Current Transits for November 2012 Current Transits for November 2012Here's some of the important astrological news this month ...
Mercury Retrograde Cycle, 11-6 to 11-26 -- nice Election Day gift!
Neptune Direct Station at 0Pi21, 11-11
New Moon / Total Solar Eclipse at 21Sc56, 11-13
Chiron Semisextile Uranus, 11-13
Chiron Direct Station at 4Pi58, 11-14
Saturn Quincunx Uranus, 11-15
Saturn Trine Chiron, 11-16
Mars enters Capricorn, 11-16
Pallas Direct Station at 22Pi26, 11-20
Full Moon / Appulse Lunar Eclipse at 6Gm46, 11-28
Election Notes
An online ephemeris for the month is available.
As we head into the final months of 2012, there are a number of important milestones, both mundane and cosmic, that are looming on the horizon. The most immediate, of course, are the elections on the 6th, the last act of what has been a way too long and divisive campaign. Unfortunately, I hardly expect the voting to resolve the issues facing the country. Due to a Mercury station during the voting, it may not even resolve the election -- think Election 2000. Hopefully it won't be as bad as Florida and the battle over hanging chads and the like, but it wouldn't surprise me if there were legal actions initiated to contest vote totals in the closer states. There are also a large number of other stations this month (all direct), which tends to cause and/or break up "logjam" situations where progress has been stymied for some time. We have a trio of "big aspects" starring Saturn, Chiron and Uranus. This puts some stress and chaos on the fundamental structures, both personal and as a society, that govern our lives, the kind of tension that creates a "new normal", as they say. The lunations in November are both eclipses, in fact, the last eclipses before the winter solstice of 2012 on Dec 21, a date branded into our collective psyche through all the hysteria around the Mayan calendar story and similar disaster stories. Even if the solstice winds up being a big fizzle on the material plane, it's having a subtle transformative effect on our inner lives. At least it certainly feels like the energies are being ratcheted up, based on all my conversations lately. The last week of November may be especially raucous, with a powerful planetary storm blowing through, hitting Koz Quake proportions a couple of times, the strongest waveforms all year. This is definitely not a boring month. Get ready for quite a ride...
There are 3 bodies reaching direct stations this month, not to mention Mercury's entire retrograde cycle. There are also 3 "big aspects" involving Saturn, Chiron and Uranus to consider. The only sign change is when Mars moves into Capricorn on the 16th.
Mercury reaches his retrograde station of 4Sa18 on the 6th, Election Day! He goes direct again at 18Sc10 on the 26th. OK, the thinking mind is going moosh on us. And what timing! The polls are still open across the country as Mercury stands still (in square to Neptune!), so all the confused thinking and mixed up communications typical of these cycles should be rampant in the evening's news coverage. More to the point, Mercury represents the stories we tell ourselves about how the world works, so the running narratives that the chattering class uses to interpret the news for us may be at odds with the reality of hard vote totals. There could be a lot of eating crow on camera as the night drags on. More personally, November is a period when you shouldn't believe everything you think. The thinking and communicating mind is struggling to make sense of the world, which is why the world seems a little crazy now. The trick is to suspend your need to figure things out and focus instead on why your own thinking is so flimsy now. Mercury retrograde is always a good time to debug your own narrative and make your own thinking more precise. There's a tendency for conspiratorial thinking in the second half of this cycle when Mercury is in Scorpio, so keep your paranoia within bounds. Let's just hope that election night isn't as messed up as it was in 2000, the last instance of a Mercury station during the voting. I'm not prepared for that level of craziness...
Neptune is at his direct station of 0Pi21 on the 11th. This ends a retrograde cycle that began back on Jun 4 when he stood still at 3Pi09. Neptune is always a tough planet to understand, especially when there's retrograde activity involved. This is the first retrograde cycle for Neptune that falls completely within the sign of Pisces, so matters of the heart chakra are especially prominent. It should be mentioned that the Jun 4 station was within hours of a lunar eclipse, while this station is 2 days before a solar eclipse, so the universe is hinting to pay attention. 2012 has been the year when Neptune is settling into Pisces, a time of new spiritual lessons. One of the important lessons involves Neptune's ability to act as mirror for us. Whatever you truly believe (even if you can't admit it), the energies of this planet somehow bring about people and situations into your life that reveal your beliefs to you. Look at your life right now, especially the situations that didn't turn out the way you expected them to, and see if they somehow mirror back to you the confusions, contradictions and mixed messages that lurk in your psyche and subtly influence the way you behave. Relationships could be a particularly sensitive indicator of these tendencies, as Neptune in Pisces works through the heart center. Another clue relates to the problem of glamour, the urge to be irresistibly attracted to and enthralled by a person, thing or idea that takes control of your life. The trouble is that glamour arises from within when the unconscious is trying to get your attention, but if Neptune simultaneously attracts some external object to mirror that desire, you fall in love with the mirror, not the true message. What are you obsessing about lately, what steals your attention? Take back this projected attraction and pay attention to what is arising from your own nature. It's important to be totally honest with yourself -- Neptune is a master at getting us to delude ourselves. Follow your emotions and your intuition, especially those quiet whispers that filter up from your unknown depths. This direct station is a bit of a wake up call, a nudge to be more aware in your daily life instead of walking around on autopilot all the time. A smart magician creates his world in as conscious a manner as possible. Don't settle for less.
The waveform for the solar eclipse looks like a mess (it's the middle of the transition period), but if you look hard enough, you can pick out the 8 peaks of an 8th harmonic. That's the defining pattern of this chart. It starts with a T-square of Ceres opposite Pluto, both squaring Uranus. The Sun and Moon are connected to the T-square by 45 degree aspects, hence the H8. Venus, Saturn and Chiron are part of this main picture as well, along with the asteroids Vesta and Pallas. You could make a case that Mercury and Neptune are on the fringes. Of the planets not part of the main group, Mars at 27Sa35 is quite isolated from the other planets, but is within half a degree of the Galactic Center. It's surprising the waveform isn't stronger.
The T-square is anchored firmly on the Uranus-Pluto square which then feeds through the eclipse point. This releases all the transformational energies building up in that square, forces that disrupt and overhaul so much of our lives. Given all the harsh aspects in this chart (H8 is generally a stressful frequency), the results over the next few weeks and months can cause areas of your life (see which house in your chart holds the eclipse degree) to fall apart or quit working. It's important to let go of any of these areas that are giving you trouble. It may just be dead weight that's no longer worth carrying around with you. The square between Neptune (direct, but barely moving) and Mercury is nearly exact, creating much mental confusion. Along with Venus, it hints to rely on your emotions and intuition instead. The Saturn-Chiron-Uranus group is tightly knit and about to start its series of major aspects, so it's easy to feel life is being knocked off its firm foundations. All in all, a picture of creative destruction. Situations need to collapse before fresh influences can take their place. And finally, there's that curious Mars on the GC -- I'm not really sure what to make of that. However, it's probably not a good time to be slinging your ego around. If you're trying to work on some project now (good outcomes might be very limited), just make sure your motivations are transpersonal in nature. The energies you'd be pulling in are too vast to be bent towards egotistic goals. It's a rough chart -- hang in there...
Chiron is semisextile Uranus on the 13th, the 9th of 31 such contacts that stretch from 2009 through 2038. Uranus loves to overthrow the status quo, to look at the world from a completely new perspective. As a planet that emerges from the unconscious, he represents new ideas, myths and ways of thinking and seeing that overhaul the way a person looks at and understands the world. His intuitive insights are the antidotes for the Mercury mind that believes it understands the world, as well as the Saturn tendency to hold onto preconceived or culturally acceptable perspectives. As Saturn is the third body in all these "big aspects" this month, old beliefs will be taking a beating. It takes courage and skill to explore the psyche, leaving the safe shores of the ego behind, and it's not for the faint of heart. This must be where Chiron comes into play, those messages from others to be fearful and stay away from these dangerous journeys. Even after 150 years since medical science "discovered" the unconscious, let alone centuries of exploration by occultists, the hidden parts of the psyche are a foreign land for most people. It is taking a long time for this radical notion to be accepted by the world. Today's explorers are doing a great spiritual service to the world, even though they rarely receive "attaboys" for their efforts. We've still got a few decades to understand this aspect and spread the word, but there's no time for delay either. We need all the wisdom we can gather...
As if to emphasize the semisextile further, Chiron is at his direct station of 4Pi58 on the 14th. This is the end of a cycle that started with the retrograde station of 9Pi45 back on Jun 12. Chiron sometimes represents the parts of yourself that you keep hidden away, out of sight from people that may not approve of your shadow side. These parts are hiding in a place I call the "psychic closet" and by the middle of life, this closet is stuffed full of all sorts of goodies, with a big lock on the door called "shame and guilt" to keep you from looking there. By the second half of life, when a person should be redefining themselves, it's time to break the lock and start reowning those traits in your closet. It's an amazing process to sift through these old treasures and dust them off. The shadow is full of goodies that enrich your life, even if other people don't approve. This direct station is an excellent time for such explorations, given the aspects going off these days. Dive in!
Saturn is quincunx Uranus on the 15th, the first of 3 such contacts. The upcoming contacts will fall on 2013-4-12 and 2013-10-4. Quincunxes indicate two forces that need to be realigned and reconciled somehow, although they appear at odds with each other now. The Saturn need for outer stability is bumping up against the Uranian urges to change, grow and throw off the old, especially as it pertains to novel and emerging intuitions and points of view arising from within. It's a battle between a big rock and the dynamite stick. Ultimately, the purpose of this aspect is to get you moving again if you've gotten stuck in a rut somehow. Of course, the rock's first response is to resist change and fight back. What are you resisting? What are you holding on to, even if you've outgrown it? You'll be doing some fighting with yourself under this aspect, but eventually change wins out if all goes well. Ruts were not meant to live in forever...
Saturn is trine Chiron on the 16th, the first of 5 contacts. The next contact is on 2013-3-21; they last until 2014-8-5. This completes the trio of "big aspects" this month. I suspect this influence will show up in a couple of guises. The first is simply an opening up to all those forgotten traits hidden away in the closet. It's important to loosen your insistent hold on a specific image of yourself and let other parts of yourself emerge. Since this is a trine, the process happens more or less in an easy going, organic fashion, but the more conscious awareness you bring to this opening up, the more fruitful it will be. Another part of this aspect is the need to make a safe haven for these repressed parts. As long as you're tearing down some of the old structures in your life, you might as well build in a few additions to house the new stuff. If you welcome the unconscious into your life and give it a home in your conscious life, it will be more forthcoming with its spiritual gifts. Notice that Saturn is in Scorpio, while Chiron is in Pisces, both emotional water signs. Follow your feelings and intuitions. The quiet voice within is a sure guide to your deeper self, but that voice is easily shouted down by daily life. Silent patience goes a long way with this aspect.
Mars moves from Sagittarius into Capricorn on the 16th. He'll be in this sign until Dec 25, when he shifts into Aquarius. This is one of the best sign placements for our Warrior God. Mars is about willpower, the conversion of inner desires into tangible outer results that fulfill your wishes. Capricorn provides some valuable discipline and structure for your efforts, making the chances of success so much better. Focus on your most important goals and channel all your efforts in their direction, even if it requires a little sacrifice in the short term. If you have some projects to get done, you can't ask for a better influence than this. Work feels like a rewarding activity in its own right under this placement, unlike the drag felt in other signs. Knuckle down and get to work! Time's a-wasting!
Pallas goes direct at 22Pi26 on the 20th, ending a retrograde cycle that began on Jul 30 at 11Ar29. Here's one more retrograde cycle coming to an end. Pallas is normally the part of the mind that intuitively sizes up situations and knows in a flash how to proceed to achieve her goals. I suspect her intuition hasn't been quite as sharp during this cycle, meaning your snap judgments may not produce the desired results so easily. You may have gotten yourself into a few jams lately if you didn't stop and think things through deeply enough. Be more patient, especially if the circumstances you're dealing with are complicated. Pallas also has an artistic streak, so you may have felt the need to put your ideas or inspirations into a more tangible form that appeals to others. Hopefully, you have something to show off by now. It's curious that Pallas has been straddling the border between Pisces and Aries during this cycle, two signs that are as different as can be. Aries is impetuous and wants to get things done right away, while Pisces is less motivated, tending to contemplate the big picture instead of act. This switching back and forth between such opposing perspectives makes it hard to see your way to your goals. Deferred action may be the best choice until Pallas get back into Aries on 2013-1-10.
Yep, the lunar eclipse is a Koz Quake -- hang on to your hats! Except for Mercury, Jupiter, Neptune and several asteroids, all the planets in this chart are part of this main pattern. And the orbs on these aspects are tight, only a few degrees. Everything is coming together to make a very powerful storm. Chiron forms a close T-square with the Sun and Moon. The Venus-Saturn and Mars-Pluto conjunctions form a Yod with the Moon. Uranus and the Moon form a second Yod with Venus-Saturn. A most fascinating chart!
Where to start with all this activity? Mars and Pluto conjunct are simply raw energy coming out, but it only works out well if the conscious self and deeper parts of the person are in alignment. If the ego goes its own way, it loses -- Pluto can't be bent to personal use. Meanwhile, Venus and Saturn in Scorpio are producing intense emotions while also suppressing their expression, letting the energy build up inside. This is all coming out through a Gemini Moon, not exactly an ideal outlet for such primal drives. This Moon is glib and talkative, easily distracted and inconstant. At its best, however, such a Moon can give you some distance from those intense emotions, helping you put them in perspective. They lead to Chiron, the psychic closet, indicating there are more hidden goodies than are currently visible if you can somehow come to terms with the past. This is all potentially quite liberating (Sun in Sagittarius) when the work is done, even if it feels like a burdensome task on this end. It sounds like we have some work ahead of us...
Incidentally, as Jupiter continues to retrograde, the first Yod turns into a Saturn-Pluto-Jupiter Yod by the solstice. We will see a lot of this influence the next month or so.
It was interesting to watch the October debates with the charts for the candidates in front of me. The Oct 3 debate was widely considered a blowout for Romney. Mars was at 27Sc49, a spot with Romney's Moon-Jupiter conjunction and Obama's Midheaven. The Sun at 11Li12 aspected 11-12 Leo, where Romney's Pluto conjuncts Obama's Sun. These two contacts alone bring out so many conflicts between these two men and easily account for all the macho chest-thumping and alpha male posturing that marked all the debates. Even the moderators got beaten up at times. However, despite contradicting every position he took in the primaries, this was enough to put Romney back in the race. Nobody, even the press, seemed to care about his flip-flops. What a crazy way to pick the leader of the free world.
The only thing that toned down the overheated campaign in its final weeks was Hurricane Sandy devastating the east coast after inflicting death and destruction in the Caribbean. Obama was busy handling the crisis, Romney laid low for a few days and the public got a much needed rest (except for the TV commercials) from all the talking. We should have more sanity breaks like this built into every campaign, I say. Only a few more days of this...