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12/1 Venus conjunct Jupiter
12/3 Mercury sextile Chiron
12/5 Mercury square Uranus
       Sun conjunct Mars
12/6 Mercury square Saturn
       Mercury sextile Neptune
12/7 Venus enters Aquarius
12/8 Sun sextile Chiron
12/9 Mars sextile Chiron
12/10 Sun square Uranus
12/12 Mars square Uranus
       Mercury enters Capricorn
       Mercury conjunct Pluto
       Sun square Saturn
       Full Moon 21 Gemini 11:38 am
12/13 Sun sextile Neptune
12/15 Mars square Saturn
12/16 Mars sextile Neptune
12/21 Sun enters Capricorn
       Winter Solstice 7:04 am
12/22 Sun conjunct Pluto
12/23 Venus conjunct Chiron
12/24 Mercury sextile Uranus
12/26 Mercury trine Saturn
12/27 Mars enters Capricorn
       Venus conjunct Neptune
       New Moon 6 Capricorn 7:23 am
12/28 Mars conjunct Pluto
12/31 Mercury conjunct Jupiter
       Saturn Rx 1:08 pm
1/1 Mercury enters Aquarius

December is a busy astrological month, with lots of planetary configurations. Uranus, representing sudden change and reversals, has just changed direction which is likely to turn a number of things on their heads. At the same time, Pluto has re-entered Capricorn where it will remain until 2023. We are entering the time of change, and none of us will be able to hold onto the past now. Some of us embrace change and some fear change, but nothing is as certain as change and that has never been truer than it is over the next few years.

Saturn and Uranus are still in opposition to each other, creating a tension between a radical pressure for change (Uranus) and the need to maintain stability and retain the structures which solidify our lives (Saturn). Saturn has slowed down to a crawl as it prepares to turn retrograde at the end of the month so these two will be facing off throughout the next couple of months as they lead up to their second opposition in early February of next year. The influence of Saturn will be powerful throughout the month since it is nearly at a standstill (stationary), leading up to the Capricorn New Moon on the 27th with six planets in Capricorn (ruled by Saturn). Saturn insists that we face the harsh light of reality fearlessly and without the gloss of illusion or self-deception.

December begins on the heels of a New Moon in lively and optimistic Sagittarius, with the Sun, Mars and Mercury in tight conjunction and still in Sagittarius. Sag is a fire sign, and there is a lot of energy right now - a dynamic pressure that needs to find expression through our ideals and beliefs in a way that defies boundaries.

Venus and Jupiter are exactly conjunct on December 1, in the practical and responsible sign of Capricorn signifying an open and optimistic way of looking at the world that desires to take a solid form. Saturn (structure, discipline) rules Capricorn, and Saturn trines both Venus and Jupiter in Capricorn so this is a "double whammy" to let us know how important this optimism (Jupiter) /discipline (Saturn/Capricorn) connection is right now. The expansive principle of Jupiter and Sagittarius needs to balanced with the Saturn and Capricorn urge for restriction in order to create a solid foundation. This is key to our being able to successfully navigate the other astrological pressures at work right now.

Mercury (communication, ideas) is also at work during the first week of December, forming a harmonious aspect (sextile) to Chiron, the Wounded Healer on the 3rd; a challenging aspect (square) to Uranus, planet of radical change, on the 5th, and another challenging aspect (square again) to Saturn, planet of restriction and isolation. Chiron helps to facilitate healing now, but with Uranus and Saturn both squaring Mercury there will be an uncomfortable combination of a restless hunger for something new (Uranus) wrestling with a somewhat sad and lonely sense of desolation (Saturn). Fortunately Mercury wraps up this week of mental gymnastics with a harmonious aspect (sextile) to Neptune which brings in a creative influence that enhances our intuition and helps us to see beyond the veil into a world with more magic and a greater sense of the Divine.

Venus enters Aquarius on the 7th, and for the next month or so fairness and objectivity (Aquarius) is a priority in our relationships (Venus). With both the Sun (pure energy) and Mars (drive) both in harmonious aspect (sextile) to Chiron (healing and wisdom) over the next two days, we are likely to feel energized and better able to resolve issues that have created pain or just dissonance in our lives.

By the 10th, though, our own self-expression and need for autonomy and authenticity will be paramount with a square from the Sun and Mars to Uranus which will be in effect until after the 12th. This combination can be particularly challenging as the radical urge for autonomy of Uranus conflicts with the aggressive energy of Mars and the solar conscious principle of the Sun. It's useful to be more careful than usual under these transits, as we can be more accident prone and more inclined towards arguments and other kinds of battles, particularly against authority. You may notice this in your children as well!

Mercury enters practical Capricorn on the 12th and conjuncts Pluto. The combination of Mercury (mind) with Pluto (death/regeneration and power) offers us with a laser-like mental focus that can aid us in manifesting our thoughts and desires. Use this time wisely! It only lasts for a day or two. The Sun is square Saturn on the 12th as well, and Saturn's disappointments may drain some of our confidence at this time. Stay focused on the positive but attend to responsibilities and Saturn will offer his rewards: strength and success.

All of these planetary alignments contribute to the essence of the Full Moon at 21 Gemini that occurs at 11:38 eastern time on December 12. The Full Moon occurs when the Moon (now in Gemini) is exactly opposite, or 180 degrees from the Sun (now in Sagittarius), and the conscious principle of the Sun creates tension with the instinctive emotional realm of the Moon. The Sun and Moon create a Grand Cross with the Saturn/Uranus opposition described above. The Grand Cross is a spectacularly stressful planetary dynamic in which conflict between the planets builds up into a crisis which forces a release and ultimately, a transformative change.

This Full Moon is packed with energy, both mental and physical. Everything within our heart, soul and psyche is moving faster than usual during this Full Moon, and becoming conscious of the need for balance between the internal process and the external drives will help us to get the most out of this lunation. The planetary dynamics here create a powerhouse of dynamic alteration and adjustment that can create some real distress if not focused in a conscious manner. Fortunately, a Neptune forms an exact harmonious aspect to both the Sun and the Moon which helps us to delve across the physical realm into the subconscious in order to find that internal balance in a more intuitive and sensitive way. The potential for verbal conflict during this Full Moon period, which lasts for a few days before and a few days after the actual event, can be softened by balancing the dynamic energy that wants to push out into aggression with a sensitivity and softness in the heart that helps us to maintain the inner connection to Spirit that creates more balance in the world around us.

Mars is activated on the 15th and 16th with a challenging aspect to Saturn and a harmonious aspect to Neptune. Mars is pure physical energy - our drive, desires and aggression. When squared by Saturn, the principle of restriction, we can become frustrated as the avenues to express our drive become limited. Saturn/Mars periods can be tremendously productive, though, if we use Saturn's discipline to help focus our energy (Mars) in a positive way. The sextile to Neptune, while adding a creative impulse that opens the intuitive channels, also adds a desire to escape the stress of the Saturn/Mars combination that may be counterproductive. Saturn will not reward escapist behavior, and some sort of crisis may result. However, this period only lasts for a few days and by the 17th things will be a lot clearer.

The Sun enters Capricorn at the Winter Solstice on December 21st at 7:04 am. The Winter Solstice marks the end of the dark period in the Northern hemisphere: the days have been getting shorter and shorter and at the Solstice the light begins to return. The astrological chart for the four cardinal points (the Solstices and the Equinoxes) are often used to predict the flavor of the coming season, and with this Solstice chart including an exact conjunction of the Solstice Sun and Pluto, the next three months are sure to be a period of intense crisis and adjustment.

If you haven't already read my article on Pluto in Capricorn, this may be a good time to do so since we are already seeing its effects in the breakdown (Pluto) of governmental structures, banks, and power bases around the world, all things that are governed by the sign of Capricorn. Pluto is virtually always intense and will always create change at the deepest level, but it need not be feared. Pluto will not destroy anything that does not need to be eliminated so that something better can grow in its place. When we're dealing with Pluto we must maintain a sense of faith that the Universal Consciousness is in charge here, and that the change that occurs now will be for the highest good of all concerned.

In our personal lives, we are likely experiencing an economic contraction on some level as the global financial crisis trickles down in a foggy mist or a powerful storm to our own pocketbooks. This period of diminution does not necessarily restrict our ability to create prosperity and abundance in our own lives. Understanding the astrological dynamics that have made this period necessary will help us to stay positive and continue to work to manifest our goals and dreams. For more information see my article A Life of Abundance in a Contracting World.

Between December 23 and 27 we have a series of fast-moving harmonious transits that will help to keep our lives lubricated so that we don't get too bogged down or stuck in any fear that arises under the Sun/Pluto conjunction at the Solstice. Venus brings its lovely softeness to the healing power of Chiron, Uranus activates our thoughts (Mercury) and helps to inspire new ideas for change, and Saturn adds discipline to our thinking (Mercury) and helps us to communicate clearly and share our new vision with others.

Venus conjuncts Neptune on the 27th which aligns love for the individual (Venus) with the compassionate love of divine consciousness (Neptune), helping to set the stage for the New Moon in Capricorn. Capricorn is the sign of achievement and a successful life with both feet firmly planted in the material world. This will be an interesting Capricorn New Moon, occurring at a time when the material world is breaking down around us. It's important to see now that as some aspects of our world break down (under the influence of Pluto in Capricorn), sprigs of new life are taking form - new life forms that will be better suited for the age in which we are living now. We see this with the Big Three automobile manufacturers in the US, which have become tied to an old model of doing business and protectionist thought that has broken down under the influence of globalization.

In this New Moon, Mars has just entered Capricorn and is exactly conjunct Pluto. The combination of Mars and Pluto links the will of the individual self (Mars) to the will of the higher self (Pluto). If the individual will is aligned with the greater Consciousness, this is a powerful planetary dynamic for change and positive growth. If the individual will is resisting the will for complete transformation that Pluto brings to the table, this can be extremely difficult. Six planets/lights are now in Capricorn: Mars, Pluto, Sun and Moon, and the approaching conjunction of Mercury and Jupiter, so practicality and Doing What Must Be Done (a Capricorn theme) is highlighted here.

There are no planets in the water element now other than Uranus, which is a dry planet and even in Pisces will add no emotional depth to the environment. This is a time to Get Things Done - the New Moon is a time of new beginnings and under this heavy Capricorn influence we can easily make new plans for the future. We must realize now that the past is behind us - looking back will not help us move into our new reality. We will be aided in this by the Venus/Neptune combination which will bring in a personal experience of the Divine and help us to maintain a more expanded perspective.

Mercury fully aligns with Jupiter on the 31st just in time for the New Year. Mercury rules over our thoughts and the way we process information, and in tandem with the abundance and optimism of Jupiter we will be easily able to set our intentions for the New Year with joy and grace.

Astrology can help us to prepare for difficult times with conscious intention and a positive will for change. Do not allow yourself to become lost in fear - remember that there is a conscious will at work here that is aligning all aspects of our lives so that the highest good for all can occur. This is a fabulous time to practice the art of being present in our own soul, and listen to hear what our guidance has to say about how we can best use this time of change.