Monthly Astro Forecast: New Moon in Sagittarius
The new moon in Sagittarius is on December 18th, at 6.30am GMT, just a couple of days before the Winter Solstice. We are in full on advent mode, socialising, organising, full of anticipation for the holiday season, the exchange of gifts. Its a time when even the most confirmed atheist takes solace in tradition, whether it be the traditions childhood which make us feel secure, or traditions of our own devising. Our traditions nourish us, whatever they are and wherever they are rooted. They give our lives meaning. And all of this, tradition and meaning, is the domain of Sagittarius, the sign of belief and the search for truth. Whatever tradition we come from or have chosen to follow, whatever we appear to be celebrating this winter holiday season, at the root of it we are all anticipating the return of the light, the return of the sun and the lengthening of our days. Sagittarius is hope, optimism, trust in the universe that the sun will rise on Solstice morning, rather than a mere huge ball of fire appearing in the sky (bonus points and my friendship for life if you get the reference!). Sagittarius is also where we mythologise, where we find ourselves as part of the bigger picture, a drop in an ocean of meaning.
Mercury is still retrograde in Saturn, turning direct on December 23rd. On January 10th it passes 28° Sagittarius, the point at which it stationed retrograde. Its at this point, as Mercury leaves the so-called "shadow phase" that we can move on from the retrograde energy, begin to look outwards instead of inwards, to begin to take the steps that will bring our Sagittarian visions into manifestation.
Despite all the optimism and the bright lights, the Winter Solstice is also the beginning of Capricorn season, the quiet dark of the year when the land is pared back to bare bones, grey and brown and the skeletal shapes of trees. We get an extra hit of Capricorn energy this time around, as just before Winter Solstice, Saturn moves into Capricorn. Saturn is the ruler of Capricorn, coming home to tell us to take responsibility for our lives. Not just personal responsibility but political, even planetary. Capricorn demands realism, focused energy, caution rather than excess. Not a comfortable energy in this age of consumption, at the most consumption heavy time of the year. As Saturn and then the Sun move into Capricorn (on December 20th and 21st respectively), and are followed in the coming weeks by Venus on December 25th and Mercury on January 11th, we are asked to take responsibility for our impact on the world, to rein in the excesses of our consuming - spending and eating and drinking - to remember the finite resources of Mother Earth. Capricorn's opposite sign of Cancer is the all giving Mother, and so Capricorn must bring her into balance, reminding us that we cannot take, take take forever. The consequences are more and more visible, and I like to think that awareness of them is rising too. But Capricorn wants to know what we are actually doing, whether we are putting our money where our mouth is and making changes in our lives. We don't have to take on all the burdens of the world, that would be overwhelming, but we do have to be "aware witnesses", willing to take responsibility for our own contributions and for making the changes we can in our own lives. We might even say that taking responsibility, rather than taking refuge in ignorance or blame, brings us true freedom. We are no longer at the mercy of our circumstances or the expectations of others. We have the freedom to control our own lives, to be the master of our own fate.
It's all a bit serious with so much Capricorn in the mix isn't it? Especially when the outer planets get in on the action too. Uranus is also in a cardinal sign, feisty Aries, and forms squares with Venus (on 13th January) and then the Sun (on 14th January) as they travel through Capricorn. Uranus energy is soooo different to Saturnian Capricorn energy, look out around those dates for an injection of sudden change or visionary insight. And probably some deep truths. The personal planets also pass Pluto, who has been transiting Capricorn for some time now, both Sun and Venus meeting Pluto on January 9th, triggering the deep transformation that might bring Uranian awakening a few days later. I can't promise things will lighten up (have you seen the state of the world?), but both the Sun and Venus carry the potential for clarity and empathy, at least. We might just see some shifts in the power structures around us, some shit getting real. Our responsibility is to do our best to make them positive changes, an opening up instead of a clamping down by the powers that be. Don't let go of that Sagittarian hope just yet.
Mercury is still retrograde in Saturn, turning direct on December 23rd. On January 10th it passes 28° Sagittarius, the point at which it stationed retrograde. Its at this point, as Mercury leaves the so-called "shadow phase" that we can move on from the retrograde energy, begin to look outwards instead of inwards, to begin to take the steps that will bring our Sagittarian visions into manifestation.
Despite all the optimism and the bright lights, the Winter Solstice is also the beginning of Capricorn season, the quiet dark of the year when the land is pared back to bare bones, grey and brown and the skeletal shapes of trees. We get an extra hit of Capricorn energy this time around, as just before Winter Solstice, Saturn moves into Capricorn. Saturn is the ruler of Capricorn, coming home to tell us to take responsibility for our lives. Not just personal responsibility but political, even planetary. Capricorn demands realism, focused energy, caution rather than excess. Not a comfortable energy in this age of consumption, at the most consumption heavy time of the year. As Saturn and then the Sun move into Capricorn (on December 20th and 21st respectively), and are followed in the coming weeks by Venus on December 25th and Mercury on January 11th, we are asked to take responsibility for our impact on the world, to rein in the excesses of our consuming - spending and eating and drinking - to remember the finite resources of Mother Earth. Capricorn's opposite sign of Cancer is the all giving Mother, and so Capricorn must bring her into balance, reminding us that we cannot take, take take forever. The consequences are more and more visible, and I like to think that awareness of them is rising too. But Capricorn wants to know what we are actually doing, whether we are putting our money where our mouth is and making changes in our lives. We don't have to take on all the burdens of the world, that would be overwhelming, but we do have to be "aware witnesses", willing to take responsibility for our own contributions and for making the changes we can in our own lives. We might even say that taking responsibility, rather than taking refuge in ignorance or blame, brings us true freedom. We are no longer at the mercy of our circumstances or the expectations of others. We have the freedom to control our own lives, to be the master of our own fate.
It's all a bit serious with so much Capricorn in the mix isn't it? Especially when the outer planets get in on the action too. Uranus is also in a cardinal sign, feisty Aries, and forms squares with Venus (on 13th January) and then the Sun (on 14th January) as they travel through Capricorn. Uranus energy is soooo different to Saturnian Capricorn energy, look out around those dates for an injection of sudden change or visionary insight. And probably some deep truths. The personal planets also pass Pluto, who has been transiting Capricorn for some time now, both Sun and Venus meeting Pluto on January 9th, triggering the deep transformation that might bring Uranian awakening a few days later. I can't promise things will lighten up (have you seen the state of the world?), but both the Sun and Venus carry the potential for clarity and empathy, at least. We might just see some shifts in the power structures around us, some shit getting real. Our responsibility is to do our best to make them positive changes, an opening up instead of a clamping down by the powers that be. Don't let go of that Sagittarian hope just yet.