No sooner had the introduction to this month’s stars been completed than the first – and hopefully last – bug of winter arrived to floor your astrologer, who has spent the first week of November washed out and bed-ridden.
My apologies for the subsequent delay. Hopefully the next few weeks is more obliging.
No month framed by a tricky retrograde of Mercury is going to come ready wrapped, but you can avoid chaos if you give careful consideration to big decisions (including big purchases) and the small print. Mercury spends two months shuttling between Sagittarius and Scorpio, time enough for deals to go wrong and to be amended. The usual advice when faced with intractable or volatile issues is- don’t jump unless you have to. Sometimes it’s better to do nothing. But do keep talking – Mercury likes talks.
Meanwhile grand, slow-moving planets – Saturn, Prometheus, Neptune – continue their shuffle, crossing and recrossing the boundaries between signs while slowly resuming the pattern that held sway over much of 2025, and that reaches exactitude in early ’26 when Neptune and Saturn finally embrace.
Astrologically now is a perfect time to digest the events of 2025. Unfortunately, more events keep arising! Perhaps Mercury retrograde will provide us with a breather. Alas the Scorpio Sun, with Mercury and Venus in Scorpio’s skies, suggests scandal and disclosure, especially involving sexual secrets, spy rings and similar acts of witchery. Mercury in Sagittarius is the truth-sayer, making for a potent planetary brew.
Celestial Timetable
- Full Moon on November 5 in Scorpio at 13.10 GMT.
- New Moon on November 20 in Scorpio at 6.47 GMT.
- The Sun is in Scorpio until November 22, when it moves into Sagittarius at 01.36 GMT.
- Mercury begins the month in Sagittarius, retrogrades on November 10 and re-enters Scorpio on November 19. The messenger turns direct on November 29.
- Venus is in Libra until November 6, thereafter in Scorpio.
- Mars is in Scorpio until November 4, thereafter in Sagittarius.
- Jupiter is retrograde in Cancer from 11th November.
- Saturn is in Pisces leaving its retrograde cycle on November 28.
- Prometheus is retrograde in Gemini and returns to Taurus on November 8.
- Neptune is retrograde in Pisces.
- Pluto is moving forwards in Aquarius.
Scorpio and Scorpio rising
Tremendous composure is the first quality you’ll need in November. With Mercury turning backwards on the 10th, and reaching Scorpio’s skies from 19th, sticky situations are likely to arise – a flat tyre, a flat-lining phone, a flat refusal of co-operation. Ingenuity – a plan ‘b’ – is one solution. Plus, with Venus in your skies from the 7th to the end of the month, charm is your none-too-secret superpower. Help from afar, perhaps even a full-throttle romance, are in the air around the 18th and 23rd.
Sagittarius, where many Scorpios will have a planet or two lodged in their birth chart, is strong in the mix throughout the month. Ruler Mars in this, your cash zone, is on hand to help acquire – and spend – the folding stuff. Your job is to keep the balance between the two, bearing in mind you’ll need to cough up for your birthday party. Venus makes this a very good year to throw one! Happy Birthday.
Sagittarius and Sagittarius rising
Slowly and thoughtfully is the way to catch the monkey this month, whatever form said creature might take. Rushing ahead is a big temptation – Mars in your skies lends you an appealing swagger, but down at the business end of things as Mercury demands attention to detail. The comms planet is on your side but its retrograde for three weeks, from the 19th. It will find you retracing steps and redrafting your all-important speech/romance novel. You have miles of time next month with a fully informed Mercury on board.
For its part, Mars does not intend to cause trouble (honest) but signifies six weeks when fools are not suffered gladly. You enter your birthday season in dauntingly good shape.
Capricorn and Capricorn rising
Feeling lucky? You have good reason. The triangle of water signs that dominates the planetary picture falls nicely in your favour, emphasising your connections to other people, particularly those with whom you work and hang out. With Venus in your eleventh house, your fellow muckers are a source of support, asking you to be one of the team.
Links to Jupiter and ruler Saturn amplify your connections. With Jupiter in opposition, you and your main squeeze should be in couples heaven, but since Jupiter represents freedom, a significant other may have recently flown away. Powerful people also come under Jupiter’s sway.
The state of long-term affairs is also under the aegis of Saturn, the ringed planet turns to direct motion at the end of the month, when any uncertainties begin to dissolve, granting you a clearer picture by your birthday.
Aquarius and Aquarius rising
Money, work and success do not always go together the way they should, but currently, a triangle of planets in water signs means each should feed happily into the next. The easiest to call is your career profile, where the Sun, Venus and a new Moon all favour a charm offensive at work. Things are slightly complicated by a retrograde Mercury, which may call for a renegotiation of terms and conditions in the second half of November. But providing you put in the hard work this month, you should get something valuable in return. Stay flexible.
Personal relations may have to go on the back burner for now. You are not opposed but be prepared to keep things on an impersonal basis for now. The gap between friendship and something more intimate narrows in December. Those of you born at the start of your sign, where Pluto is now present, may be able to command attention without due effort. If so, don’t abuse your newfound power.
Pisces and Pisces rising
There is sure to be a tangle of some sort going on. Mercury backsliding across the roof of your chart ensures a few hiccups and reschedules throughout November. Plus, with Mars squaring you all month, it’s unlikely to be peace in the valley where your profession is concerned. The picture is made muddier by Neptune and Saturn both being back in your sign – where they have been for much of the last two years -which suggests a yearned-for escape isn’t happening quite on schedule. Mid-March birthdays take note.
On the other hand, here’s Venus in fellow water sign Scorpio promising fun times, with a large helping of romance for those of you interested in such a thing. Count your blessings carefully, especially on November 30 – a Venus-Neptune day and therefore enchanted or deceptive – and be ready for December, which comes hurtling in.
Aries and Aries rising
If only matters were as straightforward as Mars would like. Your ruling planet is happily marching through fiery Sagittarius, putting bright ideas into your head and looking for a late season break from routine. Alas, other planets have their own agendas. The Sun and Venus are in Scorpio, a sign that for Aries especially, likes to live up to its reputation as intense, secretive and the darkly sexy, and with you having to wait until the 20th for a new Moon here, there will be plenty of rumour for you to handle. A retrograde Mercury just adds fuel to the fire.
Nonetheless if you can play straight-arrow until the Sun moves into Sagittarius you are promised rewards, not least financial. Planets in The Centaur promise a dynamic, self-serving December, but first you have to in the hard yards to ensure everything is tickety-boo, not least with you main squeeze.
Taurus and Taurus rising
The Scorpio full Moon of the 5th carries with it echoes of events six months ago, especially where relationships are concerned, be it a finale for a relationship that started then or the beginning of a new chapter. Your ruler Venus in opposition from the 7th onwards is a happy omen, one that brings friendship and support with it and perhaps afrisson of something deeper, possibly regret for an affair that didn’t work out. The new Moon of the 20th is the time to put unhappy matters firmly in the past.
Personal relations may dominate November and slip easily into an even more intense December. If you want a break from the issues, Jupiter is offering a chance to develop a whole new skills set; a good moment to go back to school in one way or another.
Gemini and Gemini rising
November looks a little messy, for which you can blame your very own ruling planet. Mercury. The messenger planet is opposite, but retrograde from the 9th, meaning one or other parties might change their mind = or even you! – as its goes back into your wok zone on the 19th. This same area of your ‘scope is under emphasis throughout the month, so taking care of business is the first order of November. The new moon of the 20th signals a restart where duty and order are concerned – an easily missed signal since from the 22nd the Sun moves into opposition and your relationships resume dominance.
‘Resume’ since with Mars opposition all month, one particular partnership looks full of surprises and maybe some antagonism. A cool head is advised. Venus arrives in opposition at the very start of December, when problems can be smoothed over and/or a new partnership arrives. Aside from your personal dealings the cosmos is back in the pattern of early 2025. It may seem that you are back where you were a few months ago, but this is a temporary situation.
Cancer and Cancer rising
Oh, happy day! You shouldn’t have too much to complain about in November. The Sun and Venus in Scorpio align with your own birthday Sun, and with an exalted Jupiter, which is currently at a standstill in the middle of your skies. The message here is clear: optimism! Faith! Roll the dice and watch them fall kindly. And should they not, well there are no reasons for that insidious motion called regret. Even the retrograde of Mercury, which can be relied on to add a note of frustration to most situations, works in your favour as the messenger planet reverses into Scorpio.
With three planets back in Pisces, you remain in the middle of a dynamic triangle, and with a new Moon (your planet) on the 20th you may be able to bring lift off to a project, or romance, close to your heart. If you are looking for a downside, it’s that Mars, and from the 22nd the Sun, demand you also put in the hours at work and keeping amens sana in corpore sano (sound of mind and body). There is more of that on the way in December, but for now, seek joy.
Leo and Leo rising
November is a quick step: ‘slow, slow, quick quick slow as the step insists. Murky activity at the root of your scope, in Scorpio, suggest all due process must be done before you can truly move on, especially where domestic matters are involved. Expect to devote the entire month to one particular issue.
On the other hand, comes the ‘quick quick’ pat. Mars blazing in your zone of upbeat, creative activity, is also the place where romantic hearts come to run free. As you head into Christmas with both Mars and Venus fierily here, it’s the less tangible, less formal enterprises where you can expect breakthrough, especially with the Sun arriving in the Centaur on the 22nd. Dazzling stuff but first comes a mix of self-examination and patience.
Virgo and Virgo rising
The powerful triangle of water signs that dominates the planetary picture in November should suit you fine. With Saturn and Jupiter in that trio, relations with partners and close allies are highlighted, and may call upon reliable ol’ you to come to someone’s rescue – or perhaps it’s other people’s turn to help you out. You remain entangled with other people either way.
Where you may have to take action is in matters to do with family and home. Mars’ involvement here can be as simple as a pre-Christmas redecoration of Villa Virgo, or as unpleasant as a full-blown dynastic dust-up. Your ruler, Mercury, is retrograde here for the first half of the month, when you would do well to stay a little slippery. In December Mercury will be back here to ensure that all parties are happy.
Libra and Libra rising
If your financial situation is not what you would like here is the month to straighten things out. Your Venus ruler, along with the Sun, is in your zone of ready money, cash, and also self-worth. Venus can be a money planet those Libran luxuries have to be paid for somehow) and with Mercury creeping backwards to join it later in the month, previous extravaganzas can be brought under fresh management, with a new Moon here on the 20th to launch your next assault on the markets.
Obviously one way to bring in a little extra cash is through work, and a stationary Jupiter (and therefore more powerful) should remind you that career ambitions are there to be vigorously pursued and not taken for granted. Currently, profile is everything, even if it apparently leads nowhere. See and be seen.
Astrology Consultations from Pam Carruthers
Readers often ask if I give personal readings. I don’t. My primary jobs remain journalist and writer. By contrast, Pam Carruthers, webmaster, fellow astrologer and long time friend, is a professional astrologer who uses both western and vedic systems for individual clients.
Pam, who is now based in Eastbourne in the UK, has an international clientele. She is a gifted astrologer and teacher and offers Astrology Life Coaching based on your birth chart.
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