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11/1 Mercury square Mars
11/2 Full Moon 2:13 pm 10 Taurus
   Venus trine Neptune
   Mercury conjunct Ceres
11/4 Neptune turns direct
11/5 Sun conjunct Mercury
11/7 Venus enters Scorpio
11/8 Mercury square Jupiter
11/9 Venus sextile Pluto
11/10 Mercury square Chiron
   Sun square Jupiter
11/11 Mercury trine Uranus
   Mercury square Neptune
11/13 Sun square Chiron
11/14 Sun trine Uranus
11/15 Saturn square Pluto
  Sun square Neptune
  Mercury enters Sagittarius
11/16 New Moon 2:14 pm 24 Scorpio
11/17 Mercury sextile Saturn
11/19 Venus square Mars
11/21 Sun enters Sagittarius
11/22 Venus conjunct Ceres
11/23 Venus square Jupiter
11/24 Sun sextile Saturn
   Venus square Chiron
11/25 Venus trine Uranus
11/26 Mercury trine Mars
   Venus square Neptune
11/28 Jupiter square Ceres
11/29 Mercury sextile Jupiter
   Mercury sextile Chiron
11/30 Mercury square Uranus

Eastern time zone, please adjust for your own locality.

The beginning of November brings an increased intensity over October's relatively pleasant planetary atmosphere. The Sun and Mercury have both moved into Scorpio, the sign of darkness and power. Scorpio calls us into the Underworld where we must shed any skin that hides us from our true selves, and this will be even more true as Saturn begins to face off in a square to Pluto.

Saturn has entered Libra now, beginning a 2-1/2 year period of restructuring our relationships and the things that we value, including the ways in which we value ourselves. Areas where we have fallen out of the Libran need for balance will be tested now, as will areas of injustice and inequality.

At the beginning of November Saturn is less than one degree from the square to Pluto, and this dynamic will intensify throughout the month until it peaks on November 15. Pluto is of course the planet of death and power, and when it faces off against Saturn, as it does every 7-9 years, it tests us to one degree or another. Some of these tests are more challenging than others: Stressful aspects between Saturn and Pluto occurred in March of 1993, coinciding with the riots in Los Angeles following the Rodney King beating and a constitutional crisis in Russia, and in August of 2001 just before the September 11 tragedy.

On a personal level, this planetary dynamic demands that we face the hard truths (Saturn) in our life and face any potential destruction (Pluto) with trust and courage. Saturn looks for areas of our life where we may be deluded or confused, and Pluto destroys only that which no longer serves us in our evolutionary process. Any collateral damage that occurs along the way is part of the plan, and this is where absolute faith is required in order to avoid the kind of despair that can occur with the loss of our ideals.

If the dynamic of these two Lords of Death are integrated within the psyche, a new understanding of the darkness of death can be the gift that emerges. Pluto rules the wealth that is found underground such as gold and minerals, and the combination of Saturn and Pluto can, by creating tremendous pressure, create diamonds out of the coal of our every day lives.

The square of Saturn to Pluto will be within a degree between November and February.

November begins with a square of Mercury to Mars, a minor event that will last only a day or so but could create some mental disarray and irritability or require you to defend yourself against the opinions of others. This minor irritation leads up to the Full Moon on the 2nd which includes a T-square to Mars.

The Taurus Full Moon occurs when the Moon in Taurus opposes the Sun in Scorpio, creating a 180 degree angle and a tension between the conscious mind (Sun) and the emotional instinctive reactions (Moon), and the challenging square of both luminaries to Mars will definitely spice up the Full Moon!

Mars is in Leo now, where the role of personal development is emphasized, and the Full Moon occurs in the sign of Taurus. Taurus is focused on stability and physical security, as well as the peace and serenity that comes from a life that is full of contentment and material gifts. This Full Moon could highlight any areas of our life where our personal ego gets in the way of our ability to achieve comfort in our lives, but will also help to energize us to fulfill the dreams of the Full Moon.

Any lunation, or lunar event, encompasses all of the planetary combinations that occur at the time of the event. Taurus's ruler Venus, the planet of love and beauty as well as harmony and peace forms a harmonious trine to Neptune on the day of the Full Moon. This harmonious dance between the planet of spirituality (Neptune) and the goddess of love helps to wrap our experience in a veil of magic and conscious awareness which helps us to utilize the energy of Mars in a more productive way.

Of course the square from Saturn to Pluto is also a part of the lunation, adding a touch of darkness to the event and a requirement that we not forget that death is at our door while we celebrate at the party of pleasure. Humans are the only species with an awareness of death, and this more than anything is what inspires us to greater spiritual wisdom.

Neptune changes direction on November 4 after traveling retrograde throughout the summer along with its companions Jupiter and Neptune which have already turned direct. When a planet changes direction its energy is emphasized as it slows down in preparation for its reversal, and the first week in November will highlight the Neptunian qualities of spirituality and compassion, but also potentially confusion and mystery.

Any confusion will be erased on November 5 when the Sun conjoins Mercury and sharpens the mind, illuminating the power of analysis that Mercury offers when in Scorpio.

On the 7th, Venus (relating to others and values) enters Scorpio at which time there will be three planets, plus Ceres, in Scorpio, teaching that the power of darkness is not to be feared but to be embraced. Venus in Scorpio loves without shame and teaches us to trust even the most uncivil of our emotions. This lesson will become easier to swallow on the 9th when Venus forms a harmonious sextile to Pluto and teaches us to dance in the dark.

In the meantime, Mercury (the mind and communication) is very active over the next few days with a square to Jupiter on the 8th which settles us with an expansive view of the possibilities that surround us. This aspect can also bestow a bit of arrogance as we see ourselves perhaps a bit larger (Jupiter) than we actually are, creating difficulties in our conversations with others. This may be particularly challenging on the 10th when Mercury forms a square to Chiron (wounding and healing) and brings up any old wounds that have been left to fester. If Mercury can find no wounds, this aspect can enhance our awareness and understanding instead.

The following day, on the 11th, Mercury is activated by Uranus (innovation) and our minds are flooded with new ideas and insights; however, a square from Mercury to Neptune creates the potential for confusion. Caution and balance will be needed here, but much brilliance (Uranus) and creativity (Neptune) are possible.

On the 13th a square from the Sun to Chiron will shine a light on the steps that are necessary to achieve inner wisdom. Usually this involves breaking through a block of some kind, or releasing trapped emotional energy. That will become easier on the 14th when the Sun forms a harmonious trine to Uranus and we are flooded with new ideas and the excitement of change.

The 15th marks the exact square of Saturn to Pluto. The Sun is exactly square to Neptune on that day and we may feel overwhelmed and our energy may be low as Neptune floods our senses with the desire to return to the source. This can manifest as escapist behavior, but it can also make this a good day for meditation and turning inwards. In any case, there will be a fair amount of intensity on this day because the Moon is in Scorpio and there will be four planets in Scorpio leading up to the Scorpio New Moon on the 16th. Under this strong Scorpio influence we dive into the power of feelings and must leave all hesitation behind. Fortunately Mercury will enter Sagittarius late on the 15th, offering a window through which a bit of optimism can filter through the darkness.

New Moons mark the beginning of the lunar cycle, and they bring with them a fresh new energy to begin anew. The Scorpio New Moon brings us squarely into contact with the rawness of our feelings and emotions. Here we are naked; unadorned, unprotected - seeking the Truth that comes from total and brutal honesty. With four planets in Scorpio, this is an opportunity to break through fears and bashful hesitation, and embrace the power of your passions.

This New Moon (the conjunction of the Sun and Moon) forms a challenging square to the Triple Conjunction of Jupiter, Chiron and Neptune which suggests that this lunar event will embrace the deep soul work that the Triple Conjunction has been inspiring since February of 2009. Our deepest emotions and painful memories are easy to access now and can be transmuted in the fire of conscious awareness and intention.

The New Moon also makes a harmonious trine to Uranus, the planet that connects us with multidimensional consciousness. At this time we have the potential to use the alchemical process of emotional transmutation in order to elevate our awareness to a higher dimension of wisdom. Saturn is still in a very tight square to Pluto as well, so there is a sense that growth will be forced rather than strictly voluntary. Any time Pluto is involved there is a need for surrender and a deep faith that we are being guided in the unfolding process. We cannot always see the path, but when we look back we almost always can see the perfection.

A harmonious sextile from Mercury to Saturn on the 17th helps to clear our vision and give us the clarity to see what must be done in order to achieve the benefits of this complex planetary event.

For a few days after the New Moon we get a much needed rest. Venus forms a challenging square to Mars on the 19th, but Venus transits are fleeting and mild. At worst, there may be some dissension in our personal relationships between our needs and those of our partner, but these can be easily resolved.

The Sun will enter Sagittarius on the 21st and the clouds will begin to lift. Having spent time in the darkness we will appreciate the light that much more! Sagittarius is the sign of faith and optimism, where we expand our boundaries and open our minds to new ideas and beliefs. This is an opportunity to release the intentions forged in the New Moon to the winds where they can begin to take form.

Beginning after the New Moon, Jupiter approaches a square to Ceres which will be exact on the 28th. Jupiter is always confident and optimistic, but in the challenging aspects like the square that optimism can be unfounded and create problems. This could be a time when we are tempted to take our health for granted; alternatively, it could be a time when we become consumed in our need to care for others in our lives and be deprived of the opportunities that await us. Balance is required here, and ideally an enjoyment of the caregiving that we give to ourselves and those around us.

Venus, ruler of love and our personal tastes and aesthetics, is active throughout the week. On the 22nd and 23rd she inspires greater self-care in a conjunction to Ceres and encourages us to indulge in pleasure and fun with a square to Jupiter. On the 24th she forces us to peek into sensitive chinks in our self-protective armor with a square to Chiron, and on the 25th she trines Uranus and inspires us to seek excitement and to do something new and unexpected. On the 26th she interacts with Neptune in a challenging square, activating the imagination and inspiring both creativity and delusion.

Then Mercury takes center stage. Mercury is the planet of communication and learning, and on the 26th a trine from Mercury to Mars encourages an active mind and confident speech. This is a great day to tackle difficult problems. On the 29th Mercury forms a harmonious sextile to Jupiter and Chiron, helping us to filter any emotional charge through the realm of the mind where it can be analyzed and worked out through reason.

That mental influence will remain in effect into the first few days of December with the Gemini Full Moon on December 2 (Gemini is ruled by Mercury), and Venus will move into Sagittarius shifting the energy of the season into a lighter and more social experience.