The Astrology Blog – from 15 December 2014 to 4 January 2015
All times stated are in GMT
I’m off to London on Thursday so I won’t be blogging properly again until the New Year. In the meantime here’s a quick look-see at the astrology unfolding over the next three weeks – your Christmas and New Year survival kit!
Regular readers may remember that last week’s blog finished with some info about a major aspect that is exact early this morning, and therefore has been in operation over the weekend –
Monday 15 December Uranus square Pluto (06.15)
Last week I wrote –
Usually these major aspects between the outer planets happen three times but this one happens an unprecedented seven times. The first was summer 2012, this one is the 6th in the series – the 7th will be exact on 17 March 2015.
Uranus (rebellion, revolution, the unexpected) and Pluto (total change, evolution, hidden powers) between them don’t exactly make for an easy life. They signal political unrest, nature at her most fearsome and many matters of change that are beyond our personal control or even understanding.
This 6th square happens at 12 degrees of Capricorn so if you have planets at or very close to this point this upheaval may show in your own life. You will already know the context! Just expect the next chain in the link of breaking with the past or the starting bell for the closing rounds of battle with an individual or situation that has already taken a long time to work through.
I should add that this square also warns loudly against any kind of reckless behavior as the risk of accidents is very high when these two planets clash. There have been two incidents here in the last few days that bear this out! This is important to remember as Venus, Mercury and then the Sun are all going to play into this square throughout the festive period – dates and times to follow – so, sorry if I sound like the fun police, but please err on the side of caution at all times and especially where the festive booze is flowing.
The first planet to get caught up in the tussle is Venus, who is already travelling through Capricorn having entered this sign last Wednesday –
Saturday 20 December
Venus square Uranus (17.09)
Venus conjunct Pluto (21.08)
Venus is love, women, money, pleasures – so all of these things are sensitized. This is not about being alarmist, just forewarned! Keep your sensible head on, don’t go mad with money, look out for a girlfriend in crisis, double check your social arrangements, reserve tables in advance rather than trusting to luck – and so on. Mercury enters Capricorn this week (ingress exact 03.54 on Wednesday 17th) and repeats the pattern on Christmas Day –
Thursday 25 December
Mercury square Uranus (01.32)
Mercury conjunct Pluto (06.53)
Note that the latter two are exact in the early hours which means that they will be “applying” – getting stronger – throughout the previous 24 hours, ie Christmas Eve. Disruption is a major theme and Mercury is very much linked to being on the move as he rules all modes of transport. If you’re traveling on that day allow yourself as much time as possible and plan your journey carefully. Leaving anything to the last minute is a dead cert for chaos or stress! Things out of our control are also likely to play a role, such as bad weather or people going down with the flu, but we can at least anticipate where to build in some slack, or to be prepared for Christmas plans not going entirely according to plan.
Mercury is communication too, in all its guises, and although he’s not retrograde he might as well be. Getting thumped by two outer planets within a matter of hours adds up to the same thing and the same guidelines apply, especially double checking everything and being vigilant with your belongings when out and about – especially keys or anything linked to communication such as phones, laptops, tablets, cameras etc. Also stay cool and don’t get locked into arguments. Christmas may be the season of goodwill in theory but it’s also a notorious time for family disputes. January is the top month for workload for divorce lawyers….
What else this week? We have Mars in sextile (harmonious aspect) to Uranus just after the Venus aspects –
Sunday 21 December
Mars sextile Uranus (03.48)
Uranus turns direct (22.46)
This is helpful and powerful as Mars in travelling through Aquarius (Uranus’ sign) and Uranus himself is “stationary direct” – ie changing direction, switching to forwards motion after being retrograde since the middle of July. As above, so below – look out for turning points of the dramatic or unexpected kind, or themes of “good coming out of bad”. Sometimes it’s a drama that opens our eyes and in spite of all the hoo-ha going on there’s an underlying thread of decisiveness and awareness.
The weekend also brings the Sun’s change of sign into Capricorn and, with the Moon entering the same sign just a couple of hours later, we instantly have a very powerful New Moon –
Sunday 21 December
Sun ingress Capricorn (23.04)
Monday 22 December
Moon ingress Capricorn (01.26)
New Moon at 0 degrees of Capricorn (01.37)
New Moons are new beginnings, the opening of new cycles, new brooms that sweep clean and the seed moments of plans or relationships. When the New Moon falls at 0 degrees (of any sign) it is said to be especially potent, ie it doesn’t get more new than that! Capricorn is associated with purpose and ambition so for some this New Moon will relate to brand new work matters and professional concerns, but any goal or decision that takes shape over this weekend bears the hallmark of serious intention.
We have another change of sign at the beginning of the following week which is also very important as Saturn, who changes sign only once every two and a half years, moves from Scorpio into Sagittarius –
Tuesday 23 December
Saturn ingress Sagittarius (16.34)
Saturn will turn retrograde in March 2015 and slide back into Scorpio for the summer months but for now this change of sign feels very welcome. I’ve noticed over and over during this last couple of years that many people’s problems relate back to Saturn’s ingress into Scorpio in October 2012 – Saturn is a heavy planet and Scorpio is an intense water sign, and can be uncompromising. As the sign of “fixed” water Scorpio’s images are those of ice, or still waters running deep. Either way it’s a tough or unfathomable combination, but it’s also very much linked to the deep healing of endings and mendings.
Events unfolding on the 23rd will give us clues as to what Saturn’s new messages are all about and, as ever, if you have personal planets that tie in with this activity the event will be especially important for you. In this case, if you have planets or angles at or close to 0 degrees of Sagittarius then Saturn’s change of sign will be the start of a significant new cycle – look out for Saturnian themes, such as work, effort, commitment, recognizing your limitations or handling obstacles, and building work – literally or metaphorically.
If you don’t know the sign and position of your natal planets you can find them here in a matter of seconds – just tap in your date, place and time of birth –
http://www.alwaysastrology.com/birth-chart-calculator.html
Otherwise Christmas week bring the Mercury tussles as already outlined above, but we have a lovely aspect at the end of that week –
Saturday 27 December
Sun sextile (harmonious) Neptune (03.12)
Again, note that this aspect is exact in the early hours so it will be applying and at its strongest throughout the previous 24 hours, ie Boxing Day. It’s a great aspect for chill time, bonding with family or someone special, and social gatherings of the very easy and enjoyable kind. If you’re worn out by this stage note also that Neptune rules sleep – this is a fantastic aspect for catching up on shuteye so get to bed nice and early on Boxing Day night and you’ll feel massively restored the next morning.
The New Year
We definitely need our energy to usher in 2015. New Year’s Day brings an aspect that is linked to full on activity or overdoing things –
Thursday 1 January
Mars opposite Jupiter (19.50)
For some this might be “I’m all partied out” while for others it’s an invitation to carry on! Mars is action, and jolly Jupiter is big on revelry and letting your hair down. Just note that the opposition is a challenging aspect so this is potentially a lot of fun but with the price tag of “burnout” stuff or going over the top in some way – but you’ll probably think that the hangover is worth it! On a more serious note and in terms of your survival kit it must be said that Mars rules cuts and burns – slow down, watch what you’re doing, and think about safety in the home as well as on the roads.
At a more psychological level this New Year astrology invites you to think about who or what opposes you – not necessarily an enemy or someone who seems against you, but if there are obstacles in your path or if you’re in conflict with another person these isues are likely to feature strongly in your New Year outlook. Mars/Jupiter contacts are textbook for being in a tearing hurry but where’s the fire?
Events will unfold in their own way, and the first few days of the New Year will close the cycle that started with Venus on the 20th as it’s the Sun’s turn to play into the Uranus – Pluto square –
Saturday 3 January
Sun square Uranus (08.41)
Sun conjunct Pluto (23.33)
So for now this is the third and final turn of this revolutionary/evolutionary wheel that is the major backdrop to the festive season. The bigger picture message is probably something along the lines of nothing stays the same forever but that if you really do want to ring changes then you’ll need to be up for a bit of a rollercoaster ride. Whilst the safe and quiet life has a lot going for it in terms of self protection there are also times when we need to go out on a limb. History is packed with examples of heroes and achievers who have done just that.
So, wishing you a memorable Christmas and New Year – see you in 2015!
You are so readable Jo. Thank you for the valuable info for the festive season. And Happy Christmas to you.
Thank you Jane – wishing you a wonderful Christmas too x