November 7th ~ 14th

Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards. ~ Soren Kierkegaard

Uranus returns to Taurus

I am young, despite my best efforts to grow older. I am Muslim. I am a democratic socialist. And most damning of all, I refuse to apologize for any of this. ~ Zohran Mamdani

On Friday, November 7th, Uranus returns to Taurus for some unfinished business. When Uranus first entered Taurus 7 years ago in May of 2018 the Big Island of Hawaii literally exploded. This was not only a metaphor for the potentially explosive nature of Uranus, but also its capacity for new growth. When volcanoes erupt they literally change the landscape of the earth. Taurus is a fixed earth sign, and represents those things in our lives that we would much rather not change: those things that we depend on to support us, that we assume would always be there. Like the ground beneath our feet. And so as the volcano spewed forth lava, fire and ash, and the earth shook under people’s feet, we witnessed the earth giving birth to herself. And so, over the past 7 years, we being asked to do the same in whatever area of our lives needed some shaking up.

On another note, Uranus in Taurus has something of an interesting history. The time before this one, during the 30’s and 40’s, we saw all sorts of interesting political movements brewing. Everything from the rise of Fascism and Nazism on the far right, to the enacting of progressive socialist programs within the framework of the New Deal. These radical political extremes arose out of the vacuum and instability left over from the Great Depression.

Like an echo blowing on the winds of time, we see something similar happening this time around, as the disparity between the have’s and the have not’s have people looking for answers. In the 1930’s, under the administration of Franklin D. Roosevelt we saw the orchestration of a series of social programs under the New Deal, aimed at fulfilling the radical promise of making people’s lives more sustainable and affordable. These radical programs also aimed to serve as a safety net, so that we would never have to witness the hunger, despair and degradation of the aftermath of the Depression again.

Simultaneously, in the City of New York, Fiorello H. LaGuardia took a page from Roosevelt’s ambitious plan, implementing programs with the aim to promote financial equity and security for all, not just a chosen few. Roosevelt was a Democrat, but Mayor Fiorello H. LaGuardia was a Republican. Both worked together under the same agenda. In today’s political climate, both would be considered democratic socialists.

This past week, Zohran Mamdani was elected to be the next Mayor of the great city of New York. And like LaGuardia, who was seen as a man of the people, capable of speaking several languages (literally and figuratively), is presenting his own ambitious agenda to restore affordability to all New Yorkers. And just as it was when LaGuardia was mayor from 1934-1946, Uranus is returning this week to the sign of Taurus, for some unfinished business. The iconic Uranus-in-Taurus, democratic socialist mayor makes its return.

And just as Zohran Mamdani is promising to do now, we were all being asked for the past 7 years to make the sorts of changes that would improve our lives economically, and make the world a more sustainable place to live in. Uranus returning to Taurus for the next 5 months is our final opportunity to tie up all the final threads of that promise, and set things right.

Therefore, we might all ask ourselves, what changes might you be willing and able to make in order to improve the general welfare (and sustainability) of your own life, your family, your community, your country, and even the Earth herself?

What have we not accomplished in the past 7 years that we can do now in pursuit of greater financial equity and sustainability? And what can we do in our own lives to make our lives more sustainable? Uranus will return to Taurus, where it will remain until April 25th. It will not return again to Taurus for another 84 years.

Uranus is unpredictable, and can enter our lives with sudden upsets and even unexpected calamities. In Taurus it can literally change the landscape. But even if that does happen, even if Uranus comes in and shakes up the very foundations of our lives, remember that in doing so, Uranus also tears up the old rotten roots and obstacles that were standing in the way of progress. It’s time for the new roots to take hold and have some room to grow.

Mercury Retrograde

Your past is always your past. Even if you forget it, it remembers you. ~ Sarah Dessen

On Sunday, November 9th, Mercury stations at 6º Sagittarius 52’, beginning its retrograde phase which will last thru November 29th. Mercury will return to Scorpio on November 18th for its own unfinished business (opposing Uranus on the 19th as it does so). After it stations direct on the 29th, it will make one last final pass opposing Uranus on December 10th just before it returns to Sagittarius on December 11th.

These are transits of sudden illumination, sudden realizations, sudden changes, sudden shifts in our lives. The first Mercury/Uranus opposition occurred on October 29th, which was soon followed by a Mars/Uranus opposition. The only one in Gemini and Sagittarius (remember the UPS plane that blew up?). The following Mercury/Uranus oppositions are all in Taurus and Scorpio. In some way we are being given permission to change our minds, our positions, even our beliefs. Be prepared for changes in plans, for sudden shifts in the wind. As we approach the station on Sunday, the US government has been shut down. As a result our food assistance program has also been stalled, federal workers have not been paid, airlines are cancelling flights as air traffic controllers are not showing up for work (Mercury stationing in Sagittarius), everything is stalled. Word to Congress: Mercury retro gives us permission to back track and say No More.

Mercury is conjunct Mars as it stations. People are pissed. Things will be said that will later be regretted. Foot in mouth disease prevails when Mercury is conjunct Mars in Sagittarius. The acronym THINK can be useful for these transits, especially in light of the retrograde station:

T: Is what you are about to say TRUE?
H: Is it HELPFUL?
I: Is it INSPIRING?
N: Is it NECESSARY?
K: Is it KIND?

These retrograde phases of Mercury are so necessary for our mental health and well-being. This is when we process and assimilate all that we have heard, seen, and witnessed in the previous months. The oppositions to Uranus are also giving us an opportunity to internally process any changes that have already occurred in our lives, changes that are occurring now and those that we are planning to make in the coming months. Be open to possibility, but don’t necessarily commit, if it can be helped. We are given permission to change our minds, and will probably do so more than once.

There is an adjustment phase as we approach the retrograde period which begins on November 9th. And with that will come all the denizens of the trickster’s retrograde: the missed trains, the missed cues and misunderstandings and lost emails. The computer sputters, the car refuses to start, communications break down. In some way we are being asked to slow down. Perhaps even stop. Reassess. Reevaluate. Rethink. Reflect.

Sometimes we need to take a few steps back in order to connect with the original intention, to get motivated, to be able to move forward in the future. By the time Jupiter stations on the 11th, we will have 5 planets in their retrograde phases. If you’ve been procrastinating know that the retrograde allows us to fine tune our plans. There is no rush, no matter what Mars in Sagittarius is telling you. Timing is everything. And so is taking our time.

Just before the Mercury station, the Sun makes an exact trine to the True Node, which leans into the idea of getting our lives back on track. Back on track with our destiny. It may feel like you are back tracking, but it’s really about connecting with what is right for you. Slowing down, reflecting, and introspection can be a blessing.

Helpful things to do during the retrograde phase of Mercury which lasts until November 29th:

Rethinking, reassessing and reflecting in order to better connect with your core ethics, values and beliefs. What are those things that you so strongly believe in, that you are willing to put yourself on the line for?
Letting Go of any resentment and anger that you’ve been holding on to. Practice patience and forbearance. What are the things that you wish to hold foremost in your mind?
Reflecting on what once was. This is when we process, assimilate and take the essence of what once was and allow it to be a part of our vision for the future. It was never lost. The lessons. The accomplishments and the failures. All of it. What are you going to be taking with you going forward?
No matter how much you are feeling rushed, slow down the momentum. Sometimes you have to step back in order to review, reassess and re-do.
The retrograde phases of Mercury are important times int he year that allow us to process the experiences of the past. This is how we learn, make sense of our lives, and give it deeper meaning.

Jupiter Retrograde

Hope is the belief that destiny will not be written for us, but by us, by the men and women who are not content to settle for the world as it is, who have the courage to remake the world as it should be. ~ Barack Obama

On Tuesday, November 11th, Jupiter also stations for its 4-month retrograde phase which ends on March 11th. Every time Jupiter stations, it does so with a trine to the Sun, instilling hope and promise for the future. And it does so despite it entering its retrograde phase. It may seem that opportunities withdraw, or that momentum stalls, when Jupiter stations, but that’s only because there are certain things that need to get done before we can proceed.

Jupiter stations for its retrograde phase at 25º Cancer 09’. Simultaneously Saturn makes its direct station on November 27-28th, ending its retrograde phase at 25º Pisces 09’. As a result, for the whole month of November, Jupiter and Saturn will be exactly trine. We will speak to this more next week (when both Sun and Mercury create a Grand Trine with the two giants) but know that this is our cue to create some sort of plan. Jupiter has the big vision, the hope for a better future, but it is Saturn that gives us the willingness to put in the hard work in order to make that vision a closer reality.

As with all the planets, when they enter their retrograde phases, the focus is turned within. And as Jupiter’s focus is withdrawn from the outer world, it can feel as if opportunities are temporarily put on hold. But the promise and hope is still there. But within us, that is where the real work happens. Jupiter retrograde phases are really good for achieving some sort of inner understanding, wisdom and knowledge about ourselves and the world that we live in. Therefore it is a good time to reevaluate one’s core beliefs, and look for ways to become better informed, better versions of ourselves.

Internally Jupiter’s focus is on things like ethics, morals and beliefs. Not unusual for us to focus on the immoral or outrageous behaviors of others, as it approaches its station. However, these retrograde periods are not so much about the judgment of others, so much as whether or not we are honestly living up to our own moral standards and conduct. Therefore these 4 month annual journeys with retrograde Jupiter are essential for our own spiritual and moral growth.

The desire for truth and understanding is an intrinsic quality of Jupiter. There may be some winding roads to travel before we arrive, but the journey to understanding is as important as the destination. And so we can learn at these times through exploration, by asking questions, through discourse. And as we ever strive to be more ethical, kinder and better versions of ourselves, we not only change ourselves, but also the world we live in.

For this week’s horoscopes, click below:

HOROSCOPES