By Amanda Painter

If you have any puzzles, mysteries or proposals on your plate today, you should be in the perfect frame of mind to dig deep, investigate and scrutinize it until you are satisfied. But what if that puzzle or mystery is something about yourself — specifically something regarding certain of your beliefs?

Illuminated box at the 2016 Sacred and Profane Festival, Peaks Island, Maine. Participants had to figure out what would prompt the silent, masked box-holders to open the lid wider and offer its contents, rather than close the lid and withdraw. Photo by Amanda Painter.

The astrology looks good for cracking that nut, too, though it may happen in unexpected ways, or could come with some emotional release.

And given how high emotions are running already this election season, and the way so many people are doubling-down on what they believe to be ‘true’ — regardless of facts, context or their own past stances on similar issues — don’t be surprised if your next political conversation is a catalyst for that release.

Not everyone is comfortable with intense or highly focused self-expression, however, including their own…or especially their own. If that sounds like you, I’d definitely encourage you to see the process as one of exploration and even relief or liberation, rather than as any kind of threat to whatever neat, tidy package you’ve constructed for your self-image. We’re all works of progress, remember. No shame in that.

In fact, when you allow yourself to be moved and ‘let it out’ (whatever ‘it’ may be for you), you begin to get clearer on your deeper values. Those moments are practically arrows that point you to your core bottom line, your ethics, your essential humanity. True, sometimes those arrows also point to shadow material, baggage or sore spots that still need some TLC, understanding, unpacking and illumination. Again, nothing wrong with that — it’s all part of healing and growing. Those triggers can be incredible teachers when we’re able to hold space for them.

So what’s in the works astrologically? Today one highlight is Mercury in Scorpio sextile Pluto in Capricorn, exact at 1:10 am EDT (05:10 UTC). This offers the deeply investigative frame of mind, as well as the ability and desire to share whatever answer you unearth — though with Mercury in Scorpio, that sharing is more likely to happen in private to a carefully selected recipient.

Watch out for obsessively dogging people with your newfound ‘truth’, particularly in political discussions. A little persistence goes a long way this time of year.

Yet, applying this energy to any creative challenges or stuck projects at work will likely put you in great shape to use what you learn. If your sleuthing is of the entirely internal variety, go as deep as you can.

Mercury-Pluto is setting the intellectual stage; the more emotional side of things emerges as we head into the weekend. Tomorrow, Venus in Sagittarius squares Chiron in Pisces (exact at 12:39 pm EDT / 16:39 UTC). Then, beginning Saturday, Nov. 5, Venus trines Uranus and Eris in Aries (exact beginning at 2:23 am EDT / 06:23 UTC).

This is where the emotional release, the focus on or discovery of values, and perhaps even related lessons about receptivity and healing come in. Venus-Chiron squares set up some internal stress. But as mentioned, you can express how you’re feeling about it in truly beneficial ways. One key is to focus on what you can learn rather than just getting caught up in (or scared by) the adrenaline high of all that emotion.

With Venus also in a trine to Uranus and Eris, you’ll not only want to expect the unexpected, you’ll likely have more fun if you actively seek it out. Unusual ideas, surprising events and atypical attractions (of both the romantic and the entertainment varieties) may call to you, and could offer just the adventurous spark you need to go with the flow of whatever Venus-Chiron urges out of you.

The presence of Eris nearby does caution that you be up-front with all of this for maximum benefit and constructive enjoyment. That runs counter to a Scorpio Mercury. So, pay attention to any feelings of being overlooked (in yourself and in those you care about, including in the digital realm). Maybe accept an invitation from someone new to come play, and see where your discoveries take you.

Eric has begun the early pre-order phase of the 2017 annual edition. You can read his full letter about it here. Or, go straight to the purchase page for the current early discount, which will increase again later in the season. (If you’re a Core Community or Backstage Pass member, or have questions, please email us at cs@planetwaves.net for your extra-special discounted price.)