In the Stars December 13-20, 2020...shining light on the astrology of the week: Solar Eclipse

Several significant planetary events make for a powerful week ahead. A Solar Eclipse occurs on Monday, December 14th at 23:08 degrees of Sagittarius at 8:16 a.m. Pacific Time. Mercury, the messenger, is tightly tied in with this eclipse. December 14th is the day of the Electoral College vote. Eclipse days are super-charged with energy, so go mindfully and keep things simple.

The Sun is in Sagittarius tropically for its final week, shining its festive, buoyant light on the holiday season. The Winter Solstice is December 21st when the Sun ingresses into Capricorn. This is the darkest day of the year, when we turn toward greater light.

Both Saturn and Jupiter make profound shifts out of Capricorn and into Aquarius, on Wednesday and Saturday respectively, moving to an exact conjunction on the Solstice. Aquarius symbolizes discovery and innovation, community and collaboration, and humanitarian concerns. These areas will receive tremendous focus in the coming year. A new era is upon us. Expect to see many new inventions, a new government, and a greater focus on the concerns of immigrants and people of color.

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Sunday’s Mercury-Neptune square may foster a deeper sleep and more dreams, and a slow and foggy start to the day. However, the Sag Moon beckons us for a hike. Yet, we want to stay close to home and draw inward, as the Moon is dark and intense just before tomorrow’s morning’s eclipse.

The Total Solar Eclipse, at 23:08 Sagittarius, is the highlight of Monday, which is the day the electoral college meets to vote on the next president. Mercury is conjunct the South Node, Sun, and Moon, nearly at the Galactic Center. Current political issues and the changing political and cultural landscape are highlighted by this eclipse. Eclipse energies may be in effect for several months before or after the actual eclipse. Venus and Jupiter make a benefic aspect, bestowing their blessings. Saturn is at the 29th degree, the critical degree of a sign, and extra strong. Saturn at the very end of Capricorn symbolizes endings and finality. One example is the expected confirmation of a new president and the ending of the reign of the current president. The can symbolize completion of something in your own life, to be followed by a new way of living. Jupiter, dispositor of the Sun and Moon, stands hemmed in between Saturn and Pluto. All to say, this is an extremely potent eclipse. Keep things simple on this high energy day.

Both freedom and commitment are contrasting themes on Tuesday. A benefic Venus-Saturn sextile fosters commitment to loved ones, and working out issues in a graceful manner. This aspect is also good for addressing financial matters that need to be handled before the year ends. The Capricorn Moon encourages hard work. Venus moves into Sagittarius and fans the flames of freedom and more light-heartedness in relationships. A Moon-Uranus trine may move us out of our routines into a surprising detour.

The big news Wednesday is Saturn’s shift into Aquarius. Saturn will be joined in Aquarius by Jupiter on Saturday, and they will exactly conjunct on Monday the 21st. This change of signs for Jupiter, Saturn, and Pallas Athena moves us into greater innovation and collaboration for the next couple of years. The Capricorn Moon squares Mars in the early morning, pushing us toward a productive and perhaps challenging day. Then the Capricorn Moon conjuncts Pluto, Jupiter, Pallas Athena, and Saturn. This day can be extremely productive, so lean into it.

The Moon is in Aquarius on Thursday and Friday, symbolizing friendship, community, and societal concerns. The Moon makes an edgy square to Uranus Thursday mid-day which may result in us veering off course, but the Aquarius Moon loves a little chaos, and something surprising may come from it.

Friday is a relatively light, easy day, sporting a couple of opportune alignments. This is a day to connect with friends—even if limited to phone or Zoom.

Saturday’s big news is that Jupiter moves into Aquarius tropically. Jupiter is two days away from its exact conjunction with Saturn on Monday. Jupiter, the biggest planet, symbolizes expansion, and should function more freely in Aquarius, leaving its sign of debilitation, Capricorn. Jupiter will reside in Aquarius, the sign of innovation and community, for the next year, dipping into Pisces briefly during its retrograde period next summer. The Moon is in dreamy Pisces for the rest of the weekend, suggesting that it is time to relax, watch movies, and listen to music. A discomforting Moon-Venus square may call your attention to matters of love and money that need attention.

Sunday’s Moon-Neptune conjunction in Pisces heightens our intuition and imagination. If we can let go of any guilt or victimization, we are free to raise our vibration for the good of ourselves and humanity. This alignment opposes the asteroid Vesta, inviting us to let go of commitments and work patterns that do not support our higher calling. Mercury enters Capricorn, bringing focus and discernment to the day and the weeks ahead.

The Winter Solstice is the big cosmic event on Monday, and what a special Solstice it is! The Sun enters Capricorn tropically, marking the first day of Winter. Jupiter and Saturn align at 0:29 degrees of Aquarius, symbolizing a new beginning, a welcome energy given the past year of turbulence that we have experienced. After a void of course period from 2:24 a.m. to 2:32 p.m. the Moon moves into Aries, and aligns well with the Saturn-Jupiter conjunction in Aquarius. This is a day to envision your future and seed a new plan for 2022.

The Week in Short:

Sunday: Sleep in and catch your dreams. Draw inward, as the Moon is dark.

Monday: Powerful New Moon Solar Eclipse. Energies are super-charged. Keep things simple.

Tuesday: A day for focus, hard work, and commitment, as well as breaking out of routines.

Wednesday: Saturn moves into Aquarius. Productive day when much can be accomplished.

Thursday: Friendly day, though you may veer off course from what was originally planned.

Friday: Easy day. Connect with friends.

Saturday: Jupiter moves into Aquarius for the next year. Relax and dream.

Sunday: Intuition is heightened. Imagination is fueled. Be inspired and creative.

Monday: Winter Solstice! Jupiter and Saturn align at 0 degrees of Aquarius. Seed a new plan for the future.

Ten Things to Do with Venus in Sagittarius (December 15-January 7) 1. Order take-out from an ethnic restaurant, one you’ve never experienced before if possible. 3. Ponder your post Covid-19 long-distance trip. 3. Read a book about a far-away country, culture, or religion. 4. Expand your knowledge of metaphysics. 5. Write! 6. Take a course on religious art, foreign language, or something that takes you into another world (possible source: Great Courses). 7. Explore a philosophy or religion through a book, book-on-tape, or a lecture. 8. Take a hike (Sagittarius rules the thighs).

9. Express appreciation to your in-laws. 10. Venus in Sagittarius is idealistic in love: read some love poems that transport you to the ideal!

Moon Void-of-Course: This is the time when the Moon makes its last major angular aspect with a planet before it moves into the next zodiacal sign tropically. This void time, when the Moon is not aspecting a planet, but rather floating on its own, is a time when things don’t come together and it is difficult to make good decisions. Purchases made during void Moons often turn out to be unsatisfactory and not work out. Appointments often don’t come together, and meetings don’t result in progress or sound, lasting decisions. We more easily get lost or meander in trying to get somewhere. The VoC Moon times for the next month are listed below so that you can plan meetings, decisions, and purchases at times when the Moon is not VoC; and use the void times for gardening, reading, and routine task work. Void-of-Course Moon times for the month ahead (one lunar cycle): Pacific Standard Time:

December 14: 8:17 a.m. (Solar Eclipse) – 7:35 p.m. (Moon into Capricorn)

December 16: 9:34 p.m. – 10:27 p.m. (Moon into Aquarius)

December 19: 12:44 a.m. – 4:38 a.m. (Moon into Pisces)

December 21: 2:24 a.m. – 2:32 p.m. (Moon into Aries)

December 23 at 2:51 p.m. through December 24 at 2:55 a.m. (Moon into Taurus)

December 26: 3:31 a.m. – 3:32 p.m. (Moon into Gemini)

December 28 at 7:01 p.m. through December 29 at 2:28 a.m. (Moon into Cancer)

December 31: 5:45 a.m. – 10:58 a.m. (Moon into Leo)

January 2: 1:59 p.m. – 5:12 p.m. (Moon into Virgo)

January 4: 1:33 p.m. – 9:31 p.m. (Moon into Libra)

January 6 at 9:54 p.m. through January 7 at 12:53 a.m. (Moon into Scorpio)

January 8 at 5:58 p.m. through January 9 at 3:14 a.m. (Moon into Sagittarius)

January 10 at 10:29 a.m. through January 11 at 5:29 a.m. (Moon into Capricorn)

GMT (Greenwich Mean Time):

December 13: 1:57 – 2:30 (Moon into Sagittarius)

December 14: 16:17 (Solar Eclipse) – 15:35 (Moon into Capricorn)

December 17: 5:34 – 6:27 (Moon into Aquarius)

December 19: 8:44 a.m. – 12:38 (Moon into Pisces)

December 21: 10:24 – 22:32 (Moon into Aries)

December 23 at 22:51 through December 24 at 10:55 (Moon into Taurus)

December 26: 11:31 – 23:32 (Moon into Gemini)

December 29: 3:01 - 10:28 (Moon into Cancer)

December 31: 13:45 – 18:58 (Moon into Leo)

January 2 at 21:59 through January 3 at 1:12 p.m. (Moon into Virgo)

January 4 at 21:33 through January 5 at 5:31 (Moon into Libra)

January 7: 5:54 - 8:53 (Moon into Scorpio)

January 9: 1:58 - 11:14 (Moon into Sagittarius)

January 10 at 18:29 through January 11 at 13:29 (Moon into Capricorn)