Welcome to your November 2024 horoscope. It’s around this time each year that the faster-moving planets bound into Sagittarius, heightening our enthusiasm for life and igniting the flame that keeps all explorers and truth-seekers restlessly in pursuit of a new adventure. But this year, the vibe is a little less “chasing new horizons” and a bit more “hold your horses, even if they’re champing at the bit.” There’s very little about the current sky that encourages “full steam ahead.” Mars is slowing to a standstill by the end of November, and Mercury is too—meaning both of these planets, which are associated with planning, strategy, and execution, are about to be retrograde. Saturn also stations direct on November 15, which gives this month a sense of weight as some of the circumstances we’ve been in a transitional place with over the summer become more certain and fixed in place—perhaps enough to cancel out other possibilities.
Even though the universe is sending us signals to slow down in November, we’ll still be hungry for the idea of something, or for something to look forward to. In fact, you might find that your eyes are bigger than your stomach this month when it comes to dreaming up potential futures or mood boarding all of your bucket list trips. Generally speaking, it’s not the best time to be making concrete plans right now, but a girl can dream. Rather than frustrate yourself trying to predict where all those moving targets are going to land, we’ll all be better off if we can remain flexible and focus on clarifying the vision instead.
And yes, everyone’s favorite transit creates the potential for travel mishaps in November and December. This particular Mercury Retrograde is especially chaotic-looking, occurring in the sign of Mercury’s detriment (Sagittarius) and opposing a retrograde Jupiter that’s also in detriment. However, Mercury and Jupiter are exchanging signs, so perhaps you can still make an omelet out of all of those eggs you didn’t break on purpose. Mercury stations retrograde on November 25, but some hilarity, hijinks, crossed wires, and bad games of telephone will ensue as early as November 2, after it enters Sagittarius.
Astrologer’s note: Below we refer to your signs as “rising” signs, also known as your ascendant sign. Horoscopes are more accurate when read this way—using your birth time and location, you can quickly find your rising sign online (it takes less than 30 seconds).
Lin Chen
Aries Rising
If ever there was a time to stay light on your feet and maintain a sense of humor about it all, you’re looking at it right now. On one hand, you’re feeling somewhat embattled, definitely a bit blocked, and maybe even preemptively defeated on account of your ruling planet, Mars, slowing to a halt in November and facing off with Pluto. And on the other hand, Mercury is about to retrograde through the part of your chart associated with travel. Any trips you take this month or next could be infused with an element of slapstick comedy—the kind you’ll laugh about later but might not find so funny when you wind up at the wrong airport because of a typo.
Mars makes its first exact opposition to Pluto on November 3 before moving into Leo later that same day. A situation that’s been agitating you for the past two months comes to a head early in the month, leading you to feel defensive, disempowered, or maybe just furious. This is probably hitting close to home for you, either literally involving some aspect of your living situation or your family. Confronting someone close to you can be triggering, but so is lacking a sense of sanctuary in your own home. These are questions that likely can’t be resolved easily, but that’s the nature of digging up ancient rage that was never properly dealt with to begin with. Some medicine is meant to burn on the way down.