A Change is as Good as a Relaxation
Within the midst of a busy week for Venus, she trines Uranus (Dec. 2, 2024, 6:43 am PST) and enters Aquarius (Dec. 6, 2024, 10:13 pm PST), which have some measure of experiential overlap. Uranus is related to Aquarius in fashionable astrology, as a result of each symbolize a form of reckless, rebellious, unpredictable high quality. Uranus likes to shake issues up, and Aquarius likes its distance and respiratory room and has a sure benign indifference to the world of relating.
As Venus makes its connections with this planet and signal this week, their affect brings a form of pleased disruption to relationships. Nonetheless content material and cozy you is perhaps in a partnership issues can develop stale and uninteresting over time except you make an effort to vary up your routines and pleasures. Because the outdated saying goes, “A change is nearly as good as a relaxation.” The smallest alteration of your regular routine may be extremely refreshing!
The White Canine, the Purple Home, and the Bodega
Mercury turns retrograde when it’s reached its most distance forward of the Solar. Like a bit child connected to its dad and mom by an invisible leash, it races again towards the Solar with information of what’s simply forward. A few of it’s essential, a few of it isn’t. “There’s an enormous white canine about two blocks up the street!” and “The Wilsons are portray their home purple!” spills out alongside “There’s a bunch of scary trying guys hanging across the bodega!” It’s probably not Mercury’s job to type out the essential from the trivial; it’s all simply information.
When retrograde Mercury reconvenes with the Solar by conjunction (Dec. 5, 2024, 6:18 pm PST), we pause to ask ourselves whether or not any of that information is essential to us, and the way a lot vitality we should always put into making ready for what lies forward. In the meantime, Mercury continues on its method backward by means of our latest journey, in search of missteps. Did we overlook to pay a invoice? Overlook an essential web page on the doc we signed? Neglect to make a service appointment for the automobile?
What actually must be addressed? Begin with the issues that may put you in a greater place to cope with what you recognize is across the nook – the white canine, the Wilsons, the blokes on the bodega. Then deal with what’s clearly going to be useful no matter comes your method. Pay the invoice. Get the automobile serviced. And take some canine treats together with you.
Changing into – and Telling – a Greater Story
Mercury and the Solar oppose Jupiter this week (Dec. 4, 2024, 2:16 am PST; and Dec. 7, 2024, 12:58 pm PST, respectively). It’s the second in a collection of three Mercury-Jupiter oppositions (the primary on Nov. 18, the final on Dec. 26), a side that may be lots of enjoyable, however can even lead us to cherry-pick details that help what we already imagine is true. It’s a very good one, although, for exactly articulating our desires for the longer term, so seize a pen and begin writing these things down.
In the meantime, the Solar’s facets to Jupiter normally level to a really low tolerance for being informed what to do or imagine. However take a second to think about whether or not you’re apt to be a bit bossy your self, or too vehement in expressing your beliefs.
The Grindstone
After we’re snug and well-fed, with a roof overhead and no speedy threats to our security, it’s laborious to seek out the motivation to save lots of the world – and even simply to consider the longer term. However Saturn’s ongoing journey by means of Pisces insists that we just do that.
Because the Solar and Mercury in Sagittarius sq. Saturn this week (Dec. 4, 8:18 am PST and Dec. 6, 5:53 pm PST, respectively), we discover that our efforts to get cozy and benefit from the merriment of this season have been thwarted by limitations, obligations, and a nagging sense of unease. A altering panorama is asking us towards motion. Shirtsleeves have to be rolled up, noses pressed to the grindstone. The longer term can now not be ignored.
The Further Layer
Within the cycle of two planets, as in a love story, there are predictable chapters: The planets meet (conjunction), they kiss (first sq.), they confront actuality (opposition), and so they determine whether or not or not they’ve a future collectively (final sq.).
In between, there are moments of ease and ecstasy – the trines. After which, there are moments of alternative – the sextiles. Usually, these moments characterize low-stakes decisions: Do I confess that I don’t actually like his favourite restaurant? Do I take a weekend away with my pricey associates, regardless that he may really feel lonely? Do I danger sharing one thing from my previous that I’m not happy with, within the hope of gaining extra intimacy?
This is kind of that it’s like when Venus, image of relating, sextiles Neptune, planet of romanticism and phantasm (Dec. 4, 2024, 10:52 am PST). It’s a low-stakes side, but it surely grants the chance to construct an additional layer of honesty and empathy right into a relationship.
Slaying the Dragon
Mars stations retrograde in Leo this week (Dec. 6, 2024, 3:33 pm PST), and gained’t flip direct once more till Feb. 23, 2025. Coping with retrograde planets is not only a matter of taking part in protection, passively sitting by and ready for all of it to go. Retrograde intervals are nice occasions to mirror on our relationship with the planet in query and what it represents, to look inside for solutions, to retrace our steps and restore no matter we knocked over on our first dash throughout the panorama.
If there’s a common message for Mars retrograde, possibly it’s one thing like: Rethink your work. Do you want what you do for a dwelling, the duties that occupy your day? Do you take pleasure in a wholesome stability of labor and leisure in your life? These are questions of the privileged, aren’t they; individuals all around the world would love the posh of considering questions like these. “What do you imply, take pleasure in my work?” asks the destitute third-world farmer who spends each waking second attempting to supply for his household. “What do you imply, leisure?” calls for the household straining each nerve to cowl the lease and fill the gasoline tank.
What does Mars retrograde imply for people who find themselves utilizing each useful resource, each drop of energy simply to get by? I suppose it’s a time of tapping into even deeper assets of energy and braveness to slay no matter dragons lie in our paths; to seek out the grace to recollect how a lot we do have; and to ponder how we’d, within the months forward, lend a bit of our Mars energy to those that want it.
The Tide Comes In
Neptune, when it’s retrograde (because it has been since July 2), is just like the seaside when the tide is out. The panorama appears a bit stark, plagued by ropes of kelp, chunks of driftwood, and birds scavenging for one thing to eat.
It’s simpler to stroll on the compacted sand on the waterline, although. And Neptune’s retrograde occasions appear, to me, to be a time after we stroll on extra strong floor, with a clearer view of the internal and outer landscapes.
After which, when Neptune turns direct once more (Dec. 7, 2024, 3:43 pm PST), the tide is available in and we’re pushed again to the shifting sands of the shore – to sit down, spellbound, lulled by the sounds of the waves. Take pleasure in their watery music, however maintain a protected distance.
Transferring Components
I like to journey, however each time I do, I really feel vaguely as if I’m below siege. It’s great to get a change of surroundings, but I reside in fixed concern of shedding issues or leaving them behind, as if I’m shifting too quick in unfamiliar environment and would lose my head if it wasn’t mounted on.
Sagittarius is the signal of the wanderer, the traveler, and the Solar’s annual passage right here is suited to leaps of religion and exploration. However because the Moon strikes into its First Quarter, within the easily-distracted signal of Pisces (Dec. 8, 2024, 7:27 am PST), too many shifting elements, too many issues altering without delay, can knock us off our pins.
The First Quarter Moon at all times urges us to maneuver forward instinctively, to take a step ahead. This explicit one comes with a warning, although – to err on the facet of warning, and to keep away from doing too many issues without delay.
Writing and pictures © 2017-24 by April Elliott Kent
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