December 11th ~ 18th
I think the middle way is hard for the same reason I think the middle way is right. …There’s a fork in the road. It seems like there are only two choices. It seems like the task is to figure out which way to go: left or right, forward or back, deeper or safer. But in fact any of those choices is easy, compared to the real trick. The real trick is that you have to forge your way straight ahead through the trees where there is no path. “Why doesn’t that sound peaceful?”…Maybe it is in the long run? Maybe it takes time. Maybe easy and peaceful turn out to be opposites. ~ Laurie Frankel (This is How it Always Is)
The Solar Eclipse on December 14th (at 23º Sagittarius) is daring to free us up in some remarkable way. Think of it as growing pains. In some area of our lives we are needing to grow, and our current circumstances will no longer suffice. Or even if we are content with where we are and what we are doing, there can still be a bit of restlessness and a desire for something more. This South American Total Eclipse will only be visible in our most southern climes: parts of Chile and Argentina; southwest Africa and Antarctica. But will still be strongly felt by those who have personal points in their natal charts at about 23º of the mutable signs (Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius and Pisces) no matter where you live.
Solar Eclipses are not your ordinary New Moons. They can be indications of grand turning points and readjustments in our lives. When conjunct the South Node, as this eclipse is, the new beginning implied by the Eclipse is usually predicated with some sort of ending. Something has to make way in order for the new beginning to be able to take root. This is despite a wide square to Neptune which casts a vague shadow of uncertainty over the proceedings. So if we are going to be making some grand new beginning, we are needing to do so on faith, feeling our way forward through the fog. Lucky for us, a strong trine to Mars, still raging in Aries, is supplying the courage and conviction to take that first step of the rest of our lives.
The ruling planet of Sagittarius is Jupiter, which along with Saturn are now at the very last degrees of the sign of Capricorn. On December 17th Saturn will enter the sign of Aquarius, followed by Jupiter on the 19th. Then together they will form a conjunction on the Solstice, December 21st, at 0º of Aquarius. Conjunctions and New Moons are both about new beginnings. And this particular conjunction, referred to as a Great Conjunction by many, or a Great Mutation, or even as our own modern Star of Bethlehem, is not only a new beginning, but a great beginning. Perhaps even the dawning of a new era.
Therefore these conjunctions, and this one in particular, are associated with long-term commitments and transitions. The sorts of commitments that have to do with self-improvement and growth that will benefit us for years to come.
Sagittarius is the sign of the pathfinder. Often when we get to a fork in the road, we think we only have one or two choices: there is what we guess is a right way and a wrong way, a left way or a right way. But what if the best way is somewhere else? What if the best way is neither? What if the best way requires us to forge a new, untrodden path right between the two? This will undoubtedly be a harder path. A path laden with obstacles, and unforeseen challenges. It requires courage and determination to take such a path, especially and even when the way is uncharted, misty and uncertain. Or we are told that we can’t take that road, because it has never been trodden before. There is no road there, we are told. And yet, what if this middle path, this other way, is the way that will bring us where we need to go?
We often do not want things to change. It is more comfortable to remain where we are, and with what we know. Change can be frightening. Yet when we hear the call, and we feel that stirring in our hearts to venture forth, we know it is time. Some may cheer us on, others will try to talk us out of it, fearing that we will change. But that is what growth is all about. The ability and willingness to take that next step towards the rest of our life.
Eclipses are very unpredictable, and so it can be tricky to make intentions with these New Moon Solar Eclipses. However, they are good times for personal self-exploration and positive affirmations, that can help to lead you where you need to go. The alignment between the Sun, Moon and Earth is so very strong at these times, so that never are we more in alignment with our own true purpose and life path. Take time to meditate, think, reflect on what that might be for you. Eclipses can also help us see where chapters in our lives are opening and/or closing.
Saturn enters Aquarius on December 17th, and there will be some Aquarian pitfalls we will want to watch out for and avoid: scapegoating and blaming, tribalism, intolerance, the fear of change, the mob mentality and extreme views. All that nonsense. But there are all the other Aquarian things that would be helpful to cultivate as we enter this emerging Aquarius phase:
Humanitarian pursuits and social causes: Focusing on what is best for the whole, rather than just our own isolated group. What benefits the whole, benefits every individual, great and small. Everyone matters. And when we work together for positive social reforms and improvements in society, greater success is achieved for all.
The Greater Good: When we collaborate, rather than compete with each other, then we can make the most use of talent, ingenuity and skill to our greater advantage. We are then capable of much swifter advances by combining all these different perspectives and talents.
Science is Real: Recognizing the importance and validity of Science, Expertise and Technology. And using these to benefit and improve society through progressive social advances. Innovation and Invention are the hallmarks of Saturn in Aquarius.
A New World: One of the things we become aware of is how the old systems and ways of doing things no longer seem to be working as well as they may have in the past. It feels like they may even be broken and need some kind of overhaul in order to allow for more equity and civil rights. Aquarius is really good at working within the system to improve it, not only for the present, but for years to come.
Progressive Movements: One of the ways of effecting change is through large progressive movements. We’ve been gradually moving towards this paradigm. And now that Jupiter and Saturn are going to be in this sign, followed up by Pluto later, we will see the effects of public pressure and the necessity for broader progressive change. Some ways to do this: by attending local or city council meetings and school boards to plead for systemic change; building stronger communities to reduce crime, improve physical and mental health systems and overhaul education, and an increase in awareness about how these social systems work, and who they really are benefitting and working for.
For next week’s horoscopes, click below: