Sagittarius

Astro Doings February 2019

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Hi Everyone

I don’t think in all the Astro Doings blogs I’ve written that I’ve seen such a quiet month as this February. All the planets are going direct (east to west); no one is changing direction.

There will be four planets in fire (Mars, Jupiter and Uranus) and three planets in earth (Venus, Saturn and Pluto) – all in Capricorn. Generally, these elements don’t work very well together, but when inspiration (fire) is practical (earth) this combination can work wonders.

After the 18th when the Sun and Mercury move into Pisces, they’ll join Neptune, so we’ll have three planets in water. Mars will move into Taurus, so we’ll have four planets in earth. I should note that Mars, like Uranus who will move back into Taurus next month, does not like being in an earth sign to begin with, let alone such a slow moving one! Earth and water work very nicely together. Water softens earth and makes it more useable; earth provides boundaries for water.

The New Moon occurs on February 4 at 4:04 p.m. She’ll be at 150 Aquarius; Full Moon (also a super moon) occurs on February 19th a 00 Virgo; the Sun enters Pisces on the 18th at 6:04 p.m.

The Chinese New Year is February 5th; year of the Boar.

Enjoy the quiet!

Peace and abundant blessings,

Margaret

Astro Doings December 2018

Margaret Lassiter Leave a comment

Hi Everyone

It’s hard to believe that this is the last Astro Doings for 2018. December is pretty quiet by comparison to other months this year. Once again, there are no planets in air signs (Gemini, Libra, Aquarius). Air is the element of archetypal ideas and breath.  Air signs can be very detached, very mental and lacking in emotional depth. Their detachment can allow them to work with others, even if they don’t agree with them.

Mercury will station direct (start moving from east to west) on December 6th at 4:22 p.m. ET. He’ll be at 270 Scorpio and will move into Sagittarius on December 12. He’ll be right next to (conjunct) Jupiter for the rest of the month. Sagittarius is a fire sign that enthusiastically seeks Truth, so our ideas (Mercury) may be bigger than life (Jupiter) and not always “realistic.” In the beginning of the month, up to the Winter Solstice, the Sun will also be in Sagittarius. The only other planet in fire is Uranus, retrograde at late degrees Aries. Aries is the sign of the warrior and a quest for expression of his/her true self, without much consideration of others.

There are currently three planets in water signs: Venus, Mars and Neptune. Mars and Neptune are in Pisces, and Venus will enter Scorpio on the 2nd.  Water represents emotions and psychic information and is one way to put fire out. (The other, of course, is earth, but we’ll get to that a bit later.) Emotions, as they have been for a while now, may continue to run high. However, Pisces can be the sign of empathy and compassion, an understanding of others, not from a mental perspective, but from our feeling nature. Mars is not happy to be in gentle Pisces. He rules Aries, after all, and he will enter Aries on the 31st at 9:20 p.m. ET.

The Winter Solstice is December 21st at 5:23 p.m. ET when the Sun enters Capricorn and we celebrate the return of the Light. Saturn and Pluto join the Sun in Capricorn. (You’ll recall that Saturn, planet of restrictions, lack, fear, and spiritual lessons, rules Capricorn, so there is a very easy flow of energy here.) Capricorn is a sign of planning, caution, ambition, and patience. Capricorn’s planning and patience can make him/her seem slow and unwilling to change. Not so, but Capricorn people don’t go willy-nilly into anything, like Aries people might. They understand the value of repose, which I believe most of us struggle with at times. Hence our dislike of Mercury retrograde periods. Capricorn knows how to step back and evaluate before moving forward.

The New Moon occurs on December 7th at 2:20 a.m. ET. She’ll be at 150 Sagittarius. The Full Moon occurs on December 22nd at 12:49 p.m. ET. She’ll be at 00 Cancer.

I hope you have a most joyous holiday season celebrating the return of the Light and a healthy and prosperous New Year.

Peace and abundant blessings,

Margaret

Astro Doings November 2018

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Hi Everyone

November has three planets changing direction, two of them on the same day! And I’ll provide details on the celestial dance on Election Day in the US.

Election Day

The Sun will be trine (easy flow of energy) Neptune, planet of fog, illusion, compassion and redemption. Both planets will be in water signs (Scorpio and Pisces, respectively) so psychic energy will abound and emotions (water) may be running high. Those with planets in water may be more strongly affected by this trine. The Moon will enter Scorpio at 8:02 ET that morning, and Jupiter will be at late degrees of the sign, so lots of Scorpio energy – power, insight, and also healing.

Uranus, planet of rebellion and destroyer of outmoded forms, will back into Aries, sign of the warrior, ruled by Mars, god of war at 1:50 p.m. ET. Uranus is currently going “backwards” or retrograde, which means the energy can be expressed more inwardly.  However, Uranus is happier in Aries than he is in slow-moving Taurus, so his lightning bolt energy may be more forceful, especially for those with planets in fire signs (Aires, Leo and Sagittarius) or in cardinal signs (Libra, Cancer, Capricorn).

Direction Changes: November 16th

Venus: Venus stops and starts moving forward at 5:50 a.m. ET. She’ll be at 250 Libra, her own sign – the sign of relationship, “others,” fairness and balance.  Venus is the planet of love at the level of “I love you because you love me.” Neptune, the higher octave of Venus, says “I love you because it is in the nature of love to love.”  This change of direction could signal a more direct expression of tolerance and fairness towards one another. However, Libra is an air sign, so the emphasis is relationship in the head, not necessarily in the heart. Those with planets in later degrees Aries, Cancer and Capricorn or other air signs (Gemini, Aquarius) may feel this change more strongly.

Mercury: Last retrograde of 2018! He stations (stops) at 8:33 p.m. ET and will be at 130 Sagittarius. As I’ve stated many times before this is a time for reflection and repose, something that not many of us are good at. Perhaps we can use this three-week period to reflect on what we have to be grateful for in preparation for the holiday season, and to see the truth (Sagittarius) within.  Mercury will station direct on December 6th.

Direction Change: November 24th

Neptune: The planet of compassion, redemption, fog, illusion and the underworld ends her retrograde motion at 8:09 p.m. ET. She’ll be at 130 Pisces, where she has been for a long time – and will continue to be for most of the rest of this year. This change of direction may provide a more open and “direct” expression of our compassion for one another, as a result of turning our compassion inward during her retrograde period. As we are more understanding of ourselves, it becomes easier to be more tolerant of others. During this divisive and hate-filled period, this would be a welcome change.

Other Doings this Month:

Mars moved into Pisces on the 15th, adding energy and initiative to this watery, inward, other-worldy sign. It could also signal more intense storms. He will be square (growth opportunity, stress-filled need for cooperation) to Jupiter, who enters his own sign (Sagittarius) on the 8th. Fire (Sag) and water (Pisces) can have a tough time dealing with each other, as you can imagine, but fire can bring inspiration and water can bring emotional/psychic insight to our endeavors.

The New Moon occurs on the 7th at 150 Scorpio (11:02 a.m.) – a new beginning after the elections? The Sun enters Sagittarius on the 22nd at 4: 02 a.m. and the Full Moon occurs at 0:39 a.m. at 00 Gemini – more potential for new beginnings!

Have a great November and a lovely Thanksgiving.

Peace and abundant blessings,

Margaret

 

 

Astro Doings August 2017

Margaret Lassiter 1 Comment

Hi Everyone

Hope you enjoyed the relatively quiet months of June and July. August promises to be rather unsettled with three planets changing direction and two eclipses. Hold on to your hat! I’ll take these celestial events in order.

Thursday, August 3: Uranus: goes retrograde at 1:31 a.m at 290 Aries. Aries is ruled by Mars, the god of war and Aries, like all fire signs, is on a quest. In this case it’s for our higher selves. Uranus is the planet of the higher mind and can bring flashes of insight, inspiration and higher level thinking of all kinds. At the very end of Aries (each sign has 30 degrees in it), it is an inner (Uranus retrograde) time to war (Mars) against that which holds us back from our journey to our true selves (Aries).

Monday, August 7: Partial lunar eclipse at 150 Aquarius at 9:15 p.m. ET. Eclipses come in pairs, and while we will not be able to see this one, anyone with placements from 12 – 180 Leo, Taurus, Scorpio, or Aquarius may feel the impact of this eclipse more strongly than others. Lunar eclipses occur at a full moon and can bring the culmination of past activities, a sense of completion or desire to change on a deep soul level and a deepening of compassion. This eclipse is near the lunar South Node, or Dragon’s Tail, which provides an opportunity for a release of old energies and/or patterns. The lunar nodes are where the Moon crosses the ecliptic, the path that the Sun appears to follow over the course of a year. (Eclipses only occur when the Sun is next to one of the nodes.) This eclipse will last about five hours, so the sensitive energy vortex that opens at the time of the eclipse will remain so for about five months.

Saturday, August 12: Mercury goes retrograde at 9:01 p.m. at 120 Virgo. His retrograde motion goes along with the theme of inner reflection that Uranus, the higher octave of Mercury, began earlier in the month. Both planets of the mind are now turned inward. He’ll be retrograde for the rest of the month and will back into Leo before going direct at the beginning of September. While I know this everyone’s favorite retrograde (!), those whose Mercury is in the other mutable signs, Gemini, Pisces and Sagittarius, may feel this retrograde more strongly. Also Mercury will be opposed Neptune in her own sign, Pisces, inviting us to explore the realm of the heart, redemption and compassion, rather than relying totally on logic and linear thinking.

Monday, August 21: Total solar eclipse at 280 Leo at 2:30 p.m. This is the eclipse that will be visible in the US, as I’m sure you’ve all heard! It will last a little more than five hours. Once again we have a planet at the end of the sign, marking a potential ending of how we use the energy of the sign, in this case, Leo. At the time of the eclipse there will be five planets in fire signs: Sun, Moon, Mars in Leo, Uranus in Aries, and Saturn in Sagittarius, making a big triangle (a grand trine) in fire in the heavens. A trine is an easy flow of energy so we tend not to pay attention to it, but all that fire can be quite volatile, as well as inspirational. Fire is an interesting element. It can warm and provide light, and it can also destroy. Leo is the sign of the Divine Child in each of us, and I believe this eclipse can be used both ways: to burn away that which blocks our sense of our connection to the divine within and to the divine in each other and to illuminate the path toward our higher (or Christ) consciousness. The Sun is next to the lunar North Node, or Dragon’s Head, and promises an influx of new energy and inspiration.

And last, but certainly not least. . .

Friday, August 25: Saturn goes direct at 8:09 a.m. at 210 Sagittarius. The quest for Sagittarius is for Truth – truth about ourselves and each other. This change in direction may be more strongly felt by anyone with placements from 15 to 290 Gemini, Virgo, Pisces, and of course Sag. As Saturn ends his inner restructuring, his direct motion may help us all move forward more easily and straightforwardly in our quest for our own inner truth and in recognizing areas where we may still be deceiving ourselves. He is also in a challenging relationship (square) to Neptune, which may help soften the harshness of Saturn.

Have a wonderful August. While the energies may be a bit unsettled, they provide a great opportunity for inner work in our quest for our true selves, which we can then bring to the world.

Peace and abundant blessings,

Margaret

Astro Doings April 2017

Margaret Lassiter Leave a comment

Hi Everyone

Feel like changing direction? Going inward for greater in-sight? Great! So do the planets this month. A total of four – yes four – of them change direction in April; three go retrograde and one goes direct.

A word about when a planet changes direction – no matter which way it occurs. It basically stops in some cases for a day or two; in others (like the slow moving outer planets) it can stay at the same degree for weeks or months. If you happen to have a planet or other sensitive point(s) on your chart within 5 degrees on either side of the degree the planet is at when it changes, this planet will be activated. It’s rather like a tuning fork, so the planet starts to vibrate and do all manner of things to get your attention. And if it’s in a challenging relationship with other planet(s), you could have a lot of energy coming at you all at once.

As you’ve heard me say before, retrograde motion is when the planet appears (key word) to be moving from west to east across the sky. We know it isn’t really, but from the earth’s perspective it looks that way. Practically, it means that we experience the energy of the planet more inwardly and/or the focus of the energy of the planet, colored by the sign it’s in, is inward. So it’s a great time for reflection, retrospection and internal change, especially if it’s one of the outer planets. It may feel like nothing’s moving and you’re stuck.

When a planet goes direct, it may feel like it’s gotten out of reverse, which it has in some respects. You may be able to express the energy of the planet more freely and more outwardly. And you may feel less stuck around the energies the planet represents.

So who’s doing what? In order. . .

Saturn: The planet of delay, fear, lack, lessons and yet the great teacher of the zodiac goes retrograde on April 6th at 1:06 a.m. He’ll be at 280 Sagittarius, a mutable fire sign. Attention those with planets in Gemini, Virgo or Pisces the other mutable signs – or Leo and Aries the other fire signs. The latter will be an easy flow of energy (trine); the former – more challenging, growth opportunities! Our inner critic may be hyperactive during this time, depending on how it impacts your chart.

Mercury: Everyone’s favorite! He goes retrograde on April 9th at 7:15 p.m.  He’ll be at 50 Taurus and he’ll slide back into Aries on April 20 at 1:37 p.m. He goes direct again on May 3rd. Good time for retreats, re-thinking, re-focusing, and re-pairing. Be sure to double check your taxes if you file after April 9th. There’s no problem doing that – just go over them carefully. Attention to the fixed signs (Leo, Aquarius and Scorpio) for growth opportunities in how you think and the other earth signs (Virgo and Capricorn) for an easy flow of practical, down-to-earth (literally) thinking and planning.

Venus: She is the one going direct. She changes on April 15th at 6:17 a.m.  She’ll be at 270 Pisces, a sign she really likes to be in. Again attention for adjustments required for the other mutable signs (Virgo, Gemini and Sagittarius) and easy, flowing (it’s water after all) to Cancer and Scorpio. (See March Astro Doings for more information about Venus.)

Pluto: The planet of deep-seated, slow moving, transformation goes retrograde on April 20th at 8:46 a.m. She’ll be at 190 Capricorn – she’s been there all month and will be there all of May as well. Cardinal signs this time are up for adjustments leading to internal growth (Aries, Libra and Cancer), plus the other earth signs to help ground the growing (Taurus, Virgo). On a personal level, this retrograde can be wonderful time to become aware of deep thought patterns and attitudes that have been long buried. This can be a time to bring them to light and heal them. Globally, I think we’ll continue to see a weakening in structures or systems that no longer serve us.

Phew! The Full Moon occurs on April 11 at 2:08 a.m. She’ll be at 210 Libra. The New Moon occurs on April 26th at 8:16 a.m. She’ll be at 60 Taurus. And finally the Sun enters Taurus on April 19th at 5:37 p.m. The Taurean energy may slow us down some – take time to smell the flowers! Also a more practical bent to our thinking perhaps! Or we may have a raging bull! Time will tell.

Have a great April!

Peace and abundant blessings

Margaret

 

Astro Doings October 2016

Margaret Lassiter Leave a comment

Hi Everyone

October looks quieter than September in that there are no eclipses and no planets changing direction. However, again this month, planets are either in cardinal signs (Aries, Libra, Cancer or Capricorn) – energy that initiates, but has trouble finishing. Or they’re in the mutable signs (Gemini, Sagittarius. Virgo or Pisces). Mutable energy is very changeable, multi-talented but not necessarily committed to one direction. So, if you have a lot of fixed energy (Taurus, Scorpio, Leo or Aquarius) in your chart, this could feel rather unsettled or frenetic to you.

The Sun will enter Scorpio on the 22nd, which may help a little.

The Full Moon, on October 16 at 230 Aries, will be squared by Mars and Pluto, both in Capricorn, and Jupiter in Libra. Venus and Saturn in Sagittarius will trine it (since Sag is another fire sign). So there will be a lot of around this Super Moon. Tides, emotions and other things influenced by the Moon could be intense, including where Aries is in your chart. What may be more interesting here is that Mars (energy, warrior, male, the military) is next to Pluto (transformation, underground, power) in Capricorn (systems, status quo). And Venus (how we love and take in love) and Saturn (restriction, lack, delay, fear, authority figures) are also next to each other in Sagittarius, a fire sign, whose quest is for Truth, but can also express itself as “us versus them.”

Have a great October!

Peace and abundant blessings,

Margaret

Astro Doings June 2016

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Hi Everyone

The planet that stands out for me in June is Neptune. Attention all Pisceans – this is your ruling planet and she will be at 120 Pisces the entire month. Why? She goes retrograde on June 13th at 4:43 p.m. EDT and basically stops there. She will also be part of a big T (called a t-square, also called a growth opportunity) with Jupiter on the other side of the heavens in Virgo (earth), with Saturn squaring both of them in Sagittarius (fire). Early in the month, the Sun in Gemini (air) will change this T to an X by opposing Saturn and closing the figure. The New Moon on June 3rd will add a little more energy to this X in the heavens (called a Grand Cross). This may result in a feeling of restlessness, an inability to settle down, and needing to choose (but unable to do so) between many different possibilities. Emotions may be very close to the surface and anyone impacted by Neptune may feel somewhat in a fog. It can also be a time of increased compassion. By the way, Saturn (and this big X) is currently sitting on the Ascendant (how we present ourselves) of the US Sibly chart. I’ll leave it to you to figure out what that means!

At the very end of June – the 29th to be exact, Mars, the planet of war and warriors (spiritual and otherwise) goes direct after his retrograde that began in April. He’ll be at 230 Scorpio. Mars is male, initiating energy so things may seem to move forward a little more easily. Scorpio is a water sign and is about what ripples beneath the surface, especially power. Scorps can never been fooled and they have unfailingly accurate insight into others, which can be rather unnerving.

The Summer Solstice, when the Sun enters Cancer, occurs on June 20th at 6:34 p.m. Earlier that morning, we have June’s Full Moon at 290 Sagittarius. Since this occurs at the very end of the Gemini/Sagittarius continuum, it suggests that we have an opportunity to re-visit our ways of thinking about things (Gemini) and to incorporate higher truths (Sagittarius) into our everyday lives.

This is the 65th Astro Doings post, and I’ve decided to take the summer off. Astro Doings, or some form of it, will be back in the fall.

I hope you all have a wonderful summer!

Peace and abundant blessings,

Margaret

Astro Doings May 2016

Margaret Lassiter Leave a comment

Hi Everyone

Happy May Day! As I looked at the astrological calendar for May, I was struck by the fact that most planets are in either fire or earth signs. Looking at this from a strictly practical perspective, fire and earth don’t get along very well. Earth is a good way to put fire out and fire can render earth dry and infertile. However, another way to look at this is practical (earth) inspiration (fire). It is the ability to take our dreams (fire) and realize them in a practical and useful (earth) way. Earth helps us look at the details (Virgo) and plan (Capricorn) how we will implement our insights into spiritual truth (Sagittarius) and into ourselves (Aries). We have a lot of Taurus energy this month, which slows us down enough to look before we leap.

Jupiter, ruler of Sagittarius (and Pisces), ends its long retrograde sojourn on May 9 at 8:16 a.m. He’ll be at 130 degrees Virgo, the sign of harvest and integration. He is on the other side of the zodiac from Neptune in Pisces, and can provide boundaries and balance for our quest to merge with something greater than ourselves (Pisces). It can bring practicality (Virgo) to our dreams (Neptune).

Mercury also stations direct this month – on May 22nd to be exact at 9:20 a.m. He’ll remain in methodical Taurus for the rest of the month. Speed demon Mercury doesn’t particularly like being in slow-moving, deliberate Taurus. However, we can focus on “thinking things through” and on recognizing that thoughts are truly things. Along with Mercury, the New Moon occurs in Taurus on May 6th at 3:29 p.m.

The Sun moves into Gemini on May 20 at10:37 a.m. Gemini looks at both sides of any (and all) continuums and loves to explore the realm of ideas – for a few minutes, anyway, until he moves on to something else. The Full Moon is the next day, providing some balance to Gemini’s flitting energy, by focusing us more on higher truths (Sagittarius).

And don’t forget to watch Mercury pass over the face of the Sun on May 9th starting a little before 7 a.m. EDT (if I’ve done the time conversion correctly). Weather permitting, we should be able to see it in eastern North America. (The last time this happened was in 2006). If you decide to watch it other than online, be sure to protect your eyes from the Sun’s rays. I’m sure there will be more information about this astronomical event as we get closer.

Have a wonderful month!

Peace and abundant blessings,

Margaret

Astro Doings March 2016

Margaret Lassiter Leave a comment

Hi Everyone

Hope you enjoyed the relative quiet of February. They say that March comes in like a lion and out like a lamb. As far as the stars go this March, the first part is certainly true but not so much for the last part.

Solar Eclipse

We begin the month with a powerful total Solar Eclipse at 180 Pisces on March 8 at 8:54 p.m. A solar eclipse occurs at a new moon, and this is the first of a series of “super moons.” Super moon is when the moon is closest to the earth at either a new or a full moon. This closeness impacts tides, the tectonic plates and electromagnetic fields. This powerful eclipse is also joined by Neptune, and Chiron, squared by Saturn and opposed by Jupiter. This is a lot of energy all at once. So, what to do with it?

First, look to see where 180 Pisces lands in your chart and if there are any planets at that degree in your chart plus or minus 10 degrees. This is the area that will be most impacted by the eclipse. Pisces is a water sign that dissolves harsh barriers and attitudes. It is the sign of faith that seeks the numinous, the divine and what is beyond our five senses. Generally it has a hard time relating to the harshness of the world. This is an extraordinary time for healing, meditation, and retreat from old thought patterns about ourselves. A time to move into the recognition that in truth we are light and that light and love are all that is. An eclipse is like an energy vortex that remains open one month for every hour of the eclipse, in this case five, and as planets pass over that “spot” they “dump” energy into it. Mercury and Venus will pass over the eclipse point on the 15th and 27th respectively.

In September 2015 there was another solar eclipse at 200 Virgo, exactly opposite this one. What was important to you six months ago? Are there unresolved issues that need to be resolved around becoming and expressing who you are in truth? And Jupiter, planet of expansion, faith, optimism, and the ancient rule of Pisces, is sitting on top of that eclipse degree. This provides positive, expansive energy as we work to integrate all parts of ourselves and our experiences (Virgo) as we move toward a greater understanding that all these supposed “differences” were simply experiments in consciousness, exploring the difference facets of the light that we are (Pisces).

Vernal Equinox

Yep, it’s spring and happy astrological New Year! New beginnings, new expressions of self, new quests for a closer relationship with high self – the Sun enters Aries on March 20 right after midnight. Yahoo! And Mercury enters Aries the next day. It’s a time to put into action the reflections and insights of this winter. You may feel like you’re waking up from a long sleep.

Lunar Eclipse

Eclipses come in pairs and a lunar eclipse occurs when the Sun and Moon are on opposite sides of the zodiac. In this case the lunar eclipse occurs on March 23rd at 8:01 a.m. at 30 Libra. Libra is an air sign and is focused on relationship – with each other, with ourselves and with our beloved planet. The Sun in Aries provides impetus to speak out, to be assertive to lead the way. Moon in Libra reminds us to keep the heart in focus as we move forward, to be considerate and thoughtful of others and where we need to hone our compromise skills.

Saturn Retrograde

Saturn, the great teacher of our solar system because he presents himself as delay, fear, the ego, but also discipline, patience and wisdom, changes direction on March 25th. He goes retrograde (backwards) at 6:01 a.m. at 160 Sagittarius and is squared (growth opportunity) by Jupiter in Virgo. He will remain in retrograde motion until August. Sagittarius is a fire sign on a quest for truth; Virgo (where Jupiter is) is an earth sign focused on integration. These energies can be used to go inward for our truth and integrate all what we perceive to be the different parts of ourselves into one whole expression of the divine in form – once of course, fire isn’t afraid that earth will put it out!

Have a wonderful month and happy spring and other great new beginnings1

Peace and abundant blessings!

Margaret

 

Astro Doings December 2015

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Hi Everyone

Hope you all had a lovely Thanksgiving!

The last month of 2015 – how did we get here so quickly? – promises a continuation of the seemingly directionless and unsettled energy we have been in since October. We start with three planets (Mars, Uranus and Pluto) in cardinal (initiating) signs. Mercury joins Pluto in Capricorn on December 9th to make it four and the Sun joins them both on December 21st. Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune and the Sun (until the 21st) are in changeable, restless, multi-talented mutable energy. It is a wonderful time to explore, albeit perhaps superficially, different ideas, ways of thinking and being.

I didn’t forget Venus. She spends most of the month in Scorpio, a fixed sign – i.e., sustaining energy, can be stubborn and unwilling to change. Scorpio brings with it a deep understanding of others with a capacity to heal or to use it for power over another. Venus is the planet of love, so we have here the energetic opportunity to deeply (Scorpio) understand one another with love (Venus). Those with planets at any degree of Taurus, Leo or Aquarius may be more aware of this energy – also those with planets in the other water signs, Cancer and Pisces.

The powerful square between Saturn in Sagittarius and Neptune in Pisces continues for the entire month. Saturn can represent limitation, lack, delay, discipline, tenacity and/or wisdom. Sagittarius is a fire sign that deals with our developing understanding of truth, our belief systems and our “group” or tribe. This combination can strengthen our resolve and discipline (Saturn) to continue on our spiritual path (Sagittarius). Neptune, the higher octave of Venus, is very strong in her own watery realm of Pisces, which desires to merge with something greater and is aware that there is more to each of us than what we can perceive with our five senses. One of the most positive ways to view this square is to recognize that it can provide structure (Saturn) to our dreams (Neptune); it can provide dedication (Saturn) to our quest for Truth (Sagittarius) and for atonement (Pisces); and it can increase our compassion (Neptune) for ourselves and others. The trick here is to not let the fear that the fiery quest of Sagittarius will boil away the water of Pisces’s sensitivity; or conversely that the sense of being overwhelmed (Neptune in Pisces) and/or the stern discipline of Saturn will inhibit the innate optimism of Sagittarius’ quest for Truth. Those with planets in the other mutable signs (Gemini and Virgo) will be the most aware of these energies.

Lest the cardinal signs feel left out, beginning on December 20th through the end of the month, there is a powerful t-square configuration involving Uranus in Aries, Mars in Libra and Mercury plus Pluto in Capricorn. Uranus and Mars are on opposite sides of the zodiac from one another – the warrior (Mars) and the rebel (Uranus). Lots of innovative (Uranus) ideas for change to benefit the individual (Aries) and the energy (Mars) to balance the needs of the individual with the needs of others (Libra). Both Uranus and Mars are in a challenging relationship with Mercury (how we think and communicate) and Pluto (transformation, decay, underground) in Capricorn. I believe this t-square will continue to present opportunities for all of us to see, both individually and collectively, where structures, i.e. thought patterns, belief systems and “world views” need to be changed.

And, Uranus changes directions on Christmas Day at 10:53 p.m. ET. He’ll be at 160 Aries. What this means is that basically the planet stops and pulses energy before it starts moving again in the other direction. In this case, Uranus is ending its long retrograde motion (since July), so the rebel, innovator, humanitarian in all of us can now express more freely and our quest for who we are in truth (Aries) can move forward more easily. I’d watch for more innovative ideas, some perhaps a little “out there,” especially from those with planets in Aries, Libra, Capricorn, and Cancer from 10 – 260 and from the other fire signs, Leo and Sagittarius.

And December’s full moon also occurs on Christmas Day. She’ll be at 30 Cancer balancing home, hearth, nurturing (Cancer) with society, structure, systems (Capricorn).

Speaking of Capricorn, the Winter Solstice is December 21st when the Sun enters this sign at 11:49 p.m. ET. As you all know, this is a festival in many traditions of the return of the light, as the days slowly begin to get longer. And may our light continue brighten as the days lengthen!

I hope you all have a most joyous holiday season!

Peace and abundant blessings,

Margaret