Return to Horse Canyon: Grandfather Spirits

NEW MOON

The New Moon on 4 December is also a solar eclipse. Not too many people are going to be seeing it, however, since the only land its path of totality crosses is in Antarctica and the rest is over ocean. A few dedicated astronomers and eclipse chasers may head that way, but no doubt less than the usual amount. An eclipse has the strongest effect where its path of totality strikes, but nonetheless it will be stronger than the usual New Moon with its effects longer as well. This eclipse is #14 of Saros Cycle 152 or 5 New South per Bernadette Brady's reckoning. Her thoughts on this eclipse family are rather positive in that she considers it a "joyful, happy" family of eclipses that tends to bring good news of various kinds or some element of joy that last beyond the eclipse. As a "gloom and doom" Capricorn myself I'm skeptical, but I've gotta say that the world at large could certainly use some good news after what we've been through the past two years.

Looking at the chart for this specific eclipse indicates a sudden change in direction as the eclipse forms a quincunx with Uranus. The ongoing square between Saturn and Uranus shows resistance, however. Mars in his ancient dignity in Scorpio is sextile both Venus and Pluto, which implies opportunities for love, money, taking control of your life, and resolving old issues. His trine to Neptune suggests being able to visualize what you want, which makes it a whole lot easier to pursue it rather than moving blindly forward with no sense of direction. His square to Jupiter suggests not getting too carried away in your aspirations, being over-confident, or counting on too much support from friends and groups. Pluto and Jupiter are in partile semisextile, a minor aspect that usually indicates friction or annoyances, which in this combination suggests learning from the past. Like they say, "Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it." If there's a lesson the cosmos wants you to learn, you can bet that the relevant circumstances will continue to repeat until you've figured it out.

On the positive side, there is a sextile pattern which tends to bring opportunities. It involves Mars, Venus, and Neptune, bringing us back to defining what you want and setting your priorities. Venus relates, as you're no doubt aware, to love and money but on a deeper level to your needs and comforts. Perhaps Pluto conjunct Venus will help you figure out exact what they are by getting rid of those things you no longer need, learning from the past, and going forward on a new path. Leaving old baggage behind could well be part of the happiness Brady suggests for this eclipse. A New Moon indicates a new beginning, especially when it's also an eclipse. As the end of another year comes along, there's no better time (other than, perhaps, you own personal "new year" as defined by your solar return) to set some goals and commit to whatever changes you need to make to make your life simpler and more satisfying.

NEPTUNE STATIONS DIRECT

The day before the eclipse, Neptune stations direct. This should help with the ongoing confusion and deception we've been seeing for a while now. Not that Neptune is all that reliable whether retrograde or otherwise. He's dreamy and other-worldly, out there on the fringe of the solar system where he often doesn't relate to everyday life. He's great for your imagination, dreams, visions, escaping reality, getting in touch with your higher power or source through meditation and so forth. But he can also be delusional, confusing, and tends to dissolve what he touches. These are slightly more exaggerated when he's retrograde, but most likely it's our lack of understanding his message that's the problem. Retrograde planets internalize their energy, which implies that our inner world may be unknown, lost in a fog, or confusing as far as knowing who you really are. People who aren't well-grounded with a strong sense of who they are then to be more susceptible to deception. Now that he's going direct, that vision may be less egocentric and allow you to see things more clearly as they exist here and now on the earthly plane.

Looking at the energy in the station chart, Neptune is part of that sextile pattern as mentioned for the New Moon/Solar Eclipse. Think of looking through a camera lens that is out of focus, then turning it slowly until things become clear. Hopefully that is what we'll see as a result. For the station, the Moon is conjunct Mars, bringing emphasis to taking action on your passion and those needs you may have been ignoring. Fold all of this Neptunian energy into the eclipse and see what comes out. Be aware that change is likely, which will be further emphasized about two weeks later with the Full Moon brings closure to some things and Venus stations retrograde.

FULL MOON

The Full Moon on 18 December is in Gemini. As always, it implies an ending, culmination, or shift to a new phase. Which part of your life will be affected is hinted at by the house in which it occurs, which you can find above. If you know your ascendant sign, check those horoscopes, too. I have found that it will show up in both, however. Natural houses (where your birth sign is your first house) are often ignored or even denigrated, yet they work. For example, last month I had a Full Moon in my natural 5th house which includes creative endeavors and that is when at long last I finished a novel I'd been working on for a long time. Using my ascendant, that lunation was in my 9th house, which fits with publication, so you can see how they both were relevant.

As always, a Full Moon is an opposition between the Sun and Moon. This opposition is mediated by Jupiter, who connects with both luminaries to form a Triangle of Potential. His sextile to the Sagittarius Sun shows opportunities to expand your associations and goals while his trine to the Gemini Moon shows a comfortable flow of Air Sign information to aid you in your journey. Along similar lines, Mercury in Capricorn is trining Uranus, which looks like innovative but practical ideas, though that ongoing square between Uranus and Saturn is likely to throw some challenges and obstacles out there. However, there is enough positive change energy out there, this inertia can be broken if you make up your mind to do so. Pluto and Venus are conjunct and quincunx the lunation, showing a change of direction as you reassess the past. Which bring us to the fact that Venus is stationing and will stop and go retrograde the next day.

VENUS STATIONS RETROGRADE

Venus doesn't go retrograde as often as you'd expect. For example, Mercury goes retrograde about three times each year while Venus only goes retrograde about every year and a half. The last time was in the May - June 2020 timeframe. Do you cringe every time you think of the year 2020? If so I'm sure you're not along. Think about what the Venus retrograde meant during that time. Much of the world was in lockdown and COVID was raging worldwide. Much of life as we know it went to hell in a hand basket that year. Think about what needs were reassessed during those months in 2020. There's a lot we tend to take for granted until it's gone, or like the song that says "you don't know what you've got until you lose it."  Whether it was toilet paper, your job, or someone close to you, there were plenty of lessons in appreciation as various parts of life disappeared. That retrograde took place in Gemini while this one is in Capricorn, so the influence will be slightly different and again relate to which house is affected. On a global scale, Gemini is the 3rd house of the zodiac and relates to thoughts, ideas, our family, neighbors, and local travel. Think about how the late spring (autumn for Southern Hemisphere) of 2020 affected that part of your life as well as the affected house of your natal chart.

I can just hear you thinking What house is Gemini in my chart? Conveniently, that's in the table at the top of this horoscope where it states which house the Full Moon is in this month, which happens to be Gemini. It also includes a basic description of the parts of your life included in that house. So fold that into the Venus RX period of 2020 to consider how that was also impacted.

So onward to the upcoming Venus retrograde which will be in Capricorn. Capricorn is the 10th house of the zodiac and relates to those things that are in the public eye. It relates to status, career, reputation, how a person will be remembered, and anything in the public record. On a global basis, this implies that this Venus retrograde will see some disruptions in that area. Looks to me as if various public figures are going to take a fall. IMHO, plenty of them have it coming, as karma if nothing else for what they've imposed on us.

On a more person level, here's where to look. (You can find what part of life the houses relate to by clicking on the Houses link at either the box near the top of the page in the Easy Reference section or at the end of the first line below.) If you're an Aries, Capricorn is your 10th house, so it's the same area. If you're a Taurus, it's your 9th house.  Gemini, 8th House; Cancer, 7th House; Leo, 6th House; Virgo, 5th House; Libra, 4th House; Scorpio, 3rd House; Sagittarius, 2nd House; Capricorn, 1st House; Aquarius, 12th House; Pisces, 11th House.

Capricorn's energy is traditional, structured, responsible, and can be cold and practical. Venus relates to your needs, comforts, pleasures, income, and what you value, so when she's in Capricorn these things may come up against that energy. When she's retrograde, you may be forced to reassess what those needs and comforts really are. For example, in your 2nd house, inflation may be impacting your budget such that you have to reassess your grocery list or how often you go out to eat. If it's your 4th  house your home environment may be affected. If it's your 6th, your work or health, your 11th, your goals, membership in organizations, or getting together with friends, etc.

When Venus goes retrograde, she eventually becomes the Morning Star as opposed to the Evening Star. When she's the Evening Star she's considered the goddess of love. When she becomes the Morning Star, many cultures considered her the goddess of war. This fits loosely with the concept of having a part of your life under attack where you need to reassess what important in a certain area and make any needed adjustments. Note if your birthday is between December 19th and January 29, Venus will be retrograde in your solar return, which suggests you'll be subject to this exercise for the entire year. You have my sympathy on that because I'm one of those people.