This month of November 2013 could prove a little dicey. Our sense of security and our semblance of balance may be rocked, and we could find ourselves trying to get our footing, all the while that the earth is moving under our feet — figuratively and in some parts of the world literally.
November begins with Mercury continuing its retrograde motion through Scorpio and with our friend, more likely our nemesis, the Uranus Pluto square exact. This square that began in 2012 and continues into 2015 has been the significant contributor to the shakeups that have gone on in our personal lives, and in the world at large. Ever since Pluto first entered Capricorn back in 2008, we have had to heed the key phrase of this transformational phase: “adapt or die”.
Deathing may not have been literal, but certainly all of us have had aspects of our lives where we are dying to the old to be born into the new. Radical changes, dramatic shifts are likely to have gone on in all of our lives and may continue to do so for the foreseeable future, at least into 2015. We are asked to surf the waves, often tsunami-like, and avoid waves crashing down upon us with body slams.
If we would let go of judging the circumstances, have faith in the process, then we could better cope with the unanticipated variables that arise often without notice and frequently without previous indications.
The transformation that each of is going through is like an alchemical process, whereby the dross is being burned away in order to reflect the pure essence of our being, our spirit, our soul. It may not always be a walk in the park, but the unfolding of our journey through this life experience leads us ever closer to self-actualization, self-fulfillment, en-lightenment and spirit in action.
Welcome to November, a month to be vigilant, mindful and aware; a time to release the outworn past and broaden our perspective.
November begins on the 1st with the Uranus Pluto square exact. This day also has Mercury conjunct the Sun and Mercury sextile Mars and both Mercury and the Sun sextile Pluto. Even if something sudden does occur to shake up our world, let’s remember that we have the skill set and the tools to handle whatever comes our way.
The 3rd of November has the Scorpio New Moon and a Solar Eclipse. Influencing the next fortnight, this Solar Eclipse could prove the trigger point for significant eliminations and human catastrophes whether through the elements of nature or through the corruptibility of humankind’s greed or both. This Solar Eclipse is a truly powerful one and is indicative of the confluence of powerful forces and various energy patterns. The Grand Trine in Water is accentuated with the Sun, Moon, Mercury and Saturn conjunction in Scorpio trine by Sign Jupiter in Cancer and trine by Sign Neptune in Pisces. The Uranus Pluto square is exact, and by Sign there is a Mutable Sign T-Square with Mars in Virgo, Venus in Sagittarius and Neptune in Pisces. And we have Mercury retrograde!
During this two-week period between the New Moon and the Full Moon on the 17th, we need to keep hold of our wallet, be astute to our financial position and be incredibly resourceful. Some of the indications in late October could become exacerbated during this two-week period. And rain? As the saying goes, ‘when it rains, it pours’. With so much water we have to be wary of being deluged by atmospheric rain, our emotions, and our empathy for those who suffer the vicissitudes of nature unfolding.
Venus exits Sagittarius on November 5th, ending the Mutable Sign T-Square, and Venus enters Capricorn. Our interest in relationships can be geared towards our ambitions and social mobility. We could be considering our interactions with other people primarily from a view as to how they can help us achieve our goals. Our expansiveness in seeking out contacts and new connections can filter down to those who can assist us in some way.
The Sun conjuncts Saturn on the 6th and Jupiter turns retrograde on the 6th – 7th. We may not be quite the happy campers we had hoped to be. The wind can be knocked out of our sails, and we might find our obligations demanding our time. Past issues may need to be resolved, especially if we have allowed irrational exuberance to get the better of us in recent months.
The 8th to the 10th of November can have us dealing with our responsibilities. With Mercury sextile Venus on November 8th, we may be looking to put our best foot forward in order to gain the approval and support of those people we believe could assist us. With Mars sextile Saturn and Mercury trine Neptune on the 9th, we can be highly productive and can draw upon our intuitive sense to come up with a best practices approach.
We do need to recognize, however, that Mercury is stationing, about to turn direct on the 10th. Whenever Mercury is turning direction, whether from direct motion to retrograde or retrograde to direct motion, the crazy-making tendencies of a convoluted Mercury can intensify. Although this period can be effective and productive, we shall need to continually check what we are doing and how we are doing it to take full advantage of the energies. Let’s remember the similarity of Mercury retrogrades to Murphy’s Law with ‘whatever can go wrong could’.
The mid-month of November can be a highly energetic time, a time when we might have regained our self-confidence, felt that we have weathered the worst, and are feeling good about our prospects. Mercury has turned direct, as of the 10th, and Mercury trines Neptune on the 11th, the Sun trines Jupiter on the 12th and Neptune turns direct on the 13th. We are looking good, feeling good.
But similar to the cycles of these times with their whipsaws of energy swings, the November 11th – 13th ‘up’ influences are countered on the 14th – 17th with the Uranus Pluto square triggered by Venus square Uranus on the 14th – 15th and Venus conjunct Pluto on the 15th, followed by the Taurus Full Moon on the 17th. Interactions with other people could prove dicey and relationships fraught with distress from the ‘straw that broke the camel’s back’. Even an insignificant slight or misunderstanding can fracture connections. Some of the underlying concern may be our financial situation and whether we have been impacted by recent events and increasing awareness that the economic recovery is not truly what it is being painted as.
The hiccups, or aggravations, on the 14th – 17th are followed by some upswings as Mars sextiles Jupiter on the 19th, Mercury sextiles Pluto on the 20th – 21st, the Sun enters Sagittarius on the 21st – 22nd, and Venus sextiles Saturn on the 23rd. The Scorpio Stellium of three or more planets in the Fixed Water Sign has ended with the Sun entering the Mutable Fire Sign, a Sign ruled by Jupiter, with the Sun sextiled by Mars at this time.
As though we are affirming the notion that we never get more than we can handle, we can feel as though we can successfully navigate the currents, no matter how rapid they might be. We have an incisive mind and can focus on both the essential aspects and the specific details to productively move ahead. We may be looking at expanding our reach, but whatever we might stretch into we are no longer interested in taking a leap of faith but rather mindful steps incorporating our tai chi energies of working with the energies, no longer assuming that we can master the world, no matter the conditions.
The question of balance during these metronome times of wild swings between the ups and downs is a fundamental act of patience and acute zen-like awareness. Throughout the wisdom teachings, we learn of this concept of balance, balance between happy and sad, balance between active and passive. We hear of it in the middle path of Buddhism, the middle pillar in the Qabalah. And we learn of the essential nature of releasing our attachments, incorporating detachment to realize a state of non-attachment. And so it is for us as we journey through these times with their wild swings of ups and downs. The challenge is to maintain a balance, a serenity and not to personalize the events occurring to us and circumstances operating around us.
From the ups of November 19th – 23rd we are challenged on the 24th – 26th as the Sun squares Neptune on the 24th and Mercury conjuncts Saturn on the 25th – 26th. Feeling that the dark clouds had passed and the sun was shining brightly, we could assume that everything will go along pleasantly enough, as if evolution and unfolding were a straight line rather than four-dimensional cycles of swings back and forth, up and down.
And there lies the trap — not appreciating phases, short periods of space-time that change dramatically, even when subtly, in a nanosecond of time-space. Confusion and depression could set in on this November 24th – 26th. We could head off in wrong directions under misguided intentions or misunderstood itineraries. And if we hit the wall, we might not realize that such a hitting of the wall allows us to reconsider, step back, step away and change our direction. Instead, our egocentric sense of self-mastery and mastery over the world around us could be hurt, and us diminished by a sense of defeatism and depression.
Not to worry, however, for these phases of cycles during this time swing wildly and shift quickly as we may experience at the end of November as we celebrate in the US what has become the Hallmark holiday of Thanksgiving with bounties of food and indulgences to the max. And this year’s holiday of social gatherings with family and friends is no different thanks to the energies at play. Mercury sextiles Venus and Mercury trines Jupiter on the 27th – 28th, with Venus opposing Jupiter on Thanksgiving Day itself, the 28th, encouraging us to gorge ourselves on excess and indulgences, all in the sentiment of celebration and good times.
We end the month of November with the Sun trine Uranus. We are seeking new aspects of ourselves, new grand adventures to engage.
November 2013… from the ashes, the phoenix rises…
