Planetary Iluminations for December are posted (formerly “Skywatch)

Happy December!  The Illuminations for December are posted and you can read them here in their entirety.  If you are on my mailing list you will soon receive your newsletter with your simplified translation from the original astrologese.   If you’re not yet on my list, please sign up in the sidebar.

Meanwhile, there’s a lot going on this month so here is the introduction with the major events:

The challenging alignment between Uranus and Pluto continues to be the biggest single astrological factor experienced by humanity today. I am keeping a summation of this cycle in the sidebar of my blog to help newcomers catch up. In early November we experienced the fourth exact alignment (there was one earlier alignment that came within one degree of exactitude in 2011 but the cycle began in earnest in 2012).

Mars will enter Libra on December 7th and for the remainder of December and into the first week of January Mars will “translate” the Uranus/Pluto alignment, triggering the breakdown of any place in which we are stuck or unable to let go, and encouraging the transformation that will help to carry us into greater awareness and perspective. This kind of change is not easy, but it is a necessary phase in our development as individuals and as humans.

The Mars trigger may create some havoc over the holidays. When Mars opposes Uranus the aggressive urge (Mars) is radicalized (Uranus) and we can become more reckless and irritable than usual. When Mars squares Pluto our need to assert ourselves (Mars) can become quashed by Pluto’s dominance, creating a buildup of anger or rage. There can be power conflicts and enhanced irritability that may spill over into family gatherings during that time period.  Read more about that here.

Mars will remain in Libra until July 26, 2014, but the greatest tension will be felt in April and May as Uranus and Pluto tighten into a tight aspect that is one again triggered by Mars. Jupiter in Cancer also gets into the act, forming a Grand Cross that will likely bring about exuberant expressions of reaction and change.

We also will see Venus turn retrograde in mid December and will remain retrograde until January 31, 2014. Venus only turns retrograde every eighteen months or so, and while it is a relatively benign event it can have an important effect on our relationships. The retrograde motion of any planet causes us to tend to look backwards, so Venus retrograde periods oft en brings opportunities to revisit people from the past and incorporate them into our current lives in new ways. Watch for more news about Venus retrograde at Astrological Musings.

Jupiter has been within range of a harmonious trine to Saturn since last summer, which has probably been a factor in the continued buoyancy of the stock market. Jupiter represents the expanion principle and Saturn the principle of contraction, and when these two players are working in harmony the material world tends to find balance. Abundance and hard work come together for great rewards. Jupiter and Saturn are moving into position to form an exact harmonious trine throughout the month that will culminate on December 12th.

Finally, Uranus will change direction on December 17th after a period in retrograde motion. When a planet changes direction, it slows down to a crawl and is virtually stationary in the sky. During that time its influence is quite powerful, and throughout December Uranus will shine like a laser, stimulating us to find new ways of living our lives in a more authentic way.

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