November 20: Scorpio New Moon

We conclude the season of the witch with a magically unexpected New Moon at 28°12 Scorpio at 1:47AM ET on November 20, at the peak of the Mercury retrograde cycle. This lunation invites us to weave our spells with the grand water trine that has been flowing between the planets in Scorpio, Jupiter in Cancer, and Saturn in Pisces for the past month. 

There is a yearning for rebirth from deep within the underworld as Mercury goes cazimi in the heart of the Sun as the Moon dies and is reborn. The brilliant light we're seeding has a spark of rebellion thanks to the final opposition from Uranus in Taurus in our lifetime that culminates on November 21. There is an awakening on the deepest levels of consciousness that allows us to break with destructive emotional patterning inherited from our families and develop more supportive attachment styles.

In October, Mars and Mercury in Scorpio activated this emotional energy as they came into contact with Saturn in Pisces and Jupiter in Cancer around Samhain (Halloween week). Dreams of romance, intimacy, and deep lasting heart connection have been infiltrating our belief systems, informing our motivation, and helping us create new codes of conduct for ourselves.

This lunation is supported by Jupiter in Cancer who stationed retrograde at 25°09 Cancer on November 11th. This marks a shift in its transit through the Moon's home sign. We've been experiencing growth, hope, and improved opportunity in the Cancer area of life since June. For the next four months, old Jove's expansive energy will be withdrawn while we reflect on what has developed and whether we are headed in the right direction. Jupiter transits may not feel unequivocally good from a human point of view. The energy simply makes everything bigger–both the positive and negative conditions of life. 

Often, people experience increased difficulty at the beginning of a beneficial transit because change or space is needed for the new to grow. People may break up with a long term partner as Jupiter begins moving through their 7th house of marriage. If you tell them its a great year for relationships, they say, "I don't think so!" Getting a divorce is not usually easy or enjoyable but it can lead to an upgrade in romantic partnership and quality of life.

Scorpio season invites us to clean out the stuck parts and compost. Otherwise, old waste becomes stagnant within us, emotionally, energetically, and physically. Give yourself a cosmic colonic during the Scorpio New Moon to enter Sagittarius season with a lighter load. The winter months give us an opportunity to align with our dreams for the new year as Jupiter travels back to 15°05 Cancer where it will station direct on March 10th just before the Vernal Equinox. 

Scorpio seeks to radically transform what it touches and Saturn asks us to abstain from behaviors that degrade our self-esteem and bring us down. The outer planets lapping at the shores of our tender places have brought feelings to the forefront. Many a tear has been shed as we sort out what we need (vs what we want) in relationships. Journaling about what your home life was like growing up can help reveal the ways that imprinting has impacted your choice in romantic partners. The connection between childhood neglect and romantic obsession is a very Scorpio Moon topic to explore.  

Communicating about difficult situations got more complicated when Mercury stationed retrograde at 06°52 Sagittarius on November 9th, in conjunction with Mars and opposite Uranus in Gemini. Mercury's retrograde journey between Sagittarius and Scorpio is linking these two areas of our chart. Mars moved in spicy Sagittarius on November 4, adding additional heat to this lunation at the midway point of Mercury's cycle when it receives a divine download from the Sun. The tension between getting our emotional needs met and doing what we want to do is exacerbated this week.

The Moon in Scorpio can feel depressed and forlorn. It's hard to get our needs for security and sustenance met while surrounded by conflict. Being in disempowering or overwhelming circumstances can create a sense of helplessness that pricks a secret desire to be rescued. If fighting goes on for too long without the ability to sustainably repair, despair and hopelessness may set in.

Fortunately, the Sun in Scorpio is illuminating opportunities to create greater emotional stability for ourselves by doing something completely different. Most of us don't know we're attracted to emotionally unavailable people until we can see it. The opposition from Uranus gives us permission to cut those loose who take but can't reciprocate. If you find yourself with a heightened desire for freedom and autonomy–follow that road. Exercising our independence can foster healthier inter-dependence. 

This lunation encourages us to creatively and joyfully self express, but that doesn't mean anything goes. Healthy boundaries are a must and it's wise to put distance between those whose behavior is erratic or uncooperative until the Sun moves into Sagittarius in the evening on November 21. Then it will be time to ride towards the end of the year!