Virgo Monthly Horoscope

MONTHLY OVERVIEW
Picture it: you, holding a mug of coffee (your fourth refill), saying to friends, “And another thing…” Yep, you could be one chatty Patty the first three weeks of the month, as the Sun tours Scorpio, your third house of communication. With an overactive mind, you’ll have no shortage of opinions, ideas and witty observations. (You might even fall asleep with your cell phone glued to your ear.) All month, the planets are having a shin-dig in intense Scorpio, so get set for some serious, possibly life-changing chats—or to catch up on that stack of books and magazines you haven’t had time to read.

Before you get too carried away, know that clever Mercury, your ruler, is retrograde (backward) from November 6-26—a time that can potentially foil communication, technology and travel. Mercury will be retrograde first in free-spirited Sagittarius, your fourth house of home and family (until the 14th), then in Scorpio. If you’re celebrating Thanksgiving this month, expect dinnertime conversation to be a little rough around the edges. (After, you just might chastise yourself, thinking, But I didn’t mean to bring up that time cousin Janet fell out of the bathroom stall, her cat suit gathered around her ankles…) Oops. Time with the relatives will be gaffe-free next month, but it could be laden with bickering and tactless slip-ups now.

On November 13, get set for big changes, as a solar (new moon) eclipse in Scorpio electrifies your third house of the intellect. Perhaps your ever-careful communication style gets an overhaul. Perhaps you’ve been skirting surface issues with a loved one, at work or even yourself. Or maybe you’ve allowed yourself to get pulled into the same maddening “lecturing loop” with a relative or friend, giving advice that they only tune out. This eclipse cuts that pattern short—no more wasting your precious words! This date kicks off a three-year series of eclipses on the Taurus/Scorpio axis, your third and ninth houses, which both affect the way you think, view life and express yourself. When it comes to interpersonal communications, big ideas and even your personal philosophy, expect events that demand an overhaul of these areas. Perhaps you’re the type who fails to communicate on important issues, thinking that if you don’t say what’s already in the ether, you won’t be held accountable for it later. No one is asking you to sign your name in blood when you utter ideas and feelings. So free your perfectionist self from that prison, and spit it out. Your end goal? To ensure that the words coming out of your mouth are aligned with your highest truth.

On November 21, the Sun enters Sagittarius, your fourth house of domesticity and family, giving you a break from the fray. The last week of the month, put that “Do Not Disturb” sign on your doorknob and cozy up at home. Nest away! Embark on a redecorating project, swap your old, chipped votive holders for new designs or invite your closest friends over for a sumptuous feast of roasted Brussels sprouts, braised beef and truffle mashed potatoes. Relatives may breeze into town, but you might wait until Mercury goes direct (forward) on November 26 before offering up your digs as a crash pad.

On November 28, a full moon lunar eclipse in Gemini lights up your tenth house of professional success. This marks a critical turning point in your career, when you can expect an exciting manifestation of a project that was perhaps only a twinkle in your analytical eye around the time of the May 20 eclipse. The tenth house can be linked to fame, so you may see your name in lights, or have a chance to speak publicly as an expert. Pull out that power suit and get camera-ready. The spotlight is yours.

LOVE & ROMANCE
Check your sheets’ thread count and break out your finest silk robe, because when it comes to your boudoir, only the best turns you on. For the first three weeks of November, magnetic Venus in Libra lights up your second house of luxury and the senses. Pile on the decadence. Treat yourself (or your love) to heaps of fragrant flowers. Splurge on an elaborate dinner at that new “celebrity chef’s” spot with great reviews. If you’re feeling especially frisky, get a room—literally—at the nicest hotel in town.

On November 21, Venus enters Scorpio, your third house of communication, so don’t be surprised if you’re suddenly sending off-color texts or flirting coquettishly. The third house also rules siblings and friends, so single Virgos might meet someone through their matchmaking. Watch out: what you think is a ho-hum invitation to pick up your niece from school could yield a surprise date. Dress va-va-voom for those babysitting gigs (think: Fran Drescher’s version of The Nanny instead of the sweatpants-and-Uggs look).

On November 10, illusory Neptune turns direct (forward) in Pisces, your seventh house of committed relationships after a five-month retrograde period. You’ll soon feel sweet relief from the lack of clarity in your personal life, a fog that’s been dogging you since June. Perhaps you dealt with unclear signals from your sweetie. Or a certain partnership was continually out of reach, not gelling for reasons your analytical mind couldn’t fathom. (But we’re soul mates, you might have cried. This doesn’t happen with soul mates…) During this period, you may have felt like you met the One, only to have that person disappear into the ether, making you rely perhaps a little too heavily on the “divine”—or unseen—part of the relationship. (And when meditating didn’t make the phone ring, you resorted to your own Google stalking. Yikes—you’ll never get THAT Friday night back, Virgo.)

Perhaps you made too many sacrifices, telling yourself it was totally cool to skip your best friend’s birthday because your unemployed honey seemed ill-at-ease and needed you to proofread a cover letter. If issues of codependence or addiction reared their unseemly heads in your love life, consider these “appearances” a chance to kiss those negative patterns goodbye. Your sign likes to fix and serve, yes. But it only works to a certain extent, especially if the give and take isn’t equal. You have your own life to live.

Midmonth, sexy Mars enters Capricorn, your fifth house of romance and passion. From November 16-December 25, you’re not shy about going after what you want in the love arena. (More together time? More sweetness? More over-the-top displays of affection? Whatever you want, you can easily woo it. Cha-ching!) You’ll have assertive energy in spades, and you’ll be turning heads aplenty. The fifth house also rules fertility, and with active Mars here, your own baby-making mojo to be ramped up. A holiday visit from the stork could be in order for many Virgos.

Speaking of holidays, be daring with your look as you make the party rounds. Ditch the safety default, and take a bold step with colorful, glittery eye shadow, a new haircut or sexy shoes that expose your pedicure. If you’re stymied as to where you can begin, check out your Virgo sister and style icon Florence Welch.

MONEY & CAREER
Between your buzzing cell phone, your pinging inbox and your ringing doorbell, life is anything but quiet this month. The excess of planets in Scorpio—Sun, Saturn, Venus and Mercury, not to mention an eclipse—has you on information overload. If you’re not taking in important data for a project, you’re arguing for your vision in the boardroom. Chances are, your head will be spinning when it finally hits the pillow at night, as you plan for the following day. Sound exhausting? It might be, but this wave of inspiration can be incredibly fruitful, too. Just make sure to power down—perhaps a tech-free hour before bedtime to meditate, soak in the tub or enjoy a good novel.

With all the back-and-forth on the communications front, you may encounter some gaffes or unanticipated misunderstandings, especially when Mercury is retrograde (backward) from November 6- 26. During this cycle, communicator Mercury can wreak havoc with technology, so back up all data (better safe than sorry!). Triple-check all details of your emails, especially the ones that contain sensitive information. How mortifying would it be to accidentally send an email about a certain employee’s performance to that employee, simply because you spaced out? But above all with the retrograde: don’t speak before you’re ready. In fact, even if you find yourself champing at the bit to share what you think will be a pivotal piece of information, do your best to keep it to yourself. You’ll be better off getting your thoughts in order, organizing ideas and mulling over a certain issue, rather than spouting off a half-formed opinion. If you must launch a new venture, triple-check your message, and have an army of proofreaders on hand.

On November 13, a Scorpio solar eclipse sweeps into your third house of communication. Eclipses are known for bringing earth-shattering developments into your life, and in Scorpio (sign of the Phoenix rising from the ashes) the change can be transformational. If you’ve been struggling with a big idea or a writing project, expect a massive breakthrough around this date. Perhaps a piece of the puzzle will suddenly reveal itself, resulting in you being glued to your laptop for days on end. This date marks the start of a three-year series of eclipses in Taurus/Scorpio axis, which rule your houses of the mind, communication and beliefs. Over the next three years, these eclipses will radically reshape how you express yourself—and for the better. Consider it astrological assertiveness training for the “nice” (read: passive-aggressive) Virgos out there. Do your words reflect your most deeply held values? Where do you need to loosen the reins? When do you need to put your nose to the grindstone, becoming responsible for every inch of your success, and when do you need to be resourceful, giving a wink and nod to the universe (or real, live colleagues) for help? For the next six months, this November 13 eclipse will push you out of your comfort zone, helping you discern when (and how) to speak up, and when your silence is truly golden—saving you from another bickering back-and-forth with a difficult person. You could also have the opportunity to write, speak and teach about what you know.

The month ends with a November 28 full moon eclipse in Gemini, your tenth house of professional recognition. If you’ve been toiling away for the last six months on a project that’s felt more exhausting than exciting, let the good times roll, as you put the finishing touches on your creation. You could be thrust into a leadership role out of the blue, or receive some public recognition for your expertise. Nice, Virgo! Look to the May 20 Gemini solar eclipse for clues as to what’s coming to a rollicking conclusion. Whether it’s a book, a promotion or a plum job offer, the November 28 ties it up with a bow.

HEALTH: MIND, BODY & SOUL
Easy does it, Virgo. From November 6-14, Mercury is retrograde (backward) in Sagittarius, your fourth house of home and family, making this a perfect time to put your feet up. Rest as much as you can, since that already jamming mind of yours will be filled to the max this month, causing potential frayed nerves. Exercise extra self-care. Dip your bod in soothing Epsom salt baths, mixed with a few drops of lavender oil. Make deep breaths your default. Bliss out by your stovetop, cooking the healthiest fare your farmers’ market has to offer. If you feel obligated to go to the office party, even though you’re extra-tired, shake your head so you can come to your senses. Of course you shouldn’t push yourself. Instead of being a martyr, practice self-love…that way, if other people can’t tend to your needs, you don’t mind, ‘cause you got this.

With communicator Mercury retrograde here, watch for difficult family dynamics. A female relative (perhaps your mother or daughter) can be particularly troublesome during the first half of the month. Don’t waste your breath trying to get this person to see your point of view. If you planned to visit family this month, you might want to wait until December, when you’re totally in the clear (Mercury’s entire retrograde lasts until November 26). Otherwise, take precautions: leave early for flights, avoid difficult topics (no, your parents don’t need to weigh in on why you’re not married yet), and book those especially tough nuts a hotel room if their conflict-loving energy will wreak havoc on your happy home.

On November 21, the Sun moves into Sagittarius, turning your attention even more to matters of nurturing and the family. You may have issues to deal with on the domestic front. A female relative may be burning up your phone line, looking for a sympathetic ear (and you’ll clearly have your problem-solving hat on). Or perhaps you feel motivated to straighten out a lingering issue with a loved one.

This action-packed month ends with a November 28 full moon eclipse in Gemini, your tenth house of authority. If a pesky old issue with your father or an important man in your life comes to the fore, take this as your cue to clear it. Perhaps you need to forgive or finally let this person down off the pedestal. Your sign has a reputation for being overly critical, so if you hear yourself slipping into judgment mode, pause. When you give him the benefit of the doubt, you’re the one who breathes easier.