Astral Meanders December 2015

Thought for the month: Put your heart, mind, and soul into even your smallest acts. This is the secret of success. Swami Sivananda

In General: Daring to be vulnerable is a theme in this month of December and we need to understand that’s okay. Mercury enters Capricorn and wants us to develop strong foundations on the 10^th but the new Moon in Sagittarius on the 11^th urges us to expand our horizons at the same time. So the answer is to keep your feel firmly on earth as you make plans and start projects that will take you out of your comfort zone. The 25th sees a full Moon in Cancer, and this promises either an upsurge of the nurturing and protective Cancerian energy or the less grounded Cancerian energy of succumbing blindly to fears and worry! Keep in mind that as Venus enters Sagittarius on the 30^th, it asks us to look towards 2016 with an open-hearted desire to learn and eventually achieve a balance between these two conflicting archetypes. If you are celebrating your Birthday this month, then be open to some deep perceptual changes in the year ahead! On the world scene the obvious challenge will be fear versus nurture. Locally make the full Moon on the 25^th as compassionate a time as you can!!

Aries

December is excellent for problem solving as it opens your mind to possibilities. Just when you think you have had enough and start to lose your temper, a sudden change in circumstances or nice surprise will come to the rescue. The December 25 full moon will make you more emotionally sensitive to any ego conflicts.

Taurus

December heralds an increase of activity in the love and relationship department, and you will feel like indulging in pleasure more than going to work. All of your senses become acute, enabling you to pick up a lot of extra information through your intuition. The full moon on Christmas day allows for bridges to be mended, and harmony to be found.

Gemini

This is an excellent month for physical activities like exercise, and sporting activities, especially of a competitive nature. This is also a great time to impress others, especially if you are dating. Your directness and charismatic nature will attract potential partners. The December 11^th new moon favours new projects!

Cancer

The risk of getting involved in arguments is greatly reduced now, because of shared understanding and compassion. This would be a good time to do art work or anything creative. Towards the end of the month, changes to your daily routine and interactions which can cause upsets and nervous tension occur.

Leo

Others may look to you for advice or simply follow your example this month. Watch out for December 3 and 14 which can see some erratic behavior. You will be buzzing with energy and will attract interesting and stunning people. New romance at this time could sweep you off your feet but they may leave as quickly as they came.

Virgo

The start to December 2015 brings with it a hangover from the most perplexing stars you faced in late November. But it won’t take long before much sunnier influences kick in and lift your spirits. Then you have a lovely run right up to Christmas. All of your senses become acute, enabling you to pick up a lot of extra information through your insight.

Libra

December is a confident and active time for Libra, particularly until the December 11 new moon. You have good karma at the moment because of your preceding hard work and responsible attitude. This would be a good time for setting new goals and starting something new. The best time for starting new projects is during the waxing moon phase.

Scorpio

A really good month ahead with a lot to keep you busy. There will be more harmony in relationships and your focus is closer to home. You should get more support and emotional nourishment from family, partners and close friends. The full moon is good for consolidation of the bonds in an existing relationship.

Sagittarius

Spontaneous actions should lead to positive results this month, and so this is an ideal time to experiment and try something new. You will have chances to increase your level of pleasure and satisfaction. You will achieve success and enjoy good luck so long as you don’t take more than you need.

Capricorn

Quick thinking and much interaction and communications with people are the stand outs this month. You are keen to express your personality through these interactions, through chatting, and bumping into people around town. A worthy time for meetings, going for coffee, visiting friends. You can positively attend to business matters and negotiations.

Aquarius

Any psychic abilities will be enhanced in December. In fact, this would be an exceptional time to start studying astrology or another occult subject. Being around interesting people is vital because you will gain a lot of understanding through sharing ideas. You will feel like trying sometime new, outside of your regular routine,

Pisces

Meet people is favored in general now, and this is particularly so at the full moon on the 25^th. It’s a good month for negotiating peaceful settlements to disputes and for finding common ground in business or legal matters. December generates high hopes for the future which makes this a good time to make plans.

Astral Peeks: Midsummer…December 22^nd

The word “Solstice” comes from the Latin words, sol sistere – “sun stand still”. Indeed the sun does seem to stand still as the sun reaches its furthest point from the equator.The sun is at the height of it power before beginning its slide into darkness and we experience the longest day and shortest night of the year. It is important to note that the separation of the light and dark halves of the year have nothing to do with good and evil. Light signifies growth and expansion; dark means withdrawal and rest. Both are necessary.

In ancient times, the Summer Solstice was a fire-festival of great importance when the burning of balefires ritually reinforced the sun. It was often marked with torchlight processions, by flaming tar barrels or by wheels bound with straw, which were set alight and rolled down sheer hillsides. Agriculturally, the crops are in full growth, they are reaching their peaks of maturity and coming closer to the harvest time. Most wild herbs are fully mature by Midsummer and this is the traditional time for gathering medicinal plants to dry and store for winter use. In Wales, Midsummer is called Gathering Day in honour of this practice.

Midsummers Eve is said to be a time when fairies abound in great numbers! This is a great time to commune with them and leave gifts of sweets outdoors. Midsummer celebrates abundance, fertility, virility, plus the beauty and bounty of Nature. A candle lit and kept alight till midnight brings good luck to the home and its occupants. This is a time to perform rituals for personal power and protection. It’s also a great opportunity for being grateful for the bounty that we have in our lives, for our own personal harvest of the year!! Its time to take stock and see just how far we have come!!

Meditation moments: Gratitude….

At this time of year we are reminded of that wonderful gift, gratitude. In the present world, of suffering and chaos, gratitude is even more than usually important! So many are in pain, and so many have very big challenges ahead of them, that it would be quite disrespectful of the journey they must travel, to forget to be grateful for where we are and for what we have.

May I suggest that this month you set aside a quiet time during which you can reflect on some of the many things you could be thankful for. As a starting point, you might read the passage below to yourself or out loud, adapting it to your situation as you like.

“I am grateful to my friends. For their positive qualities, for the good things they have done for me and for the learning they have allowed me.

I am grateful for my children, for the joy and the love they bring, just by being. For the first time they smiled at me or walked into my arms. For the meaning they bring into my life. For being their own persons, for giving me their own love and lessons.

I appreciate myself. For the love I have given to others, for all the conversations had, for all the helpful acts toward others, for all the dishes done. For the long hours I’ve worked, the hoops I’ve jumped through to keep all those balls up in the air. For the efforts I’ve made, the many times I’ve stayed patient, the many times I’ve found more to give inside when I thought I was empty.

I appreciate my partner, I appreciate the fun we’ve had together, the humor and the companionship. I feel grateful for the times of support, understanding, and sympathy. For the suffering too and all the growth we have shared.

I feel thankful for the life I’ve already had, for everything I’ve learned, for good friends and beautiful sights. For the roof over my head and the bread on my table, for being able to have a life that is healthier, longer, and freer than most people have ever dreamed of. For this beautiful world, where each breath is a gift of air, each dawn a gift of light.”