February Cosmic Weather Report

THE COSMIC WEATHER REPORT
FEBRUARY, 2010

     As February begins, we are halfway from Winter Solstice to Spring Equinox. Light is returning after the dark of winter. The Sun is in Aquarius, a mental, communicative air sign. The “ruling planet’” of Aquarius is Uranus, planet of originality, innovation, freedom, equality, humanitarian goals and open-mindedness. Aquarius is concerned with the good of all. With the Aquarian influence comes a capacity for abstract and theoretical thought processes. This is a good time to turn attention to our long-range goals. It’s a great time for humanitarian activities, for group connections, and for extending oneself into new avenues of exploration, whether in our activities or our thinking and intellectual pursuits.
     Each sign provides the qualities that the previous sign lacked. Next up is the water sign Pisces, with its empathy, compassion and personal touch. The Sun will enter Pisces on February 18.
     Saturn was square Pluto on January 31. This is a major planetary alignment indicating a time of testing and clearing of old structures and situations. This was the second of three squares between Saturn and Pluto, the previous being last November 13 and the third coming up on August 21, 2010. This alignment relates to the economic trials and other harsh circumstances in larger society and individual lives. We may derive some mild balancing energy from the sextile of Jupiter and Pluto on February 6. This is a little less powerful as astrological influences go, but it is beneficial and expansive in nature, in contrast to Saturn square Pluto with its severity.
     The astrological weather for February seems mildly beneficial and not demanding a great deal of adaptation or compensation on our parts other than the learning and adaptation many of us are going through with the ongoing Saturn-Pluto square. That gives us the impetus to cut waste in our lives and live more simply and practically and realistically.  
     Mars continues in retrograde* until March 10. We all tend to be a little less energetic when Mars is backtracking its orbit. Other than that, there are a few minor alignments of Sun, Mercury, Venus or Mars to one or another planet, and most of those are beneficial.
     Saturn has recently entered Libra. The sign Saturn is transiting is an indicator of areas receiving special focus and important work. Libra focuses on relationship, cooperation, balance, fairness, beauty and harmony. Expect increasing attention on valuing our relationships and seeing the importance of having them on firm footing. Issues of fairness and justice will also likely be in the collective conversation more and more over the next couple of years while Saturn traverses Libra. This may also be a time when we focus on getting more balance in our lives, and on creating beauty in our surroundings and harmony in our relationships.
     Jupiter entered Pisces on January 17. The sign Jupiter is in is an area where we are expanding our awareness and potential. Jupiter in Pisces indicates a time of developing our spirituality, intuition and compassion. Jupiter’s entry into Pisces may not be particularly notable, though such an ingress will often coincide with something symbolic in the collective experience. Over the time Jupiter is in Pisces, though, the change may be noticeable, in terms of more discussion of spirituality, of compassion, and/or of psychic insights or intuition. Eastern religion and philosophy may grow in prominence. As Pisces relates to our oceans, the oceans and water in general will be discussed more and more. This is a fairly short influence, lasting only a year or so, until next January, but it will support our growth in these areas. (Jupiter will venture into Aries from June until September this year before reentering Pisces until January 2011.) Note: as this column is being edited on February 1, Nightline this evening began with a rather positive and validating story on a woman in Denver whose profession is communicating with dead people – not the usual Nightline story, and very Piscean.
     I wrote of Jupiter in Pisces bringing out our compassion in the January forecast, and also noted the recurring Saturn-Pluto square and its association with lack and struggle. On January 12, Haiti was devastated by a massive earthquake disaster in that desperately impoverished country. There has been a massive outpouring of compassion and aid. It seems to me that the story line of events is matching the astrological energies. Though the loss is terrible (Saturn square Pluto), we may hope to see stories of rebirth and renewal (Pluto) in this forgotten ghetto of the Americas, largely through the world’s outpouring of compassion (Jupiter in Pisces).
WEEK BY WEEK
January 31-February 6: Last week ends, and this week begins, with the square of Saturn and Pluto, exact on Sunday. Saturn represents structure and order, while Pluto represents processes of testing, breakdown and renewal. It’s to be expected that this is a period of testing, breakdowns and endings, followed by renewal and rebirth. This is the second in a series of three alignments, the first on November 15, 2009, and the third coming up on August 21, 2010. This is a good time to clean house, organize, budget, streamline to best manage your way through current conditions in society and the world.
     This is an interesting week because it begins with this aspect of great seriousness and sobriety, having to do with getting our lives in order and being fit to endure in challenging times, and it ends with a sextile of Jupiter and Pluto. Many people who know me are aware that my phrase for positive alignments of Jupiter and Pluto is “leaping tall buildings with a single bound.” Where Saturn-Pluto alignments signify living with limitations, Jupiter-Pluto alignments typify abundance, luck and opportunity. Unexpected bits of grace and good fortune may come along from unexpected quarters.
February 7-13: This is the quiet time before New Moon, a good time for wrapping up projects and clearing the decks for new endeavors when New Moon arrives. On Sunday evening Venus is conjunct Neptune, an alignment conducive to tenderness, compassion, romance and empathy. On Monday and Tuesday Mercury is in the last degrees of practical, diligent Capricorn. These may be good days for tackling demanding tasks; on the other hand, we can turn anything into a demanding task.
      By Wednesday morning Mercury is in abstract Aquarius, and we are ready for fresh ideas, networking and thinking outside the box. Venus enters gentle Pisces early Thursday, leading us to be more sensitive and empathic over the next four weeks or so. Friday is a good day for mental discipline and practicality as Mercury aligns favorably with Saturn, planet of structure. Mercury is also opposite Mars, so there may be debate and challenging of ideas noticeable here and there.
     New Moon comes Saturday evening, 7:51 p.m. MST. The first impression I get looking at the chart for the New Moon is that this begins a cycle that is not particularly grounding in the material world. Sun and Moon are in airy Aquarius, conjunct Neptune, planet of spirituality, dreams, compassion and illusion, and the small body Chiron which has to do with teaching, healing and mentoring, and with being aware of our wounds. This may foster spiritual and personal growth experiences in many of us. At the same time Venus will be coming into conjunction with expansive Jupiter, in empathic Pisces. This may bring forth abundant love energy, compassion, and perhaps dreamy thinking in personal experience. Of course this is Saturday evening of Valentine’s weekend, a perfect time for romance to flourish. The humanitarian efforts in Haiti and perhaps other places will surely remain a positive focus in the collective experience. The New Moon sets a tone for the coming four weeks.
February 14-20: On Sunday, Valentine’s Day, the Sun is conjunct dreamy Neptune. Venus is in positive alignment with powerful Pluto. May real understanding and powerful realizations of love permeate our lives.
Mars is sextile Saturn on Monday, a good alignment for accomplishing tangible results. It’s a holiday, but good work is easily accomplished.
     On Tuesday Venus is conjunct Jupiter in Pisces, continuing the love and empathy, and possibly extravagance and excess. The Moon is void of course** just about all day Tuesday, further taking our attention from material concerns. With Venus conjunct Jupiter, and the New Moon attuned to idealism and empathic connections, new relationships are beginning, and existing relationships are growing and flourishing. It’s a good time for growing in consciousness and understanding. Take some time for contemplation.
     The second half of the week is more quiet. The airy, intellectual Aquarius influence gives way to soft, understanding Pisces as the Sun moves into Pisces a little before noon on Thursday.
February 21-27: We’re moving toward Full Moon this week, so there’s energy for doing things, and not a lot of complicating astrological influences. The Sun is in positive sextile alignment with Pluto on Tuesday, marking this as a good day for focused concentration and transformation. On Thursday the Moon is void of course much of the day, from 10:48 a.m. until 6:08 p.m. MST. Get projects under way before the v.o.c. begins. Don’t get bogged down in sentiment – the Moon is in moody Cancer.
     Friday afternoon and Saturday morning are well used for creative pursuits, not so good for organization and practical matters. Mercury is conjunct dreamy, imaginative Neptune. Intuition is enhanced; logic is not. Communication may be confusing or unclear. Full Moon is almost here.
February 28-March 6: Full Moon comes Sunday morning, 9:38 a.m. MST. The Sun is in gentle Pisces conjunct Jupiter, planet of abundance. Venus is conjunct independent Uranus. Astrologers tend to worry about New Moon and Full Moon charts and other astrological phenomena, alert to the pitfalls, but sometimes charts and influences work out in beneficial ways. This may be such a month. The strong Aquarius influence begun by the New Moon continues, with Mercury in Aquarius conjunct Neptune and Chiron, Sun in Pisces conjunct beneficial Jupiter, and Venus with Uranus. One scenario would be abundant love and happiness, fun and good things happening. Not a lot of attention on budgets and taxes and such, but life doesn’t have to be serious all the time, and progress can occur in good times as well as in those “growth experiences.” With all that Jupiter and Pisces, it’s also possible to be unfocused, awash in emotion, and floating along operating on faith without discernment, practicality or caution. And Venus conjunct Uranus, in its desire for change and excitement, may little value the steady and familiar relationship in its predictability. Have fun, but look before you leap, in all manner of circumstances.
     On Monday the Moon is void of course** from 10:36 a.m. until 5:31 p.m. MST. Again, get projects under way early, and carry that forward or take care of routine matters as the v.o.c. continues through the day. On Wednesday the Moon is v.o.c. from 1:44 p.m. until a little past 7 p.m., and Venus is conjunct Uranus. You need to take a break from the mundane, have some fun and excitement, be free of expectations and constraints and be open to the novel, innovative and exciting.
     On Thursday we have a minor influence supporting mental insight and focus as Mercury aligns with Pluto. Friday and Saturday are rather unremarkable.
     Do bear in mind that we are approaching the Mars station. Mars will turn direct on Wednesday, March 12. As the time of Mars turning direct approaches, you may notice a return of energy, enthusiasm, dynamism. It’s a good time to examine your drives and goals and move in positive directions. People tend to be impulsive and hasty around the time of Mars turning direct. Drive and move with care.
March Preview: Mars turns direct on March 10 (see above). At New Moon on March 15, Sun, Moon and Mercury are in tight conjunction with Uranus, planet of change and innovation. It’s impossible to predict what will be happening, but don’t expect the usual or routine. Spring Equinox arrives on March 20, as the Sun enters the fire sign Aries and winter officially gives way to spring time. Full Moon comes on March 29.

*Regular readers of this column and others familiar with astrology know that all the planets occasionally appear to backtrack or “retrograde” in their orbits. A planet will slow down, appear stationary, and then appear to slip backward for a period of a few weeks or months before again appearing to slow down and be stationary before resuming apparent forward motion. Of course the planet is not actually reversing direction but only appears to do so due to its motion relative to Earth’s. Nonetheless, we do feel the effects of these shifts. When a planet is at its “station” or stationary point, the planet’s energies are emphasized; when retrograde, its energies are more internalized. The cycle looks like this. The planet is going forward, and affairs of the planet are moving forward normally. As the planet slows and turns stationary, those matters related to the planet become emphasized in our lives, and significant developments may take place. Then those matters ebb in our outer lives for a while, as we internally digest those developments and realizations and integrate them into our lives during the retrograde. Later, the planet again goes stationary, coming back to the forefront of our awareness, and then “turns direct,” resuming apparent forward motion as we again move forward with those matters related to the planet.
Mercury takes a little three-week retrograde cycle approximately every four months. Our daily affairs slow down and get complicated. Communications get tangled, computers flake out, automobiles break down and travel arrangements fall into disarray, a comedy of scheduling mishaps occurs, and things pretty much slow to a crawl. It’s really a great time to slow down and regroup, to finish projects and catch up on unfinished business. Just try not to launch your big project, or sign on the dotted line for a new contract, job, car, or whatever unless you really need to. Try to get those things moving before the retrograde, and shepherd things patiently along during the retro cycle, knowing that some things may not completely come together until Mercury turns direct. If you are making significant moves during the Mercury retrograde period, just know that some things will have to be straightened out after the direct.

**Moon void of course occurs when the Moon has made all the alignments it will make while in the sign it’s in, and is just “marking time” without real momentum. The Moon goes through a sign in 2 to 2 ½ days, so consequently it also goes v.o.c. every couple of days as well, sometimes for only a few minutes or more likely hours, but sometimes for more than a day. Things initiated during a Moon void of course period tend to meander off and arrive at a destination other than what was planned. Void of course periods are well used in completing tasks or doing routine chores, or in resting, meditating, and planning for future activities. The v.o.c. period ends when the Moon enters the next sign.

I teach astrology classes in Albuquerque (available by tape if you’re out of town). I am available for personal consultations and forecasts, either in person or by telephone. I also offer comprehensive computer chart services, providing charts, transit calendars, and computer interpretations. I invite your feedback on this column and am available to answer simple astrology questions. Be in touch!

Please feel free to share this forecast with your friends.
Just be sure to include my name and contact information:

Sandy Bryan, Astrologer (505) 255-5001
E-mail: sstars@thuntek.net

January 2010 Forecast

THE COSMIC WEATHER REPORT
JANUARY, 2010

As 2009 begins, the Sun, Mercury, Venus and Pluto are in Capricorn. Capricorn is an earth sign, practical and down to earth, pragmatic, organized, a sign of discipline, seriousness and commitment. The holidays are over. It’s time to take hold and reestablish discipline, restraint and practicality needed to take a grounded approach to the New Year.
Mars turned retrograde* on December 20. The time around Mars’s “station” is often a time of high activity, and people may be impulsive, hot tempered, moving fast and generally revved up. This includes being accident-prone. The interval after the station while Mars is retrograde is often a time of diminished physical energy and initiative. Every astrological circumstance presents an opportunity. Mars retrograde presents an opportunity to turn down one’s impulsiveness and bumptiousness and be more conscious of how we go about our lives, how we go after what we want. It’s a chance to set aside self-centeredness and be more collaborative and cooperative, going for win-win outcomes.
I am thinking that Mars retrograde is also a time to be conscious of one’s physical energy. It’s not automatically just there, so this is a time to do things that support that physical energy, such as rest, exercise, and attention to the fuel we give our bodies, as well as the things that we do that diminish our energy. Mars will turn direct on March 10.
Mercury turned retrograde* on December 26 and will be retrograde until January 15. Regular readers of this blog and others familiar with astrology know that Mercury retrograde cycles are times of slowdowns, miscommunications, disruptions of plans and other glitches. (See the Mercury retrograde discussion in the footnotes of this column.) Take your time getting the New Year off to its start.
Saturn turns retrograde on January 13, bringing some current challenges and issues to culmination and focus. Saturn has recently entered Libra. The sign Saturn is transiting is an indicator of areas needing attention and healthy deveolpment . I believe we will all be taking relationships more seriously, attending more closely to relationship agreements and responsibilities. I think there may be a resurgence and strengthening of marriage. Since Saturn is a key to areas where latent problems are coming to light and ongoing problems are reaching the point where they must be dealt with, we can also expect relationships that are not in good shape to either get the attention and work that is needed to regain solid, productive footing, or to come to an end. This Saturn station in mid-January may bring some of those relationship issues to clearer focus, with some relationships hitting rocky ground and others reaching a new level of strength and solidity.
Libra is concerned with balance and fairness, and these couple of years while Saturn is in Libra are a good time to work for more balance in our lives Are there situations that are unfair or out of balance that need attention?
Depending on how Saturn is aligning with your chart, this Saturn station may have more or less significance and be relatively easy and satisfying or challenging (and satisfying or frustrating). What do you need to deal with, to clean up? This is a good time to take action. The Solar Eclipse on January 14 supports transitions and changes.
Jupiter will enter Pisces on January 17. The sign Jupiter is in is an area where we are expanding our awareness and potential. Jupiter in Pisces may support our developing our spirituality, intuition and compassion. Jupiter’s entry into Pisces may not be particularly notable, though such an ingress will often coincide with something symbolic in the news. Over the coming months, though, the change may be noticeable, in terms of more discussion of spirituality, of compassion, and/or of psychic insights or intuition. Eastern religion and philosophy may grow in prominence. As Pisces relates to our oceans, the oceans and water in general will continue to be discussed more and more. This is a fairly short influence, lasting only a year or so, until next January, but it will support our growth in these areas. (Jupiter will venture into Aries from June until September this year before reentering Pisces until January 2011.)
With the most significant astrological events of the month occurring on January 13th (Saturn station), 14th (Solar Eclipse), 15th (Mercury direct) and 17th (Jupiter’s entry into Pisces), it appears that mid-month could be a time of turning points for many of us, depending on contacts with our individual birth charts. In general, the second half of the month may be more easily progressive, what with Mercury now direct, and the New Moon/Eclipse beginning a new lunar cycle. We’re also moving from serious Capricorn into innovative, humanitarian Aquarius on January 19.
An interesting potential blessing is that the Sun and Venus appear close together in the sky most of the month. They will remain within 2 ½ degrees of one another, and much closer than that much of the time, through January 23 or so, after which Venus will gradually pull ahead of the Sun. The Sun and Venus will be exactly conjunct on January 11, kicking off the series of notable events coming at mid-month. As Venus is renowned as the planet of love, peace, harmony and beauty, this may be a time of peace and gentleness and appreciation in our personal lives. With Mars retrograde, this influence may be further supported.
In late January first Venus and then the Sun will come opposite Mars, sparking some contrasts and readjustments. Saturn will again square Pluto on January 31. This is the second of three squares between Saturn and Pluto, the previous being last November 13 and the next on August 21, 2010, an alignment indicating a time of testing and clearing of old structures and situations, This puts us on more solid footing in the long run, but is a time of testing in the short run.
WEEK BY WEEK
December 27-January 2: We need to keep the weekend and the beginning of the week simple. Venus squares Saturn Sunday evening and conjoins Pluto Monday evening, reactivating the Saturn-Pluto square with its necessity to pare down, simplify, release what is outmoded and prepare for new beginnings. Since Venus is involved, this may be a taxing time for all sorts of relationships. The holidays are stressful and we can’t be cheerful and “up” all the time. These evenings could be well spent quietly and possibly in solitude. The Moon is void of course on Monday from 10:54 a.m. until 6:13 p.m. MST. Get important things done in the morning, then be prepared to take it slow.
Tuesday and Wednesday may be more typically high energy as we run up to Full Moon/Lunar Eclipse on Thursday. This is a noontime Eclipse, 12:13 p.m. MST, when the Sun will be high in the sky and the Moon will be on the far side of the earth, so there will be nothing to see for us in North America. The chart for this Full Moon is rather positive. The Sun is conjunct Venus, in Capricorn, with the Moon opposite in Cancer. Cancer and Capricorn are both concerned with security, tradition, family. This could make for a poignant New Years Eve. This Full Moon/Eclipse is also a “Blue Moon.” That is, this is a month with two Full Moons, on December 1 and December 31. You may see mention of the Blue Moon, as the media like to take note of it, but there is really nothing astrologically remarkable about it; it’s simply a calendar thing. The fact that it is an Eclipse gives it extra punch, bringing matters into sharper focus, with the potential for realizations and turning points. As always, the degree to which this is so varies with the alignments the Moon might be making in your own birth chart.
On Friday, New Years Day, the Moon is void of course just about all day, from 8:43 a.m. until 7:41 p.m. MST. New Year’s Day is usually pretty quiet, and this one should be as well. Take time for reflection. Saturday is without remarkable planetary influences. Make your own influence the predominant determiner!
January 3-9: As the week begins we are at the midpoint of Mercury’s retrograde* cycle. Mercury aligns with the Sun, marking the midpoint, around noon on Monday. It’s often possible to get some breakthroughs and clarifications and straighten out things that have become muddled, around this point in the cycle.
Mercury is conjunct Venus on Monday-Tuesday, supporting affirmative and collaborative communication, diplomacy, sweetness and harmony. The Moon is void of course** on Tuesday from 10:24 a.m. until 9:58 p.m. MST. Have your projects begun before the v.o.c. begins and then carry forward as smoothly as possible. Moon v.o.c. occurring along with Mercury retrograde can slow down or waylay the day’s progress.
The rest of this week is unremarkable. We’re building toward the Saturn station, the first one since Saturn entered Libra. Pay attention to relationships, and to creating peace, harmony and fairness in your self and your surroundings. Be ready to deal with any issues in a patient and honest way.
January 10-16: This is an eventful week, as noted in the overview for the month. The first item of note is the Sun-Venus conjunction on Monday. That should make for a pleasant and harmonious day, though serious matters may be coming up all week. The Sun and Venus are in positive alignment with Uranus on Tuesday-Wednesday, supporting progress, freedom, excitement and new possibilities in relationships and life in general. This minor beneficial influence may help the Saturn station with its attendant gravity eventuate in positive and pleasing outcomes. Be prepared to deal with whatever is coming up. Saturn is “exalted” in Libra, meaning that it works well in this sign, so the station may be more immediately workable and beneficial than one can usually expect.
This is the very end of the current lunar cycle, and New Moon comes ‘round midnight on Thursday. Of course it’s not just a New Moon, it’s also a Solar Eclipse, though the eclipse can’t be seen in the United States because it comes at midnight, when the Sun is on the opposite side of the earth. Eclipses are thought to be catalysts for realization and change. It’s possible this might be an unusually beneficial eclipse, as the Sun and Moon will be closely conjunct Venus, which is in “mutual reception” with Saturn. That is to say, Venus is in Saturn’s sign, Capricorn, while Saturn is in Libra, which is “ruled” by Venus. Bottom line, there is some fair amount of synergy at work here, helping us in our process. By the way, the Moon, Sun and Venus are all in the same degree, 25 Capricorn. The “Sabian Symbol” for that degree is “a nature spirit dancing in the mist of a waterfall.” That can indicate lightness, perhaps a break or respite from the pressures and seriousness of life.
Mercury turns direct Friday morning, 9:52 a.m. MST. The various miscommunications, delays, red tape and computer/communications issues that may have slowed things down the last two or three weeks are beginning to clear, though it may take until around February 4, when Mercury will have regained lost ground and returned to the point at which it turned retrograde, before everything is cleared up and order is restored.
January 17-23: On Sunday the Moon goes void of course** in early afternoon, 1:23 p.m. MST, remaining so until 11:17 p.m. By now you know to get significant tasks and projects moving before the v.o.c.
Sunday is the day of Jupiter’s ingress into Pisces, at 7:11 p.m. MST. Jupiter’s transit of Pisces over the next few months will support the flowering of intuition, empathy, spirituality and the ability to “go with the flow,” intuitively navigating the currents of life.
There is also some seriousness and focus on responsibility and goals, as the Sun and Venus are at the end of Capricorn. Venus enters Aquarius early Monday morning, supporting a trend toward more lightness and freedom in relating. The Sun enters Aquarius Tuesday evening. We’ve worked hard on practical matters; it’s now time to reconnect with people and groups. Relationship, social and group connections go particularly well on Thursday, when Venus makes an easy trine alignment with Saturn, and the beneficial influence continues through the weekend, as the Sun trines Saturn on Sunday.
January 24-30: The week starts with the Sun-Saturn trine Sunday morning, an alignment that supports steadiness and productivity, including in group and interpersonal matters.
Venus comes opposite Mars on Tuesday. Venus is in l Aquarius, which is oriented toward the good of the group. Mars is in self-expressive, even arrogant, Leo, but Mars is retrograde and somewhat subdued or suppressed. It is easy to imagine some balancing between one’s personal desires and self-expression and the needs of the group. It’s even easy to imagine some dialogues today where one person is all about his/her personal desires and wanting it their way; while the other is much more detached and rising above personal whims.
The Sun will come opposite Mars ‘round noon on Friday, bringing forth more Mars in Leo fire and desire, in counterpoint to Aquarius detachment and focus on the collective. There may be a bit of contention this week.
Full Moon comes late Friday night, 11:18 p.m. MST, and it emphasizes the Mars alignments. Venus is conjunct Sun, opposite the Moon and Mars in close conjunction, only a degree apart. Sun-Venus is conciliatory and harmonizing; Moon Mars is volatile and fiery. Expect crazy stories on the nightly news. Seek to balance this polarity in yourself – be both harmonious, diplomatic and considerate and also with a strong sense of your own desires and direction. Balance your needs with those of others, affirming fair play. This reflects back to the lessons of Saturn in Libra.
January 31-February 6: Last week ends, and this week begins, with the square of Saturn and Pluto, exact on Sunday. Saturn represents structure and order, while Pluto represents processes of testing, breakdown and renewal. It’s to be expected that this is a period of testing, breakdowns and endings, followed by renewal and rebirth. This is the second in a series of three alignments, the first on November 15, 2009, and the third coming up on August 21, 2010. This is a good time to clean house, organize, budget and streamline to best manage your way through current conditions in society and the world.
This is an interesting week because it begins with this aspect of great seriousness and sobriety, having to do with getting our lives in order and being fit to endure in challenging times, and it ends with a sextile of Jupiter and Pluto. Many people who know me are aware that my phrase for positive alignments of Jupiter and Pluto is “leaping tall buildings with a single bound.” Where Saturn-Pluto alignments signify living with limitations, Jupiter-Pluto alignments typify abundance, luck and opportunity. Bits of grace and good fortune may come along from unexpected quarters.
February Preview: In contrast to January, with its several significant astrological developments, such as the Saturn-Pluto square, Solar Eclipse, Saturn turning retrograde, Mercury turning direct, etc., February is comparatively free of such influences, except for the positive sextile of Jupiter and Pluto described above and exact on February 6. The astrological weather seems mildly beneficial and not demanding a great deal of adaptation or compensation on our parts. Mars continues in retrograde until March 10. Other than that, there are a few minor alignments of Sun, Mercury, Venus or Mars to one or another planet, and most of those are beneficial. Perhaps we can just live and work and get direct results of our actions without extra consideration of the astrological weather.

*Regular readers of this column and others familiar with astrology know that all the planets occasionally appear to backtrack or “retrograde” in their orbits. A planet will slow down, appear stationary, and then appear to slip backward for a period of a few weeks or months before again appearing to slow down and be stationary before resuming apparent forward motion. Of course the planet is not actually reversing direction but only appears to do so due to its motion relative to Earth’s. Nonetheless, we do feel the effects of these shifts. When a planet is at its “station” or stationary point, the planet’s energies are emphasized; when retrograde, its energies are more internalized. The cycle looks like this. The planet is going forward, and affairs of the planet are moving forward normally. As the planet slows and turns stationary, those matters related to the planet become emphasized in our lives, and significant developments may take place. Then those matters ebb in our outer lives for a while, as we internally digest those developments and realizations and integrate them into our lives during the retrograde. Later, the planet again goes stationary, coming back to the forefront of our awareness, and then “turns direct,” resuming apparent forward motion as we again move forward with those matters related to the planet.
Mercury takes a little three-week retrograde cycle approximately every four months. Our daily affairs slow down and get complicated. Communications get tangled, computers flake out, automobiles break down and travel arrangements fall into disarray, a comedy of scheduling mishaps occurs, and things pretty much slow to a crawl. It’s really a great time to slow down and regroup, to finish projects and catch up on unfinished business. Just try not to launch your big project, or sign on the dotted line for a new contract, job, car, or whatever unless you really need to. Try to get those things moving before the retrograde, and shepherd things patiently along during the retro cycle, knowing that some things may not completely come together until Mercury turns direct. If you are making significant moves during the Mercury retrograde period, just know that some things will have to be straightened out after the direct.

**Moon void of course occurs when the Moon has made all the alignments it will make while in the sign it’s in, and is just “marking time” without real momentum. The Moon goes through a sign in 2 to 2 ½ days, so consequently it also goes v.o.c. every couple of days as well, sometimes for only a few minutes or more likely hours, but sometimes for more than a day. Things initiated during a Moon void of course period tend to meander off and arrive at a destination other than what was planned. Void of course periods are well used in completing tasks or doing routine chores, or in resting, meditating, and planning for future activities. The v.o.c. period ends when the Moon enters the next sign.

I teach astrology classes in Albuquerque (available by tape if you’re out of town). I am available for personal consultations and forecasts, either in person or by telephone. I also offer comprehensive computer chart services, providing charts, transit calendars, and computer interpretations. I invite your feedback on this column and am available to answer simple astrology questions. Be in touch!

Please feel free to share this forecast with your friends.
Just be sure to include my name and contact information:

Sandy Bryan, Astrologer (505) 255-5001
E-mail: sstars@thuntek.net

December Cosmic Weather Report

THE COSMIC WEATHER REPORT
December, 2009

The Sun is in Sagittarius as December begins. Sagittarius is a positive, upbeat, energetic fire sign, and this is typically a time of year when we get into the “holiday spirit” and focus more on fun and enjoying life. Our time in Sagittarius each year is the run up to the holidays—typically a time of parties, socializing, travel, indulgence and extravagance.
We’ll be in Sagittarius until Winter Solstice, on December 21, when the Sun enters the earth sign Capricorn and winter officially begins.
This is an eventful month, astrologically speaking. Uranus turns direct* on December 1; that’s typically a catalyst to changes. Once Uranus is direct, we will be in the unusual situation where there are no planets retrograde*. This should leave us able to move forward in a relatively uncomplicated fashion. We continue with no retrogrades until around Winter Solstice.
Mars will turn retrograde on December 20. The time around Mars’s “station” is often a time of high activity, and people may be impulsive, hot tempered, moving fast and generally revved up. This includes being accident-prone. The interval after the station when Mars is retrograde is often a time of diminished physical energy and initiative. Get your projects started before this retrograde, which will last until Mars turns direct on March 10.
Winter Solstice arrives on December 21, and Jupiter will be conjunct Neptune that same day. That’s a fairly benign alignment that gives rise to spirituality, empathy and flow, with only a little unrealistic thinking and overlooking of practical realities.
Mercury turns retrograde* on December 26 and will be retrograde until January 15. Regular readers of this blog and others familiar with astrology know that Mercury retrograde cycles are times of slowdowns, miscommunications, disruptions of plans and other glitches. (See the Mercury retrograde discussion in the footnotes of this column.) As much as possible, have any new software and electronics installed and functioning before the retrograde begins on December 26.
We have a Blue Moon this month. That is to say, there are two Full Moons, one on December 1 and one on December 31. This is not particularly remarkable astrologically, as it is only a calendar thing, but this does occasionally attract notice in the press. The December 31 Full Moon is a Lunar Eclipse.

WEEK BY WEEK
November 29-December 5: This should be a high energy week, peaking on Tuesday, when Uranus turns direct and the Moon is Full. Venus enters Sagittarius on Tuesday, and some of the emotional drama that may have attended the last few days while Venus was at the end of Scorpio may evaporate. The impact for you of Uranus turning direct, with potential for change, depends on contacts with your chart. The more strongly Uranus aligns with your birth chart, the bigger the changes; the less the personal contact, the less you’ll feel it.
The Full Moon, exact around midnight on Tuesday, is more benign than many, not too fraught with drama, though there may be a lot going on, with the Sun and Moon in changeable mutable signs. In Albuquerque and environs, Uranus, planet of change, is at the beginning of the 7th house of partnership. Some people will definitely be going through relationship changes in various forms.
The remainder of the week is just the playing out of the energies that peaked on Tuesday. Venus sextiles Saturn on Thursday-Friday, helping to stabilize our relationships. Mercury is at the end of Sagittarius, giving rise to lots of communication, speculation and visionary thinking. On Saturday morning Mercury enters the practical earth sign Capricorn. Enough of big plans, now’s the time to make them into reality.
December 6-12: Some days will be more easily productive than others this week. Sunday appears fairly neutral. On Monday the Moon will be void of course** from about 2 a.m. until 12:05 p.m. MST, making for a morning better suited to routine matters than new initiatives. Also on Monday, Mercury is first conjunct Pluto before dawn and then square Saturn in the evening, making for challenges in thought processes and communication. If there are problems, you may be able to work through them with focus and deliberateness, or you may just defer them to Tuesday.
On Wednesday there is another long v.o.c., from 3:04 a.m. until 3:47 p.m. MST. You know the drill—continue with ongoing work and wait for things to clear when the Moon enters the next sign at 3:47 p.m. Thursday is a fairly clear day, with the only planetary alignment a positive trine from Sun to Mars, supporting directness, energy and initiative.
On Friday there is yet another long v.o.c., from 10:48 a.m. until 9:31 p .m. MST. Get things moving well early in the morning, and carry forward once the void of course period begins. Saturday is another clear day. Happy Hanukkah!
December 13-19: As the week begins we are in the “dark of Moon” period before New Moon, a good time to complete projects, rest and regroup, and plan for the new cycle that begins with New Moon. Monday may have an erratic moment or two, especially in the morning; the Sun will be in exact square to unpredictable Uranus. The afternoon goes more smoothly, as Sun is in easy alignment with expansive Jupiter. The flow continues on Tuesday; the Sun is in positive sextile with intuitive Neptune.
New Moon comes Wednesday morning, 5:02 a.m. MST. The New Moon appears to be unusually harmonious. The Sun, Moon and Venus appear close together in the sky, in positive alignment with both Mars in Leo and Jupiter, Neptune and Chiron in Aquarius. This gentle configuration may be beneficial for all of us. Additionally, Venus is just rising in Washington, D.C., indicating some potential for increased harmony on the national scene.
The Moon will go void of course at the moment of New Moon, meaning that the early hours of the day may drift a bit, until the Moon enters Capricorn at 3:32 p.m. MST.
Interpersonal relations may fare particularly well on Wednesday-Thursday as Venus trines Mars. On Friday we have a v.o.c. afternoon, from 1:07 p.m. MST until the wee hours of Saturday morning. On Saturday be prepared for changes in social plans. Venus is squaring unpredictable Uranus in the late afternoon. This would be a good Saturday evening to do something out of the usual routine, or to spend in solitude doing exactly as one pleases, without expectations.
We are running up to the Mars station all week. There may be a lot of energetic activity, some impulsiveness, even recklessness (Drive carefully and legally!), and some brash outspokenness. If assertiveness is needed, it will be much better received if done with civility and courtesy and awareness of other points of view.
December 20-26: Mars turns retrograde early Sunday morning. Over the next 80 days our natural energy and initiative tends to ebb a bit, to return when Mars turns direct. Mars retrograde periods are sometimes thought of as times of frustration. I’ve also noticed that these intervals can be learning opportunities, when we learn to work things out through patience and diplomacy, and when we can reflect on our impulses and ego drives. Mars is presently in Leo, a sign where our drives naturally take on drama and extravagance. What a perfect opportunity to go there, and then step back. See if you can see the dramatic side operating now, then look again in a few weeks and see if you have more detachment about your drives and impulses and ego.
Mars station aside, Venus is aligning with Jupiter and Neptune on Sunday, providing a balancing energy of happiness, generosity and empathy. Jupiter is exactly conjunct Neptune on Sunday and Monday. Those two planets have been in close alignment for several months. The conjunction is not necessarily overly noticeable, but it signifies an influx of inspiration, insight, empathy and idealism that is subtle but significant.
Winter Solstice arrives on Monday. The last few days have been high energy, what with Mars at its station and the Sun transiting the late degrees of ebullient Sagittarius. Now the Sun enters the serious earth sign Capricorn. The chart for Solstice shows a time of seriousness/bit of gravity, with the Sun conjunct transformative Pluto in Capricorn. At the same time, the Moon is aligned with Jupiter and Neptune, bringing out spirituality, insight, optimism and inspiration, making a nice balance of energy.
Tuesday and Wednesday are fairly neutral. On Thursday the Sun is conjunct Pluto, potentially bringing out crises or matters needing correction or renewal. On Friday, Christmas, the Sun is square Saturn. This may simply make for a rather quiet or traditional or subdued holiday, with some potential for delays or disappointments. Some glitches are likely to turn up, but they may be minor if you are keeping things simple.
On Saturday Mercury turns retrograde, beginning three weeks highly suitable for regrouping and catching up before really moving forward with the New Year around January 15, when Mercury turns direct. Do try to get any new electronics installed and working as soon as possible; the deeper the retrograde, the more glitches you’ll have.
December 27-January 2: We need to keep the weekend and the beginning of the week simple. Venus squares Saturn Sunday evening and conjoins Pluto Monday evening, reactivating the Saturn-Pluto square with its necessity to pare down, simplify, release what is outmoded and prepare for new beginnings. Since Venus is involved, this may be a taxing time for all sorts of relationships. The holidays are stressful and we can’t be cheerful and “up” all the time. These evenings could be well spent quietly and possibly in solitude. The Moon is void of course on Monday from 10:54 a.m. until 6:13 p.m. MST. Get important things done in the morning, then be prepared to take it slow.
Tuesday and Wednesday may be more typically high energy as we run up to Full Moon/Lunar Eclipse on Thursday. This is a noontime Eclipse, 12:13 p.m. MST, when the Sun will be high in the sky and the Moon will be on the far side of the earth, so there will be nothing to see for us in North America. The chart for this Full Moon is rather positive. The Sun is conjunct Venus, in Capricorn, with the Moon opposite in Cancer. Cancer and Capricorn are both concerned with security, tradition, family. This could make for a poignant New Years Eve. This Full Moon/Eclipse is also a “Blue Moon.” That is, this is a month with two Full Moons, on December 1 and December 31. You may see mention of the Blue Moon, as the media like to take note of it, but there is really nothing astrologically remarkable about it; it’s simply a calendar thing. The fact that it is an Eclipse gives it extra punch, bringing matters into sharper focus, with the potential for realizations and turning points. As always, the degree to which this is so varies with the alignments the Moon might be making in your own birth chart.
On Friday, New Years Day, the Moon is void of course just about all day, from 8:43 a.m. until 7:41 p.m. MST. New Year’s Day is usually pretty quiet, and this one should be as well. Take time for reflection. Saturday is without remarkable planetary influences. Make your own influence the predominant determiner!
Happy New Year! May 2010 be a fulfilling and delightful journey of discovery!

January Preview: Mercury is retrograde until January 15; take your time getting the New Year off to its start. Those first two weeks of 2010 are better spent in clearing the decks from the old year and preparing for the new.
Saturn turns retrograde on January 13, bringing some current challenges and issues to culmination and focus. What do you need to deal with, to clean up? This is a good time to take action. The Solar Eclipse on January 14 supports transitions and changes.
There’s a Solar Eclipse/New Moon on January 14. That brings shifts and new situations. With the most significant astrological events of the month occurring on January 13, 14 and 15, it appears that mid-month could be a time of turning points for many of us, depending on contacts with our individual birth charts. In general, the second half of the month may be more progressive, what with Mercury now direct, and the New Moon/Eclipse beginning a new lunar cycle. We’re also moving from serious Capricorn into progressive Aquarius on January 19.

 

*Regular readers of this column and others familiar with astrology know that all the planets occasionally appear to backtrack or “retrograde” in their orbits. A planet will slow down, appear stationary, and then appear to slip backward for a period of a few weeks or months before again appearing to slow down and be stationary before resuming apparent forward motion. Of course the planet is not actually reversing direction but only appears to do so due to its motion relative to Earth’s. Nonetheless, we do feel the effects of these shifts. When a planet is at its “station” or stationary point, the planet’s energies are emphasized; when retrograde, its energies are more internalized. The cycle looks like this. The planet is going forward, and affairs of the planet are moving forward normally. As the planet slows and turns stationary, those matters related to the planet become emphasized in our lives, and significant developments may take place. Then those matters ebb in our outer lives for a while, as we internally digest those developments and realizations and integrate them into our lives during the retrograde. Later, the planet again goes stationary, coming back to the forefront of our awareness, and then “turns direct,” resuming apparent forward motion as we again move forward with those matters related to the planet.
Mercury takes a little three-week retrograde cycle approximately every four months. Our daily affairs slow down and get complicated. Communications get tangled, computers flake out, automobiles break down and travel arrangements fall into disarray, a comedy of scheduling mishaps occurs, and things pretty much slow to a crawl. It’s really a great time to slow down and regroup, to finish projects and catch up on unfinished business. Just try not to launch your big project, or sign on the dotted line for a new contract, job, car, or whatever unless you really need to. Try to get those things moving before the retrograde, and shepherd things patiently along during the retro cycle, knowing that some things may not completely come together until Mercury turns direct. If you are making significant moves during the Mercury retrograde period, just know that some things will have to be straightened out after the direct.

**Moon void of course occurs when the Moon has made all the alignments it will make while in the sign it’s in, and is just “marking time” without real momentum. The Moon goes through a sign in 2 to 2 ½ days, so consequently it also goes v.o.c. every couple of days as well, sometimes for only a few minutes or more likely hours, but sometimes for more than a day. Things initiated during a Moon void of course period tend to meander off and arrive at a destination other than what was planned. Void of course periods are well used in completing tasks or doing routine chores, or in resting, meditating, and planning for future activities. The v.o.c. period ends when the Moon enters the next sign.

November Cosmic Weather

THE COSMIC WEATHER REPORT
NOVEMBER, 2009

November is here, and the Sun is in Scorpio, a sign associated with emotional intensity, transformation, and endings and beginnings. At this time of year our attention turns inward, and buried feelings and issues may come to the surface. This is a great opportunity to address matters that you’ve been meaning to attend to. This is a good time to clean up all types of situations needing transformation or renewal, without going to unnecessary extremes.
Saturn entered Libra on October 29. The sign Saturn is in gives an insight into what we are working to put in better order. Saturn entering Libra will turn our focus to putting relationships in order and recognizing the importance of courtesy, consideration and reliability – as well as a resurgence of marriage and commitment. Mediation, consensus and peacemaking will become a larger focus.
The importance of beauty in our surroundings, of art and culture, and of personal adornment will be themes over the next couple of years. Saturn in Virgo, the sign where it had been the previous couple of years, seeks order and efficient function. Saturn in Libra wants beauty as well.
Saturn and Pluto will be in square to one another this month, an important alignment that will be with us intermittently for several months. Saturn represents structure; Pluto represents forces for change. Situations large and small will come to a point of deciding whether to persist as is or surrender to the need for change. In the financial realm, Saturn-Pluto alignments often mark a time of tight money and the need to be tenacious, disciplined and frugal. This current influence peaks at mid-month and is clearly a part of what we are seeing and hearing in the news.
The last major Saturn-Pluto alignment, an opposition, occurred in 2001-2002. These two planets were in fairly tight opposition beginning in late July, 2001, with key periods the beginning of August, mid- to late September, and late October into early November. I have written of the alignment of these two planets as a time when existing structures are tested and breakdown and rebuilding take place. This was the World Trade Center bombing on 9-11 and the ongoing cool-down in the economy, including the Enron scandal. We were also in the midst of an anthrax scare, which is interesting in light of the current concern with the H1N1 flu virus.
In our personal lives, situations needing work have likely reached the point where we realize that something must be done, and we are hard at work. This is a fine time for paring down, getting things in order, clearing out and releasing things of the past. The outcome of this may be a life lived much more effectively, and as a result, opening to new possibilities. If you want something new, release the old, get your life in order, and be ready to step out into new possibilities. Think alchemy, burning off the dross to leave pure gold.
WEEK BY WEEK
October 25- 31: There are two themes for this week. First, we are delving deeper into Scorpio energies. Mercury, which relates to our thought and communication, enters Scorpio before dawn on Wednesday. There will be more deep contemplation, looking for patterns, delving into the mysteries that surround us. We may particularly notice this on Wednesday, when Mercury also aligns with Pluto and Sun squares Mars, bringing out the inclination to confront issues rather than let them slide by.
The second notable influence is Saturn’s passage from Virgo into Libra. Recent days may have brought a flurry of cleaning and putting things in order as Saturn passed through the last degrees of meticulous Virgo. Saturn enters Libra on Thursday. Over recent weeks there may have been increasing attention on right relationship, and that becomes an ongoing theme for the next couple of years.
November 1-7: The week begins with Full Moon, at 12:14 p.m. MST on Monday. The “Sabian Symbol” for the Moon’s degree is “a woman sprinkling flowers.” The Sabian Symbol for the Sun’s degree is “a drowning man rescued.” These sound hopeful.
Neptune turns direct* on Wednesday. The times around Neptune stations can be confusing. Neptune tends to bring out dreaminess, to be a bit out of focus. We can very easily be in a cloud of unrealistic thinking, though paradoxically when we make an effort to see through the fog we often succeed.
Venus enters Scorpio Saturday afternoon. We’ll tend to feel more deeply the next four weeks while Venus is in Scorpio. Make this good passion, not drama.
November 8-14: This looks like a fairly smooth week. The Sun squares expansive Jupiter ‘round noon on Tuesday. Mercury trine Uranus on Tuesday-Wednesday gives rise to fresh ideas, sparkling conversation and innovative solutions. Mercury square Neptune Wednesday afternoon increases the likelihood of minor errors and miscommunications.
As the week continues the old lunar cycle is winding down, a time better spent on completing projects, resting and planning for the new cycle which begins with the New Moon next Monday.
Saturn is moving toward the exact square with Pluto, exact next Sunday. On Saturday the Moon is void of course from predawn (4:10 a.m. MST) to 3:34 p.m. Between the v.o.c., the Saturn-Pluto square and the waning moon, this day is better used for contemplation and going with the flow than for mounting a major project. However, the Sun is in positive trine alignment with Uranus on Saturday, supporting flexibility and innovation. We are not in high energy mode, but things work out well, and possibly differently than originally envisioned.
November 15-21: The Saturn-Pluto square is exact on Sunday. The symbolism of this aspect is testing of structures, endings and beginnings, renewal. It is perfect for reviewing your life structures, streamlining, recycling, setting priorities and stripping down to essentials so as to live your life with greater simplicity and focus on the those things most important to you. On the societal level this is a time of restraint, and it will be so for many of us individually, but it may also be an important time of restructuring and consolidation, and not necessarily all that painful or difficult.
In addition to the Saturn-Pluto square which is exact on Sunday but affecting us over a period of weeks or months, there are other planetary influences shading this day and week. On Sunday the Sun is square Neptune. That can indicate being a little out of focus, or perhaps focused inward. Mercury is in the last degree of Scorpio on Sunday, bringing a tendency to moodiness. Mercury enters Sagittarius at 5:28 p.m.; you may notice a resurgence of optimism and philosophical outlook right away.
New Moon comes on Monday, 12:14 p.m. MST. In Washington, D.C., the Saturn-Pluto square is emphasized, with Pluto nearly straight overhead and Saturn on the western horizon, and Uranus, planet of change and chaos just rising. The trend of restraint and disorder persists.
In the Albuquerque area where this column originates, things are a little lighter, with Mercury in Sagittarius right overhead and beneficent Jupiter just ready to rise. There may be some huge over-the-top situations in the news, as Jupiter rising can bring out exaggerated situations, and dramatic Mars in Leo will just be setting. In any location, the Sun square Neptune indicates the potential for confusion, though a sextile of Mercury to Saturn provides the ability to think things through practically.
The remainder of the week, up until Saturday evening, the Sun is transiting through the latter degrees of Scorpio. There’s a tendency to strong emotion and introversion, with the occasional emotional outburst. Venus squares Mars on Wednesday-Thursday, and that may bring conflicts to the surface, along with brusque behavior and random awkward situations. We need to balance the civility of Venus with the assertiveness of Mars. Talk things through, courteously. If you commit a social gaffe or transgression, apologize or smooth it over.
On Saturday evening, 9:23 p.m. MST, the Sun enters buoyant, confident, optimistic Sagittarius. We all recapture the ability to be magnanimous and philosophical, and if things aren’t working out, well, give it some time and go do something else. Sagittarius is a sign associated with travel, and we are heading into the holiday travel season.
November 22-28: The Sun is in Sagittarius, the Moon is waxing, and only one planet, Uranus, is retrograde*, and it will be turning direct on December 1. This should be a fairly upbeat week, especially with the minor aspects occurring this week, which are generally positive. We begin the week with a square of Venus and Jupiter, exact Monday afternoon. Venus-Jupiter squares generally tend to be benevolent, with flourishing relationships and social contacts, happy social encounters, and material well-being. We may tend to overspend and overeat, but we have a good time doing that, and in the best company. Actually the excesses should be minor, as the Sun is sextile stabilizing Saturn on Tuesday. Wednesday brings a trine of Venus and Uranus, always good for pleasant social occasions and happy encounters.
On Thursday, Thanksgiving, the Moon is void of course** much of the day, from 7:17 a.m. until 8:11 p.m. MST. Proceedings of the day tend to deviate from plan during v.o.c. periods, so be prepared. This may just bring a few glitches in the preparation of holiday meals, stuff like that. If you can go with the flow, do. If there are things that have to stay on a schedule, get an early start, do some things in advance, or start before 7:17 a.m. with at least a symbolic first action of the day. Mercury is trine Mars, giving energy and quick thinking, and Venus square Neptune casts a rosy glow of affection and sentiment, so the day will doubtless turn out just fine.
As the week progresses we are drawing nearer and nearer the Uranus station* on December 1. Uranus will be turning direct after five months retrograde. Changes that we’ve been working to manifest will come forth more easily now, and for many of us there will be a great deal of transition around this time, some of it unexpected. Think about what you’d like to change, and take at least beginning steps.
November 29-December 5: This should be a high energy week, peaking on Tuesday, when Uranus turns direct and the Moon is Full. Venus enters Sagittarius on Tuesday, and some of the emotional drama that may have attended the last few days while Venus was at the end of Scorpio may evaporate. The impact for you of Uranus turning direct, with potential for change, depends on contacts with your chart. The more strongly Uranus aligns with your birth chart, the bigger the changes; the less the personal contact, the less you’ll feel it.
The Full Moon, exact around midnight on Tuesday, is more benign than many, not too fraught with drama, though there may be a lot going on, with the Sun and Moon in changeable mutable signs. In Albuquerque and environs, Uranus, planet of change, is at the beginning of the 7th house of partnership. Some people will definitely be going through relationship changes in various forms.
The remainder of the week is just the playing out of the energies that peaked on Tuesday. Venus sextiles Saturn on Thursday-Friday, helping to stabilize our relationships. Mercury is at the end of Sagittarius, giving rise to lots of communication, speculation and visionary thinking. On Saturday morning Mercury enters the practical earth sign Capricorn. Enough of big plans, now’s the time to make them into reality.
December Preview: This is an eventful month, astrologically speaking. Uranus turns direct on December 1; that’s typically a catalyst to changes. Once Uranus is direct, we will be in the unusual situation where there are no planets retrograde. Theoretically this should leave us able to move forward in a relatively uncomplicated fashion. This holds ups until around Winter Solstice. Mars will turn retrograde on December 20.
Winter Solstice arrives on December 21, and Jupiter will be conjunct Neptune that same day. That’s a fairly benign alignment that gives rise to spirituality, empathy and flow, with only a little unrealistic thinking and overlooking of practical realities.
Mercury turns retrograde on December 26 and will be retrograde until January 15. And we have a Blue Moon this month. That is to say, there are two Full Moons, one on December 1 and one on December 31. This is not particularly remarkable astrologically, as it is only a calendar thing, but this does occasionally attract notice in the press. The December 31 Full Moon is a Lunar Eclipse.
*Regular readers of this column and others familiar with astrology know that all the planets occasionally appear to backtrack or “retrograde” in their orbits. A planet will slow down, appear stationary, and then appear to slip backward for a period of a few weeks or months before again appearing to slow down and be stationary before resuming apparent forward motion. Of course the planet is not actually reversing direction but only appears to do so due to its motion relative to Earth’s. Nonetheless, we do feel the effects of these shifts. When a planet is at its “station” or stationary point, the planet’s energies are emphasized; when retrograde, its energies are more internalized. The cycle looks like this. The planet is going forward, and affairs of the planet are moving forward normally. As the planet slows and turns stationary, those matters related to the planet become emphasized in our lives, and significant developments may take place. Then those matters ebb in our outer lives for a while, as we internally digest those developments and realizations and integrate them into our lives during the retrograde. Later, the planet again goes stationary, coming back to the forefront of our awareness, and then “turns direct,” resuming apparent forward motion as we again move forward with those matters related to the planet.

Mercury takes a little three-week retrograde cycle approximately every four months. Our daily affairs slow down and get complicated. Communications get tangled, computers flake out, automobiles break down and travel arrangements fall into disarray, a comedy of scheduling mishaps occurs, and things pretty much slow to a crawl. It’s really a great time to slow down and regroup, to finish projects and catch up on unfinished business. Just try not to launch your big project, or sign on the dotted line for a new contract, job, car, or whatever unless you really need to. Try to get those things moving before the retrograde, and shepherd things patiently along during the retro cycle, knowing that some things may not completely come together until Mercury turns direct. If you are making significant moves during the Mercury retrograde period, just know that some things will have to be straightened out after the direct.

**Moon void of course occurs when the Moon has made all the alignments it will make while in the sign it’s in, and is just “marking time” without real momentum. The Moon goes through a sign in 2 to 2 ½ days, so consequently it also goes v.o.c. every couple of days as well, sometimes for only a few minutes or more likely hours, but sometimes for more than a day. Things initiated during a Moon void of course period tend to meander off and arrive at a destination other than what was planned. Void of course periods are well used in completing tasks or doing routine chores, or in resting, meditating, and planning for future activities. The v.o.c. period ends when the Moon enters the next sign.