Santa Cruz Good Times

Christmas is Saturday, with a Virgo (let us not be critical, let us be grateful) moon (with matter, mother, the past). Let us, as an antidote, have the purposeful intentions for Gratitude, for Goodwill, which, through the establishment of Right Relations, brings Peace to the world ... which “Hark, the Herald Angels Sing.” Christmas Day is a good day, with planets in trine which bring about harmony. There is actually a “depth” of Goodwill all around.

And so, we are now at the very end (the last week) of 2010. To honor with gratitude our lives lived out in time and space for the past year, let us review (it’s still Mercury retrograde in Sag) what our goals, hopes, wishes and dreams (personal, social, global, financial, spiritual, material, etc.) were.

Mercury is retrograde until the 30th. In this last week before Christmas, as many are shopping for gifts, our minds could shift quickly into overload. When considering gifts, we could dither about, concerned with what to buy, having either no clue or too many choices, or we could simply collapse into doing nothing. These are common occurrences during seasonal holidays, exacerbated this year by the Mercury retro (the mind wants to sleep) in Capricorn (while trying to be practical, orderly, disciplined). The week begins Thursday with a Taurus moon. Regarding gifts, buy the very best quality, the most beautiful and substantial.
Friday is a good day to shop. Saturday, retrograde Mercury re-enters Sag. There’s rebellion along with a v/c, afternoon through dinner. Shopping is best in the morning and through lunch. Along with quality (Taurus) add things adventurous (Sag = travel, artisinal foods, music, culture). The moon shifts to Gemini Saturday evening (through Monday). Gemini = gifts for the hands, mind, better thinking and communicating.

Mercury entered Capricorn the last day of November. With Mercury in Cap our communication becomes bare bones, essentially informational. Those born with (and during transits of) natal Mercury in Cap can sound harsh, unsympathetic, insensitive, unforgiving, strict, stringent, austere and authoritarian. That is not their intention, however strict their communication sounds. Capricorn, Saturn ruled, is concerned with and thus simply goes to the "heart" (core) of all matters. Mercury in Cap speech is purposeful, methodical, resourceful, exacting and rigorous. Don't push them to speak quickly. Allow them time to gather their thoughts. Mercury in Cap has crystal clear judgment, a special authority.

December is dedicated to Advent, Catholic Latin word “adventus” meaning “(something’s coming”)—winter solstice, sun turning northward, new light, birth of the holy child, revelation). For four weeks we light candles summoning hope in the dark half of the year. Simultaneously, Wednesday evening, Hanukkah, eight-day candle-lighting Jewish festival of lights, begins. Both religious festivals are about preparation, (re)dedication and the kindling of (our) light (hope, promise) within the darkness (of matter).

Friday the U.S. has a Saturn return, 14 Libra (relationship with others). Saturn returns mean strictness, discipline, solitude, hard work, separation and loss of what is no longer useful. And so, as of this writing Drudge Report reports the new Wiki-leaks. Uh oh. Veils of secrecy drop with classified communication (accepted by all nations) released. This will affect relationships (Libra) with other nations. Transparency, although uncomfortable, is needed for the new culture and civilization to emerge. Saturn is both teacher and Dweller on the Threshold. The Dweller shows us past missteps and the Teacher helps us learn lessons. Everyone, everything (even nations) are always in a developmental (learning) stage.

As Above, So Below & Happy Birthday, Findhorn
As the Aquarian Age unfolds, there is a developmental task humanity will recognize as their responsibility (and gift). It is the recognition of and work (co-creation) with the Devic (Angelic Beings of Light) kingdom, the builders of all form on Earth. Working side by side with the devas (this was the original work of the Findhorn Community), humanity begins to identify as the World Disciple, assisting in creating the new rhythms, order, culture and civilization of the new Aquarian Age. Humanity and the devic (angelic) kingdoms are parallel evolutions. The devic kingdom is the feminine (receptive) aspect to humanity, the masculine (radiatory). When an event representing the feminine (Venus direct) occurs in the sky, something occurs here on Earth as well.

On Thursday, both Jupiter (in Pisces) and Venus (in Libra) turn from retrograde to stationary direct. On Monday the Sun moves from Scorpio to Sag. We shift from deep waters to the plains; from the eagle to the horse; from the depths to seeking the heights; from the star Antares to the Galactic Center; from the opal to the topaz; from Mars to Jupiter; from Orion to Chiron; from Tuesday to Thursday; from the sign of death and regeneration to the sign of the adventurer, riding the white horse, bow and arrow in hand, seeking the mountain tops of Capricorn. Both Scorpio and Sag are signs of discipleship. Sunday morning we have a full moon solar festival (9:27 a.m., West Coast) at 29.18 degrees Scorpio. Called the November Hunter’s Moon, it’s also a blue moon, being the 3rd full moon of four to fall in a season (from fall equinox to winter solstice). The meditative seed thought the NGWS recite during this Scorpio solar festival is “Warrior I am and from the battle I emerge triumphant.” Scorpio is always triumphant.
On Thursday, the U.S. has transiting Jupiter opposite Neptune. Jupiter brings forth abundant energies, Neptune either illusion, grace or spiritual contact. During oppositions polarities are pointed out, everyone’s mad, rejection occurs, then a gradual integration begins. Jupiter and Neptune are rulers of Pisces, sign of the world savior, sign of saving the world—the esoteric task of the United States.

Venus (Ray 5 of Concrete & Scientific Knowledge, the Aquarian ray of Knowledge) is now our Morning (Dawn) Star. In Libra and retrograde (till the 18th), Venus calls forth, from the depths of each of us, loving intelligence justice, balance, equality and Right Relations, the first step toward Goodwill.

Thursday is Veterans Day. Let us actively honor those who have safeguarded freedom for humanity. The United States this week begins a series of difficult and transformative transits lasting into 2011. Friday, during Aquarius moon (the U.S. has Aquarius moon, 18 degrees), Saturn squares (90 degrees) the U.S. Sun. The moon in a country’s chart signifies its people. Squares challenge us to change direction. During the present Venus retrograde (in Libra) a change of direction must include a new economic structure within the U.S. and presented to the world. With Saturn square Sun there can be a sense of isolation, of being misunderstood while attempting new disciplines, organization and order. Saturn, the teacher, creates new regulations, direction, guidelines, parameters, bringing strict order out of chaos.