Hi Everyone

It’s hard to believe that I’m writing about the last month in 2013!  Hope you had good November and Thanksgiving.  December, of course, brings the Winter Solstice – the shortest day of the year, which will occur on Saturday, December 21st at 12:11 p.m., when the Sun enters Capricorn.  In addition there are two planets that change direction in December.

Direction Changes:

Uranus turns himself around and starts going forward again on December 17^th at 12:39 p.m.  He’ll be at 8⁰ Aries. Uranus breaks down old patterns and structures that no longer serve. It rules electricity, sudden change, rebellion and revolution. (We became aware of this planet right around the French Revolution.  This should tell us something about his nature.)  There isn’t much that’s gentle about the way Uranus operates, but he does rule the higher mind.  In Aries his focus is on “me” – what structures, attitudes, mental patterns, beliefs do I need to let go of to express more truly who I am. And what do I need to detach from and view from a higher perspective?  Aries is also the warrior, frequently acts before s/he thinks (aka impulsive), and on a higher level is questing after High Self.  With this direction change, we may see more impulsive buying and/or actions.  For those with planets from 0 – 18⁰ Aries, of course, and the other fire signs (Leo and Sagittarius) this will be an easy flow of energy and you’ll probably ignore it. For those with planets at the same degrees of the other cardinal signs (read, male energy, initiating, not a lot of follow-through, which are Libra, Capricorn and Cancer) this change of direction may be felt more as a challenge.  Going “direct” as we say in astrology, i.e. the planet is moving from east to west from our perspective, the attributes of Uranus will flow more easily and openly.  However, as a planet changes direction, its influence is felt more strongly.

Venus, the planet associated with beauty, love, money and the yin side of our nature, goes retrograde (or backwards) on December 21^st at 4:53 p.m. a few hours after the sun enters Capricorn.  She will be at 28⁰ Capricorn.  Venus does not express herself easily in the restrictive energy of Saturn’s sign, Capricorn, and because of this retrograde she’ll be in Capricorn for several months instead of several weeks. Turning retrograde could make it more challenging to freely express the love, harmony and beauty that Venus represents. Conversely we could be better able to see these attributes within ourselves.  Those with planets at from 20 – 30⁰ Capricorn and 0 – 8⁰ Aquarius will be most likely to experience this change in direction easily.  And planets in signs that have an easy flow with these two, i.e. the other earth signs (Virgo and Taurus) and the other air signs (Libra and Gemini) will also be affected. Planets in other cardinal signs (Aries, Libra and Cancer) and other fixed signs (Leo, Taurus and Scorpio) will experience this as more of a challenge.  Venus will be in retrograde motion until the end of January.  On an astronomical note, be sure to enjoy her in the heavens throughout December.  She is just spectacular!

The Moon

We have a new moon on December 2^nd at 11⁰ Sagittarius.  New beginnings in Jupiter’s sign of optimism, idealism, restlessness and fanaticism.  The moon, of course, is all about feelings and Sag is about belief systems. Time to bring in new ones.  By the way, this new moon sits on the Ascendant of the Sibly chart of the United States.  We may see a change (or the beginnings of one) in the way we present ourselves to the world, the optimism we feel about who we are and/or how we deal with the “us versus them” attitude that can be part of Sagittarian energy.

The full moon occurs on December 17^th at 25⁰ Gemini – just a few hours before Uranus changes direction – opposite the galactic center of our Milky Way.  This could be a very intense few days – a time to release old beliefs, patterns of communication (or lack thereof) and remembering our life purpose.  We may be more aware that our energy impacts not only ourselves but our planet and our galaxy.

I hope you have a joyous holiday season, Solstice and a wonderful, wonderful December.

Peace and abundant blessings,

Margaret