New Moon, New Eclipse, New Vision for the Future
Today, the new moon and the Sun are in Sagittarius, where they herald winter and the fiery light that warms and illuminates even the coldest, darkest days and nights of the year. Earlier this morning, there was a total solar eclipse in Sagittarius, the second of two eclipses occurring this holiday season. As a result, there has been and will continue to be a lot of new information coming your way. This is the time of year we traditionally begin our visioning processes: assessing what we have accomplished in the last year and what we want to accomplish in the next. This process is always intense. This year, expect it to be much more so, as it is interwoven with the global pandemic, an ongoing economic crisis, a change of administration, and a nation struggling to find its way.
What do you envision for yourself in 2021?
If you’re not sure, I can help.
It starts with your dreams and visions
and then you chart a course from there.
Here are some helpful insights...
The Spirit of Sagittarius
Historically, love and truth are the foundations of the winter celebrations of virtually every culture. But most of us don’t come close to understanding the concepts. Far fewer have working definitions they can access and utilize in their daily lives, especially in times of distress or crisis. For most of us, these two notions are a part of our fair - weather faith: easy to access when everything is going well, but when fecal matter hits the fan, our faith is harder to find, much less deploy. Very few can honestly say they have mastered it. Those who are close to owning some real estate in this neighborhood usually have a lot of Sagittarius in their natal charts. Ruler of psychological and spiritual concepts, ministry, philosophy, shamanism—and our journeys towards them—Sagittarians are the ones voted most likely to be able to trust that the proverbial slings and arrows of outrageous fortune are actually getting them somewhere. Somewhere fun.
Normally, as the Sun and the smaller planets move into Sagittarius, the parties and the politics of the holiday season are a good place to practice. Or at least begin to begin to play around with it. As Sagittarius rules learning—particularly the learning that comes from playful discovery—you absolutely have to find ways to make it fun. This year, we are required to re-envision and reinvent how we are connecting and celebrating during the holidays. While the Sagittarian opportunities remain the same, the stakes are higher than ever, and that can create an awful lot of pressure. Be mindful, rise to the challenge, but try not to dwell on it—nothing fun happens there.
Hopefully, the data these transits provide will give you the inspiration and the means to create the sense of connection and community you seek, as well as some new and better habits. A word of caution: as Sagittarius is not known for its patience, be gentle with yourself and others. It’s a process. For most of us, we just have to put the time in. Practice makes perfect, right?
As the visionary and the seeker, Sagittarius is always on some sort of a righteous quest. Sometimes it’s for justice, fairness, and equality. Sometimes it’s for education and enlightenment. Sometimes it’s for travel and adventure. And sometimes, it's just for one helluva good party. Yes, on a good day, those drives can make Sagittarius absolutely epic—smart, spiritual, and fabulously fun. And on a bad day, Sagittarius will get a little busy. You might find her unfocused and overextended.
So let’s make it a good day. Prioritize, make a plan, stick to it, and find a way to make it fun. Ruled by Jupiter—the god of fun, luck, windfalls, and expansiveness—Sagittarian transits like this one offer us the capacity to stay more optimistic, hopeful, inspirational, and genuinely happy. Not only that, you now have the opportunity to develop that ability, so it becomes more of a way of life and less like a point on a line, or a moment in time. Take advantage of it. Now is a really good time to revisit key components of positive psychology, and the Buddhist concept of finding divinity in all things. If you play your cards right, you can not only learn a lot of new things (which is practically orgasmic for a Sagittarius), you can develop new habits, raise your vibration, and make joy the new normal. How’s that for an intention?
Not a Sagittarius? No worries. Everyone has Sagittarius somewhere, and if you don't already know where yours is, now would be a good time to find out. And here's why: where Sagittarius lives in your natal chart is where you are undeniably the fire starter, the spark plug, the light in the darkness. It is where you are not only good at those things, you came here to be those things. Give yourself permission to step up and into the karma and the dharma of it. Now. Given all we are going through as individuals, as families, as communities, as nations, and as a species, you and your gifts have never been so needed. You are being reminded of how your singular gifts and the ways you can use them can educate and enlighten yourself and those you love. So spend a little time revisiting your core strengths, set your intentions, say your prayers and invocations, and double down.
Sagittarius is both a male, fire sign and the herald of winter. Here in the Northern hemisphere, the Sun’s movement into the sign of Sagittarius means the world and its people can seem decidedly darker and colder at times. We are being called to remember that there is always light. It is up to us to find it, and to let it shine. So listen up, lean in, and rise to the occasion—or at least find some way to start listing in that general direction. And if you get stuck, call me. We’ll figure it out.
Calendar
Below are some of the dates where your opportunities for wizardry, magic, and alchemy will be the greatest.
December 1–Mercury moves into Sagittarius
December 10–Hanukkah begins at sunset
December 14–New moon in Sagittarius; Penumbral, total solar eclipse
December 15–Venus moves into Sagittarius
December 17–Saturn moves into Aquarius
December 18–Hanukkah ends
December 19–Jupiter moves into Aquarius
December 20–Mercury moves into Capricorn
December 21–Winter solstice; Sun moves into Capricorn
December 24–Christmas Eve
December 25–Christmas Day
December 26–Boxing Day; Kwanzaa begins
December 29–Full Moon in Cancer, also known as the Cold Moon and the Long Night Moon
December 31–New Year’s Eve
January 1–New Year’s Day
January 6–Mars moves into Taurus; the Feast of the Epiphany and the Three Kings
January 8–Mars moves into Aquarius; Venus moves into Capricorn
January 9–Mercury moves into Aquarius; Mercury retrograde prelude period begins
January 12–New moon in Capricorn
Retreats, rituals, services, ceremonies and journeys: As always, choosing the best day or days is a very personal thing. You have to feel your way into it. But there are some generic rules that can help you in your decision-making process. Full moons and new moons are considered the best. Holidays and holy days are as well. Full moons and new moons that occur during or over a period of holidays and holy days are extraordinarily powerful.
Factor in a retrograde or two and you pretty much cannot avoid leveling up and becoming a much more masterful magician. Especially around anything that has to do with your faith, your trust in it, your ability to serve your faith and serve with it. Seriously.
With that in mind, in the next month, the best days for deep, transformational experiences are these: December 15th - December 16th, December 19th - 20th, December 21st, December 24th - January 1st, January 6th, January 8th.
The Mystery School Guidebooks
For as long as humans have traveled the earth, we have turned to the cycles and movements of the natural world and celestial bodies to guide us. Over time and across cultures, the art and science of navigation has provided powerful tools to ensure safe passage through the mysterious currents of life's more difficult moments. Now, by combining ancient practices with modern modalities, you can chart smooth and successful routes through the most important journeys of all: the integration of your internal landscapes, your relationships, your spiritual and professional paths.
The Mystery School Guidebooks are the culmination of my 30 years of dedicated research and practice as a business consultant, astrologer, and intuitive. I am currently offering six guidebooks: Mars Retrograde, Level 1 and Level 2; Mercury Retrograde, Level 1 and Level 2; and Venus Retrograde, Level 1 and Level 2, with more in the works. Each one is a magical combination of information and experiential exercises, designed to provide you with the tools that mean the difference between falling prey to your innermost demons—fears, outdated behaviors and belief systems, and long-buried traumas—and discovering, perhaps for the first time, greater joy in relationships, success in career, and increased self-confidence, access, and flow in your personal and spiritual lives.