Commentaries:

1. Saturn in Libra square Pluto in Capricorn
   By now many of us realize what is on the agenda here: the necessity to restructure the dynamics of power in our relationships. If indeed it is not “power” that is necessarily at stake, it is certainly the function of who in the relationship is responsible for what and how much is my responsibility and how much is yours. In a more subjective sense, this aspect is bringing to the forefront of activities the non-regenerative patterns in our lives that underscore imbalances in our human interchanges. If you haven’t gotten around to making all of the adjustments that this challenging aspect holds for us (especially for those with planets and placements in the first five degrees of the cardinal signs), don’t worry—this aspect will be with us for quite some time to come!
   
   
2. Uranus and Neptune in exact degree mutual reception
   These two “Big Guns” are in a playing field that cover 22-29 degrees of Pisces and Aquarius respectively and remain in this position through March of 2011 (with a little break when Uranus enters and remains at 0° Aries for the first time between the end of May and the middle of August 2010). In addition to the obvious indication that this mutual reception indicates the true cusp of the two World Ages, these position point to the manifestation of crises causes by these crossing collective paradigms. These subjects are worthy of a very long article (I have a 75 minute mp3 on this subject should anyone be interested), but in the relatively small space available here, I’d like to point out the following:
   
   
   • If you have any planets or important positions at these degrees, you will be experiencing some important cross-currents. I cannot give out all possible examples but say you have Venus at 23° Scorpio in the map, you would then have the simultaneous transiting square from Neptune giving very illusionary and unrealistic relationships while the trine from Uranus to natal Venus that will give you many opportunities for bringing in new relationship archetypes into your life. Or if you had the Moon at 25° Taurus, you would have Neptune square this position encouraging great sensitivity but often ill-placed or unwisely utilized while Uranus sextile the Moon would bring in new people and social situations into your life that could alter your self-worth (or material worth!) in some positive way.
     
     
   • On the world scene, there will be a continuing battle between that huge segment of the population that is conditioned by and confined to previous paradigms of political and religious belief systems while the incoming forces of the “new world re-order” insist (thankfully!) that loving inclusivity and a One World Humanity is on the agenda.
     
     
   • Jupiter joins the archetypal party during most of December and into the middle of January as it passes through these late degrees of Aquarius for the last time in its current cycle through the signs. Be prepared for a lot of ideological and religious excesses. Lordy, Lordy, Lordy, everyone will be wearing a long white beard not just the zillions of Santas! I may even need a shave myself!!!

November 22: Sun enters Sagittarius at 04:24am.
Those of us who take a positive view of life, who enjoy the process of developing our knowledge (who knows a spot or two of Wisdom may also leak through!), going on adventures in both mind and body, and who relish a great meal or two, welcome the arrival of Sagittarius and the ushering in of the time of festivities that the end of November brings. As is often the case, Mercury is close to the Sun and is also in the sign of the sensual Centaur through the first half of its journey in this sign, while Venus comes along and adds to this uplifting journey on December 1st.

But wherever a planet is placed, it is vital to examine its dispositor to get a more thorough idea of how its energies will be expressed. In this case Jupiter, ruler of Sagittarius is in Aquarius close enough to make (another!) exact conjunction with Neptune on December 21st, just before the Sun moves into Capricorn. This combination of influences augers a tremendous increase in political, social, and religious idealism. Many promises by governmental and spiritual leaders will be made, many visionary pronouncements will sound forth; the population of the world will be inundated by proffered Christmas gifts of words and blessings. Yet how many of these often well intentioned statements will be kept, indeed can be kept? The first five days of Capricorn this year will be a heavy time for our planet (see December’s issue of “As Above, So Below”), one in which a more consolidated reality will come crashing in on top of such projected idealism. Be that as it may, it never hurts to dream the beautiful dream—indeed to back up such aspirations with true service. The important thing is to stay lovingly detached and vigilant in our objective observations—the astrological lens is a most helpful tool in this respect.

November 23: Venus square Jupiter (19.57 Scorpio/Aquarius)
We may very possibly hear news of the misuse of public funds or at the very least financial waste. Should this aspect fall in relative exactitude to your natal chart, take care about your finances relative to the house positions of the contact. Nevertheless, all Venus/Jupiter aspects give us the opportunity for good times, just watch your expenses.

November 25: Venus sextile North Node (22.20 Scorpio/Capricorn) and trine Uranus at 22.20 Pisces).
This combination is excellent for friendly gatherings and interesting romantic encounters. It is coupled with the transiting Moon in Pisces, a position that fosters emotional intimacy. This is a very nice pre-Thanksgiving Day evening for the USA and an opportunity for pleasant socializing for one and all.

November 26: Mercury trine Mars (16.20 Sagittarius/Leo) and Venus square Neptune (23.50 Scorpio/Aquarius).
Happy Thanksgiving USA! The Mercury/Mars aspect is excellent for all the moving around that such a hugely celebrated festival brings about while Venus square Neptune will give a lot of what my dear Portuguese friends call “saudade” (nostalgic memories) for Thanksgivings past. No matter your nationality, this will be a busy day but also one in which too much emotional self-indulgence is likely to result in confusion and misunderstandings.

November 30: Mercury square Uranus (22.42 Sagittarius/Pisces).
How about a little confusion? Mercury square Uranus will definitely bring this into one’s life especially in the mutuable signs. So there may be a lot of “intoxicated chickens” fluttering about in your environment, hopefully you will not be one of them! (But chances are very likely you will be inanely clucking away should these degrees in Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, or Pisces be strong in your chart.)

December 1: Venus enters Sagittarius at 06:04pm.
Esoterically this is a very strong position as it brings in the Fifth Ray quality of both this planet and sign. The Fifth is the Ray representing the Law of Right Human Relations—one can always hope for (and work for) the best!

December 5: Mercury enters Capricorn at 01:25pm.
December 7: Mercury conjoins Pluto at 2.25 Capricorn, squaring Saturn at 3.28 Libra later on that evening.
Please take a look at my “Commentary” about the Saturn/Pluto square for now with communicative Mercury in the picture, there will be a lot of opportunities to “share” the ideas mentioned in that paragraph with the relative people in your life. Now “share” may be a euphemism in this case for, well take your pick: argue, discuss, do battle over, the right to fight, enter into new agreements by force, struggle to make oneself understood in the face of powerful adversaries (some of whom may share our bed and/or write us checks on payday)—I think you get the picture. And if you have the first five degrees of Aries, Cancer, Libra, or Capricorn in your chart you will definitely BE in the picture!

December 10: Sun trine Mars (19.07 Sagittarius/Leo).
Well this is an energizing and refreshing aspect (especially for those of you “lucky” enough to have something great in your chart at 19 to 20 degrees of Aries). Lots of positive fire available for your creative purposes—this is like having a cosmic Vitamin B shot!

December 14: Sun square Uranus (22.46 Sagittarius/Pisces) and Sun sextile Jupiter (23.09 Sagittarius/Aquarius)
Personally, I like Uranus/Jupiter combinations as they give rise to interesting voyages, spiritual and philosophical explorations, anthropological and archeological discoveries—those type of interesting pursuits. Given the temper of the times and the approaching Holiday Season, anything is possible (Uranus also rules “surprises”) from both the religious left and religious right of all persuasions. It would be great however to have something from the Religious Source from the Center descend and replace all this talk with a huge dose of LOVE. But hey, I’m a Flower Child.

December 17: Venus trine Mars (19.38 Sagittarius/Leo).
Enjoy your lovers and your loved ones!

December 19: Venus square Uranus (22.51 Sagittarius/Pisces)
The combination of Venus/Uranus often brings in the unexpected in terms of our relationships—can be very interesting and/or a surprise visit from someone that we wish would not have happened (it is a square after all!). People with these degrees in the mutable signs will of course be most affected, especially if that is the position of your natal Venus, Moon, Mars, or Ascendant/Descendant axis.

December 20: Mars goes retrograde at 19.42 Leo.
Mars began his travels through Leo (a most compatible sign for the Red Warrior) on October 16, 2009 and will remain in the Lion’s Den through June 6, 2010, so about an eight months sojourn. This is great if you are strong in placements in the fiery signs as it will increase your energy and definitely increase your creative output and self-assertion. The retrogradation of Mars tells us to take all of this fiery potential and internalize it, giving it even greater eventual potency so that when Mars goes direct again on March 10, 2010, we can externalize what we have been working on for even greater success.