What the Astrology of Thanksgiving 2020 Suggests About Resting and Recovering

We are in eclipse season, which means life likely continues to feel topsy-turvy. The first of the eclipse series, the lunar eclipse in Gemini, occurs on Monday, November 30th, and we’ll likely feel its effects all week, as the moon waxes toward full. Yet, considering where we’ve recently been, the charged week brings mostly mild astrological conditions. Even with the first of two eclipses quickly approaching, the astrology of Thanksgiving 2020 suggests we’d be best served by leaning into time off from work and using it to rest and recover from what’s been a very challenging month (and, okay, a ridiculously challenging year, too). However, before we go there, let’s discuss the other aspects that will come first.

Beginning on Sunday, Mercury in Scorpio makes an inconjunct to Mars in Aries, asking you to release limiting beliefs and make space for your most real and authentic passions. Mars also asks you to move your body through exercise and movement. If physical activity isn’t possible for you, you can choose a sitting practice that’s done by making simple eye-movements. Mars and Aries both correlate with the head, and eye movement—especially bilateral eye movement—can be helpful for releasing stress and tension and even with helping the brain to process trauma. (Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy, though, is advised only under the care of an accredited professional.)

For basic stress relief, here are some basic eye movements to shift energy within: Close and open your eyes, then, without moving your head, look up. Once complete, close and open your eyes, and again, without moving your head, look down. Finally repeat the sequence by doing it two more times, once looking left and another looking right. An additional option is to hold your finger in front of your face and move it left to right, following it just with your eyeballs. Repeat each of these sequences multiple times and then relax your eyes and notice the shifts occurring within.

Start the week bright-eyed and ready for what’s ahead while leaning into your intuitive wisdom.

These movements are helpful because the expansion of your periphery right now is a must. Mercury trines Neptune on Monday, and in this position, Mercury in Scorpio forms an ideal angle to the planet that closely represents dreams, intuition, and spiritual knowledge. You’ll want to start the week bright-eyed and ready for what’s ahead while leaning into your intuitive wisdom. Meditation may work wonders now, as well, especially because it can help you feel more compassion for yourself and for others.

Speaking of compassion, come Wednesday, Venus in Scorpio forms a quincunx to Chiron, the wounded healer, providing you with the opportunity to forgive, forget, and move on. As a reminder, forgiveness doesn’t mean what someone did was right; it just means that you won’t punish yourself for what’s been done to you by holding onto the pain. Forgiveness isn’t a spiritual bypass if you arrive at it by processing grief, honoring hurt, feeling pain, and then surrendering it.

Considering Thanksgiving kicks off the holiday season in the time of COVID, there’s more than enough emotion going around. However, the astrology of Thanksgiving 2020 includes the sun trine Chiron, which indicates all of those intense emotions may bring a much-needed sigh of relief, especially if you can lean into forgiveness and let go of resentment.

On Friday, Mercury sextiles Pluto, while Venus opposes Uranus. This beckons liberation and offers a powerful path to surrendering what you no longer need while owning your personal power. As Mercury sextiles Jupiter, too, a transit that perfects on Saturday, the cosmos animates possibility and potential, helping you find the positive amid the challenge.

As we get closer and closer to the upcoming lunar eclipse, there will be more chaos to contend with, so do your best to stay centered and available for the positive—because there will be plenty of that, too. Remember to love yourself and others gracefully. Say what is needed, but do so with finesse. Stay mindful of overreactions, and take space for yourself. It’s required.

Jennifer Racioppi is the creator of Lunar Logic—a philosophy that integrates the deep wisdom of both science and spirituality, and blends her expertise in astrology, positive psychology, and women’s health—which she uses to coach high-achieving female entrepreneurs to reach their next level of success. Pre-order her book, Cosmic Health (January 2021), here.

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