Photo: The Witch's Broom Nebula, part of the Veil Nebula, by Martin Pugh (Heaven's Mirror Observatory)
Written and Narrated by Pam Younghans.
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Current and previous weeks astrological overviews
Astrological Overview: October 30 - November 5, 2023
Astrologer Pam Younghans writes this weekly astrological journal based on planetary influences, and offers perspectives and insights to assist you in making the best use of current energies. This column is not intended as prediction. Your own experience will be more specifically defined by transits to your personal chart.
Aspects of Note this Week:
All times listed are Pacific Daylight Time. For Eastern Time, add 3 hours; For Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), add 7 hours.
Monday: No major aspects are exact today
Tuesday: Venus trine Uranus
Wednesday: Mercury quincunx Chiron
Thursday: Sun sesquiquadrate Neptune,
Sun opposite Jupiter
Friday: Venus quincunx Eris,
Venus opposite Neptune,
Venus sesquiquadrate Jupiter
Saturday: Saturn stations direct,
Mars quintile Pluto,
Mercury conjunct Ceres,
Mercury opposite Uranus,
Uranus opposite Ceres
Sunday: Mars quincunx Chiron,
Jupiter semisquare Neptune
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THE VEIL THINS: It is said that the veil between dimensions, especially between those who exist in physical and those who have transitioned into nonphysical, is especially thin at the time of an eclipse. With that same quality also attributed to both Halloween and Samhain, these days between October 28 and November 1 are a time when we may feel unusually aware of other realms, and of the beings that reside therein.
Author Jenny Heston gives us this explanation of the veil: "You might say the veil is the place where the everyday illusion of separation brushes up against the divine truth of eternity and universal interconnection. The place where form meets spirit, seen meets unseen, known meets unknown."
Our awareness of the mystery and the mystical is heightened now, and the sense of somehow being able to merge with a vast unknown. Enjoy.
SATURN'S STATION: In sharp contrast to the other-worldly sensations we may be experiencing now, practical Saturn is very strong this week as it prepares to station direct on Saturday, November 4. The Lord of Karma first entered Pisces last March 7, went retrograde on June 17, and has now returned to zero degrees of the sign of The Fishes.
If we have used Saturn's four-month retrograde phase wisely, we have taken care of unfinished business in some area of our lives, or have tackled some old internal patterns of fear and resistance that have been limiting our success in the world. While outer progress may have seemed slow or nonexistent, we have had the opportunity to tie up loose ends so that they do not trip us up going forward. We hopefully have learned Saturn's lessons of patience, endurance, and discipline. We also have been required to put into practice our core Piscean spiritual qualities: faith, trust, acceptance, nonattachment, and surrender.
Saturn's station brings us back to reality in some way, especially regarding our Piscean dreams and ideals. It is, in a sense, time to get down to business, to take care of our this-world responsibilities, and not to allow ourselves to be sidetracked by fantasies or wishful thinking.
You may feel Saturn's influence most directly now if you have natal planets or points in the final two degrees of a fixed sign (28° to 29° Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, or Aquarius) or in the first three degrees of a mutable sign (0° to 2° Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, or Pisces). This added sensitivity is because the Ringed Planet is in hard aspect to those planets or points in your natal chart.
Over the next few weeks, as Saturn slowly begins to move forward and picks up speed, the planet provides more support for making tangible progress, especially in the areas of purpose, career, and business. A shift into a higher gear is easier if we have resolved issues — whether external or internal — that otherwise would distract us or divert our energies.
DAILY ASPECTS: Here are my brief interpretations of this week's most important planetary aspects:
Monday
No major aspects are exact today.
Tuesday
Venus trine Uranus: We are able to be more flexible in our expectations of others and more accepting of differences with this aspect. We are less possessive and able to allow loved ones their individuality and freedom.
Wednesday
Mercury quincunx Chiron: Conversations may be difficult today, hampered by a lack of confidence in our ability to put our feelings into words. Some may also feel resistance to being asked to reveal their deeper emotions.
Thursday
Sun sesquiquadrate Neptune, Sun opposite Jupiter: We will need to be cautious about trying to rescue others or promising more than we can deliver with these aspects. It will be important to maintain good boundaries, to make sure that we are not taking on the energies of others.
Friday
Venus quincunx Eris, Venus opposite Neptune, Venus sesquiquadrate Jupiter: Issues of trust and disillusionment may arise in relationships today. We may doubt our feelings, or be unsure of what to believe.
Saturday
Saturn stations direct: The Lord of Karma comes to a standstill today at 12:02 a.m. PDT, at 0° 30' Pisces.
Mars quintile Pluto: This resourceful influence helps us find clever and creative solutions to current problems.
Mercury conjunct Ceres, Mercury opposite Uranus, Uranus opposite Ceres: Intuition and our capacities for empathy and emotional insight are heightened with these aspects. However, we may also feel a strong resistance to others' ideas and opinions, or not have the patience to truly listen, causing difficulties in communications. Nervous energy is also strong, so it will be important to ground ourselves throughout the day.
Sunday
Mars quincunx Chiron: Old resentments and anger may surface at this time, providing the opportunity to understand our deeper motivations. As with all Chiron aspects, we are encouraged to love all parts of the self, especially those that we have judged in some way.
Jupiter semisquare Neptune: It may be hard to know when to prioritize self-care and when to put the needs of others first. The dilemma is how to resolve the conflict between the spiritual ideals of connection and oneness and our human need for individuality and freedom. We are challenged to release and transcend assumptions, judgments, and beliefs so that we can be open to new perspectives.
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IF YOUR BIRTHDAY IS THIS WEEK: This year, you may feel very strongly about a belief, a cause, or a desire to follow a certain course of action. Your inner drive is very strong, perhaps causing you to throw caution to the wind, taking impulsive risks or leaps of faith. It will be important to ground yourself and to be aware of when your idealism may be blurring your perceptions of reality. Once you are centered and in balance, there is much you can accomplish. (Solar Return Sun semisquare Venus, conjunct Mars, opposite Jupiter, sesquiquadrate Neptune)
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INSTAGRAM: If you use Instagram, please check out my daily astrological updates: https://www.instagram.com/pamyounghans/
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TRANSLATION and AUDIO/VIDEO VERSION: This weekly Journal is now recorded (in English) AND the text is transcribed into 30 languages! You'll see a row of flags under "Available Languages" in the upper right. And, there are options to listen to the audio (in English) or watch a video directly beneath the photo (see top of page).
The Journal entry is usually updated by Sunday evening, with the recordings appearing late Sunday or by Monday depending on your time zone. Please share this information with those who might benefit.
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For previous weeks of the Astrological Journal, click here.
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About the Author
Pam Younghans is a professional astrologer, editor, and writer. She lives in a log home northeast of Seattle, Washington with her beloved animal companions. She has been interpreting charts professionally for over 25 years. If you are interested in an astrology reading, e-mail
For more information about NorthPoint Astrology offerings, please visit northpointastrology.com or visit her Facebook page.
