

Propitious hear my pray’r, give blameless health,

With peace divine, and necessary wealth.