Dear Reader:
I have new compassion and appreciation for you if you recently went through a move to a new address. Moving is a strenuous experience on so many levels. I didn’t know I would be moving—a flood that was not my fault changed my life and turned it inside out. It seemed so unlikely—I live in a high-rise in Manhattan, but life has a way of bringing twists and turns to keep us on our toes.
I am finally in my new smaller apartment, with about 75 percent of my things in storage. I will move back to my apartment upstairs after construction is done, and it may take close to a year. Moving proved to be somewhat like packing for a trip. Would I need this, or that? All my things fell into three categories. 1) No I will never need this again, 2) Yes, that’s important, and 3) That grey area. Will I miss this if it is gone? The grey area is the hard part. My head was splitting with decisions.
Once my things went to storage, I knew there was to be no access to those items again for a year. That was the rule of the storage company and I accepted that. I didn’t want to try to fish something out later anyway. I had to have enough clothes to wear, so I had to anticipate all four seasons here in New York. Decisions, decisions were needed from every closet, from linens to shoes and boots to dresses, cosmetics to kitchen tools and pots. I did a lot of packing but left the fragile things to the professionals. When the movers packed my stove and dishwasher to go into storage, I knew this weird drama was really happening.
I told my good friend Anna that I felt sad and sentimental after the move was finished and my apartment was completely empty. She asked, “Why are you sad? You are moving back later in when the construction is done.” I explained it was not that—that’s the good part—but as you move you go through a highly emotional experience as you come across things that remind you of different parts of your life.
At one point I entered my closet, which I assumed was empty, but in back, tucked into the corner, was a small blue paper shopping bag with white tissue paper. I dug inside the bag and found a framed black and white portrait of my mother and father on their wedding day. They both have passed by now, and I felt a pang. My mother taught me all the astrology I share with you every month, a process that took 12 years. There were other framed smaller photographs in the bag, one silver framed 5×7, a black and white photo of my late husband playing with our children in their pajamas on the bed that I had taken one early morning when the children were still very little.
Moving is emotional because of all those reminders of days past. Those reminders come up randomly, and they do not stop—they keep coming at you. I explained to Anna, that what made me unexpectedly sad and sentimental was the feeling of the passage of time, that life was moving forward too fast. I realized that’s what eclipses do—they remind us of the passage of time, perhaps to remind us to cherish time that we have in the present.
Next year, the construction in my normal apartment will done, and I will move back to my apartment. I expect the process to be easier because I have already edited so many of my things and given much to charity. Next week men in hazmat suits, that make them look like astronauts, will come to my empty apartment. They are due to take out all the asbestos. They work for a firm that is fully licensed and will be overseen by the rules of the City of New York to be sure it will be properly disposed.
I had been keeping up with my writing for all those who needed my work—until I didn’t. W Korea got their December piece on time, and a different story went to Amica magazine in Italy. I have been writing for both magazines each month, the print editions, for over a decade. I just lost my column in Vogue Japan in July because my long-time editor, Mihoko, left to devote her time to writing books, a heartfelt desire. I wish her the best and always will feel close to Mihoko. I had been a contributing editor with Vogue Japan in every print issue for 18 years. When Condé Nast told me it was time to end my column, they sent me a bouquet of flowers on the day I handed in my last piece.
I am so sorry this forecast for October was so late. Astrology Zone takes 7 hours for each sign, but the beginning ones, when I start, take longer. Also, I wrote Capricorn this month deleted my entire first draft on purpose, and then wrote it all over again—I was not satisfied with my first draft. I felt Scorpio needed a lot of rewrites too, before I could send it to Edward, my editor. You might assume I just sit down and write, but when I begin each sign, I need time to think before I write. I wrote for my daily horoscope app too (Astrology Zone Horoscopes, offered on Apple App Store and Google Play). I guess people tend to forget that. Those are never late and are written three months ahead.
This month, after the move was over, I was in a state of complete exhaustion. I had forecasted the October 2 eclipse at the bottom of the body of my September forecast (above the summary). This month I analyzed the eclipse of October 2 in more detail, the cranky full moon of October 17, and also wrote about the new moon on November 1 because it come up so quickly—I want you to be able to plan for it.
Thank you for your great response to my new The Year Ahead 2025 Astrological Calendar with predictions on all the most important dates. The calendar holds 16,500 words that I wrote and that my team fact checked. It costs $26.99USD plus shipping, and is a collectable product, printed on luxurious paper to present the fresh illustrations by Izak Zenou in the best way. I feel my calendar would make a lovely holiday gift or birthday present for someone close who loves astrology.
I will get started writing an e-book on The Year Ahead 2025. I was so surprised that I received such wonderful critical reviews for my last book on The Year ahead 2024. Wow, thank you!
I want to remind you that my app Astrology Zone Horoscopes has a free feature that you can activate in settings call “Read to me.” You can have my monthly or daily horoscopes read to you in the car, supermarket, while cooking, or at the gym—wherever you happen to be.
Several people wrote this month and asked where are the Key Dates that app, Astrology Zone Horoscopes? It is only found in the menu in the premium subscriber edition ($4.99 per month) not on the free edition of my app. I see that readers do love it, as it gives a look ahead to all the important dates of the entire year. I share my subscription price with my retailers Apple and Google, and try to keep the costs low for you. The premium edition currently is a little over a dollar a week, less than a cup of coffee at Starbucks.
Thank you dear reader for all your support! I will see you on social media! Tell me how the eclipses affected you. I am always so interested in how you are experiencing eclipses.
Warm wishes,
Susan