THE COSMIC WEATHER REPORT
NOVEMBER, 2009
November is here, and the Sun is in Scorpio, a sign associated with emotional intensity, transformation, and endings and beginnings. At this time of year our attention turns inward, and buried feelings and issues may come to the surface. This is a great opportunity to address matters that you’ve been meaning to attend to. This is a good time to clean up all types of situations needing transformation or renewal, without going to unnecessary extremes.
Saturn entered Libra on October 29. The sign Saturn is in gives an insight into what we are working to put in better order. Saturn entering Libra will turn our focus to putting relationships in order and recognizing the importance of courtesy, consideration and reliability – as well as a resurgence of marriage and commitment. Mediation, consensus and peacemaking will become a larger focus.
The importance of beauty in our surroundings, of art and culture, and of personal adornment will be themes over the next couple of years. Saturn in Virgo, the sign where it had been the previous couple of years, seeks order and efficient function. Saturn in Libra wants beauty as well.
Saturn and Pluto will be in square to one another this month, an important alignment that will be with us intermittently for several months. Saturn represents structure; Pluto represents forces for change. Situations large and small will come to a point of deciding whether to persist as is or surrender to the need for change. In the financial realm, Saturn-Pluto alignments often mark a time of tight money and the need to be tenacious, disciplined and frugal. This current influence peaks at mid-month and is clearly a part of what we are seeing and hearing in the news.
The last major Saturn-Pluto alignment, an opposition, occurred in 2001-2002. These two planets were in fairly tight opposition beginning in late July, 2001, with key periods the beginning of August, mid- to late September, and late October into early November. I have written of the alignment of these two planets as a time when existing structures are tested and breakdown and rebuilding take place. This was the World Trade Center bombing on 9-11 and the ongoing cool-down in the economy, including the Enron scandal. We were also in the midst of an anthrax scare, which is interesting in light of the current concern with the H1N1 flu virus.
In our personal lives, situations needing work have likely reached the point where we realize that something must be done, and we are hard at work. This is a fine time for paring down, getting things in order, clearing out and releasing things of the past. The outcome of this may be a life lived much more effectively, and as a result, opening to new possibilities. If you want something new, release the old, get your life in order, and be ready to step out into new possibilities. Think alchemy, burning off the dross to leave pure gold.
WEEK BY WEEK
October 25- 31: There are two themes for this week. First, we are delving deeper into Scorpio energies. Mercury, which relates to our thought and communication, enters Scorpio before dawn on Wednesday. There will be more deep contemplation, looking for patterns, delving into the mysteries that surround us. We may particularly notice this on Wednesday, when Mercury also aligns with Pluto and Sun squares Mars, bringing out the inclination to confront issues rather than let them slide by.
The second notable influence is Saturn’s passage from Virgo into Libra. Recent days may have brought a flurry of cleaning and putting things in order as Saturn passed through the last degrees of meticulous Virgo. Saturn enters Libra on Thursday. Over recent weeks there may have been increasing attention on right relationship, and that becomes an ongoing theme for the next couple of years.
November 1-7: The week begins with Full Moon, at 12:14 p.m. MST on Monday. The “Sabian Symbol” for the Moon’s degree is “a woman sprinkling flowers.” The Sabian Symbol for the Sun’s degree is “a drowning man rescued.” These sound hopeful.
Neptune turns direct* on Wednesday. The times around Neptune stations can be confusing. Neptune tends to bring out dreaminess, to be a bit out of focus. We can very easily be in a cloud of unrealistic thinking, though paradoxically when we make an effort to see through the fog we often succeed.
Venus enters Scorpio Saturday afternoon. We’ll tend to feel more deeply the next four weeks while Venus is in Scorpio. Make this good passion, not drama.
November 8-14: This looks like a fairly smooth week. The Sun squares expansive Jupiter ‘round noon on Tuesday. Mercury trine Uranus on Tuesday-Wednesday gives rise to fresh ideas, sparkling conversation and innovative solutions. Mercury square Neptune Wednesday afternoon increases the likelihood of minor errors and miscommunications.
As the week continues the old lunar cycle is winding down, a time better spent on completing projects, resting and planning for the new cycle which begins with the New Moon next Monday.
Saturn is moving toward the exact square with Pluto, exact next Sunday. On Saturday the Moon is void of course from predawn (4:10 a.m. MST) to 3:34 p.m. Between the v.o.c., the Saturn-Pluto square and the waning moon, this day is better used for contemplation and going with the flow than for mounting a major project. However, the Sun is in positive trine alignment with Uranus on Saturday, supporting flexibility and innovation. We are not in high energy mode, but things work out well, and possibly differently than originally envisioned.
November 15-21: The Saturn-Pluto square is exact on Sunday. The symbolism of this aspect is testing of structures, endings and beginnings, renewal. It is perfect for reviewing your life structures, streamlining, recycling, setting priorities and stripping down to essentials so as to live your life with greater simplicity and focus on the those things most important to you. On the societal level this is a time of restraint, and it will be so for many of us individually, but it may also be an important time of restructuring and consolidation, and not necessarily all that painful or difficult.
In addition to the Saturn-Pluto square which is exact on Sunday but affecting us over a period of weeks or months, there are other planetary influences shading this day and week. On Sunday the Sun is square Neptune. That can indicate being a little out of focus, or perhaps focused inward. Mercury is in the last degree of Scorpio on Sunday, bringing a tendency to moodiness. Mercury enters Sagittarius at 5:28 p.m.; you may notice a resurgence of optimism and philosophical outlook right away.
New Moon comes on Monday, 12:14 p.m. MST. In Washington, D.C., the Saturn-Pluto square is emphasized, with Pluto nearly straight overhead and Saturn on the western horizon, and Uranus, planet of change and chaos just rising. The trend of restraint and disorder persists.
In the Albuquerque area where this column originates, things are a little lighter, with Mercury in Sagittarius right overhead and beneficent Jupiter just ready to rise. There may be some huge over-the-top situations in the news, as Jupiter rising can bring out exaggerated situations, and dramatic Mars in Leo will just be setting. In any location, the Sun square Neptune indicates the potential for confusion, though a sextile of Mercury to Saturn provides the ability to think things through practically.
The remainder of the week, up until Saturday evening, the Sun is transiting through the latter degrees of Scorpio. There’s a tendency to strong emotion and introversion, with the occasional emotional outburst. Venus squares Mars on Wednesday-Thursday, and that may bring conflicts to the surface, along with brusque behavior and random awkward situations. We need to balance the civility of Venus with the assertiveness of Mars. Talk things through, courteously. If you commit a social gaffe or transgression, apologize or smooth it over.
On Saturday evening, 9:23 p.m. MST, the Sun enters buoyant, confident, optimistic Sagittarius. We all recapture the ability to be magnanimous and philosophical, and if things aren’t working out, well, give it some time and go do something else. Sagittarius is a sign associated with travel, and we are heading into the holiday travel season.
November 22-28: The Sun is in Sagittarius, the Moon is waxing, and only one planet, Uranus, is retrograde*, and it will be turning direct on December 1. This should be a fairly upbeat week, especially with the minor aspects occurring this week, which are generally positive. We begin the week with a square of Venus and Jupiter, exact Monday afternoon. Venus-Jupiter squares generally tend to be benevolent, with flourishing relationships and social contacts, happy social encounters, and material well-being. We may tend to overspend and overeat, but we have a good time doing that, and in the best company. Actually the excesses should be minor, as the Sun is sextile stabilizing Saturn on Tuesday. Wednesday brings a trine of Venus and Uranus, always good for pleasant social occasions and happy encounters.
On Thursday, Thanksgiving, the Moon is void of course** much of the day, from 7:17 a.m. until 8:11 p.m. MST. Proceedings of the day tend to deviate from plan during v.o.c. periods, so be prepared. This may just bring a few glitches in the preparation of holiday meals, stuff like that. If you can go with the flow, do. If there are things that have to stay on a schedule, get an early start, do some things in advance, or start before 7:17 a.m. with at least a symbolic first action of the day. Mercury is trine Mars, giving energy and quick thinking, and Venus square Neptune casts a rosy glow of affection and sentiment, so the day will doubtless turn out just fine.
As the week progresses we are drawing nearer and nearer the Uranus station* on December 1. Uranus will be turning direct after five months retrograde. Changes that we’ve been working to manifest will come forth more easily now, and for many of us there will be a great deal of transition around this time, some of it unexpected. Think about what you’d like to change, and take at least beginning steps.
November 29-December 5: This should be a high energy week, peaking on Tuesday, when Uranus turns direct and the Moon is Full. Venus enters Sagittarius on Tuesday, and some of the emotional drama that may have attended the last few days while Venus was at the end of Scorpio may evaporate. The impact for you of Uranus turning direct, with potential for change, depends on contacts with your chart. The more strongly Uranus aligns with your birth chart, the bigger the changes; the less the personal contact, the less you’ll feel it.
The Full Moon, exact around midnight on Tuesday, is more benign than many, not too fraught with drama, though there may be a lot going on, with the Sun and Moon in changeable mutable signs. In Albuquerque and environs, Uranus, planet of change, is at the beginning of the 7th house of partnership. Some people will definitely be going through relationship changes in various forms.
The remainder of the week is just the playing out of the energies that peaked on Tuesday. Venus sextiles Saturn on Thursday-Friday, helping to stabilize our relationships. Mercury is at the end of Sagittarius, giving rise to lots of communication, speculation and visionary thinking. On Saturday morning Mercury enters the practical earth sign Capricorn. Enough of big plans, now’s the time to make them into reality.
December Preview: This is an eventful month, astrologically speaking. Uranus turns direct on December 1; that’s typically a catalyst to changes. Once Uranus is direct, we will be in the unusual situation where there are no planets retrograde. Theoretically this should leave us able to move forward in a relatively uncomplicated fashion. This holds ups until around Winter Solstice. Mars will turn retrograde on December 20.
Winter Solstice arrives on December 21, and Jupiter will be conjunct Neptune that same day. That’s a fairly benign alignment that gives rise to spirituality, empathy and flow, with only a little unrealistic thinking and overlooking of practical realities.
Mercury turns retrograde on December 26 and will be retrograde until January 15. And we have a Blue Moon this month. That is to say, there are two Full Moons, one on December 1 and one on December 31. This is not particularly remarkable astrologically, as it is only a calendar thing, but this does occasionally attract notice in the press. The December 31 Full Moon is a Lunar Eclipse.
*Regular readers of this column and others familiar with astrology know that all the planets occasionally appear to backtrack or “retrograde” in their orbits. A planet will slow down, appear stationary, and then appear to slip backward for a period of a few weeks or months before again appearing to slow down and be stationary before resuming apparent forward motion. Of course the planet is not actually reversing direction but only appears to do so due to its motion relative to Earth’s. Nonetheless, we do feel the effects of these shifts. When a planet is at its “station” or stationary point, the planet’s energies are emphasized; when retrograde, its energies are more internalized. The cycle looks like this. The planet is going forward, and affairs of the planet are moving forward normally. As the planet slows and turns stationary, those matters related to the planet become emphasized in our lives, and significant developments may take place. Then those matters ebb in our outer lives for a while, as we internally digest those developments and realizations and integrate them into our lives during the retrograde. Later, the planet again goes stationary, coming back to the forefront of our awareness, and then “turns direct,” resuming apparent forward motion as we again move forward with those matters related to the planet.
Mercury takes a little three-week retrograde cycle approximately every four months. Our daily affairs slow down and get complicated. Communications get tangled, computers flake out, automobiles break down and travel arrangements fall into disarray, a comedy of scheduling mishaps occurs, and things pretty much slow to a crawl. It’s really a great time to slow down and regroup, to finish projects and catch up on unfinished business. Just try not to launch your big project, or sign on the dotted line for a new contract, job, car, or whatever unless you really need to. Try to get those things moving before the retrograde, and shepherd things patiently along during the retro cycle, knowing that some things may not completely come together until Mercury turns direct. If you are making significant moves during the Mercury retrograde period, just know that some things will have to be straightened out after the direct.
**Moon void of course occurs when the Moon has made all the alignments it will make while in the sign it’s in, and is just “marking time” without real momentum. The Moon goes through a sign in 2 to 2 ½ days, so consequently it also goes v.o.c. every couple of days as well, sometimes for only a few minutes or more likely hours, but sometimes for more than a day. Things initiated during a Moon void of course period tend to meander off and arrive at a destination other than what was planned. Void of course periods are well used in completing tasks or doing routine chores, or in resting, meditating, and planning for future activities. The v.o.c. period ends when the Moon enters the next sign.
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