According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, a paradox is an apparently contradictory condition, the meaning of which is revealed only through a process of inquiry that will “arrest attention and provoke fresh thought.” For an example of a thought provoking paradox, one need not look further than this current lunar cycle. The October 19 Libra New Moon, representing total relatedness, was in exact opposition to Uranus in Aries, representing radical individuality. The process of inquiry at that moment could have begun with the question: “What does it mean to be an individual in relation to other?” Looking back over the last couple of weeks, it is likely we may recognize something happened that brought new information to our awareness which jolted us out of the comfort zone of who we thought we were within the context of a particular relationship.
Now we’re entering into the climactic Full Moon on November 3 in exact alignment with Neptune in Pisces. Whereas the New Moon put radical individuality in our face asking us if we dare be who we really are, now the Full Moon takes that and throws it into the paradoxical necessity of recognizing the oneness of everything. Inquiring further into this will give us the solution to the paradox. Uranus questions the mental programming to which we are blindly obedient and which prevents us from being a truly unique individual. Once we are able to shed the old, outworn identity, Neptune comes in and tells us that very identity is not an isolated unit unto itself, but part of a netted group of unique beings, each of which have a purpose in successively larger wholes from family, to society, to the cosmos. The issue at hand is how can the needs of the individual be satisfied while at the same time satisfying the needs of the greater collective, of humanity? This requires much dialog and agreement on how to operate in the physical material reality, as well as a willingness to sacrifice (Neptune) to something much bigger than the small ego self. Can we allow the pain of what the New Moon shattered (Uranus) to open us to the light of the Full Moon in alignment with Neptune to heal us with unconditional Love? We could look to the symbolism of the Sun in Scorpio and the Moon in Taurus for the gifts they have to offer. On the deepest level, the reconciliation of these opposing forces can be found in the microcosm of learning “non-attachment” to the things we value (Moon in Taurus) and the macrocosm of “non-identification” with the passion for the very life we’re living (Sun in Scorpio). Only in being completely free from all attachments can we experience true Unity.
Venus in its home sign of Libra opposes Uranus and sextiles Saturn on the day of the Full Moon, November 3. The alignment with Uranus re-evokes the New Moon imperative to resolve imbalances in relationships through honoring each one’s unique contributions. Perhaps it will take the force of the feminine, as represented by Venus, strong in the sign it rules, to take a stand against outmoded masculine dominance. We need to redefine what “winning” looks like by inquiring more deeply into the paradoxical polarity of self and other and through that exploration come to agreement on how best to work together with harmony and integrity. Saturn’s alignment with Venus and Uranus creates a configuration called a learning triangle (the trine between Saturn and Uranus is within one degree of exact so very much in effect). Saturn becomes a stabilizing release point for the polarizing energy between Venus and Uranus that will look for enduring solutions within a framework that allows freedom of expression.
On November 5, Mercury enters Sagittarius, which may correlate to a greater willingness to speak our truth without concern for what others think. While this may correlate to rather blunt or opinionated comments, it also frees us from empty politeness to experience a broadened perspective that can be gained by looking up at the sky to contemplate the meaning of the cosmos and our part in it. The gift of Sagittarius according to Dane Rudhyar is “the art of living together,” meaning at this state of the development of the individual in relation to others we must learn that, yes, it is imperative to speak our truth, but it is equally important to allows other to do so as well, and for all of us to listen to each others’ points of view and from there come to agreement on the laws that will govern our behavior. Mercury will remain in Sagittarius until January 10 due to its retrograde period that will commence on December 2, giving us extra time to contemplate the big problems of the planet and perhaps experience a bit of inspiring wisdom from all that philosophical thinking.
Here’s the data (Pacific Time and rounded to the nearest whole degree unless otherwise noted):
November 3 – Venus sextile Saturn at 1:31 a.m.
November 3 – Sun trine Neptune at 12:23 p.m.
November 3 – Venus opposite Uranus at 10:01 p.m.
November 3 – Moon opposite Sun at 12° Taurus/Scorpio at 10:23 p.m.
November 5 – Mercury at 0° Sagittarius at 11:19 a.m.
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