Several astral signatures converge this week, and daily life here on Earth reflects the obvious as well as the subtle shifts in the sky. You’ll need your super multitasking powers to manage the many diverse detours daily life is apt to take. Also be prepared for more than a few surprising developments to throw a monkey wrench into otherwise stable routines. But it’s likely to be the time distortions that are hardest to handle. In one dimension—the one where surprises alter the course of activity—time moves quickly. Yet in a parallel dimension, time moves at a crawl.
And that’s because two planets are in the midst of course corrections—Neptune goes direct on November 16 and Jupiter goes retrograde on December 8. The key to navigating these next weeks is finding a comfortable personal pace and maintaining it despite these divergent rhythms. Do your best to stay focused on what has meaning for you AND expect to be distracted by events out of your control.
The motive force behind the fast-forward, freewheeling energy of the week is Mars…of course. On Monday, Mars started separating from its conjunction with Pluto, in Capricorn, moving immediately into a square with Uranus, in Aries, a square that is exact and separating today, November 12. This pernicious Mars/Uranus/Pluto bundle has been tightening its grip for the last couple of weeks, which is the reason many of us have had visitations from those closeted Disney Dwarfs: Testy, Dyspeptic, and Irritable. This week, as the tension of this configuration pulls apart, interactions with your fellow travelers—loved ones or strangers—could turn increasingly bellicose and volatile. If you must take a stand, take it; just know that your insistence will have lasting consequences. If you can avoid direct confrontation until the situation settles down, do that; your reticence will cause less disruption to ripple across your personal pond.
Neptune is the main source of the time-crawl—not that Neptune actually ever moves quickly—but when it “changes” direction and seems to stand still, we feel the prolonged effect of its influence. At its worst, Neptune signifies illusion, delusion, projection, and all the sticky gooeyness associated with substance abuse. At its best, Neptune signifies empathy, receptivity, and an awareness of the profound interconnectedness of existence. Negative or positive, Neptune knows no boundaries, and its transit through Pisces, its Home Sign, amplifies this boundarylessness. (I didn’t think this was really a word until a friend told me that it is a concept coined by Jack Welch during his time as CEO of GE.) As Neptune moves forward—it won’t be retrograde again until June 12, 2015—pay attention to all those places in your life that either suffer from too much or too little constraint. Neptune symbolizes all states of altered consciousness: Notice your dreams, waking and sleeping, and because Neptune in Pisces heightens the probability of illusion, pay special attention to your projections—they aren’t accidental.
Jupiter, which once ruled Pisces before Neptune was discovered, is slowing down in preparation for its retrograde on December 8. (Yes…that does seem like the distant future but it is closer than you think.) Jupiter is a big planet, and when it slows down, we feel its mighty weight translate into time distortions. Jupiter is currently in Leo, a Sign known for its creativity but also its generosity and extravagance, which makes me think that as Jupiter slows down in the midst of the holidays, many of us might feel the urge to curtail expensive shopping sprees—instead of “Shop ’til you drop,” the new mantra might be, “Think before you spend.” Jupiter Retrograde is not the same as Mercury Retrograde, so don’t worry about delays and detours and when to sign and when to push forward and definitely don’t be afraid of endless hassles. Instead, use Jupiter’s “turnaround” as a signal to review and reflect on where and how you are expanding your self-expression and creativity.
We are also four weeks away from the sixth exact Uranus/Pluto square, which occurs on December 15. As this next-to-last contact tightens its grip—which it does daily for the next four weeks—expect upset and upheaval, personal and political, to escalate. Remember, each of us has the potential to shift the balance away from violence toward peaceful negotiation. And while individual efforts for peace may not yield an immediate global result, every compassionate thought, word, and deed changes the world.
Sun Bursts: If you know your Ascendant and/or your Moon Sign, read that too.
Aries March 21-April 19
Very few transitions are easy, but this particular change phase is extraordinarily intense. Rather than assuaging your frustration by charging forward, carefully consider your choices. Most importantly take your time—the only deadline is the one you are imposing on yourself.
Taurus April 20-May 20
Continue to give yourself permission to be vulnerable, for while it may be uncomfortable, your determination to keep an open heart, even in the midst of resistance, will generate a positive force field that no one can put asunder.
Gemini May 21-June 21
Dialogue is the remedy for misunderstanding, but only conversations that are balanced, fair, and open have the power to shift everyone’s perspective. Be genuinely interested in opposing opinions and you’ll invite others to do the same.
Cancer June 22-July 22
Prioritize your goals so you can be clear about what you want to accomplish. You may have to spend a little more, but whether that’s time, money, or energy, whatever you invest will have a beneficial result.
Leo July 23-August 22
The situation will be much easier to handle if you let go and allow things to unfold on their own. I know that’s a lot to ask, but you’re in the midst of a complex situation that is deconstructing your comfort zone, and the best way through is to practice patience and trust.
Virgo August 23-September 22
Before you put it all out there on the table, you might consider that sometimes some things are best left unsaid. I’m not advising denial; I’m simply suggesting that you think before you utter words and feelings that can’t be taken back.
Libra September 23-October 22
The current intensity might be presenting as a money issue, but if you look more deeply into the particulars, you’ll find that it is fundamentally an issue of self-esteem. Remember, true value is never measured in dollars and cents.
Scorpio October 23-November 21
Oddly, you’re facing a crisis of excess: too much work or too much play…it’s hard to tell. Take the time to assess where your life is out of balance, and then do whatever it is you do to reestablish your equilibrium.
Sagittarius November 22-December 21
You’re likely to be overthinking every decision—and that’s not the best process for you indulge in, if only because you are at risk for serious brooding over things you can’t control. Let go, Grasshopper! Clear your mind and you will find positive solutions.
Capricorn December 22-January 19
You don’t usually have a problem keeping your own counsel, but sometimes, just as all of us do, you can become overly concerned with how others see you. As you listen to the opinions of others, be sure to filter that advice through your innate common sense.
Aquarius January 20-February 18
While certain interactions with significant others could be difficult, they also have the power to expand your perspective. Rather than polarize, try to synthesize oppositional points of view so you can gather enough information to make well-rounded decisions.
Pisces February 19-March 20
You definitely have a touch of wanderlust, and whether your need to travel is external or internal, it’s not likely you’ll be able to resist the itch. So go ahead and scratch it—just try not to abandon other areas still in need of your attention.
Ralfee Finn specializes in Transformational Astrology. For readings, call 1-888-937-9264, write P.O. Box 343, New York, NY 10025, visit AquariumAge.com, or e-mail ralfee@aquariumage.com.
Copyright © 2014 by Ralfee Finn