Welcome to November, Mainers, a month ushering us into the second act of fall, when, as it were, lots of things seem to be falling. Leaves, of course, have tumbled from trees, revealing empty nests of twigs against an all-too-often gray sky. Daylight falls away as the clocks fall back, and for the next three weeks we are solidly in Scorpio season, meaning we metaphorically “fall” into the underworld of our lives.
Ruled by Mars (planet of drive, lust and war) and Pluto (planet of death, transformation and rebirth), Scorpio season encourages a deep dive into our psyches to probe our motivations and those of our enemies (as well as those of the objects of our affection; nay, obsession), giving us the emotional bandwidth we need to penetrate the underpinnings of our passions. It’s a time to let what needs to die, die, so we can regenerate and boldly reemerge into Sagittarius season toward month’s end, embracing broader truths that serve not only ourselves, but humanity at large.
For now, let’s investigate (another Scorpio theme) how and why we court mystery, keep secrets, nurse fanaticism and indulge revenge fantasies. When you go toe-to-toe with Scorprio energy, you may find yourself facing an extremist, with-us-or-against-us attitude. This kind of energy brings out the shadow side in everyone, which can be an uncomfortable — albeit necessary — step toward healing, and the astrology of the moment supports our movement through these challenging spaces and stances.
We can see these energetic themes playing out on the world stage right now, most starkly in Gaza and Israel. The compounding atrocities on the ground have rippled through conversations worldwide. So many people are deeply shattered and horrified by the violence and the innocent lives being traumatized and taken. We want to say or do something, anything, to stop the agony, loss, destruction and death.
But here’s where the with-us-or-against-us attitude rears its ugly head. Polarized factions can’t even agree as to who is the oppressor and who is being oppressed, and this lack of clarity makes many people afraid to do or say anything, despite urgent calls for help. Sometimes silence is violence, and history has shown us time and again that keeping quiet in the face of crimes against humanity is tantamount to siding with the criminals.
I feel myself constricting with discomfort even as I write this, knowing I’m choosing to speak about something that makes me vulnerable to the vitriol swirling around this conflict like a tornado. But in making this choice I’m harnessing one of the other gifts of Scorpio season: emotional fortitude. There is nothing to be found in the shadows of our psyches that can ruffle a Scorpio, for they peer into these crevices as a matter of course, doing the hard work of negotiating unconscionable aspects of human life in an effort to understand and transform them.
We all need to take a page from this book right now. Taking a stand often makes one vulnerable to losing relationships or access to power or privilege. This is the risk of activism. But losing access to power is worth the risk if you value human life and would want someone to stand up for yours. The violence between Israelis and Palestinians must end now, and we must all demand this in any way we can.
When terrible things are happening far away, it can often feel strange to go about our daily lives, but here we are. Time marches on and we’re all negotiating our own circumstances. To add some perspective to the other astrological events that may be impacting us this month, I’ll note that on Nov. 4, Saturn emerges from the long retrograde period it’s been in since June 17. During a retrograde, a planet appears to be moving backwards in the sky, and astrologically this translates to its energy being focused inward rather than outward.
Saturn (planet of structure, discipline and limitation) is in Pisces at the moment — a strange pairing, because Pisces is all about erasing boundaries and merging with the greater collective wave of existence. What does this mean? For the past four-plus months, we may have felt ourselves examining our internal struggle between our dreams (Pisces energy) and the limitations we face (Saturn’s energy) in achieving them. When Saturn turns direct on the 4th, however, there will be a feeling of relief. Our focus will return to the outer collective, and I wouldn’t be surprised if there is a wider reckoning with the tension between the shared dreams of humanity – to live peaceful, joyful, fulfilling lives – and the structures (or institutions) that prevent this dream from becoming reality.
Expect another energy shift on the 23rd, as Sagittarius energy rises, inspiring us even in the darkest of times. If there is truth or meaning to this vast mess of life, Sagittarius will find it. So hold fast to hope, friends, even when we feel afraid. Finding joy amidst danger and suffering is a radical act, and if we cannot allow ourselves and others this human right, then what are we even fighting for?
Caitlin Scholl is a writer, artist and intuitive astrologer living in Yarmouth. For private consultations, inquiries or comments about Astral Tides, e-mail her at coaching@friendenergies.com.
