Sentient Times Dec/Jan 06

Cosmic Calendar

By Salina Rain

December began with the New Moon in Sagittarius at 10 degrees, a relatively uplifting energetic event that was revved up by a square from Uranus, and stabilized by a trine from Saturn. New input will be extremely important in our changing concept of reality, as humanity awakens further to the need for a global sense of community and cooperation. How we choose to structure our thoughts creates the reality we experience and the Sagittarian arrow of truth can help us focus on re-training the mind to think more positive and productive thoughts. Mars quincunx Sun and Moon increases the tension around acting on environmental concerns, Global Warming in particular, and on the personal level pushes us to get grounded and committed in our individual values and beliefs. Mars has been a bright pink light in the night sky for weeks now, a decidedly larger, but at the same time softer (in Taurus), presence than we’ve experienced in a long time. Collectively we’ve been reviewing the bottom line values in using the warrior planet’s aggressive and precision energies.

The transiting Fixed Grand Cross involving Mars, Jupiter, Saturn and Neptune is still with us, forcing confrontations with our experience versus our concept of reality, which can be a struggle at times, an adventure at others. Jupiter trines Uranus opening up the “doors of perception” into worlds beyond our wildest dreams. Instead of being drawn into delusional, outlandish or bizarre scenarios, or indulging in overwhelming emotional states, try to stay in present time to experience each mirac-ulous moment as it unfolds.

Full Moon on the 15th at 24 degrees Gemini is opposed by Pluto, whose archetype is god/goddess of the underworld. Whatever emerges from the shadows may be scary and ugly, but this is the time to face our demons and transform them into allies in order to maximize our personal power, otherwise they rule us from behind the scenes. In the collective the picture isn’t pretty but this is a golden opportunity to purge the lies and deceptions of recent years. Venus shifts from stodgy but steady Capricorn to exciting Aquarius, changing tastes from safe and conservative to experimental and new experiences of pleasure. Relationships are vibrating with the need for change, more spontaneity, and a focus on friendship and community, especially as Chiron joins Venus. Jupiter’s square to Saturn is getting tighter as the two planets most representing society and government face off in a confrontation around the changes they initiated in May 2000 when they made their twenty-year cycle conjunction. This Jupiter-Saturn event indicates challenges to the power structure in place since the last conjunction. Structural shifts are most definitely in the works, making this a particularly fruitful time to be politically active. On the personal level this lunation illuminates where we’ve been fooling ourselves, what we need to purge from our habitual thinking and emotional bodies in order to proceed.

Winter Solstice arrives on the 21st at 10:35 am as the Sun enters 00 degrees Capricorn, a potent and sacred moment in the yearly cycle. This turning point from Fall to Winter is a sacred time of surrendering to the dark and it’s nurturing, magical possi-bilities, at the same time celebrating the return of the light, as the Sun is reborn on it’s cyclic journey. This Solstice heralds a season of new visions for the future, social changes, a shifting perception of what abundance is and how we most powerfully access this experience through sharing what we love.

Venus retrogrades on the 24th at 1 degree Aquarius, still in a close conjunction with Chiron as she turns. The image for the degree of their conjunction and for Venus’ pivot: “An unexpected thunderstorm. The need to develop the inner security which will enable us to meet unexpected crises.” (Rudyhar) In the next six weeks Venus will conduct a free-spirited, wide open review of relationships and values, initiated in this moment and energized by the healing, multi-dimensional presence of Chiron, whose interest in these matters is bridging the gap between the old and the new, between matter and spirit. Don’t get caught off guard in the emotionally intense holiday atmosphere, especially with these two conspiring to create radical change. Be particularly dedicated to a compassionate attitude to those around you, as well as to yourself, as this combo could easily bring out painful complexes and the urge for defensive behavior.

New Moon on the 30th is at 10 degrees Capricorn, Sun and Moon in harmonious aspect to both Uranus and Mars as they join in the cardinal earth sign to initiate a new cycle of work, commitment, and building structures. This is the 13th New Moon of the year, increasing its auspiciousness for renewal, and coming right at the year’s ending. Ancient grain goddess Ceres joins the lunation with opportunities for establishing work patterns more supportive of our needs and more concerned with the needs of others, also highlighting the need for the female perspective on the political scene.

A recently empowered Mars trines Sun-Moon-Ceres assuring us the stamina and drive to get a lot accomplished, but the Red Planet’s ongoing opposition to Jupiter tends to make us prone to excess, which Uranus in Pisces supports 100%. Saturn quincunx the lunation throws some cold water on the push for great achievements, but is looking for a re-alignment of our work habits and commitments. Playfulness and joy should always be part of our work, as well as a sacred attitude about where we focus our energies each day. We have much more to fear from losing a sense of the joy of life than from not getting enough work done. Mercury and Pluto in close conference are boldly speaking the truth with no regard for keeping secrets or covering up lies. Use this combination for courageous explorations of the mind. This is one of Saturn’s big moments in the year, and fear is one of its closest companions. We can look our fears right in the face rather than cowering or attempting to run away.

2005 ends on a note of accountability, re-structuring of work and career, being more responsive to human needs rather than artificially manufactured, self-defeating goals based on delusion and greed, and the cultural revolution that’s growing stronger.

2006 begins with Venus reassessing her relationships and finances, looking for new solutions to old problems. Saturn’s the only other retro planet as we step into the New Year in the uncomfortably out of synch with the natural world Gregorian calendar. The 13th New Moon at the end of ’05 reminds us to turn more towards the real world and the sacred by paying attention to the lunar cycles. The real rhythms of life on Earth, rather than those we have foolishly, and to our ongoing detriment, overlaid onto the natural world, are our salvation from angst and alienation. Saturn’s helping us, in the retrogade state, re-discover our relationship to time, among other things.

On the 14th of January Moon in Cancer at 24 degrees opposes Sun in Capricorn for the 1st Full Moon of ’06, one that empha-sizes the need for balance between our private and our professional, or public, worlds. Venus closely joins the Sun infusing the so-called masculine end of the equation with much needed feminine energy making it a bit easier to create the changes we need to achieve a healthier balance. The Fixed Grand Cross that’s been prominent for weeks is now even more potent as Mars and Jupiter have reached the mid degrees of their respective signs, which are especially powerful points in the fixed signs. The push-pull of this major aspect has been working on us to the extent that we’ve learned by now how to focus on what’s essential, and let the rest go, or we’re a blithering mass of tension and conflicted, emotional chaos. May we all bypass that miserable state.

Aquarius New Moon on Jan. 29th at 10 degrees is joined by Chiron, Mercury and Neptune for a magnificent new beginning in Aquarian matters of community, alter-native, innovative, experimental ideas, and social revolutions! Wherever this lunation plays out in your chart is where you’re experiencing life-changing revelations, if you’re listening internally, and awakening to new possibilities of fulfilling the human need for community. Create your New Moon intention around your vision of community for yourself, including the area of life most affected by the Aquarian line up. In any case be open for the winds of change blowing through in ever more unexpected scenarios of pure creativity, spontaneity, and brilliance. Be willing to envision the kind of world you yearn to live in. Saturn opposing in Leo brings things down to earth enough to keep us from flying so high we lose touch with reality, but can also bring up enough fear to stop us from entering the new territory where life is calling us. Culturally we’ll never be the same after this one, as the power of the people’s will overrides the petty dictators and overblown egotists in major defining events unfolding over the coming months.

Salina Rain is a professional Astrologer with a major focus on life purpose and navigating transitions gracefully. She is also at Master level of Reiki Jin-Kei-Do, an eastern lineage of energy healing, transmitted through the ancient Tibetan Buddhist line. Salina is available for astrological readings and classes, and Reiki Jin-Kei-Do trainings. Salina may be reached at (707) 668-5408, PO Box 1081, Blue Lake, CA, 95525, astro@salinarain. com. Visit www.salinarain.com for more detailed forecasts.