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SKYWATCH
FOR DECEMBER 2007
12/1
Mercury enters Sagittarius Dates and times are all Eastern time zone
The only planet in an earth sign now is Saturn in Virgo, which is challenging (Saturn) the manner in which we live in a body (Virgo). The body and the mind are not well integrated with this kind of fire and earth imbalance which can cause problems for those of us who are not well-grounded or who lack earth in their own charts. The water element is well-represented, and this cools some of the fire but can also sap our energy if we're not careful. Later in the month when Jupiter and Mercury enter the earthy sign of Capricorn it will become easier to find our footing. Saturn has slowed down to a crawl in anticipation of its retrograde turn on December 8, and will move only one-quarter of a degree in the next 45 days. When a planet is "stationary" like this its influence becomes more powerful. It's as if a car with a loud boombox is parked outside your house, rattling your windows and creating a need to resolve the situation. With Saturn in Virgo there is a need to care for the mundane details of life: our health, our work situation, our day-to-day routines. We are remarkably free from major planetary cycles at the moment except for the approaching conjunction of Jupiter to Pluto which will be exact later this month. The final meeting of Jupiter and Pluto in Sagittarius is the culmination of the relentless optimism that Pluto in Sagittarius has brought us since 1995. Expanding stock markets, housing markets - Pluto in Sag has witnessed the bursting of all kinds of bubbles. That optimism is waning but it is still alive; I expect that once Jupiter and Pluto both enter Capricorn we will see a hard bump into reality. Mercury enters Sagittarius on December 1st which will enhance that optimism for a while, so enjoy the ride while it lasts for the next few weeks. Venus enters the intensely emotional sign of Scorpio on the 5th, and is briefly conjunct the Moon. Watch for this to be a day of particularly intense emotions since sign changes often bring our attention to the workings of that particular planet. Jealousy, envy - Scorpio brings out the darker side of our emotional range. The next few days offer a mellow change, with a sextile between Mars and Saturn on December 8 that integrates the energy of Mars with the discipline of Saturn for a week or so before and after. We also have a nice sextile of Mercury to Chiron which helps to facilitate understanding (Mercury) that can accelerate our healing process (Chiron) and bring greater wisdom. The New Moon in Sagittarius occurs on December 9 at 12:41 pm EST. We now have five planets in Sagittarius (Mercury, the Sun/Moon conjunction, and the conjunction between Jupiter and Pluto. Sagittarius brings optimism and an expanded sense of possibility, but also a tendency towards recklessness and superficial. I believe that this combination will bring the last hurrah of the financial markets before the cold winter of the Capricorn and Virgo influence sets in next year. The New Moon begins a new cycle each month, starting things afresh in a different segment of the zodiac. We have the opportunity now to make a fresh start in our search for Truth as we explore new realms of ideas and philosophies. Sagittarius instills an innate curiosity about other cultures and religious ideas, although there is a tendency towards judgement and self-righteousness under the rulership of Jupiter, King of the Gods. This will be particularly now that Jupiter is two days away from a conjunction with Pluto which adds a compulsive and rigid quality to the need for an understanding of The Truth. This New Moon makes a square to Uranus (rebellion against the status quo) and a sextile to Neptune (the world of Spirit), indicating that the focus for this lunation is a radical departure (Uranus) from the established religious orders and into a true experience of the divine (Neptune). This is enhanced by the approaching square from Mercury (thoughts and ideas) to Uranus that is exact the following day. You can see where a conflict occurs here between the rigid fundamentalism of Jupiter/Pluto and the breaking free that takes place at the New Moon with the square to Uranus. This could result in warfare on a global level or it could manifest in an exciting new openness between humans and civilizations. On a personal level it could mean the breakdown of our established internal theologies, or a breakthrough into a new level of awareness. The choice, as always, belongs to us. The exact conjunction of Jupiter and Pluto takes place in the last degrees of Sagittarius on December 11. This conjunction has been approaching for several weeks and we may be able to sense the intensity building as belief systems (Jupiter) become more rigid and prone to power struggles (Pluto). This will be particularly true as Mars opposes Jupiter at the end of the month and heads towards the second phase of the opposition to Pluto (for more information see this article on the Mars/Pluto opposition cycle). The next few days offer a welcome respite as lovely Venus (peace and harmony) makes a trine to Mars (energy and inspiration), smoothing out any rough edges. She also makes a sextile to Saturn (discipline and responsibility) which extends the effect of the Mars/Saturn combination as well. This helps us to focus the energy that is available after the powerful New Moon event in a practical way. On the 13th, when Mercury (thoughts and information) makes a sextile to Neptune (imagination and creativity), we are more relaxed and easily able to connect on a deeper level to that which matters to us. On the 15th Venus makes a square to Chiron which may force us to deal consciously with painful issues (Chiron) in our relationships (Venus). Venus is in Scorpio now where she tends to be rather inflexible and intense, so when she makes a square to Uranus on the 18th there can be some explosions as the intense Scorpio need for attachment conflicts with the Uranian drive for autonomy. Venus influences don't always affect our relationships with others - sometimes these dynamics play out within our own psyche which makes the process more authentic and makes it more difficult for us to project our own issues onto the people in our lives. Jupiter enters Capricorn on December 18, where it will spend the next year or so. Capricorn is ruled by Saturn, and its influence is a contracting one which conflicts with the expansive Jupiterian urges. Under the influence of Capricorn, Jupiter can either facilitate the growth process in a manner that is cautious and disciplined (the more positive manifestation) or it can become pessimistic and helpless. In traditional astrology Jupiter is said to be in its "fall" in Capricorn, but this dynamic can be turned around for the positive. Jupiter needs to feel that life has meaning, and when that drive is channeled through a drive for success in Capricorn there is a sense of accomplishment. Otherwise, the contraction of Capricorn can induce a sense of failure. This is true of individuals with this placement, and it is also true of the general mood when Jupiter is in Capricorn. Four planets are now tightly conjunct in the last degrees of Sagittarius (Sun, Pluto, Mercury and Jupiter) which will create a strong reluctance to face the Capricorn music. Meanwhile, Saturn turns retrograde on December 19 which brings even more emphasis to the need for hard work and discipline that is heralded by the entry of Jupiter into Capricorn. Failure to apply reason and common sense is punished by Saturn, and this could be a difficult time for the stock markets which are currently fueled by blind optimism, as well as other events on the world stage in which reality has not yet taken hold. Mercury conjuncts Pluto that same day in the final degrees of Sagittarius, intensifying (Pluto) our internal information processing systems and indicating some reluctance to let go of the Sagittarian optimism that is under pressure now. Mercury/Pluto can be obsessive and compulsive, but this is a short-lived influence that will pass once Mercury enters Capricorn on December 20 and conjuncts Jupiter. Jupiter's expansion offers a release and affords an opportunity to merge the power of optimism with the Capricornian drive for success. Venus makes a square to Neptune on December 21, expanding our creativity but also bringing a susceptibility to fantasy which may cause some problems when combined with all of this Saturn and Capricorn pressure to get real. Keeping our feet on the ground and our head in the stars is what is required now! The Sun enters Capricorn (Winter Solstice) on December 22 at 1:08 am EST. The chart for the Winter Solstice includes an exact conjunction of the Sun and Jupiter in the first degree of Capricorn, which is overall a positive influence signifying success. Mercury is also a part of that conjunction but all three planets oppose Mars which adds a fiery rebelliousness to the Capricornian practicality. That Mars opposition can create conflict and power struggles and this will be true in the global realm of international politics as well as within our own psyches. The Solstice is followed the next day by the Full Moon on December 23 at 8:17 pm. With the Moon in Cancer and the Sun in Capricorn, this Full Moon is highlighting the need to nourish one's inner life (Cancer) while balancing the needs of our worldly obligations (Capricorn). A struggle is indicated during this Full Moon with the Moon conjunct Mars in Cancer which is in opposition to the Sun conjunct Jupiter in Capricorn. Mars is approaching an opposition to Jupiter which is exact on December 26, and the rebellious urge is growing in resistance to the Saturn/Capricorn pressure for contraction. Under the Full Moon, the solar light illuminates the lunar instincts, and the subconscious gains more power as it is exposed to the light. Here, the Moon is in the sign of Cancer of which it is the ruler, intensifying the Cancerian need for home, family, and emotional security. With all this Saturn/Capricorn pressure to live in the real world, buckle down to the hard work, focus on our goals and achieve success, a large part of us is longing for the simplicity of a good meal with our loved ones and connection to our family, whether our family of origin or our spiritual family. It is probably no accident that families gather during this time every year in December during the Cancer Full Moon to celebrate the holidays. Retreat into the comfort of the company of loved ones is an essential phase in the cycle of life. Fortunately, a trine of Mercury in Capricorn to Saturn on the 25th will provide an opportunity to reconcile our inner goals (Saturn/Capricorn) with this need for comfort and connection in a way that can link our inner lives more successfully to our goals and our intentions. The strong Mars influence that dominates the Full Moon at the end of the month can conflict with the Saturn/Capricorn restrictions and need to keep our noses to the grindstone, creating the potential for an inner rebellion and dissatisfaction which can lead to reckless behavior. But Mars and Saturn, when yoked together, provide the key to success as the energy of Mars is harnessed to the discipline and vision of Saturn. When Mars retrogrades back into Gemini on the 31st, the power of the mind (Mercury) is brought into the picture just in time for setting our intention for the New Year! The key to managing the planetary energies this month is to remember to balance our personal desires with our responsibilities as well as our need for a base of emotional security. The planets that direct these three facets of our nature are at odds this month, and it will be necessary to consciously work to integrate them in order to achieve the full potential that is offered now. |
12/10
Mercury square Uranus