An unhelpful fog prevents a clear vision at the start of this week, as the square between the Sun and Neptune stirs the pot of delusion and misunderstanding. Obfuscation around goals is a possibility, as are self-aggrandizement and negative self-talk alike. This becomes all the more likely since Mercury will square Chiron, which may set old wounds to itching, distracting from progress. However, for those that can focus up in spite of challenges, there are ripening fruits. The Sun is also departing from a sextile to Saturn, which may serve as a reminder to color within the lines to produce the prettiest picture. Mercury is also casting a trine to the North Node, which may show us the way to implementing material goals, and should be especially valuable to those engaging in administration or other organizational concerns. The Moon in Capricorn lends support to this aspect, creating what is known as a Grand Earth Trine in the evening and through the next day (Thurs 12/15,) providing rich grounding energy. This seems a strong contrast to Neptune’s influence. It may mean that the path forward means relying on one’s full range of senses, as what is in our line of sight does not tell the whole tale.

This array may also yield surprising results; Uranus is the master of stunning revelations and “Eureka” moments, and he is still very much in the above mix. In a more contentious aspect, we could expect major disruptions to be triggered, and this may in fact be the case for some. But for the most part, shake-ups from this array should prove productive. Mercury will spend the remainder of the week in contact with Uranus, so while Wednesday and Thursday are the hot-button days, seeds planted here may erupt from the ground before the solstice.

On Friday (12/16,) Venus begins to trace some of the same ground that Mercury just passed over, making uncomfortable contact with Chiron in Aries and setting off insecurities around attraction, aesthetic, and general agency. This square will perfect on Monday, 12/19, and then Venus will begin her own trine to the Uranus-North Node conjunction. At the same time as Venus is making this journey, the Sun will begin to lock into a contentious aspect to Jupiter. This looks like the type of adversity to raises us up and asks us to do better, a challenge to boost fellowship and confidence. However, this aspect will not perfect while these planets are in their current signs, as Jupiter will move into Aries before that can happen.

Jupiter already made its way through Pisces earlier in the year, making ingress into Aries in mid-May. He went through a retrograde phase which saw him moonwalk it back into the final two degrees of Pisces at the end of October, and we have been treated to another month and a half of Jupiter in one of his seats of natural strength, where his ability to inspire hope, confidence and belief are firing on levels that feel transcendent and emotional. Jupiter is about expansiveness and generosity, about the best virtues humanity has to offer, which is the reason that Jupiter has long been associated with the character of the venerable sage. In Pisces, we were treated to one of the purest expressions of this planet.

It’ll be different in Aries. It will be Tuesday (12/20,) Mars’ Day, when Jupiter enters Aries. This is appropriate given that this will be a Mars-oriented Jupiter; planets in Aries take their marching order from Mars. This is not ideal, since Mars is currently retrograde, a warrior in the throes of frustration and self-undoing. One hopes that Jupiter’s new connection to Mars will be a balm to such feelings, but if so, the salve is not likely to kick in until they are within range of a positive relationship by degree, and unfortunately they will not get close to a sextile until Mars stations and then turns direct next month.

Still, Jupiter in Aries is like the old martial hermit living on the mountain, willing to teach his secrets of efficacy to any brave enough to fight through the dangerous environs he chooses to call home. The spirit of benevolence becomes a code of chivalry here, the expansive nature applied to self-assertion in all of its forms. The fighting arts are the clearest manifestation of this, but there are a lot of less punchy ways to work within a philosophy of will.

Next week brings the new moon, the Winter Solstice, and for those that celebrate, Christmas Sunday.

For this week, Happy Hanukkah! Until next Hump Day.

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!

Roadblocks to progress and requisite emotional meltdowns are possible this week, as the already-spicy Mars Retrograde season is getting turned up to “Vindaloo.” Mars is the planet of getting stuff done, how we check tasks off our list, how we defend ourselves and how we go to war. The retrograde, which began at the end of October and will last until mid-January, turns all of that on its head, confounding our best efforts, bringing a sense of powerlessness or uncertainty. In Gemini, this could relate to myriad areas of capability, but those most likely to be affected have to do with the processing, deployment and dissemination of information: how we put knowledge to work and how we can communicate effectively. And breakdowns in that realm may be becoming more and more apparent as Mercury, the planet with general dominion over those realms, finds itself in a contentious position with Mars, one that may make it feel like you’re banging your head against a concrete wall, knowing the answers lie just on the opposite side.

What’s more, and as I’ve written about extensively in my Sagittarius Season write-up, Mercury and Venus are traveling together very closely, so our experience of knowledge and our experience of Venus’ spheres of influence – aesthetic, value, enjoyment, entertainment, attractiveness, and to some extent, emotion – will be hard to pick apart, as if they are fused together. We may be more likely to get haughty and bothered about what we do and do not know, what we are or are not able to do. What’s more, since Saturn is also configured tightly to Mars, albeit in a positive way, we may feel duty-bound to get these things accomplished right now. That sense of obligation and structure CAN be very helpful, and I can think on somethings I’ve taken care of recently that I would not have if I didn’t feel that imperative. But the really vexing thing will be those tasks we cannot complete even though we feel that we must.

The lunar cycle may also contribute to frustrations today, as the waxing moon comes into conflict with the Sun, causing disharmony between self-image and gut feeling or appetites. This disharmony may propel us toward alternative solutions, however. By evening, the moon will cause what is known as a t-square, a tense configuration involving all the forces previously discussed above. If we are still hard at work, that work may become granular, possibly a slog. Then again, if you gravitate toward detail-oriented, admin-flavored tasks, this might be your jam. This will likely persist into the following morning, though hopefully you will not have to.

Tomorrow though, on Thursday 12/1, the moon will make contact with Jupiter by midday. Jupiter is freshly direct and likely to inject optimism and a spirit of goodwill into your day. Mileage may vary!

However, Thursday also sees Mercury jump out of the frying pan and dive deep into the ocean’s briney depths without a flotation device. That is to say, Mercury will begin peeling away from its negative relationship to Mars and lock into a tricky position with Neptune. This is likely a more precarious position for Mercury, and given that Mercury is currently giving Mars its marching orders by traditional rulership, it’s not great for Mars, either. Before, the Messenger planet was barking commands at an impertinent enforcer in his employ, now he’s trying to shout down an untameable wall of water, and the enforcer is only hearing angry “glub glubs” over his earpiece. In truth, this will probably start to be felt a day or two earlier, but Thursday is when this aspect is partile, or exact. Facts and figures are likely to get slippery, though this would be an excellent time to binge through some fantasy or crush through a video game. Artistic endeavors are similarly encouraged, though it’s going to be a bad time for PAs and stage managers and anyone who has to try and herd all the creative cats. Coming from that world myself, though, I daresay they’re bitterly used to it.

Friday (12/2) sees the moon enter energetic Aries, bringing fresh ammo to the front lines, and its conjunction with Chiron may even help us correct any problems with our aim. Saturday (12/3) has Venus following Mercury into an exact square with Neptune. While this is not any planet’s favorite place to be, Venus’ lore has her rising fully-formed from a giant clam shell, and the planet’s resonance with the emotional self bears out this ingrained connection. In short, Venus is naturally a better swimmer than Mercury, as it were…though the humidity is probably frizzing out her hair in a way she’s not fond of.

Plus! This contact is uniquely interesting because it occurs on the day that Neptune ceases its retrograde and goes direct in Pisces, and because some have referred to Neptune as a higher octave of Venus. Neptune represents our link to the imaginal, to the great sea of dreams and nightmares, and depending on where this transit hits an individual’s chart, we may feel that connection’s eddies stir and twist into a new direction. From my Sag Season write-up: “We can expect our aesthetic, social and sensual expressions to be problematized by confusion, coming out as a distorted versions of how they may have seemed on the inside. Not every substance should be exposed to air, as they may spoil. Neptune is also thought to preside over altered states, and it may be that things don’t manifest as expected because the expecter is somewhere else entirely. Then again, this needn’t be a bad thing; Neptune direct is likely to stir inspiration and romance and feelings of interconnection, you might just stub your toe on the way to all of that.”

Around this time, Mercury will begin to square Jupiter. There’s a lot going on! More on this later.

Sunday (12/4) and Monday (12/5) see the moon’s movement through Taurus. On Monday, it will make contact with Uranus conjunct the North Node, a powder keg union I have written much about in prior months. It’s not quite as volatile as it once was, but shake-ups and surprises are possible here. Jupiter is already preparing to leave Pisces, moving into the 29th degree today, its anaretic degree. A planet’s influence is traditionally thought of as weaker or muddled here, though Jupiter is still very strong in Pisces; Superman on a bad day is still going to save a lot of people.

Then on Tuesday (12/6,) Mercury locks into the 29th degree of Sagittarius, an exact square to Jupiter. This is the last day before Mercury changes signs, and he is coming into conflict with the planet who informs him, a petulant student trying to take the benevolent teacher to task for not giving him all the answers. If we’re particularly keyed into Mercury, we may learn something valuable today, something that elevates our thinking on a particular matter.

There’s a potent Full Moon incoming, but that’s not until the 8th. So, until next Hump Day!

In light of the extensive Sagittarius Season piece I wrote yesterday, I will attempt to keep remarks brief. (I mean, honestly, you should probably just go read that, but I’ll go ahead and cherry-pick some of the bits that are relevant to this week for you, because I’m such a special guy.)

Today is the New Moon in Sagittarius, which “which happens almost on top of the Mercury-Venus conjunction, and certainly highlights the influence they’ll have over this cycle.” The Messenger and the Love Planet have been “marching together in lock-step through Sagittarius, creating merry moods and lively discussions, inspiring mouths to talk too much, among other things.”

Additionally, today is the day that Jupiter resumes direct motion in Pisces, one of his seats of strength. From my Sag Season write-up: “While Jupiter is the bestower of gifts, the retrograde put a big hole in Santa Claus’ sack, meaning those deserving or in need have been getting stockings full of jack shit lately. But! For a fleeting three weeks, Jupiter will be both direct and in his domicile. He goes direct in Pisces right on Thanksgiving, in fact! And Mars is now more or less out of range and should not create further fuss and ruckus, at least where Jupiter is concerned.”

Also – “Pisces is one of Jupiter’s strongest positions, where The Great Benefic can do the most good, the Pisces brand of which can encompass, but is not limited to generosity of spirit, fellowship, powerful emotional upswells and breakthroughs, internal growth, and exploration that can be artistic, poetic, intimate, hallucinogenic, or hypnagogic in nature. General revelry can also fall under its purview,” which should be great for Thanksgiving.

Jupiter is the ruler of this New Moon. The combination of his direct station and the influence of Mercury-Venus should make this a pleasant evening, especially considering that the moon is unencumbered by any other unpleasant influences. “In fact, the only major ray cast will be to Chiron in Aries, which may provide entree into some avenues of healing and self-actualization.”

In fact, the only real fly in the ointment is Mars, who is still giving off a general air of frustration due to his retrograde. He is in a tough relationship to Neptune, which is likely to stir up confusion and bewilderment, but may also inspire imaginative solutions. It’s not a good aspect for substance abuse, however. (Is there one, in fact? The point is though, it can go particularly badly here.)

Mars will get an additional highlight on Thursday (11/24) and Friday (11/25,) as the moon makes contact, highlighting this season’s favorite little ball of aggro, just in time for family arguments around Thanksgiving dinner. Try to take the aggression out by attacking that turkey.

The following two days see the moon make contact with Uranus and the North Node on Saturday (11/26,) inspiring shake-ups and surprises, and then with Pluto on Sunday (11/27,) which may help some folks identify things lurking just under the surface, whether they be systemic corruption or structural rot or necessary shadow work. During this time, Mercury and Venus will begin to creep into an opposition with Mars Retrograde. Again, from my Sag Season piece:

“The pleasant walk is about to turn into a rocky hike… [Mercury and Venus] will oppose Mars Retrograde starting around 11/27 – the negative connection will be exact for Mercury on 11/29 and Venus for on 11/30. Saturn will also be tightly configured to this array. This may trigger feelings of powerlessness and frustration, especially for those trying to accomplish goals and live up the edict of responsibility. Saturn’s presence makes the importance of accomplishment feel heavy, but the opposition between Mercury and Venus means that getting your actions aligned with both head and heart may feel impossible, that what you want may feel so far away from your grasp. It is important in these moments to examine opportunities to revise your methods.”

Happy Thanksgiving!

Until next Hump Day!

Many Happy Turkeys to those who celebrate and actually like it.

Personally, I love Thanksgiving. I enjoy getting together with my family and indulging in food excess. Cigars and libations are on offer, as well as turkey-coma naps in front of The Football Game. But I know not everyone has the same relationship with their family, or food, and then there’s the dodgy history of it all, so…I get it. But on the face of it, the holiday does all appear terribly Jupiterian, what with the bounty of delicious blessings and the general tenor of gratitude. This is always fitting for Sagittarius Season (as Jupiter is its ruling planet,) but especially appropriate this year. Why? Because we get a big Jupiterian gift this holiday season, though it is an ephemeral one.

Jupiter re-entered Pisces on 10/28 (almost a month ago, that was quick!) Pisces is one of Jupiter’s strongest positions, where The Great Benefic can do the most good, the Pisces brand of which can encompass, but is not limited to generosity of spirit, fellowship, powerful emotional upswells and breakthroughs, internal growth, and exploration that can be artistic, poetic, intimate, hallucinogenic, or hypnagogic in nature. General revelry can also fall under its purview, though lately that has held a lot of potential for things to go sideways – claps on the backs of our friends turning into fist fights. This is partially because Jupiter has been in a tough relationship with Mars Retrograde in Gemini (more on him later,) but also because Jupiter himself has been retrograde. While Jupiter is the bestower of gifts, the retrograde put a big hole in Santa Claus’ sack, meaning those deserving or in need have been getting stockings full of jack shit lately.

But! For a fleeting three weeks, Jupiter will be both direct and in his domicile. He goes direct in Pisces right on Thanksgiving, in fact! And Mars is now more or less out of range and should not create further fuss and ruckus, at least where Jupiter is concerned. On 12/1, the moon will conjoin Jupiter, and hopefully the blessings will be felt palpably. But like a beautiful, errant snowflake, this mighty Jupiter’s strength wanes quickly. He’s already anaretic on 12/5, meaning that he’s moved into the final degree of Pisces, a condition traditionally thought to make a planet sluggish. Then he moves back into Aries on 12/20, where he has already been for much of the year, though now he will be ruled by a retrograde Mars, leading us to the more self-destructive and frustrating consequences of the bounty.

We turn our attention away from Jupiter now and look to Mercury & Venus, marching together in lock-step through Sagittarius, creating merry moods and lively discussions, inspiring mouths to talk too much, among other things. This will culminate on Wednesday’s New Moon in Sagittarius, which happens almost on top of the Mercury-Venus conjunction, and certainly highlights the influence they’ll have over this cycle. The lunation is ruled by the newly-direct Jupiter and is unencumbered by hard aspects to tough planets. In fact, the only major ray cast will be to Chiron in Aries, which may provide entree into some avenues of healing and self-actualization.

The pleasant walk is about to turn into a rocky hike, however. The two planets will oppose Mars Retrograde starting around 11/27 – the negative connection will be exact for Mercury on 11/29 and Venus for on 11/30. Saturn will also be tightly configured to this array. This may trigger feelings of powerlessness and frustration, especially for those trying to accomplish goals and live up the edict of responsibility. Saturn’s presence makes the importance of accomplishment feel heavy, but the opposition between Mercury and Venus means that getting your actions aligned with both head and heart may feel impossible, that what you want may feel so far away from your grasp. It is important in these moments to examine opportunities to revise your methods.

Right after the duo faces down an angry and confused Mars, they move right into a square with Neptune, and then Jupiter. There is more potential for confusion and obfuscation with Neptune involved, more potential for delusion and paranoia to color thinking and feeling. Jupiter, however, will be freshly direct, and though it may feel grating, will be likely to rally Mercury and Venus to take heart, hope big, and grow full. Mercury’s partile square to Neptune will take place on 12/1 and then to Jupiter on 12/5; Venus’ partile square to Neptune will be on 12/3 and then to Jupiter on 12/8.

Now, things will get really interesting here; Neptune has also been retrograde for a long time (since the end of June,) and at the same time that Venus makes her exact square to it, Neptune will copy their neighbor’s homework and also go direct. Neptune is pathologically slippery to talk about, and it’s no exaggeration to say that I’ve experience multiple electronic disturbances when me or other astrologers whose Zoom lectures I’ve attended have tried to discuss Neptune. Calls dropped, garbled audio, video distortion – that sort of thing, right on cue and never again in the session. Even in person, I find myself getting hung up on the right words, stuck in the mud, taking a long time to elucidate. Because Neptune is the great sea of dreams and nightmares, the collective unconscious, the place where fantasies are born. Some have called it a pure exression on yin (to Uranus’ yang,) others have called it a higher octave of Venus – interesting, because that’s who will be triggering it on its direct station. We can expect our aesthetic, social and sensual expressions to be problematized by confusion, coming out as a distorted versions of how they may have seemed on the inside. Not every substance should be exposed to air, as they may spoil. Neptune is also thought to preside over altered states, and it may be that things don’t manifest as expected because the expecter is somewhere else entirely. Then again, this needn’t be a bad thing; Neptune direct is likely to stir inspiration and romance and feelings of interconnection, you might just stub your toe on the way to all of that.

So it may feel like quite a miniature season, the end of which comes when Mercury and Venus leave Sagittarius’ cacophonous halls and enter the biz-cas cubicles of Capricorn. Mercury makes ingress to Capricorn on 12/6, Venus enters on 12/10. While both planets do reasonably well under the taskmaster rulership of Saturn, there’s no denying that the special little party between the two is wrapping up. They will then be 5 degrees apart by then, and they are no longer walking hand-in-hand, the two Chatty Cathy’s in the class made to sit further and further across the room from each other. Though it should be noted that they will still pass notes, as they will be around 5 to 6 degrees away from each other for the remainder of the solar month. Side note: Mercury is also starting to pass over ground he will retrograde over in the next solar month. He’ll moonwalk us into the new year, going retrograde on 12/29.

The Full Moon in Gemini is right around that time, and it will be happening right on top of retrograde Mars. 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.

In the third and final decan of the solar month, the Sun will also square Neptune and Jupiter, as Mercury and Venus did before. The Sun’s partile square to Neptune will take place on 12/14, and though it is unlikely to carry the power that came with Neptune’s direct station, we can consider it an aftershock and a reminder of its power to distort our vision and draw forth inspiration. We will not, however, get a partile square to Jupiter while the Sun is in Sagittarius, or while Jupiter is in Pisces. They will square each other exactly on the day of the Winter Solstice, 12/21, when the Sun enters Capricorn and faces off against Jupiter in Aries.

More on that as it draws nearer. For now, here’s some dates –

11/23 – New Moon in Sag on top of Mercury-Venus. Jupiter direct in Pisces.

11/24 – Moon opposes Mars Rx in Gemini. Potentially volatile, emotional.

11/28 – Similarly volatile. The moon makes contact with both malefics, and squares Uranus-NN. Could be some surprises in store.

11/29 – Mercury exactly opposed Mars Rx. See description above.

11/30 – Venus follows suit, exactly opposed to Mars.

12/1 – Moon contacts Jupiter, optimism turned up to 11. Mercury square Neptune.

12/3 – Neptune goes direct in Pisces. Venus square Neptune.

12/6 – Mercury square Jupiter. Moon contacts Uranus-NN, shake-ups and surprises possible.

12/7 – Mercury enters Capricorn.

12/8 – Full Moon in Gemini on Mars Rx. Danger! Venus square Jupiter.

12/9 – Venus enters Capricorn.

12/12 – Moon contacts Uranus-NN by square.

12/13 – Sun square Neptune.

12/14 – Mercury trine North Node, possibly a trigger for actualization of cognitive work. Mercury also squares Chiron here though, which may bring up insecurities or wounds that slow progress. Probably for good reason!

12/19 – Moon conjunct South Node, opposed Uranus-NN. Venus makes contact with NN and Chiron, as Mercury did previously.

12/20 – Jupiter makes ingress into Aries.

12/21 – The Sun makes ingress into Capricorn, squaring Jupiter. The Winter Solstice.

The death march through Scorpio gives way to a Sagittarian celebration! After a harrowing process after being taken apart and reassembled, this week first sees Venus, then Mercury and eventually the Sun enter into the centaur’s sign, a rollicking hall that should prove overflowing with revelry and bounty. Later in the month, things in that hall may become a little TOO rowdy – good-natured ribbing giving way to ridicule giving way to bar fights giving way to bar stabbings, that sort of thing. But that’s later! Let’s talk about now.

Venus moves into Sagittarius today. She’s generally considered neither strong nor weak there, but peregrine throughout most of the sign, a term meaning “pilgrim;” she is a stranger in these halls, not accustomed to the subtleties of delicate sensuality nor the aesthetic beauty that arise when Venus is in one of her cushioned seats of power. No, she’s not much for subtleties at all in Sagittarius, in fact. But that doesn’t mean she’s going to miss a function. Venus can be a barrel of laughs in Sag, can certainly be stylish and expressive, and if anything, may adopt an aesthetic that many would agree is “too much.” But its bright lights and big dreams are mostly benign, and for every person rolling their eyes, there are sure to be three who are roaring with laughter or snapping their fingers in agreement.

It should be a real sheetcake of victory for the first part of the solar month, being that Jupiter is back into his position of strength in Pisces, and Jupiter rules Sagittarius. It’s a squadron built for blessings, at least in the first part of the solar month, before Venus and other planets in Sag come to an opposition with Mars Retrograde that will shake things up.

For now, enjoy the party. Venus has had a rough go of things lately: weakened in Scorpio, turned around by a retrograde Mars, and caught in the crosshairs of the recent eclipse, likely leaving a lot of hearts lost and despairing. But this is a fiery, willful, questing Venus, one who can rediscover pleasures both high and low. Do a kick-flip in the lecture hall! Delve into Classics with a fistful of birthday cake! Dance it out with a foreign dignitary in their native body language! That sort of thing.

Thursday (11/17) doubles down by adding Mercury to the Sagittarian mix. In fact, Mercury and Venus will be conjunct, walking in lock-step until the end of November, creating nice arrangements for discourse, study, socialization, or anything that combines cognition and connection. Now, while many of the above passages on Venus’ happy transit will also apply to Mercury, it’s not exactly the same. As a rule, Mercury doesn’t do quite as poorly in Scorpio, and in fact, has a tougher time fulfilling its function in Sagittarius. Whereas Mercury traditionally delights in being able to skip around the x axis as it pleases, dancing from topic to topic, Sag usually finds one thing it likes and rides the y axis all the way up. This can have positive effects, such as an enthusiastic deep-dive down a rabbit hole, the other side holding vaunted expert status, knowledge, and ability. On the other hand, it might just create more folks obsessed with one thing that keep steering the conversation back to that one topic that you couldn’t give less of a shit about. And to be fair, that inept conversationalist might be the rabbit-hole crusader may be the same person. In any event, Venus and Jupiter’s benefic influences should soften this Mercury’s more grating characteristics.

So things kick off on a pretty nice note, one of fresh and vibrant momentum. It may take just a minute to feel the good times kick in (and as ever, your mileage will vary on whether or not they kick in at all,) as the moon forms a confrontational square to this new configuration in Sagittarius, possibly showcasing the ways in which the big to-do can be a public nuisance. The Sun is in a strange place too, still lingering in Scorpio and caught up between the dreamy influence of Neptune, the power-control matrix of Pluto, and the benefic-but-backwards influence of Jupiter. It’s a real grab-bag of influences on will and identity, fitting for Mars retrograde season, and self-expression may come out strangely diffuse.

Mars is likewise caught up in Neptune’s influence, but in a more confrontational manner. I know I keep banging on about it, but it’s important: this is the season to reign in substance abuse, as self-destruction is at a premium. Neptune is an arbiter of mood and consciousness-shifting activities, and indulgence in drugs and alcohol are certainly included in that. This pattern is one under which these types of activities could cause particular harm. On a less intense octave, it may mean that drive to accomplish is thwarted by a lack of clarity, that the way to your goal – or even the goals themselves – are muddied. Do what you can and try not to be restless about the rest. Certain things may be out of your control right now.

Saturday (11/19) we have an antiscial connection between Mercury-Venus and Pluto. Auspicious for connections to the hidden, to the reins of power, to peering behind the veneer. For some, that means binging some Breaking Bad episodes. For others, it’ll be kinkier than that. For others still, it means black candles and old spirit registries. However you get down! Sunday (11/20) has the partile conjunction of Mercury and Venus, just to say that their merging of hearts and minds is at its most pure here here. The Sun also fully locks into its exact trine with Jupiter, further fueling this new current of optimism and good will. The moon opposes Chiron in the morning before making a trine to Saturn that night and finally to Mars the following morning, Monday 11/21. This looks to me like avoidance of self-care followed by self-assignment of various tasks and a possibly frustrating bout of wheel-spinning. The moon will briefly give us a grand air trine, an array that will leave some feeling afflicted with overthinking. The work may be worth doing, but don’t get swept away by the gale of directive.

Finally, on Tuesday (11/22,) the Sun will make ingress into Sagittarius. As a vessel for fiery self-expression, the Sun is more at home here than either Mercury or Venus, and should get us all in the mood to dig our feet in and argue with relatives/dig our forks in and get fat on turkey and stuffing. The day stays interesting though, as the moon runs across the South Node, possibly triggering shake-ups and big surprises from Uranus-North Node, which themselves may be echoes of our three planets which have recently crossed the South Node. What have we cast off lately, and is it done with us?

Until next Hump Day!

Feeling a bit wiped out in the wake of this major lunar eclipse. Thankfully, this week’s transits are less dramatic, mostly an in-between, dust-settling period where some of the effects from the eclipse may become evident and where new purpose can emerge from the ashes and rubble.

There is also a dreamy pallor cast over the week. If the eclipse took something away, is in the process of taking something away, or has merely raised the suggestion, there is now a choice presented: to dream over what could be in this new situation, or to fret and spiral over what else might befall you. The latter can be a powerful lure, the former a powerful action of agency, both potential manifestations of Neptune’s influence over the Scorpio planets (Sun, Mercury and Venus) recently caught up in the eclipse after passing through the South Node.

Today sees the moon traversing the early degrees of Gemini, where it makes no strong aspects and is allowed to pleasantly sail along. The morning sees the last vestiges of Mercury’s cazimi, meaning that communication, cognition, and inspiration are at a premium, though are perhaps also encumbered by circumstances, rules, or even an authority figure. The sparks of this friction contain potential.

Then on Thursday (11/10,) the moon will get into mid-Gemini where it will check in with the powers-that-be directly, though probably in a positive way that evokes understanding and may get the ball moving in the right direction. But then on Friday (11/11,) the moon makes contact with Mars Retrograde. The entire Mars Rx period is a space where self-undoing must be closely guarded against, but that goes double for times when the moon makes contact, as it may trigger larger-than-normal emotional responses to vexing matters. It may be a restless Veteran’s Day. But it’s not all bad news, as the moon’s contact with Saturn will still be active early in the day and may help to channel all of that pent-up martial madness. From my Scorpio Season write-up: “If Mars’ influence is bringing chaos and/or self-worth issues into your life, this could be a good day to draw on the order that a strong Saturn provides to provide healthy outlets for Mars, as well as new solutions to what he seeks to solve.”

Emotion runs thick on Sunday (11/13,) as the Moon in Cancer completes a trine to those aforementioned Scorpio planets and to Neptune conjunct Jupiter in Pisces. The result is what is known as a Grand Water Trine, creating an ideal climate for obfuscation and delusion, for catharsis and healing, for fantasy and art, for spending time with friends and loved ones, and for anything else that falls under Water’s purview. As previously written: “Meanwhile, Mercury and Venus create a sextile to Pluto, plunging intensely-felt thoughts and feelings to even greater depths. These planets also tighten into a trine with Jupiter, which may uplift their influence.”

The next two days are relatively calm. Monday (11/14) sees Venus lock into a partile trine to Jupiter, creating an embrace of the benefic planets that should greatly benefit a beleaguered Venus. Those struggling with their hearts, their aesthetic, their sense of femininity may receive a boon here, though this array has some chance of setting off that touchy Mars, so have a care not to lash out or give others cause. Venus will be anaretic the following day, Tuesday (11/15,) its last day before entering Sagittarius, but the optimism from the prior day should carry through, if a bit more weakly. Tuesday also sees contacts between the Moon in Leo and Saturn in Aquarius, as well as Chiron in Aries. The result may feel like a confrontation with emotional blockage, one where self-work is required to regain full self-confidence. It may not feel sexy, but it’s part of how the sexy sausage is made.

Until next Hump Day!

We’re between eclipses, Jupiter is back in Pisces, Saturn and Pluto are freshly direct, and Mars Retrograde is in full effect; the season’s more dramatic transits are moving right along.

The beginning of this week looks to be centered around the theme of letting go, whether this means saying goodbye to something or someone that’s been important to you, or whether it means releasing baggage and pain. Venus, the Sun, and finally, Mercury, will all cross through the South Node, long considered to be a point of disintegration, and to some astrologers, of karmic release. As much, we may see release and even temporary absence of these planetary signatures, perhaps a purification leading to a rebirth of heartfelt connection, of primal identity, of discerning analysis.

This may all be prompted by an encounter or encounters with figures of authority, as each planet will also first make an antiscial connection with Saturn in Aquarius, who is moving forward and imposing order where it is needed. Today sees Venus stopped at Saturn’s checkpoint before diving into the abyss, and of course, the Sun and Mercury will follow suit. Shortly after clearing these two hurdles, the Saturnine red tape and the South Node’s annihilating black hole, each planet will then need to pass through an opposition to Uranus, a challenging current which demands that each of these planets reignite and adapt in the wake of being unmade.

These transits may not be easy to parse apart, and are more likely to be felt as a single process or ordeal. (Or not at all! As ever, mileage will vary depending on how each transit hits your chart.) To recap: Venus, the Sun and Mercury will, in turn, get checked by Saturn, turned to a pile of dust by the South Node, and then get zapped back to life by Uranus. And this is all a lead-in to the big lunar eclipse in Taurus on Tuesday. But we’ll get there.

Between today and Thursday afternoon (11/3,) the moon in Pisces will be casting a supportive trine to this array of planets in Scorpio, which may make the exact conjunction of Venus and the South Node a bit easier. Any requisite processes of release around matters of love, money, values, or social connection will likely go gently, with some sense of calm. By Friday (11/4,) the moon in Pisces will make the waters a little more choppy, obfuscation and fantastical projections about a project may prove vexxing. This is an expected result of the moon’s conjunction to Neptune and Jupiter, all casting a difficult square to Mars retrograde. Watch your temper, don’t melt down. Saturday and Sunday (11/5 and 11/6) see the moon move through a couple of uncomfortable (but less dramatic) configurations in Aries, reconnecting with our wounds and insecurities, perhaps causing us to reflect on we have the spoons to begin working on them or past them. Sunday shifts the focus to frustrations around power dynamics, secrets, corruption. On a functional level, this may cause reflection on the systems and structures in our hearts and lives and whether there is some house cleaning to do.

By Sunday, all of the Scorpio planets will have passed through the antiscial connection with Saturn (the check-in with authority) and their conjunction to the South Node (dissolution,) and are firmly in the sights of Uranus in Taurus, an agent for revolutionary change, a force of revelation, and a volatile Promethean connection here occurs. In truth, Venus, will have already been partile for this opposition over the weekend, perhaps an early sign of what’s to come. But in my experience, the moon passing over an array like this is really what sets things off, and that will happen on Tuesday (11/8.) Not only is this a lunar trigger, not only is this a full moon, but because this happens on the nodes (literal shadow points which were first calculated to predict future eclipses,) we will be getting a full lunar eclipse in Taurus.

In the life of the native, eclipses are thought to draw focus away from the point eclipsed and toward the place where its opposite lies in the chart. So to tie things back to where we began, imagine a huge influx of vitality being thrown at those planets from the beginning and what they represent. Because this involves Uranus, it may involve a bolt from the blue, an event or shift in thought that is undeniable and profound. This will be especially true for those with planets or sensitive chart points around 17 degrees of fixed signs. More thoughts from my write-up on Scorpio Season:

“…this may speak to the sudden removal of something substantial element in life…Those planets in Scorpio conjure pessimism, cynicism, sardonic commentary. They loathe pretense, they prefer to focus on what’s important, what’s deeply held. That’s the kind of current that’ll be left in the wake of this eclipse. Mars is still the ruler of those planets, and it may be a natural progression of his retrograde that makes certain people in life, or certain parts of yourself, throw the brakes on and say ‘enough is enough, let’s cut the shit and hash this out.'”

Now, the current prevailing doctrine is that the effects of an eclipse may manifest up to six months (!!) after the actual celestial occurrence. I have a feeling this one will hit quicker, or at least, be perceived more quickly and clearly. Firstly, Uranus tends to have that exact effect. Secondly, to add another scoop of weirdness onto this pile of Rocky Road ice cream and nitroglycerin, we also have Mercury’s cazimi. Planets that get too close to the Sun are said to be weakened, drowned out by its light – not that any of these planets in Scorpio, being checked by Saturn and the South Node, needed any more wearing down – it’s almost not worth mentioning in that context. But on Tursday, Mercury will be exactly conjunct the Sun. If anyone reads this thing on the regular, they’ll remember the big deal I made about Venus’ cazimi just a couple of weeks ago.

Essentially, it means that in the midst of all this chaos, Mercury will have a clear open channel, a moment of perfect reception in the eye of the storm. And this just so happens to be the same day as the eclipse. So: eyes wide, ears open, senses sharp. Be on the lookout for clues as to which way the winds of your life are shifting. Even those with very dull and limited intuition should feel the dust kicked up by this volley.

Be well. Until next Hump Day!

Remarks should be brief this week, in the wake of my big ol’ Scorpio Season write-up. Some may still be reeling from the effects of last night’s partial solar eclipse in Scorpio – especially those with important placements near 2 degrees Scorpio, who may acutely feel influence being drawn away from that part of their lives. For others, it was just a weird new moon, marking the beginning of a weird new time. And indeed, some of the big-ticket drama of the season begins this week.

Mercury’s movement through the sky this evening touches on a few troubling placements that may have us reflecting on methods and motivations. He’ll first get in touch with Mars, who is standing still in preparation to move backwards for his retrograde period. This would be a good time to make sure your plans to accomplish your goals are sound, and an especially good time to check yourself if you are thinking of making any moves which may be considered angry, aggressive, or of the severing nature – break-ups, leaving a job, moving, what have you. This is not to say you shouldn’t do it, but consider your decision with fresh eyes. Thursday (10/27,) Mercury will square Pluto, challenging our thought processes with what is hidden. Are your motivations your own, or is there some manipulation at play? The root of any corruption in this process may be systemic. Are there things about your world that you’d work around or avoid if you could, and are you certain you cannot?

Then on Friday (10/28,) Jupiter dips backwards into Pisces, followed by Mercury’s entry into Scorpio on Saturday (10/29) and Mars’ retrograde station on Sunday (10/30.) This could make for a very dramatic Halloweekend. Some thoughts on Mars and Jupiter from my Scorpio Season write-up:

On Mars Retrograde:

“Just as Mercury Rx has become short-hand for miscommunications or technological mishaps, and Venus Rx has become known for romantic discord, Mars Rx means that personal power is going through revision. That can feel like all your guns are backfiring, or that you forgot to sharpen your sword, or that someone stole your shield. Mars retrogrades are times when self-destructive behavior is stoked, where frustration and feelings of impotence are at a premium. This is not the time to go on a bender. This is not the time to blow your top. This is the time to step aside, take a deep breath, and think through a different solution. Retrogrades don’t happen to vex us, they happen to show us the faults in our method.

Being that it’s in Gemini, this Mars Rx may feel very similar to a Mercury Rx at times, because this is a Mars that relies on communication and gamesmanship to accomplish its goals. Its tools of combat may be the email, the smartphone, the microphone, the Insta/TikTok feed. This is a time when talking shit can go horribly wrong, so double-check everything before you send a message in anger, before you try to dunk on someone in a Twitter argument, whatever it may be. Gemini may mean that problems or options come in sets of two. Is there a third option? Because it might be that both are unhealthy.

Mars will be retrograde from 10/30/22 – 1/12/22. That’s a long time! Stay frosty, keep up the mental health self check-ins (or, if you are at risk, get someone else to check in on you,) and I can’t reiterate enough: watch the intake of potentially harmful substances. Particularly stimulants; Mars in Gemini craves speed and caffeination.”

And on Jupiter:

“Pisces is one of Jupiter’s two domiciles, a place where he is his strongest. Here, he stirs the waters of the mytho-poetic, of religious devotion, of selflessness, of Bacchanalian revelry. While we normally think of Jupiter as a good thing, he is in a contentious position to retrograde Mars, and may exacerbate already-explosive issues brought up during this time. It is wonderful to let your heart sour and to be swept up by your passions, but stories may be just as intoxicating as any substance. Don’t let your own heart ensnare your. All Mars Rx cautions still apply. There are great gifts to be given by Jupiter, but they’re not likely to be given in Scorpio season. Keep your head in the game, and if blessings occur, all the better. Jupiter CAN simply operate as a soothing balm on irritating situations, but don’t mistake a topical treatment for a surefire cure, let alone the Answer to Life, The Universe and Everything.”

And on top of all that, we’ll have Mercury in Scorpio’s caustic truth-telling. This Mercury gives Mars its marching orders, which means that both planets will be primed to “call bullshit” on everything. Mercury does not necessarily operate badly in Scorpio, but it is often that it views itself as a hammer and all conversations as nails. If possible, avoid arguments.

Then on Halloween proper (10/31,) our planets currently occupying Scorpio line up to pass through the gauntlet of the South Node, a disintegrating force that is sure to suck away all artifice and pretense we may be hanging on a planet, in effect, temporarily annihilating its influence and leaving only its purest expression in the days that follow. While the Sun and Mercury will get their turn at this, it is Venus who goes through the membrane first. If doubts have been stirring around what it is that you want, what you’re craving, how you express your desires, or any internal hang-ups or trauma which may prevent you from having your needs met – this may be a good time to work through it all, or at least to get the ball rolling.

It’s not masks and candy, but it is the stuff of the darkside. Halloween has a special place in my heart, and I hope everyone has a great time this weekend! Be safe! Until next Hump Day!