There’s a big full moon tonight, and given that it’s happening right on top of Mars Retrograde. Full Moons and Mars Retrogrades are already spicy enough on their own, so we’re really throwing some jalapenos in the hot pot here. The full moon generally seems to shift some immaterial energetic tide, turning the fader on inhibitions down, overflowing emotional containers, and just generally putting a spotlight on whatever it touches. In this case, it’s touching Mars, who is moonwalking backwards through the sky and causing our figurative firearms to jam and misfire. Any frustrated internal monologues are likely to get louder. As I wrote in my Sagittarius Season piece:

“This day is potentially dangerous. The full moon brings a lot of raw power to whatever it touches, and Mars is in werewolf mode already, primed to hurt itself and to unwittingly harm others. This is not to fear monger, but to encourage readership once again to adopt healthy outlets for the raw martial current. A couple of blessings to count here: Mars is ruled by Mercury, who is now in cool-headed Capricorn. Moreover, while Saturn can be a notorious party-pooper, he is great at restoring order. He’s strong in Aquarius, rules Mercury, and is casting a positive ray to Moon-Mars, hopefully giving them a proper channel, a container. There is treasure to be mined here: Mars retrograde should be about learning new ways to Mars more effectively. The Moon and Saturn may show the way here, and if it works under these conditions, it’ll work under most.”

So while it’s probably a terrible day for throwing your body against a brick wall and hoping it falls, it’s probably a great day for rethinking your methods regarding demolition. (Has throwing your body against a brick wall ever worked? Stop hurting yourself!)

As mentioned, Mercury will be in Capricorn by now. Here, cognition turns from the expansive indulgence of Sagittarius’ Big Ideas and instead focus on how to implement them, how to market them, how to integrate them vertically. Conversation becomes more officious and utilitarian. Mercury’s not particularly strong or weak here, but does just fine. Things won’t get too dry or boring either, since Venus will be following him, setting up shop in an adjoining cubicle late on Friday 12/9. On the way in, she completes a square to Jupiter, opening hearts and artistic expression wide-open before it all gets corporate. If Venus in Sagittarius favored brightly-colored plummage, Venus in Capricorn favors the sharp, buttoned-up, well-tailored suit – uniforms are prized here, a consequence of Saturn’s rulership over Venus here. Saturn also presides over taboos, constrictions, control, dominance, and other factors influencing kink. Saturn also rules over old age, making Venus in Capricorn a common signature in romances with a large age disparity.

Friday also sees the Moon oppose Mercury in Capricorn, an emotional refutation of the shift in though, before moving to late Cancer on Saturday (11/10) and casting a dreamy, optimistic fog on the day by harmonious aspect to Neptune, then Jupiter on Sunday morning (11/11.) This also puts it in opposition to Pluto, so those good feelings may be coalescing to stand up and face down deep, structural issues, to uncover what is hidden or even corrupt. On a more basic level, to combat whatever seems to be holding us down.

By Monday (11/12,) Mercury will begin clicking into some interesting aspects. It’ll first begin to square Chiron, bringing the administrative brain into disharmonious contact with ideas around insecurity and lack of agency. Conversational tones may turn overcompensatory and geared toward resolving any perceived weaknesses as Mercury begins to make positive contacts with the nodes, which can help him turn thoughts into realities. Meanwhile, the Sun has already begun to cast a square to Neptune, diluting identity and self-expression in a way that may feel unpleasant, but in which there is possibility to shed one’s skin and take on new roles. Mileage may vary there. This configuration sees some emotional support from the Moon in Leo on Tuesday, 11/13, before perfecting the following day.

That’s all for now. See you next Hump Day!