November Horoscopes

Astrology of November
Current Configurations
Past Months

Aries	Libra
Taurus	Scorpio
Gemini	Sagittarius
Cancer	Capricorn
Leo	Aquarius
Virgo	Pisces

November 2009

Current Astrology

	The Sun is in Aries
	The Quarter Moon is in LeoThe First Quarter Moon is in Leo: All day
	Next Mercury Retrograde Apr 21 - May 14

November Horoscopes

by Henry Seltzer

The Astrology of November features all the outer planets: Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto. Just before the month began, Saturn entered Libra and squared Pluto, an important aspect that becomes exact by mid-November. This powerful combination of archetypal energies is made even more so because Pluto currently resides in Saturn's sign of Capricorn. The structure of our lives that we have come to depend on might take a sudden turning.

Both Uranus and Neptune are also featured prominently in this month's configurations. Like Pluto, these powerful numinous archetypal energies symbolize forces for change, although less sweepingly drastic in their effects than their astrological cousin. Uranus represents the flash of inspiration that can apprehend in an instant all that we are about, the human condition raised to a level of cosmic understanding. Uranus is prominent in these November skies because it is almost stationary during this month, about to turn to direct motion, and also because it is aspected by both the Full Moon and Venus at the very beginning of the month and the New Moon of November 16th. Neptune is also stationing direct this month, on November 4th. The New Moon of the 16th aspects Neptune strongly, by square, just as Jupiter closes in on a repeat of the triple conjunction with Neptune and Chiron that was active during last spring and early summer.

Since Uranus and Neptune occupy the same degree of different signs right now, they are linked; any configuration, like this Scorpio New Moon, that aspects Uranus also aspects Neptune. Since they remain in mutual reception – each one in the sign ruled by the other – there is a strong dose of compassionate understanding in the air, which is a much-needed plus; a potentially optimistic way of seeing past the enormous burden of change that is already upon us. We are fortunate to have compassion and sensitivity for each other and the intelligence to deal positively with the changes and the challenges that are upon us as part and parcel of these climactic times we are currently living through.

The square between Saturn and Pluto is huge, and represents the first combination of these powerful planetary energies since the fall of 2001. This configuration becomes even more compelling due to the nature of the degrees involved, since the initial degrees of Capricorn, and of Libra, are equivalent to the Aries point, which is related to the beginning degree of all four Cardinal signs. The Sabian Symbol for the first degree of Libra, opposite the Aries point, where Saturn begins its November journey, is "a butterfly made perfect by a dart through it." This symbol speaks to the sleight of hand of human perception which transforms the raw stuff of nature into art. As Saturn transits Libra in square to Pluto, the very structures of our lives that we depend upon for sustenance are subject to the storm of destruction represented by Pluto, a storm that can be in the end constructive also. We have room to grow as individuals only by eliminating previous foundations and removing the dead weight of the past that would otherwise hold us back. It is a brave new world that we are entering in this end-of-the-year period, redolent with the reasonable fear of the unknown, and yet holding much promise as well, as we begin to get with the program and allow ourselves to let go of what we can no longer hold on to.

Transits to the U.S. Chart

Last month, we mentioned two times in the course of October when the transits would be particularly severe due to the Full Moon of October 3rd being conjunct U.S. Saturn in the tenth (government and administration) while the subsequent New Moon was close to the U.S. Mars-Neptune square; this as transiting Neptune, Chiron, Uranus and Eris were also aspecting this important set of points, presaging further troubles at that time, especially with regard to the military.

Indeed the headlines and key stories from these two periods reflect these trends. The first weekend of the month saw one of the deadliest days ever for U.S. forces in Afghanistan, just as the recent Afghan election was set to be overturned due to accusations of fraud, and as the administration was considering sending in more troops.

Leading up to the New Moon weekend of October 17th, it was decided that Afghanistan would need to hold a run-off election, and that places the U.S.-appointed president Hamid Karzai in danger of losing his power. Meanwhile President Obama hesitates to give a response to the local commander of U.S. forces in his request for up to 40,000 additional troops. It was also revealed at this time that drone attacks in Afghanistan and neighboring Pakistan have tripled from the days of the Bush administration, revealing a policy of supposed targeted killing of terrorist personnel. This policy results in collateral damage accounting for the deaths of civilians at many of the strikes.

Meanwhile, a survey of President Obama's efforts in New Orleans gave him only a D+ in improving the situation there, after 9 months on the job, where 60,000 abandoned properties attest to the lack of meaningful effort at restoration. Dozens were arrested in protests of health insurance companies as civil unrest in this country grows.

In the last month of the year, hotspots will continue to be represented by the New and Full Moons at the beginning and middle of the month. On November 2nd, the Full Moon aspects the U.S. Sun degree, just as transiting Uranus squares U.S. Mars and opposes U.S. Neptune, and while transiting Pluto continues to square the U.S. Midheaven. There could be sudden activity at this time along the road of thorough-going transformation that the country is certain to traverse over these next few years. The New Moon of November 16th activates these same sensitive points, and emphasizes the Neptunian factor of deception and confusion, so that issues of misleading statements from the government and within the military might once again arise. These years leading up to 2012 will prove a time of great change for this country, indeed the world; and that will indeed be difficult. But it is change that has in many ways been long overdue, and this society will ultimately be the better for it.