December: what to expect?

This blog is a short and sweet look at the astrology of December 2021 - as many of you know I am currently on maternity leave, and so this is a simple look at the beginnings and endings that we see as we come to the end of a year…

The last eclipse in the Sagittarius-Gemini cycle (and beginning of the new cycle)

Mid-November saw ten days of pretty intense astrology, including the first eclipse in the next 18 month cycle of Taurus-Scorpio. I hope you navigated that time. Taurus and Scorpio are fixed signs (as are Leo and Aquarius), and so these are the signs most impacted as we now enter into an 18 month cycle of eclipses.

Broadly speaking, in the world we may see changes to the way we live relating to food, farming, climate change, as well as being asked to look deeper into our souls, into the understanding of ourselves, and facing darkness with resourcefulness. It’s worth remembering that Uranus is also in Taurus, so this next cycle of eclipses will have an espeicaily innovative and/or disruptive quality to them.

There’s a big of crossover in the eclipse cycle, and on the 4th December 2021, we have the final eclipse in Sagittarius. Anyone with planets in the mutable signs (Sag, Gemini, Pisces and Virgo) may have experienced the last 18 months as a times of significant change. Of course covid-19 has changed all of our lives, but for those with mutable energy, there may have been more of an emphasis on personal change, particularlarly relating to emotions, the way we think about and experience life, the understanding of self and self-care, and redirecting of life.

If you’re reading this around the 4th December, the new moon, this is a great time to reflect on the last 18months and what you have said hello and goodbye to. Look at ways you have ben stretched, how you have grown, whether you have regrets over missed opportunities, when or if you have been able to find optimism and open-mindedness when needed. Have you been able to find your feet, or been lost inside a busy mind? Reflect with compassion and neutrality - and consider how you might let go of what no longer helps. My on-demand Lunar Healing package may help you find ways to connect deeply to your soul and inner voice at each new and full moon - find out more here.

Venus retrograde in Capricorn (conjuncting Pluto)

Venus represents relationships, harmony, joy, beauty, pleasure, art, sensuality, harmony and love. In the sign of Capricorn we may see a different face to Venus, one where we take more responsibility in our relationships, or we find ourselves bringing more structure to our self-care routines, to give just two examples. However a Venus retrograde may bring a sense of restriction to how we experience abundance and luxury. Maybe Christmas presents won’t arrive in time, maybe the supermarket will run out of our favourite festive foods. This is not an invitation to panic shop, but to get organised. You might find it’s worth thinking about what really matters to you, how and where you spend your money, and the value of your presence over your gifts. Perhaps time might be a more important resource, or support, love and companionship.

The conjunction with Pluto adds a bit of a kick to this retrograde. If you know you can get obsessive or compulsive in relationships, be extra mindful. This is a time when relationships with loved ones may be put under strain (something Christmas can be notorius for). Notice if you are projecting your shadow onto others (one good way to do this is to notice what annoys you in others: do you have or repress these traits yourself?). Are you letting old relationship history linger in the present? Be aware of what needs to die away - remember death brings rebirth.

This could also relate to your relationship with yourself. If you know your mental health is fragile, review your support networks and self-care strategies. This retrograde lasts into 2022, so be prepared. Capricorn is usually good at that!

Last exact Saturn-Uranus square (but we’re not out of the woods yet)

2021 has seen two Saturn-Uranus squares, with the last one taking place on Christmas Eve (ok then…). The wider symbolism of this has played out with the protests around the world, challenges to status quo and authority, a desire of change and freedom and challenges to our support structures. We have seen the rise of technology and innovation (Uranus) with how we communicate, work and connect and the weight of Saturn as vaccination protocols become more restrictive and authoritian and the effects of covid being long-lasting.

Have you see echos of this in your own life? Have you felt discompassionate or uncompromising? Or have you felt a desire to break free? How do you feel about the world events of the last 18 months? How have you responded to the need to shake up parts of your life? Have you taken responsibility when necessary? This aspect will continue into 2022, but with slight less intensity than 2021, so it could be helpful to understand where you’ve felt parts of your life clashing, and how you can navigate the energy generated to change and progress.

Jupiter back into Pisces (yay!)

On a lighter note, Jupiter is back into Pisces (hoorah!). We saw Jupiter briefly dip into Pisces earlier in 2021, coinciding with the lift on covid restrictions, including being allowed to travel, hug, touch, and see one another again. You can read more on Jupiter into Pisces here, but with luck we will get a dose of growth, good fortune and freedom. It doesn’t erase our wider problems, but we may be able to escape for a while.

That’s it from me - a glance at the month ahead. I will be back with more astrology updates soon.