https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentia ... arter-day/

Every Halloween – and a few days before and after – the brilliant star Arcturus, brightest star in Boötes the Herdsman, sets at the same time and on the same spot on the west-northwest horizon as the summer sun. This star rises at the same time and at the same place on the east-northeast horizon as the summer sun. That’s why – every year at this time – you can consider Arcturus as a ghost of the summer Sun.
At mid-northern latitudes, Arcturus now sets about two hours after sunset and rises about two hours before sunrise.

If you live in the Southern Hemisphere, you can’t see Arcturus right now. South of the equator, Arcturus sets at the same time and on the same place on the horizon as the winter sun. In other words, Arcturus sets before the sun and rises after the sun at southerly latitudes at this time of year.

In traditional astronomy, there are eight major seasonal subdivisions of every year. They include the March and September equinoxes, the June and December solstices, and the intervening four cross-quarter days.

In modern times, the four cross-quarter days are often called Groundhog Day (February 2), May Day (May 1), Lammas (August 1) and – the most sinister cross-quarter day because it comes at a dark time of year – Halloween (October 31).

Early people once said that the spirits of the dead wander from sunset until midnight around this cross-quarter day. After midnight – on November 1, now called All Saints’ Day – the ghosts supposedly go back to rest.
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Mars is out of sight behind the glare of the Sun accompanied by Mercury. Mars will remain so into early winter.
Mars being heated by the Sun or should I say 'boiled' in a Water sign.
What are they both plotting underneath the Sun?

Hey Ouranos,

thanks for the astronomical observations and the article.

Arcturus and the Pleiades being related to Halloween or mid-autumn (the "death of summer") in the northern hemisphere are indeed interesting observations. Though, in about 13.000 years these astronomical events will be occurring during mid-spring (the "death of winter"/"rebirth of summer") rather than mid-autumn, due to precession. So they're not fixed to occur in mid-autumn for eternity.

From the perspective of astrology, I've always symbolically associated Halloween or mid-autumn with Antares: alpha star of Scorpio constellation, the tropical zodiac SIGN of Scorpio of course being mid-autumnal for Northerners. Even if Arcturus is brighter than Antares, the latter is much closer to the ecliptic and also considered one of the four Royal Stars. The Persians associated Antares with autumn (albeit autumnal equinox rather than mid-autumn).

The Sun just happened to transit the cross quarter degree at 15° Scorpio in the tropical zodiac, like it does around Nov 7 each year (as can be seen in the article that you've linked). Interestingly, if you project Antares unto the SIDEREAL zodiac, Antares will always remain close to 15° Scorpio, regardless of which ayanamasha you're using...

Now, the sidereal zodiac isn't linked to the earthly seasons and doesn't coincide with the tropical zodiac anymore - like it did in the time around the birth of Christ (year 0), when the two zodiacs were "one" - but still I can see a trans-zodiacal symbolic connection between Antares and Halloween/mid-autumn/15° Scorpio.