In the midst of the more powerful astrological influences, some marking cycles of long duration affecting large numbers of people and many nations, such as the global economic watershed, actual and potential warfare, impending earth changes, worldwide spiritual awakening and other sweeping trends and forecasts – influences so vast that Astrologers in the last century would refer to them as “changes beyond one’s control,” an oblique reference to the inexorable movement of time and the looming finger of fate; and even against the backdrop of the hoopla regarding supposed threatening predictions soon upon us, such as those said to be foretold by the Mayan Prophecy of 2012, it is good to be cognizant of the seemingly less significant but personally so applicable cycle of the changing of the zodiacal Sun sign each month.
While those born in late Nov and the first three weeks of December are called “Sagittarians” since at the moment of birth the Sun was passing through that sign and so will characterize them and mark their sense of self in this embodiment, we all have Sagittarius somewhere in the chart and we all experience Sagittarius energy during those dates. And so even those of other Sun Signs will likely find themselves dealing in some wise with Sagittarian themes such as those centering on higher education, religion, publishing, travel and the spiritual quest during the Sagittarius Sun Cycle (Nov. 23rd to Dec 22nd).
There’s a common tendency during the Jupiter ruled Sagittarian cycle to overstep one’s practical boundaries. The inclination to take on too much, spend beyond one’s pocketbook and generally delete any notion of limitation from one’s vocabulary is even stronger now than in other years since transiting Jupiter is conjoined Uranus in Pisces, tending to add an extra dose of both idealism and impulse to the mix.
Do you experience moments of feeling challenged, too spread out, overwhelmed and consequentially frustrated? If so, it’s likely not so much a matter of mounting a runaway steed as much as you not knowing how to handle the horse!
The aforementioned astrological cocktail awakens the imagination and offers the hope of new possibilities and horizons. Of course, whether dreamers are fools or heroes or a mixture of both is not easily foreseen. So without throwing rain on your parade, the unavoidable astrological advice is to test your plans for practicality which often is most importantly a matter of bringing them down to doable size. Pick the horse you know how to manage and have an awesome ride! You’ll enjoy the journey more if you do! Take particular notice that Mercury goes retrograde Dec. 10th to 19th; Mercury in apparent backward motion is notorious for communication and transportation mess-ups although it’s an advantageous time for introspection and contemplation. Again, the cause of so many Mercurial mishaps as well as the solution to the dilemma relates to understanding the nature of the energy. But even if you gain mastery that doesn’t mean everyone else will, so check and confirm tickets, schedules and the like; take care of phones, cars and other communication, information or transportation devices and equipment; be aware that especially during Sagittarian cycles the potential for misunderstandings arises, consider any gossip dubious; the news itself may also end up somehow misconstrued.
From the 12th of December until the 16th, Mars exactly conjoined Pluto in Capricorn adds a punch, focus and power to those who can handle its intensity. If current events rock your world, if chaos threatens to unseat you, keep your sanity by maintaining as much of your routine rituals as possible. If you hold your harmony, this pocket of time could prove to be exceptionally productive.
Sagittarius is a Fire Sign on the Mutable Wisdom Cross; in Sagittarius we feel Fire of Mind. People born during these dates are naturally inquisitive, adventuresome, exploratory and in many instances, philosophical. What are the questions upon your heart and mind this month? Being fiery by nature, Sagittarians can be quick to jump to, sometimes erroneous, conclusions. For real or imagined slights, agitating thoughts of resentment and sometimes of getting even dart through the mind and if not stopped in their tracks drown out reason. Sagittarians are known to be outspoken, even offensively blunt although they don’t see it that way; they say it as they see it and rarely mince words. Nevertheless, truth without love falls short of the mark. While the Sun passes through Sagittarius, remember that the merciful heart that considers giving another the benefit of the doubt is less apt to later regret unkind words!
Each Sun Sign brings such a plethora of life lessons at so many different levels as to be virtually inexhaustible. This month, while we all come under the Sagittarian banner, reflect on the importance in your life of forgiveness. Regardless of circumstance, from an astrological point of view, even in the worst case of seeming injustice, resentment while understandable is not justifiable! When resentment revolves in the mind unceasingly during a Sagittarian cycle, the cause is lack of resolution and the cure is always forgiveness.
In the United States, as the Sun enters Sagittarius, we celebrate Thanksgiving. Many families repeat the tradition on Thanksgiving of each person at the table talking about something for which they are grateful. While not everyone had to bite the bullet this past year, the economic roller coaster hit many individuals and their families hard. Jupiter ruled Sagittarius is a time for expansion, for moving forward with new ideas. The other side of gratitude is forgiveness. Perhaps this year we each can state what we choose to forgive. It is very liberating.
Sagittarius relates to the quest for spiritual understanding, the sharing of spiritual truths, the adventure of the true Seeker. This season, step away from the Holiday frenzy that turns a time of adoration and exalted joy into a period of mounting stress; the classic annual set up so easily avoided is overspending in Sagittarius and waiting for the bills to come in, which they inevitably do, in Capricorn in January! Determine to anchor peace especially during and right after the Lunar Eclipse on Dec 21st when both the Sun in Sagittarius and the Moon in Gemini are squaring Jupiter and Uranus; in world events and personally, we need to avoid becoming trapped in “divide and conquer” schemes which can be so disastrous and draining but so easily averted. The overall effect of the Eclipse lasts approximately 6 months.
On Dec 22nd , the Sun Signs change once more, now from fiery Sagittarius to the practical Earth sign Capricorn initiating a critical time of endings as well as one of new beginnings. Although every sign is so strikingly different than the next, there is a natural sequential effect in our lives as we move through the Sun Signs. Regardless of circumstantial challenges, the weight of current world events and personal crosses one must bear, let us celebrate compassion, the Light that shone in darkness and usher in the New Season with joy!