December’s cosmic energy is running very high. The month is bookended by a station of Uranus on the 1st and a lunar eclipse on the 31st. In between, there are a number of aspects which will keep us hopping on many levels.
The Uranus station, when the planet appears to stop in the sky, is associated with a very intense, erratic type of energy. Patience usually runs rather short, and the tendency for things and people to "explode" is greater than usual. Use this time to experiment with something new, and to break out of limiting routines. On a collective level, we’re sure to see more of the battle between the traditional and the progressive which is in effect as Saturn and Uranus do a dance of opposition throughout 2008 - 2010.
The Full Moon on the 2nd will add to and continue the Uranian energy. The December Full Moon is the "Long Night Moon," and in the Northern Hemisphere is the lunation when the moon is highest in the sky. If the night is clear, you can probably read your Wisdom outdoors at midnight.
The cosmic activity finds new expression on the 7th, as Mercury conjuncts Pluto and squares Saturn. Words will be serious and deep, so be careful about what you say and how you say it. On a personal level, this configuration suggests a struggle with those in power or authority. A Davy and Goliath scenario is one possibility, and look to the news of the day to see if this doesn’t play out on a collective level as well (remember that Davy may not win all the time).
A week later, the Sun is square to Uranus, another aspect which will "trigger" the Saturn-Uranus opposition. It is also another day where we are likely to be a bit on edge and testy, at least in proportion to the extent we feel like we are being hemmed in by other people or circumstances. As this aspect forms only two days before the New Moon, a breaking away from situations which have restricted us is suggested, as endings are common before a New Moon.
Beginning on the 17th, Venus takes center stage until the end of the month, when the planet of love and relationship makes a series of easy and challenging aspects to almost all of the other planets. The 17th through the 19th suggests high energy and an openness to something different in our love lives. The sexual energy should also be running high, although so close to the New Moon it may be a little less overt than you might expect.
On the 21st, expect a softer, more romantic mood to prevail where partnership is concerned. This would be a good time to repair any bruised feelings. The repair work will only hold if you are telling the truth however, as the 28th and 29th have Venus making her annual visit to Pluto while squaring Saturn. As this is also the time of December’s second Full Moon, the energy will be very high, and we can expect a serious and frank attitude towards this are of life.
Venus isn’t the only active planet this month. On the 20th, Mars stations to retrograde. The Warrior, who is also the surgeon and the athlete, will be going backwards in the sky until March. Mars retrograde is considered a poor time to begin a new job, as the overall energy level is a bit low and it can be hard to really move ahead. Of course, it’s better to have a job where things move slowly than to be unemployed, so don’t let it stop you. Mars retrograde is also known as a poor time to begin a new sexual relationship, also because the energy level is a bit low. I leave that to your discretion and patience.
On December 21st, Jupiter and Neptune make the last of three conjunctions in the sign of Aquarius. This aspect is associated with progressive social movements, and historically has signaled the beginning of new socialist causes. As Saturn, Uranus and Pluto are also dealing with these issues, there might be an extra bit of intensity. Remember that where we are going as a society, and as a global culture, has as much to do with how we feel about things and what we are willing to sacrifice for change as it does about anything else. Jupiter/Neptune can inspire us to make great sacrifices for a cause, while the other three planets provide the power to make real changes.
In the midst of all this, Mercury stations to go retrograde on the 26th. Communication, commerce and transportation snafus will spike, as the Cosmic Messenger tries to convince us to stop texting long enough to actually connect with a live human being or two. Believe it or not, you can learn more from another person by looking into his eyes than you can from glancing at his Twitter.
New Year’s Eve features a Lunar Eclipse, at 2:23 p.m., EST. This afternoon eclipse won’t be visible from the Wisdom reading area. A second Full Moon in a calendar month is called a Blue Moon, so this is an ultra-rare Blue Moon Eclipse.
December is full of activity in the sky. No doubt we will feel this as individuals and collectively - some of us more than others. Yet, no matter how busy the planets are and how much they push change, remember that it takes a lot of energy to get things moving. See where you would like to go, where you are willing to go, and where you resist going. Don’t expect to wake up to a different world just because of a planetary aspect, but if you let it put some wind in your sails, you may in time find your way to new shores.
Armand M. Diaz, M.A., C.A., is certified as a Consulting Astrol-oger by the National Council for Geocosmic Research (NCGR). He is available for private consultations, in which he creates a supportive context for self-exploration, to help clients make decisions which are in harmony with their greatest potential, offering a truly integral approach to astrology. Armand has practiced divination for more than twenty years, working with the I Ching and Tarot in addition to astrology. He has published in various astrological journals, including The Mountain Astrologer. He can be reached at 917-216-1541 or armand@integralastrology.net, or though his website at www.integralastrology.net.