Monthly Astro Forecast - New Moon in Sagittarius
November 29th brings a New Moon in Sagittarius - what follows is an overview of the astrology of that New Moon, and the astrology for the lunation which follows, until the Capricorn New Moon on December 29.
The New Moon in Sagittarius, for me at least, marks the beginning of the advent season, as we leave the darkness and depths of Scorpio and begin to turn towards the light. We start to feel more optimistic, lighter, as the holiday season approaches. Festivals of light take place to mark the beginning of the winter holiday season, the approach of the Solstice and the return of the light. On the first Sunday of advent (Sunday 27th November this year), many churches hold Christingle services for children. We used to go every year when I was little, so the smell of oranges and candlelight will always be part of this season for me. In my part of north London, we have a lantern parade, with hundreds of people walking through the streets carrying lanterns shaped like stars. The Sun moved into Sagittarius on November 21st, joining Mercury and Saturn who were already there. This concentration of fiery energy gives us the courage and confidence to examine and explore the treasures we brought back from the dark during the Scorpio season. Sagittarius is the sign of the seeker, so this is the time to open our minds, to broaden our horizons, and to begin to consider what adventures the new solar cycle will have in store for us. It's not quite time to take action yet, that comes after the Solstice later in December when the light wins over the dark for another cycle. Now is the time for planning, for using Mercury and Saturn in Sagittarius to give form to ideas and to make plans. Sagittarius is the bringer of visions, encouraging us to see the patterns and meaning both in our individual lives, and in what is going on in the world around us. At the time of the New Moon, the Moon and Sun are squared to the nodal axis, making the red triangle (known as a t square) you can see pointing towards the top of the chart. The North and South Nodes are points in space, showing where the Earth's orbit around the Sun intersects with the Moon's orbit around the Earth. In a birth chart, the Nodes show the relationship between Sun and Moon, between where we are coming from and where we are going. The show the resources we bring into this incarnation, and how we can step into our destiny as more than simply the sum of our past. They are often seen as signifying fate or destiny, and having them so tightly cued into this New Moon gives it an extra power. Many of us feel that we are living in a time of change, a time when the world hangs on a knife edge, and that is reflected in this placement. The forces of chaos and order are out of balance, and so seek a new dynamic through the visionary thinking of Sagittarius.
So what else is happening over the next few weeks? Venus, planet of love, attraction and value, has already moved into Capricorn. In this placement, the goddess of love seeks stability and security, and is cautious in bestowing her affections. At the time of this new moon, she square Uranus, planet of revolution and freedom, and we may find tensions appearing within our relationships. We may find ourselves clashing with those who do not share our values, and need to be careful not to be dogmatic or rigid in the way we think and act. This placement brings an urge for freedom, for not wanting to be tied down, which is at odds with our need for stability and a firm foundation. However Venus moves out of Capricorn and into Aquarius on December 7th, finding the unconventional much more attractive. As the busy holiday season gets going, we value our space and freedom.
At the beginning of December, Mercury moves into Capricorn, giving structure to our Sagittarius visions. December 19 marks the beginning of Mercury's final retrograde period of 2016, remaining retrograde until January 7, 2017. Mercury retro gets a bad press, and indeed if we have planets in Capricorn or the other cardinal signs, we might want to double check our holiday travel plans. But especially in the last days of this dark season of the solar cycle, Mercury retrograde is a good time to take stock, to review what we have learnt. We can take some time (for Capricorn is a slower energy than Mercury is truly comfortable with) to consolidate our knowledge, and to put our affairs in order as the year draws to a close.
On December 21st, the Sun moves into Capricorn, marking the Winter Solstice point, when the days gradually begin to lengthen and the light gains in strength. Now is the time to begin manifesting our Sagittarius visions, to set goals and get down to business. Capricorn is the sign of systems and structures, now illuminated by the Sun following the past few months of political change and even chaos. Now we decide what practical steps we can take to build the kind of world we want to live. Rather than getting overwhelming by how much there is to do, Sun in Capricorn asks us to pick a goal, however challenging, and figure out the steps we need to take to get us there. There is a powerful manifesting energy in this cardinal earth sign - it's time to put it to work. What mountains need to be climbed? Where should we focus our energy and hard work in the new year?
The final week of this lunation brings some challenges as we begin this work of world building. Jupiter in Libra opposes Uranus in Aries, throwing the dynamic of self and other into sharp relief. Where are we still stuck in "them and us" thinking? Jupiter in Libra seeks compromise and cooperation, in pursuit of equality and peace. Uranus, now into the final third of its long journey through Aries, asks us to stick to our guns, to stand up for our rights and for what we believe in. Finding a way to balance these two approaches will be our challenge as the new year begins, as indeed it has been for the last few months. As the Moon moves back to conjunct the Sun at the next new moon, Saturn squares Chiron, showing us where our wounds stop us seeing clearly, and where the hard work of healing needs to begin.
New Moon in Sagittarius
The New Moon in Sagittarius, for me at least, marks the beginning of the advent season, as we leave the darkness and depths of Scorpio and begin to turn towards the light. We start to feel more optimistic, lighter, as the holiday season approaches. Festivals of light take place to mark the beginning of the winter holiday season, the approach of the Solstice and the return of the light. On the first Sunday of advent (Sunday 27th November this year), many churches hold Christingle services for children. We used to go every year when I was little, so the smell of oranges and candlelight will always be part of this season for me. In my part of north London, we have a lantern parade, with hundreds of people walking through the streets carrying lanterns shaped like stars. The Sun moved into Sagittarius on November 21st, joining Mercury and Saturn who were already there. This concentration of fiery energy gives us the courage and confidence to examine and explore the treasures we brought back from the dark during the Scorpio season. Sagittarius is the sign of the seeker, so this is the time to open our minds, to broaden our horizons, and to begin to consider what adventures the new solar cycle will have in store for us. It's not quite time to take action yet, that comes after the Solstice later in December when the light wins over the dark for another cycle. Now is the time for planning, for using Mercury and Saturn in Sagittarius to give form to ideas and to make plans. Sagittarius is the bringer of visions, encouraging us to see the patterns and meaning both in our individual lives, and in what is going on in the world around us. At the time of the New Moon, the Moon and Sun are squared to the nodal axis, making the red triangle (known as a t square) you can see pointing towards the top of the chart. The North and South Nodes are points in space, showing where the Earth's orbit around the Sun intersects with the Moon's orbit around the Earth. In a birth chart, the Nodes show the relationship between Sun and Moon, between where we are coming from and where we are going. The show the resources we bring into this incarnation, and how we can step into our destiny as more than simply the sum of our past. They are often seen as signifying fate or destiny, and having them so tightly cued into this New Moon gives it an extra power. Many of us feel that we are living in a time of change, a time when the world hangs on a knife edge, and that is reflected in this placement. The forces of chaos and order are out of balance, and so seek a new dynamic through the visionary thinking of Sagittarius.
Space and structure
So what else is happening over the next few weeks? Venus, planet of love, attraction and value, has already moved into Capricorn. In this placement, the goddess of love seeks stability and security, and is cautious in bestowing her affections. At the time of this new moon, she square Uranus, planet of revolution and freedom, and we may find tensions appearing within our relationships. We may find ourselves clashing with those who do not share our values, and need to be careful not to be dogmatic or rigid in the way we think and act. This placement brings an urge for freedom, for not wanting to be tied down, which is at odds with our need for stability and a firm foundation. However Venus moves out of Capricorn and into Aquarius on December 7th, finding the unconventional much more attractive. As the busy holiday season gets going, we value our space and freedom.
At the beginning of December, Mercury moves into Capricorn, giving structure to our Sagittarius visions. December 19 marks the beginning of Mercury's final retrograde period of 2016, remaining retrograde until January 7, 2017. Mercury retro gets a bad press, and indeed if we have planets in Capricorn or the other cardinal signs, we might want to double check our holiday travel plans. But especially in the last days of this dark season of the solar cycle, Mercury retrograde is a good time to take stock, to review what we have learnt. We can take some time (for Capricorn is a slower energy than Mercury is truly comfortable with) to consolidate our knowledge, and to put our affairs in order as the year draws to a close.
Winter Solstice
On December 21st, the Sun moves into Capricorn, marking the Winter Solstice point, when the days gradually begin to lengthen and the light gains in strength. Now is the time to begin manifesting our Sagittarius visions, to set goals and get down to business. Capricorn is the sign of systems and structures, now illuminated by the Sun following the past few months of political change and even chaos. Now we decide what practical steps we can take to build the kind of world we want to live. Rather than getting overwhelming by how much there is to do, Sun in Capricorn asks us to pick a goal, however challenging, and figure out the steps we need to take to get us there. There is a powerful manifesting energy in this cardinal earth sign - it's time to put it to work. What mountains need to be climbed? Where should we focus our energy and hard work in the new year?
The final week of this lunation brings some challenges as we begin this work of world building. Jupiter in Libra opposes Uranus in Aries, throwing the dynamic of self and other into sharp relief. Where are we still stuck in "them and us" thinking? Jupiter in Libra seeks compromise and cooperation, in pursuit of equality and peace. Uranus, now into the final third of its long journey through Aries, asks us to stick to our guns, to stand up for our rights and for what we believe in. Finding a way to balance these two approaches will be our challenge as the new year begins, as indeed it has been for the last few months. As the Moon moves back to conjunct the Sun at the next new moon, Saturn squares Chiron, showing us where our wounds stop us seeing clearly, and where the hard work of healing needs to begin.