November 2014 Overview

For those of you following the phases of the moon and signs of the zodiac as they apply to planting and other activities, here’s November’s information.

The moon

November began and ends with the moon in the light phase. The light moon rules until the full (or dark) moon comes to rule at 5:23 p.m. Nov. 6.

The full or dark moon then rules until the new — or light — moon returns at 7:32 a.m. Nov. 22. During this period plant only those veggies that produce below the ground — except when Aries or Leo is in force; those dates are below.

Light moon: Plant above ground producers through Nov. 5, then most of Nov. 22 until the full moon 7:27 a.m. Dec 6.

Dark moon: Plant below ground producers Nov. 7 and through Nov. 21.

Check “General Tips” for dark- and light-moon activities.

The signs

Remember: Check to see if the moon is in the light or dark phase (information above) before proceeding with planting, or other activities, indoors or out.

Fertile signs: The most fertile signs in the zodiac rule these days: Pisces (the feet), 29-30; Taurus (the neck), Nov. 6-7; Cancer (the breast), Nov. 10-12; and Scorpio (the secrets), Nov. 20-22. There are 10 days this month ruled by the fertile signs —Pisces, Taurus, Cancer and Scorpio.

Killing signs: No planting, transplanting, or dealing with things you want to thrive should occur on these days. Reserve them for cultivating, cleaning out fencerows — anything but planting: Aries (the head), Nov. 4-5 and Leo (the heart), Nov. 13-14. There are four killing days ruled by either Aries or Leo — the blessed absolute minimum.

So-so days: These aren’t particularly fertile nor destructive, just so-so: Sagittarius (the thighs), Nov. 23-24; Capricorn (the knees), Nov. 25-26; and Aquarius (the legs), Nov. 27-28. There are six days ruled by the three so-so signs remaining this month since Nov. 1 was an Aquarius day.

Flowering days: These are “bloom days” and well suited for planting your fall flowers — and you don’t need to worry about frosts or freezes since you’re not eating them and when the last freeze hits they’re done anyway. Virgo (the bowels) will rule Nov. 15-17; and Libra (the reins) is up for Nov. 18-19. There are five flowering days this month.

Gemini days: Gemini rules the arms and is in force Nov. 8-9. These are bean days but we are past the time to safely plant beans.

General tips

Again, here are a few general tips for activities other than planting:

>If you have gravel to pour on a drive or roadway, do that in the light of the moon. Same applies for stones on a garden path: Place them when the moon is in the light phase so they don’t sink.

>If you’re setting fence posts, do that in the light of the moon so the posts don’t sink.

>If you’re putting on a new shingle roof, do that when the moon’s in the dark phase so that the shingles stick down and don’t curl up on the ends.

>If you have changes to make like stopping smoking, starting a diet or exercise program, weaning small animals or children, scheduling elective surgery — anything that requires a change — here’s the formula: The moon in the dark phase and the signs are going out of the body, past anything that “functions” so that means thighs, knees, legs and feet — Sagittarius through Pisces.

There are no days in November that perfectly fit the formula.

In my opinion, the alternative to “perfect days” are days when the signs are going out of the body past anything that functions, even if the moon is in the light phase. In November that would be Nov. 2-3, 23-30.

There are a few less than October, 11 as compared to 15, but still plenty of second-choice days: signs going out of the body past anything that functions with the light moon in force.