Micro-Forecast: November 4 to 10, 2024

This week is the USA election. During this time, the transiting Sun is moving closer and closer to an opposition to Uranus (the god of chaos and positive awakening—again two sides). This opposition lasts 13 days. Remember the story about remembering to use your head or you lose it? That story is still in play with these aspects as Mars finishes its opposition to Pluto. And just today, Monday, Mars enters the sign of Leo while beginning to slow down as it goes retrograde on December 6. This slower energy may prove useful in the coming weeks, quelling Mars normal inclination to react inappropriately, or, because all planets have two sides, may also exacerbate mis-directed anger and energies.

A Mars retrograde is like a train set on one destination, but, instead, gets side tracked and unable to reach its planned direction until it turns direct on February 23 but not returning to its original retrograde position until May 3, 2025, almost half a year! Mars has a two-year return orbit, going retrograde about every two years… but only retrogrades around close to the same degrees every fourteen years.

Of course, Mars goes retrograde more frequently BUT…the last time it was retrograde in Leo was from December 2009 to March 10, 2010. This period was highlighted by much contentious debate in the US House and Senate as the Affordable Care Act was debated and whose contentious debate ended as Congress passed the historic health care reform law on March 21, 2010. So, what contentious debate (both publicly and personally) will you face from late November 2024 until almost May of next year, 2025?

Where it occurs in your own chart is where you rethink your past strategies on getting things done in your life. Some examples: If you are a Taurus or Taurus rising individual, you re-think what to repair in your property or where to live. If you are a Scorpio or Scorpio rising, you rethink your career direction and whether you want to work with authority figures assigned to you. If you are a Gemini or Gemini rising, you t re-think your communication skills and cautiously overhaul what you say and when. If you are a Virgo or Virgo rising, Mars is retrograde in your twelfth house, which is where you store all the psychological things you’ve neatly tucked away for another day. Much like Scarlet O’ Hara who says she will think about it tomorrow. For Virgos, it is time to think about that today.

When Mars is retrograde, in general, intentions sometimes soften and a major overhaul of one’s next steps are addressed during retrograde periods. Again, Mars doesn’t begin its retrograde officially until December 6, but this week, it enters Leo and begins to seem as though it is slowing down. Get enough rest and make sure you are available for recharging your batteries – one of the best things to do during contentious times.

Pluto has just a few more days in Capricorn. Capricorn is ruled by Saturn, the god of fear, survival, karma, hard work, and focus (again it has two sides). Keeping fear in check during this time is crucial. Following one’s moral compass, something mentioned a few weeks ago, is tough when fear and anger surround you. All this anxiety naturally hypes our adrenalin, and we sometimes say or do irrational things. In these last few days of Pluto in Capricorn, the key to change and transformation is giving something up you believe you cannot live without. This is what Pluto always asks as it goes retrograde, direct, or changes signs. Usually the ‘something’ you believe you cannot live without is something you’ve been trying to change or release but simply can’t. The rational mind must kick in where you really see what you really don’t need.

That something has many forms. Since Pluto is the god of power, money, addictive behaviors, obsession, certain bad relationships, as well as a deep the fear of being vulnerable and losing your power. It isn’t easy. These are heavy things that stop the growth process. And Pluto is very black and white-not grey. Either you do something, or you don’t. He is a heavy hitter offering empowerment if you have the courage and fortitude of confronting your deepest fears driving your surface life. Surviving Pluto’s requirements requires a release without regret.

Often the sacrifice has much to do with what you value. Relationships no longer aligning with your moral compass or values struggle during these transition times, requiring deeper conversations, and if intelligently handled, can offer rich tapestries of awareness. Wherever that fits in your current purview – it is the time to do some deep thinking of why you hold on to something that doesn’t work for you and look honestly at how to change that.

For me, it is quite simple. I step away from the crowd frequently, one of the reasons I am not taking clients now – so I can recharge my batteries. I follow my inner ‘compass’—I mean, not everyone says, when they are little, they want to be an astrologer when they grow up) I love compasses, and I have quite a few of them. I go on long walks and travel frequently, often alone. I love the fresh air and being outdoors. Those moments allow me to think freely. Let’s face it, there is a lot of noise in the world right now and those moments alone are my private compass. The fascinating thing about a compass is that it always faces due North. It never fails. The Native Americans believed that was the place of the white buffalo where wisdom lives. How about you? Where is your due North these days?

Upcoming Events

The Washington State Astrological Association invited me to speak on the 29th degree on November 14 (online) and do a full day workshop on Saturday November 16 on ‘Moments of Opportunity’.

More events coming in 2025, just check the Lectures & Events page!