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December New Moon

New Moon in Sagittarius

This week the Sun will be conjunct the Moon at 15 degrees of Sagittarius. This New Moon will also form a square aspect to Mars conjunct Neptune at 13 degrees Pisces. This can be a challenging aspect, but often the challenges that are encountered lead to finding a resolution, or fixing a problem. It may seem like the challenges drive you to come up with solutions. Mars being in Pisces conjunct Neptune may take some of the rawness, or anger out of this driving force. It may just turn the drive toward helping others, or using our energies to fight for a cause or ideal instead of our egos. With Neptune involved being sure that we are clear on who we are fighting for and why is something to be aware of. Are we simply going to be fighting to keep our family healthy during a flu outbreak, or are we going to a protest march to show support for or anger about something?

Mutable Signs

Sagittarius is the truth seeker,  as well as the freedom seeker. Sagittarius can also be idealistic, and also changeable, and boisterous among other things. Pisces, like Sagittarius is a mutable sign, meaning they easily change their minds, especially when presented with new ideas that make sense to them. Sagittarius’ element is fire and Pisces is water so how they explore and come to new conclusions, and transform their beliefs and points of view may be slightly different. Fire can be excitable, and water can be hard to hold to one position in the first place. They can both be counted on to change and adjust though no matter how fast or slow they manage it.

Fixed Star

The energy is accentuated by the new moon also being conjunct the fixed star Ras Algethi. According to the website Constellations of Words , it is a double star and both irregularly variable, 3.1 to 3.9 and 5 to 7 orange, red and bluish green in the head of the kneeling man. This kneeling man is the constellation Hercules. It is said to posses a character of Mars-Venus with a blend of Mercury. The influence of the constellation of Hercules according to Ptolemy is said to be like Mercury. Strength of character, tenacity and fixity of purpose. By the Kabalists it is associated with the Hebrew letter of Daleth and the fourth Tarot Trump The Emperor.

Emperor Trump

The Tarot card the Emperor seems appropriate for this period of time. It is traditionally associated with the planet Mars, and the element of fire. Some keywords for this card are authority, power, law and order, father figure, and leadership. When this card shows up it typically means that you are experiencing stability and security, things are under your control, you are in a position to set up your own boundaries, and rules. You have a solid foundation and are in the drivers seat so to speak. The reversed card might point to either a loss of this type of position, or being manipulated by others. Reversed it could also show someone being a control freak, or the other end of the spectrum as a lack of discipline. Figuring out how this fiery, dynamic card might be expressing for this period of time could include looking at where Mars is and what it is doing. It is in Pisces, and conjunct Neptune. This might soften some of the harsher meanings, but also call for care against manipulation or losing control.

New Moon

As a New Moon it is the perfect time for some magick. Any rituals or spells that are for anything new or that you might like to start, drawing magick, growth, or increase. This is also the perfect time for any cleansing of yourself, your home, your altar, or tools, physically cleansing as well as any ritual cleansing that might be needed or wanted. This is also a good time for dedicating or re-dedicating tools, altars, yourself if desired or needed. A New Moon can also be used for enacting a rite of passage. With the mutable sign energy now recognizing a change in your life like a change in what life stage you are in would be appropriate. In addition to honoring any changes that have happened, now is a good time to set intentions for changes you would like to have happen. If you are thinking of planting literal seeds now, wait for the full moon to plant perennials.

Temperance Trump

Sagittarius is associated with the Tarot card Temperance. Temperance keywords include connecting with your higher self, or guides, alchemy, balance, moderation, and harmony. This card is of the fire element, and associated with the planet Jupiter (Jupiter rules Sagittarius). This card is about learning to avoid extremes, as well as maintaining a sense of calm. I particularly love the association with alchemy for this card, this can include balancing or blending any aspects of your life to make it more enjoyable.  Reversed this card may point to disharmony, or an imbalance, also a lack of patience, or a need for any one of these in your life.

Sagittarius

Magick for healing the Sagittarius ruled parts of the body in particular like the thighs, pelvis, and liver are good right now. Spells and rituals for anything related to travel, publishing, or even legal issues are timely. This is good energy to help us aim for and reach goals, start new things, transform, and evolve.  Expansion, growth, movement, and with the fire element the ability to burn away the unwanted, or burn through barriers or obstacles. Colors to use include reds. Metal is tin. Crystals include Diamond, Azurite, Lapis Lazul, Topaz, Sapphire,  Pyrite, and Amethyst. The symbol for Sagittarius is the Archer, the Centaur, and the arrow. Animals for this sign include the horse, lion, and centaur. Plants include carnation, pink clover, sage, mulberry, chestnut, rose hips, sugar cane, rhubarb, mint, apricots, and almonds.

Last New Moon of the Year

This is going to be the last New Moon of the year for 2018, so it would be wise to use it. Direct your energy and focus toward clearing away the old, unwanted, and anything else holding you back or keeping you stuck. Replace this stuff with fresh, new intentions for not just the rest of this month, but for the new year ahead. If you choose to take aim with the archer energy you could ride the centaur to entirely as yet unexplored territory for yourself.

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December Astrology

 

December Astrology

The first week of December starts out with the Sun in Sagittarius square Mars in Pisces. By the 5th the Sun will also be squaring Neptune as well, with Mars and Neptune conjunct in Pisces from the 5th through the 8th. This challenging square will be emotionally highlighted on the 7th when the Moon will be conjunct the Sun for a New Moon in Sagittarius.

Sagittarius is a mutable, masculine, fire sign, ruled by Jupiter, the planet of growth and expansion. Sagittarius is concerned with questions of identity and the quest for truth. It wants to experience freedom to explore, travel, and be exposed to the new and novel. This sign is interested in the big picture rather than the details. As a fire sign it tends to be rather enthusiastic and energetic.

 

The Sun works well with the Sagittarius energy, but the Moon has more of a challenging time accessing and expressing emotionally in this sign. Mars in Pisces tends to be more sensitive, with emotional and spiritual issues especially driving it toward action. Mars in Pisces might be more inclined to crusade for causes that aim to alleviate the suffering of others. Neptune is very much at home in Pisces, being the ruling planet for this sign. Neptune in Pisces in some ways could be seen as connected to the collective unconscious. The planet and the sign are both related to our fantasies, desires, hopes and dreams collectively and individually.  A Mars and Neptune conjunction, that is square the Sun in Sagittarius could lead to challenges that drive us either collectively or individually to not only seek out the truth, but to then act on it.

Mercury Retrograde

Mercury has been retrograde since November 16th, and will station direct on the 6th of December. After which there is still a period that is considered a “shadow period” of Mercury retrograde from the 6th through the 24th of December. Mercury will trine the asteroid Chiron on the 6th suggesting that as it goes direct there will be a healing, possibly spiritually elevated energy accompanying it. Also take into consideration that the retrograde and shadow period are in effect for nearly the entire month. This could indicate that how you think about things, or plans you have, may change due to new information coming in.  If you remain alert for signs of confusion and patiently seek clarity, and then later in the month allow for changes(staying open and flexible), you will be ahead of the game. I personally find retrogrades are good for redoing things. This can apply in so many different ways. From changing an opinion to rewriting a play, it will depend on where it falls in your chart personally as to how it might express for you.

Mid-Month

By the 15th Venus will have moved into Scorpio and will be receiving a supportive sextile with Saturn in Capricorn through the 17th. From the 16th through the 18th Mars will have it’s own supportive sextile aspect with Pluto in Capricorn as well. This energy could be helpful for transforming rules and structures  in order to improve and protect the integrity of the group. This might be  accomplished through determining who is responsible and accountable.

Winter Solstice

Friday the 21st is Winter Solstice. On the 20th-21st the Sun will move into Capricorn, and form a trine aspect with Uranus in Aries. This seems like a time when it would be easy for sudden, new changes to start to show up in old authority structures. On a more personal level this may be a good day to change a habit that no longer serves you, replacing it with a healthier behavior.

The 21st-22nd will find Mercury in Sagittarius conjunct Jupiter. Big, expansive ideas might be swirling around now. Venus in Scorpio will be trine Neptune in Pisces. This is very feminine and emotional energy. Scorpio and Pisces are both water signs. There could be a lot of artistic expression involved right now. This would be a great time to channel your energy into any art or music projects. It would also be a good idea to take a few deep breaths before letting yourself get carried away emotionally, make sure you have the facts clear before reacting in relation to others.

Full Moon

Full Moon will be on the 22nd in Cancer. The Moon rules the sign of Cancer so lending it more power in it’s expression of universal mother energy. This moon is very much about feminine energy, emotions, soul identity, feeling nurtured, and nurturing, and a desire to feel safe and protected. This energy will serve to heighten the other emotional energies at play now.

From the 24th through 25th Mercury in Sagittarius will square Neptune in Pisces. This aspect might bring some confusion or mix-ups, usually due to moving too quickly without checking details. It can also challenge you to be clear about your beliefs.

The 28th through the 29th will bring a supportive aspect(sextile) between Venus in Scorpio and Pluto in Capricorn. This could point to creating or strengthening  emotional boundaries and reactions.  There will have been a lot of opportunity to experience and practice with both this month in ways that will be helpful moving into a new year feeling safe and stable, even in the face of change.

The Stars Don’t Compel, They Impel

This short overview for the month of December should give a general idea of what you might reasonably expect to experience. Of course if you have your personal Natal Chart then you can have a much better idea of how the Planets moving through the sky would aspect your own personal planetary configurations. Knowing what might be ahead can really help you to be prepared, and to take advantage of opportunities that might be preparing to present themselves. It is also good to remember the old saying “the stars don’t compel they impel”. I know it might sound like the same thing (urge forcefully) but the meaning in this saying is  about how you have the final word, or choice in the matter. You make the decisions about how you will act, and respond to what life (and the stars) puts in front of you. Nothing is so set in stone that you are completely helpless against it, you decide how you think and feel about it at the very least. You have the final authority on your life and decide what you will do with it. Knowing what might be coming and using that knowledge to help you plan to work with the energies seems like just good common sense.

 

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New Moon

New Moon in Scorpio

The New Moon will be exact on this Wednesday, November 7th 2018, at 11:03 A.M. E.S.T. at 15 degrees Scorpio. Classically the sign of Scorpio was ruled by Mars, but once Pluto was discovered many gave over Scorpio’s rulership to it. Keywords from both planets such as action and transformation fit very nicely with this sign and it’s watery nature. In fact Scorpio’s element is water, it’s modality is fixed, and it’s polarity is feminine. Key concepts for this sign include experiencing deep, transformational emotional connections; death and rebirth. This sign is said to rule the reproductive organs and the bowels of the human body.

Totem Animals

The way I learned it, Scorpio has three totem animals, the Scorpion, the Eagle, and the Phoenix. These animals represent the different stages of Scorpionic evolution. The unevolved Scorpio would readily sting, the more evolved Scorpio could fly high and had the vision of the Eagle, and a highly evolved Scorpio had the magic and power to transform and rebirth themself, the power of alchemy like a Phoenix. In more recent times it seems Scorpio now has seven or eight stages represented by different totem animals, but the idea remains the same, this sign can become incredibly wise, compassionate, and powerful multidimensional beings. They do need to do the “work” of self- reflection and improvement to reach the higher evolutionary stages though, it is not just given to them.

Scorpio Magic

Magic, and alchemy are themselves very scorpionic. As is psychic ability, dreams, all kinds of secret or hidden things, hypnotism, mediumship, communing with Deity, reincarnation, and self-improvement. Scorpio colors are intense colors like black, and red. Crystals like Topaz, Aquamarine, Malachite, Obsidian, Tourmaline, and Opal resonate with Scorpio energy. Herbs like Holly, Yew, Wormwood, Vanilla, Tobacco, Patchouli, Nightshade, Morning glory, Hemlock, Datura, Foxglove, Bloodroot, Black and Blue Cohosh, Chrysanthemum, Blackthorn, Belladonna, Blackberry, Pomegranate, and Basil are Scorpio herbs and plants. Obviously some of these need to be handled with care.

New Moon

A new moon is the end of a cycle and the start of a new one. Releasing old patterns and habits, and starting new healthy ones would be ideal at this time. Planting seeds, both figuratively and literally is perfect for this phase of the moon. If literally planting seeds, consider things like leafy greens and cabbages(depending on your planting zone), and if you have a greenhouse or not you might be surprised by what you can plant now.  Magic for drawing, for growth, and increase, any new beginnings, or improvements are favored now. Cleaning and purification are also good things to undertake at this time, more so if you are washing away the old to allow space, or a clean slate for the new. Many rituals will begin in just this kind of way, with a bath so you are physically clean. These kinds of pre-ritual baths will often include herbs and salts to also clean your energetic body as well. This bath time is also used to release any emotions that might interfere with the magic you are about to perform. No need to wait for a ritual to take a healing or cleansing bath, anytime you feel that you might benefit from one is a perfect time. There are even some Spells that can be done in the bath if you feel called.

Money Bath Spell

A simple Spell to increase money calls for some coins (I like to use 9 silver coins, that have been cleaned first), 3 green or gold candles, and then your choice of honey or sugar. With the sugar I suggest mixing it with a small amount of castile soap to make a scrub beforehand. Clean your coins, smudge yourself, light candles, fill tub with warm water and coins. Then you get into the tub and either use the sugar scrub or honey, rubbing your skin with it to sweeten yourself to the money. For extra oomph you could float some cinnamon sticks in the tub too, or add a pouch filled with herbs like cinnamon, basil, and bay leaves. Take your time and visualize money and whatever else means wealth for you as being attracted to you, filling your tub, being drawn to you. A simple “money, money, money come to me, as I will so mote it be” could be chanted. Once you feel satisfied then empty the bath, put out the candles, and collect the coins to keep on your altar. Ideally this bath is repeated at least once a week through the full moon, three baths total. But even just one might be enough to do the trick you won’t know unless you try it out.

 

While we are in the bathroom there is a somewhat less glamorous spell that can be done if you are looking to get rid of or release something from your life at this time. This really couldn’t be simpler, you need a candle, something to write with and some toilet paper. Light the candle, write all the things you want to release down onto the toilet paper. State “I am flushing this away, right now, today!” Flush the toilet paper and extinguish the candle. If you have trouble writing on the paper, using symbols, or initials, whatever you can manage to represent what you want to release is fine. This might seem silly, but it is surprisingly effective.

Sowing the Seed

Once you have decided what you want, whether it is releasing something, or starting something new, then you have taken some action toward that, you are sowing the seed. These seeds often grow to fruition by the full moon. It might take more time if you are making big changes or have planted seeds for large dreams. But as long as you know what you want and take even small steps toward making it happen then before you know it your world will seem changed. Even something as small as making a vision board, or doing a simple spell will be a step in the right direction. Now of course you still have to do real world work for what you want too, you need to put in applications if looking for a new job, and telling others you are looking could be helpful as well. But the more steps you take, and seeds you plant the quicker and healthier your garden will grow.