This December seems to be a month of incredible volatility with wild extremes of emotions and actions. There’s a lot going on this December — some of it marvelous, some of it far less so, but none of it done in half measure. This month is a month when we may be rushing around, whether we embrace holiday shopping and holiday activities or not. We may feel as though we don’t have a moment to catch our breath. Not only can we easily get caught up in the frenzy of this holiday period but we might also experience unexpected situations arising that demand our attention or grab our interest.
December begins with three planets in a Fire Sign, two planets in an Earth Sign, two planets in Air Signs and three planets in Water Signs. We have two planets in Cardinal Signs, two planets in Fixed Signs and six planets in Mutable Signs. There are five planets in Positive Signs, five planets in Negative Signs.
The month begins with a Grand Trine in the Water Signs with Mars in Cancer, Mercury in Scorpio and Uranus in Pisces. Our emotions can be strong, our instincts perceptive, and our desire to make things happen unstoppable. This Grand Trine is brief however, for Mercury exits Scorpio on the 1st and enters Sagittarius where it reinforces the Stellium of three or more planets in the Mutable Fire Sign as Mercury joins the Sun, Jupiter and Pluto in Sagittarius.
This emphasis on the exuberant, optimistic and expansive energies of Sagittarius is reinforced both by the Sagittarius New Moon on the 9th with five planets then in Sagittarius and also by Jupiter finishing its transit of its own Sign and in doing so coming to a conjunction with Pluto on the 11th. Let me repeat that during this month and especially the mid part of this month, nothing is likely to be done in half measure. On the contrary, we may experience situations and conditions that are ‘over the top’, incredible generosity, ebullience and excess.
At the beginning of the month, the Sagittarian Stellium is also part of a T-Square in the Mutable Signs, as the Sun, Jupiter, Pluto, joined by Mercury in Sagittarius square Uranus in Pisces and square both the Moon and Saturn in Virgo. This T-Square can have us operating from a fairly high level of nervous energy. Our tendency to go overboard cannot be exaggerated and we shall have to question whether our extravagance is based upon sincere motives or whether we’re getting caught up in the holiday spirit and masking feelings of anxiety, concern and fearfulness. If the latter, we might be operating on that old dictum: ‘when the going gets tough, the tough go shopping’.
The potential for real whipsaws cannot also be underestimated. With the Saturn Uranus opposition in effect at the beginning of the month and a more impactful energy during 2008, we need to be aware of the battle between old and new. We may want to break free from our responsibilities but any changes we initiate have to be well considered, well thought through and embraced only after playing devil’s advocate to see where our liabilities and potential pitfalls might lie. This configuration can have us jumping between the established ways of the past and more daring undertakings of testing new waters. Since this energy can also have an impact on our physical well-being, we do have to be careful of not getting burnt out during this December period and not placing ourselves in environments or around people where germs may be flying. There could be a propensity towards intestinal problems, some due to the high level of nervous energy, some to the variability in temperature and climate conditions and some due to the whipsaw of energy between a manic, frenzied pace and a depressed, lethargic state.
Not that we should assume that this December is overly intense! There’s a lot going on, some of which is planned for, some of which comes out of the blue.
The potential for extremes seems to touch every aspect of our lives — from our finances and the equity markets, to weather conditions and intense variability, to our activities of much going on and other times of wanting to pull the covers up over our head, to our emotional state of soaring with the eagles and plummeting to fathomless depths. With such extreme energies and the possibility of things turning on a dime or at a moment’s notice, it is important that we take everything with a grain of salt.
When discussing the weather in New England, Mark Twain is attributed to have said that if you don’t like the weather, wait a few minutes, for it will change. The same thing could be said of these times and this December.
While we may have a sense of euphoria operating, there could be an undercurrent of distress that we either try to repress or deny. Such a disposition could place us in harm’s way in terms of our expenditures both in time and money. Slowing down the pace would be suggested but may be largely ignored.
Relationships and social interactions can be quite pleasant in the early part of the month. Venus is finishing its transit of its own Sign of Libra, the Sign of partnership and before it exits, Venus sextiles Jupiter on the 2nd and sextiles Pluto on the 3rd. On the 5th, Venus leaves Libra and enters Scorpio, a Sign of its Detriment where Venus is not too comfortable. But with Venus entering Scorpio and Mercury having exited Scorpio to enter Sagittarius on the 1st, we also have the Water Grand Trine recreated with Venus in Scorpio, Mars in Cancer and Uranus in Pisces. Venus exactly trines Mars on the 11th and exactly trines Uranus on the 18th. While many of our social engagements during this holiday month may be with family and friends, we could also experience some interesting encounters that lead to infatuations or heart-palpitating brief exchanges. The mid-part of the month can provide some especially enjoyable holiday gatherings, especially around the 11th, although this time also allows for a sense of indulgence.
With Mercury in Sagittarius, Mercury squares Saturn on the 6th. We need to watch for delays and feeling a little down, possibly even withdrawn. We could have a tendency to see the half glass of water as half empty and draining with a liability of our seeing the dark side of life and focusing on the negativity.
On the 7th, the Sagittarius Sun squares Uranus. We may want to make changes, stretch our wings but we have to be careful that we’re not acting impulsively, even rashly, as we jump at anything that grabs our interest. A sense of exuberance and wanting things a certain way could lead us down the garden path. We may be stretching our wings, exploring new terrain but it would be far wiser to take a sampler rather than committing to a main course.
The 8th has Mars sextile Saturn. If we haven’t prepared our homes for the holidays, this weekend would be a good time to do so. We might take the time to attend to the obligatory holiday ceremonies with social gatherings, decorations and sending out greeting cards or calling old friends. Much can be readied which probably would be wise as the energy is likely to ratchet up over the following few days.
Sunday the 9th gives us the Sagittarius New Moon with five, count ‘em, five planets in Sagittarius. This New Moon sextiles Neptune, squares Uranus and by Sign reinforces the Mutable Sign T-Square with which we started the month and have been doing the dance throughout the first part of this month. For we also have Saturn in Virgo. Now, this T-Square is ratcheted up. And the ratcheting up is added to by the Jupiter Pluto conjunction, exact on the 11th, and the last hurrah of Jupiter’s year-long transit of its own Sign of Sagittarius before it exits on the 18th to transit Capricorn for the next year.
This fortnight under the influence of this Sagittarius New Moon can have us singing ‘hail, hail, the gang’s all here’ and ‘over there, over there’. We’re looking for a blow-out time and are likely to spare no expense. It’s as if we were aware of the way things seem to be heading and want to avoid the inevitable by focusing on good times with good friends. Fantasyland?, anyone and everyone. Yes, we could easily escape into a surreal world of illusion and making light of situations. But this New Moon also has the influence of Mercury square Uranus. Unexpected situations could arise. We might experience computer problems and miscommunications. We may even find ourselves having difficulty with travel. This two week period could be a wild one.
The 10th has the Mercury Uranus square exact. This energy is my least favorite for air travel and with all travel we have to watch for delays or difficulties along the way.
If we are partying on the 11th, the wine may be flowing and romance may be in the air. Jupiter conjuncts Pluto today and whatever goes on today could be very bacchanalian. The 11th not only has Jupiter conjunct Pluto. We also have the Sun sextile Neptune and Venus trine Mars. If a little of a good thing is good, then a huge amount of a good thing even to excess must be great. In the moment it could be, but with this feel good energy and everything done to the max we would have to keep in mind the possible ramifications and consequences of our actions. Otherwise, we could awaken the next day or two, or further down the road, with a nasty hangover and the need to retrace our steps.
The 12th has Venus square Saturn. If we have been too much for someone, we are likely to hear about it. We may get a wake-up call, get our feet on the ground or crash to the ground after a time of flying high. Suddenly, hard cold reality might step in and make us aware of having overstepped the bounds of logic and reason and instead going on a whim, a hope and a prayer. The bloom may come off the rose but certainly the rose is not going to wither and die. Not with our attention of having a good time and celebrating the holidays royally.
The 13th reinforces our thoughts on prospects and possibilities. With Mercury sextile Neptune, our mind may be filled with all the good things we can look forward to. Our desire for expanding our interests might be enhanced by friends who have our best interests at heart but may in fact be more cheerleaders than practical technicians. We can go off again on our merry way of believing all things to be possible.
There is a great deal of change operating in the third week of December. We end the Autumn Season and come into Winter on the 22nd, as the Sun exits Sagittarius and enters Capricorn. On the 18th, Jupiter exits Sagitarius and enters Capricorn. On the 19th, Saturn turns retrograde. And on the 20th, Mercury leaves Sagittarius and enters Capricorn. With the movement of Jupiter, Mercury and the Sun into Capricorn, we end the Stellium of three or more planets in one Sign in Sagittarius and move into a Stellium in Capricorn, the Sign ruled by Saturn.
This third week of December is an active one with many variations and variables operating.
On the 17th, Mercury conjuncts the Sun. On the cusp of Capricorn, we are likely to want to translate our good feelings into practical application. We may no longer be content with feeling confident, expansive and optimistic. We want to put our enthusiasm into action.
On the 18th, Venus trines Uranus and Jupiter leaves its own Sign of Sagittarius to enter Saturn-ruled Capricorn for a year transit. Social interactions can be enlivening with unexpected contacts and exciting twists and turns. With Jupiter entering Capricorn, we might feel as though some of our exuberance has been diminished. We may feel more ambitious, wanting to get on with things and focused on our worldly aspirations.
On the 19th, Mercury conjuncts Pluto. We may be speaking the truth, emphasizing our world view and somewhat self-righteous. Our mind can be laser-sharp, penetrating and our conversations philosophical and long-winded. Saturn turns retrograde on this day, and we enter into the Winter hibernation of the Saturn retrograde. Things may take longer than we like. In any projects, we have to be certain that we’re building upon rock and not upon sand. Let’s not forget the details but rather take into account the specifics and not merely the big picture. We do have to watch for colds, flu and intestinal issues.
The 20th has Mercury leaving Sagittarius and entering Capricorn where it conjuncts Jupiter. Our thoughts turn to our ambitions, how we are seen and how we can best use holiday gatherings to further our personal interests. The Sun conjuncts Pluto. We may feel like we’re going through a vast transformation and in deed we are. Whether subtly or dramatically, we are going through a shapeshifting. We are becoming more focused on mundane concerns and how we can cut ourselves a piece of the pie. Things have to work for us, otherwise we might not get involved. We may seem jaded compared to the more buoyant period we’re coming off from. We are far more interested in bettering our positions and our standing in the world. We are feeling the increasing influence of Capricorn and the lessening impact of Sagittarius.
The lessening impact of Sagittarius is especially felt on the 22nd as the Sun leaves Sagittarius, enters Capricorn at the time of the Winter Solstice, beginning the season of Winter and ushering in a Stellium of three or more planets in Capricorn. At the time of the Winter Solstice, Venus squares Neptune and Mercury opposes Mars. We might find that friendships are called into question with the determining factor no longer being how much we enjoy the company of the other person but rather what they can do for us. What we feel we need to do to get ahead could be in conflict with our personal interests and our family matters. We may feel betwixt and between the old and the new. Our sense of shapeshifting can seem very real as we take a more serious attitude towards life and how we’re doing our living.
The Cancer Full Moon on the 23rd highlights the Sagittarius – Capricorn conundrum, as the Full Moon occurs in the very early stages of the Sun’s transit through Capricorn. The Sun conjuncts Jupiter. We may seek to put on a grand show, exhibiting our generosity and our largesse in a somewhat crass, yet calculated manner. As we come toward Christmas, people may be like peacocks, using social occasions to one better their Easter finery in the cold of December.
The Sun opposes Mars on the 24th. We might be in overdrive seeking to finalize last minute holiday details. Let’s be certain to take time and not rush.
The 25th is Christmas day and today Mercury trines Saturn. Reunions with family and friends can be pleasant, politically correct as we deal with our social gatherings with grace and decorum. Today would also be a good day to blueprint our plans for where we want to go and what we want to do in the days head. Our mind is sharp, drawing upon the analytical and logic. Conversations could be important sounding boards to fine tune our plans and gather needed information.
The 26th has Mars opposed Jupiter. We could be gung-ho to get on with things but we do need to be careful that we don’t overdo. Today is a day not to allow our passions fire into full flame. Rather, today is a day to attend to family matters while taking into account our personal goals. Let’s not rush the river or get caught up in the renewed frenzy occurring out in the world.
The 29th has Mercury sextile Uranus. We could have unexpected conversations which prove scintillating and insightful. Our mind is considering options and alternatives and we’re likely to seek how we can best streamline our operations.
The Sun trines Saturn on the 30th. This last week of December is a good time to line our ducks up in a row, prepare for the year ahead and complete outstanding matters that we don’t want to bring into the new year. With the ability to think outside the box, a renewed energy and a commitment to better our lives, we can address the past and ready ourselves for our future. Venus exits Scorpio on the 30th and enters Sagittarius. Increasingly, we are likely to seek out those people who have worldly experience and an upbeat attitude.
The 31st is New Year’s Eve, the last day of 2007 which in numerology is the universal year of a 9, the completion of a cycle. We’re on the threshold of a dawning of a new day and a new cycle with 2008 being the universal year of a 1, new beginnings. Retrograding Mars exits Cancer and goes back into Gemini on the 31st, all within the realm of an opposition with Pluto. 2007 may go out with a whimper or with a bang, but for many of us, we’ll just be happy that it goes out.
Happy New Year!
December… going to the max, no half measures here…
