November 2020

Although ‘we never get more than we can handle’, as the wise saying affirms, we might question the sentiment as we come into November. The liability of depression and feeling stuck in the muddle can be strong.

Mercury squares Saturn on the 1st of November. The law of three is operational, for this Mercury square Saturn is the second of three of this energy configuration, the first one being back on the 23rd of September, and the third and final one being on the 6th of November.

With this Mercury square Saturn, we may consider all sorts of options for ourselves but with a follow-up of seeing all the reasons our possibilities are largely implausible. We could have on blinders, seeing only what is right in front of us, and discount the paradigm shift we are going through with its main characteristic of things occurring not in a linear, sequential manner but happening in an asequential reality where things occur in a random way that seem almost magical if not downright miraculous.

The 3rd of November ends the three-week Mercury retrograde cycle, as Mercury turns direct [12:50 PM EST]. Whenever Mercury changes from direct to retrograde motion, or from retrograde to direct motion, things get squirrely. Nothing seems to go right, everything liable to go wrong. The 3rd of November is Election Day in the US.

Aaargh for all sorts of reasons, heightened by Mercury turning direct.

This same energy occurred on Election Day in 2000 with election results for the presidential election being convoluted at best with the eventual winner, George W. Bush, determined by the 5-4 vote in the US Supreme Court.

Already, we are hearing that Joe Biden should not concede the US election under any circumstance according to Hillary Clinton, as both sides lawyer up for a contentious and dragged out aftermath to Election Day.

The third, and final, of the recent Mercury square Saturn occurs on the 6th of November. A sense of frustration, whether associated with the election, the aftermath of the election, or just a sharp deflation of spirt, could have us depressed and exhausted. Staring blankly at the present, reminiscent of the past, we might see little ahead for us but a dystopian future. If necessary, back to the wailing wall for a 5-10 minutes howling of all wrong in the world, in our personal realm. But once the timer goes off, let’s wash our hands and face, change our attitude, and look for the bright and cheerful.

Our relationships could prove dicey on the 9th of November. Venus in its own Sign of Libra opposes Mars in its own Sign of Aries. We have to be wary that either we or other people aren’t locked into a self-absorption expressed in narcissism and arrogance. Let’s hope that we all can gain some civility after the intensity of the election and the disruptive nature of these times. Many people may be at their wits’ end.

The 10th of November has the Sun trine Neptune and Mercury re-entering Scorpio [4.55 PM EST]. Our perceptive sense can be highly attuned. If we suffered slights or hurts in our interactions with someone yesterday, we might have a tendency to withdraw into our own space, a happy place where we don’t have to deal with the crazy-making antics but rather could enjoy the pleasantries of alone time. Mercury entering Scorpio intensifies our thought processes. We are unlikely to take anything at face value but rather to delve deep into any subject we are considering. We are still in the ‘shadow’ of the Mercury retrograde, from which we emerged back on the 3rd, but the ‘shadow’ continues until the 19th when Mercury reaches the degree at which Mercury had turned retrograde.

Although we are not under the same level of miscommunications, misunderstandings and mistakes we may have experienced during the Mercury retrograde, we do have to be cautious in our thought processes and in our actions and engage the keywords of these times — awareness and mindfulness.

The 12th of November has Jupiter conjunct Pluto. Our sense of ‘can do’ attitude may know no bounds. Optimistic and confident in our abilities, we could virtually move mountains. We might even see the distant goal line of our projects, like some oasis, awaiting us and well within our reach. In our exuberance we do have to watch that we don’t step on anyone’s toes. Our belief in our self, our sense of successful realization, can instill a disposition of plowing ahead without recognizing any collateral damage along the way. In the process, our relationships are liable to suffer. By curbing our enthusiasm, we can achieve our intentions without causing harm to anyone in the process.

The likelihood of our effectively walking the balance beam between our self interest and those of someone else may be somewhat shaky with us still less than adept at the art of balance. On the contrary, we may be more focused on going for our gold with little recognition of our actions’ impact on other people.

Mars turns direct on the 13th of November [7:36 PM EST]. Not only do we get a greater thrust of physical energy, but Mars is turning direct in its own Sign of Aries and in the second decanate [Leo] of Aries. We may be willing to crow our abilities, talents and successes loudly and for anyone to hear. We might seek out the limelight, be on center stage, but with little regard as to how it impacts someone else.

We might have minimal concern about other people’s interests, for this mid-November period can be all about ME.

The Sun sextiles both Pluto and Jupiter on the 14th with the orb influential at the Scorpio New Moon on the 15th [12:07 AM EST]. This New Moon has the Sun Moon conjunction by orb trine to Neptune and by orb sextile the three Capricorn-transiting planets of Pluto, Jupiter and Saturn.

With its signature impacting the next two weeks up to the Gemini Full Moon, a Lunar Eclipse, on the 30th of November, this New Moon allows us to be highly productive with a tendency to keep our cards close to our chest. We might prefer much of our work done from our home base with us focused on the truly significant. Drawing upon an attuned visionary sense and our intuition, we could be highly resourceful in advancing our long-term goals. Nothing is likely to fall between the cracks, nor are we liable to include anything superfluous or extraneous. We can be highly passionate about what we’re doing with a tendency to go it alone and often in the deep recesses of our solitude.

Although this two-week period could have us operating passionately and productively, the New Moon signature also has Venus square Pluto. This Venus square begins the Venus square to the three Capricorn-transiting planets with Venus square Pluto on the 15th, Venus square Jupiter on the 16th, and Venus square Saturn on the 19th. Our relationships can be somewhat dicey during this time. We are more concerned about our personal interests, with little regard as to the impact on anyone else. As if having blinders on, we might be solely concentrating on what we want to get done. Relationships could suffer collateral damage. If someone can assist us in our personal ambitions, then we are likely to engage them. Otherwise, personal relationships may have to take a back seat until we come closer to the holidays.

The 17th of November has Mercury opposed Uranus, one of my least favorite configurations for travel, clear thinking, and high technology miscues. Communications can seem confusing with people spouting off what seem like the most inane ideas. Although we could get some remarkable insights, the practicality of them may be wanting. This is a time for us to think before we speak and be aware of our audience and their ability of receptivity to what we have to share.

This dichotomy between being highly effective in our working alone and liable problems with our relationships could be highlighted on the 19th of November when the Scorpio Sun sextiles Saturn, and Venus in Libra squares Saturn. We are unlikely to appreciate any interruption to our own schedule or involvements. It would be wise for us to put off our interactions with other people, since we are far more effective being focused without distractions or input from anyone.

The 21st of November has two major Sign changes. The Sun exits Scorpio to enter Sagittarius [3:40 PM EST]. Venus exits its own Sign of Libra to enter a Sign of its Detriment as Venus comes into Scorpio [8:22 AM EST].

We may be feeling more upbeat, take on an expansive viewpoint, but our interactions with other people may be far more selective and our desire to be with fewer than with more.

Mercury trines Neptune on the 23rd. Our intuitive sense could be highly attuned. We might look at how we can change things around in our home space to make it more of a sanctuary. During the virus contagion we may have been more in a survival mode, accepting things as they were and only incorporating the very necessary changes to the familiar. Now, we could be looking at providing more of a relief station and an environment that is nurturing, comfortable with many amenities. Even if we are going back to some semblance of normalcy, our home may take on a greater dimension with more of our activities being done in our home.

This is also Thanksgiving week in the US, and we might focus on how we are going to celebrate with the hope, even expectation, that our Thanksgiving festivities with family will be pleasant and focused more on our spiritual essence rather than mundane realities.

Friday the 27th of November has Mercury sextile Pluto, but Venus opposed Uranus. Our thoughts may be incisive with an ability to focus on the truly meaningful and with laser-like vision as to how best to proceed with our long-term goals. This incisiveness could also instill our communications with a concise and succinct expression that cuts to the core. What we have to be wary of is the fact that this same rapierlike thought process can also make our interactions with other people somewhat brittle with a tendency for people to act in interactions as though it is ‘my way or the highway’.

With this being Black Friday in the US, a major shopping day that traditionally kicks off the Christmas shopping season, we have to watch for impulse purchases that ratchet up our credit card balance.

Any tendency towards excess may be encouraged on the 28th by Mercury sextile Jupiter and Neptune turning direct. Our sense of what we need and what we want could become interblended. Feeling optimistic and enthusiastic, we might easily justify our purchases as needs rather than mere wants.

This weekend of the 27th – 29th of November can be a traipse through Fantasyland. Commentators have suggested this holiday season to be a retailer’s dream with some estimates suggesting a solid increase in holiday shopping compared to last year with research firm Deloitte suggesting the ecommerce sector of holiday sales to increase 25%-35%.

As the saying goes, ‘when the going gets tough, the tough go shopping’. And certainly for much of this year, we have toughed it out.

We end the month of November on the 30th with the Gemini Full Moon, a Lunar Eclipse, at 4:30 AM EST. Mercury sextiles Saturn prior to Mercury exiting Scorpio to enter Sagittarius on the 1st of December. Possibilities may seem everywhere. Hopefully, we have used the Mercury sextiles to the Capricorn-transiting planets over the past week to determine our long-range goals and strategized how best to achieve successful results. We may be moving into a time when we are more likely to have our head in the clouds, while the recent past has provided the energy for us to be more discerning, selective, and maintaining our feet on the ground.

November 2020… With Me or Agin Me…