Mercury, the messenger planet, turns retrograde on Election Day Tuesday. The last time Mercury changed direction on an Election Day was November 2000 when Florida was “called” for Al Gore and then for George W. Bush, and then we were all treated to weeks of counting and recounting votes. The election was ultimately decided in favor of Bush but not until after Mercury retrograde reminded everyone of its reputation for miscommunication, chicanery and bedevilment. This is why you never want to assume that anything is in the bag when this planet is moving backwards in the sky. Approach all transactions warily — and with a couple of contingency plans ready to go — and you should emerge from this period no worse for wear. Mercury comes out of retrograde on Nov. 26.
ARIES (March 21- April 19)
It’s rare when you revisit a project or a person. Born under Mars, the planet of gumption and drive, you prefer to move on to the next idea or objective. Why go back when you can pursue something that’s bigger and better than what came before? But progress isn’t always measured by forward steps. Many of our greatest discoveries are the result of segues, detours and do-overs. This is something that will be worth keeping in mind on Thursday when you hear from someone you didn’t expect to speak to again. Truth be told, this person wasn’t exactly eager to reach out to you either. It takes a lot of courage to do what he’s doing, so you should call him back. You may find that his offer, pitch or proposal is worth a second look after all. Now it’s true that you’ve been doing more than your fair share at the office, and colleagues have been overly demanding lately. But you also have to take responsibility for the fact that you volunteered to go the extra distance and have repeatedly turned down their offers to help. Perhaps you’ve been so invested in making yourself indispensable that it never occurred to you that people really do value you for who you are? Do yourself a favor and ask for some feedback on Friday. You may be surprised (and moved) by the love fest.
TAURUS (April 20 -May 20)
You need to lighten up because you’ve been giving yourself one helluva guilt trip lately. OK. Maybe you haven’t been the best friend, lover, parent or houseplant owner. Is cataloging all of your faults and demerits and then raking yourself over the coals really going to accomplish anything? One always has to be careful with the self-criticism when the Sun is passing through Scorpio because this is when your judgment of yourself is going to be far too harsh and unyielding. If you want to make changes in your life, then these will have to come from a place of love and compassion and not from a place of anger and self-recrimination. Besides, things probably aren’t half as bad as you make them out to be. Ask a friend on Nov. 8, and you’ll discover that you’re fixated on something that this person forgave — and forgot about — a long time ago. The real issue here is self-worth. Always the breadwinner, the workhorse and the go-to Rock of Gibraltar, you may be wondering if you have a life outside of being everyone’s support system. You do. But you can’t ask people to recognize something that they already value. Your friends and loved ones hold you in high esteem; you’re the one who is having the problem appreciating all the good that you do. Tune into that and you’ll never get down on yourself again.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21)
Your ruling planet Mercury will do an about-face on Nov. 6, and you should too. Perhaps it’s a sudden case of cold feet that gets you to think twice, a dawning realization that something’s not kosher, or a silent alarm that signals to you to back up and get out while the getting’s good. Whatever the medium, you would be wise to heed the message. Now some astrologers might argue that one shouldn’t believe anything during the time that Mercury is retrograde which will be from Nov. 6 through Nov. 26. And usually this would be the case; however, Mercury retrograde in Sagittarius makes you extremely intuitive right now, and your judgment calls — even if you can’t explain them — will be spot on. You could question them if you want, but you might not be as pleased with the result. Thankfully, you’ll find confirmation for your suspicions on Thursday. This is when you will hear back from a trusted source about certain facts and figures that were withheld in a previous meeting. Again there will be no concrete way of proving this (sorry, Neptune changing direction on Saturday will be muddying the waters through next week), so you will be on your own as to how you want to proceed. Go forward with what you know to be true in your heart, and there will be no regrets on Nov. 26.
CANCER (June 22-July 22)
There’s nothing to be gained from hemming and hawing — especially when you know that your mind is already made up. The last quarter Moon in Leo on Tuesday shows that it’s time to pull the plug on a venture that’s going nowhere. Yes, you will have to deal with hurt feelings, outraged egos and accusations of betrayal. You said that you would stick things out until the bitter end, and it’s clear that end is still not in sight. But being a child of the Moon gives you a preternatural affinity for cycles. You can feel them in your body. You’ve known for weeks that you were in a downturn rather than an upswing, and you also know that upswing won’t be coming back. Taking the heat for calling it quits on Thursday is a lot better than suffering through a more costly and demoralizing debacle. Besides, the people who glower at you now will turn around and praise you for your wisdom later on Nov. 28. Meanwhile, it looks like you and a loved one have reached a crossroads. Your twin paths are diverging, and you aren’t really convinced that he will choose the one less traveled-by. But wait until after the solar eclipse on the 13th to broach the subject. Eclipses always bring unexpected developments, and you might be surprised (and delighted) by what transpires.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22)
One chapter of your life comes to a close this week while a new one begins. It’s something that you should be excited about — and you are! — except that you can’t shake this feeling that something has been left unfinished or unattended to. This would have a lot to do with Mercury turning retrograde on Nov. 6. Mercury is the planet of the mind, and when it’s traveling backwards through the sky (like it will be from Nov. 6 through Nov. 26), then you’ll be prone to all kinds of absent-minded things like paying for your groceries and then walking off without them, locking your keys in the car or forgetting your credit card at the restaurant. You always want to do an “idiot check” before leaving the house or office during this period of time because you can never be too sure. However, there is more to this certain uncertain feeling as you will discover near the end of the week. It looks as if something wasn’t filled out properly and you will have to re-apply, re-submit or maybe even redraft a contract or agreement. It promises to be a major pain-in-the-derriere, but keep in mind that nothing huge is at stake here. It’s really more about getting the paperwork done right than it is about anything else, and once it clears (which it will soon) then you should be set up just fine.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)
If you’re looking for a way out of a binding contract or agreement, then you will find your escape clause on Nov. 6 when ruling planet Mercury turns retrograde. Mercury is the favorite planet of runaway brides and those suffering buyer’s remorse because it will always provide a loophole when it’s traveling backwards through the sky. However, that window of opportunity won’t stay open for long. In fact, it will slam shut on Nov. 13, so if you’re going to bail, return an item or ask for a refund, then that seven-day period is the time to do it. Wait any longer and you’re stuck. So what if you happen to be the person who’s wondering if the other person — like a buyer, client or commitment-phobic boyfriend — is going to come through? Well, you have reason to be concerned because you are at risk of being disappointed. There’s a lot of funky planetary mood shifts going on upstairs with Neptune coming out of retrograde on Saturday and the solar eclipse in Scorpio next week. It wouldn’t be the worst idea to protect your interests by getting everything in writing business-wise. As for love? Leave the door open because if he’s going to run, then he’s going to run and you can’t stop him. However, if he’s still around after Nov. 16, then you know that he’s serious and that you’ve got a sure thing.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)
Venus in Libra through Nov. 21 promises to keep life on an even keel. Things won’t get too rough or tough because your ruling planet confers protection. This is good because you’ve been through the wringer recently, and you need to assess where you are now. It’s clear that the things that used to work for you — like a marriage, relationship or business partnership — are no longer doing their job; however, it also looks as if you aren’t thoroughly sold on the alternatives either. It’s OK to be choosey. In fact, if there was ever a time to weigh your options in the balance, then this is it. But you also have to do more than watch the scale tip back and forth. You have to move forward with setting up your life in the way that you want to live it. Now this won’t happen right away because Mercury retrograde will be playing fast and loose with your daily agenda through Nov. 26. But don’t let this stop you from sketching out plans and setting up appointments with those people and agencies who can help you to achieve your objectives. Think of it as prep work that a chef does before cooking the big meal. Do this and you will be ready to make the most of the opportunities that will come rolling through your life on Nov. 28.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)
Don’t be freaked out if you feel like you just can’t get it together this week. The solar eclipse in Scorpio doesn’t happen until Nov. 13, but its effects can impact you ahead of time. This is why you will feel your enthusiasm drop and your mood darken as the Moon prepares to occult the Sun in the sky. It’s important not to globalize during times like this because the shadow cast upon your world is temporary and fleeting. Take disappointments in stride on Nov. 5, 10, and 12 because they aren’t the deal breakers that you imagine them to be. In fact, you will see these mountains revert to their former status as molehills after the 14th. Something that could get lost in the shuffle, however, is the reintroduction of an offer that was originally made last summer. The timing didn’t look conducive then, or maybe it was just that you had a lot on your platter and so you couldn’t get to it. In any case, this person promised to get back to you and he will on Thursday. Don’t let your current mood lead you to ignore or pass over what’s on the table. It may not be everything that you hoped it would be, but it’s a start with a bright future. Sign on because this is your chance to get in on the ground floor of a business or operation that will really take you places.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)
Mercury turns retrograde in Sagittarius on Tuesday which means that it will affect you most of all. How to prepare? You can begin by backing up your computer files, saving every sales receipt you collect between the 6th and the 26th, and making a point to check your calendar on an semi-hourly basis so that you avoid double booking yourself or missing an appointment. You will also want to call ahead of time to confirm flight arrivals and departures as well as meetings because Mercury retrograde is famous for last-minute cancellations and unexpected delays. Finally, you might consider boosting the security of your passwords. Mercury, the planet of the shopkeeper, becomes the planet of the shoplifter when it’s retrograde, and you don’t want anyone hacking into your accounts and emailing friends to send money because you are stuck stranded and penniless in London. Meanwhile, it looks like you will spot land regarding a family matter that has left you lost at sea since June. You still have a ways to go before you will be back on terra firma, but Neptune out of retrograde on Saturday will bring encouraging news. Not only will you finally be rid of an albatross that’s been hanging around your neck, but it looks like you can finally move on with your life. This could materialize as a settlement, a reward or even a new lease. Just don’t sign anything before Dec. 15.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)
Your financial outlook improves on Nov. 6 when your project gets the green light from higher ups. And if it’s not a project, then you will score a client, sale or valuable commission. This will do a lot to put you back in the black after months spent in the red earlier this year. Moreover, the last quarter Moon in Leo on Tuesday signals a reverse flow in revenue stream so that you will see more money coming in rather than going out. It’s the start of a positive trend that promises to increase over the next six weeks. There’s a lot to look forward to, so don’t stress when you fall behind on deadlines this week. Maybe it’s out of town guests dropping in unexpectedly or a simple daytime chore turning into a days-long fiasco, but whatever the complication it’s not worth scolding yourself about it. You’re better off taking it in stride. Meanwhile, the Venus/Jupiter trine on Thursday should be an upper. This is when accompanying a friend to a social event, a get-together or early evening workshop turns into a major coup for you when you land a date or juicy contact. It’s awkward considering that you were supposed to lend moral support and not walk off with the prize, but these things happen. Rest assured that your friend would have done the same thing if she were in your shoes.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)
They say that the opera isn’t over until the fat lady sings which means that you can expect to get an earful on Tuesday when Mercury turns retrograde in that part of your solar chart that pertains to hopes and wishes. Prospects were looking grim recently — if not downright hopeless — but a surprise turn of events could put you back in the running. “Could” is the operative word because you will have to judge for yourself whether you want to make a grab for that prize that dangles within reach. You will have to fight for it (which isn’t the problem), but you could wind up causing more harm than good to your future prospects now. There’s something to be said for biding your time and trying again when circumstances are more conducive to securing what you want. This is something you will want to think about. The planets will be showing that they have a strong sense of irony — or is it a karmic sense of humor? — on Friday when someone who snubbed you before asks to meet with you in person. It’s always gratifying to receive an apology along with a litany of mea culpas, but there’s more going on here. This person is serious about wanting to win you back and will pay handsomely for it. Listen to what he has to say because you could be looking at the opportunity of a lifetime.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20)
Your ruling planet Neptune comes out of retrograde on Saturday which makes this week an intriguing period when you will find yourself revisiting a situation that you thought you had said good-bye to. Actually you did say good-bye to it, but it looks like somebody else didn’t. This could involve an ex-spouse, ex-boss or an old co-worker. It looks like this person needs to make amends, and it will be more for his good than it will be for yours. It’s a lot given what went down between you. This person wasn’t very nice (in fact he was downright beastly), but then again this is the Stars’ way of giving you an opportunity to take the high road and to show those who had maligned and/or abused you the true meaning of compassion. You were born under the zodiac sign of forgiveness, and this will always be your special strength. Forgiveness is often viewed as a weakness in our grab-as-grab-can world until people who were on top suddenly find themselves on the bottom, and this is your chance to demonstrate what comes from embracing the highest in humanity rather than the lowest common denominator. Do this and you will make peace with your past in ways that you never imagined that you could before. Moreover, you will experience the vindication and justice that has eluded you for so many years.
