The difference between a square and an opposition in astrology is that with a square, the differences between the planets can potentially be hashed out, whereas with an opposition, the differences are often irreconcilable. On December 12th, Venus will form an opposition to Mars in the sky. It won't be easy to accept that you've gone as far as you can go with a relationship, partnership, or collaboration. Now, does this mean that things are absolutely over? For some people, the answer will be yes; and perhaps this end has been long overdue. It may even elicit audible sighs of relief. But for those who want to continue in a different vein, this week's Venus/Mars opposition allows you to revisit what brought you together in the first place. If you are willing to tear up the old contract (or scorecard), then cosmic configurations on December 13th and December 19th offer a rare chance to refashion an entirely new agreement—one that's more suitable to who you are now.

Mars retrograde on December 6th throws your entire life into reverse. Not only will this thwart all future progress for the time being, but it looks like you'll be drawn back into a recent crisis you survived, disaster you averted, or accident you walked away from. It's kind of like making a last-minute escape from a burning building only to realize that you forgot something valuable and must now go back to retrieve it. People will warn against doing such a thing, and a big part of you will agree with them; however, Mars, named after the Roman god of war, has a strict “no person left behind” policy. This pertains to any loved one in need, situation in peril, or karmic obligation you've yet to fulfill. The way that Mars retrograde works is that it will flood your horoscope with an overriding anxiety and remorse that won't let up until you do what should have been done all along. You may not act right away, but you will eventually, and if you weren't a hero before, you will be by the time Mars comes out of retrograde on February 24th.

On November 25th, all the gremlins come out to play. This is when Mercury turns retrograde, and its reverse direction will release a Pandora's box of glitches, debacles, and fiascos into your day-to-day life. These could manifest as automobile breakdowns, computer malfunctions, or your coffeemaker suddenly calling it quits. It's bound to be a headache, but as long as you take it all in stride and keep your sense of humor handy, you'll be OK. But Mercury retrogrades aren't always bad. Sometimes they can bring the most unexpected opportunities if you keep your ear to the ground. Who knows? You might wind up inheriting a better car, getting a price break on a new computer, or being gifted a fresh coffeemaker by a friend who was somehow given two. Stranger things have been known to happen. Mercury comes out of retrograde on December 15th.

You may feel a lot like Dorothy at the end of The Wizard of Oz. Yes, your feet are bruised and blistered, but you stayed the course—despite the allure of poppy fields, abduction by flying monkeys, and the bittersweet discovery that the Wizard you pinned your hopes on was a fake. So what do you have to show for all this? The realization that the answer you've been looking for has been with you all along. And it's not the knowledge that three clicks of the heels will spirit you home; it's the understanding that you have to be behind the choices you make. You have to be in your own corner. People will talk you out of things, circumstances can thwart you, and even the Stars may be misaligned. But if you're in your own corner, then things will turn out right eventually. It's why we travel these meandering yellow brick roads—because sometimes it's only by getting lost that we discover our life's true purpose. This is something you'll see for yourself when the Sun in Sagittarius forms a sextile to Pluto in Aquarius on November 21st.

What's on is off – and what was off is back on again – when the Sun opposes Uranus on November 16th. You'll see recent reversals reversed, done deals revisited, and final judgments overturned – all in an attempt to get things “right.” A lot has changed since April 20th, when Uranus, the planet of revolution and change, conjoined Jupiter in Taurus, sending shockwaves through everyone's horoscopes. You, like everyone else, were thrown off balance by the upsets but took them in stride and eventually made peace with them. Now, all of this will be subject to change yet again, and you don't know if you're up for it. This is a good time to remember that there's always a greater design at work when Uranus is involved. As Albert Einstein once said: “God does not play dice with the Universe.” Admittedly, that's something you're going to have to take on faith given all the craziness, but there really is logic in the absurdity if you search for it.

Mars enters the zodiac sign of Leo on November 3rd. You will experience this as a surge in fiery energy. The peak point of this transit will be on November 27th, when Mars in Leo forms a trine to the Sun in Sagittarius. Translation? From November 3rd until November 27th, you will feel like you can get what you want without having to push, shove, or elbow people out of the way. That's because the Sun is racing to catch up to Mars, and since the Sun rules Mars in Leo, it feels no compunction about exercising the divine right of kings. However, after the Sun/Mars trine on November 27th, you will begin to experience a sharp dip in energy. That's because Mars is slowing down, eventually coming to a complete halt on December 6th. This is when the planet of gumption and drive turns retrograde and travels back over the patch of sky it just traversed. This is why you will want to complete any Herculean tasks, score that big win, or plant the flag by November 27th—because afterwards, you just won't have the advantage, the momentum, or the element of surprise.

On October 28th, Mars will form its last trine to Neptune in Pisces in our lifetimes. This is a potentially creative time as you will have full access to your imagination. Neptune is the planet of dreams and visions in astrology, and when it forms a trine to the planet of gumption and drive, you will pursue whatever you see in your mind’s eye to perfection. If harnessed correctly, you will achieve your life’s dream because you believe in what you see and refuse to settle for second best. This makes it a productive period, as you will truly apply yourself. If you don’t harness the energies correctly, however, you could find yourself off in pursuit of a fool’s errand—tilting at windmills and taking swings at jabberwockies.

Libra is a law-abiding sign, and the Sun here shows that a rule or law will be strictly enforced. This is good if you're on the right side of it; not so good if you're the one who's challenging or even ignoring it. Everyone knows that laws – like facts and stats – can be manipulated to serve a less-than-ideal purpose, and the Sun's square to Pluto on October 22nd points to such a possibility. However, you have no choice but to move through the system if you want to make your case, appeal, or have your day in court. Justice doesn't always go hand in hand with the law, but it can be summoned if you press for it hard enough. Don't give up if you're in the right because Pluto, named after the Judge of the Dead, has a long memory and the reach to match it. It's something you'll see for yourself when Pluto re-enters Aquarius on November 19th.

Your sincere and heartfelt admission that you did wrong may not make things right, but it will go a long way towards mending a broken trust. The Venus/Neptune trine on October 15th, followed by its last sextile to Pluto at the 29th degree of Capricorn on October 17th, says that this isn't the time to hold back or to hold out. If you truly want a second chance, then you need to be bold and ask for it. There's no guarantee that you will get what you want, but the fact that you are willing to open yourself up to rejection speaks more about your recent emotional growth than any amount of promises to do better in the future. Perhaps the reason why forgiveness remains one of the tallest orders of the Universe is because it requires such human vulnerability and humility—from both the person asking for it and the one granting it. This is what makes forgiveness the rarest miracle of all.

Jupiter, the planet of good fortune and higher purpose, turns retrograde on October 9th. Like Saturn, Jupiter is a planet of tests. But instead of withholding things from you, Jupiter usually piles on the good stuff – like a budding romance, an uptick in finances, or a bushel of golden opportunities – before pulling the plug. Retrogrades signal a planet's about-face. The planet changes direction and either undoes all the good work it's done or shows us a side of itself that doesn't jibe with what we saw before. It's understandable that you might feel duped and even angry, but there is a higher purpose to Jupiter's backward motion, and that's for you to grow. We don't grow if things come easy. That's why prosperity makes us forgetful. We only grow if we're inspired to. Now you're free to go back the way you came. There's nothing saying you can't stay inside your comfort zone, but if you're willing to take a running leap of faith, you might like where you land on February 4th.