Late i know, but there have been distractions!
Before I move on to the issue of Mars and its influence during the next six months, let me reflect upon some recent history, and the planets involved.
Actually, just one for the moment, Saturn.
Saturn has the reputation of being harsh, of bringing to book; I call it the ‘stern schoolmaster’ who looks at you with hawk eyes, intimidating you by presenting you with your own actions and words. Looking critically in the mirror is Saturnian. The Saturn in us is our harshest critic. Saturn can be like a cosmic parent…..
Saturn is ruler of the zodiac earth sign Capricorn, and ancient ruler of the zodiac air sign Aquarius. Modern astrologers have adopted Uranus as the modern ruler of Aquarius; I use both, as joint rulers.
Saturn rules various activities and objects, but primarily the earth and things below ground such as iron and other ferrous metals.
I have written much in this forum about Pluto in Capricorn, and the calling to account with huge intensity (Pluto) of those who should know better; those who abused their position; those who abused people, and those who abused the earth.
That started in January 2008, and continues on until March 2023 when Pluto makes its first move into Aquarius. Pluto dodges forward and back, in and out of Aquarius until November 2024 when it finally decides to leave Capricorn for good. This period of transition will be matched by a social change, from the current stern regime of Capricorn, to a new egalitarian (Aquarian) era of fairness and clarity of thought, or at least perceived to be so. That new society will be run by the young people of today, who must watch in amazement (and disdain) as we adults make a mess of running our economies, our societies, and our planet.
The egalitarian Aquarian society will dominate until 2044 when Pluto enters Pisces, which is an interesting concept…. Intense Pluto in laid back Pisces….. just like punching thin air I would imagine. Maybe 2044 will be the real 1984? Hmmmmmm…..
Back to Saturn – planet of the earth; terra firma, and all below it. Now let’s think of some relatively recent and intense (Pluto) earth related activity…… major earthquakes across the planet, miners trapped and dying, Saddam Hussein captured after hiding in a hole in the ground…. And now Muhammar Gadaafi captured while hiding in a drain… another hole in the ground. World politics so heavily influenced by oil…. in the ground.
Pluto intense…. Saturn….. ground…..
Well, I guess by now Mr Editor is thinking I need to get back to the nitty-gritty of inner planet astrology – what happens THIS month, not what happens in this decade… or more.
So on to the transits for November. No Moon mentioned because it moves so fast.
31 Oct 2011 to 02 Nov 2011 Mercury Square Neptune: It’s easy to insist on cutting your way through the confusion only to find yourself more at sea than before. Perhaps it is better to roll over and go back to sleep and wake up on the other side of the bed. Elusive concepts flee in the face of challenge, so watch the show without requiring explanation. No subtitles.
02 Nov 2011 to 26 Nov 2011 Venus Enters Sagittarius: A good belly laugh satisfies everyone right now, and refined taste is not necessary to make a hit. In fact, nuance may not be much in demand at all, so don’t expect you’re subtleties to get lapped up. Go for the gusto, along with everyone else, or else sip your sup on the side. Don’t knock the slapstick, however, it’s still classic.
02 Nov 2011 to 08 Jan 2012 Mercury Enters Sagittarius People will say anything for a laugh about now – and for the next few weeks they’ll tend to just say anything in general and then keep talking. Blue-sky blustering is the order of the day, but there’s a kernel of truth in some of those free-form filibusters, so don’t overlook that fleck of gold gleaming in the pan.
02 Nov 2011 to 04 Nov 2011 Venus Trine Uranus: A broad scope of varied and original experiences are open for exploration, and it’s easy to lose your fear of risk and embrace the new. What might have seemed a bit over the top before now looks like your cup of tea, with others jumping in to try out the most exotic tastes. There’s nothing like a hands-on education!
02 Nov 2011 to 04 Nov 2011 Mercury Trine Uranus: Original ideas find a home and progress is easy on all fronts for those who get in gear and make something of it. What was obscure before is obvious now, but it will be history soon if it’s not exploited, so get on your own bandwagon before someone else takes it over. It’s Thomas Edison time (or Bill Gates?), so exploit the moment.
05 Nov 2011 to 09 Nov 2011 Mars Opposition Neptune: Energy leaks and loss of control make for confusing manoeuvres where everyone wonders just what’s going on. If anyone does, they’re not letting on. Is that a gun in your pocket or are you just glad to see me? Hard to tell right now, and hard to make a move when information is foggy, patchy, unreliable.
09 Nov 2011 to 04 Jun 2012 Neptune Stationary Direct: Foggy Neptune the dissolver from the depths touches his foot once more in our world after a period of retrograde reflection. In November 2008 it turned direct in November just as Pluto entered Capricorn – the beginning of the dissolution of the world’s economic system. Neptune’s essence is to lead us into chaos in order to reach for deeper understandings of life. It is not always easy. We love to be secure, even when it is most dysfunctional. Neptune is exactly conjunct Chiron the teacher, who teaches us by wounding us and then healing us; Neptune and Chiron are in partile opposition to Mars, which in turn forms part of a golden triangle with Pluto and Jupiter.
10 Nov 2011 to 10 Nov 2011 Moon Opposition Sun: Full Moon brings fruition, but also high emotional tides; what you do now may turn out to have been overdone when you look back on it. Deals sealed now may swing erratically later on, but if kept under control will be fat and fruitful. This is the time for plucking the fruit from the tree, not planting one.
Ibiza Astroblog November 2011 Part two
Mars… oh yes Mars – warrior planet, the ‘not looking before it leaps’ planet…. Is slowing, ready for a period of retrograde, and has already dropped below its mean or average speed. However it is also moving in its orbit ever closer to Earth. It will move away again never fear, but we are from the end of October ‘til April/May next, due a close call from Mars. Watch out for the ‘red planet’ growing larger in the night sky. Think anger, think violence – sudden, almost unprovoked, for no reason….. Whether on a National scale, or with your neighbour, or the person in the same supermarket queue….. We are in the midst of Pluto in Capricorn. Now welcome Mars to the party!
And just when you thought it was safe…… we have an eclipse… or at least a partial solar one on Sept 25th. This eclipse series commenced in 1074 when the (catholic) church cast its priests to lives of celibacy. Expect therefore some governmental crackdowns over the coming months, not only here but across the globe.
Remember, remember, the 5th of November – of gunpowder, treason and plot. I know of no reason why the gunpowder treason should ever be forgot. On Guy Fawkes night I watched the film ‘Vengence’, which is a futuristic film parody of Guy Fawkes. It left me with an eerie chill – One of the slogans of the revolting masses was: “The people should not be afraid of government – The government should be afraid of the people” I pondered over the turbulence in Greece. The government was instrumental in creating their problems, and is now looking to the people to accept austerity measures in order to sort it out. Much the same as British banks – went down the pan because of their own mis-management, and the taxpayer had to bail them out!
Now let’s reflect again on Pluto in Capricorn (yes again I know!) The whole Greek (and PIIGS) problems are highlighted because Saturn is calling to account the fecklessness and corruption which still pervades so many economies and governments. And, Saturn being Saturn does not give up on a task undertaken. The stern old schoolmaster does not accept lies, spin, or bull***t. Sadly it is taking politicians a long time to learn that. I think the present situation could become more inflamed with the influence of Mars. Which leaves me with the reflection that: “The people should not be afraid of government – The government should be afraid of the people”
Way ahead in early March, we see the Sun move into opposition to Mars, and Venus into opposition to Saturn, and that appears to indicate a crunch time economically. Whether that’s in Europe or in the USA, or in both, (or indeed elsewhere), the potential is there. Mars representing hot headed action, against the Sun representing the people, and then Venus representing wealth, challenged by Saturn representing a reality check.
Back to this month, we have a new Moon, with a partial eclipse on the 25th, and like last month it’s another SuperMoon, so the same warning about violent weather, volcano eruptions, earthquakes etc. apply. North Africa, Italy, Thailand and the North of Russia seen to all fall in the prone zone. October’s SuperMoon brought all these – threats of more this month I’m afraid. And as if that’s not all, Mercury moves retrograde from the 24th, so watch out for everything technological going wrong for a few weeks. Keep a box of candles handy, plus a spare container of water…… You never know!
Well after all that, back to the transits for November
11 Nov 2011 to 03 Jul 2012 Mars Enters Virgo: Focused energy is the name of the general game for some time to come, with measured and targeted tasks the preferred approach. Efforts that benefit from attention to detail are favoured, and generalists may be side-lined until the current assignment is completed. Get a copy of the rules (you probably won’t have to look far) and play along.
15 Nov 2011 to 18 Nov 2011 Mars Trine Jupiter: Acceleration is easy and an abundance of energy is available to fuel new projects, new approaches. Exercise makes you only feel stronger and it’s a joy to push the envelope and watch it grow bigger. Strain is a thing of the past, and outgoing, ebullient manners are the order of the day.
18 Nov 2011 to 18 Nov 2011 Moon Square Sun: Uncertainty and shifting grounds can mark the day’s outcomes, and confidence may retreat in the face of a challenge. Confrontation is the wrong game to play, but pulling out entirely is equally unsuitable. Make judicious compromise now and the resulting situation will improve, but don’t chase diminishing returns.
19 Nov 2011 to 21 Nov 2011 Sun Square Neptune: Deceits and deceptions are hard to separate from honest mistakes and confusions, but when in doubt, it’s probably best not to follow up and try to find out. It’s easy for everyone to get into a tangle over insubstantial misperceptions that waste time and energy, so let it lie and don’t make moves – you want to be on a solid foot.
21 Nov 2011 to 23 Nov 2011 Venus Sextile Saturn: The little things in life can be the most satisfying, and, when closely viewed, often loom larger than they really are. Simple desires, simply satisfied, have a way of sustaining life that allows both joy and unhindered progress. Today’s endeavours will share that quality as they develop, quenching your thirst, banking your fires.
22 Nov 2011 to 22 Dec 2011 Sun Enters Sagittarius: Expect a lot of straight talk flying about for the next month or so – ’tis the season. Of course, it’s not all as straight as it’s made out to be, and playing along is part of the game. But that doesn’t matter, as enthusiasm and optimism can be quite sufficient by themselves to drive it all along to another level.
22 Nov 2011 to 24 Nov 2011 Sun Trine Uranus: Original thinking and new approaches will pay off if you put them in gear now. Inventiveness with staying power is available, so don’t be a stick in the mud, get rolling. Yesterday’s weirdness becomes today’s leading edge, so come out of the closet with whatever you were holding back and it just might pay off.
21 Nov 2011 to 25 Nov 2011 Mars Trine Pluto: Forceful action is highlighted by confidence and follow-through, which doubles the available power at hand. Swing through, not at, the ball and it will fly straight and true. Today’s beginnings will grow self-reliant and reliable, fuelled by faith and conviction that converts to action anytime, anywhere.
24 Nov 2011 to 14 Dec 2011 Mercury Stationary Retrograde: Another of Mercury’s backward journeys, and some astrologers say that all communications suffer…… I think not all…. But some – just be careful out there, and don’t buy or sell anything which involves technology, ‘cos you never know!
24 Nov 2011 to 25 Nov 2011 Venus Sextile Neptune: Good taste is everything and it’s at its most real when you don’t even notice it. What feels right, is, and there’s no need to question it right now. Enjoy the drink that’s already been brewed and you’ll find it suits you more than you ever imagined as the rest of the world is in a tasting mood, too.
25 Nov 2011 to 25 Nov 2011 Moon Conjunction Sun: New Moon is the very time for giving up the old and ringing in the new, rebundling your energies into another package. Commitments made now are intense, all-eggs-in-one-basket, but give them time to develop and to get their bearings. Time for laying cornerstones, the walls and rafters come later.
26 Nov 2011 to 20 Dec 2011 Venus Enters Capricorn: Less is more for a few weeks, and you’ll find people paying for it that way, as well. Small servings are sufficient, simple but pure flavours are the best – in people as well as food. If you’re not wearing basic black, you’re probably overdressed, at least as far as others are concerned. Keep it simple or sit it out.
26 Nov 2011 to 27 Nov 2011 Venus Square Uranus: One experiment leads to another, and the further you push your tastes, the less they seem to satisfy. In general, situations arising today can lead to pushing the envelope of desire without getting the satisfaction everyone is looking for. If you can’t seem to get what you want, you may actually be happier with simpler fare.
27 Nov 2011 to 28 Nov 2011 Venus Trine Jupiter: Bounty and generosity go hand in hand and snowball when everyone is willing to tap assets without holding back. To live is to give, and get back accordingly. Launch it now and there will always be plenty to go around, a veritable birthday for the golden goose. The operant idea is growth through good feeding in all respects.
30 Nov 2011 to 02 Dec 2011 Venus Conjunction Pluto: Compulsive desire is all the rage, and some people are ready to go to any ends to get what they want. Gotta, gotta, have it, whatever the price anyone pays. So, be sure that you don’t get in between the desirer and the desiree. On the other hand, this is the aspect of unbearably overwhelming passion when put into effect.
Well, there’s November – not all gloom and doom, – Venus trine Jupiter is the easy come day, so buy the Lotto that day!
A busy month, so expect more observations next week.
Until then, enjoy the blessings of the Cosmos!
Your Ibiza Astrologer
