DECEMBER 2005

Happy Holidays! I wish you peace and prosperity in 2006. As Mercury goes direct on the 3rd and Mars goes direct on the 10th there should be some relief from the chaos and angst of the past few months. Some people have felt “on edge” but couldn’t really identify the reason while others have been dealing with immense changes in their lives such as relocation, recovering from disasters and job loss. For some it will still take months or years to rebuild their lives. The most difficult and intense planetary cycles affecting charts usually last about two years – the grief and loss cycle. The Sun in Sagittarius until the 21st supports travel, moving, adventure, nature, marketing, public relations, education, religion and legal matters. Many people who do not regularly attend church will do so around the holidays. The Sun’s entry in Capricorn on the 21st is the winter solstice – in ancient times a celebration which preceded Christmas – when we have faith that the seeds under the ground will bear fruit and that the “Universal Manager” will continue to replenish the supply after the winter. This is an excellent time to conduct a ceremony or ritual of affirmation.

Mercury (communications, writing, contracts, commerce) is retrograde in Scorpio where it goes direct on the 3rd. During the setup, October 26th to November 14th, issues arise to be worked on between November 14th and December 3rd, which are a combination of Scorpio/Sagittarius. Sag relates to expansion, opportunity, travel, sports, public relations and learning. Scorpio supports financial issues, sharing, resource management and commitment. Mercury in Scorpio can be controlling, manipulative or shrewd. In Sagittarius it is positive, expansive and philosophical. Between December 3rd and 21st agreements can be confirmed and details finalized.

Venus (values, money, social connections) in Capricorn until the 15th supports organization, control, business, thrift, training and consolidation. The issue is results vs. cost. Venus in Aquarius after the 15th values humanitarian and group concerns, the community and doing what is right for the whole. Companies and shoppers will seek value for the best price under this combination. On November 23rd Venus entered the setup of its next retrograde which spans from December 24th to February 3rd. Between November 23rd and December 24th issues of values/spending vs. security/control will arise to be worked on between December 24th and February 3rd. From February 3rd to March 7th is the windup phase when the “dust settles,” final decisions can be made and new processes put into action. Companies in the process of layoffs face the dilemma of doing what is right for workers vs. creating and maintaining financial solvency.

Mars (initiation, energy, aggression) retrogrades at 8 degrees Taurus, repeating where it was in August 2005 and goes direct on the 10th. Taurus can be loyal and persevering but also stubborn. It lends energy to tangible things such as the earth, crops, building, machinery and repairs. Mars in Taurus also relates to material security, personal values and self-esteem. On the 12th of August Mars entered the shadow of the retrograde cycle and went retrograde on October 1st at 23 degrees Taurus. The “windup” (completion) phase lasts from December 10th until February 4th 2006. Mars moves more slowly than Mercury, so its retrograde is longer and consequently its entry shadow and windup phase are longer. Since Mars rules war, the people, countries and companies whose charts have planets or angles from 8 to 23 degrees Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius will be most affected between August 2005 and February 2006.

Jupiter (expansion, opportunity, optimism, travel, foreign trade, education, religion) transits 7 to 13 degrees Scorpio where it will repeat from May thru August 2006. This is a cycle of freedom, opportunity, expansion or movement for those born October 31st-November 5th, April 27th-May 3rd, July 30th-August 5th and January 27th-February 2nd as well as persons or companies whose charts have planets or angles from 7 to 13 degrees Scorpio, Taurus, Leo or Aquarius. Jupiter in Scorpio supports opportunity thru motivation, commitment, sharing of resources and fiscal responsibility.

Saturn (structure, foundation, responsibility) retrogrades from 11 to 9 degrees, covering where it was in October and November 2005 and where it will repeat in June and July 2006. Saturn will bring changes in responsibility and career shifts to Leos as well as restructuring in the house of the chart which it rules or where planets in Leo are found. Leo relates to royalty, leadership, performing, children, entertainment and creative talents. During Saturn in Leo many people could take their hobbies and develop them into businesses. This month’s transits most directly affect those born August 2nd-3rd, April 30th-May 1st, November 2nd-3rd and January 29th-31st as well as those whose charts have planets or angles from 9 to 11 degrees Leo, Aquarius, Taurus and Scorpio. Saturn’s last transit thru Leo was 1975 to 1978. Review what was happening in your life about 30 years ago, during the half-cycle of 14-15 years (in Aquarius), the quarter cycle of 7 years (in Taurus) and 21 years, the third quarter cycle (in Scorpio) to understand what this Saturn in Leo between July 2005 and September 2007 means for you.

Uranus (freedom, rebellion, surprise, invention technology) transits 6 to 7 degrees Pisces where it was in March and October of 2005. Birthdays most affected are February 25th-26th, May 28th-29th, August 30th-31st and November 29th-30th. Between March and December they have needed freedom, experienced chaos or made radical changes as well as persons or companies whose charts have planets or angles at 6 or 7 degrees Pisces, Virgo, Gemini or Sagittarius. Uranus will be in Pisces until 2011 and supports social revolution. During 1920, the beginning of the previous Uranus thru Pisces, the U.S. Congress granted women the right to vote. It also supports artistic creativity with innovation and intellect with sensitivity, leading to modern ways of helping those in need and suggesting that the only way that humanity will survive is by caring for each other and doing what is best for all, addressing humanitarian and global issues such as disaster relief and political decisions made for the good of the masses, not just special interests and the wealthy.

Neptune (sensitivity, inspiration, escapism, dreams, trust) transits 15 degrees Aquarius where it was from April thru June of 2004 as well as in February, August and September of 2005. Floods and chemical incidents have happened at the station of Neptune (10/26/05). Neptune relates to intangibles such as art, creative writing, imagination and inspiration as well as prayer, healing, dreams and escapism. During Neptune’s retrograde (May thru October 2005) was a good time to release addictive habits, attitudes or behaviors. Birthdays most affected are February 4th, August 7th-8th, November 7th-8th and May 5th-6th as well as charts with planets or angles at 15 degrees Taurus, Leo, Aquarius or Scorpio. Neptune transits bring a lack of focus or direction, a sense of drifting or the inability to see a betrayal, disappointment, error or weakness until it’s too late. On the positive side this can be a time for healing, faith, psychic insights and artistic creativity. Under Uranus in Pisces you can develop musical talents, practice meditation, intuition and inner guidance. But you may also need to watch your back and balance faith with practicality and fact to see events clearly, not with just wishful thinking or remaining attached to the dream or vision of what you think might have been.

Pluto (power, control, resources, transformation) transits 23 to 24 degrees Sagittarius, repeating where it was from January thru May of 2005 and will repeat July thru October of 2006. Birthdays influenced most are December 15th-16th, June 14th-15th, March 14th-15th and September 16th-17th as well as charts with planets or angles at 23 and 24 degrees Virgo, Pisces, Sagittarius and Gemini. Between January 2005 and the fall of 2006 they will experience major changes in life such as career, relocation, marriage, divorce or financial problems. Counseling or therapy could be required and self-awareness/motivational work found very valuable. Pluto has passed the 20th degree and is now two-thirds thru the sign of Sagittarius, bringing transformation and paradigm shifts in education, travel, religion, politics and global trade.

Specific indications for the 12 signs are as follows:

Here are the Specific indications for the 12 signs

Note: In addition to reading about your sun sign, you can get additional information by reading about your moon sign, rising sign and the sign on the Midheaven of your chart.

Nancy Bahlman is a professional astrologer with special interests in relating persons to locations using Astro*Cartography and Local Space Charts. Classes now forming.
(248) 546-5407 chartmates@aol.com