Vedic Astrological Monthly Newsletter: November 2024

Saturn Turns Direct in Aquarius and Mercury Turns Retrograde in Scorpio

      On 11/25, Saturn will turn direct in Aquarius, at 18 degrees, in the nakshatra of Shatabhisha. We know that Saturn is generally strong in its own sign of Aquarius, and when turning direct, the planet reflects the tendency to move forward, persevere and steadily make progress, getting work done. However, we have to account for the malefic aspect of Mars on Saturn during this particular transit, since Mars is transiting its debilitated sign of Cancer, concurrently. This aggravates Saturn, pushing the planet to go faster than desired, reflecting a frustrating, aggressive tendency in the general atmosphere---trying to go too fast than is warranted. It's the feeling of being pushed, poked and disrespected by an adversary. 

      Saturn in Shatabhisha is good for improving healing capacity and it is a beneficial time to make some type of sacrifice to achieve a higher quality of life, or an improved, more beneficial result. If you are trying to solve a problem in your life, whether it be a medical/health problem or other issue that you have tried to resolve over and over, having strong Saturn in Shatabhisha, moving direct, can indicate that it is an improved time for finally being able to work through and overcome the problem. This energy will be in force while Saturn transits through Shatabhisha. until 12/27, when Saturn then moves to the next nakshatra of Purva Bhadrapada at 20 degrees Aquarius.

     The question is, what type of  genuine sacrifice are you willing to make in your life to achieve an improved result, or move to a higher level? This is a good month to contemplate that concept. If you need to lose weight, what will you give up to achieve that end, for example? If you need to stop drinking or smoking to improve your health, are you willing to apply the Saturnian discipline to achieve that important goal? With Saturn, there is no messing around or trying to take short cuts. Make the commitment to improve your life and do the work to get there, diligently, slowly, methodically, and with intention, and then you will eventually succeed and achieve results. Saturn might as well be called the planet of "commitment." If you make a promise, then you better keep it, or pay the Saturnine price. Put in the time, do the work and then you can attain the reward, not before.

Transiting Mercury Turns Retrograde and gets influenced by transiting Saturn and Jupiter aspects:

     Meanwhile, Mercury, the planet governing all communications, has recently entered Scorpio and Mercury will turn retrograde at 28 degrees Scorpio on 11/25. Mercury continues to retrograde until 12/15, when it then turns direct at 12 degrees Scorpio. Mercury continues to transit Scorpio until 1-04-2025, when it then enters the next sign of Sagittarius. 

     While in Scorpio, Mercury is more internalized, less openly communicative, more secretive, probing deeply and formulating ideas more privately without sharing them. Moreover, Saturn is also throwing a restrictive aspect onto Mercury, suggesting even more restrictive speech patterns, and communications that are hidden, not transparent and maintained in secrecy. This influence lends itself to paranoia, less trust, more skepticism, and much more restrictive communications in the atmosphere.  This is not a good placement for negotiations, diplomacy, harmony or being willing to hear the other side of an argument. "My way or the highway" describes this particular Mercury transit. 

     However,  transiting Jupiter is also aspecting Mercury this month, which removes some of the restrictiveness on communications. The combination of both Saturn and Jupiter's aspects on transiting Mercury has the potential to bring about results in the house domain of Scorpio, in any given chart. Hence, this can be a good period for researching, digging deeply into databases,  gathering facts and to uncover important information at a profound level. Taking into account Mercury's retrograde motion as well, this gives a powerful intensity and focus on Mercury's deeper inner expression. It relects the quality of churning and churning over information, and perhaps over-thinking and over-analyzing to a point of confusion and/or going to extremes in perspective (lacking mental balance). 

     Taking into account: the fact that the U.S. has its Moon in Aquarius (with transiting Saturn influencing); and Mercury will transit its 12th house, and receive the aspect from Saturn strongly;  as well as the debilitated Mars transit in the 8th house of the U.S. chart, going over the U.S. Mercury/Rahu combination: this is a very challenging two months for dealing with election results, no matter who wins this election. There are likely to be very strong disagreements over the results, unwillingness to accept results, no matter what side wins, distrust of the election process by segments of the population, even if it is unwarranted.  Words exchanged with be short, direct, sharp, stinging and harsh.  There will be no willingness to engage with the other side, and no willingness to negotiate on matters during November and into December. 

     In January, Mercury moves into Sagittarius and the communication style shifts to a more open, but also opinionated,  dogmatic posture.   Obviously, November and December are challenging months for signing documents, engaging in legal matters, negotiations and trying for diplomacy worldwide.  People will tend to dig in their heels, with fixed opinions and viewpoints, distrust of other's intentions and unwillingness to change attitudes during this period. 

     On the other hand, it is a good time to engage in healing, do serious, thorough research on all areas of interest, work on solving various problems or issues that require more attention and discipline, and don't try to engage others in debates or try to persuade others to believe in your viewpoints. The fewer words exchanged, the better, during such a challenging transit of Mercury. Consider this Mercury transit,  if you attend any holiday parties or social gatherings during these two months, and decide to get into a debate or speak your mind.