December Astrology  Highlights– “Dancing with the Stars”

By Janis Page   c2009

The collective energies have been increasing in intensityfor a while now, and December finishes off this incredibly fast-moving yearwith a series of further activations that kick us off into 2010, arguably themost intense year of all – never mind 2012, how we dance thru 2010 with graceor chaos will set that path…  The messagecontinues to be that it is time for us to let go of our old conditioning andhabituation – it’s fast-forward time to release old karma and step up into newpossibilities!   There is much breakdown,but also so many breakthroughs.  

We enter the month with the ongoing square between Pluto andSaturn that has been cranking up since Saturn entered Libra at the end ofOctober.   It’s time to get clear onvalues, priorities, and resolve issues of power and control.    December is a blue Moon month, starting witha full Moon in Gemini the night of December 1^st , technically at12:30am MST on December 2^nd.   What is most notable about  thislunation is that not only are the Sun and Moon in hard challenging aspect toPluto, Saturn and also Mars, but Uranus comes to a full stop in its retrogrademotion to move forward again in Pisces.  Be prepared for surprises, and more sudden shifts and changes!   Be prepared to also see a lot of resistancein people around you to some of the adaptations that are called for…

The Sagittarius new Moon on December 16^th is verynear the Galactic Center, opening the way for universal collective energies tocome in, and as the Sun and Moon are very closely square to Uranus, there willbe more abrupt openings and changes, including in relationships.   With the asteroid Ophelia also in closealignment, be prepared for emotional overreactions as well.   Of course, being forewarned, you will not beone of the drama queens, right? 

Sunday, December 20^th the fiery planet Mars turnsretrograde at 19 degrees of Leo.   Marsonly turns Rx every other year, and it’s time to pull back and reassess your focusand activity.   Note that Mars Rx is alsoconsidered to be a bad time to start a sexual relationship, or rather, to havesex for the first time in a relationship.  Better to hold off till after March 10^th, when Mars turnsdirect again… and then give it a few days to build up some momentum.    Mars stationing turning Rx immediatelyprecedes the winter solstice with the Sun entering Capricorn at 10:47am onMonday, December 21^st, adding an element of suppression orcontainment.   The winter solstice chartis also called the universal chart, as it is the chart that reveals what theenergies are for the upcoming year, so it is of major significance!    The universal chart shows further breakdownof power structures, issues of women in leadership, crisis but also healing andresolution.    The winter solstice is a wonderful time totake some quiet meditative time, to check in with yourself to acknowledge whatyou have accomplished over this past year, to assess what is still in process,and to set your intention toward new directions and goals according to yourhighest ideals and aspirations for the upcoming year, and to express gratitude. 

This is already more than we would find in a typical month,but there is still more significant activation. While Mercury usually has three retrograde cycles in a year, 2009 hasthe start of a 4^th three-week cycle, with the small planet ofcommunications and travel Rx from December 6^th until January 15^th.   There may be delays, computer issues,miscommunications.   This is not the besttime to buy technology or to get something repaired, including that it’s not agood time for surgery, as it can indicate a slow recovery or need for afollowup procedures and/or care.     

New Year’s Eve brings in the new year not only with a blueMoon, but this second full Moon of the month is a lunar eclipse at 10 degreesof Cancer, at 12:13pm MST.    Thiseclipse activates the dynamic conjunction of Jupiter, Chiron and Neptune inAquarius, which is the perfect launching for those goals according to yourhighest ideals and aspirations for a dynamic and successful 2010.   

Have a blessed holiday season filled with laughter, joy,sharing, peace, awareness, adaptability, compassion, light, and Love!