Astrological Musings
11/1 Uranus square Pluto (#4 in cycle)
Mercury sextile Mars
Sun trine Chiron
Sun sextile Pluto
Sun conjunct Mercury
Mercury trine Chiron
11/3 Sun sextile Mars
New Moon & solar eclipse 11 Scorpio, 7:50 am
11/5 Venus enters Capricorn
11/6 Sun conjunct Saturn
11/7 Jupiter turns retrograde
Venus sextile Neptune
11/8 Mercury sextile Venus
11/9 Mars sextile Saturn
Mercury trine Neptune
11/10 Mercury turns direct
11/11 Mercury trine Neptune
11/12 Sun trine Jupiter
11/13 Neptune turns direct
11/14 Venus square Uranus
Venus sextile Chiron
11/15 Venus conjunct Pluto
11/17 Full Moon 25 Taurus, 10:16 am
11/19 Chiron turns direct
Mars sextile Jupiter
11/20 Mercury trine Chiron
Mercury sextile Pluto
11/21 Sun enters Sagittarius
11/23 Venus sextile Saturn
11/24 Sun square Neptune
11/25 Mercury conjunct Saturn
11/27 Mercury sextile Venus
11/28 Mercury trine Jupiter
Dates and times are for Eastern time zone, please adjust for your own locality.
MAJOR INFLUENCES
The biggest single planetary influence in November is the fourth alignment of the square between Uranus and Pluto. (If this is new to you read the short synopsis in the sidebar and visit this most recent article.) This planetary dynamic has been fostering breakdown of old patterns and introducing new energies and change of all kinds both in our personal lives and in the world at large.
Mercury is retrograde until November 10th, during which time we are asked to reflect and revise our preconceived ideas and judgments. This is not the best time to begin new ventures although sometimes we must begin new projects or sign contracts during Mercury retrograde periods. In that case we do our best to anticipate potential problems or communication glitches, and when they occur we can be comforted by the fact that it’s a normal part of the cycle of life!
Mars (action) is in the industrious and organized sign of Virgo throughout November which makes this a great month for cleaning and weeding through old possessions which we no longer need in order to clear the path for the transformation of Uranus and Pluto. This will be particularly effective during the Mercury retrograde period which offers us an opportunity to look back and RE-organize.
Jupiter and Neptune both change direction this month (Jupiter will turn retrograde and Neptune will turn direct) and they have both slowed down to a crawl in preparation for the turnaround. Jupiter is the traditional ruler of Pisces and Neptune is its modern ruler, and with both of them at a standstill and beaming their energies with focused direction, the sense of possibility (Jupiter) and imagination and creativity (Neptune) are both more available than usual. This openness and creativity can help us to rise above the tension of the planetary dynamics and connect more easily to our spiritual center.
Chiron will also change direction as it turns direct. Chiron has a tendency to apply pressure to a sensitive wound until we are forced to notice it and do something about healing it, so there may be an underlying emotional sensitivity throughout the month.
NOVEMBER DETAILS
The fourth square (90 degree angle) between Uranus and Pluto occurs on November 1st. Supporting the pressure for change on that day is a series of harmonious aspects from the Sun and Mercury which help to illuminate (Sun) and clarify our thinking (Mercury) so that we are able to make effective responses to the pressure to let go of the past (Pluto) and allow the radical new energies (Uranus) to shift and realign where necessary.
The Scorpio New Moon is also a Solar Eclipse at 11 degrees Scorpio. This is a particularly powerful Scorpionic event because we have four planets in Scorpio aligned within six degrees (Mercury, Sun, Moon and Saturn).
This is a Scorpionic time in any case – we are approaching the midpoint of the Scorpio solar cycle which is associated with the ancient Celtic cross-quarter festival of Samhain, and under Scorpio’s influence we are called to fearlessly dive deep into the unconscious to uncover both the treasures and horrors that lie hidden in the underworld of the senses. With an eclipse in Scorpio at the New Moon, there may be an unmasking of a secret that is holding us back – keeping us from awakening to the new reality that is calling us.
The North Node is tightly sandwiched between the Sun and Mercury, giving this a more powerful eclipse effect than some others we have had recently and strengthening the force for awakening that is at work under Uranus and Pluto. The New Moon conjoins Saturn which suggests a time for solitary process and experience and perhaps the need to ground the shamanic experience of the eclipse into something practical that will build something for the future.
A trine from Mars to Pluto in earth signs is supportive of that need to ground the experience and helps to stabilize and encourage us in our journey; however, Mars is just moving away from an opposition to Chiron which may enhance our emotional sensitivity.
Venus enters Capricorn on November 5th and for a few weeks commitment and responsibility to those around us become more important. This is enhanced on November 6th when the Sun conjoins Saturn (stability) but this could also be a day of self-doubt and insecurity. Any negativity from the Sun/Saturn conjunction will lift from the 5th to the 12th as Venus, Mercury and Mars make a series of harmonious alignments that will support creativity and love (Venus sextile Neptune, Mercury trine Neptune, Mercury sextile Venus), focus and discipline (Mars sextile Saturn), and general good fortune (Sun trine Jupiter).
Mercury turns direct on November 10th but it won’t pick up speed for a few days so it could take a week or so for things to seem like they are getting back to normal.
Venus is active on the 14th and 15th when it interacts with the Uranus/Pluto square, shaking the cobwebs out of our interactions with others (friends, colleagues, loved ones) and perhaps forcing something hidden out into the open. A harmonious sextile from Venus to Chiron will help to soften any difficulty of this process and foster healing of old wounds.
The Taurus Full Moon on November 17th instills calm and serenity, an island in the whirl of change we have been experiencing. The Full Moon brings the peace of Taurus to balance the intensity of Scorpio, and requires that we align within ourselves in order to integrate the two. Jupiter harmonizes with both the Sun and the Moon to bring an expansive sense of well-being, but relationships could be somewhat stressful with the connection of Venus to both Uranus and Pluto which can create a rocky road that requires a great deal of negotiation.
The 19th and 20th bring fast moving harmonious aspects that encourage our self-confidence (Mars sextile Jupiter) and greater understanding (Mercury trine Chiron and sextile Pluto). A harmonious sextile from Venus to disciplined Saturn on the 23rd helps to stabilize our relationships, but on the 24th we may feel some confusion with a challenging square from the Sun to Neptune. Neptune inspires us to seek an experience that goes beyond our material reality, but on this day we may be tempted to seek this transcendence through escape rather than a spiritual connection.
Mercury is active at the end of the month, fostering discipline and focus with a conjunction to Saturn, aiding in communication with a sextile to Venus, and opening to a renewed sense of confidence with a trine to Jupiter.
The focus in November is the continuing need to let go and allow transformation to take place. Between the Scorpio eclipse and the Uranus/Pluto square, the energy for November is fairly intense but that will lessen towards the end of the month and December will offer a respite from the intensity and an opportunity to recharge.
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