The cosmic tone during this period shifts to the transpersonal qualities of the outer planets. If we consciously approach them, our attention is likely to be drawn outside our normal arenas of activity. The cosmic Intelligences invite us to pay close attention to what is happening as we go about our day and see if we can sense their messages impressing upon us. During this period, the planetary movements correlating in an archetypal sense to what is happening on earth rhythmically progress like a symphony with the parts the planets play interweave with each other to create a harmonic whole.
The first tonal layer highlights the archetypal tone of Neptune, the cosmic force of consciousness that projects itself into this reality in all its forms. On November 12, the Sun forms a closing trine to retrograde Neptune in Pisces, a flowing alignment in water signs that calls us to listen with our heart to whatever we are experiencing as it amplifies our sensitivity to the undercurrents of life. Sun/Neptune’s compassionate nature often relates to a feeling of connectedness to all that is, which is often referred to as a state of oneness with everything. This marks a shift from the Sun’s square to Saturn in the last period that focused us on learning to play by the rules of the material reality. Now we are being asked to expand our awareness towards galactic consciousness and learn the holistic and loving rules of engagement with the cosmos.
The second part of the planetary symphony joins this cosmic score when Mercury and Mars, also in Scorpio, form oppositions to retrograde Uranus in Taurus on November 13 and 17 respectively. This potentially insistent and polarizing alignment punctuates the sweet melody of Neptune with the striking tones of the Great Awakener. Uranus asks us to individuate and develop our uniqueness while Neptune asks us to experience our connectedness with everything. The paradox is that we are most successful in navigating the connective web of the galaxy only once we know who we are and what our unique role is in it. Mercury opposing Uranus at the peak halfway point of their cycle challenges us to answer the call to separate from the programmed hive mind of the machine-like masses and be our own authority. Mars opposing Uranus at this culminating moment dares us to pioneer our way through life motivated by the need to create and innovate. Keeping the Sun/Neptune feeling of compassion alive in our awareness can help mitigate any undue forcefulness yet still allow for our truth to be expressed.
On November 15 and 16, the third archetypal tone starts to play when the Sun forms a “crisis of consciousness” square to Jupiter in Aquarius, quickly followed by a closing sextile to Pluto in Capricorn. Closing in on the Sun, Mercury follows with the same alignments to Jupiter and Pluto November 20 to 21. Jupiter in Aquarius represents the expansion of collective power put in service to humanity, while Pluto in Capricorn represents a consolidation and focusing of power within the structures of society. Sun/Mercury in Scorpio square to Jupiter is the more tense, challenging aspect that, given the state of the world today, may press upon us the urgency to understand the nature of our collective from a broader perspective so we can learn to live together more harmoniously. Sun/Mercury in a supportive alignment to Pluto, the ruler of Scorpio and the transformational life/death process, has the potential to create an opening for the actors within governments and other large organizations to pledge meaningful resources to help our old dysfunctional ways die so we can be reborn into new ways of being. The climate crisis, for example, which has been called “nothing less than a code red for humanity” by the head of the United Nations, is accelerating the crisis of our very existence that requires everyone’s total attention and cooperation to envision a more sustainable way of living.
On November 18, Venus in Capricorn also activates Uranus. They form a softer closing trine that may make it seem easier to express and celebrate our uniqueness with one another. This additional archetypal support at a time when the Mercury/Mars/Uranus oppositions could create discord may provide an opening wherein we give ourselves permission to have the challenging conversations that may need to be had. It is OK to be who we are and furthermore each of us are OK as we are. Mercury, Venus and Mars in concert with Uranus may compel us to overcome our fears of communicating whatever is pressing on us. Again, if we can simultaneously remain in the loving Neptunian current, hopefully we will be able to do so as courageously and blame free as possible. Venus enters its “shadow” on November 17, so being attentive to what is going on now may mitigate any review that becomes necessary once it turns retrograde in December and retraces its tracks between 11°4’ and 26°29’ Capricorn.
On November 18, Mercury reenergizes the current of unconditional love when forms a flowing trine to Neptune. Words could take on a kinder tone that subliminally communicates a sense of understanding and acceptance of what is. It also offers the potential to express our compassion through a poetic use of language. Neptune calls us to dissolve our harsh ego façade that buffers us against feeling its connective force. This requires allowing our defense shields to drop so we can face the reality of the life we are living, no matter how much we fear the pain of doing so. It is through summoning the courage to battle our psychic demons that we are able to connect with the unconditional love of our soul.
On November 19, the Moon in Taurus opposes the Sun in Scorpio to form the Full Moon. This crescendo moment of the lunar cycle is also an eclipse, one of those rare lunations with such strong esoteric vibrations they often catapult us out of a state of inertia. If we have been attentive to the Scorpio themes in play since the Scorpio New Moon of November 4, and exploring the rich and unfathomable depths of the psyche to connect with our true source of power, we may come to a point of realization and see our intention to reveal something new about ourselves begin to take shape. The eclipsed Full Moon is likely to be more emotionally charged than usual and could correlate to suppressed feelings being triggered into our awareness, especially if we have been entrenched in a fixed point of view. This eclipse is in T-square with Jupiter in Aquarius, which further amplifies the imperative to seek answers to who we truly are.
The coda of the period unfolds as both the Sun and Mercury leave Scorpio and enter Sagittarius, on November 21 and 24 respectively. This begins an archetypal shift from looking within to looking without. Sagittarius is the Seeker of the Zodiac, looking for meaning in the workings of the cosmos and our role in it. Sagittarius is a fire sign that can inspire us to have experiences that expand our understanding of life, and also lead us to better ways of managing how we live together on this planet. As the Sun and Mercury move deeper into Sagittarius in the middle of eclipse season, may we individually and collectively inquire into our own moral, ethical and spiritual codes of conduct that have brought us to the brink of destroying our home. Where do we draw the line in stopping the behavior that got us here? As former President Barak Obama said at COP26, “The brutal tempests of the warming climate are making even clearer that we cross that line at our peril.”
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