Akrav (AKA Scorpio), ruling sign of the Hebrew month of Cheshvan, as drawn in a 1322 German Shavuot prayer book.
Akrav (AKA Scorpio), ruling sign of the Hebrew month of Cheshvan, as drawn in a 1322 German Shavuot prayer book.

Month of Cheshvan: Empty of holidays, full of potential


Cheshvan

Oct. 30-Nov. 28


The month of Cheshvan is sometimes called empty because there are no holidays. But Cheshvan, ruled by Mars (Ma’adim), is full of hidden potential. Cheshvan’s tribal ruler Menashe hid his identity while acting as an interpreter between his father Joseph, who himself was disguised as the prime minister of Egypt, and Joseph’s brothers when they came to buy food during the famine. Scorpio (Akrav), the zodiac sign of Cheshvan, employs secrecy and subterfuge in the service of ultimate truth and the greatest good. The energy of deep investigation and uncovering hidden truth is powerful this month.

One of Scorpio’s symbols is the phoenix, which self-immolates and rises from its own ashes to a new life. Like Menashe who used pretense to achieve reconciliation, this is the month to use every means possible to recreate yourself anew.


Aries / Taleh

All’s fair in love and war, and this Mars-ruled month asks if you’ll fight for the love you believe in. Your ruling red planet Ma’adim in peace-loving, harmony-seeking Libra (Moznayim) through Nov. 18 gives way to Mars in intense, passionate Scorpio on the 19th. The gloves come off: No more playing nice or diplomatic maneuvers, especially with Mercury in retrograde Scorpio. Beware of wounding words. Fighting fair isn’t half as important to you as winning, but consider the possible damage left in the wake of battle and try to achieve your relationship goals without instituting a scorched earth policy.

Taurus / Shor

Reveling in earthly delights will be your favorite activity while lustrous planetary ruler Noga (Venus) lingers in expansive, exuberant, all-or-nothing-at-all Sagittarius through Nov. 24. Venus will also be conjunct Tzedek (Jupiter), supersizing your appetite for all things pleasurable. The full Taurus moon on Nov. 12 beckons you to fill your heart, your freezer and your bank account with non-perishable treasures. Change-agent Uranus (Oron) in Taurus opposite Mars in Scorpio on Nov. 24 moves the needle from conformity to unconventionality in surprising ways. Tribal ruler Issachar, skilled in discerning times and seasons, reveals how to have your cake and eat it too: perfect timing is everything.

Gemini / T’omim

Planetary ruler Kochav (Mercury) in retrograde Scorpio through Nov. 20 brings secrecy, subterfuge and sub-rosa investigations. Like tribal ruler Zevulun you’ll revisit the highways and byways of your travels, both literal and figurative, searching for what you may have left behind. Tempted to revisit the crossroads where your ways diverged, and where the path not taken might have led? Mercury interacts with Neptune on Nov. 25, re-imagining a better ending to the story you’ve been replaying in your head. You can heal the past with self-forgiveness and a clear vision for the future unimpeded by regret.

Cancer / Sartan

Moon-ruled Cancer is generally comfortable during watery Cheshvan, though retrograde Mercury in mysterious Scorpio has you investigating your own deepest feelings about survival of the fittest vs. the qualities of mercy, which you truly believe must not be strained. Your sense of personal responsibility as well as your own vulnerability to an unstable environment peaks not with fear but with courage when the full Taurus moon Nov. 12 brings out the Earth Mother warrior. “Save our home” takes on global activism dimensions to Tribal leader Reuven’s celestial descendants. Lead the way to healing with your tender, sensitive heart.

Leo / Aryeh

Tribal ruler Shimon’s legendary passion is easily aroused during Cheshvan, and your charm quotient is almost off the charts with Noga and Tzedek (Venus and Jupiter) in joyously hospitable Sagittarius. Be very aware of your own powerful presence and innate strength and realize how intimidating you may be to the shyer and quieter ones around you. You’ll want to be gracious and turn your dazzling spotlight on others at the full moon in Taurus on Nov. 12. Generosity is always your loveliest adornment. Accumulated wisdom dispensed with grace at the last quarter moon in Leo on Nov. 19 raises your reputation and value.

Virgo / Betulah

Summon the troops of Gad, your tribal leader, with Kochav (Mercury) in retrograde Scorpio through Nov. 19. You’ve got a lot of sorting, sifting, measuring and deciding to do around issues of your immediate environment. You’re looking for clues and conducting a forensic investigation of your resources to determine what is mine and what is ours. You’ll have to decide if taking a chance on a big dream is really just doubling down on a bad bet when Mercury trines Neptune Nov. 28, and that’s going to take discernment. Partnerships bring more to the table than what can be weighed and measured Nov. 20-21.

Libra / Moznayim

The full Taurus moon Nov. 12 coupled with planetary ruler Noga/Venus in Tzedek/Jupiter-ruled Sagittarius almost guarantees both exceedingly good times and the tendency to over-indulge this month. The square of sensual Venus to dreamy Neptune Nov. 14 is so enchanting you may forget altogether that you have a budget and boundaries. Whether you fight or give in, the pursuit of or the struggle against pleasure’s unpleasant consequences occupy you through Nov. 25, after which Venus in pragmatic Capricorn will ask to look at the bill — and scold you for it. Original, creative solutions to practical matters appear Nov. 28.

Scorpio / Akrav

Retrograde Mercury in Scorpio through Nov. 20 has you re-examining your recent choices with microscopic precision, and this has you feeling a little like you’re driving with the emergency brake on. Tribal ruler Menashe was a secret interpreter between Yosef and his brothers in Egypt; you may interpret secrets this month and decide whether they should be made public or kept private. Ma’adim/Mars in Scorpio from Nov. 25 makes up for lost time, re-energizing and renewing your basic life force and recalibrating your values and priorities to align with your truest self and most pressing needs.

Sagittarius / Keshet

This is the last month of ruling planet Tzedek/Jupiter in Sagittarius, where it’s been since last November. It’s up to you to wring every possible blessing from this transit, which occurs only once every 12 or 13 years. Tribal ruler Benjamin’s restoration to his brothers sparked the immense joy of togetherness that we celebrated on Tu b’Av; this month is your personal version of that same level of joy. Noga/Venus in Sagittarius is always ready for fun; square Neptune Nov. 14 tests the quality of your dreams for sustainability. New moon in Sagittarius Nov. 26 begins a new life cycle.

Capricorn / Gidi

Tribal ruler Dan’s function is the fierce protection of borders; guard your own boundaries against usurpers and check your assumptions about who is in charge Nov. 1-2. Ruling planet Shabbtai/Saturn’s interaction with Neptune in Pisces on Nov. 8 leads to misunderstandings around issues of authority. Full moon in earthy Taurus Nov. 12 invites you to ground yourself and embody calm, loving patience. Life takes a turn for the sweeter Nov. 25 with Noga/Venus’ entry into Capricorn. You may be in for a flash of brilliant originality leading to development of your own unique ideas Nov. 28.

Aquarius / D’li

First quarter moon in Aquarius Nov. 4 opens a new personal growth cycle. Modern planetary ruler Oron/Uranus’s long retrograde in Taurus has seeded new ideas and fresh dreams; now is the time to determine which ones are viable in the fertile soil of your fresh start. You focus is on the macro rather than the micro, but take time for self-care Nov. 15-20. Your tendency to make choices based on what’s best for the greater good may undermine your personal health and well-being; there should be no daylight between what’s good for humanity and what’s good for you.

Pisces / Dagim

Run swiftly like your tribal ruler Naftali into the arms of unimpeded sweet togetherness Nov. 5-7, but watch impulsive actions Nov. 14. You won’t have a big-picture view of the entire situation until after modern planetary ruler Rahav/Neptune stations direct Nov. 27, signaling your readiness to make important decisions you’ve been mulling since mid-June. Retrograde Mercury in fellow water sign Scorpio through Nov. 20 inspires fact-checking and re-running the numbers on offers you’ve received to calculate whether they really add up for the better after all the details have been factored in.

A version of this column originally appeared at jpost.com and is reprinted with permission.

Lorelai Kude
Lorelai Kude

Lorelai Kude began her career as a professional astrologer in the 1980s. She holds a BA in Journalism from San Francisco State University and a MA in Jewish Studies from Berkeley’s Graduate Theological Union, where her thesis topic was astrology in Jewish cultural history. Find more of her work at astrolojew.com.