Catalyst Magazine

This month, you don't even have to listen closely to hear the waves of stress crashing on the shorelines of consciousness. You also don't have to stretch to hear the universal chorus shout: "Enough already." Uranus, direct as of December 1, is challenging our already distended capacity for change, and as it does, some of us—no, make that lots of us—are going to need a time-out.

But there isn't time for a time-out. The first two weeks of the month, daily life moves at almost lightning speed and regular routines blaze by in a daze of hurry-up.

By mid-month, the planetary pace slows down...down... as that deceleration morphs into molasses.
This is the result of the pending Mars Retrograde beginning December 20 and Mercury Retrograde beginning December 26. When the two planets that drive the mechanics of daily life are retrograde simultaneously, collective angst is palpable.

Forewarned is better prepared, which means rather than be overwhelmed by the breakneck pace early in the month, be willing to surf the current and get done what needs to be done before "hurry up" turns into "hey-I-need-to-think-about-it-for-a-long-time-first."
Here are the astro-mechanics behind the emotion: Mars is the first source of December's activity, and in keeping with its nature, it keeps us busy all month. A Mars/ Jupiter opposition, from Dec. 1-20, promotes overextension as a way of life. From Dec. 2-19, a Sun/Mars trine joins that already expansive Mars/Jupiter signature, making excess, in all areas of life, probable.

While it may be a useless warning, do your best to stay moderate. This entire Sun/Mars/Jupiter bundle offers lots of opportunities for success, but all the success in the world means nothing if you're too exhausted to show up for the applause or the award.
By December 4, a Sun/Jupiter sextile turns some of that Sun/Mars ambition toward generosity and enthusiasm, which is appropriate for the season, as well as for our times, when so many need so much.

Mars goes retrograde on December 20; by December 17 you'll start to feel the pace slow down. Get those holiday projects finished before then. Mars is usually pretty cranky when it is retrograde; it's not used to moving "backward" or retracing its steps. What's more, this Mars Retrograde is in Leo, which is likely to turn Mars frustration into dramas, major or minor. Again, this warning may be in vain, but do your best to avoid melodrama, yours or others, and you'll manage the holidays with skill. Mars stays retrograde until March 10, but there's plenty of time for that discussion in January's issue.
Mercury goes retrograde on December 26. Make those travel plans now, and expect travel delays around the holidays. Mercury stays retrograde until January 15, 2010.

For those who don't know about Mercury Retrograde, the best use of Mercury's "backward" motion is to review the details of what's been previously set in motion. Mercury Retrograde is not a good time to initiate new plans or projects.
An eclipse on New Year's Eve promises to turn the holidays even more emotional than normal—whatever "normal" is. We often feel the effect of an eclipse weeks before the actual event, so if you start to feel strange tremors that cannot be identified as retrograde malfunctions, you can probably chalk it up to tremors in the lunar force. Translation: Expect you and those you love to be highly sensitive. I'm not suggesting you modify your behavior in some co-dependent way, but it could be worthwhile to think about the consequences of your words and deeds. This is, after all, the season of glad tidings and good cheer.

And while I'm not promoting denial as a way of coping with the stress of an already too stressful time, I am advising all of us, myself included, to remember to be kind. So many of us get so anxious about what's coming next, that we often tend to forget we are all in this life together, for better or for worse.

Aries March 21-April l9
Meditate on "The Hanged Man" Tarot card, and allow that image to help you to embrace a new perspective. You might feel discombobulated at first, but it's guaranteed to stimulate a new creative process.

Taurus April 20-May 20
Stay open to compromise but don't assume it is your only choice. Give in where necessary, but don't relinquish what matters most to you.

Gemini May 21-June 21
Be passionate and indulge your appetites. And don't worry—it's not likely you'll drown in an ocean of desire, and if you do, you could be reborn as the goddess or god of love.

Cancer June 22-July 22
Instead of worrying obsessively, turn your anxiety over to No-Freti, the ancient Egyptian goddess who transforms worry into trust. Remember, a positive attitude translates into positive action.

Leo July 23-August 22
Trust your intuition, and allow that self-confidence to guide your decisions. I'm not suggesting you have all the answers. I'm simply advising you to honor your own wisdom.

Virgo August 23-September 22
Life is moving fast, but that's no reason to rush through every moment. Take each day at your own pace and you'll have an easier time handling the intensity.

Libra September 23-October 22
Closure isn't always easy, but can be rewarding. Spend time gathering the loose ends of your life and contemplating how to bring certain areas to completion.

Scorpio Oct 23-Nov 21
Be aware of your limitations, and you'll expand your strengths. This sounds contradictory, but you are learning to reconcile opposites, a necessary step to authentic power.

Sagittarius Sept 23-Oct 22
Your mission, should you accept it, is figuring how to hold steady in the midst of so much activity. Here's a hint: Don't get sucked into any soap operas, your own or others'.

Capricorn Dec 22-Jan 19
You are facing a mountain of hard work, both internal and external, and while you seldom resist a gargantuan task, this phase is going to require effort, energy, and realistic expectations.

Aquarius Jan 20-Feb 18
You are not backsliding, so don't forget how much you've grown. There is simply still more to do, but you are farther along than you can imagine.

Pisces February 19-March 20
Whether you are aware of it or not, you are merging several worlds, which is why you may be feeling slightly out of sorts. Give yourself time to synthesize, and you'll make the necessary adjustments.

© 2009 by Ralfee Finn

 

Visit Ralfee's website at www.aquariumage.com or email her at ralfee@aquariumage.com