Earth triangle

From 11 November, a triangle of planets in the earth signs combines powerful energies for the rest of the month: Pluto is clearing the ground for huge developments; Jupiter in Taurus represents the readiness of Earth herself for growthful movement; and Mars moving into Virgo urges activity, hopefully useful. Until 11th , it might be helpful to work on not taking ourselves so seriously (Mars in Leo sextile Saturn).

Scorpio - go deep to reach high

Sun and Moon in Scorpio reach across this chart opening our hearts to Neptune and Chiron - this month is for recognising the importance of feeling the true movements of life in our surroundings, and realising the ‘right’ action, and the relevant moment to take it. We can only be in touch with all this through being in touch with ourselves - our instincts, emotions and background thoughts - so that we can see what is beyond ourselves. Through peaceful breathing and inward contemplation, we can connect with what is actually there around us - people and situations. Through being open to our intuition, we can ‘read’ life, and recognise the arising of opportunities for beneficial action offered to us by the earthy triangle of planets.

Water versus Fire

The flavour of the month, from its New Moon chart is about the struggle to understand and communicate the seriousness of our experiences (Venus/Mercury in Scorpio). When confronting today’s accelerating problems, many in authority act as though old solutions will make everything stable again (Mars in Leo sextiles Saturn). Some are still involved in the ego-battle to see who will steer us through the coming times. But these are those ‘times’ now, and egos fighting look more and more silly in the face of people’s real anxiety about what happens next (Venus/Mercury at odds with Mars).

We can look at the political situations to see all this but, as always, the most useful way to look at it is in our own communications. Are we focussing on the most important things in what we say? Are we being too light-hearted in painful situations? Have we been carping on about what matters to ourselves, without listening to what really matters to the other person? Light-heartedness is a valuable energy in arranging what needs to be done, but carrying out the arrangements can still be done sensitively.

Warmth will go a long way to soften entrenched positions (Mars in Leo), more effective than just stating our preferences. The things that we cling to, that feel so very important to us, are often things that used to matter in our memories of the past. But, measured again today, we see that they are not nearly as important as the relating that is happening now. So check again to see if you really need a particular result; and if you find yourself becoming impatient with the time someone is taking, find a gentle way of moving the situation along, rather than chopping it off short - your heart would probably find more time to listen than you think.

This chart (Venus/Mercury square Mars) suggests that we need to listen to what is said, even when it hurts. There is often a nugget of growthful value within a harsh criticism - so accept what is relevant to you, and recognise that the emotional charge was the other person’s experience. Everyone’s experience is personal to them, which doesn’t make it any less real. After hard truths have been aired, if we are respectful of the other’s potential vulnerability as well as our own, humour can bubble up.

There is always another way . . .

With Venus and Mercury together in Scorpio, we are likely to be expressing our deepest feelings about loving and being loved. By 2 November, they will both move into Sagittarius, much more prepared to see the funny side of things, but also exploring the ramifications of what is said - a time to mean what you say, and say what you mean. This emphasis on speaking out in our relationships culminates in mid-November with sharing our highest ideals for ourselves and life in general (Venus/Mercury over the North Node in Sagittarius). By then Mars will be in Virgo, reflecting our need to go carefully, each in our own way (Mars quincunx Uranus), but searching for solutions for the problems we all face can be an adventure.

. . . exploring for the rest of 2011

This sense of looking for a better way is likely to continue into 2012, (Mercury will appear to travel backwards through Sagittarius from 24 November until 14 December, and only reach Capricorn on 8 January 2012). By the way, retrograding Mercury in Sagittarius is about re-considering things that dashed through our minds before. People worry that it’s a ‘bad’ time, but it is more about taking time to think things through and communicate properly. It’s only a problem when we get impatient, or don’t pay enough attention to what we’re doing. Until January 2012, we need to allow ourselves lots of room for new ideas and different solutions - Sagittarius is not about following through or being grounded and responsible. Come 8 January, we will be more ready to choose the practical next steps.