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Deep Contemplation, Transformation & Liberating Shifts
November is an intense month defined by the final Mercury Retrograde of 2025 and the Grand Water Trines that combine emotional depth, with giving structure to our highest aspirations.
When Mercury (mind/communication) is retrograde there is a cosmic pause for reflection, when we can more easily connect with our intuition, the spirit world and our soul’s true intentions. The past converges with the present, and we get to rewind this current chapter of life so we can re-evaluate, re-think, re-connect with and even re-do something from the past – before we continue our story.
The Grand Water Trines bring a harmonious, flowing emotional sensitivity, which offers us emotional support, healing, intuitive insights, and spiritual connection as we navigate the internal pressure of this complex Mercury retrograde.
Including Mercury, there are actually 5 retrograde planets in total in November, which is a huge amount of retrograde energy, and quite a rare occurrence. An influence that dramatically pulls us inwards, and slows down outer progress.
Emotionally and mentally demanding, yes!
But all this serves as a catalyst to clarify what is truly meaningful to us in life, along with bringing us an updated vision of how we would like our future to take shape. Which then helps to liberate and empower us to move forwards with a renewed sense of optimism and purpose, in December and into 2026!
Mercury Retrograde ~ What’s actually happening in the sky?
Mercury doesn’t actually travel backwards in the sky, it just appears that way from our view here on Earth, as Mercury and the Earth orbit the Sun at different speeds. When Mercury is retrograde, Mercury is at its furthest point from the Sun and travelling slowest, allowing the Earth to catch up and Mercury appear to reverse.
Which helps to show us how during Mercury Retrograde, our minds and thoughts can become more focused inwards, on our inner world. Are easily drawn back into the past, to reflect on what has been going on in our lives recently, as well as years ago – but that is possibly united with, and important now.
Inferior Conjunction of the Sun & Mercury – a fresh start!
It is also worthwhile mentioning that the inferior conjunction of the Sun and Mercury also takes place during Mercury’s retrograde phase. The inferior conjunction is like a new Moon in the Sun-Mercury cycle, a fresh start. Sun is life, vitality, and our purpose – Mercury is mind. The inferior conjunction occurring during the retrograde phase, as we are reviewing where we are in life and how we got there, is perfect for a new start or approach in our lives.
Mercury Retrograde in Sagittarius & Scorpio
Mercury stationed retrograde at 6° 51 Sagittarius on November 9th, and is now rewinding to return back to 20°42 Scorpio, where Mercury stations direct on November 29th.
Mercury retrograde in optimistic, adventurous, visionary Sagittarius, and passionate, loyal, secretive Scorpio, brings a powerful time for emotional reflection and refining our vision of the future.
Mercury Rx in Sagittarius
Sagittarius is a future orientated, open-minded, expansive sign. It inspires us to give free rein to our imagination as well as the fiery drive to follow our dreams. As the eternal philosopher and truth-seeker, Sagittarius invites us to explore our beliefs about spirituality, religion, how we understand the world and the human experience.
Sagittarius takes in the big picture, and wants us to broaden our horizons. Sagittarius likes to have freedom of expression in both speech and movement – and has a tendency to be outspoken, as well as to act first, and think later. Mercury likes to zoom in on all the details, the ins and outs, and because Mercury’s analytical approach can feel restricted here, Mercury is considered to be in detriment in Sagittarius.
Mercury retrograde here encourages us to review our beliefs, vision and goals. To evaluate our actions and long term plans, then align them with our enhanced perspective.
Mercury Rx in Scorpio
Scorpio embraces the mysteries of life, death and rebirth. Mercury retrograde pushes us to plunge into the emotional and psychological depths of Scorpio, no matter how scary or painful, to penetrate the truth. Mercury here is the cosmic investigator, who needs to uncover and reveal anything that has been hidden or unconscious that needs to be brought to light.
The intense, emotional depths of Scorpio involve themes around intimacy, trust, power dynamics in relationships, shared resources (money/energy exchanges) and emotional truths.
A time when we are drawn inwards, to contemplate complex emotional issues. Including how we (or another) use our emotional and psychological energy – unconscious patterns, instinctive behaviours, inner wounds – and by doing so gain insight, and wisdom.
Sinking deep within enables us to access undiscovered layers of ourselves, which can then reveal to us concealed or unexpressed levels of honesty about our inner truth, and motivations. Favourably aligning us for a process of inner shifts, healing, and transformation into a more authentic version of ourselves, along with an enhanced emotional understanding of, and compassion for others.
The inner roots of our external beliefs and actions
This retrograde is assisting us to explore our external opinions, behaviour, actions and plans, then to connect the dots with the inner origins – the inner roots – that truly drive our beliefs and behaviour.
A process of weeding out external clutter, to reveal the roots of psychological and emotional issues. And by scrutinising these roots we can then let go of what is damaging, false, or insincere, and no longer serves us. Which then makes way for us to create an external life that better reflects our inner truth and values.
Grand Water Trines
The water element equates with emotional sensitivity and responsiveness that moulds to the environment. The three water signs – Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces – rule the realm of feelings. Cancer is the gentle, flowing rivers of our ancestry – a mother’s unconditional love, our family bonds, home and roots. Scorpio is the still, dark, mysterious water of a lake or a well – an intense love, our soul’s desire, intimacy, trust and union. Pisces is the ocean, the vast, open sea – universal love, the collective, the spiritual, the source, the divine.
When the three water signs unite in the sky to form a triangle – A Grand Water Trine – they create a fluid, flowing momentum of powerful emotional and intuitive energy.
Currently Jupiter is in Cancer trine Saturn & Neptune in Pisces, and from mid October through to early December several Grand Water Trines are formed as planets pass through Scorpio. In November the Sun, Mercury and Venus will all be in Scorpio, and align to create Grand Water Trines.
This highly expressive alignment enhances emotional connection, healing, spiritual awareness and creativity. It helps us connect ourselves, to others, and the divine.
As we journey into our inner world guided by Mercury for an intense self analysis, the Grand Water Trines assist us to find compassionate solutions to emotional wounds and apply structure to our dreams, before we move forwards having discovered what to let go of, what to keep, and what to prioritise.
Mercury Retrograde & Mars ~ Power of the Mind
Mercury Rx conjunct Mars ~ November 12th
This Mercury retrograde is powerfully influenced by the energy of Mars (action/assertiveness) – as they met up at 19° 11 Scorpio on October 20th – so they were together as Mercury entered the retrograde zone. Then Mercury reverses back into conjunction with Mars in Sagittarius on November 12th. This suggests a highly charged, potentially volatile atmosphere as the retrograde period commences. But once the initial turmoil diminishes, a calmer atmosphere will emerge by the end of November.
While Mercury is mind, Mars is action, our inner fire and will power. This suggests that not only will our minds be running at full speed, our thoughts rapid, we could be agitated and frustrated about something important.It may feel blocked, stuck, and that there is no right answer. But, Mercury & Mars also combine favourably to utilise the power of the mind.
Any recent friction that has been simmering below the surface could well erupt, along with the potential for any past resentments, grudges or secrets to re-surface. Our own, and other people’s frame of mind could be unsettled and restless. Which means heated arguments, rash thinking and impulsive decisions are possible, but using words as weapons or ill thought out plans, could well prove to be regrettable.
As Mercury is retrograde, we are also drawn inwards to reflect on our thoughts and actions. Perhaps rethinking disagreements and revising plans, as we clarify our truth around emotional issues and align our goals with enlightened motivations.
Our minds are quick and active with this energy.
Used positively this energy can give us courage to speak our truth and infuse ideas with the will to achieve them. To have that deep, honest, but difficult conversation. Engage in constructive discussions. To speak with conviction and clarity. To make decisive decisions and take steps to put plans into action.
New Moon in Scorpio, November 20th ~ Potent
The New Moon in Scorpio on November 20th, with Mercury Cazimi, opposite Uranus, and activating a healing Grand Water Trine, is potent for revealing buried truth and planting seeds of healing. A landscape where vulnerabilities and secrets can emerge, be unearthed from the darkness into the light, to be faced and ultimately healed. A significant, fated, and karmic New Moon that provides emotional and spiritual support as we integrate wisdom, heal and evolve on a deep, soul level.
A New Moon is a time when new seeds are sown. Mercury Cazimi – the exact conjunction of the Sun and Mercury – is an auspicious moment for spiritual insight, wish lists and clarifying our intentions, as Mercury is purified and amplified by the full intensity of the Sun. With Mercury being retrograde, this is the inferior conjunction of the Sun and Mercury – and the start of a new Sun-Mercury cycle. Uniting to create a powerful moment of illumination that plants potent, healing, seeds for the future.
Uranus opposite the New Moon and Mercury, enhances our intuition and insight at this moment. May deliver a golden idea for the future – at just the right moment – or a bombshell plot twist. As Uranus also highlights that discovery of something from unexpected and unthought of directions – may pop up out of nowhere. Things may change suddenly, people may behave out of character – including ourselves – so we could feel unsettled and uncertain about what lies ahead. But this sense of disruption and disorder, while confusing is by cosmic design, as it helps us to break free from attachments or mind sets that no longer serve us.
With Jupiter in Cancer trine Saturn and Neptune in Pisces, the New Moon activates a Grand Water Trine. Connecting the emotional depths of Scorpio, the nurturing instinct of Cancer and spiritual compassion of Pisces to create a fluid, flowing, momentum of emotional, healing, and creative energy. Jupiter in Cancer brings nurturing and emotional honesty, Saturn and Neptune compassionate structure and spiritual support as we face the darkness within, and surrounding us that has been bought to the surface in Scorpio.
It’s a time when buried pain and challenging emotions can’t be avoided. Scorpio demands that we look into the darkness, to illuminate everything that has been concealed. By facing the raw truth, and acknowledging our pain, our sorrows, and our fears – we start a process of healing.
We accept that this is the reality of where we are now, the foundation we have to build from, and start to clear the ground around us of all the debris that has been brought to the surface. Clear the way for new growth. For inner and outer changes that integrate what we need to wake up to, and wise up to. Second chances or closure – to resolve or release – whatever is necessary for our emotional and spiritual well-being.
A spiritual reset, that helps us shed what no longer serves us and align our path with our most authentic purpose – our soul’s plan. Unshackling our soul from old ties and shedding the weight of what has held us back.
It’s a new beginning that flows from healing the past, and paves the way to manifesting our dreams for the future.
5 Retrograde Planets ~ November 9th – 28th
Including Mercury, there are actually 5 retrograde planets in total in November, as Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune are also retrograde. Chiron, a celestial asteroid who represents wounds and healing, is also retrograde. Which is a huge amount of retrograde energy, and quite a rare occurrence.
Retrograde energy redirects focus inwards. The energy shifts from pushing forward in the outer world to a more introspective, reflective pace. The intense retrograde energy currently, is an influence that dramatically pulls us inwards, and may feel like a heavy emotional load. Life will not flow as usual, perhaps even feel like we are walking through fog, disorientated and slightly lost. Blocks and misunderstandings at this time cause us to pause, and reflect, and enable us to gain inner insight and greater self-awareness.
Emphasising that this is a time of deep, inner work. Of reflection, review, and integration of inner and outer changes.
This energy starts to shift when Saturn stations direct on November 28th, followed by Mercury the following day.
Mercury Retrograde ~ Post-shadow
Whilst Mercury goes direct on November 29th, Mercury does not leave the post-shadow zone until December 17th at 6° 51 Sagittarius.
The post-shadow phase, as the dust begins to settle, eases the way to us discerning a clearer picture. The emotional intensity will start to lighten, and some missing pieces of the puzzle may surface. Our minds gain focus as some of the fog of confusion lifts, leading us to a new understanding about our path forwards, and a calm acceptance of our new reality.
Key Dates
October 21st, 2025 20°42’Pre-Shadow Begins | Mercury enters Retrograde Pre-shadow Zone  20°42’ Scorpio |
Nov 9, 2025  Mercury Retrograde (R) |  06°51’ Sagittarius |
Nov 11, 2025 Jupiter Retrograde (R) |  25°09’ Cancer |
Nov 12, 2025  Mercury conjunction Mars | 06°04’ Sagittarius |
| Nov 17, 2025 Sun  JupiterNov 17, 2025, 08:55 Sun  Saturn | Grand Water Trine Sun 25° Scorpio Jupiter25° Cancer Saturn 25° Pisces |
| Nov 19, 2025 Mercury leaves Sagittarius (R) | 00°00’ Sagittarius |
Nov 20, 2025  New Moon in Scorpio | 28°11’ Scorpio |
Nov 20, 2025 Sun conjunction MercuryMercury Cazimi | 28°18’ Scorpio |
| Nov 22, 2025 Mercury SaturnNov 22, 2025 Mercury Jupiter | Grand Water Trine  Mercury 24-25° Scorpio Jupiter  24-25° Cancer Saturn 25° Pisces |
| Nov 25, 2025, 01:51 Mercury  Venus | 22°45’ Scorpio |
| Nov 26, 2025 Venus JupiterNov 26, 2025 Venus Saturn | Grand Water Trine Venus 24-25° ScorpioJupiter 24-25° CancerSaturn 25° Pisces |
| Nov 28, 2025 Saturn Direct | 25°09’ |
| Nov 29, 2025 Mercury Direct | 20°42’ |
Dec 17, 2025 6°51’Post-Shadow Ends | Mercury leaves the Post-Shadow Zone 06°51’ Sagittarius Grand Water Trine  Moon 23-25° Scorpio Jupiter 23° CancerSaturn25° Pisces |
