For the week of November 16th thru the 23rd, be sure to read your Rising Sign as well:

Aries

Sometimes you need to keep a few things to yourself. Not everyone needs to know what you are doing, or even what your motives are. However, now that your ruling planet, Mars is traveling in Pisces, it makes sense to keep your motives pure, and your conscience clear. From now until the end of the year, those actions based on higher or more altruistic motives are most likely to succeed. Time to stick to principles, and walk the walk as well as talk the talk. Anything else is only going to muddy the water. Even though the next 3 weeks are going to be a little tricky (and perhaps annoying) it’s in a sign that you know how to navigate well. And beliefs and principles are going to be front and center. You may want to watch being a little overly self-righteous this first week, but what this is truly about is getting back in touch with what your core principles are. The usual Mercury retro stuff is there as well: distractions, not having enough time in a day, feeling like you are dealing with a lot of red tape, details or other stuff that eats up time. But the main focus is about the very root and meaning of the way you view the world, what you believe in, and your relationship to it. 

Taurus

After 6 weeks of back-pedaling, Venus finally stations direct again, and Taurus can proceed with all those plans that had unraveled and gone awry. But no sooner does Venus station direct, then Mercury turns heel, and stations retrograde the same day. Stay tuned for a bit more unraveling. But rather than getting aggravated due to obstacles and distractions that seem to keep cropping up, see them as challenges to test your patience. It may feel at times like you are back-pedaling once again, and that some things are just going to have to wait. Timing is everything, and some things you simply will have no control over. Therefore focus on those things you can do something about. Some things that this 3 week retrograde period are good for are: prioritizing those things that you want, vs. those that you really need; also considering what you are willing to do without. Mercury retrograde periods can be times when you give yourself permission to retreat from obligations that are proving to be much more bother than they are worth. Sometimes it is better to just count your losses, and move on. 

Gemini

Your ruling planet appears to stand still this week as it enters its retrograde phase for the next 3 weeks. What could become apparent is that there are only so many things that you have control over in your life. What you don’t have control over, are other people, their behaviors and actions. What you do have control over is how you are going to react to these. If you are resolved to remain undisturbed, even in times of conflict and challenge, then you will gain the upper hand. However, in order to be able to sort out any misunderstandings and confusion, it is really really important to make sure that you are getting all the facts straight and that you are being clearly understood. Even if this means having to repeat yourself, or at least get a reliable translator. Because of the general feeling of confusion this is not the best time to sign contracts or make commitments. Things could prove to be more complicated than they seem. However it can be a good time to hash out mutual responsibilities and expectations. 

Cancer

There are junctures where it becomes evident that all we can do is accept and even embrace the human experience for what it is, realizing that at best it is imperfect. See what you can do towards achieving greater wholeness and healing in your life, by mending bridges, and narrowing the divides that separate. Through community and sharing, a more profound sense of what it means to be alive emerges. If this all sounds very profound, this is because we are celebrating the emerging year of Cancer, a celebration of your sign and all that that entails. In the mean time we are moving towards a time of culmination with the Full Moon at the end of next week, which could reveal secrets and bring revelations about something in the past. The Mercury retrograde may have many a Cancer revisiting a health issue or rethinking a diet or exercise plan. It is also a good time to re-think your daily routines, as well as your work habits and environment. Reorganize your environment: a more organized space will help to clear the spaces in your mind as well.  

Leo

The Sun enters Sagittarius the end of next week, which tends to be a splashy time of year for Leo in general: parties galore, festivities and opportunities to shine in your glory. This year is certainly no exception, despite the awareness and realization that the world as it is, is far from perfect. We may have a long way to go, and there may not be much one can do on their own, however when we work together so much more can be accomplished than we could possibly do on our own. There may be a bit of restlessness, angst, and even quarrels over resources. Mostly what this all comes down to are assumptions, and maybe a conflict of ethics. This can get all muddied by the Mercury retrograde which officially begins on Friday, and lasts thru the beginning of December. This could aggravate or increase worries about loved ones: not hearing from them, not able to communicate with them. Feeling like you are not being heard. All that agitation is a distraction from what you really need right now, and that’s to reclaim your joy. Your health and well-being depends on this. 

Virgo

No sooner does Venus station Direct, then your ruling planet, Mercury stations Retrograde. Add to this some general agitation in the world at large and you may wonder if you are coming or going. People could seem a little more self-righteous and indignant this week. It will be all you can do to hold to your own principles, especially as we approach that Full Moon later on in the week. Patience and forethought will be helpful to guide you thru these treacherous waters. As usual with Mercury retrograde, make sure you have all the facts before you make any assumptions. There are bound to be miscommunications, especially with those closest to home. But you’re not going to be able to fix everything, and you may find it necessary to just let some things go. One thing that does occur during these 3 week sojourns, is that you find yourself reflecting and reminiscing about the past. Some things may remain an enigma, however, reflecting on your early years, may help to explain a lot of what is going on now. 

Libra

No sooner does your ruling planet, Venus, finally station direct again, and you’re feeling like certain areas of your life are finally getting sorted out… Mercury stations retrograde. And in Sagittarius. Talk about distractions! And it’s not like you can easily tune these distractions out. If you could clone yourself into 4 people that would be great! Then you wouldn’t have to be texting, talking, typing, and roller skating all at the same time (and definitely not advisable to do in this weather any way). You can choose to approach the next few weeks in a state of impatience and distraction, or you can see these temporary interruptions in your daily life as intervals of excitement that need to be negotiated. Patience is not about repressing, and just holding in frustration; it is more about remaining undisturbed despite the events, the noise or even cacophony of your life. To be able to achieve this is an achievement! What the next 3 weeks are good for: reviewing a subject you’ve studied before; reunions; activities with siblings, cousins and classmates; revisiting old neighborhoods and actually scheduling in time to escape from the busyness of your life. 

Scorpio

When your ruling planet changes signs, it carries you along for the ride, and so it is now that Mars has entered the sign of Pisces, a sign of deep feeling and sensitivity. For the rest of 2018 you will find yourself most successful when you are motivated from a place of compassion and a desire to benefit the greater good. And this will even be in the face of feelings of futility and despair, and perhaps a decrease in energy. It’s about those things that really matter, and bring meaning to your life, and truly what is worth fighting for. As we approach the Full Moon, you may find yourself entangled in disputes over finances. For you it’s about the principle of the thing. Any kerfuffle is likely to be exasperated by Mercury being retrograde over the next several weeks, which will make it even more difficult to arrive at some sort of agreement. Inevitably agreements are going to be readdressed and reviewed. Mercury retrograde in Sagittarius will not only be about what and how you are spending your valuable resources, but also what you spend your valuable time on. It is not a good time to take on any new financial obligations or make critical financial decisions, for what may seem like a good idea while Mercury is retrograde will have its faults revealed when Mercury is direct again. Beware of schemes or deception, and make sure that everything is clean and clear before making any commitments. 

Sagittarius

Mercury stations retrograde this week in your sign. This could feel like you are needing to take a few steps back before you can move forward again. As a result a little patience is being called for. Any way, it is likely that you are not going to have all the information you need to see yourself forward. Things are just too ambiguous and changeable right now. And words can become confused and confabulating when Mercury is retrograde. Some things may be better kept to oneself, though this may be difficult to do. For when Mercury is in your sign, words just seem to tumble out with a life of their own. And this could prove to be regrettable. The best use of the 3-week retrograde period is actually in self-reflection, meditation and contemplation. Not only is this much safer, but it can lead to important realizations. See the events that do arise over the next few weeks, as an opportunity to explore your own mind, and what you can do to improve it. 

Capricorn

Just when we think we are out of the Venus retrograde woods, and we think we can proceed with our lives, Mercury turns on his winged slipper, and stations retrograde. And this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. These periodic retrograde periods of Mercury are times of reflection and assimilation, and in a more enlightened world, we would use this time for our own personal retreat and/or vision quest. See if you can schedule in time for silence, peace and seclusion, cutting out the noise and distractions of your life. This is important right now for Capricorn, as it can also be a very important time to release things from the past that you’ve been holding on to, but no longer need, and may in fact be holding you back, and preventing you from moving on. If nothing else, these 3 weeks are great for self-reflection, and contemplation. If people or things emerge from the dream world, or from out of the past, pay attention. Something about the past is compelling because that too needs to be resolved and released. The end result is that you will be moving on with a much lighter load in the end. 

Aquarius

Just when you think you have things all sorted out in one area of your life, all sorts of wrenches get thrown into the mix. Welcome to the world of Mercury Retrograde. People may come and go, plans can go awry, aspirations hopes and wishes may also take a sudden precipitous nose-dive, as you realize it may be time to go back to the drawing board. Don’t rush off to make any major changes just yet however, for things are still in a state of flux for the next 3 weeks, and what may seem like a great idea while Mercury is retrograde will have its faults revealed when it is direct again. By the same token that some people seem to fall off the radar, others from the past could also reemerge. See these as opportunities to catch up, and reconnect, not only with them, but with old dreams and hopes that you once held. This retrograde period is a time for Aquarius to reassess your current hopes and dreams, even in light of what you once knew, and then using that information to help you to ultimately decide what comes next. 

Pisces

With Mercury retrograde for the next 3 weeks, you may be reconsidering some of your goals. Do so, but don’t necessarily act on any ideas just yet. Things are still just too fuzzy, ambiguous and confusing. The truth is, you probably don’t have all the information you need to make an informed decision. And it will be difficult to see the whole picture. Any way, there are probably other things demanding your immediate attention right now, that cannot be ignored. This will be all the more so as we approach the Full Moon at the end of next week. However, Mercury retrograde in Sagittarius is an opportunity for Pisces to readdress or reconsider your options for the future. This may come about because an offer is rescinded, or there is a withdrawal of a promise, making you feel as if you are taking a few steps back before you can proceed. Take some down time to explore how you feel about the possibilities that do lie before you, and what your over all options are. Do the research. Then make your decisions later, when Mercury is direct again.