This month is absolutely jam packed. There is so much to talk about with so many big changes ahead. We are ending this monumental year in a monumental way, and the pace picks up the further we get into the month.
Dec 1 – Mercury enters Sagittarius
Moving from the sign of Scorpio to the sign of Sagittarius is about as opposite in feel as you can get as far as Mercury is concerned. Thoughts and communications turn from secretive, investigative and calculating to loud, unfiltered and undiscriminating. Mercury in Sagittarius is essentially optimistic, philosophical and honest, so this can feel like a welcome change in many ways from the darker and more broody nature of Scorpio.
As much as I adore my Mercury in Sagittarius friends, clients and students, the Messenger god does struggle in this sign because it thinks in such broad strokes and can get so carried away in its own enthusiasm, sense of righteousness and bluntness that it almost always puts its foot firmly in its mouth. There won’t be much “holding our tongues” over the next several weeks, so keep this in mind.
Dec 9 – Sun square Neptune
Need a day to hide under the covers and watch Christmas movies? Today’s your day. This Sun-Neptune square usually undermines our sense of self and our vitality, so laying low is perfect for a day like today. You’ll be back at it ready to go the following day when the Sun trines Mars giving us all the energy boost we need.
Dec 13 – Mercury square Neptune
We have our final Mercury-Neptune square of the year today which can put a damper on communications. It’s not the greatest day to make an agreement or sign a contract. If you must do this, then make sure all agreements are in writing, and read all the fine print!
Dec 14 – Solar eclipse at 23 degrees of Sagittarius
As far as solar eclipses go, this one is kind of nice. It feels optimistic (even though optimism may not be warranted). Venus is sextile Jupiter and Mercury is trine Mars this same day which lends to a supportive atmosphere (as supportive as can be given a total solar eclipse is happening). It’s no coincidence that this eclipse is occurring close to both Joe Biden’s and Kamala Harris’s Ascendant-Descendant axis. (It will actually be sitting within a degree of Kamala’s South Node in Sagittarius and Descendant.) It will also be triggering Donald Trump’s Sun and Moon as well as Mike Pence’s Sun, Mercury and maybe Moon (no birth time). I think we will be getting the decision and closure we need today. I mean, how intense is it that the electoral college vote solidifying this election happens on a total solar eclipse hitting all four main candidates’ charts? It’s astrological poetry.
On a more practical level, even if there are some good feels out there today, it’s best to follow the eclipse rules and not make any important decisions within several days of an eclipse. If your birthday falls within one day on either side of this eclipse, it’s advisable to see an astrologer to get a lowdown on your year ahead as it’s sure to be a significant one.
Dec 15 – Venus enters Sagittarius
The planet of relationships, beauty and finances enters Sagittarius today. This will be a welcome change from Venus in Scorpio where it struggles. We climb out of the possessive, jealous, intense Scorpio energy and into a much more open, “the more, the merrier” sensibility. This will be nice to have as we get closer into the holiday season.
Dec 17 – Saturn enters Aquarius
Here is one of the most important shifts of 2020. Saturn leaves the sign of Capricorn and won’t be back for nearly three more decades. It officially moves away from Pluto in Capricorn and the controlled demolition we’ve been experiencing particularly for the last year. Saturn will be in Aquarius until March 2023, so we will become intimately acquainted with this placement.
What does Saturn in Aquarius mean for us? Well, the last time Saturn was in Aquarius was from 1991 to early 1994. In 1991, the internet was made available to unrestricted commercial use, and the number of computers on the net reached 1 million. It was the beginning of the grunge movement. In 1993, Canada had its first female prime minister. The Waco siege happened. The list goes on…
Saturn rules structure, organization and discipline. It also rules what we fear and where we might put up boundaries in our lives out of fear. Aquarius, as a fixed air sign, is associated with humanitarian efforts, our ideals and principles, our associations and how we function better as a group than as individuals.
While Saturn is in Aquarius, it’s time for a restructuring, for slimming down and simplifying the way in which we interact with others; essentially, our existence as social creatures could fairly dramatically change over the course of the next couple of years.
Think back to 1991 and the introduction of the internet. How have our lives almost entirely changed with this advance in technology?
The upside to this placement can be some really innovative social technologies making our lives easier over the next few years. The downside can be some really innovative social technologies making our lives easier over the next few years. Have you ever seen the show Black Mirror’s episode called “Nosedive”? (It’s on Netflix. Seriously watch this one episode if you haven’t already.) When I think of Saturn in Aquarius, I can’t help but think about this episode. We need to watch that we don’t lose our humanity with Saturn in Aquarius. We need to ensure that a growing cancel culture and perhaps potential government legislation such as, hypothetically, immune-passports don’t infringe on our essential human rights. Saturn does well in the sign of Aquarius, but just as we learned with Saturn in Capricorn this year, the planet can back us into a corner and strip away our rights before we push back to clearly demarcate boundaries. What I would like to see is some legislation around social media companies. This would be a great use of this energy, but I’m just not sure we will get there.
Dec 19 – Jupiter enters Aquarius
This is really quite the good news story as Jupiter finally leaves Capricorn, the sign of its fall, and moves into Aquarius. While it doesn’t have any essentially dignity in the sign of Aquarius, the planet certainly has more in common with Aquarius than it does with Capricorn.
What does this mean? Jupiter is our planet of international relations, of travel, education, belief systems, and law. Principles of expansion and growth can be found in the sign it transits. For example, government played a big role this year in everyone’s lives (Capricorn). Their influence was heavily bolstered for good (in financial support to citizens) and arguably, for bad, with the numerous significant shutdowns we have faced (and the enforcement of such shutdowns). With Jupiter now transiting through Aquarius, there will be a focus on growing our social technology in a way we haven’t quite seen before. It will be interesting to see new roll-outs of government programs across the world including perhaps some countries shifting to programs more in line with a universal basic income model. With Uranus in Taurus squaring both Jupiter and Saturn in Aquarius next year, I think there will be some large shifts from a global social and economic perspective… but more on that in my year ahead forecast next month.
The last time Jupiter was in Aquarius was in 2009, and Barack Obama was inaugurated as the President of the United States, the first black man to do so. It seems fitting then that Kamala Harris will be the first woman of colour to assume the vice-presidency in January 2021.
Dec 20 – Mercury enters Capricorn
Mercury curbs its enthusiasm as it enters the sign of Capricorn today. This placement encourages planning, foresight and discretion. It can feel a bit stick-in-the-mud-ish at times with its abundant caution but we need these times in our lives to make sure those big ideas are actually feasible. So, start gathering those theories about everything you’ve been spouting over the last few weeks and grab your pruners.
Dec 21 – The Great Conjunction & the Winter Solstice
This is hands down the most important day of the month… and it falls on the Winter Solstice no less. As you know, the Winter Solstice means that our Sun is at its lowest point as it travels through the northern hemisphere giving us the shortest day (light) and longest night (darkness) of the year. This first day of winter is always associated with the Sun’s entrance into Capricorn.
The Sun in Capricorn is usually a time of great ambition; it’s no coincidence there’s a Capricorn Sun in the background of our many New Year’s resolutions each year. This earth sign wants to achieve. If it could talk, it would say “show me the money”. It is a stark realist with no grand illusions about life, just a mind-blowing work ethic and a cool, detached attitude that doesn’t get overwhelmed by the trappings of emotions. But this Sun in Capricorn is by itself; no longer are Jupiter or Saturn its comrades.
On December 21, Jupiter and Saturn form a Great Conjunction, which happens once every 20 years. If you’ve heard politicians talking about a Great Reset after the COVID-19 decimation that was 2020, this might just be the beginning of it. This is the start of a new cycle, and in the sign of Aquarius, it just might be something revolutionary. For the last two hundred years, Saturn-Jupiter conjunctions have been happening in earth signs, the final one having been in May 2000 in Taurus. For the next 150 years plus, Jupiter-Saturn conjunctions will be in air signs only. The fact that this is the first one in this air series is significant. The transition to air will shake-up the way we communicate and even the ideas we have collectively as human beings. Our social and economic systems are under major review in this influence as vision (Jupiter) meets pragmatism (Saturn) in a sign more dedicated to social equality and the needs of the many than the needs of individuals (Aquarius). With the great conjunction being squared by Uranus in Taurus, we have some serious shake-ups in global order ahead of us.
Dec 23 – The final Mars-Pluto square
The final Mars-Pluto square arises two days before Christmas with a bang. The good news is that this means that Mars is on his way out of the contentious line-up he has been in over the past several months. But he will likely go out with a bang here in this very contentious if not violent aspect.
Dec 24 and 25 – Christmas Moon
What to expect on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day? We’ve got a Moon in Taurus which is usually a stabilizing influence seeking good food, wine and quality time. But as we well know by now, with Uranus in the same sign, our Taurus Moons are much more unpredictable these days, and those calm periods can give way to sudden bursts and disruptions. With Mercury also trine Uranus during Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, the probability many people will be having Christmas gatherings over Zoom and Facetime are fairly high.
Dec 27 – Dec 30 – Sun-Uranus trine, Full Moon in Cancer & Venus-Neptune square
A few more aspects round out the year. On December 27, a Sun-Uranus trine encourages free thinking, independence and technological breakthroughs. December 29 sees a Full Moon at 8 degrees of Cancer at 10:29 pm EST. Cancer Moons won’t be as heavy going forward now that Jupiter and Saturn have moved out of Capricorn, but we still have Pluto lingering in the sign, so as cuddly and cozy as Cancer Moons may be, I find they are still plagued by intensity of emotion from Pluto. It will be several more years before they are restored to their lovely potential. On December 30, Venus is square Neptune, and the possibility of confusion and riffs in relationships or finances are likely.
Dec 31 – A Leo Moon on New Year’s Eve
What are you doing New Year’s Eve? Well, there’s a fun Moon in Leo that evening, but the Moon is on its own with not a lot of support from other planets. In fact, the Moon is squared by Uranus and opposed by our great conjunction which can pull us out of our comfort zones, if not cause some tensions. While we will all be glad to see the backside of 2020, the New Year’s Eve’s stars hint that those looking for a calm and refuge after the storm won’t necessarily be getting it in 2021. The year has many surprises in store… but we’ll talk about that in January.
Happy holidays astro friends,
M
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