Waning Moon, Bidding This Year Farewell

Holidays!

Disseminating Moon in Leo
December 21, 2013
7:45 am EST / 12:45 pm GMT

Winter Solstice
December 21, 2013
12:11 pm EST / 5:11 pm GMT

Last Quarter Moon in Libra
December 25, 2013
8:48 am EST / 1:48 pm GMT

Balsamic Moon in Scorpio
December 29, 2013
12:19 am EST / 5:19 am GMT

New Moon in Capricorn
January 1, 2014
6:14 am EST / 11:14 am GMT

Before diving into the astrology of the next few weeks, look at the symmetry of this waning cycle's events with our common calendar: The Disseminating Moon on the Solstice, Last Quarter on Christmas Day, Balsamic as December reaches its close, and New Moon on New Year's Day.

The patterns in the skies echo those on Earth: It's time once again to review where we are, honor and celebrate what has been, and turn toward what it to come. There's a lot going on, and we can all feel it.

The Disseminating Moon is the time for sharing what we've learned––making the Full Moon's illuminations part of who we are in the world. With the Dissemination Moon in Leo, and Mercury conjunct the Sun in Sagittarius, we'll have no trouble trumpeting our achievements to the skies! The challenge this day may be more in the area of listening to anyone else. 

That same day is the Winter Solstice, on the calendar and astrologically. This day, the Sun transitions into Capricorn, Old Man Winter, the energy of putting your back into it, working hard, and getting it done. This is the day the Sun shows us he's still here, not waning for good, but returning.

Capricorn is not the zodiac's happiest sign, but the Solstice is truly something to celebrate. This year, we've been through a lot, have lost and won, achieved and failed, learned and grown. The Sun's dance of return tells us the workhorse of our solar system is still on board, fueling our efforts, lighting our fires. Time for dance, song, tales around the fire, and good memories.

The Last Quarter Moon is a challenge: Can we balance our gains and our losses? In many traditions, the birth of a Sun Child is celebrated at this time, a promise of renewal and redemption. This year, the sky patterns point to a renewal of great depth and scope.

At this Last Quarter, the Sun and Mercury align with transformative Pluto. The Libran Moon aligns with Mars, squaring the Pluto–Sun–Mercury group. Uranus the revolutionary is opposing Mars and the Moon, and squaring Pluto–Sun–Mercury.

Yes, this is the infamous Pluto–Uranus square, the zeitgeist, being activated by the Sun, Mercury, the Moon and Mars. No man is an island, we are all connected to each other, and our personal decisions now are linked to everything else. No pressure, though ...

This year's holiday will be a time of special energy. We may be acutely aware of what we have already lost, and what in our world is at risk. Yet that very awareness brings a new depth of appreciation as we celebrate all we have.

The Balsamic Moon in Scorpio aligns with Saturn the task-master, as the Sun and Mercury draw even closer to Pluto. As the Pluto–Uranus square continues to be activated, we are brought face to face with what we need to let go of.

At this Balsamic Moon, think of Dickens' Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come and his message to Scrooge. It is only through letting go of whatever is holding us back that we can step into a brighter future.

And then, boom! New Year's Day and a New Moon in Capricorn. I'll be writing more about this New Moon later, but it's time to drag my over-used adjective "intense" out of the closet and dust it off for this one: Sun, Moon, and Mercury tightly conjunct Pluto, squared by Uranus and Mars.

2014 will be arriving with major mojo, so, no thinking small with those resolutions.

So, no holding back this holiday season! Celebrate with hugs and appreciations and festivities of all kinds, in the full knowledge of the impermanence of our live. Embrace it all! And in those quiet moments, release what no longer works with gratitude.

Holiday blessings to one and all.