November 13th ~ 20th
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
Mercury and Venus finally station today, November 13th, ending their retrograde phases. Were these weeks or years? We are not totally out of the shadow of these extraordinarily deep retrogrades. In fact as Mercury stations on Friday it is still flirting with its final square to the dark lord Pluto. Despite a lingering case of PTSD, this aspect does not perfect. Like a memory of the monsters hiding beneath the floor boards, at this point they are merely memories. Our fears will come to naught, despite checking the locks three times, and looking over our shoulders, and under the bed. It’s okay.
Meanwhile an unusual triple conjunction between Mars, Jupiter and the South Node perfects this week. Because on the surface it looks like a contradiction, it is both an enigma and an important turning point in our lives. The Nodes of the Moon, the eclipse points, are incredibly sensitive. And so when planets spend an inordinate amount of time at either Node, or at their bendings, we feel them both collectively and personally. Due to their own retrograde dances this is not a one off. This is why it begs our attention.
Due to Jupiter’s retrograde, moving back and forth through the sign of Leo, Jupiter makes 3 exact conjunctions to the True South Node (November 12th; February 22nd & April 23rd). And throughout this whole period, until mid-May, Jupiter does not stray far from the South Node. Mars in its turn, despite its retrograde from January to April 1st, only makes a single exact conjunction (November 14th), at this initial conjunction with Jupiter. However, Mars will be returning to Leo in February, and is lurking in the wings with each of the Jupiter conjunctions.
It is the conjunction of Jupiter and the South Node that feels like a contradiction: the South Node empties; Jupiter fills and expands and inflates. On the surface they might appear to cancel one another out. Or perhaps Jupiter will help to facilitate (perhaps even speed up and catalyze) the qualities of the South Node in Leo which threatens to dethrone kings, bring rulers to their knees, and transfer the balance of power away from the top, and dispersing it amongst the collective through the North Node in Aquarius.
Jupiter in Leo is a fabulous placement, filled with a strength of heart, and a natural benevolence, therefore building on the latter concept. Rather than cancelling each other out, they coexist together. What may be shed through the South Node in Leo is being aided by Jupiter and Mars doing their good work. And where coexistence thrives, hope prevails.
Mars brings the courage of our convictions, it encourages us to take action and do something. Mars/Jupiter can fall into the trap of thinking that we need an enemy, something that needs to be defeated in order to win. Know that this is not about conquering, so much as following our conscience (Jupiter) and doing the right thing. Taking right action. Not to self-righteously gloat, win, and conquer. In this weather actions taken solely for our own benefit, or at the expense of others, will only fail in the end. However, righteous actions taken for the greater good of all concerned (North Node in Aquarius) will thrive and grow (Jupiter in Leo) in this extraordinary weather.
The South Node can also restore the balance, especially in areas where we have over-reached or over-extended ourselves (Jupiter). This could become especially evident this week, as the Sun in Scorpio is square the triple conjunction. During the retrogrades of both Venus and Mercury we were exploring the ways that we deny ourselves, or became that much more aware of where our needs were not being met (Venus/Mercury retrograde in Scorpio square Pluto). The Sun is shining a light on any discrepancies, forcing us to make some hard choices. Where do we need to cut back in order to have enough, or be enough? What sacrifices are we willing, or not willing to make in order to balance the books?
Know also that as Venus stations, ending her retrograde station, she is strong in her own sign of Libra, a sign of fairness, justice and equality. If anyone wants to balance the books, it’s Venus right now, as she makes a favorable sextile to both Mars and Jupiter, and a beautiful trine to the North Node in Aquarius which lasts for the full month of November. This is a reminder of those things that are worth investing in. And doing so.
Not to be ignored, but actually part of this whole picture is Chiron in Aries sitting in the wings, sextile the North Node in Aquarius for some time now, and now closing in on its trine to Jupiter (and Mars!). Putting a tremendous amount of emphasis on that which heals us in the end. And actually doing something about it.
Some ways this can play out in our own lives.
Making some willing sacrifices in order to balance the books. This can be literal as in being willing to cut back in some areas in order to afford a much needed expense.
This can also be about focusing in on those things, people and activities, that support our well-being and making these more of a priority, while cutting out those things that merely drain our energy, and deplete our well-being.
Unloading some old baggage, or weighty resentments, putting painful memories behind us, in order to create better memories and relationships for the future.
What might you be willing to give up, in order to more fully invest in your own healing journey? Both individually and collectively?
Recognizing that that which is for the greater good, benefits us individually as well. Perhaps even more so.
Be a mensch, my mother told me, no matter what situation you are in. Be kind to others before you take care of yourself; make whoever you are with feel like they matter. ~ Jodi Picoult
For this week’s horoscopes, click below: