“Skylights” for the second half of November include an uplifting Sagittarius New Moon and an asteroid goddess-focused Grand Trine spotlighting self-esteem and relationships. Eight Mercury events make communication a major theme, and a Saturn-Pluto semi-square invites you to release an outworn part of your personality.
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11/16 (Sun)
Neptune, retrograde since 6/9, turns direct today at 4°47′ Pisces. Neptune rules dreams, visions, spiritual union practices and inspired creativity. This is a good time to begin taking whatever you’ve been visualizing in these areas into real-world manifestation.
Investigation, research, and other mental inquiries that “peek behind the curtain” are smoothly energized as Mercury sextiles Pluto (11°43′ Scorpio-Capricorn). This aspect also supports turning your attention to occult practices, sacred sexuality and shared resources.
Venus transits Sagittarius today through 12/11. This encourages an expansive, adventurous spirit in how you relate, create and manage your finances.
11/17 (Mon)
The mind’s urge to probe into the hidden depths, already stimulated by yesterday’s Mercury-Pluto sextile, receives additional impetus today from two more Mercury aspects. A Mercury-Uranus quincunx (13°3′ Scorpio-Aries) can provide flashes of genius and insight, while a Mercury-Chiron trine (13°7′ Scorpio-Pisces) provides an easy flow of mentoring and healing energy.
Feminine assertiveness and strategic planning are stimulated by a Uranus-Pallas Athena quincunx (13°2′ Aries-Scorpio). Watch for intuitive hits on how to make the adjustments that will help you embody these more fully.
11/18 (Tue)
Any issues you’re having in your feminine assertiveness – whether you’re embodying too much or too little – are ripe for healing with Chiron trine Pallas Athena (13°6′ Pisces-Scorpio).
A Sun-Saturn conjunction (25°55′ Scorpio) can challenge you with depression or a sense of being faced with overwhelming obstacles. But you can maximize this aspect’s potential by stepping definitively into your authority. This will help you embody the high-side Saturn qualities of maturity, responsibility, discipline and excellent time management. With both planets in Scorpio, this aspect can also support a strong container for positive transformation.
11/19 (Wed)
No major astrology events.
11/20 (Thu)
On the challenging side, a Venus-Neptune square (4°48′ Sagittarius-Pisces) can set the stage for relationship confusion, creative indifference and financial mismanagement. But we are all alchemists, and can use the power of our intention to turn the lead of challenging aspects into gold! Use this Venus-Neptune square to deepen your soul connection with others, call in creative inspiration and open to intuitive guidance in money matters.
Remember that nothing in astrology is inherently good or bad. The cosmic energies are simply raw materials waiting to be shaped by your conscious participation!
11/21 (Fri)
It’s a good time to focus your thoughts on leadership, initiation, striving for a worthy cause and positive sexuality with Mercury sextile Mars (19°40′ Scorpio-Capricorn). With Mercury in Scorpio, this aspect also supports diving assertively into occult practice, psychology, investigation and personal transformation.
11/22 (Sat)
The Sun enters Sagittarius at 4:39 AM EST. In the sign of the archer, Old Sol radiates hope, joy, enthusiasm and celebration. Supported themes include philosophy, religion, higher education and learning from the wisdom of foreign cultures.
Sagittarius New Moon
November’s New Moon occurs less than three hours after the Sun enters Sagittarius. It lines up at 7:33 AM EST (0°7′ Sagittarius). New beginnings in the Sagittarian themes detailed in the prior paragraph are supported.
Aspects
This lunation’s aspects suggest that, while roadblocks may be encountered, they can be overcome with discipline and perseverance (tight Saturn conjunction). Newly expansive energy in relationships and creativity is available (loose Venus conjunction), as well as in learning, communication and writing (wide Mercury conjunction).
Some may be tempted to overindulge in intoxicating substances or escapism during this New Moon period (Neptune square). If only they knew how easy it is to call in even more amazing states of bliss and ecstasy from their own divine source, with no hangover the next day! (This Core Invocation might help you experience this.)
Sabian Symbol
This lunation’s Sabian Symbol is, “Retired army veterans gather to reawaken old memories.” Most people would envision this scene as a casual social gathering. While such an event might create nurturing social bonds, my recent experiences with healing breathwork leads me to imagine a different scenario.
What if these veterans came together to heal the psychological wounds they incurred during their military service using holotropic breathwork, or some other intense healing modality that could rapidly bring closure to their unresolved traumas? If some of the old memories being reawakened are painful, why not take the opportunity to heal them?
This Sabian Symbol can be broadened to include everyone, since we’ve all experienced some level of psychological trauma in our lives. When would it be appropriate for you to gather with others who’ve been similarly wounded, so that you can be freed from the constricting effects of your past traumas?
You may feel a strong urge to learn and communicate with Mercury square Jupiter (22°13′ Scorpio-Leo). Just be careful not to overcommunicate, and give others a chance to speak too!
Grand Trine Begins: Venus-Juno-Ceres-Uranus
A Grand Trine begins today incorporating Venus, Juno, Ceres and Uranus. It peaks on 11/28 and ends on 12/3.
One helpful way to use this flowing aspect pattern is to explore how your self-esteem (Ceres) is affected by your committed partnerships (Juno and Venus). With Uranus in the mix, there’s a clear invitation to “let your freak flag fly.” This could mean more fully honoring your authentic needs and desires, even if they conflict with your partner’s preferences.
A recent 10-day shamanic intensive I recently attended was not specifically about codependence, but it seemed that everyone there was wrestling with it! This Grand Trine presents a great opportunity to examine how much you’re deriving your sense of self-worth from your partner’s approval.
Are you engaging in codependent behavior, at the cost of sacrificing how you express your authentic egoic self? If so, this Grand Trine gives you an opportunity to modify this behavior.
11/23 (Sun)
Chiron turns direct today at 13°5′ Pisces. This supports the implementation of any healing or mentoring activities you’ve been contemplating since Chiron turned retrograde on 6/20.
11/24 (Mon)
Power struggles are possible as go-my-own-way Mars quincunxes kingly Jupiter in regal Leo (22°19′ Capricorn-Leo). Don’t get bogged down in an unproductive battle of wills. Instead, use this aspect to plan an assertive strategy to support win-win leadership, pioneering, sexuality or a worthy cause.
11/25 (Tue)
With Mercury conjunct Saturn (26°50′ Scorpio), notice in what ways your thinking or communication is being restricted. Is it through an outside agency or because of your own internal censor?
Turn this aspect to your advantage by claiming personal authority over how you think and express yourself. You decide: anyone else is only an advisor! This conjunction’s placement in Scorpio also supports focused concentration into the depths of whatever subjects you choose.
11/26 (Wed)
Venus, already feeling adventurous in her transit of Sagittarius, wants to let her authentic self shine as she trines Uranus in aggressive Aries (12°49′ Sagittarius-Aries). Avoid shocking behavior for its own sake, but do follow your intuitive flashes in the areas of relationship, creativity and finance.
The shadow side of Neptune could show itself under a Sun-Neptune square (4°49′ Sagittarius-Pisces). Any tendencies toward Neptune’s less desirable expressions – substance abuse, excessive escapism, martyrdom or drifting – could be aggravated. The Sun’s placement in Sagittarius, the sign of limitless expansion, could make this scenario even more problematic.
Thankfully, there’s always a life-affirming way to use a challenging aspect! Focusing on spiritual union activities, inspired creativity or compassionate service will give this aspect a much more positive expression.
11/27 (Thu)
Experiencing some kind of emotional wounding in a relationship is a common occurrence during a Venus-Chiron square (13°6′ Sagittarius-Pisces). If your partner has hurt your feelings, chances are that they’ve only re-triggered a pre-existing wound. Working to heal the original hurt may reap you far more benefit than trying to change your partner’s behavior. (My healing invocation has helped many people clear their old wounds quickly and efficiently.)
Saturn-Pluto Semi-square
Saturn and Pluto, the two planets associated with death, make a 45° semi-square today (27°2′ Scorpio-12°2′ Capricorn). Saturn and Pluto are also in each other’s signs, a phenomenon called mutual reception. This makes this aspect much stronger than it would normally be.
Aspects such as this don’t usually trigger physical death. But they can be helpful in laying to rest a part of your personality that has outlived its usefulness. What part of your behavior no longer serves you, and what can you do to let it go?
Intuitive flashes that promote positive growth in your abundance and self-esteem may be popping in with Uranus trine Ceres (12°48′ Aries-Sagittarius). An intuitive flash, that absolute certainty you feel at the moment a thought arrives, is like getting a text message from God. Trust it!
Mercury transits Sagittarius today through 12/16. You can benefit from expansion of your mental acuity, and may enjoy turning your thoughts toward philosophy, religion, the meaning of life, travel or foreign cultures.
11/28 (Fri)
Grand Trine Peaks: Venus-Juno-Ceres-Uranus
The Grand Trine that started on 11/22, including Venus, Juno, Ceres and Uranus, peaks today and ends on 12/3.
11/29 (Sat)
No major astrology events.
11/30 (Sun)
Some people experience fuzzy cogitation with Mercury square Neptune (4°51′ Sagittarius-Pisces). If you can’t figure something out on your own, ask your inner wisdom what you should do and leave a moment of quiet space to receive the answer.
Each of us literally has access to all the information in the universe! The main differences among us are how attuned we are to it, how much we ask for it, and how open we are to receiving it.
Grand Trine Begins: Sun-Juno-Ceres-Uranus
The effects of the waning Venus-Juno-Ceres-Uranus Grand Trine, which ends on 12/3, is reenergized as the Sun steps into Venus’ place. Even though Venus is exiting, the relational meaning of this aspect pattern continues because Juno represents committed partnerships. The new version of this Grand Trine featuring the Sun, Juno, Ceres and Uranus begins today, peaks on 12/6 and ends on 12/12.
Void-of-Course Moons
It’s best to avoid starting important new projects or making major purchases during void-of-course Moons. “Business as usual” is the optimal strategy. Void-of-course Moons occur when the Moon has made her last major Ptolemaic aspect, but has not yet moved into her next sign.
- 11/17, 06:12:22 am – 02:31:00 pm (Libra)
- 11/19, 09:26:02 am – 11/20, 00:31:58 am (Scorpio)
- 11/22, 04:39:18 am – 07:20:21 am (Sagittarius)
- 11/23, 10:17:12 pm – 11/24, 11:32:31 am (Capricorn)
- 11/26, 10:31:03 am – 02:23:57 pm (Aquarius)
- 11/28, 12:15:20 pm – 05:04:09 pm (Pisces)
- 11/30, 03:48:16 pm – 08:14:55 pm (Aries)
Whatever your Sun Sign, Benjamin’s forecasts can help you make the best use of the current astrological energies.
All dates and times are in the U.S. eastern time zone. Events are most powerful on the dates listed, but their influence will be active for at least several days before and after.
Everyone is affected by these global transits. However, you will be most powerfully impacted when moving planets activate sensitive points in your natal chart.
I don’t understand how Saturn is going to form a semi-sextile with Pluto when Saturn reaches 27 degrees of Scorpio. Pluto is in the 11th degree o Capricorn. That angle is 45 degrees wide. Isn’t a semi-sextile supposed to be 30 degrees ?
You’re absolutely right — Saturn and Pluto are actually making a 45-degree semi-square. Thanks very much for catching my error. I’ve corrected it in the written forecast, and now won’t embarrass myself by misidentifying the aspect in my podcast and video! :-)