November 2018 Forecasts

​Jupiter in Anuradha Oct. 27 to Dec. 27
​Placed entirely within sidereal Scorpio, Anuradha shows the soft innards of a sign that has a reputation of being cold and detached, but one that is a deep well of emotions and utterly devoted. 

The question to ask is: What, or who, are you devoted to? 

Jupiter’s transits will now expand on this theme, as if building on a ground that has been dug up by Saturn. Loyalty, devotion, intuition, friendship and co-operation are all emphasized as Jupiter brings more awareness to the dynamics involved.   

Jupiter is combust from November 12 until December 9, a period that will test our devotion, as Jupiter is purified by the Sun. Jupiter represents judges, priests, teachers and advisers of all kinds. Thankfully, the lack of apparent outer strength sends us inward to access deeper reserves of strength within, promoting a more intuitive approach. 
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Mars in Aquarius Nov. 6 – Dec. 23
Mars moves out of its exaltation sign and into an aspect from Saturn, as Saturn continues to transit through the destabilizing sign Mula for one last month. Saturn will leave Mula by the end of November, but for now we must experience the restriction, with the combined influence of a debilitated Sun and a Saturn/Mars combination. 

The fire element is lacking and leaves us feeling less inspired in November, as a result. 

Mars is erratic in Aquarius, but Saturn’s gaze asks for consistent actions, not easily accessed in a sign that is all about innovation and change.

To break the rules, however, we must first know them inside and out. This is the process in November, as we delve into Aquarius with our energy going through the blender, especially as Mars transits Shatabhisak from November 17.

Thankfully, the Sun will have left its sign of debilitation by then, fueling Mars somewhat by transiting Scorpio. But still, we must wait until late December, just before the holidays, the get the energy strongly moving again. When it does, it will be stronger if we have given ourselves the break now. 

Slow down and remind yourself that the shortening days in the northern hemisphere are not for jam-packing, but for editing. Leave out all you can and do what you must. Saturn will require that anyway and you’ll only exhaust yourself with anything more. 

This is especially the case for those with the signs Aries or Scorpio rising. 

​New Moon in Libra Nov. 7 Diwali
The inward journey for the new Moon phase is always more intense at this time of year, as the Sun is weak and the Moon is dark, reflecting a need to overcome the darkness, not just physically for those of us on the northern hemisphere, but energetically as we tackle a sense of lack at this time of year.
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This new Moon occurs at 16.01 GMT on November 7, in the lunar mansion, Vishakha, a sign that is symbolized by a decorated archway, representing a journey through, and a focus of our energy. However, with the new Moon in this lunar sign, the opposite may present itself, i.e., we become unfocused and lose our natural rhythm while the Sun is debilitated during this dark Moon phase. 

​This journey is a celebration of those who have gone before us, as in the Celtic festival of Samhain. Hindus celebrate with the festival of lights, or Diwali, dispelling the darkness while our luminaries are weak.

I always like to think of this darkness as a gift, in that it shows us more clearly where our light source is coming from; our true light and spiritual essence. 
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Honour your connection to others and share your own light and unique gifts if you can. But make sure to look after yourself while you do so, as you are of no use to anyone if you are not feeling energetic yourself. 
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Venus stations Direct Nov. 16
Venus stations direct as the Sun leaves Libra, moving deeper into the depths of winter and a call to the hidden side of life. Venus, on the other hand, is in the mood for a show! It is no longer hidden behind the glare of the Sun; instead stepping out as the ‘bright morning star’ in the domain of balance.

This brings us to a turning point in what and who we value and love, but it won’t be until December that we reach a final conclusion after all the reassessment. It's reappearance as the morning star, while still moving retrograde for the first half of the month, is a tricky period in all of the retrograde phase, as the issues involved become more apparent, but not yet fully resolved. This is the last temptation in the cycle before it stations direct. 

Once Venus is direct, we have a guide showing us the way forward in relation to these things. We are clearer about our boundaries.

In November, Venus transits in Chitra, where the shining jewel and brightest star Spica is given a run for its money, by the bright and sometimes garish expression of Venus as the bright morning star.

'All that glitters is not gold’.
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Sun in Scorpio Nov. 17 – Dec. 16
The Sun makes its annual journey through the depths of Scorpio, with the darkness beginning to settle into our psyche, as we catch up with the darkness in nature.

During this time of year - before the bright lights and festivities of the holidays - we spend more time in the darkness. This year, a sense of looking for more meaning is emphasized because of Jupiter’s transit in Scorpio, combust from November 12 until December 9.

We may struggle to find meaning while Jupiter is in combustion, burnt out and feeling less than jovial before the holidays, perhaps even a little stressed; financially and morally, especially when we see the state of the world, but… well, perhaps we just need to face our demons! 

The Sun in Scorpio shines a light on these dark corners. 

Mercury Retrograde Nov. 17 – Dec. 6
Mercury stations retrograde in the sign Jyestha and returns to Anuradha. These signs represent devotion and obsession, showing the fine line we walk when committing ourselves to something or someone.

Mercury's retrograde back through these signs requires us to review our loyalties. 

Mercury is in combustion (Nov. 21 to Dec. 2), and conjuncts Jupiter on November 27, during the mid-point of the retrograde cycle; a turning point during this process of review.

Mercury’s retrograde in Scorpio is dark and brooding, as we seek to find cohorts to help us deal with our own demons; sometimes projecting them on others, denying ourselves the value of such introspection.

As usual, pay attention to the more detail-oriented aspects of life, as the intensity of thoughts and feelings in Scorpio is not conducive to clarity. Double check important details and travel arrangements, while paying more attention to communication. 

Thankfully, Jupiter helps Mercury out in Scorpio, leading to more insights, although Rahu's aspect from Cancer adds emotional manipulations, further confusing matters. 

​Full Moon in Taurus Nov. 23
The Moon is exalted and full by November 23, at 05.39 GMT; a period of the month we are impassioned by the full Moon, along with Mars’ aspect, and an opposition from Jupiter.

This is a powerful full Moon phase. How you use this power is another matter!

This full Moon occurs in the lunar mansion, Krittika, a soft AND sharp lunar sign, representing the ability to cut out negativity, and the harshness that requires, as well as the tenderness and caring nature of anyone who can think more positively. It then moves into Rohini, 'the red one' the passionate lunar sign in sidereal Taurus, with an aspect from Mars and Jupiter. 

We must be conscious of these aspects, leading to a lot of passion, which needs an outlet. ​

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​Neptune stations Direct Nov. 24
Neptune can make us feel detached and unrealistic about the area of our life it is transiting. However, Saturn is the planet which rules where Neptune is currently placed, and aspects it from Sagittarius. So, turning away from reality is not really an option.

Neptune in sidereal Aquarius represents a blurring of lines in issues affecting humanity. Borders become porous when Neptune is involved. Saturn adds fear around the destruction due to its transit in Mula, whether this is the destruction of borders, or of ethics. The perfect recipe for 'national populism'. 

Neptune’s direct station in Aquarius, and the lunar sign Shatabhisak, reminds us that borders are changeable, even between life and death. Neptune returns to Purva Bhadrapada by New Year’s Day; the ‘scorching star sign’ at the end of Aquarius, as a vision of unity is evoked to create more meaningful change.

As we continue to move away from the traditional approach, thanks to Saturn and Pluto in Sagittarius, Neptune's transit adds to the confusion of doing so; the veiling of truth, as we realize the price we pay for innovative technologies and 'progress' is greater than we had envisioned. 

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Saturn in Purva Asadha Nov. 27, 2018 - Dec. 26, 2019
Saturn enters Purva Asadha (13° 20' and 26° 40’ of sidereal Sagittarius) by November 27 and for the following year​. Purva means 'former' and Asadha means 'invincible', a sign that represents the power to reinvigorate after a clearing that has taken place in the previous sign, Mula.

Using the analogy of gardening to represent our beliefs and ethics (Sagittarius), we could say that Saturn's transit in Mula was a period to remove the weeds, while it's time in Purva Asadha will be about purifying and nurturing what remains. 

The beliefs we now have about this area of life, i.e., house position, as well as the houses Saturn rules in our birth chart, will be very different by the time Saturn leaves Sagittarius in 2020.

Unethical behaviour has increased since Saturn moved into Sagittarius in 2017, however, Pluto has been transiting here since 2005, working quietly in the background. This has more obviously been apparent in those in righteous positions; people who have shown us clearly the deep-seated dysfunctions in institutions of faith, for example.

Saturn and Pluto now transit the same sign, coming into an exact conjunction in the next sign Uttara Asadha, the 'latter victorious' by January 2020. Saturn's entry into Purva Asadha will bring more purification, but only by bringing out more impurities. 

Purva Asadha is associated with Jupiter, as well as Venus; two of the greatest 'benefics'. This lunar sign ordinarily grants us more optimism, exuberance and joy; the traits we associate with Sagittarius. However, Saturn's transit through the sign requires more realism.

Practically, we will likely see more issues relating to water depletion and contamination. We've already seen this when Saturn briefly moved into the sign in the Spring/Summer of 2018.

The clarity we often associate with Sagittarius; the ability to cut through all of the information (Gemini) and have faith, can be a good or bad thing, of course. ​Saturn's transit will make it obvious that those digging their heels in with faulty thinking must be called out. 

Read an article I wrote about Saturn in Sagittarius.
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OM TAT SAT