Allegiance
This week’s Scorpio New Moon (Nov. 13, 2023, 1:27 am PST) finds the Sun and Moon in a close conjunction with Mars, and all three opposed Uranus. It’s a powerful New Moon and an important opportunity to transcend the shadow sides of Scorpio and Taurus – vindictiveness and nihilism, stubbornness and prejudice – and realize Scorpio’s soulful strength and Taurus’ stability and security, as well as the brilliance and vision of Uranus.
The Sabian symbol for this New Moon degree, A soldier derelict in duty, is sometimes written, Obeying his conscience, a soldier resists orders. We all have rules and commitments that we’re pledged to live by, but this New Moon reminds us that our primary allegiance is to our humanity.
Keep an eye on the Lunar Phase Family cycle that will expand this New Moon message across the coming three years. Its critical moments come at the Aug. 12, 2024 First Quarter Moon; 9 months later at the May 12, 2025 Full Moon; and in another 9 months, at the Last Quarter Moon of Feb. 9, 2026. This is a big New Moon with an important message, and it’s only right that the process of internalizing it should take awhile.
Chaos into Creativity
When the Sun in Scorpio makes an opposition to Uranus (Nov. 13, 2023, 9:20 am PST, 21º03′ Scorpio/Taurus) this week, as when the Sun and Uranus meet in any kind of aspect, the world brings us messages about the importance of change and innovation. In particular, we’re urged to look at the ways we get stuck in our own habits and insecurities, and to experiment with new ways of being.
The opposition aspect often plays out in relationships, and we take turns playing out both planets. Stuck in patterns of resentment, jealousy, or possessiveness (the dark side of Scorpio)? Someone might issue a demand for more breathing room (Uranus). Inconstant with your commitments, dropping out of communication while you pursue other projects or relationships (Uranus)? Expect to be called out on it.
This is not a long transit – its strongest influence is probably a day or two either side of the exact aspect. But because it’s prominent in the chart for the Scorpio New Moon on the same day, this particular transit carries through the coming lunar month and across the three years of this New Moon’s lunar gestation period. This New Moon initiates a longer process of balancing Scorpio’s intensity with the need for independence and personal space, and to alchemize chaos into creative power.
Rocks and Rapport
Mercury sextiles Venus (Nov. 15, 2023, 4:48 am PST, 7º52’ Sagittarius and Libra) this week on the Sabian symbols 8 Sagittarius, Rocks and things forming therein, and 8 Libra, A blazing fireplace in a deserted home.
Mercury’s symbol reflects that opinionated quality that we can sometimes see with Mercury in Sagittarius, and the sextile with gracious Venus in Libra is a good reminder to keep an open mind. Don’t you love Venus’ symbol? It evokes the feeling of coming home from a long trip to find that a friend has left the porch light on for you, or started a fire to warm up your house. I like to envision our opinionated minds being softened through cordial conversation by that fire. Even when we want so desperately to be right, Venus in Libra asks: Isn’t it even more important to find rapport with others?
The Path that’s Calling You Now
It can be so tiring, being human – inhabiting an identity, having a biography, carrying so many memories and grudges and sorrows. What would it be like if we were amnesiacs and had no idea who we were supposed to be? How light it would feel, with none of the emotional burdens and limitations that are part of how we define ourselves.
The trine between the Sun and Neptune (Nov. 17, 2023, 6:52 am PST) offers a mini-vacation from the tyranny of ego, to let yourself float downriver and disengage from who you think you have to be, to wish a new self into being.
Mars, through its trine aspect to Neptune earlier the same day (Nov. 17, 2023, 00:36 am PST), stands ready to move this wish out of the realm of dreams and into reality. If you’ve identified the path with heart, a path that makes sense to you philosophically, don’t waste time regretting the old dreams that didn’t come true. Follow Mars down the path that’s calling to you now.
Camping in the Heart of the Sun
Following their trine aspects to Neptune this morning, the Sun and Mars come together in a conjunction this evening (Nov. 17, 2023, 9:42 pm Pacific Time). The degree of that conjunction (25º 36’ Scorpio) is on the next Sabian symbol, 26 Scorpio, Indians making camp. With the full force of the powerful Sun with Mars, in one of the latter’s strongest signs, we set forth to achieve a goal or to conquer new territory.
The conjunction takes place on a very resourceful degree. The Indians making camp symbolize the knowledge and adaptability to survive in unfamiliar territory. Since this is part of the New Moon chart, this campaign for survival and progress will be part of what unfolds over the coming few years.
At the moment of the exact conjunction, Mars is in the state that we call cazimi, which means “in the heart of the Sun,” and it’s incredibly powerful at this moment. It’s also in aspect to Uranus and an out-of-sign aspect to Saturn. So the Sun together with Mars carries enormous power, and the message that our actions need to be guided by our hearts.
The opposition to Uranus warns that even with that guidance, the unexpected is likely to happen. When we’re away from home base, making camp, we have to find food, shelter, and protection. Planning carefully before we act is a good idea, but whenever Uranus is involved in a situation, we have to be prepared to improvise.
Writing and images © 2017-23 by April Elliott Kent
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