The cosmic winds are blowing strong in the blustery month of November. High-intensity aspects will be forming in the skies from the beginning of the month, and the energy stays strong with peaks in activity each week.
We start the month with a Full Moon on the 2nd. Full Moons are always active times, and the energy they provide helps to act on other aspects in the skies. Neptune is the key planet at this time of the month, as he is stationing (appearing to stop in the skies) to go direct on the 4th. Times around Neptune stations tend to be marked by fantasy and delusions. It’s a great time to meditate and get in touch with your dreams, and creative channels can open very wide - all the more so because of the Full Moon’s energy.
On the other hand, Neptune stations usually aren’t ideal times for "real world" concerns. News of the Swine Flu started around Neptune’s station in May, and it has been very hard to get accurate information about what’s going on. There are Plutonian conspiracy theories flying around, and while most of them are dangerous and inaccurate, the actual story is far from clear. Look to the beginning of November to tell us more, but don’t expect that things will be all that clear.
A personal aspect slips into the mix, with a nice trine between Neptune and the Goddess of Love, Venus, on the 2nd. It’s a Monday, but the day does hold a certain romantic potential, and can be especially nice for established couples. Singles may get excited about a new possibility, although with Neptune, the reality is always in question.
A couple of aspects between the Sun, Mercury, and Jupiter between the 8th and the 10th will tend to inspire and get us moving towards our aspirations. There are a few other aspects at this time, and all point to a creative beginning of the week. A Mercury-Neptune aspect on the 11th is a little like a one-day Mercury retrograde: communication is likely to be a little off, and we may have a hard time getting the full story, so avoid contracts and other commitments, if possible.
The most significant aspect of the month occurs right in the middle, on the 15th, as Saturn and Pluto form a tense square in the skies. For the past year, we’ve been talking about Saturn and Uranus, a cosmic drama between the traditional and the revolutionary. In the United States, we can see how we’ve gone back and forth between wanting great change (President Obama was elected on the day of the first Saturn-Uranus aspect), and reacting to the possibility that change may actually happen (for example, in health care).
Those Saturn-Uranus aspects are still at work, but with Pluto in the mix, we bring the potential for change to a whole new level. In fact, it isn’t so much about change as transformation. Look for an increase in polarization on political and social issues, and as the separation becomes more intense, look for more conspiracy theories and fear-mongering. Try to protect yourself against this negativity, while on the other hand remembering that there is indeed a certain amount of subtle manipulation taking place. It’s hard to know "the truth" when all sides are using fear to make their case.
The very next day is a New Moon. By now you know that the New Moon is generally a quiet time of the month, but coming a day after the Saturn-Pluto aspect and in Pluto’s home sign of Scorpio, I think we can expect more subtle intensity than restful quiet. Individually and collectively we can use this time to try to align ourselves with our highest intention.
In the midst of all our collective excitement, Venus makes a series of aspects between the 19th and the 26th. We may see some very dramatic stories about female performers in the tabloids, but our personal lives will get a bit of a charge as well. Venus is in Scorpio, and yes, that is a "sexy" placement for her, but it is also one which can lead us towards being self-protective rather than open, and can foster power struggles.
The early part of this week has the Goddess in tense aspects with Mars and Jupiter. The tendency will be to try to get what we want, and to seek out new possibilities in relationships. There is a kind of push-pull about these aspects, and a possible reluctance to move forwards unless we’re sure it is on our terms. An easy aspect to Uranus on the 25th favors experimentation, or at least letting one’s partner have a little more space. An aspect to Neptune on the 26th can take many forms. At best, we express our dreams and fantasies within a partnership, but we could also get irritated that our relationship realities aren’t living up to our ideals, or we could struggle with our partners about which images should be guiding us.
As the month ends, we are building towards the Uranus station (he will appear to stop and then move forwards) on December 1st. Uranus stations tend to really push up our individual and collective energies. There is a strong desire to go our own way, to buck convention, and rewrite the rules. As long as you have a clear field ahead of you, this energy is creative and liberating, but if others are getting in the way, it can be hard to be patient. A Mercury-Uranus aspect on the 30th will favor fast talk and new ideas.
November is an exciting, intense month on many levels. With so much activity, it can be hard to keep a clear sense of your own direction... which of course is always subject to change.
Armand M. Diaz, M.A., C.A., is certified as a Consulting Astrologer by the National Council for Geocosmic Research (NCGR). He is avail-able for private consultations, in which he creates a supportive context for self-exploration, to help clients make decisions which are in harmony with their greatest potential, offering a truly integral approach to astrology. Armand has practiced divination for more than twenty years, working with the I Ching and Tarot in addition to astrology. He has published in various astrological journals, including The Mountain Astrologer. He can be reached at 917-216-1541 or armand@integralastrology.net, or though his website at www.integralastrology.net.