“Hope is a memory of the future.” Gabriel Marcel

The Moon waxes new at 7 degrees of Capricorn on Thursday at 1:53 AM EST. Saturn, the ruling planet of Capricorn is a strong influence a this time which bodes well for reaffirming or setting new intentions.

Saturn is sometimes called Father Time – appropriate now particularly because this New Moon references both the past and the future. With Mars and Neptune both joining the South Node in Pisces it bodes well to review what customary mental an emotional patterns inhibit and block growth. It is a good time to commit to reframing them and to break the pattern of referring to them – particularly patterns related to feeling victimized.

Chiron, the asteroid of the Wounded Healer is in Pisces and with Pluto conjunct the retrograde Mercury at this time there is an ability – with Pluto’s laser-like depth of perception- to rewrite stories of the past from a more evolved, more empowered and more aware perspective. Saturn is also about maturity.

Clarifying issues from the past will help with forward movement as this New Moon is very much about opening the gate to a more expanded perception of the future by closing the door on roadblocks from the past. It is time to move in a freer, more autonomous and innovative direction in your life. The wind is at your back for this kind of activity now with Mercury and the Moon making good aspects to the North Node. Do heighten awareness for several days after this New Moon as more positive opportunities and options may become visible. The North Node is associated with life purpose and life path.

One of the Sabian symbols for this New Moon is,”Birds in the house singing happily.”

Sabian symbol reference from Lynda Hill

“Can one be passionate about the just, the ideal and the holy and yet commit to no labor in its cause? I do not think so… Be ignited or be gone.”Mary Oliver

“You are not the oil, you are not the air- merely the point of combustion, the flash-point where the light is born.”  Dag Hammarskjold

The time leading up to the Winter Solstice- throughout time and across the planet –  has had an anticipatory nature to it – awaiting the return of the light. In many religious traditions this time honors the rebirth of the inner light as we move from “the darkest evening of the year”- as Robert Frost wrote- to a time when the light is reborn.

The Winter Solstice – December 21 at 5:45 AM EST -marks the time of the Sun’s journey from Sagittarius – the sign of broad horizons and aspirations – into the concrete, pragmatic sign of Capricorn. It bodes well under this influence to commit to grounding aspirations for the upcoming year and to be willing- like the mountain goat, the symbol of Capricorn – to persevere, be undaunted by set backs  and take it step by step.

One of the Sabian symbols associated with this time is,”The human soul in its eagerness for new experiences, seeks embodiment.”

Sabian symbol quote from Lynda Hill

 

“That day I saw beneath the dark clouds
the passing light over the water
and I heard the voice of the world speak out,
I knew then, as I had before
life is no passing memory of what has been
nor remaining pages in a great book
waiting to be read.

It is the opening of eyes long closed.
It is the vision of far off things
seen for the silence they hold.
It is the heart after years
of secret conversing
speaking out loud in clear air.” David Whyte 

Although this time of year can be very busy,  it is wise – especially with the Mercury station on 12/19- to set aside some to to reflect and further integrate the meaning the many fast moving events that have taken place in the past year or so.
Mercury will station retrograde on 12/19 providing a good time frame (through Jan 8)  to review and rethink matters – particularly those related the structure of your life, its foundation and the amount of responsibility you commit to in order persevere and make things happen. With Pluto closely aligned there is the opportunity to get to the bottom of things in a way that might not ordinarily be possible.
It is also a good time to look at how you use your mind and direct your will forces.
It’s wise to leave extra time when traveling and anticipate possible delays- throughout the retrograde period but especially within a day or two of the stations when effects can be stronger. Plan to have more patience if snafus with mechanical and cyber things occur. Double check the meaning of any emails or messages received before jumping to conclusions.
Mercury stations at 15 degrees of Capricorn and one of the Sabian symbols associated with this time is, “A young woman surreptitiously bathing in the nude.”

Sabian symbols refernce  from Lynda Hill.

 

“Come to the edge,”He said,
They said,”We are afraid.’
“Come to the edge,” He said
They came. He pushed them
and they flew.” Guillaume Apollinaire

The Moon waxes Full Tuesday at 7:05 PM at 22 degrees of Gemini. At this time the Sun is conjunct Saturn – the planet of the status quo-  and making a harmonious aspect to Uranus the planet of  the future and of innovation. This combination is good for moving  your life in a new direction. If you are not sure how to do this more information may emerge under the light of the Full Moon if you ask for and are open to guidance.

If you have been considering a class or course of study that would provide useful tools in moving forward, this is a good time to sign on.

This Full Moon is also about walking your talk and taking steps to align the actions and interactions of your everyday life more closely with your higher philosophy or belief system.

In general it can  continue to be a nervy, surprising and restless time as there is an attempt to build a bridge between the past and future. Mercury is preparing to station retrograde. Best to anticipate the possibility of delays, confusion, reversals and and the need to review or revisit information at that time – particularly around the 19th when Mercury stations retrograde. The upcoming Mercury retrograde period (through Jan 8) is a good time to rethink, review and reconsider what represents security and stability in your life.

One of the Sabian symbols for this Full Moon is “Three fledglings in a nest high up in a tree.”

Sabian symbol and other quote from Lynda Hill’s 360 Degrees of Wisdom

 

 

“Under a sky the color of pea green soup,
She is looking at her work growing away there
Actively, thickly like grapevines or pole beans
As things grow in the real world, slowly enough.
If you tend them properly, if you mulch, if you water,
if you provide birds that eat insects a home and winter food,
If the sun shines and you pick off caterpillars,
If the praying mantis comes and the ladybugs and the bees,
Then the plants flourish, but at their own internal clock.”
                                                               from The Seven of Pentacles by Marge Piercy

Venus enters the sign of Aquarius this week moving from Capricorn – a sign associated with tradition, security and stability into the more innovative sign of Aquarius. This sign – also associated with the Age of Aquarius which we are entering now – speaks of a new paradigm for relationships – based on friendship and collaboration along lines of common interest – and a more evolved, holistic model for the use of resources.

Aquarius is the sign of brotherhood and sisterhood and in its highest form advocates for the good of all rather than from perspective of purely individual gain.

It is a good time now to consider partnership of all kinds from an innovative, evolutionary perspective.

Mercury moves up to a harmonious trine with the North Node making this a time to broaden your vision of the future and recommit to your life’s path – paying particular attention to pragmatism and the details as far as you can see them. As Martin Luther King so eloquently said, “Take the first step in faith. You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just the first step.”

The Sun moves up to a conjunction with Saturn this week also. Be willing to commit to the work that needs to be done and the time it will take. Build a strong foundation and take it step by step.

The Sabian symbol for the Venus ingress  into Aquarius is,”An unexpected thunderstorm.”

Sabian symbol quote from Lynda Hill

“Everybody can be great … because anybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.” Martin Luther King Jr 

One of the interesting aspects of astrology is looking at the chart of a person who has passed on to see what transits are activating the natal chart in the present. For instance there were significant aspects to Michelangelo’s natal chart at the time that the Sistine chapel was being renovated – transits that would indicate a rebirth of some kind.

With all the push back, strong feelings and polarization being experienced in the US now some people have invoked the memory of Martin Luther King Jr and his practice of nonviolent resistance. It is no wonder astrologically as the time we are living in is another “turn of the wheel” of the turbulent Sixties and 70s – with the same powerful forces in play.

In his birth chart Dr. King’s Moon is in Pisces – this is being activated now by the transit of Chiron – The Asteroid of the Wounded Healer. People with the Moon in Pisces are often idealistic and can feel intuitively the underlying unity and interconnectedness of life. They can be most fulfilled by living a life of service guided by higher principles – if not derailed by addiction to which they are also highly prone. Dr. King’s  “I have a Dream Speech” which motivated many others to join him, was a good expression of the idealism that Pisces or Neptune – ruled people can have. He worked through collaboration and cooperation and worked for unity in a highly charged, highly polarized environment. He was also a man of great faith and courage.

Pythagoras, best known in our time for the Pythagorean Theorum, was also educated in Mystery Schools and about the mystical meaning of numbers. He taught “Remember the One” by which he meant remember the unity which underlies all duality.

 

 

“Life is the only way
to get covered in leaves,
catch your breath on sand,
rise on wings

To be a dog,
or stroke its warm fur;

to tell pain
from everything it’s not;

to squeeze inside events,
dawdle in views,
to seek the least of all possible mistakes;

An extraordinary chance
to remember for a moment
a conversation held with the lamp switched off;

and if only once
to stumble on a stone,
end up soaked in one downpour or another,

mislay your keys in the grass;
and to follow a spark on the wind with your eyes;

and to keep on not knowing
something important.  Wislawa Szymborksa

Chiron the asteroid of the Wounded Healer stations direct today at 20 degrees of Pisces.  It is a reminder of the journey towards wholeness and the underlying unity of all life – in an individual as well as a cosmic sense.

Chiron is also about chaos and fragmentation and the periodic need for things to be reborn or reassembled through a process which can seem chaotic.

The last time Chiron was in Pisces was during the culmination of the life work of Dr. Martin Luther King.

One of the Sabian symbols for this placement is,”A little white lamb, a child and a Chinese mentor. ”

Sabian symbol quote from Lynda Hill

We have this way of talking, and we have another.
Apart from what we wish and what we fear may happen,
We are alive with other life, as clear stones
Take form in the mountain. Rumi

“No pressure, no diamonds.” Thomas Carlyle

Tuesday’s New Moon is at 7 degrees of Sagittarius at 7:16 am EST. The asteroid of the Wounded Healer, Chiron is a strong influence in the sky at this time as are Uranus and Mercury. Everyone has Chiron somewhere in their astrology chart and its placement indicates where a lifelong journey towards wholeness takes place – a journey of wounding and healing.

New Moons offer a very good time for intention setting and for reaffirming intentions. There has been talk for years about a paradigm shift occurring – both individually and collectively and the timing is associated with this New Moon in particular. The paradigm shift has to do with a growth in individual consciousness which is connected to a global shift in consciousness through a process which develops over time. For sure there have been and will be critical points in this process and  significant challenges to be met.

On an individual level it is a good time to access what stories you carry about wounding in your own life and the effect they have had on you up to this point and to consider whether this threshold is an appropriate time to apply a new and innovative model to the way you think about them in order to move to a more evolved sense of integration and wholeness.

The Sabian symbol for this New Moon is,”Deep within the depths of the earth, new elements are being formed.”

 

sabian symbol quote from Lynda Hill

 

“We are called to be architects of the future, not its victims.” Buckminister Fuller

The Sun moves into the sign of Sagittarius today. Sagittarius is the sign of organized religion, philosophy, adventure and expansion. This is a very different influence than the sign of Scorpio which the Sun has transited for the last month- Scorpio which plumbs the depths and can be associated with payback and revenge scenarios on the less evolved side.

The influence of the planet Pluto – in mythology the god of the underworld and ruler of Scorpio – is still a strong influence this week as it aligns with the planet Venus. This combination can trigger cellular or past life memories of loss, lack and power-over struggles of a patriarchal nature. It is a time when there be concerns about personal safety and vulnerability. It is also a good time to think about what you can do to help protect the vulnerable.

In theosophical circles they hold the belief that the being of Christ was not a god appearing at one time only,  but a person who incarnates through various periods of time as a Master or a teacher of spiritual truth to help humanity in its evolutionary process. This is akin to many spiritual traditions  that await the appearance of a messiah at this time. Phillip Lindsay, the author and esoteric astrologer has noted that many theosophists believe that the next Christ figure or Master is on the planet now and travels between Syria and Egypt. This is an interesting idea to entertain in light of traditional Christianity’s Christ as having humble origins and casting the money changers out the temple. A person who put fear aside and worked to protect the vulnerable although facing powerful adversaries and being very vulnerable himself. A person who quite clearly prioritized spiritual values.

With Pluto in Capricorn the appropriate use of resources – natural and otherwise will be very much on the table for the foreseeable future.

One of the Sabian symbols for this time is,”A person studying a mandala in front of him with the help of a very ancient book.”

Sabian symbol quote from Lynda Hill

When I have astrology appointment to prepare for I often go to a local cafe and do research there. People wander in and out and sometimes, looking at my  books and charts spread out on the long table inquire,”Are you an astrologer?” I can have interesting encounters.

Yesterday was such a day. As I was working away a woman in  friendly,  intrigued tone said, “You must be an astrologer.” and we struck up a conversation. She is from a seaside town long known as an affluent, star studded summer resort area.

I grew up near there, I told her, and as a child had a friend whose mother had owned a house in that town. Once when I was visiting in the winter- when the town had an austere, abandoned and haunted feeling – we set off exploring the environs and the massive, foreboding Victorian mansions set up high on the windswept dunes overlooking the sea.

My friend’s family knew people who lived in one of those mansions and she wanted to show it to me. While exploring we found an open door and being lovers of ghost stories and haunted houses, decided to go in. It was dank and silent in the house and the thick, heavy velvet curtains blocked most of the light coming in from the massive windows. In the dim, dusty air you could make out the shapes of furniture- all covered with white sheets. It reminded us of  horror movies we had seen and we went running out.

I told the woman in the cafe about it and said,” I suppose all those houses have alarms now and she said,”Yes. They are all armed.”

The woman in the cafe was involved with managing properties like that and told me that one of the old mansions near the country club has a door that looks like it leads into the basement. Surprisingly though the unobtrusive door leads into a totally intact and well stocked speakeasy- built during Prohibition.

This Neptunian idea of hidden doors and secret places reminded me of a dream I once had. It was about a massive, rambling Victorian sea captain’s house where I had been the caretaker for years. People often saw ghosts there – men in black tie and women in long flowing gowns. The house had been built as a summer house where people from NY and Boston would come to attend large and formal parties. The house was set up high on a ridge and lightning would often strike it or very close by. When my friends were trying to sell it, on a couple of occasions prospective buyers would flee during those thunderstorms when the house grew very dark and lightning strikes would made the phones ring. I often dreamed of that place after we moved out – it was a place of mystery for me.

In one dream of this house I had gone back and my friends no longer lived there. I was wandering through the halls and discovered a secret door that I had never seen before. The door opened to a beautiful room – a lady’s dressing room with a Victorian dressing table on which stood antique glass perfume bottles. Sparkling jewels lay there also and light filtered in through a small stained glass window. It was very warm and fragrant there. I have always thought of the house in that dream as representing my life and the secret door a reminder of ways I might not be considering or exploring because I was navigating from a place of the known rather than being open to mystery.

The woman in the cafe told me about her chart and I talked a little bit about it. When she left she said,”Wow! I didn’t expect the have a mini astrology reading today.”

I smiled – I liked them very much – and said, “The field of astrology is governed by the planet Uranus – the planet of the unexpected.”

Neptune is the planet of dreams, visions and hidden things. When Neptune is strong in the sky it bodes well to pay attention to your dreams. It is a very good time for the imagination – for creativity and  musing as well as prayer and meditation.