The autumn season begins at the Autumn Equinox on the 22nd of September when the Sun exits Virgo and the Sun enters Libra [9:04 PM EDT].
Imprinting the season ahead, the chart set up for this autumn has by Sign both an Air Grand Trine and an Earth Grand Trine. Communication and manifestation can be key factors during this autumn, although the season also suggests a balancing act between our own personal interests and the collaboration with someone or with others. Mercury is retrograde, and there can be times when we are liable to rush to judgment, misread the cues, and possibly trip over ourselves. Last year’s nemesis of the Saturn Uranus square is back in orb, and we continue our push – pull between old and new, self and other, individualism and collectivism, all the while seeking balance in a highly unbalanced time. The autumn signature chart has six planets retrograde.
Retrograde planets play to the Law of Three repeatedly evident in life on the earth plane. We see it with the trinity and the triune throughout philosophies, religions, societal structures. And we see it in astrology where a planet’s influence has us go over a situation, then as the planet retrogrades we go back over that particular matter, and the third and final time across with the planet in direct motion we bring conclusion and resolution to whatever the issue we were asked to address.
This autumn suggests that we have much to go over. We may need to review and rework various issues that have gone on before.
Although we might assume that once a lesson is learned there is no need to repeat it, the truth is that the lesson may not be truly learned until we are challenged subsequently by a similar pattern to that singular matter. As the philosopher George Santayana would remind us: “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”
Perhaps we are seeing just such a situation develop in Eastern Europe with the Russia – NATO conflict, somewhat reminiscent of the triggers to the two previous World Wars.
The 23rd of September has the Sun conjunct Mercury just before Mercury exits Libra and retrogrades back into its own Sign of Virgo [8:04 AM EDT]. Our concerns may revolve around our relationships and how we interact with other people. We are likely to be more fully considering matters from someone’s perspective rather than solely our own.
As Mercury returns back into Virgo, our thinking can be sharp, analytical, even critical. We are able to see both the details of our involvements and the ultimate form of presentation. Things begun during this past month may be in need of tweaking, reworking, certainly reevaluating.
We might even experience it on the 24th when Venus opposes Neptune. Relationships can be tricky situations, and especially so under an adverse aspect of Venus Neptune, such as we have on the 24th. With Neptune being the higher octave of Venus, each of us tends to look for the idyllic in our relationships, our soulmate, our twin flame. In so doing, we often see the potential in the other person and the possibility of the relationship but dismiss whether the reality can match the ideal.
In Jungian psychology, Carl Jung talked about a person’s shadow, the dark side of our personality of which we have little understanding and personality characteristics that we often attribute to other people rather than recognizing them in ourselves. In astrology, the shadow or area of which we have little self-awareness is the 7th House, the House of Libra, ruled by Venus. It is through the 7th House of our significant relationships that we can learn more about ourselves. Significant relationships complement and complete our sense of Self, as the 7th House is opposite the 1st House of Self [the I AM]. Similar to the Tao where the seed of the yin energy lies within the yang, and the seed of the yang energy lies within the yin, and both make up the completion in the Tao, we are not ‘islands unto ourselves’ but rather social animals with some of our greatest lessons of self-awareness coming through our interactions with other people.
With Venus opposed Neptune, we have to be wary that we don’t accept at face value our first impressions of someone. This particular energy is akin to the ‘trickster’, where someone might appear one way the reality proving to be quite different. We have to be careful in our relationships and not allow our insecurities to set us up as a mark to be taken advantage by someone who presents impressively but might turn out to be ‘all hat and no cattle’.
The 25th has the Libra New Moon [5:55 PM EDT] with the Sun Moon conjunction. The New Moon of a particular Sign truly inaugurates that Sign’s monthly influence and in the case of the Cardinal Sign New Moons especially indicates the influence on the season.
The Libra New Moon has the Sun Moon conjunction in close orb of an opposition to Jupiter. This next two-week period and the autumn season itself can have us doing the dance between concentrating on Me, You, or We [if those pronouns are still acceptable in our pronoun fluid times].
Whether reinforced by the lockdowns during the virus restrictions or just emblematic of our social media forms of recent relating, each of us may have become a little more self-engaged, self-focused and self-absorbed. Narcissism could have ratcheted up severalfold whereby our interest in relationship sometimes revolved around ‘what have you done for me lately’.
With relationships indicating the shadow side of our personality, we shall have the opportunity and challenge of finding balance between our personal interests and the collaborative interests with other people.
The energies on the 26th allow us to drill down on the significant and essential and eliminate the inconsequential and superfluous. We still have to do the balancing act between our personal interests and the concerns of someone else. The Sun opposes Jupiter, Mercury conjuncts Venus, and Venus trines Pluto, followed on the 27th by Mercury trine Pluto.
We may be far more astute regarding who and what are important in our life. We are less interested in the hype and appearance, far more focused on the truly meaningful and real purpose. Despite being dazzled by the spectacles presented to us, our focus has become far more attuned and far more laser-like.
Perhaps we have seen the playbook repeated over and over again with fear porn warning of various horsemen of the apocalypse. Inflation, equity markets collapse, nuclear war, virus contagions, food instability and starvation, extremes of drought and flooding, climate change, corruption, ineffectiveness, etc., etc. are among the different horsemen being trotted out to scare the bejeebers out of anyone and everyone. Yawn.
Fortunately, the narrative has forced increased awareness and an awakening. Virtually no one trusts the various institutions that were once revered.
Both the Venus trine Pluto on the 26th and the Mercury trine Pluto on the 27th allow us to cut away dross and concentrate on the core of all issues, all situations. A solid inventory taking with a clear up and clean out would seem called for at this time.
As we release the irrelevant and no longer functional from our lives, we can turn our attention to our future trajectories as Mars trines Saturn on the 28th. There is a saying that ‘the cup has to be emptied before it can be filled’. By means of elimination, we also create space. The universe does not like a vacuum and once space is created, new opportunities and new trajectories are likely to come forward. This is a time for us to throw open wide the realm of possibilities without censoring by means of questioning the ways of realization. We are on the threshold of a paradigm shift where things can occur in most unexpected ways and often without our being the conductor of the changes, just a co-creator and a passenger along for the ride.
We come to the close of September with Venus exiting Virgo to enter its own Sign of Libra on the 29th [3:49 AM EDT]. Relationships may be high on our list and especially pleasant, if we can keep any tendencies towards narcissism in check.
October begins with the two ‘good guys’ of the planetary realm, Venus and Jupiter, in opposition. Whether we are being dazzled by the copious decorations for Halloween at the end of the month or just feeling the autumn thrust of warm days and cool nights, we may be looking at expanding beyond our normal parameters even to the point of engaging an altered personality and an alternative lifestyle somewhat akin to The Secret Life of Walter Mitty.
We cannot rule out excess as we begin the month of October. We do need to find the balance between our personal interests and the concerns of someone else.
Things may seem convoluted as we start October, some of which might be influenced by the whipsaw of the Venus Jupiter opposition on the 1st but largely impacted by Mercury turning direct on the 2nd [5:07 AM EDT]. Whenever a planet turns direction, whether from direct to retrograde or retrograde to direct motion, that particular energy gets especially squirrelly.
It would be wise for us to rein in our enthusiasm and evaluate the steps necessary to proceed forward. The ability to concentrate, focus our priorities, and advance our long-term ambitions is enhanced both by Mercury turning direct, the Earth Grand Trine by Sign that is in effect, and Mercury trine Pluto on the 6th, just before Pluto turns direct on the 8th [5:56 PM EDT].
We are in a highly productive period if we don’t mess it up by getting in our own way or by antagonizing someone. There are times when it would be wise to draw upon someone’s assistance, but there are also times when we might be too proud, or pig-headed, to ask for help.
If we can be more effective with less expenditure of energy by enlisting someone to assist us, why would we do otherwise and try and go it alone?
The Aries Full Moon on the 9th [4:55 PM EDT] when the Libra Sun opposes the Aries Moon has this push – pull between our own interests and the collaboration with someone else. Relationships could be highlighted with our liability of thinking more about what we want from the relationship rather than taking into account what the other person needs in the relationship. We might want to remind ourselves of the classic song by The Temptations ‘Ain’t Too Proud to Beg’. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3s0TkufXA38
The 10th of October has Mercury exiting is own Sign of Virgo to enter Libra [7:51 PM EDT]. We now have a Stellium of three planets in the Cardinal Air Sign as Mercury joins the Sun and Venus in Venus-ruled Libra. Relationships are enhanced and narcissism diminished as transiting Jupiter retrogrades through the first two degrees of Aries with a retrograde back into Pisces at the end of the month.
The Air Grand Trine by Sign is strengthened with six planets in the Air Signs and the planets trining one another through the second half of October.
The first exact aspect in this Air Grand Trine this month occurs on the 11th of October with the Sun trine Saturn. Reliance on the past can provide solid foundation stones for the future. Walks down Memory Lane or reconnections with old friends might be both illuminating and comforting. Sometimes, it is wise for us to appreciate where we have been as having given us the tools by which to carve out our future with a recognition that during this paradigm shift our future may bear no resemblance to our past. We just have developed the skill set from past experiences to forge ahead into our future.
The 12th of October has Mars square Neptune and Mercury opposed Jupiter. Our nemesis of the Saturn Uranus square is also engaged by the Moon’s transit through Taurus. More so than ever before, it is essential that we engage necessary characteristics of these paradigm shift times, e.g. awareness, mindfulness, flexibility, adaptability. And it is important that we avoid two pitfall characteristics of these times: rashness and narcissism. Our liability would be to wing it by being impetuous with great confidence in the outcome. The propensity for accidents would be strong under these tantalizing conditions.
Friday, the 14th of October, has Venus trine Saturn and kicks off several days when our relationships could seem close to idyllic. No ‘misery loves company’ for us. We’re looking at being on the sunny side of the street and sharing our good feelings about future prospects with each other.
The Venus trine Saturn on the 14th is enhanced by the Air Grand Trine, six planets in Air Signs, and the Stellium of three planets in Venus-ruled Libra, including Venus herself. There can be great discussions about possibilities, although some of the ideas proposed may be like castles in the air, enticing but unlikely to be realizable.
This mid-month of October may allow us to lull about heaven, heaven on earth, all day.
The 17th has Mercury coming out of its Mercury retrograde ‘shadow’, as Mercury reaches the degree at which Mercury had turned retrograde back on the 9th of September.
The 17th – 18th of October has first the Sun trine Mars on the 17th, followed on the 18th by Venus trine Mars. We can put energy towards realizing our plans, often with a little help from our friends. We have the determination to push ahead with our plans, all the while maintaining an effective balance point and equilibrium in everything that we do. We could be highly productive during this time, utilizing streamlined and practical means to accomplish our goals. Our relationships may be humming, especially since we are better appreciating people’s quirkiness and uniqueness of character. Our masculine and feminine qualities are better integrated with less of a liability of battle of the sexes or falling prey to the win – lose gamesmanship that more often than not produces only losers.
While everything would seem to go smoothly during this mid-month of October, we are liable to hit some impediments on the 19th and 20th when first the Sun squares Pluto on the 19th, followed by Venus square Pluto on the 20th. If we have taken on too much, skirt the corners, or played fast and loose, we could find ourselves hitting the wall.
Relationships that seemed close to idyllic earlier could suddenly seem discordant with a tendency for someone to turn from friend to foe, or from collaborator to antagonist. Power struggles can occur, and we might find ourselves engaged in an ‘any way but loose’ scenario.
The weekend of the 22nd – 23rd of October is one high energy weekend with a dramatic shift in energy. The 22nd has the Sun conjunct Venus in the last degree of Libra and right on the cusp of Scorpio with both the Sun and Venus exiting the Venus-ruled Sign of Libra to enter Scorpio on the 23rd. The 22nd also has Mercury trine Saturn with Saturn turning from retrograde to direct motion on the 23rd [12:07 AM EDT].
The 22nd can be especially pleasant for our relationships, if we avoid critiquing what someone is saying or being overly critical and negative about whatever is going on. We need to keep things polite and enjoy our interactions with other people, especially in light of the fact that as we come into the 23rd with the Sign change of both the Sun [6:36 AM EDT] and Venus [3:52 AM EDT] into Scorpio, a Sign in which Venus in in Detriment, intensity can ratchet up with a liability of jealousy and possessiveness tainting our relationships.
With the movement of planets into Scorpio, we now have by Sign a Fixed Sign T-Square with last year’s nemesis of the Saturn Uranus engaged as the Scorpio planets oppose Uranus in Taurus and the Scorpio planets square Saturn in Aquarius. With Saturn direct, the Saturn Uranus square will diminish in its influence as the square widens and the Saturn Uranus square influence done with in early March 2023 when Saturn exits Aquarius to enter Pisces.
The New Moon, a Solar Eclipse, on the 25th [6:49 AM EDT] when the Moon conjuncts the Sun and in orb of conjunction with Venus gives the influence on the next two weeks up to the 8th of November with the Taurus Full Moon, a Lunar Eclipse, and Election Day in the US.
Under the influence of this New Moon configuration, this two-week period may be a time for us to pull in our belt, look seriously at our revenue stream and at our expenditures, and see where we can make revisions in order to survive the devastating effects of inflation. No matter how the powers-that-be might spin the narrative [e.g. gas prices coming down over the past few months, although still dramatically higher than a year ago or two years ago], and there are many sleight-of-hand tactics that can be employed; inflation is unlikely to be transitory. Once higher prices are built in, they are unlikely to come back to their previous price level, even if they seem to drop slightly.
Perhaps at some point, objective observers and commentators might question the wisdom of the sanctions and the proxy war in the Russia – NATO conflict. We may look back at this time as the time when there was a significant pivot from the hegemony of the western developed nations to a multipolar world with the BRICS nations gaining dominance.
[BRICS was founded as BRIC at a summit on June 16th, 2009 in Yekaterinburg, Russia when Brazil, Russia, India and China joined together with the purpose of improving the global economic situation and reforming financial situations and discussed how the four countries could better co-operate in the future. On December 24th, 2010, South Africa joined at the invitation of China and BRIC became BRICS. In 2022, five other countries have expressed interest and / or applied for membership to join BRICS — Iran, Argentina, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Turkey… Presently, the BRICS nations contribute more than 20% of the global Gross Domestic Product, a figure expected to rise to over 50% of the global GDP by 2030 according to IMF estimates. With the inclusion of those presently seeking membership in BRICS, the BRICS nations represent about 45% of the global population.]
The 26th of October has Mercury trine Mars. There may be a lot of discussions going on, some of it being idle chatter, some of it being significant insights of future prospects. The main question will be distinguishing between the sublime and the ridiculous. Let’s keep in mind that we have a Grand Trine by Sign in the Air Element with Mercury in Libra, Mars in Gemini, and Saturn in Aquarius. We can be flowing with ideas, thoughts, and conversations.
The bloom may come off the rose, whether we acknowledge it or not, on the 27th when Mercury squares Pluto. We could be adamant about our thoughts and plans. No matter the obstacles or impediments, we might continue to look for a way to validate our position, move ahead with our intentions. After banging our head against the wall a few times, we can realize that our way may not be the right way, that our itinerary and direction are ill-conceived, and we might just have to give it up and accede to a reality that certain prospects are only castles in the air. Despite evidence to the contrary, we could still try and fortify our position. In this post-modernist age where the subjective becomes the objective, the fictional can pass for the factual, and opinion trumps reality, we could always justify our viewpoint as our truth. Not that there aren’t times when our preconceived notions run smack dab against the universe unfolding. I always suggest that the universe will often tap us on the shoulder. If we don’t get the light tap, the universe taps a little harder, and if we still don’t get it, the universe may provide us with a lateral lobotomy, or whack on the side. Eventually, we get the message. I know for myself I’ve had a few of those head bangers. Let’s try and avoid those lateral lobotomies on the 27th of October.
The 28th of October has retrograding Jupiter backing out of Aries and re-entering Pisces [1:10 AM EDT]. Since early May when Jupiter first entered Aries, we have been given a prelude of the Jupiter Aries transit that will occur from the end of December of this year through mid-May of 2023. We might have found ourselves accentuating our personal preferences, our individual interests, and more likely to take machete in hand and carve our own path rather than the victimhood of catatonic malaise prevalent in our society.
With Jupiter finishing up its transit of Pisces, our compassion is reengaged, and we might give thought to the spiritual aspect of our being. With Neptune and Jupiter in Pisces, both of which rule the Mutable Water Sign, our sensitivity is ratcheted up severalfold. We do have to be wary that our emotions are not played upon. Any sense of guilt could be exploited to determine and manipulate our actions. This is a time for us to embrace the biblical sentiment of: ‘wise as a serpent and gentle as a dove’.
On the 29th of October, Mercury exits Libra and enters Scorpio [3:22 PM EDT], creating a Stellium in the Fixed Water Sign as Mercury joins the Sun and Venus in Scorpio. We now have five planets in Water Signs. We may be more ruled by our emotions than rational thought. We might also hold our cards close to our chest, revealing little except what we wish to disclose. We do have to avoid jealousy and possessiveness and a sense that enough is never enough. We have all suffered the effects of inflation in rising costs of everything. Although there may be temporary solutions to rising costs, these could prove only band-aids to a deep wound that will take a long time, if ever, to heal. It is essential that we be astute in our financial dealings and have put aside enough to get us through a rainy day[s], as generations before us did. Magic wands are often only effective in cartoons and promises never kept.
We end October with Mars turning retrograde on the 30th [9:26 AM EDT]. We may lose some of our edge, our physical vitality diminished, with a liability of dithering about rather than forging ahead. This Mars Gemini transit is an especially long one. Mars first came into Gemini towards the end of August of this year and continues in Gemini until the latter part of March 2023. We may have already experienced some of the machinations of Mars in Gemini, some of which I notate in bullet points below.
[Mars in Gemini:
• Far better to play the xylophone than to do a one note samba
• Avoid taking things at face value or a rush to judgment
• Impetuous and impulsive actions may be rampant
• Be especially careful driving
• Watch what you say or hear — everyone is liable to speak before they think
• Lack of focus — dithering about, going from one thing to another to another
• Shrill
• Thrusts of energy, like an adrenaline rush, only to be quickly expended, leaving us exhausted, nervous, anxious and totally fatigued
• Grabbing at straws
• Time management skills — planning course of action before acting
• News information where facts transition ever more into commentary — post-modern subjectivity transposing the objective
• And many more]
We come into November with a T-Square by Sign in the Fixed Signs. We can experience delays, frustrations, concerns about our finances and a feeling that there’s no way out but to go through the quagmire with as little hurt as possible.
Drawing upon our faith, even blind faith, could help us raise our eyes to a distant horizon, to a realm of future possibilities, and awaken us to accepting conditions and circumstance as they are with a willingness for us to play the hands we are being dealt. Whether we believe it or not, we have developed more tools for our skill set, and with assistance from the universe we are able to not only survive these times but thrive from these times.
The 5th of November may question my assertion. Venus opposes Uranus on the 5th. Unexpected developments could put a damper on our finances and on our relationships. It would be wise to keep things as pleasant as possible in our interactions with other people. We might also experience a heads-up regarding the increased costs of inflation. Even if we have bought into the promises that inflation is coming down, we could see the trickle down effect being inconsequential as we realize that increased costs are baked in. Now is a time for us to take a serious approach to our finances, considering our revenue stream and budgeting our expenditures. During these times of the paradigm shift, when things are going through a dramatic transformation, it is wise for us to keep in mind the affirmation that ‘we never get more than we can handle.’
This Venus Uranus opposition on the 5th of November also begins the Fixed Sign T-Squares with last year’s nemesis of the Saturn Uranus square. First with Venus and Venus opposed Uranus on the 5th, followed by Venus square Saturn on the 7th; then Mercury opposed Uranus on the 8th, followed by Mercury square Saturn on the 10th; finishing up this Fixed Sign T-Square sequence with the Sun opposed Uranus on the 9th, followed by the Sun square Saturn on the 11th. This second week of November is unlikely to be a walk in the park.
The Venus square Saturn on the 7th of November may have us or someone else making amends for past misdeeds. Reconnections might force us to acknowledge mistakes or errors made from our being adamant in our opinions or a little too self-absorbed. Let’s chalk it up to everybody having been put under incredible stress over the past two-three years. We have suffered through the fear porn of the projected coming apocalypse and dystopia. The official narrative could have scared the bejeebers out of us with viruses raging, economies crashing, climate changing, wars waging, terror encroaching, and foods lacking, etc., etc., etc. Egads! What has been presented to us as reality has been worse than Friday fright nights at the cinema. Of course, much of it is over hyped and some of it being false narrative.
The 8th of November is Election Day in the US with the Taurus Full Moon, a Lunar Eclipse, with the Sun opposed the Moon [6:02 AM EST]. The Moon Uranus conjunction opposes by orb the three Scorpio-transiting planets and all five are by orb in square of Saturn in Aquarius. What a crescendo of the Fixed Sign T-Square. Mercury opposes Uranus, my least favorite energy configuration for air travel and with liabilities of computer problems and miscommunications. For me, stop the world, I want to get off.
The intensity of this day cannot be discounted. Delays, frustrations, sleight-of-hand, and criticisms could be rampant. No one may be ecstatic about the day, especially in the US with the mid-term elections.
My take on the mid-term elections in the US:
[Yes, we have no bananas…
If anyone doubts that the US is becoming something of a banana republic with questionable elections [e.g. delayed vote counting, voting irregularities, ballot harvesting, voter suppression, people rising from the grave to cast ballots, some people feeling entitled to vote several times more than once, and final results decided days and weeks after Election Day, etc.], that doubt could be dispelled by these midterm elections in 2022.
The astrology for Tuesday, November 8th of 2022, Election Day in the US, is replete with the push – pull between two opposing forces and liable to only intensify the political divide.
Election Day has the Taurus Full Moon, a Lunar Eclipse, and a Fixed Sign T-Square. There is a Stellium of three planets in Scorpio, a Moon Uranus conjunction in Taurus and all square to Saturn in Aquarius.
Stop the world I want to get off!
Are people willing to put up with trying conditions with the hope, promise and expectations of better days ahead?
With five planets in Water Signs, three planets in Earth Signs, two planets in Air Signs, but NO planets in Fire Signs, anger and resentment can be escalated but with little energy to push forward and assert our will. People may grouse about conditions but do little to do anything about them.
While this election might have unexpected results here and there, there is truth to the saying: ‘meet the new boss, same as the old boss’.
When I ran for the US House in 2000 as an Independent, I referred to the two major parties as “dumb and dumber”. My opinion has little changed except possibly reinforced — an opinion evidently shared by former Democratic Presidential candidate Andrew Yang and former Republican governor of New Jersey Christine Todd Whitman who co-chair the new political party Forward.
The ‘results’ of these midterms in 2020 may please no one and only contribute to the anger and divisiveness tearing the country apart.
There are liable to be any number of problems on Election Day 2022, all contributing to tarnishing the acceptance of the results.
The one saving grace is that we do NOT have Mercury turning from retrograde to direct motion on Election Day, which we suffered through on both Election Day 2000 and Election Day 2020, and we may remember how convoluted those elections turned out to be.
As the saying in gambling circles goes: the house always wins.
With these mid-term elections, nobody wins if everybody loses.]
Whether we stay up for the results of the bread and circus theatrics or not, the 9th of November triggers the second of three Fixed Sign T-Squares as the Sun opposes Uranus on the 9th.
No matter the consequences of Election Day, the 9th can have us feeling a level of discontent as we see the dysfunctionality of these times. Wherever we look, it seems that trust in the competence of our institutional systems is waning. Even if there are significant changes on Election Day, we could feel as though ‘meet the new boss, same as the old boss.’
We might look at making changes, feel that changes are necessary, and yet stay stuck in our old patterns. People talk about transformation, but the unknown is often frightening and the complacency of discontent unbelievably more comfortable.
The second Fixed Sign T-Square ends on the 10th of November as Mercury squares Saturn. This day also has Venus trine Neptune. In a case of either / or, we can either fall into depression, feeling blocked and as though nothing is ever going to change. Our sense of being stuck, the past rearing its ugly head, and our being pinned behind the eight ball would be a liability of looking down at what seems to be right in front of us. Or we could lift our eyes, engage our faith in better days through brighter ways, and find solace with those people who affirm that things always work out for the best. Similar to our attitude in life, it’s our choice, always our choice as to how we wish to perceive events.
While our society tends to focus on the negative, emphasize the problems without considering positive solutions, why go there? Such a disposition only leads us into depression and victimhood.
Things may be tough but as the wise saying suggests: “we never get more than we can handle.”
The third and final Fixed Sign T-Square ends with the Sun square Saturn on the 11th of November. Perhaps everything that has gone on over the past seven days as we have had to contend with the T-Squares has knocked out the stuffing from us. The more we bought into the theatrics of these times, the more likely we are to have exhausted ourselves. This is a time for us to complete sorting out old and new with the recognition that the new is only new in appearance but ‘same old, same old’ in a different guise. We might also better appreciate the theatrics and commit to not getting sucked into any depleting narrative.
Despite what appears to be going on, there is also an awakening occurring. Even the most oblivious would be hard put not to recognize that the curtain has been pulled back for us to see clearly what is really happening and how we choose to move forward in our individual life journey.
After what may have seemed an arduous week, we come to the weekend of the 12th – 13th of November, and the energy shifts significantly. After a week when we might have felt caught as a ball in a pachinko machine bouncing from one spike to another to yet another, getting battered and bruised by delays, frustrations, past issues and unexpected curveballs that might have thrown us off center; the weekend of the 12th – 13th gives us Mercury trine Neptune on the 12th, followed by Venus sextile Pluto on the 13th.
Monday the 14th continues an awakening with Mercury sextile Pluto and the Sun trine Neptune.
Our intuitive sense can be heightened, and we may have the sense of knowing without knowing, as if our understanding of situations is clearer and more laser-like, able to get to the core and see what is truly going on. If we would take the time to ruminate on matters, we can devise a most effective means to concentrate on our priorities, all the while that we are cutting away the dross, the inconsequential and the needless from our lives.
The weekend of the 12th – 13th with its major shift in energy opens the door to a most productive and encouraging second half of November. Perhaps that period of the last seven days has provided us with wake-up calls and jostled us into greater awareness and mindfulness, two very necessary tools during this paradigm shift.
The 15th of November has the two ‘good guys’ of the planetary realm, Venus and Jupiter, trine. Whether we have a lot or a little, we may be more comfortable with our life’s circumstance. We might decide to have some alone time to recharge and reinvigorate ourselves. This is a day when we could go out and purchase certain items that would enhance the comfort and sense of sanctuary of our homes. Certainly, any trauma of last week should have dissipated by now. Focusing on our self, our internal development, and taking some quiet time would give us an important thrust for us to look to our future with even a glimpse that the universe is working in our favor, even when indications suggest the contrary.
The Venus trine Jupiter on the 15th is followed on the 16th by Mercury trine Jupiter and by Venus exiting Scorpio, a Sign of Detriment for Venus, and Venus entering Sagittarius [1:09 AM EST]. Even if we cannot put our finger on the cause, we are likely feeling upbeat and protected by the higher forces [universal not terrestrial]. No matter what might be occurring in the world-at-large, we may feel comforted with a sense that all is right in our world. Perhaps we are drawing upon a belief that life is goodness and that while there are challenges and struggles, things do in deed work out.
The entry of Venus into Sagittarius, the Mutable Fire Sign, ends the transit of Venus in a Sign where Venus is uncomfortable with a liability of jealousy, possessiveness, and a sense that enough is never enough. This Sign change on the 16th also ends the Stellium of three planets in the Fixed Water Sign. By Sign, we now have a T-Square in the Mutable Signs with Venus in Sagittarius, Mars in Gemini, and both Jupiter and Neptune in Pisces. Our nervous energy can be ratcheted up with a tendency to swing high, swing low.
Venus in Sagittarius can make us more sociable and more interested in people whose experiences are foreign to our own. We also gain some Fire, an Element that has been lacking since early September. There can be more fire in our belly, a greater philosophic outlook, and a confidence in brighter days ahead.
Mercury also exits Scorpio to enter Sagittarius on the following day, on the 17th [3:42 AM EST]. An increase in Fire, we also have a brighter mental outlook with us feeling more confident, optimistic and upbeat. We might feel as though dark clouds are parting and that the sun is shining through. Mercury is in Detriment in Sagittarius, where Mercury tends to look at the big picture and might negate some of the specifics involved.
The 18th of November has the Sun sextile Pluto. Before we move into the expansionary period of our year next week, we might consider a serious inventory taking, letting go of things that may have served us once but are no longer useful. We can focus on the truly purposeful and determine our priorities for our involvements in the days ahead. Once in gear, we might find our persistence unstoppable.
What we have to avoid is any tendency for us to try and do it all in one fell swoop. The 19th of November has Mars square Neptune. A liability of impulsiveness and recklessness could make us accident prone. If we do not chart our course of action before starting off, we could wind up like ‘wrong way Corrigan’ apparently heading off in one direction but winding up somewhere other than our intended destination. Or we might just go around in circles without accomplishing a great deal.
The 20th has the Sun trine Jupiter. The Sun is about to exit Scorpio on the 22nd and enter Jupiter-ruled Sagittarius. We can feel confident, optimistic, and assume that we are making all the right moves. The one cautionary note is to avoid overexpansion with a belief that things will work out according to our intentions. We are living during turbulent, tumultuous times, times when things can change suddenly and dramatically. It would be wise to keep in mind that during this paradigm shift we are co-creators with the universe unfolding and need to be attentive to the shifts and changes going on.
Mercury conjuncts Venus on the 21st. Conversations and interactions with people can be scintillating and good fun. Some of us may be travelling for the US Thanksgiving holiday on the Thursday, or we might be giving thought to future travel plans. Our thoughts are expansive, upbeat, and we are taking off any blinders we may have had on.
The Sun enters Sagittarius on the 22nd of November [3:20 AM EST]. We now have a Stellium of three planets in the Mutable Fire Sign as the Sun joins Mercury and Venus in Sagittarius. We are moving into the holidays, and our spirits might focus more on the magic of this holiday time more so than the mundane matters in our personal world or the goings-on in the world-at-large.
The Sagittarius New Moon on the 23rd when the Sun conjuncts the Moon [5:57 PM EST] truly kicks off the Sagittarius influence with an additional thrust by Sagittarius-ruling Jupiter turning direct [6:02 PM EST]. It’s the day before Thanksgiving in the US, and we can be thankful that no matter how challenging these recent times have been, we have dodged a bullet. Now that we have survived, we are more committed to thrive. Perhaps we can see a new day dawning, a brighter day and a time when we can expand our interests with confidence and enthusiasm.
The 28th and 29th of November suggests we slow things down, take our time, and be certain that we are putting the different pieces of our life in the right places. The 28th has Mars trine Saturn, followed on the 29th by Mercury opposed Mars and Mercury sextile Saturn. If we can avoid distractions and diversions and maintain our focus, we can be highly productive at this time. If we try to rush things, we could find ourselves in a jumble and a world of hurt. Even though we have a Mutable Sign T-Square with six planets in the Mutable Signs, we do not have to spin out of control and let go of the reins. This is a time for us to think smarter and work smarter. Attempts at short cuts would likely result in wasted efforts with disastrous consequences. This is a time for to slow things down and not move too fast.
A liability of rushing around and listening to wrong advice could greet our December.
The 1st of December has Venus opposed Mars, Mercury square Neptune, and Venus trine Saturn. The Mutable Sign T-Square is ratcheted up severalfold. We may be doing a great deal of juggling, and we have to be careful not to upset the applecart or upset someone. Relationships can be fraught with drama, and our communications may be a little off. We have to be wary of misinterpreting what we hear. We need to avoid personal slights, whether we feel like the victim or perceived to be the perpetrator. This is a day for us to take everything with a grain of salt and rely upon a trusted and true confidante as a sounding board as to what is really going on.
If we stepped on toes to begin this month of December, we could be stomping on them on the 3rd – 4th when Neptune turns direct [7:15 PM EST] on the 3rd, and Venus squares Neptune on the 4th. Emotions can be high, and our judgment as to the intentions of someone may be off. We might be able to see potential in someone but whether they are interested in realizing their potential can be questionable. Now is a time to beware of tricksters, people who appear one way, the reality being something different. Grace and charm would go a long way to defusing any potential hiccups with our relationships.
It would be wise to keep in mind that the second half of November through early December has the Mutable Sign T-Square in play with a liability of high nervous energy, agitation and racing around.
December 6th has Mercury square Jupiter just before Mercury exits Sagittarius to enter Capricorn [5:08 PM EST]. People may be talking a blue streak about anything and everything, some of which may be completely insignificant. While there can be a great deal of idle chatter, our communications and our thoughts become far more meaningful as Mercury enters Capricorn. While Mercury is in Sagittarius, a Sign of Detriment for Mercury, where our thinking becomes diffuse and conversations become endless, our mind tends to be expansive and diffuse, negating specifics and seeing only a big picture. With Mercury in Capricorn, some of our buoyancy may drop off and our tone of thought turns more serious and more practical. As Mercury enters Capricorn, the Stellium of three planets in Sagittarius ends. We may feel as though some wind has been knocked out of our sails.
The Gemini Full Moon on the 7th of December [11:08 PM EST] when the Sun opposes Moon has Mars in the mix with the Moon conjunct Mars and the Sun opposed Mars exact on the 8th. The Mutable Sign T-Square is ramped up. We might find our social obligations to be more than ever before and especially after two years of virus reactions and lockdowns when we felt that we were banished to solitary confinement. People may be looking to play nice with relatives, friends, neighbors and even people with whom they have had no contact for several years. The holiday madness could be starting with gusto and with the cheer of ‘the more, the merrier’.
Similar to the 6th of December when we had Mercury square Jupiter with a tendency of a gabfest and over-the-top expectations, the 9th of December could have people indulging to the max. The two ‘good guys’ of the planetary realm, Venus and Jupiter, are square. Enough may be far less than what we desire, and we can be singing the praises of ‘more, more, more’. Although even excess may not be enough, it would be wise to bear in mind the admonition: “if you dance to the music, you’ve got to pay to the piper.”
After Venus squares Jupiter on the 9th, Venus exits Sagittarius to enter Capricorn [10:54 PM EST], triggering a Stellium in the Cardinal Earth Sign as Venus joins Mercury and Pluto in Capricorn. While there can be a sense of the bloom coming off the rose, we might turn our attention to practical matters, our goals for the year ahead, and our responsibilities. During this month and especially during these last three weeks, in the midst of the holiday festivities and merrymaking, it would be wise for us to consider our resolutions for the new year and with an appreciation that during this paradigm shift it is best for us to make our plans in pencil with a big eraser. 2023 will have significant Sign changes.
Two conflicting energies occur on the 12th and 14th of December. On the 12th, the Sun sextiles Saturn, followed on the 14th by the Sun square Neptune. We can devise a practical and focused strategy to achieve our goals with a consideration of what we want to do, how we want to do it and with whom, if anyone, we want to do it. Even though we may create a solid template for ourselves on the 12th, and possibly with some worthwhile input from someone, the 14th with the Sun square Neptune can have us questioning whether we have taken into account all the necessary components. Have we misread the signals along the way? Are we up to the challenge? Do we have the resources to carry off our greatest ambitions? Second guessing ourselves to the point of catatonia could have us freeze in our tracks and allow inertia to set in.
During this paradigm shift, it is essential to keep in mind that the game of life has changed. We are no longer the sole determiner of our fate [as if we ever truly were] but rather mutual participants with the universe unfolding. We are moving out of sequential, linear reality and coming into asequential reality where things can occur in the most inexplicable manner, akin to what we would consider to be magic and miracles. We do NOT have to do it all, but we do need to be open and receptive to unexpected variables that can either block our way or ease our path. In these times, humility is called for.
Even if we were flummoxed by a sense of what we want and a feeling that what we want is beyond our abilities with the seesaw energies of the 12th and 14th, the universe can step in on the 17th when Mercury trines Uranus. Surprising developments, sudden insights, and wondrous opportunities may be revealed. We need to have our antennae up, work with peripheral vision, and be open to receive the workings of the universe. Perplexing problems could be suddenly resolved. Intriguing encounters could hold an important key for us. Yes, this is a time to notate the magic of these times. It may not be the parting of the Red Sea, but the 17th can provide us with some fascinating reflections of this paradigm shift into asequential reality.
We close out the autumn season with Jupiter exiting Pisces to enter Aries on the 20th of December [9:32 AM EST]. Jupiter has completed a twelve-year cycle through the zodiac. Its entry into Aries calls for new beginnings. We had a prelude of the Jupiter in Aries during the late Spring through October of this year when Jupiter first transited the Cardinal Fire Sign. It would be wise to recount the various involvements we had that were self-affirming and that indicated new trajectories for ourselves. Even if we were unable to fully engage the newness for ourselves at that time, they offered us glimpses into what we can pursue during this coming year of 2023.
Autumn 2022… Out of the darkness, the light is born…
