NOvember 2015 Forecast

Mars and Venus and the Horrors of War

Mars and Venus enter Virgo Nov. 3
The war between Mars and Venus moves from Leo to Virgo in November. Mars marches into the sign and Venus is dragged kicking and screaming!

Neither do well in Virgo, but Mars is more up for the job. Mars in Virgo brings a need to calculate strategies in order to build on our strengths. We are likely to feel bogged down by the details when all we really want to do is get it done already. This leads to a lot of frustration which needs an outlet. However, there is much which can be achieved if we can be patient and get it just right. Mars is not left alone in Virgo to let us get on with our strategies, however. Venus is right beside the planet of action, whispering sweet nothings into his ear, tempting him from his duties. Added to that, Rahu is in Virgo and ready to meet with Mars and Venus in an explosive dance. These transits are turbulent and how each of us handles them will vary, of course. But you can be certain that the world at large will experience some of the more turbulent aspects of these transits. 

So, what are the effects of Mars, Rahu and Venus together in Venus? Well, if you would like to get on with a schedule you've been putting off and throwing off anything which stands in your way of achieving a personal goal, then you are in luck - as long as you are prepared to handle the details. If, however, you are seeking to settle down in romantic bliss and play fair, then you might be in for a challenging time in November. This becomes more obvious by November 7, as the Moon joins with Rahu, Mars and Venus in a sign which never settles for anything less than perfection. There's a lot of red tape to negotiate, while at the same time there is a lot of sudden and unexpected events to deal with. The release of a lot of pent up energy after Saturn has released its grip on Mars creates a force to be reckoned with, which could either work for or against you, depending on your individual circumstances. 

Venus represents the ability to compromise our goals in order to facilitate others. It represents romantic relationships in particular. Venus is at its weakest in Virgo because the exacting environment of Virgo does not suit the planet of peace and harmony. Relationships of all kinds are tested. Some may even come to breaking point. Domestic and diplomatic chaos are on the cards in November, as a result. With compromise hard to reach and Mars feeling turbo charged in a sign which represents the finer details, we are likely to feel someone else's wrath if we try to stand in their way on their path to perfection. Relationships are not perfect, of course. They are messy. Humans being are not machines which can be calibrated. The words 'messy' and 'Virgo' do not belong on the same page!

The Virgo impulse sends us on a task of fulfilling everything on our list so that we can be happy. However, as we never reach the perfection the sign requires, we are never happy if we are strongly influenced by the sign. This is why Venus is at its weakest Virgo. We cannot accept things as they are and be happy. We try to reach an illusory perfection and, with Mars and Rahu sending this impulse into overdrive in November, we are likely to create problems for ourselves and others.

As if that were not enough to deal with, we have the Sun moving through its sign of debilitation for the first two weeks of the month. It's sign of debilitation happens to be Venus' sign; where we must compromise, but our integrity can end up being compromised and our energy levels depleted. With Venus weak simultaneously, there is enough drama in November to keep us all busy sorting out the mess. Even the one mitigating factor of Mercury in Venus' sign for the first two weeks of November is hampered somewhat due to it being hemmed in between Saturn and Rahu. This means a combust Mercury exchanges signs with Venus and grants us a tight squeeze out of the mess. If you have a good sense of humor then you may be able to diffuse some volatility for everyone's sake. 

For your personal goals: Plan your route carefully and enjoy the bumpy ride.
For your relationships: Step aside and let others past, giving them a wide berth.

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New Moon in Libra Nov. 11
This new Moon is the darkest of the year, as the Sun is placed in debilitation when the Moon wanes into total darkness. It is a time to withdraw and renew ourselves and a time to acknowledge the journey into night as a necessary period of inward growth - just as important as the outward expansion. Just as there is Day, there must be Night and each has its place in our daily lives and our experience of the year. 

This day is known as Diwali in India and is a time of year - together with other festivals such as the Dia de Muertos, or the 'day of the dead'  in Mexico and the Celtic Samhain festival - that we bring our light of awareness into the darkness of our ignorance. This is a new beginning on a deeper level and is celebrated by some in India as New Year's day.

​Of course, the new Moon is always a time to contemplate rather than taking action, and this new Moon and New Year represents the initiation of new growth occurring in the dark which will take some time to come to light. 

Happy New Year!
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The Sun enters Scorpio Nov. 16
The Sun moves into Mars' sign by mid-November and we move through a stronger, more internal period. Scorpio highlights our secret self, the self we keep hidden from the world and sometimes ourselves. This involves examining our vulnerabilities and how we go about finding strength in the face of uncertainty.

As the Sun moves through Scorpio it comes together with Saturn which began its transit here last November. Saturn in Scorpio brings strength once we have discovered where our weaknesses lie. We can see many weaknesses play out on a global scale, of course, but we each need to look to the sign Scorpio in order to examine how we each try to control events because of our sense of vulnerability.

With the Sun now moving through the sign, we can highlight these for ourselves and bring light into the darkness. Simply put, it means closing our eyes and finding ourselves in the darkness. We can withdraw into ourselves to find our hidden reserves of power. Saturn is in combustion between November 12 and December 17 (exact on November 30) due to its proximity to the Sun. Saturn in combustion leads to a reckoning which facilities an internal search for strength.

Mercury enters Scorpio Nov. 17
Mercury moves alongside the Sun in Scorpio (also in a state of combustion) and this can highlight negative thinking patterns which we can then use to our advantage - making the necessary changes to our thinking processes. Mercury is also conjunct Saturn on November 24; a time to pay particular attention to the thoughts we entertain, and whether they serve us. 

Mercury is a bit clumsy and slow in Scorpio, as we try to communicate from a place which feels more then it is able to express. Together with Mercury's conjunction with Saturn, and its combustion, we can see the possibility of a poorer communicative style by late November, but we could also tap into the power of the subtler aspects of communication, i.e., non verbal communication, and finds ways to express our raw emotions without the need for the intellects involvement. We can tune into the brain in our guts and find that we have an awareness of our core being which is more animal; more instinctual, but no less valid in a world which likes to express itself in words. 
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Full Moon in Taurus Nov. 25
A full Moon is a marvel to behold. It is expressive and joyous, kind and seductive. A full Moon in Taurus is a feeling of connection to the things in life which sustain a healthy sense of self and self-worth: food, clothing, family and community. I will not dwell on the fact that Saturn and Rahu both influence this full Moon, and that the planet which rules Taurus (Venus) is placed in debilitation at this time, stressing the mind. At the end of the day, whether you are focused on the things which fuel a sense of joy or sorrow matters little to the mind and emotions which are always feeding on something, giving us a feeling of being alive. 

While the Sun transits Scorpio, bringing light to the depths of our being, the Moon lights up our life in the most practical way: fulfilling our basic need for communion. 
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Venus enters Libra Nov. 29
Venus leaves its weakest position and gets to move home again in Libra. And although its house has been a bit ram-sacked of late, it can begin to clean up some of the mess. The sign Libra has had its fair share of pressure in the past year due to Saturn and Rahu being placed either side of the sign, creating a less than harmonious environment. 

Thankfully, this period of tension in this area of life is coming to an end, as Venus surveys the damage and Rahu subsequently moves to lift the blockage off in January. Whatever you have going on in Libra has been feeling the pinch as a result of these transits for the past year. Now that things are begining to improve for the sign - especially for those with Libra rising sign - there is a need to acknowledge all that is joyful in life. Venus' recent transit to Libra's 12th house of loss and debilitation has left a deeply profound feeling of lack which can now be replaced with feelings of renewal and joy. 

December brings more parties to enjoy, of course, coming up to the festive season, offering us new opportunities of connecting with each other in more harmonious ways than November offered us. 

OM TAT SAT