Summary
Venus Transits Virgo November 2 – 29
Saturn Direct in Aquarius November 4
Mercury Transits Scorpio November 6 – 26
New Moon in Libra/Vishaka November 13
Mars Transits Scorpio November 15 – December 27
Sun Transits Scorpio November 16 – December 16
Mercury Transits Sagittarius November 26 – January 31
Full Moon in Taurus/Rohini November 27
Nodal Axis (True Calculation) Moves to Pisces/Virgo November 28
Venus Transits Libra November 29 – December 24

Summary

For an in-depth analysis of specific planetary placements, please continue with the full planetary forecast.

Venus Transits Virgo November 2 – 29

Through the latter half of October, Venus, the planet representing love, unity, and relationships, was making her way through the sunny sign of Leo, making an exchange of signs with the Sun, who is moving through Venus' air sign of Libra from mid-October to mid-November. This could have created an environment wherein the study of relationship dynamics was front and center. Themes of personal responsibility within group dynamics could have strongly played.

We may feel a shift in this regard for November, with both Sun and Venus moving on. Venus moves through Virgo from November 2nd through November 29th, leaving us with the work of analyzing the cost of business, relationships, entertainment, and health issues.

After a month of dramatic events in October tied in with an eclipse pairing, the big news for November is the shifting of the eclipse axis that we describe as the two ever-opposite shadow planets, Rahu and Ketu. Last month the difference between the mean node and true node calculation was described. The mean nodes move on October 30th, and the true nodes move on November 29th, leaving the entire month of November open for signals of what this shift may generate going forward.

With Ketu moving backwards from Libra to Virgo, there will be an inevitable meeting with Venus toward the end of November at the border between Virgo and Libra. With Virgo being a dynamic, earthy environment where we explore themes of effort, practice, health, and harvesting returns, we will see the meeting of two very different energies with Venus and Ketu passing one another. It could be time for a change in how we manage our interactions.

Venus, while best friends with Mercury, the ruler of Virgo, is considered debilitated while in Virgo. Of all the debilitation states, this may be the most puzzling. We could explain it by noticing that Mercury's signs tend to be places of strong intellectual expression and then understanding that Venus may feel stifled in her natural passionate, emotional tendencies in such a heady environment.

Ketu's magical powers express in transformational work, material obstruction, intuitive understanding, and meditational grounding. The union of Venus and Ketu can sometimes be awkward due to the mixing of fiery and watery energies that seem at odds.

How can we use this in a positive way? This is actually a great combination for mixing and analyzing emotional and intellectual data points. It's tricky when a gut feeling is at odds with evidence. Communication and self-improvement may be difficult this month, especially if we keep trying what is obviously not landing or producing results. Explore different avenues of connection with your important people as you analyze what "healthy relationship" really means this month.

While this may seem like some heavy news, the light news is that by moving out of Leo, Venus also moves away from receiving the hard aspects of Rahu, Jupiter, and Saturn. It could be that the heavy lifting of relationship work manifested in October when Venus moved through Leo and November is about remodeling, reorganizing, and reassessing.

Saturn Direct in Aquarius November 4

Let's check in with our boundary patrol, dear Saturn, Shanidev, who moves slowly, works tirelessly, watches closely, and remembers what we're here to learn.

It takes 28 – 30 years for Saturn to travel through all of the signs of the zodiac as he makes one lap around the Sun. This puts him in each sign for about 2.5 years. His current station is in his own sign of Aquarius, where he shares rulership with shadowy Rahu. Aquarius is an air sign, the penultimate sign of the zodiac, where we have the opportunity to reap what we have sown and to calculate what is left to want in this world. Aquarius is the sign of the masses, all of the souls that are embodied on this earth. Both Saturn and Rahu are associated with the common people that inhabit every land.

From January 2020 – January 2023, Saturn moved through his earth sign of Capricorn, making a memorable conjunction with Jupiter in December 2020. In January 2023, Saturn moved to Aquarius, where he slowly walks until March 30, 2025. Each year, Saturn becomes retrograde, moving in reverse for some time. Saturn's retrograde of 2023 began in mid-June and concludes on November 4th, when Saturn stations into direct motion at 7 degrees Aquarius in Dhanistha nakshatra.

When Saturn goes retrograde for roughly 4.5 months, as with any planet retrograde, we may see unpredictable results. Saturn's cold, slow, and deliberate action could speed up some during retrograde, which could be good in some ways and unstable in others. With Saturn resuming his deliberate forward pace, it could feel like we're getting back to that long track we had been walking after some months of a side trek that could have been adventurous yet challenging.

With Rahu moving out of Aries, this will also take Saturn's gaze off of Rahu, which could begin to feel like we have a chance to make predictable choices and get ourselves back into a routine that supports our long-term goals.

November is a great time to regroup after a hectic summer season based on Saturn's fast and loose movements. Try to slow down and gather your resources, thoughts, and plans onto a new vision board that includes both long and short term goals. Settling debts and paying what you owe could feel particularly invigorating as Saturn begins to push forward again.

Mercury Transits Scorpio November 6 – 26

Vigorous Mercury leads the charge of the inner planets this autumn, moving away from the dramatic nodal axis and forward into the depths of Scorpio for a quick jaunt from November 6th through November 26th. There are a few implications of what this could mean for the messenger, who moves fast, speaks faster, and thinks the fastest.

The keywords that come up with analyzing the possibilites of this transit are ease, freedom, and letting go. Scorpio is a water sign, implying emotional depth, but is ironically ruled by two fiery planets: Mars and Ketu. Scorpio is an alchemical environment where the potential for magical transformations or tragic stagnation is all possible.

With Mercury's power lying in rapid learning and willing transaction, we could get a lot done with this transit in November. As Saturn resumes direct motion and Mercury moves into Scorpio, we see again that Saturn's aspects are not only affecting Aries and Leo, but also Scorpio. The inner planets will begin to move through this space starting with Mercury, and followed by Mars and the Sun as we move toward the winter solstice.

The dramatic events of October could have given us a clue about what needs attention, shifting, and work. As Mercury and Mars, two excellent workers, move through Scorpio, gaining the determined pressure of Saturn, we may find ourselves pushed into deep inner work that is crucial for supporting our trajectory.

If you are moving forward and meeting insurmountable resistance, it could be time to recalibrate and change course to a more inviting avenue. Use the intellectual acuity of Mercury side-by-side with the deep intuitive messaging that comes through Scorpio to plot your next move. There could be some difficult decisions after some in-depth accounting.

New Moon in Libra/Vishaka November 13

November's dark Moon comes on November 13th as the Moon slides in to join the Sun at 27 degrees Libra, in the nakshatra of Vishaka, inviting us to initiate a new chapter after what could have been a long, hard finish to the last one.

The signs of Libra and Aries have been front and center due to the eclipse axis moving through those signs from April 2022 until now. As the nodes make their final slip into their new station in Pisces and Virgo, we may feel a bit raw, empty, or lost in whatever departments Aries and Libra represent in one's personal horoscope.

Like entering into an empty wedding hall that has been vacated but not yet cleaned, we may find ourselves wandering lost, picking up torn decorations that have played their part in a celebration that already feels like a dream.

In this raw and empty space that is reflected in this November 13th new Moon moment, allow yourself to not know exactly how things are going to proceed in the next couple of months. Instead, gather the remaining materials that can be used going forward. Celebrate that we are moving through a threshhold, honoring what you leave behind and protecting what you are carrying forward.

Leading up to this new Moon, as the Moon is waning, Saturn is resuming direct motion, and Mercury and Venus shift to new places, don't expect too much to blossom and bloom. Allow yourself to retreat, to find silence, and to remember what peace feels like. Visions of what's to come may begin to draw themselves upon your mind; watch without controlling and enjoy the new rhythm that is emerging.

Mars Transits Scorpio November 15 – December 27

Shortly after the new Moon moment, the trio that participated, Moon, Sun, and Mars, will all move out of Libra and into watery Scorpio, joining Mercury, who's already come up with a detailed to-do list and some suggestions about where to dig next. By November 16th, the wedding hall in Libra becomes very quiet as the focus shifts toward Scorpio.

The nakshatra Vishaka, where the new Moon gathering occurred in Libra, stretches between Libra and Scorpio, inviting us to bridge into the deep, dark environment of Scorpio, in shocking contrast to the light, clean, and airy environment of Libra. This is also a bridge that joins Venus and Mars territories, always an exciting traverse.

Mars is associated with fire, power, and protection, which trickles down into many of life's departments. When harnessed and directed, Mars' power can be applied to numerous useful and resourceful projects. As co-ruler of Scorpio, Mars is considered strong in this transit, so this chunk of time between November 15th and December 27th could be leveraged to get some major work done.

What happens if we don't responsibly harness this fiery power? Unbridled firepower can be quite destructive! With Saturn's structured and careful aspect coming into Scorpio, this gives us the cue to take responsibility for our fire, which can come out as pioneering leadership on good days and unfortunate rage on bad days.

Scorpio's transformative energy could be useful as we collectively change channels with the Rahu-Ketu axis shift. The Venus-Mars theme has been strong since October 2020, when Rahu entered Venus' sign of Taurus and Ketu entered Mars' sign of Scorpio. When the nodes shifted in April 2022, they were again doing Mars and Venus business, with Rahu in Mars' Aries and Ketu in Venus' Libra.

The next station of the nodes will be in the signs of Jupiter and Mercury, giving Venus and Mars a chance to regain their footing and get back to normal as much as possible. Mars in Scorpio through late December invites inner work, purging, mining, poetry, strategy, and psychic surgery.

It should be noted also that with Mars in Scorpio and Saturn in Aquarius for about six weeks, we have a unique situation that won't come up again for another 30 years. Both Saturn and Mars are in their own signs, and they are both the signs that are co-ruled by the nodal axis. Aquarius is co-lorded by Saturn and Rahu and Scorpio is co-lorded by Mars and Ketu. When they are each placed in these signs, they also mutually aspect each other, creating a very powerful connection called sambandha.

The last occurrence like this was from November 9, 1993 – December 12, 1993. It may be a good to crawl back in time and examine that phase in your own life to see what may be possible during this occurrence. Both Saturn and Mars are heavy hitters, and in this case, hitting one another. What has been stuck and ready to move could go, but it will take a serious effort. When to push and when to wait will be crucial in moving things forward during this time. Brute force does move things, but the potential for crashing and smashing comes with it; add finesse and discernment to your actions at this time.

Sun Transits Scorpio November 16 – December 16

Mars' leader, the Sun, follows closely behind him into Scorpio, putting Mars in a state of deep combustion, meaning that from our Earthly perspective, Mars is occupying the same sky space as the Sun, making Mars invisible to the eye, and blending his indications with that of the Sun.

That adds up to some hot energy plunging from the sky into the swamp. Welcome to the deep dive that Scorpio invites. The Sun loves to lead us into self-work here, where we swim into the discomfort that is often a barrier to the next phase of freedom, self-direction, and expression of personal power.

Mars remains in combustion through year's end, but the portion between November 13th to 23rd will be most intense, when the faster moving Sun passes Mars on the zodiac track. This could feel like a transformative time, after which Sun and Mercury push forward into Sagittarius and Mars stays behind, reconsidering calling up Venus again, who he will suddenly encounter in the eastern morning sky before dawn.

Mercury Transits Sagittarius November 26 – January 31

The final week of November will see a small plate of planetary shifts that push us through the holiday season. Dripping some muddy water from the wings on his feet, Mercury emerges from Scorpio and flies into Sagittarius, preparing for a longer stay there due to a retrograde period from December 13th through January 1st.

As we settle into our new nodal axis positions, we shift our focus from the three year Venus-Mars concentration to 1.5 years of exploring Jupiter-Mercury themes. The nodes traveling through Venus-Mars territory during the past three years brought passion, intensity, creativity, relationship work, and building from a new platform. The upcoming 1.5 years may feel like a pivot, guided by the great teacher and helper, Jupiter and executed by his lively, skillful student, Mercury.

To celebrate this new phase, Mercury will spend over two months in Jupiter's fiery and fervent sign of Sagittarius. Time to pick up those buried educational materials again and get back to the books. Write your content, dive into studies, and revive learning related projects!

Jupiter continues his retrograde phase in Aries through the end of December. Mercury moving into Sagittarius creates a channel to Jupiter, as Jupiter's current aspects flow into all of the fire signs. This is a great time to reconnect to teachers, wellness service providers, spiritual practices, and travel plans. Reignite your desire for expansion and growth!

Full Moon in Taurus/Rohini November 27

Just after Mercury darts into Sagittarius, the Moon pushes the envelope of light by becoming full at 11 degrees Taurus in the wee hours of November 27th. This could feel like waking up in a new day, and with some of the smoke cleared away, we may have a better handle on how we create our new chapter.

After a lunar eclipse in late October, and with the pending nodal axis change, our hearts and minds are ready for a serious channel change. For months, it could have been clear that we're moving on but unclear as to which direction to move.

This full Moon in Rohini nakshatra is relatively unaspected by negative energy. Combust Mars in his own sign in Scorpio is dovetailing with the Sun's light, pushing the inner light of intuition to join the outer shine of the Sun.

Mental and emotional fluctuations could be strong during this time. Use your tools to remain in balance so that the strong light of the Moon showing your path ahead will be a helpful guide.

Nodal Axis (True Calculation) Moves to Pisces/Virgo November 28

By this time, followers of jyotish will know that we are moving into a new phase with the nodal axis changing signs. On November 28th, the true node calculation of the eclipse axis will shift, putting Rahu into Pisces and Ketu into Virgo through May 2025.

The nodal axis brings with it many different interpretations, even within the system of Vedic astrology. Different lineages and traditions handle the interpretations differently.

For example, the signs of debilitation and exaltation vary, whether or not the nodes aspect and how they aspect vary, and even whether to use true or mean node calculation becomes a point of debate.

This astrologer looks at both mean and true node, depending on the application. With the nodal axis seen mythologically as originally one being that was severed into two parts, we have Rahu depicted as a bodiless head and Ketu depicted as a headless body.

In English, we are using the word "aspect" for the Sanskrit word "drishti" which means to look or view. Being "all eyes," Rahu aspects in a similar way to Jupiter. Both of these planets give drishti to the other signs of the same element as where they are placed. This can also be seen as aspecting to the 120 degree angles from the planet's placement. In addition, like most of the other planets, they will aspect the planets and signs sitting opposite to them, 180 degrees. This means that Rahu will aspect and affect all of the water signs as he rafts through Pisces.

Note: this description is of the concept we call "graha drishti" which is planets aspecting. There is also the concept of "rasi drishti" which creates an environment of constant and permanent aspect between signs.

Ketu, having no eyes, does not aspect, says some tradition. Ketu, being like Rahu, aspects the same way, says other tradition. The power of the glance, the raising of the eyebrow to intimidate, the steadiness of gaze, is perhaps not Ketu's greatest power. The strong, obedient body is Ketu's power, holding still enough to give and receive vibrational input, standing and fighting when needed, and granting the peace of meditation or sleep when at rest.

The confinement and liberation duality falls strongly into Ketu's department. The sign and house where Ketu transits at any time tends to be going under a notable transformation. This means that the sign of Virgo and the house that Virgo occupies in personal horoscopes will be the environment in which we are applying the lessons of Ketu in the next 1.5 years.

Ketu likes to act through intuition and body related practices. Virgo is a practical sign related to improvement through learning and practice. This could be an effective time to add physical practices to your health routine. Join a gym, go to yoga, commit to martial arts, set goals around fitness and then take it all one step further, using the physical practices to anchor and ground yourself as you attempt to pull yourself together: body, mind, and soul.

Using the aspect scheme of your choice, you could say that for Ketu, the big impact happens in Virgo. If you believe Ketu is like Rahu, keep your eyes on all of the earth signs: Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn. If you think Ketu can flow only through rasi drishti, keep your eyes on all of the dual signs: Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, and Pisces.

Mr. Shiney Eyes, Rahu, will be winking and nudging obviously in Pisces where he will be bouncing for the next 1.5 years. The other water element signs, Cancer and Scorpio, will also be receiving the engaging glance of Rahu, as well as Virgo, where Ketu sits.

The departments of life that are covered by water signs in personal charts coud begin to feel the rock and roll of Rahu's influence as 2023 becomes 2024. Rahu and Ketu's effects can feel unstable, unpredictable, and surprising. Get ready to get ready.

Rahu's energy can create desire for new things, hunger for more, and surprising innovation in what already exists. On the opposite side of the spectrum, Ketu's impact can feel like sudden disinterest that leads to a sideways shift. Rahu can cause attraction while Ketu can cause transformation. Both are dramatic but also common. Trends change under Rahu's eye, who has his attention on the desires of the masses. Traditions are preserved under Ketu's seat; the headless one relies on deep roots for information.

Venus Transits Libra November 29 – December 24

The end of November sees the meeting of Venus and Ketu at the border zone between Mercury's earthy Virgo and Venus' airy Libra. As true node Ketu moves into Virgo, Venus moves through the obstructive Ketu from her debilitation status in Virgo to the supportive environment of Libra, her own air sign.

This does seem like a description of a challenging hurdle, which could come to pass toward the end of the month. It could feel like surmounting an obstacle that has stood before you for some time, barring your road to vitality, happiness, or creative process. It's time to dig deep and reach high, all at once. Get over it!

As December dawns, we may truly feel as if we are in a new paradigm. After a few years of turmoil and instability on the relationship front, we could suddenly realize that we are cleared for takeoff. When Venus moves to Libra, after the nodal axis has moved, we find Venus opposite Jupiter, which could manifest as the integration of deep lessons that allow us to move forward with a new sense of wisdom and purpose.

Venus isn't just about relationships, but about all connections, including how we show up in community and participate in society. As our diverse world rumbles with all its people struggling to protect their rights to simply be alive and thrive, examine how you are showing up with your family, friends, neighbors, colleagues, caregivers, teachers, strangers, and enemies.

Here is my prayer as we move through the holiday season, precariously balancing between war and peace:

Let peace begin with me. Let me see clearly how I am contributing to this world. Let me grow into my gifts and create a nurturing environment, within and without. Let me move forward, letting go and picking up, with gratitude.

Decmber 2023 Headlines

New Moon in Scorpio/Jyestha December 12
Mercury Retrograde December 13 – January 1
Sun Transits Sagittarius December 16 – January 14
Venus Transits Scorpio December 24 – January 18
Mars Transits Sagittarius December 27 – February 5
Jupiter Direct in Aries December 30
Mercury Direct in Scorpio January 1