Current Transits for December 96

Here's some of the important astrological news this month ...

Headlines:

Saturn Direct Station at 0Ar36, 12-3
New Moon at 18Sa56, 12-10
Venus Conjunct Pluto at 3Sa58, 12-20
Mercury Retrograde Station at 19Cp13, 12-23
Full Moon at 3Cn20, 12-24
Chiron enters Scorpio, 12-29
Year's End, 12-31

General Outlook for the Month

On paper, December doesn't look like much. In terms of big aspects and blockbuster planetary storms, there's just not much going on. At a deeper level (astrologically, as well as psychologically), the slow steady crescendo of energies leading to next February continues. It's easy to get bored with the slow tempo of the outer planets, but these "glaciers of the solar system" are creating quite a show for us this winter. Be glad the buildup is so gradual, as it gives us more time to become accustomed to a strange new way of living. For now, it seems the rational mind is left behind in this process, unable to make sense of (perhaps not even recognizing) the shifts. At a more subtle, intuitive level, you're surely taking in these new energies and responding to them. Be adventurous and ready to pursue new avenues, even if they don't make sense yet. That altered state of consciousness called "the Holiday Spirit" may get to be quite habit forming.

December is a slow news month. The really important influences (which I seem to just refer to as "the outer planets") are in the background and slowly coming to a boil -- but not yet. The fan shaped pattern of Pluto, Uranus (soon to be joined by Jupiter), and Saturn continues to dominate the scenery. I've talked about this trio so often, I feel like I'm simply repeating myself. Every time I mention an emphasis in the waveform at 1 to 3 degrees, it's these three planets (and a few temporary friends) that I'm refering to. Needless to say, for the people open to spiritual challenges, this pattern has been a major kick in the butt for the last 2 years. We've been remade several times over already, and we're still not done. Look at the areas of your life that seem to be working poorly or feel like bad habits that serve no purpose. Be willing to just let go of such baggage. Life seems to be moving so fast anyway, you might as well make your load lighter.

Incidentally, between the 3rd and the 23rd, none of the planets or asteroids are in reverse. It's rather uncommon to have everything moving in the forward direction. It makes for those rare periods when obstacles disappear and the world bends to your desires almost effortlessly. Take advantage of this rare window of opportunity.

There is a lot of Capricorn action at the end of the month, with 6 bodies (Sun, Ceres, Mercury, Vesta, Jupiter, Neptune) all lined up in this down to earth, but rather dore, zodiac sign. Mind you, I have nothing against Capricorn per se, but after 12 unremitting years of it, I'm a little tired of this energy. This zodiac sign is essentially Bob Dole consciousness (pardon the oxymoronic metaphor), telling us the way things are and the way they should be until we're sick of it. We get a dose of this "buckle down" influence every year around this time. It just plain feels heavy and difficult. The good news is Neptune leaves Capricorn in 1998, so the SeaGoat should have much less effect in a few years.

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Saturn Direct Station at 0Ar36, 12-3

One of the more important events this month is Saturn's direct station on 12-3, at 0Ar36. Saturn, the teacher and taskmaster of the planets, has been in reverse gear since last July, as though he's making us back over some crucial lessons until we get them right. It may seem like our efforts have been going forward slowly, if at all, for quite a time. The urge to "do something" has been strong, but frequently the dull, nose to the grindstone type of effort required is not very satisfying or glamorous. However, this is not your typical Saturn influence here, since it's been in cohoots with Uranus and Pluto all this time. A better metaphor than "hard work" may be "transforming structures and forms" -- the Saturn principle itself has been under attack. To the extent that you hang onto ways of doing things that worked in the past but are inappropriate now, this retrograde cycle of Saturn has been a real drag. Letting go is the hardest lesson of all -- people would rather make themselves completely miserable than release something familiar that gives a sense of security and continuity, or provides some measure of identity. As we become new beings, even our sense of "old and comfortable" must shift accordingly. Don't take current realities so seriously.

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New Moon at 18Sa56, 12-10

The most intriguing contact in this new moon chart is the close conjunction of the new moon with the asteroid Pallas. She is the goddess of wisdom and strategic planning, a huntress and a warrior, the symbol of a woman making her place in a man's world. There's a big, but subtle, difference between Mercury (thinking) and Pallas (planning). Mercury wants explanations and pat answers, while Pallas studies the situation awhile, then comes up with a plan of action. She knows how to take one step after another to get a job done. If we trust this inner wisdom, the next month can be extremely productive. She has much help, especially from Mars, which offers the skills and stamina to apply oneself, while Venus and Jupiter provide more than a measure of good luck. Meanwhile, the outer planets continue their slow, steady spiritual transformation of us all, remaking us from the soul on out. It's curious that these groups of planets are connected by a series of quintile aspects. Quintiles are an opportunity to transcend the present impasses by changing your perspective and looking at the problem from a different angle. For a long time, the "problem" has been how to get through this spiritual metamorphosis without burning out. Rather than dealing with these energies as a problem, use them as a tool to shift the world around you. Enlightenment is not for the individual, but for the entire world these days. Spill these influences out into your everyday life, transforming for the better every thing you touch. No, it really doesn't make sense; some days it seems downright silly. But day by day, person by person, the earth is reaching for the next level of being. It's really best to cooperate with the process.

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Venus Conjunct Pluto at 3Sa58, 12-20

The outer planets are being triggered again by some of the faster moving bodies, releasing yet another burst of fun and games into our lives. In particular, Venus is passing over Pluto today. Since Venus is the intuitive, feeling mind, while Pluto is deep change, even our feelings are undergoing shifts. This should be an interesting time for relationships, as many partnerships are based on fear and limitation (like the Scorpio stuff that Venus just left behind), but the Sagittarius influence now requires openness and freedom to flourish. Wherever we hold back from others, refusing to let your fire shine, that part becomes emotionally starved and withers. This contact kicks off a year's worth of work with our partners, sifting through all the wounded feelings that strangle our relationships. Who knows how much love can blossom when the pain is released?

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Mercury Retrograde Station at 19Cp13, 12-23

The other station this month is Mercury's retrograde station on the 23rd, at 19Cp13. Mercury in reverse gear is a recipe for turning the brain into mush. The thinking mind seems to take a flying leap. This thinking, symbol-using part of the psyche is always trying to "make sense" of the world, putting every experience into convenient boxes that prevent us from being overwhelmed by real experiences. About 3 times a year, when Mercury is backing up, this power of the pigeon-hole falls flat on its face. The reason is that the world is quite simply more complicated than our theories, models, and "supposed to"s can ever do justice to. While these times may be lousy for anything requiring your brain cells or clear communication or even physical coordination, they are a fascinating mirror for ourselves revealing the way we think and view the world. All the hidden assumptions, outmoded beliefs, limited perspectives, and lack of imagination are right there in front of you, if you take the time to honestly look at yourself. Expanding your point of view will usually be a skill that pays off later in an increased ability to operate in the world with more flexibility and insight. Mercury doesn't turn around again until its direct station on 97-1-12, at 2Cp58.

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Full Moon at 3Cn20, 12-24

Merry Christmas! A beautiful full moon high in the sky lights the way tonight as we celebrate the entrance of spiritual light into our lives. Like the new moon, this is a potent time. The Sun and Moon turn our usual outer planet fan pattern into a fascinating mix of configurations. First there's the potent T-square (Sun, Moon, Saturn) that hints the next two weeks are a time of testing and perfecting. Yes, there's hard work ahead, but perhaps the most difficult part of it is creating new structures in our lives that come from the heart and not from baser motives. For good measure, Uranus, Pluto and the Moon form a Yod pattern, aka "the Finger of God" because of its meaning of meeting your destiny. With a Yod, there's always some kind of decision or choice to make. There's no real reason to choose one alternative over the other, except that your gut instincts push you in one of these directions. As unnerving as it sometimes is to follow these intangible clues, go with your instincts. And again, choose the path with heart. I suspect this is one of the main energetic releases prior to the Grand Finale in February, so pay attention to what is happening the next two weeks. We are all turning towards the light more each day, giving birth to the divine child within. A blessed Christmas to you all.

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Chiron enters Scorpio, 12-29

There's an interesting sign change on the 29th, when Chiron moves from Libra into Scorpio. Chiron is the Wounded Healer, the shaman that initiates us into the right use of powers that previously only caused us pain and trouble. Its brief stay in Libra, a relationship sign, has resulted in some marked upsets (even breakups) in our partnerships. We needed to take the egotistical sting out of relating (e.g., "I'm going to lose myself if I give into someone else...") that prevented us from truly being a partner. Scorpio is the sign of transformation, of stretching ourselves to the limits spiritually, then going further and remaking ourselves. There's a lot of fear and apprehension attached to such an overhaul. But simply put, this is only fear of our own great potentials. Being afraid of yourself is the most limiting of beliefs. Perhaps Chiron is in Scorpio to teach us how to be comfortable with change and growth, even to crave it. Especially with the other outer planets pounding on us and turning our lives topsy turvy, getting used to change is a good survival tactic. Note that Chiron next goes retrograde on 97-2-13 (just before Valentine's Day -- we're not done with relationships yet), right in the middle of the Grand Finale festivities. Get used to it.

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Year's End, 12-31

1996 has been a long, strange trip. Filled with joy and challenge, pain and delight, so many of us have been pushed to the limit this year. The energy today is calm and lazy, ready to relax from the long ordeal awhile. Take some time to recapture in your mind all the crazy changes you've gone through this past year (assuming you can even remember what you were like back then!) and get ready for the next push that starts in a few days. Happy New Year -- see you in 1997!

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