Saturn inconjunct Uranus: Reality as a Reason to Change

A photo of Saturn showing a giant storm in Saturn's northern hemisphere

(photo credit: NASA/Cassini - December 24, 2010)

As planets cycle around the Sun, they come to moments when they strike angles to each other, which metaphysically describes periods when the whole world seems caught up in some ‘mood.’

In this case, Saturn is inconjuncting Uranus. Inconjuncts (also known as ‘quincunxes’) are 150-degree angles which come in two…um…we’ll call them “flavors.”

The reason why there are two variations on this theme is pretty obvious if you think it through…

And yes, there is a difference between one flavor of inconjunct and the other. But they’re both based in the same idea: adjustment. Whichever way you go, adjustment is required.

So we have two rules to apply here. The first (and generally more basic) is which is the faster moving planet? Since in real-time motion, that planet will be “catching up with” the other (in theory, of course!) that planet is applying the force that the ideals, aims and energies typified by the other planet will have to adjust to.

Since we’re talking about Saturn and Uranus here, that makes Saturn is the adjuster and Uranus (and all things Uranian) the adjustee (as it were!).

The net of this? The net here is that the whole of the period between November 4th and November 27th is going to effectively be a very Saturn-inconjunct-Uranus period.

The technicals here are as follows: Saturn comes within the 1.5 degrees orb (of allowance) to ‘inconjunct range’ to Uranus on November 4th. The inconjunct between Saturn and Uranus ‘perfects’ on November 16th. And Saturn (which is direct motion) exits the 1.5 inconjunct orb-allowance to Uranus on November 27th.

The last time this ‘discomforting’ relationship occurred between these two planets was back in July/August 2006. I don’t know where you were or what you were doing, but I do recall that as a period of time which while perhaps not quite as raucous or contentious as the one we’re in right now was nevertheless rather snarky.

If you want to know what the astrological indicator would be as to why our current Saturn-Uranus inconjunct is so unsettled and unsettling, my first answer would be “Pluto’s conjuncting Facies. Isn’t it a frolic?” (Not!)

But my second would be about the signs Saturn and Uranus were in at that time: Saturn was in Leo (not Saturn’s most graceful position, but workable!) and Uranus was in Pisces. This combination – on both sides – would have engendered some degree of instinctual ‘trying to hold it together,’ particularly as Pisces is all about that underlying emotionalism which at pretty much all costs we try to not contend with.

Uranus in Pisces (the basic dates for which are March 2003 – May 2011) was a very ‘emotionally escapist’ time. There was a lot of looking the other way, a lot of ‘oh, that won’t happen!’ and a whole lot of rose-colored glasses thinking going on. The Uranian tendency to separate the reality from the theory worked rather well with the side of Pisces which doesn’t want to feel the feelings which go along with life’s hard-and-fast truths. There was a lot of substituting of theory (and beliefs) for reality which took hold in this time.

And now we are getting our next celestial lesson in how that does and doesn’t work according to the signs Saturn and Uranus are now in.

Call it ‘how we will deal with realty 2012-style.’

  In Greek mythology, Ouranos (from which we get the name 'Uranus') is the wide open sky and Saturn is one of Ouranos' children. As you can tell in this painting 'The Castration of Ouranos by Cronos' by Georgia Vasari and Cristofano Gherardi (c 1560) where Cronos is the embodiment of 'time' and time is Saturn, we can tell that this is far from a happy primeval family.

With Saturn in Scorpio, as we have been saying, there is a necessity to care about the ‘other guy’s needs (wants, aims). And the difficulty? That’s pretty simple: nobody likes being told what to do or how to do it.

Depending on what sign and house your natal Saturn is in, you have a set of goals and standards within which you live. Call them boundaries, call them expectations…whether they’re cultural, parental, peer-group or dreamed up in your own substantial noggin, they are what they are.

Saturn in Scorpio is all about testing those standards. And no matter where your Saturn is natally, that feels either like a challenge…or like your belief system (see: Saturn/Uranus 2006) is being challenged. Either way, that’s a lot of work and a lot of soul searching. Saturn represents our ability to build…and our tendency to build walls. One is expansive and one is self-limiting. And whoever you are, this November is going to test those concepts at a level you will be aware of.

Remember – planets don’t just strike a harmonic then let it go. Life presents a problem or a challenge and we take it on (or slough it off) and go on dealing with those results for a good long time, tinkering and (yes) adjusting as we go.

As far as that goes, this particular Saturn/Uranus inconjunct is going to revisit us in September/October of 2013. By then, while both still in the same time, Uranus will be (again in retrograde) inching back out of 2nd decanate (emotional) degrees into change-what-you’re-doing/who you are 1st decan degrees as Saturn (in direct motion) is moving from Scorpio’s 1st decan personal/action degrees into the Scorpio uber-test of our emotional ability to deal with stability-instability/certainty-uncertainty which is Scorpio’s 2nd decanate.

Oh joy, oh rapture, right?

That Uranus is currently in the first decanate of “I Am” Aries has given us a lot of ‘trying out new things’ and changes of stance or direction (which may explain a lot). And much of that is good – Uranus in Aries is absolutely all about changing your Self, your sense of self, your direction in life and/or how you’re going about trying to reach your various aims and goals.

The test here really is why. Speaking as an American it’s an interesting fact (or factoid, depending on how interesting you really find it to be) that as soon as Saturn entered Scorpio back on October 5th, politicians on both sides of the aisle started shifting some public positions. (Or at least how they were presenting those public positions!)

 1000 Cubes by Nevit Dilmen (2002)

And this makes sense. They were trying to find ways to reach the people and create cohesion among/with voters, which would be entirely Saturn in Scorpio. After all, whether you believe them or not, whether you like their positions or not, the shift of tactic is very Scorpio. And their efforts are very Saturn - as is the job of President they're trying to secure.

The changes...and that they may be saying they're the person who can create change? That's entirely Uranus (change) in the "I Am" sign of Aries.

And the adjusting of positions? Or their assertions that we should adjust how we see or do things? That's very much the essence of Saturn inconjunct Uranus.

Mind you, there are astrologers who work full-time with what’s known as ‘Greek Whole Sign Astrology.’ Such astrologers just look at planets in signs - wherever they are in that sign, saying ‘for the whole of the time that those planets are in those signs, the RELATIONSHIP holds.’

And that does seem to hold merit. After all, the candidates (and maybe many of us) shifted our positions pretty much as soon as Saturn moved into Scorpio.

But there's something very much also to be said about planets being in aspect. Call it 'whole sign astrology on steroids' or something like that. So if you appreciated that first dose of planetary shift, you’re going to appreciate this November 4-27 shaking of our marimbas that much more.

Or maybe not. After all, Hurricane Sandy came into destructive being pretty much exactly as Saturn and Uranus came into a 3.5 degree orb of inconjunct.

The standard orb is 1.5 degrees. And personally, I work with 2.0 degrees when it comes to inconjuncts because that's where I find the effects most obvious.

Not that Superstorm Sandy wasn't obvious, no...and to be complete here here, Sandy hit the US eastern seaboard as Saturn and Uranus hit a 2.5 inconjunct orb. But  as an astrologer - specifically as someone who spends a lot of time writing and teaching to those who may not know all that much about astrology - I try as much as possible to keep things simple.

And they aren't simple, are they? But then, neither is life. Neither is our universe, or our existence.  

So looking back...what started at the end of the first week of October as a cosmic nudge has now become a blatant reality. We do need to change. We need to change what we're doing and how we're doing it. We need to change our outlook on life, what life is or can be and maybe most of all, the Aries 'me' versus the Scorpio 'all of us' of it all.

That said, ‘adjustments’ the techicals here are that we make will be based on six things:

1. Where Saturn is by sign, house and condition in your natal chart.

2. Where Uranus is by sign, house and condition in your natal chart

3. Where Scorpio and its rulers - Mars and Pluto - are in natally your chart

4. Where Aries and its ruler (Mars) is natally in your chart.

5. Current Mars (in Sagittarius) effects in your chart

6. Current Pluto (in Capricorn) effects in your chart.

Take a minute...look at your chart, whether you have it in hand or you go to a place like Astrolabe (alabe.com) or Astrodeinst (astro.com) to get it cast reliably and for free. This is the glyph you're looking for... 

The reason to look first (and foremost) for Saturn is that Saturn represents all those things which we can reach for. And that we can change, build, restructure or otherwise work on.

Next, remember that chart houses are counted from what we think of as "9 o'clock" in a counterclockwise direction.

Got it? Okay...then here are some basic basics:

IF YOUR NATAL SATURN IS IN...

1st House (or) Aries: Uranus inconjuncting Saturn says that at some level, you need to change what you do or how you're doing it. Don't think you and your efforts don't matter - they do, and you'll find that out through doing.

2nd House (or) Taurus: Don't be defensive, be proactive. It's through your relationships with others and what you learn through others that your life feels more whole, more secure and something you respect more deeply.

3rd House (or) Gemini: Your growth, your changes will come through thinking, and in terms of understanding the power of your mind. Whatever you choose as a personal standard, hold yourself to it. The more you offer others, the more you will achieve. 

4th House (or) Cancer: Your task is to build for a future which will not wait because you are afraid of that which is no more, whatever that may be. What you've learned to this point needs to be applied. Don't wait for the optimal, deal with reality. Create new opportunities.

5th House (or) Leo: During this period you may feel overwhelmed. Hopefully that will fuel your determination, as finding long term solutions which don't depend on others is important. Look to what you can do, not who you/what are. 

6th House (or) Virgo: Cut back to the truly necessary so that you have the time and energy to develop, learn about and implement that which will create a new path for you going forward. Know your limits - and those of others.

7th House (or) Libra: Be honest with yourself about what means what in life. Time counts, right? Devote yours to doing something worthwhile enough that you earn your own self respect. Such things will earn you applause - and more than that, help others, which matters to you.

8th House (or) Scorpio: You're in a period of testing when the most important thing is to prioritize. Don't let difficulties stop you. Believe it or not, what they're taking away is unneeded right now - you can succeed despite all.

9th House (or) Sagittarius: Changing values are a natural manifestation of this time. You can change what you're doing or life will change it for you. The lesson is about growth and how any given thing is but a step in your process. It's time to take another step - a hard one.

10th House (or) Capricorn: It's time to move into a more inclusive, multi-lateral, multi-faceted means of making life work. Join with others. Let others join with you. Some letting go is needed in order to move ahead.   
 

11th House (or) Aquarius: Taking on responsibilities, keeping yourself on track and not overburdening your resources is essential now - and going forward. Comfort cannot be the aim if situations are going to improve.

12th House (or) Pisces: Face your fears. Work on being as realistic as you are optimistic. Life will settle down as soon as you stop thinking some thing or person will release you and take on the challenge of freeing your own soul and feelings. 

  As photographed by Cassini, Saturn and Saturn's shadow, something of a

perfect metaphor for all those things we're afraid to 'turn around and see.'

(photo credit: NASA-JPL)

Not into looking at your chart?

Okay...if you’re not all over that, the pageant which is the US Electoral process is still giving us all a good look at how things can change.

And how things need to change.

And how we will go about trying (or attempting) to change them...and change with them.

Whoever wins this election (and that doesn't just for for the President, that goes for the President and Congress and whatever other office or propositions Americans may be voting for this year). They're all being voted in or out under this Uranus/Saturn inconjunct. So we can expect difficulties, protests, and unexpected problems with the process, and in the wake of the election.

As a matter of fact...let's see...as pertains to this election in particular...the Saturn/Uranus inconjunct will 'perfect' on November 15th (adjusting for local US time zones). That's nine days after election day, right?

That tells us that nine days, nine weeks, nine months and nine years (yes, I said years) are the points at which the choices made on this election day will surface and show their pluses and minuses. 

Meanwhile, back on the campaign trail, presidential campaigns are a good example of how this inconjunct works. Candidates may have come to a point (presumably when Saturn entered Scorpio) when they realized they wanted to change some of their rhetoric. Or when they needed to change a position or two. But when they get to that 'uh-oh' moment, there are already miles of speeches speech-ified and engrained in stone. There are acres of votes, acts and deeds already on the record books and there are those who have already decided that they each or dislike each candidate.

How to change and not alienate those folks?

It's a classic Scorpio tangle. For yes, while Scorpio asks that we find solutions which work for everybody, most of us arrive at the Scorpio situation with our wants and aims in mind. We declare ourselves by getting involved, taking a side and picking a stance.

Then we find out we may not be right. For whatever reason. We may figure out we're not even in the right arena.

It's not often the physical 'how to change' which is the Scorpio problem - that's Uranus in Aries. But the cost? Be it emotional, ethical, financial - the cost?

That's Scorpio.  

Oh yes...Saturn in Scorpio is the land of 'they’ll get me if I do that' and 'they'll hate me if I don't do that.' Emotions rise as we deal with others (and as they deal with us) and the temptation to ‘work’ the situation to our benefit or pleasure is absolutely there.

But...how to achieve all that and still be true to who we are?

That's the question. And what happens when you realize that who you 'are' is really not who you will be happy with yourself for being?

You get my Scorpio/Saturn point? 

Maybe you're reading that last and thinking ‘oh, that’s not me!’

If it isn't, congratulations. Since most of us do fall into one of those Scorpio slots, I might question that, but if it's really not you then, lucky you!

And welcome to the world of others not liking you for not being as mortal as they are.

Irregular Moons being discovered around Uranus

(photo credit: NASA-JPL)

The Saturn quality here is a question of the aim. Since Saturn is always the premise that life teaches us how to succeed in part through seeing how we deal with the reality or even just the threat of failure, Scorpio in Saturn tests our ability to navigate interactive waters with attention on keeping and even keel and eyes on the prize. That person who irritates the tar out of us is life not about how out of line or ridiculous they are, but how well we can work with or around their klunkiness.

That’s one part of ‘adjusting’ ourselves. The years of Uranus in Aries will have us all being more easily set off and excited. They’ll also be years during which we learn more about ourselves than at many an other time. So those who get in our way or who frustrate or irritate us are really teaching us perseverance, forbearance and ingenuity. Being that this is Saturn in the interactive challenge position, the test is whether we can innovate, renovate (old habits and ways of operating) and in general come up with solutions not to their idiocy, but to our tendency to get bothered and to that extent, distracted from our growth, our goals, our aims.

You know, all that Saturn stuff.

For some, Saturn passing through Scorpio will bring on a heavy dose of karma. With Uranus in Aries, this can take a very unpleasant toll on our lives – or even our physicality. Where we have neglected ourselves, November is likely to stumbling us into a wall we’ve built through neglect.

Have you overstepped your bounds? This is the kind of combination which is going to deliver the news that you have (as they say in the Peter Principle) risen to your level of incompetency.

Uranus in Aries is the kind of transit under which some people reach for things they are totally not suited to. we hope they get their fingers out of the door before life slams it shut.

Uranus in Aries is also the kind of transit which causes people to want to ignore all the rules. Arrogance bubbles to the top of their personality and society (Saturn) does a Scorpio boil-over and tells them to put a lid on it.

So we have this transit running all month long. Mercury retrograde will start under this adjusting, side-stepping, coping, frustrating, provocative influence. A solar eclipse will occur just before it perfects.
Saturn inconjuncting Uranus is going to be like an electronic hum which goes on (just about) all month long. Like any such sound, it tends to become background. We get used to its presence.

But that doesn’t mean it isn’t there.

That’s the hard part of transits like this one: we accept them and pretty much forget them. And because we do that, we tend to fall afoul of the pitfalls.

Fortunately blog posts stick around. So if someone drops a house on your foot, after you shriek OUCH and hop around for a while cussing and yelling, you’ll be able to put your foot up and come back and do some reflecting.

Which is rather the point of the transit to begin with, right?
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Mercury's Station and the Retrograde to Follow

 A statue of Mercury perched on the Commerce Bank Building in Bilbao

(photo in public domain)

Mercury’s going retrograde on November 6th at 11:05 in the evening UT/+0 time makes its moment of going into retrograde early evening on the east coast and mid-afternoon on the west coast.

November 6th is, of course, Election Day USA.

So what does it mean for Mercury to be on station and going retrograde on the date of an election?

I’ve done a substantial amount of research on release dates for movies and the subsequent box office take. And when it comes to movies, planetary stations indicate marked effects. All things being equal (Mercury operates not alone in this solar system, after all) the most general thing to report is much ballyhoo and strong initial attendance.

Considering this Mercury station is taking place in Sagittarius, that could indicate all sorts of people coming out to vote, which is a good thing! But also considering this station is in Sagittarius (a sign which with Mercury can indicate overstepping, overstating and sloppiness) this could be a sign of problems or challenges at the polls…added to which there is always the idea that Sag is the sign of legalities.

(Hanging chads, anyone?)

The dates associated with this incoming Mercury retrograde were etched in blogful digital ink a handful of blogs ago (yes, ‘handfuls of blogs’ is a measurement). In case you missed that, here’s the chart:

But that isn’t all the juice. First of all, Mercury is going retrograde at 4 Sagittarius – a degree which besides being square my personal Sun (I protest!) is one of those deceptive degrees which are just fine so long as we aren’t challenged. But when we are – oooh, baby, does that fur fly or what?

(Just for the record, I know protesting won’t do me much good.)

The good news – especially with this degree getting so potently activated on Election Day USA – is that 4 Sagittarius is known in lore as a mental and no physical degree. Much shouting, snarling, yelling may be heard. Opinions – some visceral – may well get voiced. And yes, those short pithy words so favored by the annoyed are likely to be heard.

But even more than that, what this Mercury ‘turn’ on this date at this degree would seem to indicate is a realization, a recognition of what others think and what the world is ‘doing’ (or what it approves of) in spite of what we as individuals may think.

You may love that…you may hate that…and that’s totally your choice, opinion, option and all the rest. But if you want to make the best of this retrograde period…and the time which comes after this retrograde period, you’ll at least heed that which you’re being shown.

That’s all very Sagittarian. Sagittarius can certainly manifest as belligerence and trying to insist on your perspective, belief or point of view. But the purpose of Sagittarius (and the related 9th house) are to highlight that which you have to take into account and deal with if you are going to reach your (10th house/Midheaven) goals.

In everyday life Sagittarius is the testing ground. It’s where we gather samples and statistics. It’s where we take the poll and learn what the majority is for or against. This is the sign about trial runs and seeing if that flag, that idea, that Spruce Goose will fly.

The front section of the Huges H-4 Hercules (popularly known as the 'Spruce Goose') as it sits on exhibition in Long Beach, California with an old vehicle in the foreground helping give a perspective on the airplane's mammoth size.

(photo credit: Triddle)

Sometimes it does fly but you still decide that’s not what you want to invest in. Sometimes you figure out that there are still a few bugs to be ironed out of the process. Sometimes you realize you’re going about the right thing in the wrong way – or the wrong thing in the right way.

Sagittarius is the theory of ‘things foreign’ because it’s the first of the last four signs of the zodiac (the global quadruplicity) and thus about where our world intersects with the world…as conceived of in the Sagittarius polarity of our personal Gemini mentality.

Fortunately for us, this is not the fact, this is the theory. Sagittarius is a fire sign. And Mercury is always the ‘idea’ the ‘mental’ aspect of the doing, the operation, the method, the schedule, the duration of the act-or-effort. So whatever happens now, we have (theoretically) the whole of this Mercury retrograde – until November 26th – to think things through.

Then we need to act with whatever we learn now, or whatever we’ve learned just recently…or whatever we learn during retrograde….in moving forward from there.

That Juno is conjunct Hidalgo with both in exact opposition to Jupiter from 14 Sagittarius to 14 Gemini underscores everything and anything which has to do with ‘minding how you go about things’ – with a particular emphasis on not going overboard.

Or dealing with where you may have already gone overboard. Or where you were thinking to go overboard in the days and weeks which are coming up.

Mercury’s going station/retrograde in square to Chiron and Fomalhaut (in early Pisces) also makes this a time when we don’t want to think about vulnerabilities…but when we should.

Mercury’s retrograding back into Scorpio on November 14th (at 7:43 a.m. UT/+0) indicates an ‘intensifying’ of focus. Whatever is up for consideration now is likely to strike a note of intensity. Or maybe it simply deserves your full attention. With Venus opposing Eris on the 15th (from Libra to Aries), the combined influence may provoke an ‘enough, already!’ reactions as people either opt for fun or rebel against responsibility.

Which yes, are sometimes one and the same thing!

November 17th comes with a Mercury-conjunct-North Node (at 26 Scorpio) need to consider the ramifications of attitudes, actions, choices – and all that. So don’t cut yourself short! Seeing that Mercury backs into 25 Scorpio and there meets up with Sun-conjunct-Tantalus…WITH the 17th being the date that Mars enters Capricorn, temptations abound, and you may have an opportunity to do something dramatic.

An inner channel in Nanedi Valles on Mars

(photo credit: NASA, Jim Secosky)

Before you do it, ask yourself one question: at what cost?

That ramifications (read: karma) may well be affected here is marked by Moon conjunct Pluto. And since when in Capricorn the Moon is also know to be maybe a bit too assertive for its own good, looking before leaping seems a singularly good idea.

That November 18th has the Sun conjunct North Node conjunct Tantalus at 26 Scorpio with an opposition from Algol-conjunct South Node in Taurus…well, let’s just say it’s easier to want what we want than to be fair (with ourselves and others – the Taurus/Scorpio challenge) about the difference between ‘like’ and ‘need.’

As November 19th rolls around, Mercury’s opposing Sedna signals trying moments and choices which originate in some ‘inbred’ instinct and which feel ‘importantly comfortable’… but which maybe we should let go of anyway.

And that’s about it until the Sun moves into Sagittarius, an event which will happen late on November 21st, UT/+0 time. Just before this happens you'll feel an ambient shift, as if energy is moving or gathering. Is something going to happen?

It may: the Sun moving through 29 Scorpio (prior to shifting into Sagittarius) can feel intense... mysterious... even creepy. The combination of Sun-against-Mercury will get you to think, but don't get too distracted. With Mercury still in retrograde, its unlikely that anything which does happen is lasting...and whatever information turns up isn't the last word on the subject.

Then the Sun enters Sagittarius, which you may feel as the need to catch up with yourself, or maybe your schedule. New things are popping up and your challenge is to shift into a mode to deal with or take advantage of opportunities.

Just choose carefully. With Mercury moving into its station on November 24th, having room (at least mental room) to deal with the important thing.

Mercury goes direct on November 26th. The degree of this station is 18 Scorpio – a degree noted for a sort of isolated form of thinking which is prone to jealousy and/or judgment of others. But since, when we think it through, both sides of that coin (jealousy and judgment) are really about the Self feeling vulnerable or invalid at some level, that sense of the ‘other’ isn’t “about” them – it’s about how we wish we had more priority with others. Or how unhappy we are with ourselves that we haven’t done something. Or given something that best shot.

Just just to make this all seem a bit fairy tale-like (or maybe akin to an Aesop’s fable) on the day that Mercury goes direct (November 26th), the Sun (with Tantalus) will be positioned at 4 Sagittarius.

 The slave Aesop serving Two Priests by Francis Barlow (1687)

You know…the degree Mercury went retrograde at to begin with?

For whoever wins the election, this will like as not be about when they settle into what they need to get done – the hard work which happens after any election settles out and all the associated people move on, get named or thanked…all that. For whoever loses the election, this will like as not be when they begin ‘throwing off’ the enormity of the effort passed in getting on with their life.

For the rest of us, this is when hopefully what we really (Tantalus) crave will (Sagittarius as a fire sign) inspire us to (Sagittarius as a process) work through the glitches, letting go of what doesn’t work in getting on with what we really need to do in order to reach our (Midheaven) goals.
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Dateblog: November 2012

 November 2012

As you can see from all the hot red Scorpio and warmly fervent russet-orange denotation of Sagittarius above, this is 2012 in full interactive format. During the first part of the month Mercury and Mars in Sagittarius gives us an indicator of verbal and activity-oriented fervency.

 Maybe urgency. 

Mercury in Sagittarius being famous for discussions, debates, enlightening ideas and oratory, we can count on much being said. Maybe too much being said. Both soulful allegiance and heated opposition go along with this pairing, which with Sun and Saturn in Scorpio points to things of emotional (and quite possibly financial) importance. 

In short, this is a time which feels important – maybe even fateful. Is it really that? Maybe. But then again, maybe we just need to feel we’re being heard and considered. 

The United States presidential election falls on November 6th – the date that Mercury goes retrograde. With Nessus (lingering ill will) having gone direct on the 4th, Damocles (unsuspected difficulties) going direct on the 8th we have both their two-day station allowances overlapping on the 6th, along with the 6th being the date that Charybdis (the need to keep trying) goes retrograde in Cancer, the sign of the people and a national populace.

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 Marine One prepares to land on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, D.C.

(photo credit US Department of Defense, PHC C.M. Fitzpatrick, July 1987)

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Plainly the US people will have their say. Whatever the outcome is, that will not fix worldwide economic problems. In fact, as Neptune goes direct on November 11th barely in advance of a Solar Eclipse at 21 Scorpio on the 13th, nations and individuals around our world are likely to realize just how difficult things really are, and – hopefully – how their clinging to personal perspectives and drives has damaged many a goal. 

Yes, their goal. And as Chiron goes direct on November 15th, just what ‘living by our own rules’ instead of universal humanistic rules means is going to become a wee bit clearer. 

We are moving into the Age of Aquarius, folks. This is an Age where commerce is king, but where the marketplace must be open. Playing fields long bounded by idea of ‘us and them’ or ‘have and have not,’ the ‘insiders and outsiders’ are all giving way. Rich and poor shouldn’t matter: survival should. Cultural heritages and religious affiliations can no longer be our definition of worthy and unworthy as they have been throughout the Age of Pisces. I raise the issue now as it is metaphysically clear, merely by the congruence of the changing of the astrological ages coinciding with the ending-and-renewing of the ancient Mayan ‘creationist’ count (which is not the same as their calendar, by the by)...things are changing. 

And that means they need to change. WE need to change. 

It’s just not a gentle process. Not one change of Age, not one round of the Mayan creationist count (which they called ‘one world’) not any of this shifts from one cycle to the next without a deal of fracas. There’s always upheaval. There’s always trials and warfare.

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 From the famous Mayan murals of Bonampak in Belize, this scene from

Room 1 depicts the torture of the captives. How things don't change when

it comes to human beings, right?

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Why? Because human beings don’t like change. People yell and scream that they want things to change, but tell them that the time to change is ‘now’ and they’ll shovel out the excuses. 

Change feels like a threat to our security. So sometimes life has to actually threaten our security to get us to change.

 Once Mars enters Capricorn on the 17th, the determined among us will get to work while the rest of us are treading water. With the Sun’s shift into Sagittarius (on the 21st) falling just a day before Venus moves into Scorpio as Pallas (dispassionate, realistic wisdom) goes direct in Pisces we are challenged to get ‘real’ with ourselves. Importance now falls on the proverbial ‘proof in the pudding.’ Yes, we may bluster and fluster about long-held positions and convictions, but on the inside a lot of us are going to be admitting to our all-important Self that we were wrong: what we were doing or how we were doing it or the company in which we have been doing it...that’s wrong. 

But what to do about such problems? The Neptune bet is that most of us will put a game face on and go about like all is cheerful and status quo. But considering how people react to knowing they’re doing the wrong thing, the only question is whether we are going to make an active move to change (which with Mars in Capricorn is not only possible, but may well earn brownie-respect-points from others) ...or whether we are going to just wait until we ‘out’ ourselves through some compulsive moment. 

For card carrying members of Club Compulsive, Mercury’s going direct (in Scorpio) on the 26th combined with a Lunar Eclipse on the 28th (at 6 Gemini) may mark your blowout. Then again, if you’re a member of Club Compulsive who has reached Gold Card Denial ranking, you may just dig yourself in deeper with this Mercury turnabout and Lunar Eclipse. 

The Lunar Eclipse is in Gemini. That makes it about choices in the moment...or choices already made. Considering that Mercury in Scorpio can either be transformative or incredibly dug in, stick-in-the-mud stubborn, what may come of all seems pretty obvious.

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A lunar eclipse in progress

(photo credit: Juan Iacruz, February 2012)

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No matter which course you choose, experience or get emotionally shepherded into, the whole of the last week or so of November IS ‘emotional territory.’ Those whose charts are closely aspected by this Lunar Eclipse (read: with positions between 1 and 11 Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, Aquarius...OR chart contacts between 4 and 8 degrees of Taurus, Cancer, Scorpio or Capricorn) will be most effected.

But this is a time of intensity pretty much all around. 

Still, it’s worth remembering: Solar Eclipses mark events which change your life. Lunar Eclipses are emotional, yes. But very seldom do they indicate a major life change unless your chart is ALSO being transited by the solar side of the eclipse pair.

In which case, buckle your seatbelt and grab a fire extinguisher – it’s going to be a bumpy and hot, hot, hot (maybe even flammable) ride!

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