Tag Archives: mercury conjunct pluto

Weekly Forecast December 7: Mercury Conjunct Pluto in Capricorn

Christmas in Leavenworth. © James A. Weythman, 2009.

I know I’ve written this before, but now I really, really mean it: We’re in a time of major shifts, and it’s hard to keep our bearings when the ground isn’t steady under our feet.

This can be nerve-wracking or it can be exciting, depending on your point of view. Maybe both at the same time. I concede that, as a fixed-sign person, changes are harder for me to adjust to, and that tends to color my take on what’s happening in the sky. But humans in general don’t like change, even positive changes that we know we need. And all growth requires change.

I see this week as an incubation period. Now that Uranus is direct, all the planets and even the major asteroids are direct until Mars turns retrograde on December 20. We have a short window in which we can advance by light years. That applies to personal development, relationships, career moves, domestic circumstances, and specific projects we may be working on.

On Monday, Jupiter conjoins Chiron for the third and last time, and we also are approaching the final conjunction of Jupiter and Neptune (exact on December 21), not to be repeated for another 13 years. There is a real opportunity for deep healing of old wounds, especially those that are imprinted in our energy field. This is a subtle business, though, so you will have to be very observant and pay attention to understand how this particular aspect is manifesting. If you’ve been working on your own healing for the past year, you’ll see results in the next two weeks. Finally, you can look and see how far you’ve come.

If you need help playing detective and getting to the root of matters, Monday’s Mercury-Pluto conjunction will go a long way toward increasing your understanding. What comes up may not be comfortable, but it will be the truth. We can’t solve problems if we don’t understand what’s causing them.

Because this conjunction is in Capricorn, it also should help with financial issues. Watch for news about scandals involving money. Since Mercury also squares Saturn on the same day, news stories may involve government regulation and industry efforts to avoid having to meet stricter codes. Personally, we may find that the way to resolve issues that come up this week is belt-tightening or some other form of self-discipline.

As I mentioned in last week’s forecast, Mercury is slowing down in preparation to turn retrograde later this month. That means that all aspects this week involving Mercury will have more impact than they normally would. The Messenger enters his pre-retrograde shadow period on Thursday, so start wrapping up all your shopping and mailing. It would be best not to purchase any expensive items or electronic devices after this date.

Fortunately, the Sun is still in fun-loving Sagittarius, and on Thursday, it trines Mars in Leo, another party sign. Early season holiday parties will be lively. If you’re planning one, include lots of music and a place to dance, as well as strings of colorful holiday lights.

Do take advantage of this chance to have a good time, because Mercury and Mars retrograde are going to take their toll this holiday season, in ways that you may not be able to foresee right now. The healing work we do this week will be much more effective, too, if we laugh and have fun.

Wishing you all much love, joy and laughter,
Aquarius, the sign of astrologyPat

Full Moon in Gemini, December 12, 2008

Moonlight Night Winter by Maxfield ParrishThe chart for the Full Moon on December 12 shows an incredible amount of energy and force contained at this moment in time by a grand cross formed in mutable signs with the Sun in Sagittarius, Moon in Gemini, Saturn in Virgo, and Uranus in Pisces, all around 21 degrees.

The key is to be aware that this is all potential energy, not actual, because we are dealing with a stable structure in the grand cross. Unlike a T-square, where the planet at the apex acts as the focal point and shows us the path of least resistance, a grand cross offers no clear outlet but forces consideration of all the avenues on each point. So if you feel like pressure is building and nothing seems to be happening, this is why. Having Mars conjunct the Sun in Sagittarius really does not help, because Sagittarius just naturally loves to be moving and Mars-Sun conjunctions are power generators plus.

However, the Moon in Gemini is always happy to discuss options, Saturn in Virgo is great for making sure all the bases are covered, and Uranus in Pisces is wonderful for thinking outside the box. Overall, this Full Moon offers an opportunity to put together a really great plan, or plans, as the case may be. Another factor to keep in mind is that Saturn is at a virtual standstill for most of December, preparing to station direct on December 31, and this is also putting a damper on initiating action despite the fact no planets are retrograde now. Yes, we may all be extremely frustrated for awhile, so use extra care not to take this out on your nearest and dearest.

As an indicator of things to come, Pluto conjoins Mercury in Capricorn in this chart, supporting all forms of research and digging deeply within to ferret out underlying issues in our lives. This conjunction is excellent for coming up with practical solutions and is also great for keeping us all grounded in reality, something we need help with right now. The waning trine of Jupiter in Capricorn to Saturn in Virgo can offer a modicum of support, but this effect is definitely fading.

There is a waxing conjunction between Venus in humanitarian Aquarius and the North Node in Aquarius that will be exact on December 17. While Venus is rather detached and cool in Aquarius, she still brings kindness and compassion to the table, making this a good time to promote good will to all and an awareness that we are truly citizens of the world and very much interconnected. This is a reminder to offer what support we can to our favorite charities and humanitarian causes, preferably in the form of time.

The Sabian symbol for the Full Moon at 22 Gemini is, dancing couples in a harvest festival, with a keyword GREGARIOUSNESS. This is a lovely symbol illustrating the need to take time for simple pleasures and recognition of our accomplishments as well as renewing our attunement with nature’s cycles and seasons. With the winter solstice almost upon us, this is a perfect time to reflect on where we’ve been and where we wish to travel next.

For the Sun at 22 Sagittarius, the Sabian symbol is, a Chinese laundry, with the keyword SELF-CONTAINMENT. Sagittarius is the sign that most enjoys embracing the richness of diversity while respecting cultural differences. It is important to realize we can draw on those cultural differences as a means of support with no loss of appreciation for the surrounding groups.

As we all struggle with our personal frustrations and the demands of the holiday season, please remember to exercise the gift of Jupiter-ruled Sagittarius, a sense of humor. This is always a great time of year to cultivate one’s appreciation of the absurdity of life on this planet and laugh rather than cry. Remember to practice kindness, because it’s always preferable to avoid doing something in the first place that we’ll need to ask forgiveness for later!

**Please do read Pat’s weekly forecast for this week, December 8, too. With the dynamics in the sky right now, additional perspective can only help.

Libra with Scorpio risingposted by Neith . . .