Celestial Timings

Nov 1, Wednesday, 2000
In ancient times the month of November marked the beginning of the Winter Season and Winter Solstice marked the mid-point of Winter. Retrograde Mercury in Scorpio (4 Scorpio) squares Neptune (4 Aquarius) today. Mercury (representing perceptions and communication) is encountering visionary Neptune inspiring new visions and dreams. The expansiveness of this energy often creates confusion when sorting through all the possibilities. Today is good day to spend dreaming the dreams of your destiny and allowing your imagination to connect you with new ideas, new images, and new possibilities. Remember, some of the most brilliant ideas, discoveries, and concepts have come about through the process of daydreaming.

Shamanic Astrology is a celebration of the astrological mysteries focusing on the natural cycles and rhythms of Earth and Sky, and how these mysteries relate to the human experience. Shamanic Astrology recognizes all the archetypal patterns represented by the signs, planets, stars, etc. as evolving expressions of life each with a valid purpose and intent. These Celestial Timings are one small offering intended to inspire our own personal reconnection with the magic of  these mysteries.

Week of Oct 27-Nov 3. New Moon to First Quarter.
New Moon�s occur about every 29 and � days when the Moon aligns with the Sun from the Earth�s perspective. The New Moon is a conception point, a time when farmers plant their seeds, or a new adventure (or initiation) is begun. Working with a clear intent during the New Moon is a wonderful timing for collectively planting seeds, or prayers, for wholeness, healing, harmony, balance, peace, etcetera.  As the crescent Moon increases in light, growing bigger each night, it symbolizes the growth of the seeds we planted at the New Moon. The Scorpio New Moon is the time for planting seeds around the mysteries of death, transformation, and  rebirth, knowing when it is time for something to die, surrendering to that process, and creating the space for something new to birth.

November Sky
Venus is gaining in brilliance in the night sky setting about 3 hours after Sunset, found above the Scorpion to the upper right of Antares, the heart of the Scorpion. Venus passes within about a half degree of Lambda Sagittarii, the star at the top of the bow on the archer (a.k.a. the teapot). Saturn is reaching its brightest appearance this month in over 25 years. Jupiter is also reaching its brightest peak this month and Jupiter and Saturn are moving closer together as Jupiter speeds up in its retrograde motion. Saturn reaches opposition to the Sun on Nov 19 and Jupiter reaches opposition on Nov 28. The Full Moon passes by Saturn Nov 11-12 and Aldebaran and Jupiter on Nov 12-13. Mars is rising four hours before the Sun and Mercury is the last to rise in one of its finest morning appearances this year.  Mars is well above the bright fixed star Spica and Mercury is to the lower right of Spica on Nov 7. The Leonid meteors show promise of being plentiful on the morning of Nov 17 and 18 (3 am EST and 6 am PST) even though it is occurring in the presence of the last quarter Moon.