Astrodharma Transit Report: November 2020

By Hunter Reynolds, on October 30th, 2020

CONFESS AND UNDRESS

WHATEVER we speak to, in another, is the part we’re feeding and encouraging, in them. Think of it as an existential exam; the soul-seeing meditation we’re called to intensively practice three times per year, during Mercury retrograde.

When Mercury turns inward, bold proclamations of belief and opinion confuse, polarize, or simply fall flat. Our only hope of meaningful connection with others is to pause, return to zero and see what wants to be said through us.

Mercury retro says, Take a step back and ask:

As what am I speaking? As a dirt-bound ego on a countdown or as a ceremony of Self-remembering, in process?

As October’s brooding Mercury retrograde in Scorpio transitions into the more congenial sign of Libra on Nov 3rd, then back into Scorpio again on Nov 10th, the heavens, it seems, are prodding us to weave prayerful confession into everyday repartee.

What might a Scorpionic “confess and undress” conversation look like? Alas, the one who wants to know is gumming up the works! Confession is raw and unscripted– a kind of extroverted self-inquiry that is as much of a surprise to us as it is to the listener. Here’s a little something to get you in the mood:

Charming Betrayal

Every day, I betray countless numbers of people by forgetting their deathless Being, their unimprovable essence. My Libran kindness: only slightly better than the in-your-face Aries aggression out there on the streets, since both contribute to the secret shame of chopping the “seamless field of sentience” into imaginary “others,” stranding them on a lonely island of flesh.

Private Pedo-gate

My eyes have become dark basements that pedophile the angelic motivations of unfashionable personalities. I thrust judgement at hurt little boys and girls dressed up as adults because they remind me of my own lost innocence. Then I abort God’s timeless presence by allowing flashes of ego-dissolving communion to drift quickly into opinionated role play and “the intimacy of shared aversion.”

It is on this ego-reckoning, presence-liberating note that the month of November begins, as the Saturn/Pluto conjunction continues its yearlong “collective colonic.”

Note for fridge:

Timeless presence is the good news channel.

Light at the End of the 2020 Tunnel

Late November provides the first faint light at the end of the 2020 tunnel. On the way there: mayhem.

Yes, Mercury and Mars end their retrogrades, but Jupiter and Pluto come together on November 12th for their third– and, perhaps, most sinister– power play of the year. We also have a Scorpio New Moon on November 15th, and the month ends with another Full Moon/Lunar eclipse in Gemini on November 30th.

Think of November as a 3-D reenactment of the riotous torment going on in our subconscious every moment that our “fullness of Being” is eclipsed by wanting, not-wanting and couldn’t-care-less.

Rattled by the riot? Take a tip from the “counsel of elders” (the Pluto, Saturn, Jupiter conjunction). Hang out with a soul-seeing senior. As Alan Watts says, “No sense clinging to the rocks falling with us.”

Yes, it’s been a dark year. Yes, opportunities to see and move forward have been frustrated and delayed by the Saturn/Mars square for months, urging us to patiently plan, prepare and gather more information before acting. But glimpses of clarity about how, when and where to move forward will likely start to trickle in after the panoramic Full Moon/Lunar Eclipse in Sagittarius on November 30th.

As we move into December, the lay of land becomes clear, culminating on the historic Saturn/Jupiter conjunction in Aquarius on December 21st. Yes, the social unrest continues. Only now, the competing narratives about what’s happening give way to clear seeing. This, in itself, provides rest.

The U.S. Election

Mercury in fair-minded Libra ends its retrograde phase on November 3rd, the same day as the U.S. presidential election. This sounds positive, but its’ not, since the beginning and end of Mercury’s retrograde are the most confusing and chaotic. In addition, Mercury is stationary direct forming an exact square to Saturn from November 1st through the 8th. Could there be a more perfect recipe for a bitterly contested election?

But wait. Remember? This isn’t political theater; it’s an existential exam.

Forget about who the real winner is. The real question is, Who will lose? Us, if– when looking back from our deathbed– we see a tense, reactive mind foolishly trading in the Merciful Witness for a line of political cocaine.

Perhaps we secretly asked that our preferred candidate lose so that we could boldly confront (and finally cure) our lack of faith in this soul-spiraling adventure called “life.” In that case, isn’t it time to get down on our knees and pray to be released from ego’s tired story of victimization?

Perhaps this is the moment that old-fashioned prayer comes alive for us and our philosophical belief in God turns into a palpable Shepherding Presence.

Perhaps, in the end, there is nothing to say but, “Rid me of ego, replace me with You.”

November Mantra:
I have undying faith in God’s cyclic renewal.

Transits for November 2020 (PST)
(Please post subtitles on your calendar!)

Nov 1-7th- Mercury square Saturn, Pluto, Jupiter
Merciful witness or political cocaine?
Nov 3rd– Mercury goes Direct in Libra
Nov 8th- Quarter Moon in Leo
Nov 10th- Mercury enters Scorpio
Nov 12th- Jupiter conjunct Pluto in Capricorn
I have an undying faith in God’s cyclic renewal.
Nov 13th- Mars goes Direct in Aries
Nov 15th- New Moon in Scorpio
Timeless presence: the good news channel.
Nov 21st- Venus enters Scorpio
Nov 21st- Sun enters Sagittarius
Nov 21st- Quarter Moon in Pisces
Nov 28th- Neptune goes Direct in Pisces
Nov 30th- Full Moon Lunar Eclipse in Gemini
Clinging to falling rocks?