We are beginning this week with a slightly rough start. On Monday, Mercury will go retrograde. As usual, this transit lasts three weeks, and during this time, plans may go awry and not as expected. Avoid signing contacts or starting new projects, and make sure you stay flexible and don’t get too worked up when things don’t go how you hoped they would. The good news: There’s only one more Mercury retrograde left to endure in 2024. The bad news: It just started. From late November through mid December, Mercury, the planet in communication, will be retrograde in the sign of Sagittarius.

What to Expect: During this time, as always, there is more room for misunderstandings, things not going as planned, and suddenly changing your mind about things; you could also expect travel delays

What to Do: Stay flexible and make sure that you have all the information necessary before making decisions

What Not to Do: Avoid signing contracts if you can and don’t make major commitments during this time period. It is more a time for reflecting and reviewing things

Within this particular retrograde, Dec. 5 is the luckiest date because Mercury will be aligning with the sun, giving it power and strength. If there is anything important that you wish to take care of or say that is the moment to do it. Before and after Dec. 5, beware of travel and communication mishaps, as well as technological issues — so remember to back your work up. During retrogrades — and they happen to all planets, not just Mercury — it appears that a planet is moving backward. In actuality, Earth overtakes a slower-moving planet in its orbit around the sun or is overtaken by a faster-moving planet.

Within astrology, retrogrades are said to slow the area that a planet governs. Mercury governs travel and communication, so expect potential mishaps in those realms. But Mercury retrograde offers a window to slow down and reconsider our choices. We’re able to reassess and re-commit to projects, relationships and endeavors that have fallen to the sidelines. This Mercury retrograde might make you nostalgic, but remember — it’s OK to leave some things in the past. The point isn’t the open old wounds but to heal from them. Use the retrograde as a time of catharsis, not a moment to fester regrets.

Here’s what to know about this current Mercury retrograde, including horoscopes for how it may affect your sign

Aries: Give yourself extra time in case there are travel delays on your way to holiday events. You might get stuck in traffic that hasn’t been reported on the GPS or have to change flights. Do yourself a favor and leave early so you don’t get caught up in the mess.

Taurus: Your patience might be lower than usual because you are exhausted. Try not to push yourself to the limit and know when you need to take a break. Listen to what your body and mind are telling you to avoid burnout. 

Gemini: You’ll be quick to jump to conclusions and get irritated about what you presume others think of you. But does their opinion really matter? Work on raising self-esteem this month so you worry less about others’ perception of you.

Cancer: This Mercury retrograde might deplete your energy. You might find yourself running late constantly. Instead of getting mad, take a deep breath and relax. You won’t be able to figure out how to resolve problems unless you’re calm.

Leo: A former love may re-enter the picture — maybe it’s a person, or maybe it’s a beloved hobby or phase of your life. Try to remain practical about your feelings, rather than get swept away.

Virgo: Old family matters from many years ago could come to light, forcing you to reconcile the situation. You’re older now. You are allowed to say how you feel. Doing so will help you heal, grow, and maybe forge a better connection.

Libra: Before sending a text or email, check your tone. You may be unintentionally coming off as rash and impulsive in your wording. This retrograde’s keywords: Demure and mindful!

Scorpio: Your finances might be erratic in the upcoming weeks. Maintain a budget to monitor your spending. Consider shopping the sales and sticking to your gift list. Don’t detour from the original plan to save your bank account from taking a big hit.

Sagittarius: Your mind might be on overdrive thanks to from Mercury’s moonwalk on your sun sign. If you’re feeling reflective, start journaling. Allow your emotions to come out instead of holding them in.

Capricorn: It may turn out that someone you trusted has betrayed your confidence. If secrets come out, take charge by saying the point of view from your perspective. Be honest and concise to ensure the rumors don’t take flight and your side of the story is heard.

Aquarius: ‘Tis the season for reconnecting with friends and family to share in the seasonal joy. Plan a get-together with familiar faces and those you’ve lost touch with to rejuvenate the relationships. Reminisce, laugh and create new memories together.

Pisces: If you’re up for a promotion at work, double-check the position’s requirements to ensure you aren’t in over your head. More broadly speaking, now’s the time to let in a trusted advisor to talk through options. You’re not in it alone.

On November 21, the Sun enters Sagittarius, bringing the Sagittarius season 2024. This season’s vibe might feel a little intense, but we can all learn something from Sagittarius’s energy. Instead of stressing over big challenges, focus on the things that bring you joy. When we appreciate life’s small wins, we find the strength to handle whatever comes our way. Over the next four weeks, you’re able to take these relationships and all the things you’ve learned and integrate them into yourself. You can go off and explore the world, have new experiences, and become a more well-rounded person.

This is a transformative time! Libra season was all about connecting with other people and learning from and with them, then Scorpio season was a quieter time where we focused on making our relationships more intimate and learning more about the world around us. On November 21, the Sun enters Sagittarius and kicks off Sagittarius season 2024. Over the next four weeks, you’re able to take these relationships and all the things you’ve learned and integrate them into yourself. You can go off and explore the world, have new experiences, and become a more well-rounded person. Fire signs Sagittarius, Aries, and Leo are shining the brightest right now, while mutable signs Gemini, Virgo, and Pisces are putting in extra work.

Sagittarius is the sign of higher knowledge, adventure, and wisdom. It’s ruled by Jupiter, the planet of abundance, expansion, and generosity. No matter your zodiac sign, this season is an expansive time for you, because Sagittarius energy is practically obsessed with finding the capital-T truth. Your mindset is changing so that every conversation you have, person you meet, and move you make becomes an opportunity to learn, change, and grow. Sagittarius season is giving you an insatiable appetite for novelty and a voracious thirst for knowledge.

It may sound like this is a time of year where you’ll be hitting the books, studying, or taking a class, but that isn’t necessarily the case. This is a great time for higher education or learning about spirituality, but Sagittarius is also an extroverted fire sign, ruled by expansive, un-restrainable Jupiter. Right now, you’re seeking out new things that give you a hands-on learning experience. Sagittarius is kind of like a really fun teacher. This sign loves to share their knowledge, experiment, and learn more with their pupils, instead of just preaching.

The biggest issue with this time of year is that Sagittarius energy has a bit of a “know-it-all” vibe. You’re identifying with the knowledge (or biases) that you’ve cultivated from your life. This means that when you encounter someone from a different walk of life, a foreign culture, or just someone who has contrasting opinions, the urge to say, “I know more than you” is very strong. Be confident with your knowledge and take ownership over your opinions, but try not to lecture anyone! This is an opportunity for you to be generous with your knowledge and help others learn and grow. But you need to remember that there are plenty of learning experiences for you to take part in as well. Watch out for Mercury Retrograde, too—it begins on November 25 and can make miscommunications and arguments a much bigger problem.

For all zodiac signs, Sagittarius season is an expansive time where you can lean into your curiosity to do more, learn more, and become more. Jupiter energy is dominating the astro weather for the next month, and you’re being encouraged to shine bright by guiding others through new experiences—whether it’s by telling stories, teaching a new skill, or just going on an IRL adventure together. Enjoy yourself, remember to listen, and take this month to realize that nothing is mundane—everything is an experience.

Aries

With the Sun floating through Sagittarius, a like-minded fire sign, you’re thriving right now. You’re growing, changing, and acquiring new knowledge for the next month, but you don’t feel stressed or under pressure—instead, these experiences are seamlessly entering your life and you feel like you’re able to breeze through them, even if you don’t love the experience. Make a point to try something new every day. Not every single one will stick, but you’re pretty likely to find something new that really, really, really interests you. It might even become your next passion!

Taurus

You exist primarily in the material realm. You’re not cold or emotionless, but you’re great at looking at things through an intellectual lens. Right now, you’re being encouraged to dive deep into your feelings. Really experience your emotions, the good and the bad, because this allows you to gain a more profound understanding of yourself on a meaningful level. Relationships are becoming deeper and more intense now, too—for good and for bad. You’re being urged to deal with your emotions instead of pushing them to the side. Intimacy, both with yourself and others, is the theme of this next month.

Gemini

Sagittarius is your opposite sign. This means that whenever any astrological action is going down in Sagittarius, it activates your chart’s relationships zone. In short, this is cuffing season for your sign—but this goes beyond romantic relationships. This is an amazing time for romance, but it’s also a great time for hooking up, making new friends, and transforming already-existing relationships into more profound, secure connections. Any time you share with another person is time well-spent right now, and I encourage you to cooperate and collaborate with others as much as possible.

Cancer

Your sign’s vibe is passive, slow-moving, and chill. Sagittarius’s vibe is active, fast-moving, and extreme. These energies don’t exactly line up perfectly, but you can actually get a ton accomplished right now by leaving your comfort zone. Your regular routine has become more of a rut lately. The routines that should make life easier and more productive are actually holding you back. Unhealthy habits, wasteful spending, and poor work ethic are all creating HUGE negative symptoms in your life, and it’s up to you to get your shit together! Go to bed at a reasonable time, quit biting your nails, pay your cell phone bill, and stop showing up late to everything. The healthy habits you set now will stick around for a long time, and the bad habits you cut will be gone for good!

Leo

This is a thrilling time of year for you, Leo! The Sun in Sagittarius activates your chart’s zone of romance, sex, and fun, so you’re getting plenty of action. Vacations—even just a day trip—become unforgettable experiences now. You’re more able to find love, either by upping your self-love or by finding a passion for someone else. Even negative experiences will have a silver lining. You’re having an easier time determining who/what in your life is draining you, and who/what fills you with passion. Focus on the love you feel, distance yourself from negativity and toxic people, and you’ll have oodles of fun and an extremely successful Sagittarius season.

Virgo

Your attention is always honed in on two things—the work you’re doing now, and the work you have to do in the future. Sagittarius season is here to tell you to hit pause, take a load off, and engage in some much-needed R&R. Despite Sagittarius’s extroverted energy, you’re actually feeling more introverted right now. This isn’t a time to go out in the world; this is a time to dive into your inner world, learn more about yourself, and take a trip down memory lane. How has your past shaped the person you are today? You tend to focus on the negative and things that should be “fixed,” like trauma, unsuccessful endeavors, and toxic past relationships. But let’s look at the positives, shall we? Focus on your support system and lean into that. Your relationship with your family is improving and life at home is becoming nicer. You’re starting to realize that you’ve done a lot of great things, made some pretty solid relationships, and are actually more stable than you thought! Take this month to observe (and celebrate!) how far you’ve come.

Libra

This next month is busy, busy, busy. Your phone’s always buzzing, the emails are constant, and your DMs are full. But you don’t feel overwhelmed because so many of these messages are about things you enjoy! Tons of new connections are coming your way, and as a social air sign, you’re going to really enjoy these new faces. You’re doing tons of learning and growing as a result, but you don’t feel like you’re changing—the vibe is effortless! Just by connecting with people and visiting new places, you’re expanding your worldview a ton. You’ll have a much wider perspective and tons of new acquaintances by the end of the season.

Scorpio

Your birthday season ushered you into a new yearlong cycle. Over the past month, you were presented with opportunities to engage in new relationships, new jobs, and new personal projects. You did some dabbling, and the stars are now telling you to pick the new things/people that matter the most to you and focus your attention on them. This doesn’t only apply to the things introduced during Scorpio season; it applies to everything. You’re viewing life in a more transactional way at the moment, and you’re determining which of your investments—monetary, emotionally, etc.—have good returns. You’re realizing that there are some shitty connections in your life, and you’re being urged to distance yourself from them. That way, there’ll be plenty of room for new growth and positive changes.

Sagittarius

Happy birthday! As far as you’re concerned, the world is your oyster and people are playing by your rules. You’re always on the move, looking for new experiences, and that’s especially true right now. This next month promises you plenty of opportunities for newness and excitement. Go wild when planning your birthday month! I want you to take the people and things you already love and bring them with you as you dive into these new experiences. That way, you can learn, grow, and change together, all while deepening your relationship.

Capricorn

You like to live an organized, predictable life, but the chaos of Sagittarius season is throwing plenty of curveballs your way. This next month represents the end of a cycle. The people, projects, and jobs that you abandoned over the past year (for good or bad reasons) are becoming relevant again. You’re being confronted with the question: Do you let them back into your life, or do you take this month as an opportunity to find closure and move on? It’s a big decision, but it’s a necessary decision. Your birthday is right around the corner, and with it comes plenty of new experiences and opportunities for growth. But if you’re inundated with exes, old jobs, and expired passions, you can’t experience any of that positivity.

Aquarius

This Sagittarius astro weather is activating your chart’s 11th House of good spirits, so this will be a wonderful time of year for you! The next month is full of opportunities to make a variety of new connections. Sagittarius season is the most social time of year for you, so you’re less likely to meet new crushes/lovers/partners, but the new acquaintances and colleagues you make now promise to be very important in your future. Be sure to keep a smile on your face, because this is the time of year where you’re most likely to make friends in high places. Who you thought was just a nice person at the bar might actually be a leader in whatever professional field you’re interested in, and on top of a new friend, you can also get your dream job!

Pisces

All eyes are on you right now, especially at work! Your boss, your boss’s boss, and their boss are all keeping an eye on your career performance, so it’s important for you do your absolute best. Sagittarius season can throw some unpredictable problems your way, and I encourage you to keep your cool and problem-solve by thinking outside of the box. Even if you miss the mark, your ability to think on your feet, make a plan, and execute it will certainly impress the higher-ups. This could easily lead to you getting a big bonus, a raise, or even a promotion!

PSYCHIC AND MEDIUMSHIP DEVELOPMENT  CLASS! Painted Love, 145 Belmont, Tonawanda, NY 14223.  Every Wednesday 7:00-9pm. Each class is $15. Call (716 481 2799) to sign up for the online class or just come on down.  Bring your Tarot or Oracle cards or use one of many available decks on hand. No experience required. Class is held both online and in person. 

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November 20: Lesson: Spiritual Astrology.  For the next few weeks we will be learning about and how to do readings regarding the spirituality of astrology in all the signs and how it relates to your life and what’s going on in it.  Karma and accountability: Saturn is often associated with the concept of karma, where our actions have consequences, and we must learn from our mistakes to progress spiritually. Discipline and boundaries: Saturn encourages setting clear boundaries and practicing self-discipline to achieve spiritual goals. Challenges and growth: The challenges presented by Saturn are seen as opportunities for personal development and spiritual maturity.