the light of late November ....

Praise Song
Praise the light of late November,
the thin sunlight that goes deep in the bones.
Praise the crows chattering in the oak trees;
though they are clothed in night, they do not
despair. Praise what little there's left:
the small boats of milkweed pods, husks, hulls,
shells, the architecture of trees. Praise the meadow
of dried weeds: yarrow, goldenrod, chicory,
the remains of summer. Praise the blue sky
that hasn't cracked yet. Praise the sun slipping down
behind the beechnuts, praise the quilt of leaves
that covers the grass: Scarlet Oak, Sweet Gum,
Sugar Maple. Though darkness gathers, praise our crazy
fallen world; it's all we have, and it's never enough.
 - Barbara Crooker

autumn neighborhood by gnato

After this week we will know what we are dealing with from the Saturn/Neptune square - it will unwind itself over the next 10 months, but the issues will be on the table. They probably already are. A square always means there is work ahead.

Mars is active today - we are taking action, maybe with a key person. The Moon is in Taurus. We won't be rushed. Others won't be rushed by us either. Settle down. We are craving security and the comfort of things we can see, smell, touch and taste - a great day to get things ready for Thanksgiving, if you are in the U.S. Tomorrow (Mercury square Neptune) we could see traffic delays, information and agreements dissolving, wet weather, etc so get your stuff done today if you can.

Vesta connects with the south node (now in Pisces) allowing us to disconnect (dissolve) from things and people that do not fit/work anymore. Remember, Jupiter is in Virgo so everything expands through discipline and details now. Baby steps people. If we can relax and put important decisions on hold for another week or two all the better. We’ll be facing issues around what roles we’re playing and which ones we’re releasing. It's a process. Simplicity is a strength now. There are opportunities for those who have a precise plan and a way of executing it, so we'll take a broad view of future possibilities that may take some time to come to fruition. November and December are foundation building time. Balance.

Back tomorrow with the Gemini Full Moon! xo all

Astrology Forecast for Creatives | Week of November 23rd - Neptune Saturn Square | Full Moon Gemini | NOTE If you are hosting Thanksgiving dinner, think about lots of wine (or wait maybe no wine!) and plastic knives and forks, yes, things could get that dicey!

just a dream by Amr Elshamy

OK,this week we have the first of the exact squares between Saturn in Sagittarius and Neptune in Pisces (two more in 2016), a Full Moon in Gemini and Chiron stationing direct - if you are getting together with family members who hold dissenting beliefs for Thanksgiving ... well, good luck with that. Lots of paths that have diverged in the wood, maybe much longer ago than we would want to admit will be made clear now.

We start the week - Monday - with an opposition between Venus in Libra and Uranus in Aries. An opposition is exactly what it sounds like. So we have Venus (love, money, women, art) all snuggly in Libra (balance) the sign she rules. Suddenly she is at odds with Uranus (independence, freedom, rebellion, stuff from 'out of the blue') in Aries (initiating energy, action, anger, war) where he has recently been freed from his south node tie up.

This could indicate a sudden change (inspiration, perspiration or disintegration) for Venus ruled stuff - love, money, relationships, women, art. Expect the unexpected here. With Uranus, this stuff could flip on us again, so know that whatever happens - if it's good - enjoy it, appreciate it, be grateful. If it's not what we had hoped for - let's not overreact - think Libra and balance, be diplomatic. We will get through it. With Uranus changes just lead to more changes. And Uranus in Aries is answering to Mars who is a bit uncomfortable in Libra. If last week was a bit of a clusterf*ck for you - this aspect could bring a conclusion of sorts.

it all matters ....

echo of small things by karezoid

"It all matters. That someone turns out the lamp, picks up the windblown wrapper, says hello to the invalid, pays at the unattended lot, listens to the repeated tale, folds the abandoned laundry, plays the game fairly, tells the story honestly, acknowledges help, gives credit, says good night, resists temptation, wipes the counter, waits at the yellow, makes the bed, tips the maid, remembers the illness, congratulates the victor, accepts the consequences, takes a stand, steps up, offers a hand, goes first, goes last, chooses the small portion, teaches the child, tends to the dying, comforts the grieving, removes the splinter, wipes the tear, directs the lost, touches the lonely, is the whole thing. What is most beautiful is least acknowledged. What is worth dying for is barely noticed."
 .... Laurie McBride | We Are Called To Rise

Mercury enters Sagittarius and information speeds up. Opportunities may present themselves now (yes with Saturn here they will come with the price tag of hard work - we get to decide what is worth it or maybe life forces our hand) - communications involving learning or teaching, ethics or travel (all Sagittarius ruled things). Our Sag house wakes up now and with Saturn here we will be made to walk our talk. The stuff Saturn has been sitting on since September gets some movement. Great energy to be "salesy", yes, the "s" word. Others can be convinced if we really believe in what we are saying, writing or peddling. There is also truth to be said/heard now - with Jupiter in Virgo it could sting - be kind and compassionate (Neptune in Pisces). A fact vs. fiction wake up call is here/coming.

The BIG idea can provide the enthusiasm that gets us thinking/moving/dreaming and the small things (and steps) will move us forward. (back up your computer this weekend always a good idea before or after Mercury changes signs). xo all

.... we are still going, you and I

a hopeful transmission by c a martin

"If you're reading this, if there's air in your lungs on this November day, then there is still hope for you. Your story is still going. And maybe some things are true for all of us. Perhaps we all relate to pain. Perhaps we all relate to fear and loss and questions. And perhaps we all deserve to be honest, all deserve whatever help we need. Our stories are all so many things: Heavy and light. Beautiful and difficult. Hopeful and uncertain. But our stories are not finished yet. There is still time, for things to heal and change and grow. There is still time to be surprised. We are still going, you and I. We are stories still going." .... Jamie Tworkowski

The Moon is hanging with Neptune in Pisces today - procrastination and escape will be so easy. Our moon lives in imagination where all our possibilities are kept alive simply because we never choose to live them out. Keep that in mind now as we settle down and get to work. Venus is in a tricky spot. If we do not know what we want, probably better to wait if we can. We've got the Moon squaring Mercury - so logic and emotion are at odds. I dreamed a great idea last night, but this morning it just feels like a whole lot of work. I'll just sit with it and focus on the tasks at hand (Virgo!). First Quarter Moon means challenges to what we started at the New Moon - that's ok, we got this thing- just building bigger muscles, right?

xo all