The solar eclipse on November 23 is this week's big news, and because eclipses are extraordinary events that create abnormal times, the psychic pulses of the week are peculiar. If we still lived as our ancestors did, dependent upon the Sun to delineate the boundary between day and night, an aberrant interruption of that cycle would be extremely disturbing. As day became night, our forerunners probably experienced a visceral reaction, amazed, afraid, and alert at what this astonishing event might portend. But most of us don't live in the wild or wander the tundra anymore, and while the Sun still marks the break between day and night, we don't think of eclipses as a strange celestial sign. We understand what they are. We predict when they will occur. But that knowledge doesn't necessarily diminish their power, and when an eclipse takes place many of us still react instinctually, sensing a disruption in the "normal" flow of life. For some, the wobble of an eclipse manifests as a constant stream of interruptions and an edgy need to stay on track regardless of distractions. For others, odd urges surface seemingly from nowhere, and those peculiar yearnings are apt to feel as if they have a life of their own. The best way to handle these disturbances is to expect the unexpected and to stay as flexible as possible in the midst of a constantly shifting energetic terrain.

A solar eclipse parts the veils of consciousness. The Moon overshadows the Sun, and what was previously concealed in the unconscious becomes known. This solar eclipse carries an intense signature for fabrication, which means as the week unfolds, it's important to listen carefully to what's actually being said. Here's the breakdown: (1) An on-going opposition  between Jupiter and Mars continues to encourage exaggeration. Don't take on more than you can comfortably handle and try not to make rash moves. (2) Pluto still squares both Jupiter and Mars, and while this whole bundle feeds a strong spirit of enterprise, it just as easily encourages a strong need for control. (3) Mercury is conjunct Pluto, which means it is also squaring Mars and Jupiter. When Pluto and Mercury share the same space, words wield power. When you add the excess of Mars and Jupiter, an atmosphere of convincing rhetoric prevails. Unfortunately, so does the power of suggestion. Facts become superfluous and seduction flourishes. This is the perfect environment for fast-talking shuck and jive that sounds too good to be true because it is.

As the week unfolds, pay attention to the man behind the curtain and be determined to see past the artifice. Allow the eclipse to reveal motivation and intention. Resist the temptation to say something just because it sounds good and try not to believe what you hear just because you want it to be true.