Consultations
As I’ve posted for the last couple of weeks I’ll be in London 18 December for ten days. The consultation slots at the Philadelphia Association in Hampstead are now fully booked but I’ll be back again at some point next year. Let me know if you’re interested in future appointments or workshops in London. Also The Greek Island Summer School is now taking bookings for the following courses –
11 May – The Crystal Zodiac – with guest tutor Judy Hall
8 June – Be a Better Tarot Reader
7 September – Synastry: the Astrology of Relationships
You can read more info about these courses at the end of this blog or on the website www.joannawatters.com or email me joannaw@otenet.gr if you have any questions, no matter how small. I am here to help.
The Astrology Blog – w/b 8 December 2014
All times stated are in GMT
As I started off last week by saying, we’re in the middle of some lovely astrology that is unfolding throughout the first half of December. To flag up some advance warning now btw the astrology for the run up to Christmas is not so brilliant – the stuff of interruptions, hassles and changes – so don’t let time slip through your fingers this week with regard to whatever is important to you. This week the sign of Sagittarius and this sign’s ruling planet, lucky Jupiter, are still stealing the show, starting with –
Monday Sun conjunct Mercury (9.52)
This conjunction takes place at 16 degrees of Sagittarius, so if you have planets at or close to this point then this aspect will be especially significant for you. Don’t forget that if you don’t know the position of your natal planets you can find them in a matter of minutes by entering your date, place and time of birth into a chart calculator, such as this one:
http://www.alwaysastrology.com/birth-chart-calculator.html
What does a Sun – Mercury aspect signify? The Sun illuminates, Mercury communicates. Expect news, invitations, conversations, decisions and deeper understanding. Sagittarius is the sign of “the higher mind” so your values and principles may be part of the picture, or discussions may revolve and evolve around your own personal philosophy on life. This is definitely a learning aspect, in one guise or another, so you may also find yourself around those who have something to teach you. It’s also fun. Sag is an extrovert fire sign and the Sun – Mercury get together signals lively exchanges, those who brighten up the party, travel plans or news from afar.
Just to remind you, major aspects are usually at their most potent as they’re applying – ie the run up to becoming exact, especially the 24 hours beforehand – so you may already have clocked these themes over the weekend. However, also look out for Monday morning getting off to a flying start and act fast on new info. Throughout the rest of Monday this aspect will be separating, ie moving away from its moment of exactitude, although it doesn’t move totally out of its sell by date for roughly the following 24 hours.
Back to jolly Jupiter, Sag’s planet, who continues to be dominant for several reasons. Firstly, Monday brings this planet’s turning point, which happens only once every 13 months, lasting for four months at a time –
Monday Jupiter turns retrograde (20.42)
So, Jupiter now starts his retrograde journey (appearing to be moving backwards in the heavens) and will be backtracking through Leo until next April. So look out for turning points in your own life, maybe even things that stop you in your tracks and make you look in a different direction. Jupiter is very much linked to vision and plans for how you see your future. For some this will be linked to the arrival of a new face, someone who has a major and fortunate role to play, either personally or professionally. Those we meet under Jupiter skies are good for us and make us feel hopeful. The downside of Jupiter turning retrograde, however, can signal the need for a reality check or a greater risk of delays of some kind but these are likely to be temporary. Some matters may have to be picked up again in the New Year, but they’ll be there for the picking.
Regular readers may also remember from last week –
The Sun is now in Jupiter’s sign of Sagittarius and Jupiter is in the Sun’s sign of Leo. This “mutual reception” will therefore last until the Sun moves on into Capricorn on 21 December. This is fabulous astrology as the Sun is the life force and the illuminator, and Jupiter is the Greater Benefic – the Good Guy of the heavens who governs luck, opportunity and all reasons to be cheerful – so to have these two planets working as a team is extremely helpful to say the least.
This message should materialize even more strongly this week as the Sun and Jupiter move towards an exact trine (a harmonious aspect of exactly 120 degrees apart) – ie the moment when that teamwork crystallizes and reaches its full potential. The way to this stunning aspect is also paved by the Mercury – Jupiter trine a couple of days beforehand –
Friday Mercury trine Jupiter (11.25)
Sunday Sun trine Jupiter (15.57)
This adds up to a great end to the week and an even better weekend! Take very close notice of the things that are coming together in your life at this time, anything from new relationships to job offers, health remedies or any kind of new opportunity. They carry the feel good factor and reasons to be cheerful!
All affairs of the heart are very much on the agenda as the other thread running through this week’s tapestry is Venus, who will be changing sign –
Wednesday Venus ingress Capricorn (16.43)
This opens a new cycle with regard to Venusian concerns of love, and also money and life’s pleasures. Note that Capricorn is Saturn’s sign, so this combination is all about taking love seriously and respectfully. Venus in Capricorn smiles on emotional maturity and taking things at a steady pace. Note that this fits very neatly with the same theme as optimistic Jupiter turning retrograde. Slow down, think ahead, look at where your relationship is going and set goals together. All the things you discuss now will matter in terms of getting the best out of life and creating the kind of security in which feelings can flourish. If you’re single it won’t do any harm to follow your head rather than your heart for a while.
This is not to say that romance is lacking. Venus’ first aspect is a harmonious and soft focus one, which is exact just one hour after the stunning Sun trine Jupiter –
Sunday Venus sextile Neptune (16.56)
Neptune in his own sign of Pisces and in favourable aspect to Venus is about as romantic as it gets, but with the sign of Capricorn in the mix there’s a steadying hand at work. Apart from love issues note that Neptune rules dreams and schemes of all kinds, but all dreams now needs a definite game plan if they are ever going to move out of the wistful thinking stage. This aspect is also wonderful for connecting with those you’ve been away from or if there’s been a rift. Neptune is the urge to merge, to forgive and forget, to heal and redeem.
The more challenging themes of next week may kick in over the weekend as the big Uranus square Pluto will be exact early Monday –
Monday 15 December Uranus square Pluto (06.15)
Astrologers do tend to get a bit alarmist about this aspect, especially as it’s been around for a long time. Both planets are very slow moving and – because of repeated and prolonged periods of forwards and retrograde motion – they have actually been moving in and out of this square formation since the summer of 2012. Usually these major aspects between the outer planets happen three times but this one happens an unprecedented seven times. This one is the 6th in the series – the 7th will be exact on 17 March 2015.
Note that these outer planets are very much the backdrop to life and when their major aspects are formed this often signals global concerns are about to loom large. 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.
But don’t let anyone rain on your parade. This is a week to be enjoyed and I wish you Jupiter and Venus type fruitfulness!