Are you feeling the HEAT?
Tracking Mars and its river of hot, pressurized, liquid rock, through the sign of Scorpio.
Holy, there is SO MUCH MARS ENERGY in the cosmos right now… with so much more to come. Last week vibrated with the tension of Mars in Scorpio approaching its opposition to Uranus in Taurus… and this week is also dominated by Mars energy.
I felt a bit like a fierce animal in a cage last week, and I am eager to find more productive outlets for this energy that has made me extremely irritable, impatient, tense, and prone to angry, reactionary outbursts.
I’ve followed herbalist Josh Williams of The Green Arte for a while now, and when he announced that he will be hosting a plant spirit journey for this Scorpio lunation cycle focused on cayenne pepper, I jumped at the opportunity to participate.
Josh organizes these plant spirit journey every month for his Patreon community, beginning a journey with a new plant at each new moon.
Cayenne’s planetary guardian is Mars - for obvious reasons!
Cayenne is red and hot - it can even burn the skin.
It is considered a stimulant in the body; cayenne gets the blood moving by improving circulation and contributing to blood vessel health. All of these attributes clearly connect it to the planet Mars.
I’m approaching this journey with cayenne with the prayer that it restores the element of fire in my life in the most life-giving of ways, helping me to channel its heat while accessing Mars’ courage, focus, and grit.
While excess fire without a proper channel can result in high irritability, frustration, unnecessary conflict, violence and rage, the skillful use of fire can reinvigorate our lives with vitality, deep desire, purpose, and inspired faith and hope in brighter horizons that we then pursue with fierce determination and conviction.
Or as
wrote recently on Instagram regarding this Mars-y New Moon in Scorpio, under this energy the ideal future we long for, must be chased down and hunted:[Note: due to the length of this essay it may be cut off by your email provider if you are reading this in your inbox. Click here to read the full post on Substack.]
Astro Details for the New Moon in Scorpio + November’s Cosmic Landscape
Mars has been traveling through Scorpio since October 11/12 (depending on your time zone).
Mars rules the sign of Scorpio and thus while it is in one of its home signs it has all the resources at its disposal to be the strategic and stealth warrior it wants to be. Mars is extra potent and empowered here, for better or worse.
Clearly we’ve seen a lot of the “for worse” manifestations of an empowered Mars at a global scale in horrifying, violent ways.
Rather than attempting to ignore the energy of Mars pummeling through the cosmos right now, rather than trying to sit this transit out on the sidelines, it is well worth our effort to learn how to re-channel and re-direct this immensely powerful energy in ways that contribute to a better world.
The huge global uprising of protest and outcry, and sustained activism against the incessant murder and expulsion of thousands of Palestinians that the state of Israel is currently committing in Gaza, is another expression of Mars in Scorpio.
There are a bunch of transits in November that merge and overlap with each other. Therefore, although I am going to mention specific dates, consider this intense Mars-y, Uranian, Scorpionic, Death-Rebirth energy to extend from about November 4th through to the end of Scorpio Season around November 22/23 - at which point we will experience a distinctive vibe shift as planets in Sag square off with Saturn in Pisces.
The recent Scorpio New Moon (coalescing on Monday, November 13th at 5:27 am ADT) was not an eclipse (after experiencing several years of Scorpio eclipses), but it closed and completed a lunation cycle that began with a new moon eclipse a month ago (i.e., the solar eclipse in Libra on October 14th).
As some consider this moment to be the official end of eclipse season, you may notice pieces of life that have been hovering in a liminal state for the past month, now are landing more tangibly, resolving, or falling away.
However, while we are being offered some reprieve from the tumultuous “eye of the storm” energy that comes with eclipses, and while there may be some relief felt that we no longer have the South Node transiting Scorpio, it would be a lie to say that this lunation is normal and chill.
I mean, of course the sign of Scorpio is never chill. Scorpio is only chill to the degree that it presents a deceptively placid poker face to ward away those that would dare to intrude into its intense depths.
But this Scorpio Season really packs a punch. Check out the chart for this week’s recent New Moon moment:
As you can see, the Sun and Moon came together at 20 degrees Scorpio, within 2 degrees of Mars (which rules Scorpio and this New Moon). The New Moon configuration was also less then 1 degree away from an exact opposition with Uranus.
The asteroid Ceres, an expression of the mother archetype and the Roman iteration of the Greek goddess Demeter, is also quite close to the New Moon + Mars. You can see her in the chart at 24 degrees Scorpio; her glyph resembles a harvesting sickle.
This is a highly explosive and powerful new moon that is under immense subterranean pressure - similar to the immense pressure that is currently propelling magma to the surface beneath Iceland’s Fagradalsfjall volcano, which is expected to explode in the next few days.
As Hermes Trismegistus once said,
“As above, so below, as within, so without, as the universe, so the soul…”
Maybe you feel like the Fagradalsfjall volcano right now?
Or maybe your friend, partner, coworker, or family member, feels like the Fagradalsfjall volcano?
Or maybe the entire world feels like one gigantic Fagradalsfjall volcano right now?
An underground river of pressurized magma (i.e., “hot liquid rock”, also known as lava) pushing up to the surface seeking eruption and causing numerous earthquakes on route, is a very symbolically accurate earthly reflection of the transits in the current sky.
Mars brings the heat and the pressure.
The water sign of Scorpio brings the subterranean depth and mysterious liquids.
Uranus in Taurus (the sign of solid earth and rocks) brings the chaotic earthquakes and freedom-seeking eruptions.
(and yes, there’s a lot of sexual energy and tension surrounding these transits and configurations)
"We have this tremendous uncertainty now — will there be an eruption and if so, what sort of damage will occur?" ~Matthew James Roberts.
With Uranus so strongly at play, “tremendous uncertainty” is another quality of our pressurized current sky. As such, rash conflict, impulsive reactions, accidents and sudden injury can be associated with Uranus-Mars aspects, especially.
We may be limited in our ability to redirect this underground river of hot liquid rock moving through our lives this November, but may we grab hold of whatever agency we can to allow its emergence to be (relatively) gentle and consciously guided!
It must be noted that prior to this New Moon coming into position, we had Mars in Scorpio complete its opposition to Uranus in Taurus on Saturday, November 11th (which had been building for the week leading up to this date).
This Mars-Uranus opposition is the midpoint of the Mars-Uranus cycle that began with the Mars-Uranus conjunction on August 1st, 2022 (which I wrote about here).
Right after the lunation cycle restarted with the recent New Moon on November 13th, the Moon quickly rushed past Mars and Ceres over the course of the day, entering into Sagittarius and squaring Saturn in Pisces by Monday evening (this was not comfy astro).
The Sun is slower then the Moon and will require the rest of the week to catch up to Mars. Here’s what the sky looks like when Mars and the Sun come together:
Although the Sun only officially conjoins and passes Mars on Saturday, November 18th at 1:41 am ADT, the Sun and Mars - expressions of the archetypes of the hero and the warrior - are traveling within a degree of each other from about Wednesday, November 15th, to Monday, November 20th (from 23~27 degrees of Scorpio with the exact conjunction occurring on Saturday at 25 degrees).
Therefore, if you have important planets or placements from about 20 - 29 degrees of the fixed signs (Taurus, Scorpio, Leo or Aquarius) then this underground river of liquid rock is (and has been) particularly hot for you.
Two other key factors in this cosmic narrative should be mentioned…
Just before the Sun and Mars perfect their conjunction on Saturday, the two planets move through a water trine to Neptune in Pisces on Friday, November 17th. This seems to me a good omen that softens the edges of this fierce duo and lowers the temperature slightly, as Neptune extends its transcendent compassion and visionary imagination to the renewing of our willpower and sense of purpose (i.e., Sun + Mars).
Finally, the asteroid Ceres is directly involved in all of these configurations as she is just ahead of the Sun and Mars, but is, and will be, in very close proximity for the coming week.
On Monday, November 20th, when the Sun officially conjoins and overtakes Ceres, the Sun, Ceres, and Mars, will all be at 27 degrees Scorpio!
In my global forecast for 2023, I called this transit the Hero-Warrior-Mother traveling trio. The dates of “exact conjunctions” aside, the Sun (an expression of the hero archetype), Mars (an expression of the warrior archetype), and Ceres (an expression of the mother archetype) are all so close together in Scorpio for about 2 weeks!
As Scorpio Season wraps up, the Sun in Scorpio will form a subtlety powerful and supportive sextile to Pluto in Capricorn at 28 degrees on November 20th (followed by Mars and Ceres doing the same on November 21st), before entering Sagittarius on Wednesday, November 22nd.
On Thursday, November 23rd, Mars conjoins and overtakes Ceres at the 29th crisis degree of Scorpio, before entering Sagittarius on Friday, November 24th.
Finally, Ceres leaves Scorpio and enters Sag on Saturday, November 25th.
As I write this on the day of the new moon on November 13th, the Moon, Sun, Mars, and Ceres have all moved through their exact oppositions to Uranus in Taurus, but the pull and tension of the Uranus opposition continues throughout the rest of Scorpio Season - both by degree proximity and because this lunation cycle has been imprinted by Uranus at the moment of its birth.
So aside from feeling like pressurized lava is about to erupt through to the surface, how else might this powerful and intense astrology be experienced?
The past, current, and ongoing opposition between Uranus and Sun/Moon/Mars/Ceres emphasizes the Taurus-Scorpio polarity; fixed earth and fixed water.
Both the Sun and Mars are “planets” that carry a lot of heat.
They are action-oriented; associated with energy, vitality, ambition, adventure, boldness, and leadership. As inherently fiery and energetic planets that like to get shit moving, the fixed polarity of Taurus and Scorpio provides some frustrating resistance to the things Mars and the Sun wanna do.
Same with Uranus in Taurus.
Uranus wants to move as fast as electricity. Uranus, as a planet, likes life spontaneous, erratic, exciting, full of novelty, ever-changing.
Taurus despises those attributes.
So, we have this enormous pressure building to change, to transform, to get unstuck, to break free, to take innovative risks, to step into the unknown with bold, brave steps!!! [this is the lava upswelling from deep in the ground]
…and, we have an equal amount of resistance pushing back, holding on to status quo, and seeking safety in the familiar and comfortable above all. [this is the solid rock that guards and protects the surface of life from disruptions]
You could be experiencing this tension with another person (e.g., conflict, defiant rebellion), with external factors, or within yourself as an inner struggle takes place between the parts of you that cling to safety in the familiar… and other internal parts that crave change.
Regardless of how it manifests, we are in an alchemical crucible this Scorpio season.
There are risks and dangers with this type of astro for sure, but there is also profound potential to liberate yourself from something, have a major break-through, and step toward a big and magnificent opportunity. Moments of thrilling synchronicities, unexpected inspiration and illumination may land in your lap this month.
Here’s two of my previous posts that explore the symbolism of the Scorpio-Taurus axis:
And my exploration of Scorpio in relationship to the two other water signs, can be found here.
As I wrote in Descending into Darkness,
“Desire, Truth, Power and Essential Needs are often in conflict in some way when we find ourselves deep in Scorpio terrain…
We frequently find ourselves bound to unconscious, conscious, or inherited high-stakes/high-cost contracts where Desire, Truth, Power/Agency, or Essential Needs are exchanged or sacrificed to secure one of the other four.
Perhaps you’ve sacrificed your power, your agency, and your truth, in order to meet essential needs - what is deemed an essential need depends on the person.
Or perhaps someone has been undermining your power and truth in order to meet their desires.
Or maybe you’ve exchanged the fulfillment of your deepest desires for access to greater power.
The answers and solutions aren’t always obvious or easy in Scorpio land; they’re tangled, enmeshed, and woven into an interconnected web that trembles and shakes whenever an individual thread is pulled. During Scorpio season there is the opportunity to hone our skills at navigating this sticky web with discernment - as we decide where to cut, and where to weave.”
Something to keep in mind over the next two weeks!
Consider too, that when the Taurus-Scorpio axis is lit up as it has been since the end of October and continues to be, the following themes may be highlighted (as they pertain to your life and birth chart placements): money; ownership conflicts; property and possessions; sensuality, pleasure, and sexual intimacy; beauty and body modification; health issues involving, or a focus on, the throat area and voice, and/or genital area and reproductive organs.
As I wrote in my global forecast for 2023, at this time there may be something “that has to be fought for, or protected and defended. This may be a time to be emotionally fierce and establish strong boundaries.”
I also mentioned grief being relevant to November: “it may also be appropriate to carve out time to grieve - to grieve all that has been released in the Scorpio area of life over the past two years of South Node eclipses. Your prior identities, former goals and ambitions may need to be placed on the altar of grief so you can step fully into the changes that have arrived. Honour the endings.”
Scorpio season is always an opportune time to release and grieve, and yet this season also holds potent potential for powerful rebirths and new beginnings…
The Death/Rebirth Cycle of the Warrior and the Mother
Not only do we have the lunar cycle dying and being reborn this week (on Monday, November 13th), but we also have Mars dying and being reborn on Saturday, November 18th.
When planets come together with the Sun at the exact same degree in the sky (what astrologers call a cazimi), they are experiencing a powerful reset moment as they are infused with the solar energy emitted by the star at the center of our solar system.
According to the Astrology Dictionary: Cazimi is a Latin transliteration of the Arabic term kaṣmīmī, which means “as if in the the heart”. The Arabic term appears to be a translation of the Greek term egkardios (ἐγκάρδιος), which literally means “in the heart”.
A cazimi occurs when a planet is momentarily held in the heart of the Sun (within 16 astro minutes of an exact conjunction, or according to others, when Mars and the Sun are within a degree of each other).
The Moon experiences a cazimi moment with the Sun every month, whereas Mars experiences this every two years. Mars’ last direct meeting with the Sun, occurred on October 8th, 2021, at 15 degrees Libra - verrry different vibe compared to the upcoming cazimi reset in Scorpio.
When I think of cazimi moments - especially Sun-Mars cazimis - it often brings to mind The Accolade (1901), an oil painting by Edmund Leighton:
Throughout history the Sun has often been a symbol of royalty (makes sense why it rules Leo, right?). So of course the young queen depicted here is like the Sun, and the knight, dressed appropriately in chainmail and a red tunic, on his knees in front of her receiving accolades, represents Mars.
The queen (the Sun) is boss here. She has the power to forgive the past (if she wants to), and to release the knight of all prior duties, purifying and burning away all that is unnecessary under her fiery gaze. At the same time, she also carries with her the critical intel for the knight’s next mission.
The knight (Mars) receives his next mission at the end of this week. Revitalized, his strength and motivation restored, he is ready for the adventure and quest ahead.
Before the knight obtains an audience with the queen however, while in the heart of the Sun, the knight’s prior mission must die. In a way, he must undergo a symbolic death so he is ready to embark on his next challenge.
As I write this, Mars is old. Mars’ vitality is fading. Perhaps because he is overwhelmed by hopelessness, eaten away by fear and failures, or carrying a heavy burden of resentment, Mars doesn’t have his usual energy or courage.
We all have an internal Mars, so you may resonate with some of these above descriptions. You may find yourself saying no to something, or releasing some goal, desire or ambition during the week just prior to when Mars, our willpower, is renewed in the heart of the Sun on Saturday.
See if you can notice a Mars-like shift (regarding personal power, desire, courage, willpower, motivation) between the first half of November, and the second half of November on the other side of November 18th. It will take some time for Mars to emerge from the beams of the Sun and claim more autonomy, but nevertheless, you may still notice something different post-cazimi.
And, don’t just wait passively for something new to arrive, seek out your Mars moment throughout this week!
Initiate! Take a (wise) risk!
Actively preparing for the cazimi and leaning in, is highly recommended!
For more on cazimis (and action-oriented suggestions), check out Chani’s recent publication here, and here for a piece specific to Mars cazimis.
Finally, since the Sun will also conjoin with Ceres on November 20th for a cazimi, Ceres will also experience a rebirth moment in Scorpio.
As previously mentioned, Ceres (an asteroid) is the Roman equivalent of Demeter, a goddess whose name is often much more familiar to people because of her role as the mother of Persephone who was kidnapped by Hades/Pluto and taken to the depths of the underworld where she ate pomegranate seeds and became forever his wife…
According to Demetra George, Ceres/Demeter represents the maternal instinct and our desire to nurture and be nurtured; Ceres “governs the entire mothering experience.”
In her grief and rage, when her daughter Persephone/Kore was stolen from her, Ceres, as the goddess of agriculture and the earth mother, made the earth barren. She created permanent winter on earth where no food could grow... until Persephone was returned to her.
Having control over food production was a hefty bargaining chip when she called out to Jupiter for help with getting her daughter back.
As we approach November 20th, when the Sun and Ceres will meet up in Scorpio (while still conjunct Mars), consider:
How is your capacity for (and expression of) grief and rage transforming?
How is your relationship to your mother (or a mother figure, or your identity as a mother) being reconfigured through an alchemical process? How is your role with children changing - especially if you are involved in protecting them?
How is your relationship to food and nutrition shifting and changing (Ceres is closely connected to eating disorders and food complexes, as well as the food industry)?
What types of changes are undergoing in your life related to the ways in which you receive and give various forms of nourishment (and the ways in which nourishment may be withheld or blocked)?
What battles are being released or resolved around the “sharing of loved ones” (especially with children, but could also be with in-laws, partners, friends…) and the various compromises around this you may be struggling with? Demetra comments that Ceres in astrology, may symbolize “the need to learn how to share,” but in the all-or-nothing sign of Scorpio, known for its possessiveness, this may be difficult. If a “sharing” theme is emerging, it could also involve the sharing of “possessions/money,” “creations” or “food.”
When Ceres is activated, the entire Demeter-Persephone myth comes to life, so consider what parts of your life may be mirroring this classic story of attachment, loss, and return in some way.
Mars is directly involved in the Sun-Ceres conjunction, so whatever processes this transit of Ceres represents in your life, this theme is extra intense and potent in the coming week and a half. Mars and Ceres will conjoin on November 23rd at 1:40 am ADT after a long period of traveling in close proximity.
So between the New Moon, the Mars-cazimi, and the Ceres-cazimi, there are three cosmically important new beginnings occurring in the sign of Scorpio between November 13th and November 20th! (four new beginnings if we count the Mars-Ceres conjunction)
Therefore, it is worthwhile to take note of what house Scorpio is in in your birth chart, and what major shifts you may be experiencing there.
Prepare for Saturn’s Post-Uranus Stress Test & Reality Check
While Scorpio Season has been strongly flavoured by Mars and Uranus, two aggressive movers and shakers, Sagittarius Season commences with three successive, sobering squares from Saturn that will test the strength of any changes that have been made while traveling through Scorpio.
These squares could feel quite harsh if you have been surrendering to the wild, chaotic, impulsive energies of Scorpio Season. Thus, I thought it deserved a warning so you could prepare!
Here’s what November 23rd looks like for example, a day after the Sun has entered Sagittarius:
As you can see, Mars and Ceres in this chart, still maintaining a triple conjunction with the Sun, are poised to slam into Saturn’s wall right after the Sun does.
If experienced in more challenging ways, this could look like…
experiencing harsh consequences and reality checks after exciting and spontaneous leaps into new, uncharted territory that forces you to reconsider your progress, put in the hard work that your redirections demand, or make necessary compromises or tough choices.
having to suddenly slow down to a crawl due to some obstacle (or the basic tediousness and responsibilities of everyday life), after a chapter of change, innovation, and transformation happening at a fast speed.
In more positive ways, this sudden shift from intense Marsy-Uranian-Scorpionic vibes to Saturn’s practicalities could appear as bringing beneficial and welcome tangible form and function to your new reality that has been renewed and revitalized. It may express as a commitment to press forward with what was initiated earlier in this lunation cycle.