Special
Note As This Article is Written
As I am in the
process of completing the December 2008 article, I must send my
prayers to all my friends, spiritual acquaintances, and those
I have never meant who have suffered and are suffering losses
due to the sad occurrences in Mumbai, India. This impacts us all.
The last few months
have been very intense globally and the last few days have been
difficult for many people who are recovering from losses they
suffered. The world is in upheaval both at home and abroad. There
is frustration brewing and people who want to take advantage of
this energy to promote their own goals. December is a month where
the energy keeps churning. In the first two weeks of December,
the mutable energy of the planets is very strong. Mutable energy
represents a shifting of circumstances. It represents the need
to release past failures and prepare for the future, hopefully
a future that can bring success. In many ways, the mutable energy
is represented by the changeling in fiction. This is an individual
who appears to be one thing but in reality is someone completely
different. There is an evasive quality to the changeling because
he or she can’t be defined. Yet, there can also be hope
with the changeling because this is someone who can adapt to many
different situations.
When the Sun enters
Capricorn, the Winter Solstice in the northern hemisphere, a shifting
of energies occurs from mutable to cardinal and fixed. The desire
with the cardinal energy is that past mistakes can be understood
and corrected. The need with the fixed energy is that corrections
based on past errors can be implemented without too much disruption
to life and soul.
While it’s easy
to write about situations when everything is wonderful, it becomes
more difficult to write about global changes that occur too quickly
and possibly leave scars. Yet, life continues and it’s important
for the spiritual safety and growth of the world that you not
only understand these energies but also find ways to use them
in the most possible manner.
The month of December
starts with Venus forming a conjunction to Jupiter on December
1st. This is a day when you can look into your soul and see how
to make things better in your life. Communications are easier.
Discussing your needs and finding people who listen can occur.
Most importantly, you can find inner understanding of what steps
to take in order to move towards a better future.
The first mutable T-square
occurs on December 5th and December 6th when Mercury first forms
a square to Uranus and the next day forms a square to Saturn.
Mercury represents the need to communicate as well as plan actions.
Mercury is in Sagittarius, not its most comfortable sign, indicating
that it’s very important for you to choose your words carefully.
Also, the Sun is approaching a conjunction to Mars indicating
that you may get frustrated if you feel that other people aren’t
listening to you. But, you need to be careful because when Mercury
is in Sagittarius there’s a tendency to say too much and
speak before thinking. Also, the fact that Mercury is forming
a square to Uranus indicates that your mind is feeling unsettled.
It’s as if you’re picking up on all the energies that
are surrounding you and you don’t quite know what to do.
Since your mind is unsettled, you may lack some focus. Be very
cautious as you’re driving so that you don’t get into
an accident. And, be cautious not to start any fights today. The
results could be painful. A better way to use this energy is to
focus on actions, such as getting a massage or writing in your
journal, which can bring health into your life.
On December 6th, when
Mercury forms the square to Saturn, you may feel that no one is
listening to you. This square is followed on the same day by Mercury
forming a sextile to Neptune indicating that perhaps it’s
not that no one is listening to you but rather what you’re
trying to say isn’t quite making sense. Negotiating doesn’t
really work on a day like today because verbal communications
aren’t really clear. What would work better is for you to
try and get as much information as possible so you can make better
decisions later in the month when the energy shifts from mutable
to the cardinal or fixed energy.
As Venus enters Aquarius
on December 7th, you’ll find that you’re not alone:
Your friends are there for you. Even if you aren’t going
through any difficulties today, it is a nice day to call people
you haven’t spoken to in a while. It’s a good day
to spend time with your friends and socialize a bit. If you have
any arguments to resolve, December 9th is an excellent day to
patch things up with people in your life because Mars forms a
sextile to Chiron and a lot of healing can occur.
The second mutable
T-square begins on December 12th when Mars in Sagittarius forms
a square to Uranus and starts moving into a square to Saturn.
This will be a very erratic day globally because several astrological
events occur: The mutable T-square begins; Mercury enters Capricorn
and forms a conjunction to Pluto; and the full Moon, with Sun
in Sagittarius and Moon, occurs. The full Moon not only emphasizes
the mutable T-square that Mars creates but also creates its own
mutable Grand Cross.
The combination of
Mars with Uranus can be an accident waiting to happen if you let
inner tensions drive you. You may act irrationally, not thinking
about the consequences of your actions. Mercury entering Capricorn
and forming a conjunction to Pluto may slow you down, as life
feels intense. However, with the mutable Grand Cross of the full
Moon, you may let your emotions trigger anger. This is a day when
world leaders need to take care and really pay attention to events
in the world.
This is mutable energy
at its most intimate peak because the Sun and Moon are involved
in the energy. What is means when the Sun and Moon are involved
is that the energy is very personal. Rather than letting any frustrations
motivate your actions, think about the ways you can make changes
in your life that create a safer environment. There is hope on
this day because the Sun makes a sextile to Neptune and the Moon
makes a trine to Neptune at the time of the full Moon. So, you
can use the energy to create friction in your life; or, you can
use the energy to understand your dreams and move forward with
your life. Changes can’t occur as fast as you’d like
them to; but changes can begin. Use your dreams as a starting
point and paint the picture of those dreams by creating a template
for action.
On December 15th, Mars
forms a square to Saturn and this ends the mutable T-square energy
for the month of December. Mars likes actions to occur quickly.
But Saturn demands that you consider all your options before taking
those actions. So, again, you may feel a little frustrated that
things aren’t occurring as quickly as you’d like them
to. But, while this creates some tension, the tension could actually
be very healthy. As long as you aren’t too critical of your
actions, this need to slow down will force you to make certain
any steps you take are realistic and support your higher ideals.
As with Mercury when
it completed its mutable T-square, Mars, on December 16th, forms
a sextile to Neptune. This energy either brings you hope or brings
you confusion. If you slowed down yesterday, you’ll feel
the hope. However, if you tried to take action yesterday, you’ll
feel confused today because things aren’t going quite as
planned. With Venus forming a conjunction to the Moon’s
North Node later in day, reach out to your friends and allies.
They may surprise you by giving you the emotional support that
you need.
Compromise may not
be your top priority on December 17th when Venus forms a quincunx
to Ceres. This could be a good day to try and work out some difficult
issues, but it’s not the easiest day to come up with any
resolutions. People are trying to protect their turf. However,
if you start discussions today, you may find that people eventually
are willing to shift their positions and listen to you. This also
holds true for you. You may be more willing to acknowledge that
perhaps another point of view has validity.
The Winter Solstice
in the northern hemisphere begins on December 21st when the Sun
enters Capricorn. In the beginning of the month, the energy was
primarily in mutable signs indicating a lot of tension caused
by both the need to change and the lack of a clear direction for
that change. Now, when you look at the chart for the Solstice,
you’ll see that almost all the energy is either in a cardinal
or fixed position and forming a major cluster. In addition, the
Sun will form a conjunction to Pluto the next day. A conjunction
of the Sun to Pluto during the Capricorn solstice hasn’t
occurred in close to 240 years.
The Capricorn solstice
point makes the shortest day of the year for the western hemisphere.
It also marks the last quarter of the astrological year. For many
astrologers, the Capricorn solstice chart represents what you
can expect in the upcoming calendar year of a country. To determine
this, you set up the chart for the capital of the country you
wish to consider. For example, in the United States, the planets
cluster in the first and second houses. In other countries, such
as India and Russia, the cluster of planets is spread throughout
several houses. Each of the houses indicates where the primary
concern will be found for the upcoming calendar year.
But, whether the cluster
is found in just two houses, such as in the chart set up for the
United States, or in several houses, doesn’t matter when
considering the energies on a personal level. The fact is that
Mars, Sun, Pluto, Mercury, Jupiter, Moon’s North Node, Venus,
Chiron, Neptune, and Uranus are pulled together and forced to
interact together. Although Saturn is not part of that cluster,
it also gets pulled in because Saturn is in mutual reception with
Mercury.
When there is a cluster
in a chart, the energy can be very focused. It could be an all-or-nothing
proposition. It also means that very disparate energies need to
work together for success. What this means is that the problems
facing the world belong to everyone on this planet, whether those
problems are environmental, financial, or personal. It doesn’t
matter. If pain is inflicted on one population, that pain can
spread to others. If solutions occur, those solutions can be replicated
by others. The fact that Saturn is not part of the cluster but
pulled into the cluster due to its mutual reception with Mercury
means that focusing on developing a structure and discussing how
to implement that structure can be one critical answer to the
question. Another critical answer is that understanding the cultures
of others yet also finding how to blend different cultures in
a loving way is another solution.
The Capricorn solstice
chart shows just how interconnected your life is with everything
that surrounds you. It shows just how important it is to work
together in this time of great change. It’s important for
you to acknowledge your needs and past. Yet, it’s also important
to look towards the future so changes can be made and implemented.
Venus forms a conjunction
to Chiron on December 23rd indicating that you need to understand
what is important to you and how to get this going in your life.
This is a few days before Christmas holidays and hopefully you
are taking time off to enjoy the holidays. This is a good time
to reach out to people who may have hurt you and try to forgive
them. This is a good day to erase painful memories from the past
and let healing begin.
It’s easy to
have discussions with people in your life on December 26th when
Mercury forms a trine to Saturn. This trine is more powerful because
Mercury and Saturn are in mutable reception. There is a desire
to work together. You’ll be able to communicate your needs.
In some ways, this time is really about you. The major cluster
that started with the Winter Solstice continues. It is a time
to consider the direction of your life even if you don’t
take any actions now. Later in the day, Venus forms a quincunx
to Saturn indicating that you may need to make some adjustments
in your demands. In the positive, you may gain a new awareness
that lets you see things differently.
Mars enters Capricorn
on December 27th and forms a conjunction to Pluto on the following
day. But before that conjunction with Pluto occurs, there is a
new Moon, with Sun and Moon in Capricorn, and Venus forms a conjunction
to Neptune just a few minutes after the new Moon occurs.
This new Moon forms
a stellium with Mars and Pluto. Another stellium is formed with
Chiron, Venus, and Neptune. A new Moon can help you view things
from a new perspective. At the same time, you may desire to hold
on to the past because you know the past and it feels safe. This
new Moon can give rise to increased frustrations if you let fears
control you. This isn’t the easiest time in the world but
if you stay connected with your family and friends it will be
easier to get through the problems. Communication is so important
right now.
Venus forms a conjunction
to Neptune just a few minutes after the new Moon occurs. In some
ways this could indicate hope. In other ways, this could indicate
unrealistic expectations. Changes aren’t going to occur
quickly. It will take time. Understanding that changes take time
is also a theme for the following day when Mars forms the conjunction
to Pluto.
The year 2008 ends
with Mercury forming a conjunction to Jupiter and Saturn in Virgo
turning retrograde on December 31st. The need to communicate with
others, especially in making changes that can bring a better future
is so critical right now. This could be a day of celebration if
you hold on to your hopes. With Saturn turning retrograde, this
is a good time to meditate on past successes so that you can learn
from them and use them as models for future successes.
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