by Daniel Giamario | Dec 22, 2024 |
With the December Solstice behind us, and now on to Christmas week, let’s see what the visible planets are up to. This is a great week to easily experience all five.
Mercury
A rapidly rising morning star, Mercury is in one of the best apparitions of the year. It rises low in the southwest 45-60 minutes before dawn. Now at magnitude -0.3, Mercury is about one magnitude brighter than nearby Antares, the heart of the Scorpion. Mercury is now in the Apollonian phase of the Sagittarius Overstory and remains in Sagittarius until January 7, 2025.
Venus
High in the evening sky, 46degrees from the Sun, and near her brightest at -4.4, Venus remains visible for over 2 hours after dark. In the Fifth (Throat) Chakra portal on her ascent in the Leo Overstory, Venus is approaching the end of her current 584 day synod. She is traveling through the stars of the Goatfish constellation, this week approaching the tail stars.
Mars
Approaching opposition with the Sun on January 15 to birth into the Cancer Overstory, Mars is near its maximum brightness in this synod at magnitude -1.0. Rising in the east-northeast shortly after the twilight ends, Mars is quite prominent the entire night, now retrograde within the stars of the Crab constellation.
Jupiter
At a bright magnitude of -2.7, Jupiter dominates the eastern evening sky. In retrograde motion until February 3, Jupiter can be found moving slowly towards Aldebaran, the eye of the Bull constellation, between the Bull’s horns.
Mercury, near Antares, is in opposition to Jupiter, near Aldebaran, at 2:48PM PST on Thursday December 26, with Mercury at 13Sagittarius36 and Jupiter at 13Gemini36.
Saturn
At a steady magnitude of +1.0, among the water (or plasma) stream stars of the Waterbearer constellation, Saturn is high in the southwest in the evening after dark. Venus is fast approaching her conjunction with Saturn on January 17, 2025. On Christmas night, a nearly precise equilateral triangle can be seen between Saturn, Venus. and Fomalhaut. Notice that three of the four Royal Stars are highlighted this week.
Most Important Aspect of The Week
Arguably the most important aspect of the week is the second of three squares of Jupiter to Saturn, occurring Christmas eve, Tuesday, December 24. Jupiter will be at 14Gemini01 and Saturn at 14Pisces01. This is a significant turning point for these dominant Middle World planets. How can your personal dharma and life purpose align with what the world needs and expects from you? This is potentially and hopefully resolved with the third square in June 2025, just after Jupiter enters Cancer. I am reminded of one of my favorite quotes from Dane Rudhyar: “If you don’t fulfill your dharma, there is a hole left in the Universe where you are intended to be.”
May your Christmas be joyous and peaceful, and as John Lennon put it: “Have a Merry Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, let’s Hope it’s a Good One without any Fear.”
PS: Remember to check out last week’s Wizard Weekly for my Christmas song suggestions! Play on YouTube!