In the Stars December 24-31, 2023 . . . Shining Light on the Astrology of the Week

Winter is here, officially with the ingress of the Sun into Capricorn that occurred on December 21.  The Moon reaches its fullness on Tuesday, December 26th at 4:33 p.m. PST, with Sun making a benefic trine to Jupiter. December 26th and 27th are blessed by this alignment with the Full Moon. They are expansive, goal-oriented, grounded days, good for planning and getting things accomplished.

Jupiter and Mercury are in retrograde for one more week, slowing in motion. Jupiter will turn direct on December 30 at 5 degrees of Taurus, and Mercury turns direct on January 1 at 22 degrees of Sagittarius. During these last days of Mercury retrograde, review, revise, and re-think projects and plans as you close out 2023 and prepare for 2024.

Mars went out of bounds on December 22, and will have a short period in this outer realm through January 23. When a planet is out of bounds, at the peak of its declination cycle, its symbolism is amplified. With Mars this shows up as increased potential for aggression and conflict, as well as for taking risks and making strides.

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Christmas Eve, December 24, holds the friendly energy of the Gemini Moon. While the Moon-Saturn square may make us feel pressured and uncomfortable, the Sun-Saturn sextile offers grounding and certainty. Mars trines the North Node in Aries, driving us toward our aims.

Christmas Day’s planetary aspects are idealistic, including Venus trine Neptune. Hard realities set in as the evening wears on when the Moon opposes Mars, and these planets form a tense square aspect to Neptune. The Moon, Mars, and Neptune form a T-square. It seems we could expect an ideal Christmas morning, but as the day wears on we are ready for it to wind down.

Tuesday, December 26, hosts a Full Moon in Cancer. A Moon-Saturn trine anchors the day. Chiron stations to go direct, amplifying its themes of wounded healer and teacher/mentor. A Mercury-Neptune square may add confusion or delusion, but it can also be soft and creative. The Moon in in its dignity in Cancer where it is comfortable, caring, and nostalgic. If family or guests still linger we will enjoy them. We will want to build a fire, put the house back in order, and cook something delicious with the leftovers from Christmas dinner. Matters of hearth and home take front and center.

Wednesday, December 27, is a jolly day with the Sun trine Jupiter. We are optimistic and successful at our endeavors. Mercury and Mars conjunct, and while it can make for a sharp, quick mind, we also need to be careful about what we say. As these two planets are in Sagittarius, we may be too quick and blunt in speaking, and ruffle feathers. Take a pause before you share.

We may feel unclear about what we desire on Thursday, December 28, due to a Mar-Neptune square. It can be difficult to be clear about our direction. The Moon makes challenging aspects to Eris and Pluto, churning up discord and strong feelings. A benefic Venus-Pluto sextile invites attention on relationships or passionate projects. When the Moon moves into Leo at 4:23 p.m. PST, we are lifted toward a more playful evening to enjoy.

Friday, December 29, is flamboyant and exuberant with the Moon in Leo, square to Jupiter. Venus moves from Scorpio into Sagittarius, for a much more free-flying expression of love and pleasure for the next three weeks until January 23rd. See “Ten Things to do with Venus in Sagittarius” below.

The big planetary event of Saturday, December 30, is Jupiter stationing, turning direct at 5 degrees of Taurus, after five months in retrograde motion. When planets are stationary, their symbolism is amplified, in this case, expansive, optimistic, and exuberant. The Leo Moon squares independent Uranus in Taurus, perhaps triggering something surprising. A Moon-Mars trine inspires partying into the night.

Sunday, New Year’s Eve, harbors a Virgo Moon, signaling that it’s time to put our lives in order and get ready for the new year. The Moon opposes Saturn early in the morning, setting the day for duty and work. Lean in and make the most of this industrious last day of the year. A Moon-Jupiter trine in the afternoon is uplifting and infuses us with optimism as we say farewell to 2023. New Year’s Eve has a more sober, grounded tone that the day before.

New Year’s Day’s planetary alignments include a serious, responsible trine from the Capricorn Sun to the Virgo Moon, and a practical Venus-Saturn square, calling for attention to finances and relationships. Mercury is stationary, turning direct, so there could be some confusion, as well as re-thinking. A Moon-Uranus trine may help shift energy, and open us to new perspectives.

                                                                                                                                                                                                           The Week in Short:

Sunday: Friendly day. We are reminded of responsibilities and driven toward our aims.

Monday: Christmas Day is infused with idealism, but we circle back to reality toward evening.

Tuesday: Full Moon: Matters of the home are the day’s theme. Enjoy family time.

Wednesday: Exuberant, optimistic day. Consider what you want to say before speaking.

Thursday: Discordant, strong feelings are present until evening when we can lighten up and have some fun. Give love relationships your full attention.

Friday: Joyful,, playful day.

Saturday: Expansive, exuberant, optimistic day with a surprise to-be-revealed.

Sunday: New Year’s Eve:  Industrious day to put order in our lives near the end of the holidays. Work hard during the day, and then party as you bring in the new year.

Monday: Get organized for the new year. Lean in and get a lot accomplished. Mercury turns direct in motion. Open to new perspectives.

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I am available for consultations. Contact me at ccoleman829@gmail.com or through my website at www.cathycolemanastrology.com

Ten Things to Do with the Venus in Scorpio (December 29-January 23) 

1. Invite someone to dinner from a different ethnic culture.

2. Plan your next long-distance trip (or make a wish list).

3. Read a book about a far-away country, culture, or religion.

4. Expand your knowledge of metaphysics.

5. Write!

6. Visit a religious art exhibit.

7. Explore a philosophy 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 23 at 10:39 p.m. through December 24 12:14 a.m. (Moon into Gemini)

December 25 at 11:55 p.m. through December 26 at 7:14 a.m. (Moon into Cancer)

December 28: 2:57 p.m.-4:22 p.m. (Moon into Leo

December 30 at 9:18 p.m. through December 31 at 3:53 a.m. (Moon into Virgo)

January 2: 3:35 p.m.-4:46 p.m. (Moon into Libra)

January 5: 3:40 a.m.-4:39 a.m. (Moon into Scorpio)

January 7: 12:21 p.m.-1:08 p.m. (Moon into Sagittarius)

January 9: 10:24 a.m.-5:33 p.m. (Moon into Capricorn)

January 11: 6:32 p.m.-7:01 p.m. (Moon into Aquarius)

January 13: 1:58 a.m.-7:28 p.m. (Moon into Pisces)

January 15: 8:32 p.m.-8:48 p.m. (Moon into Aries)

January 18: 12:02 a.m.-12:11 a.m. (Moon into Taurus)

January 20: 5:56 a.m.-5:57 a.m. (Moon into Gemini)

GMT (Greenwich Mean Time):

December 24: 6:39-20:14 (Moon into Gemini)

December 26: 7:55-15:14 (Moon into Cancer)

December 28 at 22:57 through December 29 at 0:22 (Moon into Leo

December 31: 5:18-11:53 (Moon into Virgo)

January 2 at 23:35 through January 3 at 0:46 (Moon into Libra)

January 5: 11:40-12:39 (Moon into Scorpio)

January 7: 20:21-21:08 (Moon into Sagittarius)

January 9 at 18:24 through January 10 at 1:33 (Moon into Capricorn)

January 12: 2:32-3:01 (Moon into Aquarius)

January 13 at 9:58 through January 14 at 3:28 (Moon into Pisces)

January 16: 4:32-4:48 (Moon into Aries)

January 18: 8:02-8:11 (Moon into Taurus)

January 20: 13:56-13:57 (Moon into Gemini)

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