(27 October 2024) The transits this week suggest that mutually respectful negotiation and compromise may be in short supply. With Mars is approaching its opposition with Pluto this week (exact Nov 3), there could be a more combative and intransigent mood in the air. Mars symbolizes assertion and aggression and when it is in hard aspect with outer planets such as Pluto, it makes harmony and cooperation more difficult to achieve. Pluto is specifically associated with coercion and power moves, and its affliction by Mars this week is an apt planetary signature for the highly-contested and divisive US elections that will be held on Tuesday, Nov 5.
The intensifying Mars-Pluto influence means that attempts to find common ground in disagreements may not go well as both sides are more likely to dig in to their respective positions. This is therefore not a great week to start any projects that require cooperation or seek social harmony. However, the Mars-Pluto effect could prove to be more useful for military undertakings or any activity that requires physical exertion such as athletics, manual labour, or metallurgy. Thursday’s Moon-Mars-Pluto alignment looks especially tense as Mars casts its square aspect to the Moon in the morning EDT. Some negative manifestation of this pattern is possible in financial markets. Parenthetically, we should also note that this Moon-Mars-Pluto t-square will activate the Sun-Moon opposition in Kamala Harris’ natal chart. This alignment could coincide with a particularly difficult time for her.
Monday’s Venus-Saturn square is an inauspicious beginning to the week due to the constraining effects of Saturn. Venusian matters such as art, beauty, women and luxury will find a more difficult expression and could result in unwelcome outcomes in those areas of life.
The midweek alignment of Mercury with Uranus and Neptune could highlight the role of communication and technology. The Mercury-Uranus opposition can lead to unexpected but innovative outcomes, especially in areas of computers and transportation. The results may not be immediately constructive, however, as the opposition aspect can have disruptive effects. The addition of Neptune to the mix suggests that technology could be harnessed for more positive, long term ends. Wednesday’s Moon-Jupiter aspect could boost collective sentiment here and may even help financial markets during this otherwise stressful time.
Underneath it all is the ongoing 60-degree alignment of Jupiter and Chiron. While Jupiter reversed its direction back on Oct 9, this alignment remains almost exact since Chiron was already retrograde. The optimism of Jupiter combines positively with Chiron’s typically stabilizing effects and may well be offering protection from some worst-case scenarios. This alignment will be exact on Saturday, Nov 2, after which Jupiter will begin to separate from Chiron. While it will remain in very close range for some time, it will begin to weaken. This could increase the odds of bigger problems emerging in the post-election period in November.
