The Astrology Blog 21 December 2015
All times stated in GMT
A huge thank you to everyone who’s supported the weekly blog throughout the year, and wishing everyone Happy Solstice! The Sun entered Capricorn this morning –
Tuesday Sun ingress Capricorn (04.49)
In the northern hemisphere this marks the shortest day, and therefore the moment when the days start to get longer again. Symbolically, the solstices (when the Sun appears to stand still) and the equinoxes (when the northern and southern hemispheres are equally illuminated) are powerful markers in terms of new cycles. These events are when the Sun reaches 0 degrees of Aries (spring equinox), Cancer (summer solstice), Libra (autumn equinox) and Capricorn (winter solstice). 0 degrees is where it all starts, just like The Fool, the first card of the Tarot, who is numbered zero rather than number one. If you have any planets or angles at 0 degrees in your own horoscope this symbolizes a point of huge potential and will manifest either through your work or through a key relationship.
Here are the usual links for checking the position of your own planets and angles:
http://www.alwaysastrology.com/birth-chart-calculator.html
You can also try this calculator, which lists all your planets and angles rather than bringing up the visual of the horoscope, so for non astrologers it’s easier to use.
http://astro.cafeastrology.com/cgi-bin/astro/natal
So, pay close attention to unfolding events today, especially with regard to the Capricorn concerns of career, purpose and plans for the future connected to your security and long term prosperity. Business matters are winding down for the festive break but nevertheless the seeds that are sown this week could easily show signs of growth and potential in the New Year.
Apologies for the brevity of this blog – regular readers know that normal activity has rather ground to a halt in our household, but we’re so thankful to have Mike home and we now have the chance to treat his cancer from the naturopath angle. All my feelings about hospital being the last place where you can get well (once the essentials of surgical intervention are done) were validated by this article on the BBC over the weekend. In the words of a doctor, this is what patients are exposed to:
“What do we do to them? We sleep-deprive them, we malnourish them, we stress them, we disturb their circadian [sleep] rhythms, we put them at bed rest and de-condition them, we confuse them with lots of different people and new routines – we don’t give them any control.”
http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-35131678
An optimistic Sag will always find the upside in even the most arduous of circumstances. Sue and Mike are the sort of couple that make everyone else green with envy – in the nicest possible sense! – but she says his illness has brought them even closer. I see this with my own eyes on a daily basis. So this Christmas my thoughts are definitely along the lines of… finding the perfect opportunity to spoil and enjoy those you love, and enjoying all the things that good health allows you to share.
From the serious to the more frivolous, Saturn transiting my Sun is being a right misery … the truck that was on its way to Greece with everyone’s UK purchases got impounded by customs on Friday in the UK (right on cue for the Mercury – Pluto conjunction, they weren’t happy with the paperwork!). This is a regular consignment that delivers to Lefkada throughout the year but of course this time this one includes my champagne, gifts, Xmas pudding … so it’s just as well that am not doing any actual entertaining this year! Hopefully it will all be on its way soon as one of the best aspects of this month is coming up –
Thursday Venus sextile Jupiter (10.04)
Any Venus – Jupiter combo by harmonious aspect is good news, although this one is somewhat compromised by the fact that both are currently travelling through their signs of detriment, Venus in Scorpio and Jupiter in Virgo. Nevertheless these are the “benefics” of the heavens and between them they rule the all the goodies of life – love, pleasure, money, luck, opportunity, generosity and anything/anyone that makes your world a better and more enjoyable place. As this aspect is exact on Thursday morning it’s “applying” (moving towards exactitude) the day before so that picks out Wednesday evening as probably the most sociable of the week. As well as being known as jovial Jupiter (Santa is definitely a Jupiterian!) he also rules all things foreign and long distance travel so this bodes well for those of you are on the move for Christmas… and for that truck!!
We have some lovely astrology for Christmas Day too –
Friday Full Moon at 3 degrees Cancer (11.13)
This is the Moon’s own sign, placing hearth, home and family in the spotlight. As ever though, look out for the domestics! Full Moons are notorious for sensitizing any personal issues that are already sore points. Better to take a leaf out of Cancer’s book and “crab walk” away from touchy subjects, and to allow others to do the same.
Helpful conversations however are another matter as the Mercury – Jupiter trine (harmonious) that is a sequence of three, as I mentioned last week, also starts on Christmas Day.
• Friday 25 December 23 degrees Capricorn/23 degrees Virgo
• Friday 15 January 23 degrees Capricorn/23 degrees Virgo (Mercury retrograde)
• Saturday 6 February 22 degrees Capricorn/22 degrees Virgo
In brief Mercury rules everything connected to communication and information, so this repeating aspect to Jupiter, planet of good fortune, signals that an issue/subject/idea etc will be up for a lot of discussion, not just for now but over the next weeks. Look out for anything that gets the ball rolling. If you’re meeting people for the first time you may well strike up a new friendship, or you may want to get back in touch with someone who’s been important to you in the past. Such scenarios are especially important if you have planets or angles at or close to 22/23 degrees of the earth signs – the ones mentioned above, Virgo and Capricorn, and also Taurus.
The final astrological event of the week is on Boxing Day –
Saturday Uranus turns direct at 16 degrees Aries (03.54)
As with all the outer planets Uranus spends many months in retrograde motion (unlike the personal planets, eg Mercury is only ever retrograde for three weeks at a time). Uranus turned retrograde at 20 degrees of Aries at the end of July, has backtracked only four degrees over the last five months, and will eventually get back to 20 Aries at the beginning of April. So this gives you an idea of the long and winding road taken by these meanderers, and they spend many months “stuck” on one degree, but their turning points are worth noting. As above, so below. Look out for turning points that reflect Uranus the rebel – planet of sudden, dramatic or unexpected change – getting back to business. This is especially applicable if you have planets or angles at 16 degrees of any of the fire signs – Aries, Leo, Sag – or in the cardinal signs of Aries, Cancer, Libra or Capricorn.
However you’re celebrating stay safe, have fun, and I hope to post a New Year blog next week,
Love from Greece until then
Joanna