This month we're still dealing with the leftovers from the Mercury Retrograde (basically just cleaning up after the party), plus work with Mars and Chiron.

First off, while the Mercury Rx in Libra/Scorpio ended this evening, we still have to come out of the retrograde shadow - essentially we're going back over the experiences we just had over the last three weeks, and moving forward in regards to those issues. The reality is that Mercury is now going forward again, and won't get back to the degree where it turned retrograde until November 17. If we have faced the communication bobbles, and taken responsibility for them during this retrograde period, then we can move on to the next lesson in our lives. If, however, we've spent the last 3 weeks avoiding our troubles, the next three weeks are going to give you another chance to try to fix your mistakes. Which, yes, means that if you've been running away from them, guess what? You get to re-experience the last three weeks again. I refer you back to last month's column if you don't know what kinds of things I'm talking about.

Mars is hanging out in Cancer this month, and will be going retrograde as well as of November 15. It will stay retrograde (going from Cancer back into Gemini on New Year's Eve) until January 30, 2008. Mars is not just about how you exhibit your aggressive side, but also how and where you gain your energy, and what kind of things elicit passion within your soul. Mars transiting will reflect extra energy and passion being added to those areas that are being triggered -- look to your natal chart to see where Cancer and Gemini show up. Mars transiting in Retrograde of course tends to push those energies back inside rather than allowing you to use those energies in a productive fashion.

For example, Cancer is my Rising sign (the sign on my 1st house cusp), which is all about the ego and personal identity. Given the fact that I just started working my way through Homecoming - by Bradshaw, this is not a big surprise. All that energy is being used by working my way through starting to heal some of my own childhood/past issues. Perhaps for you that energy will be used for finding new ways to express yourself (third house) or being inspired to learn something new/return to school (9th house).

Mars is also triggering a quincunx (a.k.a. inconjunct) aspect with Chiron (in Aquarius). Quincunxes require adjustment and compromise in order to deal with the two planets involved -- it is also one half of a Yod (a.k.a Finger of God). It is an aspect the tends to force you to face things you may not wish to look at or deal with. Especially when dealing with Chiron, we probably don't want to look at what is being brought up right now - in fact, Chiron in Aquarius you have probably been disassociating yourself from this wound. Chiron is about where we are wounded the most, where our heart and soul cannot seem to heal or forgive. Even if you try to focus on that woundedness, it is highly likely that any trigger of that wound will erupt in fury and rage.

On the other hand, with the energy of Mars Rx focused on it - we might be able to finally make a break-through in that area.

The New Moon of November 9 (in Scorpio) can also be seen to trigger both this Mars Rx and the upcoming Jupiter/Pluto conjunction (which will come to it's closest connection between December 6 and December 15). Scorpio is associated with both Mars and Pluto. And we are being asked to work through our issues so that we have the ability to expand and grow. Look at where Scorpio is in your chart to see where your emotional motivation might be triggered this month. Mine is in my 5th house -- where I take risks. This to me is again linked to the changes I'm trying to work on with my childhood issues -- because many of those issues mean I avoid taking risks. I go for the safe and the comfortable rather than choosing to take the risk for something better. So, this New Moon, in association with the Mars quincunx Chiron and the Mars Rx, is all pointing in the same direction for me -- it's time to do the work.

The Full Moon in Gemini on Saturday, November 24 (Thanksgiving Saturday), again points the way towards the Jupiter/Pluto conjunction (in Sagittarius). It is challenging us to find balance and understanding between ourselves and others in our lives. The dualistic energy of Gemini (the Twins) is reminding us that we are both light and dark, joy and sadness -- and that in order to grow we must learn not only balance, but how to maintain a dynamic balance (rather than staying still and static).

Tags: astrology
Feeling: thoughtful
Listening: Blessed Silence