December Astrology Report 2004

by Roxana Muise

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December hosts fifteen dynamic aspects: five conjunctions, three squares, three ingresses, one direct station, one planetary station, one new and one full Moon. The dominant leadership (Mars) energy for the first 19 days of December shows the need to actively pursue and accomplish goals. Realistic plans for domestic harmony are highly possible on December 13 and 16th, as Moon and Saturn work in reciprocal cooperation.

For the rest of the month, the desire and search for balance gains recognition, and the power to implement and expand a vision for aspirations to excellence becomes possible. Expect much energy to be invested into the development of peaceful relations. Each party needs to offer responsible components to any agreements under negotiation.

Repeated aspect/contacts are made to the degrees 18-22 Sagittarius by inner and outer planets during December and early January. Major intensity arises, imparting influence and triggering transformation in the lives of people with planetary placements here, or for those born between December 9-14. The emphasis on truth is one of the high key phrases of Sagittarius.

12/2 Venus squares Neptune (midpoint: Mercury) 6:21 PM 13:03 Scorpio/Aquarius. A deep sensitivity and understanding of others‚ thought processes is possible. Communicate this insight through artistic and creative outlets. Spiritual understanding may also be accessed now.

12/5 Venus conjoins Mars 2:13 PM 16:34 Scorpio. The beginning of a new cycle of creative invention. Now is the time to look deeply into your life purpose. This can become a soul-satisfying process if you look beyond the physical into the principles that support your life, and the potential for fulfillment.

12/7 Moon occults Jupiter 2:54 AM, 14:15 Libra ˆ 4 S 21.5 (8 min orb). The time to nurture the seeds of your inner nature is at hand. However, many components of your potential are hidden from view by outer manifestations in every-day life, both private, and in the world at large. Growth and development can be yours through self-honesty and patience.

Mercury Rx conjoins Pluto 2:56 PM, 21:50 Sagittarius. Review projects started in mid-November. New facts may surface, with more to come ˆ probably into mid-January before a resolution can be found. Leave room for restitution ˆ don't burn your bridges. Intensity from criticism and sarcasm may create hurt feelings ˆ release, and lighten up!

12/11 Sun Conjoins Mercury Rx 12:21 AM, 18:37 Sagittarius. More intensity surrounding new goals, and optimistic thoughts about completing them, however more information is needed. The amount of incoming information seems to increase. Take the time to sift and screen all the facts, and double-check all resources.

New Moon 20:22 Sagittarius, west coast 5:29 PM, east coast 8:29 PM. Getting started on a new project without having a foundation you trust can lead to problems down the line. Your powers of persuasion when speaking from the heart can offer hope of success. West coast issues expose key answers through trustworthy contacts from past experience. On the east coast, new contracts, correspondence, or family interactions may bring opportunities for success.

12/13 Sun Conjoins Pluto 09:04 AM, 22:03 Sagittarius. This Sun/Pluto combination contributes to expansion and success in personal matters as they interface with community affairs. Power struggles may seem overwhelming. Devious players may seem in control, but their expediency can lead to their defeat. Holding to principles of truth will win out eventually.

12/16 Venus enters Sagittarius 09:10 AM. Your ideas about what you truly want will go through expansive changes. Some may label it as excessive, but be patient and explore your new ideas ˆ some may bring about needed experience and lead to new, life-changing choices.

12/19 Venus squares Uranus 3:54 AM 03:28 Sagittarius/Pisces. The need for self-determination and independence becomes apparent. Challenges and conscious choices will keep this process on track. Enjoyment and appreciation of art and music surface. Holiday performances can bring much enjoyment.

Mercury turns direct 10:29 PM 10:27 Sagittarius. It‚s possible now, to perceive concealed or obscure facts or data with a sharper awareness. Decision points bring questions into play, often demanding answers ˆ even when we are not ready to give them. Laying down a foundation for success entails behaving in a responsible manner.

12/21 Sun enters Capricorn (Winter Solstice) (midpoint of Pallas and Vesta) 4:42 AM. This is the last power point on the wheel of the year. A time of preparation for new cycles to begin in nature, and within the psyche. Challenges come from many sources. Feminine strength and wisdom focuses on an honest perspective of duty and loyalty.

12/25 Mars enters Sagittarius 8:04 AM. Supportive energy is available to help in reaching your goals. Coordinate with a wise colleague to make sure to conserve the high energy available to you now, and use it with care.

Nodes move into cardinal signs ˆ North Node Aries, South Node Libra, 11:21 PM. Relationships now take on a highly individualized meaning. Personal contacts pop up from the past; peer contacts lead us into future relationships.

12/26 Full Moon 05:12 Cancer, west coast 7:06 AM, east coast 10:06 AM. Focus on needs and nurturing to complete a cycle. Smooth turnover of responsibilities can bring opportunities for release and a freer lifestyle. West coast situations bring partners or peer relationships into focus for evaluation of personal and shared value needs. On the east coast, children and creative projects need to be elevated in importance in your lives.

12/28 Mercury conjoins Venus 10:23 AM, 15:03 Sagittarius. Communication is the most important function in your relationships. A kind and thoughtful word at just the right moment can be the most romantic act ever.

12/30 Mars squares Uranus 11:46 PM, 3:53 Sagittarius/Pisces. Activist challenges abound in society. Draw on inner maturity to add reason to your quest for accomplishment. Chasing unrealistic goals is counter-productive. Consciousness shapes awareness, and dictates behavior.

DECEMBER SYMBOLISM 2004

December, originally named for the tenth month in the Roman calendar, was dedicated to the Roman goddess, Vesta (December 5) (Greek: Hestia), the goddess of virtue, purity, and the fire of the "Mystical Hearth of the Cosmos", which symbolizes the eternal present. This honored the sanctity of the home by making each household a shrine to the goddess. December is filled with sacred festivals, as many early religions celebrated the birth of the Sun-Son (Apollo, Dionysus, Frey, Helios, Horus, Jesus, Mithras, Osiris) at this time of the year. The Roman celebration of Saturnalia, and its ancient myths and rites honoring the first Father of all peoples and gods, even including Adam, as ruler of Eden. Also honored this month are Pallas Athene (December 4), wisdom warrior; and Ceres (December 13) (Greek: Demeter), Goddess of Motherhood and Mother Earth: She who nourishes seeds in darkness; three of the four goddesses for whom the first asteroids were named. The fourth of the quartet of asteroid goddesses, Juno (Greek: Hera) is honored on January 1st.

Porphyry, Neoplatonist philosopher and astrologer, born in Tyre about 234 AD, developed one of the oldest quadrant methods of house division. He was a scholar, and a protégé and biographer of Plotinus, and presented Plotinus‚ teachings in the form of the Enneads (six groups of nine). December is special to Porphyry, whose name means "purple", the color of royalty.

December 6 is St. Nicholas's Day. St. Nicholas was bishop of Myra in Lycia, Asia Minor, during the fourth century. He's credited with saving three sisters from lives of ill repute by throwing bags of gold into their house (some say down the chimney) to provide for their dowries. In many places here and abroad, children still hang their stockings by the chimney or place their shoes by the window for St. Nicholas to fill with presents and sweets on the eve of his feast day.

This story reminds us of the Roman myth of the three Fates, the sister goddesses who are honored at the Winter Solstice, the beginning of the year for the Sun. The Fates are also known as Parcae, (Greek: Moirae; Scandinavian: Norns; Western Europe: Wyrdes; Indian: Niyati). The first Fate, Decuma (Greek: Clotho, Scandinavian: Urd) was the "spinner" who bore the distaff and spun the thread of life. The second Fate, Morta (Greek: Lachesis, Scandinavian Verdani), was the "apportioner", who measured the thread against a special rod, for the length of life), and the third Fate, Nona (Greek: Atropos, Scandinavian: Skuld) called "The Inevitable", it was she who snipped the thread at the end of life. These goddesses were also invoked at the birth of a child to mete out its destiny.

Of December‚s two gemstones, turquoise is one of the first gems ever to be mined, and is found in arid and semiarid lands ˆ desert environments of many countries. Colors range from green to blue. A third century myth states that turquoise is said to protect a rider from falling off his or her horse. American Indians believe turquoise takes its blue from Heaven, its green from the Earth. Traditionally, the turquoise is a stone of success and prosperity. An alternate birthstone for December - the zircon - is sometimes called an "imitation" diamond. In ancient times, it was said to heal disease, and to bring sound sleep to the wearer. In 14th century Europe, it was worn to protect the wearer from the black plague. Zircons come in many different colors; the most prized being red. The red of the zircon and the green of the turquoise remind us of traditional Christmas colors.

December celebrations include the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary on December 8. Mme. Blavatsky reminds us that She is not original with the Church of Rome, but is remembered in every culture, including the early Christian Collyridians, who made sacrificing cakes to honor the Virgin goddess. She is also known as the Mayan Mother - Astraea, goddess of Justice, and the Virgin of Guadalupe in Mexican lore.

Hanukkah (Chanukah), the Jewish Holiday of Lights is an eight-day celebration of hope and faith that begins on December 8th (at sundown on December 7th). It is a time used to reaffirm beliefs and to be thankful for successes and achievements. The lights of astrology, the Sun and the Moon support the integration of personal ideals into practical, every-day living.

December 16 is a celebration of Sophia, Goddess of Wisdom. It is said that when she is discovered within, the idea of a Divine Feminine principle triggers an upsurge of creative spirituality will overcome outmoded dogmas and orthodoxy. Jung presented the Divine Feminine in four interrelated aspects of western archetypes: Eve ˆ the fertile Earth mother; Helen of Troy ˆ the inspirational romanticized Earth mother; Mary ˆ the spiritual virgin Earth mother; and Sophia ˆ the wise woman, the indwelling spark of the WorldˆSoul.

Advent, the four-week spiritual preparation for Christmas began on November 28. This emphasis on spiritual matters is shared by nature religions in preparation for the return of the Sun, which began at the winter solstice. The word advent means "the coming." It begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas, and marks the beginning of the Christian year. Advent is a time to celebrate the Light in the midst of darkness. Christmas, the celebration of the nativity of the Christ Child, symbolizes the return of the Light to the world, and the gift of Life.

Meteor showers are said to symbolize hosts of angelic beings who bring gifts of light at regular times throughout the year to help the people of Earth through difficult times. The annual Geminids meteor shower (it radiates near Castor in the constellation Gemini) is one of the best and most reliable celestial shows of the year. Expected this year between December 11 ˆ 15th, these streaks of light peak near zenith in the mid-northern latitudes around 2 AM local time.

Jalal al-Din Rumi, also known as Mevlana, meaning "our guide", Persian Sufi poet and mystic was born 9/30/1207 in Balkh, Persia (now Afghanistan), and died 12/17/1273 in Konya (now Turkey). His doctrine advocates unlimited tolerance, positive reasoning, goodness, charity and awareness through love. To him and his disciples, all religions are more or less true. Looking with the same eye on Muslim, Jew, Buddhist and Christian alike, his peaceful and tolerant teaching has appealed to men and women of all sects and creeds. He is honored on December 17 each year.

December 23 is the blank day in the Celtic calendar that has no ruling tree, called "The Secret of the Unhewn Stone." It is a day symbolizing time and timelessness ˆ between the end of the old cycle and untapped potential of the new.

Winter Solstice, or Yule is associated with the completion of the out breath of the year; the pause of midwinter; the longest night of the year. Yule, celebrated by the ancient Goths at the time of the winter solstice in honor of the Sun, and by the ancient Norse (Iul ˆ meaning wheel) as the beginning of the Great Wheel of the Zodiac, the Wheel of Life, at the time of the turning point when the Sun is reborn to the world.

The Yule log, cut traditionally from the ash-tree, Yggdrasil (the world-tree, whose roots were knotted in Hell and its boughs supported Heaven). This Tree of Life sheltered the Norns, another example of the triple-goddess: Urth (the past), Verdandi (the present), and Skuld (the future) who lovingly tended the tree. In Norse tradition, the festival of Yule (December 26-January 6) assigns 4 days to each of the Norns to honor the turning of the year. New Year‚s day, the middle of this period has become a day when we remember the past and plan for the future, making resolutions to better our lives, and invoking the assistance of these triune sister goddesses.

December 31 is the Scottish New Year‚s festival of Hogmanay, named for a solar giant who was magically divided into two giants, Gog and Magog. He was portrayed as the spiritual guardian of London. The associated shamanic ritual transforms the negative vestiges of the old year into a positive offering.

"The life of man is dynamic, not static; not a condition but a movement. ŒNot enjoyment and not sorrow‚ is its end or justification. It is a rush of forces, an evolution toward greater activities and higher adjustment∑" David Starr Jordan, The Philosophy of Hope, page 25.

David Starr Jordan was the first president of Stanford University, and grandfather of Joanne D'Alton Clancy, co-founder of American Astrology Magazine.
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Please go to this link: http://www.entheos1.com/twelvedays.htm
For a short symbolic article on the song, The Twelve Days of Christmas

Please accept my best wishes to all for a happy and blessed holiday season!