I woke this morning before dawn, filled with enthusiasm. This unusual occurrence reflects the Moon’s leap into adventurous Sagittarius, along with yesterday’s return to forward motion of health-and-work-oriented Mercury in Virgo. After weeks of sluggishness, my writing is flowing and I’m inspired to start eating better and working out more. I hope you’re feeling something similar!

Also, I’ll admit to a frisson of excitement about the upcoming union of Venus and Mars in steamy Scorpio. Venus plunged into the deep, intense waters of Scorpio on Sept. 8, where she will remain, except for a brief return to Libra, through Jan. 7. This long visit is due to her retrograde motion, from Oct. 8 through Nov. 18. For the next four months, she’ll be tapping in to fierce, ancient goddess powers of death and rebirth.

Venus is said to be in “detriment,” or out of her element, in Scorpio. As the ruler of fertile, life-giving Taurus, she is unaccustomed to Scorpio’s realm of darkness and death. But warrior Mars, the ruler of Scorpio, is very much at home in those deep waters. And, he dives in to protect her on Sept. 14th (through Oct. 28). The intensity builds this month as Venus slows down, growing extra powerful. Then, the cosmic lovers unite and reach their passionate climax on Oct. 3.

What does this mean for us mere mortals? That depends on where 12 degrees Scorpio falls in your chart. This is where you’ll be descending (as opposed to falling) in love with some aspect of yourself, as your internal masculine and feminine unite. If it’s in your second, sixth or tenth house, you may grow passionate about your work and earning powers. If it’s in your fifth, seventh or eighth house, your sex life is apt to heat up. If it’s in your third or ninth house, you may become inflamed with an idea that transforms your world. If it’s in your first or fourth, you’re asked to become your own champion (or champion a family member). If it’s in your eleventh or twelfth, you could discover undying love through transpersonal means–by joining with others in a common cause, or uniting with higher dimensions of reality.

Scorpio is not a sign to be taken lightly. As much as it strengthens us and prompts deep insights, it can also bring power struggles–especially around sex and money. And, it often triggers obsessive states such as jealousy and revenge, if we’re not able to transcend our baser instincts. So, let’s hold the intention of using this passionate period of Venus’ union with Mars and subsequent journey through the Underworld to probe the mysteries of sex and death, and love ourselves more deeply than ever before.