Sun and Pluto only happen once a year! It is intense, meaningful, deep, and a lot is changing or transforming in your immediate environment — your home or someone else’s home. Since it is also a First Quarter moon week, this could be a great time to start that ‘in house’ remodel project. It could include plumbing, remodeling the bathrooms or kitchen — always important for resale in a property. It could also suggest some decisions are made (particularly with Mercury reaching its Shadow Point), to move or relocate. These are all discussions that have been on the table, but the financial climate is better now that it was in the past, particularly since Jupiter is now direct in Taurus, which is about security and monies.

The sign of Capricorn is warmed by the Sun, making this a good time for dealing with authority figures and older family members. Career and professional concerns are also highlighted, as is business speculation. Are you on a satisfying career path? Is it time to ask for that pay raise? Mars is squaring Mercury, implying that the surest communication strategy is one that is well planned. This is the incubation point for the entire zodiacal year. What your dream now is realized at Spring Equinox.

What a lovely week for reconnecting with family and friends as Winter Solstice sets into motion the seeds for the Spring of 2011. In addition, we have many wonderful aspects between the Sun, Jupiter, and Uranus — suggesting that playing leads to opportunity — a deluge of holiday invitations offers all types of opportunities for more personal relationships. With Jupiter going direct and complimenting the New Moon this is a great week for asking what you want and giving generously. The holidays always bring that out in everyone, but part of the ‘offering’ is helping someone else with an intangible this year rather than a tangible. Let them help you, too. Give and take is what makes the world go ’round.

Venus in Aquarius sextiles Uranus, the ruler of Aquarius and this is an excellent combination encouraging unique connections with each other. The desire to have more excitement can lead to love ‘em and leave ‘em encounters. Maintaining a sense of individual freedom may be strong now. Friendships and group activities that are spontaneous can lead to business or romantic opportunities.

Mercury is direct this week clearing the air and setting things in a forward motion again. This will be interesting because it happens to be going direct close to the November 24th eclipse degree. There is some tie in between what happened on that date and this week. A lot of optimism maybe seen in the market place, but this usually happens at the end of each year when individuals begin taking profits. However, this is something different. The Last Quarter moon as well as the Venus square (caution) Saturn suggests a strategy of not putting all your eggs into one basket. Hold something back if you plan to do some ‘sure fire’ investing — or so they said when they sold you the package this month !!

Chiron is officially in Pisces for another ten years! In mythology, Chiron, the wounded healer, was a centaur, a half man half-horse creature. His dual nature is reflected in Pisces, the sign of two fish swimming in opposite directions. Chiron was a healer but could not heal himself. He spent his life trying to heal his pain and found in the end that his inspiration to help others was the key. Pisces are comfortable in the spiritual/creative realm but if they are too caught up with everyday needs, and not filling their creative and spiritual needs, they may escape into drugs and alcohol. Finding a way to balance material concerns with creative and spiritual fulfillment is key. This transit of Chiron through Pisces emphasizes working to help or heal others universally, being of service, as a means of healing the Self.

Chance favors those who are prepared. This is the theme of this week. With Jupiter (opportunity) in a lovely aspect to Chiron who acts as a teacher, mentor or coach, you find the right place to be to learn the right things. Added support comes from Uranus going direct at the 00° of Aries, which is its entry point on May 27, 2010 as Arizona had just added its immigration law, the BP Deepwater spill was in its 37th day presenting us with challenges that ultimately changes laws bringing reform.

Relationships should feel loving this week with Venus and Mars blowing kisses to one another. They are transiting through earth signs, signifying that if you have do the work you reap the reward. This Lunar Eclipse is about communication and our sense of adventure. You may be forced to express long held feelings due to some sort of crisis. Consider this an opportunity to explore your emotional needs and gain valuable information. This eclipse brings emotional discoveries that may feel uncomfortable. As you become aware of what is lacking in your life, epiphanies are likely. If you don’t experience this right away, it will make itself known over the coming weeks.

Hard choices offer optimum opportunities. As Venus conjuncts Pluto at the beginning of the week, each person is faced with speaking what is in their heart. What works for you and what is absolutely NOT working. This is particularly true in relationships. Sometimes the hard choice is the right choice. The right way to express it may not appear until after the Mercury conjunction to Sun on the 4th. With Mercury stressing Mars, be kind and come from the classic, ‘When you did this, I felt this and I wish you had done that’ verbiage. Prune emotional trees. And now!

Relationships begun under the conjunction of Venus and Pluto have the potential to transform your life. Unconscious issues may attract a partner who is difficult but it is necessary sometimes to be uncomfortable in order to grow. If you are in a relationship and feel the need to manipulate, coerce, or seduce as a means of getting what you want, then it is time to take a step back and ask yourself why? Is this an old outworn behavior that can be replaced by taking a confident and more honest approach?

This is the week the holiday season begins, officially. As you can see there is a lot going on this week, particularly the Mercury retrograde on November 23. This suggests a re-think regarding your dreams and visions as well as whether or not you attend classes to better envision your dreams. If you are a student, then this is definitely the time to research that paper and get it done. The Solar eclipse of November 24, which is a strong New Moon sets things in motion regarding travel, education, political freedoms and immigration discussions where new legislation is beginning implementation. Since 2° Sagittarius is close to the degree of flight, we could be seeing some new information regarding new ways of transporting people across cities and this country, particularly in about 90 days after this eclipse.

Chiron squares the Partial New Moon Solar Eclipse at 2° Sagittarius. A partial eclipse occurs when the Sun and Moon are not exactly in line and the Moon only partially obscures the Sun. This Chiron-Moon aspect can have you feeling very sensitive. Emotions can be raw. There can be a tendency for people to express their feelings and then feel self-conscious or awkward about it. This is not the time to say you are fine if you aren’t because that can only lead to seething resentment or dramatized emotions. Mothers may feel guilty for not doing enough for their children. This New Moon is a good time to set an intention to trust your instincts. Spiritually, having some kind of touchstone, like an affirmation, may help you build the emotional strength to responsibly deal with the abrupt changes ahead.

Last week set you on a path to change. There is more support to continue on this path with the Mars trine Jupiter this week and the Last Quarter moon which clears out space. And week’s end, honor some fun and relaxation with that Sun square Neptune aspect, which calls us to dance, see a movie, or just take a long nap. Sleepiness seeps in and out this week, but his is what happens when Neptune is exerting energy. In sleep you process information that is impossible to process when awake. You will need that extra rest for the activities of next week.

Mars, Jupiter, and Pluto form a Grand Trine in the early degrees of earth signs this week. With Mars in Virgo, Jupiter in Taurus, and Pluto in Capricorn, there will be a considerable amount of work involved and the best approach is a practical one. Grand trines generate opportunities and creativity. Triangles (trine) are often used to help strengthen load-bearing beams in construction. This celestial combination does the same. If you are ready to commit to a project, a dream, or a deal this would be an excellent time to do so. Those who have planets in early degrees of the earth signs will be most rewarded by this combination if they put forth the effort. A grand trine in earth may take some time to come to fruition and those who plan well are rewarded.

Neptune finally goes direct for the very last time in late degrees of Aquarius. This and the Chiron direct on the 10th are wonderful days to say good bye to the old and welcome the new energies coming into everyone’s lives. In addition, hard working Mars enters Virgo sending off some fabulous lines to Jupiter (great opportunities) next week and to Pluto (the planet that gets things down regardless of how hard one has to dig). The Full Moon sheds ‘light’ on what financial and budget changes you have to make to open the path for the new cycle coming in with the Dragon energy of 2012!

When Mars is in Virgo energy is focused on getting work done and improving one’s health. Where Mars wants to work to gratify the ego, Virgo demands that work be done in service to others. This transit may have you thinking about self-employment. Frustrated ego energies can result in health problems. A great outlet for any frustration is physical activity.