TUESDAY NOVEMBER 6
A deceptively placid day, aspect-wise, with the only major aspect a late afternoon square from Moon to Mars that can make us a bit testy. It also feeds the grand trine exciting Sun, Mars and Uranus, so restraint and self-control are not star players. Sun is moving into a square to Neptune, so what we think we see may not correlate all that well with what’s really there. In other words, heads up! Pay attention.
WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 7
Moon in Libra can have a tendency to fudge the truth in order to keep up appearances, and with Moon’s trine to Neptune that proclivity is amplified. The facts may all come out unexpectedly mid-morning and things could be a bit bewildering. A good conversational interchange, or time spent with a really absorbing book this evening, clears the air. Moon goes void, again on a Pluto aspect, at 10:46 pm. Dreams may be fitful, and memorable.
THURSDAY NOVEMBER 8
Moon goes into Scorpio at 4:18 am; Venus moves into Libra at 1:05 this afternoon. Scorpio Moons are noted for the black-or-white all-or-nothing attitudes they provoke and the drama-laden atmosphere they generate. The strength of Venus in her own sign, where she revels in peace and harmony, can be a blessing and perhaps smooth a path to cooperation that will make the day far more agreeable. Saturn puts in a bid for equanimity along toward evening.
FRIDAY NOVEMBER 9
The grand trine has become even more prominent in the chart for the New Moon conjunction at 3:03 pm today. In a natural chart, aimed at portraying the planetary influences for everybody, Uranus remains closeted in the twelfth house, out of sight of the public and most of your colleagues and friends, so you can work privately on shoring up your individuality and your hold on what really is important in your life circumstances. It’s still opposed by Saturn, and will be for months to come, so it’s probably advisable to solicit the support of a steady and perhaps older, certainly a more experienced, friend or mentor.
Sun and Moon have joined up in Scorpio in the eighth house of transformation, life-altering changes and peak experiences. It’s also the home of other people’s resources, a hint that your planning should consider what outside options might be or become available to you. Start a journal documenting these ideas, so you can refer back to them and expand or edit as your plans progress. The Lights are bracketed by Juno (make sure your trust will be well-placed with minimal danger of betrayal) and Lilithstrip away long-held illusions.
The trined planets are all in intuitive-emotional water signs, a clue that going with your gut may bring more cogent suggestions than rational analysis right now.
Mars is in the fifth, where we do what we like to do (largely because we do it well and want to do it even better). That’s also the house where we work on our legacyfor most of us that’s our children, for some it’s garnering kudos for athletic or creative ability, for many it’s both. In Cancer, it encompasses racial pride and tribal passions, ethnic sensibilities and the wisdom of folklore and myth. In this grand trine, it means that working on getting yourself in gear can be fun.
In the national horoscope for this New Moon, set at 6:03 pm PST, Uranus occupies the most public spot in any chart, the midheaven. Exactly. No privacy for the U.S. now. It’s all going to hang out for the whole world to see, whether we like it or not. In the coming month, we may see ourselves and be seen at our best and worst.
Our idiosyncrasies, and especially those of our leadership, are on full view. Our technological expertise is in the limelight. Our ability to break through obstacles and hindrances comes to the fore. The power of our independent spirit is more apparent than ever.
The grand trine hooks in Mars in the second houseour fiscal follies will occupy lots of prime timeand Sun-Moon in the sixth. The sixth is where we do what we do largely because we have to, and often hire someone else to do it for us (or wind up being hired to do it for someone else).
We’re called nowour legislators are called nowto realistically assess our own resources, which are probably the most plentiful in the entire world, and evaluate their most productive uses. “Most productive” must be determined on a long-range, broad-based platformit is not “most productive” to decimate our environment and our future in the interest of immediate desires.
We’re nudged to recognize that all of our servicesnot merely our military, labor unions and health professionals but all of our agricultural workers, food servers, store clerks, janitors, child care providers, production assemblers, messengers, the list seems endlesscomprise a quintessential portion of our national resources and their maintenance and welfare must be jealously guarded.
The Sabian symbol for the New Moon conjunction at 17:10 Scorpio: A path through woods brilliant with multicolored splendor; the exalted feeling of a work well done and a truly consummated life. “We see the smile of youth brought to a more mature, more spiritual culmination,” says Rudhyar. “Human nature is a magnificent symphony of warm, rich colors.”
SATURDAY NOVEMBER 10
Moon is void almost all day, until she goes into Sagittarius at 4:59 pm. She connects with Juno midday, so this is a great day for laying plans to increase your securityphysically, financially and psychologically. It’s important now to know how well we can depend on ourselves to meet our basic needs, and it’s equally important to be sure about who else we can depend on to ease the way. An often overlooked essential to that latter task is evaluating our ability to allow others to perform tasks in their own way, which is probably just as effective in meeting the desired end as our own preferred method. Try not to direct their efforts unless you’re asked tojust accept their help graciously.
SUNDAY NOVEMBER 11
Moon overlays the ongoing grand trine with a t-square pulling the Saturn-Uranus opposition into high focus again. It’s a somber note, and a bit frustrating. The drive to dig in and do something is strong, but the list of can’ts, shoulds and oughts is even stronger. I once heard this kind of situation described as “being bound up with long strands of wet spaghetti.” Mercury dives into Scorpio just 41 minutes after midnight; we are able to delve ever more deeply into the conundrums that confound us, and may come up with a surprising answer, or two.
MONDAY NOVEMBER 12
Confusion reigns. The trine is all but broken and what seemed easy last week takes effort again. Sun is square Neptune, and it’s hard to get a fix on exactly what is going on, while Moon is hanging out with Jupiter and Pluto making things louder and more intense. The key here is to stand back and look sophisticated, but that’s not easy until after Moon passes over Pluto in the middle of the night. Again, Moon goes void on that contact, so the underground underworld of Pluto haunts our sleep.
TUESDAY NOVEMBER
13
Moon goes into Capricorn at
5 am, and her call for objectivity is a relief. But there’s
no obvious pattern to today’s activities. Sun conjuncts
Juno, so issues of commitment come up, especially in romantic
relationships. In a natural chart, they’re in the
eighth house, emphasizing Juno’s correlation with
monetary concerns. The two are still loosely involved in
the grand trine with Mars and Uranus, so there could be
unexpected moves in stock markets and banking practices
but the most probable area of interest is shared resources
and responsibilities. You and a partner may have a lot
to talk about.
WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER
14
You may have to deal with emotionally
erratic people today (or might even be inclined to be one
yourself) as Moon opposes Mars, still tightly tied to Uranus,
and triggers pent up frustrations. Hackles may bristle
when someone tried to lead inappropriately. Sun is still
square Neptune, which means slights and insults may be
less real than imagined or leftover hauntings from childhood
insecurities. Beware of arrogant mannerisms, or overlook
them in others. They’re probably transitory.
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER
15
Mars turns retrograde
24 minutes after midnight, PST, and will not
turn direct until April 4, 2008.
Mars retrograde in Cancer
can bring anxieties around family issues, urging you to
protect all things that make for security, comfort and
luxury, says astrologer Rob Tillett. He urges that we restrain
any urge to exercise undue authority over everything and
everybody in the home (or elsewhere), and says that people
may get restless, inclined to change occupations. Tillett
also cautions against accidents in the home through carelessness,
and indigestion from eating foods that are too spicy.
Joan Wickenburg,
on the other hand, believes that “Mars retrograde operates
with greater power than when it is direct. It points up that
something in your life needs your full attention, a look
at what motivates or provokes you to take action. Are your
old Mars-strategies still working? Or do you need to make
some changes in order to continue to evolve? Have you developed
habitual ways of going after what you want? How do you demonstrate
your aggression, and for what purpose? All of these may be
up for reform. This can be an opportunity to meet your power,
regenerate your life and realign your identity.”
In a chart for the moment in Washington
DC, Mars is on the midheaven, the point of aspiration and
status in the world, linked to Mercury on the cusp of the
second and Uranus on the cusp of the sixth. Dare we hope
that our leaders will reformulate their ideas about aggression?
Moon goes void at 1:19 am and remains void
much of the day, moving into Aquarius at 3:30 pm.
FRIDAY NOVEMBER 16
Mercury has definitively moved into position
to activate the grand trine with Mars and Uranus, and today
Moon’s square to Mercury makes that particularly
powerful. The potential for peril is amplified as sensitized
feelings can countermand common sense and lead to risky
behavior. Remember what we said earlier about the danger
of accidents with this volatile Mercury-Mars-Uranus lineup.
The warning holds for a week or more. Moon is also trine
Venus, so intentions are good—but follow them cautiously.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 17
This First Quarter Moon in Aquarius
at 2:33 pm PST carries one of the most placid
charts of the month; it should be a pretty pleasant day.
Again, the grand trine dominates the chart, and again,
in our nation’s chart, Uranus is situated at the
topmost point, not at the midheaven but as the most elevated
planet. Now Sun has moved on, although still in the sixth
house, and Mercury occupies the transient corner. Once
again Saturn is linked to form a kite pattern with Uranus
as its focus. All that we’ve seen of the affects
of the New Moon continue unabated, with the added intelligence
of thoughtful communication and a bit more reasoned,
seasoned input.
Some irritating minor aspects, mostly sesquiquadrates
(a square and a half) continue to connect Sun and Moon
with Mars. They form yod-like patterns that thrust the
insistence of this trio on Vesta, who is charged with looking
out for our vested interests, whatever those may be. A
mirror pattern directs the moodiness of Moon, the acquisitiveness
of Venus and the restlessness of Mars into Saturn’s
playground. Saturn, commanding the bow of the kite, forwards
all of these to add to the pressures settling on Uranus.
Uranus should be used, in the words of astrologer
Robert Hand, to reflect the “constant, ongoing confrontation
between yourself and the world, with an energy that keeps
everything fresh and lively.” It is Uranus that makes
each of us unique, that gives each of us the individual
flair by which we are identified. It is Uranus that presents
significant forks in one’s life path and if you are
among those born with Uranus in Virgo (1961-68), especially
midstream. It is likely to be now powering the mid-life
crises incurred when it opposes itself. This month’s
emphasis on Uranus may be especially meaningful to you.
Whole books could be, and have been, written
about the role of Uranus in individuation, in finding the “mission” that
each of us has been put on Earth to fulfill. It is our
thrust toward a brighter future and our hold on the DNA
we were born with, our own unique blend of heritage and
vision. These seven years it spends in Pisces are a fruitful
time for winnowing its essence from the daily flak of commercial
and political spin that surrounds us. And this is among
the most powerful periods in that seven-year journey.
Gemini rises in the national chart, with
mid-Aquarius on the midheaven, aiming for egalitarian consideration
in formulating our objectives. Moon, the symbol of our
people as a whole, is in the tenth house of our national
reputation and power along with the karmic North Node and
shrewd, strategic Pallas.
Moon occults Neptune at 3:48 am to start
our day on a high note of sensitivity to those around us,
and sextiles Jupiter and Pluto to help us take advantage
of the vibes we pick up. She goes Void of Course at 6:51
pm and enters Pisces at 11:14. tonight (2:14 am tomorrow
morning on the east coast).
The Moon’s Sabian symbol: A garage
man testing a car’s battery with a hydrometer;
skill in applying knowledge of natural laws to the solution
of everyday problems resulting from life in our technological
society. Rudhyar opines that “the need for ‘management’ affects
every detail of our individual lives; this applies as
well to the complexities of interpersonal, social or
political relationships [as well as to technology], because
our modern society is indeed like a huge machine speeding
on dangerous ground.”
The symbol for the Sun’s position: American
Indians making camp after moving into a new territory;
the ability to adjust swiftly to a new situation by tuning
in to its requirements. “He who lives in harmony
with nature, moving on as new needs arise,” says
Rudhyar, “finds himself at home everywhere.”
SUNDAY NOVEMBER 18
Moon’s opposition to Saturn is the
focus of the day, and it could be a bit of a downer. Somehow,
there’s just not a lot of oomph, and there’s
an awful lot that needs to be done. Moon’s pulled
between the North Node of karmic callings and Uranus who
values freedom and independence above all else; the result
is a kind of emotional paralysis that makes it hard to
choose among the options offered today. Toward evening
Moon trines Mercury and Mars, offering a way out. Be alert
to the impulse early: simply make a decision and do something—anything—to
ditch the doldrums.
MONDAY NOVEMBER 19
A busy day, astrologically. Moon comes upon
Uranus first thing, at 1:24 am, setting off its aspects
to Mercury, Mars and Saturn. Sounds like a recipe for being
really alert, and watching for the unanticipated. Late
afternoon, Moon’s square to Jupiter could make that
even more true. Venus squares Mars this evening, again
exciting its ties to Uranus and Mercury, who by now is
trine to Mars. This could bring about some excitement in
the realm of romance and/or creativity. It could also lead
to overspending.
Moon goes void at 11:26 pm; again its last
aspect is to Pluto. If there’s dissension in the
air at bedtime, just let it be—at least until tomorrow.
TUESDAY NOVEMBER 20
Moon goes into Aries at 3:24 am. When in
Aries, Moon can make us far more active than we have been
for the past week, both physically and emotionally. It
can also make us far more self-centered, quite unconsciously.
We may be totally unaware that we putting our needs and
interests ahead of everyone else’s but, believe me,
they know. Just consider this a heads-up, and remember
it if things start to get a bit tense.
WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 21
Moon opposes Venus in the wee hours of the
morning, and Venus is exactly quincunx Uranus. We may not
even notice it if things are moving along well in our relationships,
but if they’re not, it could get a bit hairy today.
Mercury’s trine to Uranus becomes exact mid-morning,
and words could slip trippingly off the tongue before you
even know what you’re saying. A t-square positions
Mars to aim his aggressive nature at both Moon and Venus,
so macho energies may accost whatever softer, receptive
personalities may be nearby.
THURSDAY NOVEMBER 22
Happy Thanksgiving! This could be one of
the best family get-togethers in years. Moon is void from
39 minutes after midnight until 4:18 this afternoon when
she enters Taurus. She’s gone out on a rather benign
trine to Pluto, which generally imbues everyone with feelings
of self-assurance and confidence. At 8:50 this morning,
Sun goes into Sagittarius where we can all be more jovial
and lighthearted than Moon in Scorpio has allowed. We can
be pretty good about holding our tongues and forgiving
those who don’t. Moon’s first aspect is a kindly
trine to Saturn, so even restrictions and laying down of
rules can be accepted. Overall, it’s a pretty groovy
day.
FRIDAY NOVEMBER 23
The mellow mood is holding. Moon goes void
again at 10:53 am, this time hooked up with Neptune. There
may be a fantastical and highly imaginative cast to whatever
is going on, but hey—for most of us it’s a
holiday and we don’t have to insist on hard facts
and realistic appraisals. It’s a good time to kick
back, enjoy the input, and have fun.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 24
Moon moved into Gemini at 3:29 am. Uranus
headed forward again, after five months of retrograde motion,
at 2:16 am this morning. Uranus craves surprise, originality,
eccentricity and detachment as paths to evolution and progress.
Thanks to the grand trine, he is aided and abetted now
by Mars and Mercury; with Mars now unusually willing to
pause and consider before charging into action, and with
Mercury now given to intense and probing investigation
in Scorpio.
A rather wide t-square
moderates the influence of that longstanding grand trine
in today’s chart for the Full Moon at 6:30 am PST.
Saturn sits just past the midpoint of the opposition of Sun
and Moon, while still opposing Uranus. Thanks to that setup,
a contributing note of caution enfolds Moon’s hankering
for safety and protection and Sun’s need for a dependable
ego platform while Uranus begins in earnest to make its play
for excitement and risk-taking.
So how do we use the power of these patterns
to effect productive change in our personal lives? In large
part, it depends on the position of these planets in your
natal horoscope, particularly Uranus and its relationship
to the Sun and Mars, but there are clues that are to some
extent applicable to all of us.
Well, for starters, try a very candid overview
of the role of fearfulness in your life. What have you
not done, that you may now regret, because of the fear
factor? On the other hand, where in your life history should
you have been more attentive to caution and prudence, yes,
a bit more afraid? Are there similar circumstances now?
We have almost a year until the Saturn-Uranus opposition
becomes exact to hone our awareness of the imperative balance
between fear and risk-taking in all our endeavors.
With Uranus making
its change of direction in Pisces, it is an especially appropriate
time to consider the value of withdrawal—as a weapon
or as a defense.
Sometimes the prudent course is to simply
disengage from an insoluble situation. It may be best to
leave an environment that is not working for you. It may
alternatively be wise to alter your mode of dealing with
it by withdrawing your input. Interrogators are taught
to remain silent for great lengths of time, until the witness
becomes uncomfortable enough to be impelled to talk. Therapists
teach that when you wish to change someone, the only productive
means is to change your responses to them; withhold your
answers and rebuttals, refuse to offer the customary apology
or attack. This methodology can be equated with judo, where
you use the momentum of the other to your own advantage.
In other cases, Uranus’ change of
direction is an admonition that we have already been withdrawing,
unwisely, as a way of ignoring our responsibilities, in
which case we must come out and face our battles bravely.
Determining which case might be appropriate to oneself
takes considered and informed analysis. But it is time
now to do that.
In the chart set for 9:30 am in Washington
DC, Capricorn rises, adding weight to Saturn’s wary
watchfulness. Uranus is in the second house, making the
expenditure of our resources a primary consideration. Mars,
now backing off from his warlike stance, is in the seventh
house of enemies and affiliations. Withdrawal becomes ever
more feasible.
The most elevated planet is peace-loving
Venus. The Full Moon opposition finds Sun in the eleventh,
where leadership may be shifting from the executive to
the legislative, and Moon in the fifth, where the public
is adamant about the future of our children and our freedom
of self-expression. In normal times I would consider these
signs hopeful. But our current administration seems to
pay no attention to either its constituents or the cosmos.
The grand trine from the second and seventh
to Mercury in the tenth could speak to us as citizens about
exercising withdrawal as a powerful means of protest.
We can withdraw our support of the big-business
interests and banks that are controlling our country simply
by becoming thrifty and living within our means, buying
only what is truly necessary rather than “keeping
up” with fads and fashions. Americans’ outstanding
credit card debt gives manipulative financiers well over
$900 billion—$900,000,000,000—on which they
collect very high interest they can turn over to create
ever more income. It’s easy to see how they have
the money for the lobbying and massive campaign contributions
that usurp our right to freely elect the leaders of our
choice.
We can withdraw our support for the political
cronyism that is controlling the direction of our government
by withdrawing our membership in the major political parties.
Much of the malaise in our country today can be traced
to the way our elected representatives vote “party
line” whether or not it is in the interests of the
people. As an independent voter one can, in most states,
vote for candidates of any political party or can certainly
re-register in time for the election. If enough of us did
that, the entrenched political power brokers would have
to take notice.
We can withdraw our support for “winning” (particularly
in a situation where that seems impossible) and support
our troops only by insisting that they be returned to their
families.
The Sabian symbol for the Moon at 2° Gemini: Santa
Claus furtively filling stockings hanging in front of
the fireplace; A rewarded faith in spiritual blessings. “The
gifts from an imagined and intensely believed in spiritual
world must not be examined closely or at length by the
reasoning intellect,” Rudhyar cautions. “The
would-be clairvoyant is told not to look straight and
intently at what he begins to ‘see’ … since
the sharply focused mind would make the apparition vanish.” It
denotes a time to depend on intuition.
The Sun’s position at 2° Sagittarius: White-capped
waves display the power of wind over sea; the mobilization
of unconscious energies under the pressure of superpersonal
motives. “We have a picture which contrasts
the powerful but beautiful storms of nature with the
often gory and hysterical crises of a civilization which
progresses through war,” writes Rudhyar. Irate
citizens can create attention-getting storms by marshaling
the power of wind (the thoughtful, objective planets
in air signs) to sculpt the sea (the emotional, flexible,
compassionate planets in water signs) into an impressive
force, perhaps powerful enough to change the course of
history—or at least our personal lives.
SUNDAY NOVEMBER 25
Two grand trines today! A grouping of sentimentalists
Moon, Venus and Neptune has joined the feisty trio mentioned
earlier, and for a day or two should keep the cool. It
may be a highly sociable day, although the weather may
not be cooperative. Projections and planning for holiday
entertaining may take priority now. Moon opposes Pluto
to add intensity to your dreams and goes void at 11:37
pm.
MONDAY NOVEMBER 26
Moon eases into Cancer at 3:07 am, shortly
after the Venus trine to Neptune becomes exact. You can
sail into the workweek feeling pretty smooth and may even
be able to offer solace to a colleague who is a bit down
in the mouth, as your empathy and understanding are keen
now. If your tasks have a creative component, this should
be a rewarding day. It’s also a good time for getting
financial hassles straightened out (so long as you’re
lucky enough not to run into new areas of confusion). Moon
conjuncts Mars tonight, stirring up that ongoing grand
trine again about the time you’re trying to go to
sleep. It may take longer than usual.
TUESDAY NOVEMBER 27
A moderately off-kilter mood suffuses the
atmosphere and it’s impossible to put a finger on
exactly what’s amiss. Some of the things said seem
to just come out of the blue and make no sense at all.
Others seem a bit rancorous without reason. A lot of behavior
seems downright childish. Just bear with it, it should
only last a day or so. Moon completes a trine to Mercury,
which may offer a clue, and goes void at 8:22 pm.
WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 28
Moon goes into Leo at 5:23 am, and makes
no classic aspects until she trines the Sun late afternoon.
Not a lot is going on today, at least not overtly, although
there is a bit of a “Look, ma, I’m dancing” attitude
around that can liven up the scene. Sun is setting up a
t-square with Saturn and Uranus, which will last through
the coming week or so and make the perpetual battle between
knuckling down and cutting loose almost painfully poignant.
Most of us won’t be able to do much about that.
THURSDAY NOVEMBER 29
Another quiet day, with the only exact aspect
Moon’s opposition to Neptune this afternoon, when
escapist inclinations are intensified. You’ll need
to be careful that you’re not misled, though it’s
probably not intentional. It’s just too easy to mistake
a fleeting impression for in-depth comprehension of a situation.
Calling on whatever kind of spiritual guidance you prefer
is highly advisable now.
FRIDAY NOVEMBER 30
Another month down! One more and it’s
New year’s again. Hard to believe. Moon flits past
connections to Venus, Jupiter and Pluto early this morning,
spurring us to grab the outgoing, fun-loving vibes of Leo
while she’s still there. She goes void on a square
to Mercury, carrying the restlessness on into Virgo at
11:44 am and through the remainder of the day. We may have
to spend some time playing catch-up and dealing with the
nitty-gritty details we’ve let slide earlier in the
week. If you look for appreciation from anyone other than
yourself for that efforts, you’re likely to be disappointed.
But don’t fail to give yourself a pat on the back
for leaving the week tidy.