by Silvianne K. Delmars | Dec 21, 2024 |
This week’s astro update begins with a Last Quarter Moon in Libra the day after the December Solstice and ends with the Capricorn New Moon on December 30. Here are the highlights (all times in PST).
Sunday, December 22
The Moon at 01 Libra 34 squares the Sun in Capricorn this afternoon. This is the last turning point of the Sagittarius New Moon lunation, as we surrender to the work of composting that which no longer serves, preparing fertile ground for the new cycle set to begin with next week’s Capricorn New Moon.
The Ursid meteor shower peaks on the evening of Dec 21-22. The best time for viewing is on the evening of December 21, before the Moon rises around midnight. If you do end up looking for them this morning before dawn, try blocking out the Moon’s light for a better view.
Monday, December 23
Saturn continues to be visible well above the horizon, looking towards the southwest after sunset, setting a few hours later. The royal star Fomalhaut, often associated with the divine messenger Gabriel, can be seen shining brightly nearby. Venus, now dominating the western evening sky, will be moving steadily towards Saturn over the next few weeks, in anticipation of their destined rendezvous on January 18.
Tuesday, December 24
Jupiter in effervescent Gemini is visible high and bright in the east after sunset, visible all night as it travels across the sky. It forms an exact square with Saturn in numinous Pisces this afternoon. You can tune in anytime in the hours after sunset, before Saturn sets in the west, to get a visceral experience of this 90 degree relationship in the sky.
When expansive Jupiter and boundary-setting Saturn are induced to work together, great things can happen. This current “crisis-in-action” square aspect in the cross of service-to-spirit is inviting us to bring our creative ideas into form as we ground our spirituality in everyday life.
This theme of spiritual nourishment is further activated by the Moon passing very near to Spica, bright star in the Virgin Priestess constellation long associated with the great Grain Mother. Look for them towards the southeast in the morning sky over the next few days, closest this morning.
Wednesday, December 25
Sagittarius overstory Mercury, still in its Apollo Morning sky phase after initiating a brand new synodic cycle on December 15, reaches its furthest angular distance from the Sun today. Look for it low on the horizon towards the southeast before sunrise. Red Antares, the royal star at the heart of the Scorpion constellation, will be found nearby.
The theme of the Sagittarius 13 degree frequency – Mercury’s position at the moment of maximum elongation – is “realizing the cosmic potential in every moment” (from The Circular Temple by John Sandbach). What better time to commune with this magical messenger planet, as it continues on its four-months archetypal exploration through this truth-seeking sign, heading towards an activation with Galactic Center early next month.
Thursday, December 26
Mercury in Sagittarius, rising in the east in the morning sky, is opposite to Jupiter in Gemini setting in the west (exact at 2:48 pm). Later in the evening, Mercury, conjunct the Great Attractor at Sagittarius 14, will make an exact square to Saturn in Pisces. Another activation of this numinous cross of service to spirit, with the promise of practical messages of inspiration for our current soul journey.
The waning Moon can be seen near Zubenelgenubi, one of the prominent stars of the Scales constellation, in the morning sky looking to the southeast.
Friday, December 27
The Moon goes out of bounds today again until January 1, rising and setting farther south on the horizon than the Sun ever does. Another indicator that we are not living in normal times, here at the Turning of The Ages. Time to be your unique, inimitable self – the cosmos is waiting for you with open arms!
Meanwhile, Leo Overstory Venus, currently in Aquarius activating the throat chakra portal in her evening star ascent journey, is high and bright in the western sky after sunset. She is making an exact square late this evening with evolutionary Uranus (not visible) in earthy Taurus. Another timing that fosters a wacky, unique, never-before-seen approach to life, as we dare to go deep to find our own truth, and bring it out to the world.
Saturday, December 28
The waning Moon can be found with Mercury and Antares this morning, looking to the southeast before sunrise, low on the horizon. Zubenelgenubi, in the Scales constellation, is shining above.
Sunday, December 29
Chiron stations direct today at 19 Aries 00, after traveling retrograde in Aries since July 26. Collectively and personally, we are exploring and releasing the distortions we have held in relation to the archetype of the sacred warrior. A resonant timing for inner contemplation, asking for guidance in bringing peace to the inner warrior, and the wise unfolding of our own most heartfelt mission going forward.
Monday, December 30
A maximum out of bounds Moon is conjunct the Sun today at 09 Capricorn 44, marking the New Moon and the beginning of a new lunation month. Time to review the insights we have gained during this past month of Sagittarius vision-questing, and discern what essential truths we wish to bring more fully into form during the upcoming Capricorn moon-month of grounded wisdom.
Like a mama bear hibernating in the depths of winter, it is time to slow down, detach from the outer world, and sink into the sustaining power of a more liminal space. What seed do we most want to plant during this inward time, when the dream of the upcoming, crucially important year, is being incubated at the turning of the seasonal wheel? With the Moon at its most extreme out-of-bounds position, we are being given radical permission from Great Spirit to dream into our most outrageous, heart-centered vision, sourced in our deepest inner knowing.
Dare to believe in the still, small voice within. Dare to be different. If the dream we hold is authentic to who we are at our deepest core, in alignment with our true dharma in this lifetime, it can come into being, no matter how outside the bounds of conventional reality it may seem to fall. Indeed, nothing less will serve, for our own soul, for each other, or for the world, at this time of New Earth transition.