Hi and welcome to the Stella Starwoman November AstroUpdate!
Can you believe 2018 is almost over? The year has just flown by, but one thing that’s coming to an end this month is Jupiter’s yearlong journey through Scorpio. Society’s dirty laundry has definitely been hung out to dry over the past year, since Jupiter entered Scorpio, with the #MeToo movement; investigations into corrupt banking practices; controversy over the same-sex marriage vote - not to mention the ousting of the country’s Prime Minister in a very ‘un-Australian’ manner! Jupiter will enter ruling sign Sagittarius for a whole year on the 8th November and in this edition of AstroUpdate we have some info on what that might mean for you.
Meanwhile the karmic North Node enters Cancer, Venus completes her retrograde cycle on the 17th November and on the same day Mercury turns retrograde. Read on to find out more.
Venus Retrograde – Who & What Do You Value?
Relationship planet Venus began her six week retrograde journey through Scorpio and Libra on the 6th October, a journey which will end on the 17th November. Venus retrograde offers us the chance to assess the value of the people and things in our lives and move away from those people and activities that no longer serve us. When Venus is retrograde, others instinctively sense our true motives and allegiances, especially in personal relationships.
You may find that people have recently come back into your life - old friends, ex- lovers, estranged family members or former work colleagues/partners. What have they taught you? What aspects of yourself have been revealed or rekindled through these encounters? Venus retrograde is also a common time for break-ups, reconciliations or for choosing a different path in life.
Life is never static and the Venus retrograde period is an opportunity to be honest about who and what is important to you, so you can move forward with confidence and commitment, not forgetting to honour the choices of others.
Scorpio New Moon – Healing & Insight
The November new moon falls on the 8th in water sign Scorpio with the Scorpio sun and Scorpio moon making flowing angles to transformational Pluto and spiritual Neptune.
Meditation, rest and time spent alone in nature will bring healing and insight at this new moon. It’s a great time for spiritual regeneration and also a wonderful time to plant seeds for a new relationship or take steps to deepen an existing one. Scorpio is one of the most courageous of signs, particularly on an emotional level. Operating at its highest level it teaches us to release the need to control or dominate, not from weakness or apathy, but so the truth of the heart can emerge. Embrace your personal power, passion and courage at this Scorpio new moon.
Farewell Jupiter in Scorpio
Illuminating the Dark Side of Human Nature
Jupiter, the largest planet in our solar system, expands whatever sign it touches, and provides opportunities for us to broaden our experience and understanding of its themes and issues. Jupiter has spent the past year (10/10/17 to 8/11/2018) in Scorpio, one of the most powerful signs of the zodiac – a sign of secrecy and sexual passion and ruler of all taboo areas of life - crime, death, drugs and physical, sexual and emotional abuse. Scorpio also governs the world of finance, banking, investment and powerful corporations and institutions.
And what a Scorpio year of digging up the dirt it’s been! Hollywood’s Harvey Weinstein was the first of many famous Jupiter in Scorpio ‘victims’, with sweeping investigations into his sexual misconduct and abuse of power spawning the #MeToo movement and encouraging women all round the world to break silence and speak out about their own experiences. Meanwhile, British retail mogul, Sir Philip Green, has paid out several seven figure sums to silence staff members who’ve accused him of sexual harassment and racial abuse. The legality of workplace non-disclosure agreements (a Scorpio minefield) is up for debate as a result.
On a more positive note, in Australia we’ve had the same-sex marriage vote supported by more than 60% of voters, but hard on the heels of that victory came the banking scandal with a Royal Commission finding that for years our major banks have been involved in bribery, forgery and deceit including shoddy lending practices; illegal fees and biased financial advice. More recently, the overthrow of PM Malcolm Turnbull destabilised the country with revelations of factional rivalry, vengeance and insurgency in government ranks while mining corporation Adani was caught flouting environmental laws by drilling bores into the Great Artesian Basin in the middle of a drought and fined over its massive spillage of coal-laden water into the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.
Yes, it’s certainly been a year of bribery, corruption, skulduggery and plenty of th at lower Scorpio vibration. The lesson from Jupiter in Scorpio seems to be that once unpleasant and hidden truths are revealed and exposed, the transformational aspect of Scorpio can come into play. Only when we shine a light on the dark side of human nature (prejudice, corruption, selfishness, abuse and bullying) can we move towards the light. For the health of society and each individual, it’s up to us to shine Jupiter’s light of truth and justice whenever and wherever we can.
Jupiter in Sagittarius – Expand Your Horizons
On the 8th November, on the same day as the Scorpio new moon, Jupiter leaves Scorpio and enters fire sign Sagittarius for a yearlong stint until early December 2019. Jupiter is the ruler of Sagittarius and therefore very much at home in this zodiac sign, bringing the gifts of abundance, growth, wisdom, freedom and optimism. Sagittarians can look forward to an enjoyable and productive year in 2019, while the rest of us will focus on issues of a Sagittarian nature. Sagittarius governs higher truth, philosophy, law, ethics, religion, international affairs, travel and politics.
Visions of a new future are likely to abound both personally and globally, with the urge to create a more moral and ethical world. There will be a strong urge to improve our personal circumstances, enjoy freedom of movement, accept and learn from other cultures and belief systems and break out of the comfort zone.
As Jupiter spends one year in each zodiac sign, the last time Jupiter was in Sagittarius was 12 years ago (November 2006 to December 2007) and prior to that, 24 years ago (December 1994 to January 1996). Look back to those periods and see if you can see a theme emerging. How did you expand your horizons back then? What new things did you learn or do? The answers will give you an idea of what's in store for you over the coming year and how the choices you make now will impact on your future dreams and goals.
Mercury Retrograde in Sagittarius - Trust Your Instincts
Communication planet Mercury moved into the exuberant, energetic and brutally honest fire sign Sagittarius in late October for a two month stint bringing flashes of intuition, fresh ideas and the occasional ‘Can’t believe I just said that’ moment.
Mercury will be in Sagittarius until 5th January and will be retrograde (travelling backwards) between 17th November and 7th December. This three week period is an excellent time to reconnect with your passion and inner truth as Sagittarian wisdom comes through intuition and the third eye, rather than the logical or rational mind. Sometimes you just know something is right or wrong without being able to explain why.
The Mercury retrograde period is also well known for missing parcels, miscommunication, misunderstandings and things not going according to plan. Check your travel plans carefully and allow extra time to complete important journeys. If you’re trying to push forward and hitting a brick wall, relax, take a deep breath and know that Mercury is up to his tricks again! And as always with Mercury retrograde, this is an ideal time to re-view, re-think and re-consider projects and plans or to edit any written work.
Happy Birthday Sagittarius!
This year, from 22nd November to 22nd December, the Sun travels through Sagittarius, an intuitive fire sign noted for its vision, adventurous nature and love of philosophy. Sagittarius is the ninth sign of the zodiac with keywords “I seek” and “I expand”. Those born under the sign of the Archer often struggle to integrate their animal nature with their more lofty human side.
Sagittarians seek expansion on all levels, mental, physical, emotional and spiritual, and can usually be found travelling, studying and exploring life’s big issues. They love to share their wisdom and are often talented writers or teachers. At best they are intelligent, honest, generous and inspirational. Negatively, they can be tactless, self- indulgent, coarse and hypocritical.
In medical astrology, Sagittarius rules the liver, hips and thighs and sacral regions of the spine. When Sagittarians are out of balance they can suffer from sciatica, hip disease, rheumatism and weight gain. The Sagittarian colours are purple and deep blue. Sagittarius’s greatest lessons are moderation, tact and learning to deliver what they promise.
Full Moon in Gemini – This Brain Is On Fire
The November full moon falls on the 23rd in air sign Gemini, opposing the Sun, Jupiter and retrograde Mercury all in fire sign Sagittarius. This cerebral combination promises wisdom, insight and perspective, so if you’ve been struggling with a tricky problem or situation, the way forward will soon become clear. This full moon is an excellent time for any kind of mental work or study and given that both Gemini and Sagittarius love to socialise, also the perfect time for a party, outing, road trip or other fun/festive occasion. Just one word of w arning… Mars in Pisces is clashing with the above-mentioned planets at this full moon, potentially putting a dampener on any planned activities or possibly provoking a guilt trip. Consider the feelings of those around you, avoid cutting corners and everything should run smoothly!
North Node in Cancer – Work Less - Love More
And finally, with all the excitement of Jupiter's move into home sign Sagittarius on the 8th November, let's not forget another important cosmic happening this month. On 7th November the karmic north node of the moon will move into water sign Cancer for the next 18 months until May 2020. Cancer is all about home, family, security, safety, nurturing, food and Mother Earth and with the north node in Cancer, that's what we'll be attracted to on a collective level.
Cancer's opposite sign, Capricorn is all about hard work, duty, responsibility and the institutions of society such as government, banks, tax offices and the police force. The challenge when working with the Cancer-Capricorn polarity is to create new social structures (Capricorn) that support families, communities and individuals by fostering a sense of love, safety and belonging (Cancer).
Cancer is the archetype of the loving, caring, kind-hearted mother - the Empress in the Tarot. Capricorn is the responsible, dutiful, hard-working father or Emperor. Many of us have forgotten that the only reason we work (Capricorn) is meet our Cancer needs - food, security, family, love and belonging. Instead work has become an end in itself - an activity that fills our days with everything else crammed in around it. Ask yourself who decided it's normal and desirable to spend 40-50 hours a week for 40-50 years getting up in the morning to work hard on our jobs and careers?
With the north node in Cancer many will decide to work less, leave unsatisfying jobs, cut down on spending and instead prioritise simple, pleasurable and nurturing times with friends and family.
November & December Moon Calendar
Launch projects a couple of days after the New Moon, bring them to completion in the period from just before the Full Moon to the Third Quarter phase and wind them down and reflect on developments in the week before the next New Moon.
The period between the New Moon and the Full Moon is the waxing moon (moon getting bigger and fuller). The period between the Full Moon and the New Moon is the waning moon (moon getting smaller and thinner).
You can use this moon table to select the most favourable days to slow or increase hair regrowth. Full instructions can be found in my Lunar Hair Care guidelines but to get you started I’ve marked the best dates for waxing/shaving to slow regrowth in yellow and the best dates to cut hair for thicker, lusher growth in green. If you’re serious about Lunar Hair Care – why not purchase a moon calendar, available at most esoteric book stores, then you’ll know exactly what time of day the moon changes from one zodiac sign to the next, meaning you can fine-tune your activities with confidence.
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Date |
Moon Sign |
Element |
Moon Phase |
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NOVEMBER |
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|
1st-2nd |
Leo |
Fire |
Third Quarter |
|
2nd-4th |
Virgo |
Earth |
|
|
4th-7th |
Libra |
Air |
|
|
7th-9th |
Scorpio |
Water |
New Moon 8th |
|
9th-11th |
Sagittarius |
Fire |
|
|
11th-14th |
Capricorn |
Earth |
|
|
14th-16th |
Aquarius |
Air |
First Quarter |
|
16th-19th |
Pisces |
Water |
|
|
19th-21st |
Aries |
Fire |
|
|
21st-23rd |
Taurus |
Earth |
|
|
23rd-25th |
Gemini |
Air |
Full Moon 23rd |
|
25th-27th |
Cancer |
Water |
|
|
27th-29th |
Leo |
Fire |
|
|
29th-2nd |
Virgo |
Earth |
Third Quarter |
|
Date |
Moon Sign |
Element |
Moon Phase |
|
DECEMBER |
|||
|
1st-2nd |
Virgo |
Earth |
|
|
2nd-4th |
Libra |
Air |
|
|
4th-6th |
Scorpio |
Water |
|
|
6th-8th |
Sagittarius |
Fire |
New Moon 7th |
|
8th-11th |
Capricorn |
Earth |
|
|
11th-13th |
Aquarius |
Air |
|
|
13th-16th |
Pisces |
Water |
First Quarter |
|
16th-18th |
Aries |
Fire |
|
|
18th-21st |
Taurus |
Earth |
|
|
21st-23rd |
Gemini |
Air |
|
|
23rd-25th |
Cancer |
Water |
Full Moon 23rd |
|
25th-27th |
Leo |
Fire |
|
|
27th-29th |
Virgo |
Earth |
|
|
29th-31st |
Libra |
Air |
Third Quarter |
Thanks for being part of AstroUpdate. If there’s something you’d like to see featured, or have something you think would interest others, please contact me at stella@stellastarwoman.com
Happy Stargazing
Stella Woods
www.stellastarwoman.com