Unless otherwise specified, time zone used is west coast time (PST)
December hosts 6 ingresses, 4 oppositions, 3 squares, 3 conjunctions, 1 full Moon, 1 new Moon, and 1 retrograde station. The first half of December reminds me of a potpourri - lots of powerful emotional energy swirling around us. We may get caught up in others' turmoil, or cause a bit of turmoil of our own. There may be temptation to pass the buck on responsibilities. Vital and essential feelings must be shared and evaluated. Creative missions, religious (or anti-religious) subjects, or spiritual sensitivity become important issues, and indeed become of primary importance (even taking on a Martian flavor) during the last half of the month. The spiritual warrior within each person needs to be developed at this time. In August, Mars was the closest to Earth in 60,000 years, and they are now drifting apart. While they were close together, three envoys from Earth left for Mars, which should be landing during December. The purpose of these missions is to search for water. When they left, Mars was in a water sign. Let's note when these vehicles land in their pioneering journey - perhaps on the 16th?
12/2 Mercury enters Capricorn 1:34 PM. Feelings of discomfort with a focus on leadership. A need for logic, organization, and direction. Utilize innate skills and talents for mediation, and call on reserves of stamina and determination to succeed in communication and evaluative tasks.
12/6 Venus opposes Saturn Rx 11:44 Capricorn/Cancer, 4:03 AM. An inclination to overdo pleasures can be disruptive. The need for awareness can be realized when one focuses on the possible results of honoring obligations and responsibilities. Diplomacy becomes important, and conscious release may be necessary in order to allow loved ones to develop their own personal and group values. This begins a Dancing T-Cross (DTC) dominated by Saturn and Mercury. Don't expect any quick solutions.
12/8 Full Moon 16:20 Gemini/Sagittarius; west coast 12:37 PM, east coast 3:37 PM. As we look for fulfillment, we need to remember that we always harvest what we sow, in this case thoughts and words that we have communicated, verbally and through our actions. In this case, challenges will arise from an expanded awareness of a projects beginning, according to the spirit of its origin. West coast issues deal with communication and travel, and depend on a balance between home and career, or self-esteem and reputation. East coast themes focus on personal communications, and depend on a balance between personal finances or talents, and others'values or resources.
12/10 Sun squares Jupiter 17:57 Sagittarius/Virgo, 2:57 AM. A crisis is imminent that can involve social aspirations and ambitions. Personal resources can be transformed into projects and support their development. Action is demanded by powerful forces, but must be carefully examined before any action is taken. Great ideas may be used in many applications to gain success.
12/11 Sun conjoins Pluto 19:45 Sagittarius, 9:28 PM. Individuals and groups must blend and join forces to successfully create strong alliances. Make sure that an equitable decision benefits all.
12/13 Mercury opposes Saturn Rx (first contact) 11:13 Capricorn/Cancer, 6:14 AM. (DTC) Expect much scrutiny into responsibility and structure, with pressure within family group activity. Keep communications complete and honest - people in the loop can synergize a project. Outcomes may be different from those you expected. Projects that deal with restructuring and reorganization, especially dealing with nurturing or family issues need to have long-term timelines - perhaps through June 2004.
12/16 Mars enters Aries 5:23 AM. A good time to begin a pioneering project. The spiritual warrior within can be developed now in unusual ways. Loyalty is a virtue that must be acquired.
12/17 Mercury turns retrograde 12:34 Capricorn, 8:02 AM. (DTC) Projects may need to be placed on hold, as the development of resources may slow down temporarily. Keep hope alive, and continue to gather data in many levels of your projects.
12/20 Venus enters Aquarius 10:32 PM. A good time to address the potential of your future security. Many opportunities are nearing the surface, and creative activity needs to be coordinated in order to take advantage of them in an optimal manner.
12/21 Mercury Rx opposes Saturn Rx (second contact) 10:33 Capricorn/Cancer, 10:35 PM. (DTC) Restructuring ideas may be valuable, as second thoughts develop regarding projects at hand. Various ideas and projects are still on hold. Be patient - finish what you can responsibly, eventually key pieces of the puzzle will fall into place.
Sun enters Capricorn 11:03 PM. Changes occur, and a new perspective must be adopted before you can evaluate your past accomplishments, and learn from your failures. These lessons will form the basis for unusual opportunities involving uncommon and exceptional ideas and imaginings.
12/23 New Moon 1:08 Capricorn; west coast 1:43 AM, east coast 4:43 AM. New projects may begin with help from loyal supporters. However, you must be prepared to prove your worthiness. Intensity surrounds all efforts. West coast issues deal with sorting out the important items in all communications, and evaluating property. East coast dealings involve resources and evaluation of talents and worthiness to be a part of the project. Seed money may be important.
12/26 Mercury Rx squares Mars 5:46 Capricorn/Aries, 12:53 AM. The call for action may be inappropriate right now. Exercise patience and caution, and gather information in preparation for the future. Problems are developing now that cannot be easily anticipated.
Sun conjoins Mercury Rx (second contact*) 4:51 Capricorn, 5:11 PM. This path began in October with an occultation. Opportunities resulting from - outside the boxideas can be reexamined. This path is extended and non-linear. Keep the ideas cooking through March 2004.
12/29 Sun squares Mars 8:06 Capricorn/Aries, 9:56 PM. Muster all the conscious awareness you can to avoid emotional distortions that can hold reality at bay. Firmness and determination are needed to maintain your place in life. Find quality time and a calm location for self-evaluation and healing.
12/30 Uranus enters Pisces 1:11 AM. We may all take this opportunity to tap into the inspirational level of the collective consciousness** to begin the process of bringing peace into our lives. The best aspect of the mutual reception between Uranus and Neptune (in the modern rulerships) is that of CHOICE. Each moment during the next seven years (while this mutual reception continues), we may choose to wage peace within ourselves, and also choose to extend that peace into our surroundings and into all dealings with others.
Venus conjoins Neptune 11:39 Aquarius, 9:18 AM. Spiritual insight helps to define the value of your enterprises. Opportunity arises from emotional stability and the willingness to act on a promising transaction. Unusual support may be available from past contacts. Develop your self-assurance first - security must come from within.
Mercury retrogrades into Sagittarius 11:52 AM. There is a need to return to and reexamine the value judgments you made during November. Truth and justice are important parts of the equation, and you need to remind yourself of this in all your current dealings. Keep your emotions in check.
12/31 Sun opposes Saturn Rx 9:46 Capricorn/Cancer, 12:57 PM. This completes the Dancing T-Cross. Some projects will turn around now, as new light shines on them. However, others need more reevaluation. Gathering information throughout January may bring a new, more fruitful direction.
*First contact 10/25/03, third contact 3/3/04.
**My definition of the collective consciousness is "the conditions we share as a result of the energies of the transiting aspects". The collective consciousness differs from the collective unconscious, in that it is accessible at the conscious level, and responds to questions about individual life problems.
DECEMBER SYMBOLISM 2003
December, originally named for the tenth month in the Roman calendar, was dedicated to the Roman goddess, Vesta (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, Dionysos, Frey, Helios, Horus, Jesus, Mithras, Osirus) 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 (Roman: Minerva), Goddess of Wisdom, and Ceres (Greek: Demeter), Goddess of Motherhood, 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; Scandanavian: Norns; Western Europe: Wyrdes; Indian: Niyati). The first Fate, Decuma (Greek: Clotho, Scandanavian: Urd) was the "spinner" who bore the distaff and spun the thread of life. The second Fate, Morta (Greek: Lachesis, Scandanavian Verdani), was the "apportioner", who measured the thread against a special rod, for the length of life), and the third Fate, Nona (Greek: Atropos, Scandanavian: 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 - 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 and the Virgin of Guadalupe in Mexican lore.
Advent, the four-week spiritual preparation for Christmas began on November 30. 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 from the constellation Gemini) is one of the best and most reliable celestial shows of the year. Expected this year between December 6 - 19, these streaks of light peak in the mid-northern latitudes around 9:00 PM local time on December 13th.
Other December celebrations include the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary December 8. Mme. Blavatsky reminds us that She is not original with the Catholic Church, but is venerated in every culture, including the early Christian Collyridians, who made sacrificing cakes to honor the Virgin. She is also known as the Mayan Mother and the Virgin of Guadalupe in Mexican lore.
Jalal al-Din Rumi, Sufi poet and mystic (born 9/30/1207 in Balkh, Afganistan - died 12/17/1273) is honored on December 17.
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 - between the end of the old cycle and untapped potential of the new.
Hanukkah (Chanukah), the Jewish Holiday of Lights is an eight-day celebration of hope and faith that begins at sundown on December 19 (Jewish year 5764). 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.
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 - 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 Years 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.
Please click on this link: http://www.roxanamuise.com/metaphysics/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!
Roxana Muise, PO Box 3948, Lacey, WA 98509-3948 USA
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