DECEMBER 2007

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! On the 11th a conjunction of Pluto and Jupiter occurs at 28 degrees Sagittarius. The meeting in this sign happens once every 248 years and at this degree once in 1,000 years. The 28th degree of Sag is within two degrees of the Galactic Center, emphasizing its importance. From Dane Rudhyar: “The enduring elements in a society which reveal its ability to significantly link the genius of its individuals to the everyday needs of the collectivity.” Pluto rules power/Jupiter emphasizes any issue. Events, news and leadership decisions this month carry immense portend for the future. Sagittarius is the sign of religion, foreign countries, global trade, education, expansion, publishing, beliefs, sports and entertainment. As Mercury and the Sun join these two and conjunct on the 17th, there is more emphasis on these issues; and the Moon can trigger events when conjunct or in opposition – 12/8 to 12/10 and 12/21 to 12/23. In 1758, the last Pluto/Jupiter conjunction, Noah Webster, Robespierre and Horatio Nelson were born and George Washington captured Fort Duquesne (Pittsburgh). Previous to that cycle, in 1509, Henry VIII became King of England, Cambridge and Oxford Universities were founded, John Calvin (Swiss reformer) was born and slave trade began. On the 18th the Nodes shift from Pisces/Virgo to Aquarius/Leo and will stay in these signs until August 2009. The Node cycle in these signs repeats every 19 years. Aquarius is the sign of groups, friends, organizations, community and society. In its highest form, it is humanitarian; in its lowest it is scheming, calculating and cunning. Franklin Roosevelt and Dick Cheney are Aquarians. The Sun in Sagittarius until the 22nd supports travel, relocation, public relations, education, trade, advertising, religion and legal matters – the time of year for visiting, entertaining and religious observance. The Sun’s entry into Capricorn on the 22nd is the Winter Solstice. Capricorn supports organization, business, leadership, responsibility, control, security and career. This is a time to affirm a commitment to care for the earth and global family.

Mercury (communication, writing, contracts, commerce, workers) in Sagittarius until the 20th supports communication, travel, gifts, beliefs, religion, global issues, study, sports, education and fun. Mercury in Capricorn after the 20th thinks more seriously than Sag – about leadership, control, frugality, business and security.

Venus (values, money, social connections) in Libra until the 5th values balance, peace, harmony, negotiation, culture and social interaction. Venus in Scorpio after the 5th supports commitment, motivation, passion, resources, investments, income and sexuality.

Mars (initiation, energy, aggression) retrogrades in Cancer all month, connecting energy, vitality, conflict and aggression to the sign of family, security, emotions, community and country. It expends energy on family but can ignite political passion for the group one identifies with – country, community, religion or special interest. Mars is retrograde from November 15th to January 30th, entered its shadow on September 17th in Cancer and turns direct at 24 Gemini. The Gemini/Cancer combination is one of intellect vs. emotion/objective vs. subjective/conversation vs. feelings and variety vs. security. The completion phase spans January 30th to April 4th, 2008. Mars retrograde would be a good time to decrease aggression and begin to bring our soldiers home, not to increase aggression. Aggressors under Mars retrograde lose the conflict.

Jupiter (expansion, opportunity, optimism, travel, education, foreign trade, religion, legal matters) transits the last 5 degrees of Sagittarius and enters Capricorn on the 18th. It does not repeat these degrees, but conjuncts Pluto on the 11th (see top paragraph). Birthdays most affected this month are December 18th-25th, September 19th-26th, June 17th-24th and March 16th-23rd as well as persons or companies whose charts have planets or angles from 25 Sag to 2 Capricorn, 25 Gemini to 2 Cancer, 25 Virgo to 2 Libra or 25 Pisces to 2 Aries. Jupiter in Sag has brought opportunity thru education, travel, foreign countries, relocation, advertising, legal matters, politics, religion, trade, public relations, marriage, graduation and freedom. Jupiter in Capricorn brings opportunity thru business, consolidation, leadership, organization.

Saturn (structure, foundation, responsibility) transits at 8 degrees Virgo, where it turns retrograde on the 19th. It will repeat these degrees in January and August 2008. The transit of Saturn thru Virgo from September 2007 to July 2010 will focus on those born between 1958 and 1972. This is the generation born when Pluto was in Virgo. Virgo relates to health, service, everyday routine and doing what is frugal, practical and orderly in daily life. This month’s transit will most directly affect those born September 1st, February 27th, May 30th and November 30th-Decemmber 1st as well as those people or entities whose charts have planets or angles around 8 degrees Virgo, Pisces, Gemini or Sagittarius. Saturn’s last transit thru Virgo was 1978 to 1980. Review what was happening in your life about 30 years ago, during the half-cycle of 14-15 years (in Pisces), the quarter cycle of 7 years (in Gemini) and 21 years, the third-quarter cycle (in Sagittarius) to understand what Saturn in Virgo from September 2007 to July 2010 will mean for you.

Uranus (freedom, rebellion, surprise, invention, technology) transits from 14 to 15 degrees Pisces, repeating where it was in March, October and November 2007. Most affected are birthdays of March 5th-6th, June 5th-6th, September 7th-8th and December 7th-8th as well as persons or companies whose charts have planets or angles from 14 to 15 degrees Pisces, Virgo, Gemini or Sagittarius. Between March and November 2007 they will need freedom, experience chaos or make radical changes. Uranus will be in Pisces until 2011 and supports social revolution. During 1920, the start of the previous Uranus in Pisces, Congress granted women the right to vote and the “Roaring 20’s” began. Uranus in Pisces 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, global warming and universal health care.

Neptune (sensitivity, inspiration, escapism, dreams, trust) transits 19 to 20 degrees Aquarius, where it was from April thru June 2006, February and September of 2007. Neptune turned direct on October 31st. From May to October, during the retrograde, was a time to release addictive attitudes, behaviors or habits. Neptune relates to intangibles such as art, imagination, inspiration, dance and creative writing as well as prayer, healing, escapism and dreams. Birthdays most affected are February 8th-9th, May 10th-11th, August 12th-13th and November 12th-13th as well as charts with planets or angles from 19-20 degrees Scorpio, Aquarius, Leo and Taurus. Neptune transits bring a lack of focus or direction, a sense of drifting or the inability to see an error, disappointment, betrayal or weakness until it’s too late. They dissolve the past in order to open space for the future. On the positive side this can be a time for faith, healing, psychic insights and artistic creativity. Under Neptune in Aquarius you can develop intuition, musical talents, practice meditation and pay more attention to your own inner guidance. You may also need to watch your back and balance faith with fact to see events clearly, not with wishful thinking or being attached to the dream or vision of what you think might have been.

Pluto (power, control, resources, transformation) transits 28 to 29 degrees Sagittarius where it was from February thru May 2007 and where it will repeat July thru October 2008. Pluto conjuncts Jupiter on the 11th (see top paragraph). Most affected are birthdays of December 19th-20th, June 19th-20th, March 18th-19th and September 20th-21st as well as charts with planets or angles from 28 to 29 degrees Sag, Gemini, Pisces and Virgo. From February 2007 to fall of 2008 they will experience major changes in life such as marriage, divorce, relocation, career or financial challenges. These are times when counseling or therapy may be required and self-awareness/motivational work necessary. Now that Pluto is completing the final degrees of Sagittarius, it has brought focus, transformation and paradigm shifts in travel, education, travel, religion, politics and global trade. It has also brought religion to the forefront of world politics, war, conflict and control.

Specific indications for the twelve signs are as follows:
 

Note: In addition to reading about your sun sign, you can gain more understanding by reading the signs of your Moon, rising sign and the sign on the midheaven or career house 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