good time oatmeal

The Big Picture

The outer planets are the ones which effect us the most on a societal or personal growth level. This December there is only a moderate level of outer planet activity, as things gear up for strong transformations in the coming year. What interests me the most about this month’s astrological picture is the fact that Mars cycles through a few challenging outer planet aspects. There is a lot to be said, but I have chosen to focus this month on the up coming Mars cycle. These aspects are related to each other in a complex pattern introducing challenges and opportunities to the cycle of our personal growth.

Mars squares Uranus on December 3rd. The Mars/Uranus square shows an imbalance between our need for creative change and how well we handle an excitable ego. Expect irritating events to suddenly change plans.

This three-day period will pass many people by with little or no effect. If you are sensitive to Mars/ Uranus energy you will definitely feel it. This depends on the unique nature of your birthchart.

All Mars/Uranus transits increase our desire for freedom. We are filled with a restless energy and are likely to buck authority. Uranus is synchronized with that part of our soul which seeks change and new experience. Mars relates to how we express our desire nature and how we tend to go about trying to get whatever it is that our ego wants. We are filled with restless desire now but we may not know what it is we need to change. If we are not clear about what parts of our evolving personality have been holding us back we may strike out blindly in the wrong direction. Irritability, impatience, a combative attitude, rash decisions or accidents are typical of this state of affairs.

Some of us are ready to freely embrace the unknown and ever hungry for the challenges of personal growth. We will adapt to the sudden, unexpected events and to the rapid pulses of change generated in our daily lives. However, in our very eagerness for new forms of creative self expression, we may throw out the baby with the bathwater and suddenly feel as if the rug has been jerked out from under our feet. A disruption follows and we generate an electric field around us strong enough to literally blow out light bulbs, bugger up computers, or create electrical problems in our vehicles or home appliances. Like a baseball batter connecting solidly to an inside curve, we watch as our fly ball curls into the foul ball area of outer left field. Nice contact, but its just another noisy strike.

If we have a good handle on the way our recent past has been altered; on the general direction of our personal growth at this stage in our lives, we may be surprised by the suddenness of the Mars/Uranus square, but we will adapt rapidly to the need for change. Frequently we find something not working in our growth process and we realize we must let go of some fondly held belief about the nature of reality. We will happily see that some new thing we've been working on is making good advance toward success.

In rare cases, any Mars/Uranus connection can indicate the need for surgery.

The New Moon occurs on December 5th at 12:37 PM ET in the middle of the sign of Sagittarius. Here we have a fiery, jovial Dark Moon inspiring us to incorporate the above described qualities of the Sagittarian paradigm into our lives. Mars is the most elevated planet at the time of this New Moon, near the degree of celestial longitude pointing toward the Galactic Center. The red planet is thusly empowered for the duration of the month.

Mars conjuncts Pluto on December 13th. This transit happens every two years, but usually not in the same month as the year before. Having a stronger surge of raw personal energy than any other alignment, this one is sort of like trying to force a volcanic eruption through a drinking straw.

The passionate power of your soul's desire is unleashed and attempts to manifest broad changes and renewal in your life. A difficulty arises when the ego steps into the turbulent stream, trying to control the force of the floodwaters into the little gullies of personal desire. Massive erosion of the inner landscape may occur as trees topple and bridges collapse into the flood. Witness the inexorable process of the innate demand for evolution springing from the very source of Being.

You may try to control your environment in ways which are actually beyond your ability to sustain. You may try to change others "for their own good." The energy WILL try to express itself creatively. Use it wisely to make powerful changes by outgrowing old limiting beliefs. You are able to work hard and long now. You will have an immense ego impression on those around you.

Frequently, this leads to explosive ego conflicts as your power attracts other powerful people to you. When repressed or twisted, there can be a sort of personal warfare in your life. In rare and extreme cases you may attract someone whom is forcing you into doing something counter to your will. The battle can be ruthless. Very rarely there may be physical assault or violent crime. Avoid high crime rate areas and guard against violent people.

Work for the greater good. Enlist the aid of others, and compromise to achieve great positive changes, benefiting as many people as possible.

There is a Full Moon/Lunar Eclipse on December 21st peaking around 3:14 AM ET. On both a personal and global scale, there will be a heightened sense of the need for greater financial security. We will be keenly aware of the difference in our world between those of us whom are prosperous and those struggling to get by. There may be unexpected fluctuations involving the various national stock markets for a few weeks surrounding this Full Moon.

The Winter Solstice occurs when the Sun enters Capricorn at 6:38 PM ET on December 21st. The word “Solstice” combines Latin and Anglo-Saxon roots to mean, “When the Sun stands still.” The day of the Solstice is usually (but not always precisely) the shortest day of the year. This is the true Festival of Light. The nights, which have been getting longer and colder, slowly begin to grow just a bit shorter as the days pass. In primitive societies this was a symbol of hope. Spring will indeed come again. There is a balance between day and night. The increasing darkness does not conquer all.

Winter Solstice lore is rich throughout history. The most common thread applies to virtually all cultures which developed through the bronze age in the northern hemisphere. The birth (or re-birth) of the Sun-King, Giver of Life, Prince of Peace occurs 3 days after the Solstice, on December 24th or 25th. The Winter Solstice is the seasonal root of resurrection religions common the world over. The Norse God Odin was hung on the tree Yggdrasil; Osiris was dismembered and hidden along the Nile, the Christ was crucified, died and was buried. All these were resurrected to give peace and goodwill to humankind.

As the Ever Dying One was born 3 days after the darkest night, He is resurrected on the third day after this agony on the tree; bringing new light and life as the Sun returns to make the days grow longer. This story runs through the temperate zone and arctic cultures where long cold winter nights call for hope for more light and faith in the resurrection of life in the warm spring. There’s much more rich Solstice lore available for any student of pre-Christian religion. I’m personally happy to recommend sources to the curious.

In agricultural societies the Solstice energy gave rise to fertility deities and mystery religions. The point is the seasonal cycle affects us at our core level. The Solstice is a crucial point in that cycle. Hope and renewal of the life force are key concepts. All things are cyclic. The world is round, not flat. Personal growth occurs in a spiral fashion, not in a straight line.

The idea of the dark night of the soul, and that the darkest hour is always right before the dawn, are characteristic of the hopeful nature of the Winter Solstice period. The Solstice affirms that we are all hopeful co-creators as we manifest our beliefs in accord with the ever-spiraling seasons of the spirit, of our planet, and of the heart.

Mars squares Saturn on December 29th. Most transits to Saturn teach you about your limitations, either self-imposed, or actual limits such as laws, building codes, or societal limits on what types of behavior are considered unacceptable. This three-day period may be quite irritating if you are impatient to achieve your desires. You may confront your own fears of your inadequacies. Avoid dealing with authority figures today. Be prepared for an unexpected, rather unpleasant event. Be careful and stay calm to avoid accidents.

Do not begin any new projects today. Inquire within and find how your own beliefs and fears are in conflict with that which you seek.

Most of us will not be affected strongly by this transit. If your birthchart has an "aspect” between Mars and Saturn you will be subject to the effects described above.

So, there we have it folks. The basic challenges this month involve our ability to control our desire nature and our ability to remain calm under excitable circumstances. The highest quality of Mars is that which some have called the Rainbow Warrior, waging peace in times of turbulence and stress.

New Moon is on December 5th at 12:37 PM ET @ 13 degrees of Sagittarius
Full Moon/Lunar Eclipse is on December 21st at 3:13 AM ET @ 29 degrees of Gemini

Key words for Sagittarius are: optimistic, dependable, friendly, honest and versatile