"A MODERN CAFETERIA DISPLAYS AN ABUNDANCE OF FOOD, PRODUCTS OF VARIOUS REGIONS. The assimilation of multifarious knowledge through the synthesizing power of the mind. From the One, the many arise in due time. The Original Source gives birth to the mountain stream which, gathering to itself the downflow of rain water, becomes the larger river around which cities are built. These in turn pollute the river on its way to the vast ocean. Humankind, now at the close of a cultural cycle, is able to gather foodstuffs—mental as well as physical—from many regions of the globe. Commodities have provided the impetus for a global trade and thus eventually for a planetary consciousness. However, the results may be satiety and indigestion, and mental confusion caused by lack of discrimination. ASSIMILATION and WASTE."

This Full Moon is emphasized in the Far East and in South America.

It is on the nadir through Moscow, Israel, the Arabian Peninsula, and the Horn of Africa, which means realignment of foundations and security in these areas.

Uranus, that planet of surprises, our wake-up call, runs through Washington DC, Peru, eastern Europe, Moscow, Thailand, and Indonesia.

Iceland sits between Mars and Pluto, a heavy combination. In fact, all of the areas close to both of the poles are running extra strong energy.

TUESDAY DECEMBER 12. Reverberations continue from yesterday’s intense Full Moon energy. However, Moon is in Cancer now, and we turn our consciousness inward. What are the consequences in terms of both national and family security? Home and those people dear to us are important now.

WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 13. This morning carries strong energy for constructive activities. At 2:03 p.m. EST Moon goes VOC. It enters outgoing Leo at 9:09 p.m. We have a 5-hour period when we can somewhat disconnect from collective pressures and demands. Plans for that period built on mutual expectations may hold surprises. This is a great period for inner exploration, creative activity, and taking charge of your life. It’s your time, not the world’s.

THURSDAY DECEMBER 14. Moon in fiery Leo is a fine foil for stimulating the Sagittarian-Aquarian energy of this time. Leo is a take-charge sign, and can harness these freedom-seeking drives in a way which feels good. We take the reins during the next two days, and can accomplish something constructive which is dear to our hearts.

FRIDAY DECEMBER 15. Moon goes VOC at 2:57 p.m. Hard work and responsibility for our own destiny remains the theme of the day, although later this afternoon we may feel like starting an early weekend, perhaps with a relaxing evening at home. Moon enters Virgo at 10:30 p.m. tonight. At 9:30 p.m. Moon opposes Juno, and partners may have some brief opinion differences.
Pay attention to the events of the next 5 days. A major social realignment is occurring.

SATURDAY DECEMBER 16. Moon in Virgo sets off the partisan opinion bickering of Jupiter and Pluto. On the other hand, if we put our attention on real, tangible problems, we can have success in solving them. We may have the urge for generous Christmas shopping now, but hold it. Thrift may be the best policy.

SUNDAY DECEMBER 17. Last Quarter Moon occurs at 7:41 p.m. EST. Moon at 27 Virgo squares Sun at 27 Sagittarius. We are closing our Sagittarian period, that time of year when we feel most expansive. Featured is the Virgo Moon, with its fine powers of analysis. It is time to draw intelligent conclusions from the last three weeks, to sort out the major from the minor, to decide what to send off into the past and what to take with us into the future. Virgo is talented at separating the wheat from the chaff.

The action needed now is to make creative adjustments in our entire life orientation, as we evaluate this Moon month’s shifts in consciousness. In the light of this weekend’s conclusions, how do we expand our lives?

Three other planetary energies, besides the core Sun and Moon, are an intrinsic part of this process, and their foci will be carried into the coming Solar Eclipse New Moon.

Saturn in Taurus is the focal point at this time. Its major responsibility is to pay attention to money. Financial issues at all levels are up for readjustment now.

Sun in Sagittarius may have lofty ideals, but it always wants more—and connected with Saturn in Taurus, more money is the key. This, in fact, rather describes our current political scene. How do we adjust ideals with the bottom line? And do it in a way that’s equitable?

Mars in Libra has a lot to say about this. Mars has been working for justice all month, involved in a tug of war between fairness and greed. What adjustments are we willing to make?

Finally there is Transpluto, an energy of resurrection, in late Leo. (It conjoins Pres. Clinton’s Sun now, and he is a public example of its action.) Transpluto now trines Sun, and great change—in the financial and resource arenas—can flow harmoniously into the future.

Sun now conjoins the Galactic Center, which I picture as the headquarters of the Galactic Federation. We are specially aligned to receive cosmic wisdom at this time. Astronomers are now certain that there is a Black Hole here, and this indicates an intense and sudden shift in status quo reality.

Saturn’s conjunction with the fixed star Algol also indicates a fateful event of great significance. However, changes now, in this Last Quarter, are primarily in consciousness.
With Taurus, Earth itself may be the subject. Perhaps a major earth event will awaken people’s consciousness to the disastrous course we have set.

Juno, a symbol of disenfranchisement, has just entered sacrificial Pisces. This is the position of Al Gore’s Juno. Pisces is the water sign which includes the entire water cycle, crucial for life on earth. In fact, all life cycles are part of Pisces’ domain.

The wheel of this chart set for Washington DC is exactly the same as Al Gore’s natal wheel.

The Sabian Symbol for 27 Virgo is:

"A GROUP OF ARISTOCRATIC LADIES MEET CEREMONIALLY AT A COURT’S FUNCTION. The ability to carry on a revered tradition in order to perpetuate cultural standards of excellence. The undisciplined need to learn REFINEMENT."

MONDAY DECEMBER 18 and TUESDAY DECEMBER 19. Harmony reigns. Relationshiips are loving and good feeling. This is a fine note on which to move into the Solstice-Eclipse period.

WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 20. Moon moves into intense Scorpio early this morning for a three-day sojourn. The Scorpio-Aquarius conflict is highlighted now: Aquarius ready for reform, and Scorpio wanting to hold onto power. This is, however, a release time—releasing the old Moon cycle and releasing the Solar Year. If Aquarius can have a clear enough vision of the future to convince Scorpio to let go, there is in fact no one who is more effective at killing off the past. The lesson here is to be attentive to the call of the future. One way to do this is to meditate this afternoon or evening. Neptune then will lift her veils and allow us a peek into what is to come.

THURSDAY DECEMBER 21. Winter Solstice occurs at 8:38 a.m. EST. This is when the Sun stands still for a moment, and then begins his six-month climb towards the northern skies. This is the longest night of the year in the northern hemisphere, and the shortest in the southern hemisphere.

In the northern hemisphere we consider this the moment of the Sun’s birth for the year, and the chart for this moment is considered prophetic of the year. Many cultures have celebrations and rituals around this important season. The Christian Christmas is even equated to the Birth of the Son.
For astrologers this moment is when the Sun enters the cardinal earth sign of Capricorn. Cardinal signs are the starters, and they initiate each of the four seasons. Now we begin Earth’s year, and as we do this we delve deeply into earth in the form of our inner selves. We draw closer to the family hearth, to our ancestors and relatives—the clan, to our own hearts, and to our spiritual guidance. We remind ourselves of the importance of our deep foundations, and we find security there. We renew our inner selves to be ready again to meet the struggles in the outer world.

This is a serious and sacred time, and old disappointments encountered in this inner journey can be fraught with tragedy. We must remember now, of all times, that our true home is in spirit. It is common, in fact, for people to pass over in this season. The call of spirit is strong now.

We are almost at the end of the Moon cycle, and this means that the influence now is universal. Personal motives should be at a minimum, and we hear the future calling—but not for me, rather for the benefit of all. We begin now to move towards that vision.

Saturn is the star of this show, and Saturn’s job is to build form. In Taurus a new form which can hold the coming shifts in how we deal with money, energy, and resources. Saturn is in the fourth house of the chart set for Washington, attending to building solid foundations.

The issues, conflicts, and adjustments brought up at Last Quarter Moon on Dec. 17 are those which we will take into our new year.

The Washington chart has a Capricorn ascendant. Responsibility is the keynote of the year. Capricorn encourages building and organizing, and especially refers to government and business. The health insurance system is a special focus of this ambitious Capricorn drive.

Sun is in the twelfth house. This house is where we tune into messages from unseen worlds and this, combined with the balsamic moon phase, provides a strong impetus to spiritual growth.

The twelfth house is also a preparatory, or gestational, house. The primary work is behind the scenes, and not ready for fruition. It favors secrecy, which can be a detriment because there is no objective evaluation.

Furthermore, Sun rules the eighth house of mystery, of birth and death, also often imbued with secrecy and taboo.

Moon in Scorpio sits at the top of this chart, where it has reigning influence, and is seen and heard by all. Moon is conjoined by Pallas, the Warrior Queen, and represents feminine power. Pallas Athena in Scorpio has X-ray vision, and knows how to heal deep wounds. She will fight to the death for her people or her cause.

I see Hillary Clinton here. She is a Scorpio Sun, with Pallas in Aquarius at the top of her natal chart. Two other strong Scorpio women who speak out for the people are Sen. Barbara Boxer and Rep. Lynn Woolsey—both from the Bay Area.

Moon also represents the people. I see the people of the United States here, for the natal U.S. Moon in Aquarius is conjoined by Pallas, as is this current Moon in Scorpio.

Pallas in Aquarius sees visions of a better future. Here, Pallas Athena in Scorpio will fight for that envisioned future. In fact, Pallas here is pushed into action by reform-minded Uranus in Aquarius.

Labor, people of color, women, prisoners, and all who feel disenfranchised will be speaking up.

This is a year for the people to speak up loudly and clearly about their survival needs, and a year for the establishment to back off and listen. Individual empowerment needs to become a part of the globalization process.

Individually, reorganizing our lives, speaking our pieces, and building for the future are important. 2001 is a "Three" year, and creativity is the keynote.

The Sabian Symbol for the Moon at 14 Scorpio is:

"TELEPHONE LINEMEN AT WORK INSTALLING NEW CONNECTIONS. The need to establish new channels of communication. THE WILL TO ASSOCIATION or COMPREHENSION."

FRIDAY DECEMBER 22. Moon is VOC in Scorpio for most of this day. Nevertheless, Mercury lends wings to our feet and we can accomplish much. Moon enters Sagittarius at 4:57 p.m. EST, and we’ll be in the mood to begin our Christmas weekend. Tonight we may either want to discuss serious issues—or party. Or both. Moon in Sag does love to live it up. Hanukkah starts today.

SATURDAY DECEMBER 23. Moon may be in jolly Sag, but this day is intense. Power is in the air, and we can push ourselves beyond realistic limits. In addition, nervous energy is at a peak now. These are ripe conditions for coming down with an illness. Not to speak of tomorrow’s Solar Eclipse, which often zaps vitality. In other words, TAKE IT EASY today. Don’t let yourself be pushed out of shape by holiday demands.

SUNDAY DECEMBER 24. Mars freshly into go-for-broke Scorpio is beginning again to set the pressure-filled fixed cross in motion. At this point we would maybe rather skip the holidays. Especially as we are today imbued with a very strong desire for freedom. We do not want to be put into the family box, but we may feel it necessary to endure that confinement. We may compromise by eliminating old forms, but declaring our commitment to tradition.

Consciousness of those who are weak, hungry, and otherwise dispossessed is very strong. Participation in some Christmas charity now could be a blessing for all concerned. Spiritual impulses are strong.

Today we begin a new 1-year cycle of liberation in and through love.

MONDAY DECEMBER 25. All of North America except the northwest section, and most of Central America receive a special present this year. It comes in the middle of Hanukkah, at the end of Ramadan, and on Christmas Day—a special Solstice gift from the universe.

Eclipse Viewing

Today the Moon covers part of the Sun to give us a Solar Eclipse. The action starts along the West Coast where the Sun may rise in partial eclipse. The further east you live, the later the Moon’s shadow arrives.

Also, the further north and east you live, the more the Moon covers the Sun. In Mexico, less than 20% of the Sun will be hidden. On Baffin Island in Canada, 72% of the Sun will disappear.

The Eclipse builds to exactness for 2 hours, then takes another two hours to completion, so you do have time for viewing, assuming cloud conditions allow visibility. DO NOT LOOK DIRECTLY AT THE SUN, although it is tempting to do so because it becomes less bright than usual. You can watch it by watching the crescent shadows which it makes through the leaves or through a pinhole viewer, which is simple to make. If you want to look at the Sun, use a mylar eclipse filter or a piece of welders’ glass of at least #14.

It is difficult to notice the difference in sunlight of a partial eclipse until the moon covers half of the sun. However, it will show up from the very beginning in looking at the shadows projected through some type of pinhole.

Here are some times for maximum eclipse at various cities, and the amount of coverage:

San Francisco 8:21 a.m. 19%
Vancouver 8:31 a.m. 39%
Edmonton 9:44 a.m. 53%
Dallas 10:57 a.m. 35%
St. Louis 11:11 a.m. 49%
Detroit 12:27 p.m. 57%
Boston 12:52 p.m. 58%

Eclipses are major catalysts.

The ancients believed that Solar Eclipses were momentous events, and they were right. They also believed that an eclipse path was impregnated with energy, and they were right.

The Sun and the Moon, called Lights by astrologers, have primary influence on life on Earth. We are constantly bathed in their joint electromagnetic and gravitational fields. Tidal changes are an obvious manifestation of this action. When this field suddenly changes, as it does during an eclipse, the influence is profound.

Big eclipse changes commonly appear during the weeks before and after an eclipse, but eclipse changes continue to appear, even over a period of years. It’s as though that point in the heavens becomes a special activator for any body which transits over it, even the Moon each month.

Correlated events occur both before and after the eclipse. When you think of time as circular instead of linear, this makes sense.

The easiest period to observe changes is the one and a half to two year period during which the eclipses (most often four per year) transit a particular polarity. Obvious changes tend to commonly appear two weeks before or after an eclipse, when the Sun/Moon phase changes, or three months before or after an eclipse, when Sun squares that sensitive point.

After two years, you can notice that the affairs governed by that polarity have changed dramatically, even when no points in your chart were exactly conjoined or squared by eclipses.

Eclipses have profound and permanent effects. The more one studies them, the more one sees the profundity.

Solar Eclipses stimulate deep changes in consciousness. Lunar Eclipses are more often manifested in physical events.

An example is the last Solar Eclipse, a partial one, which moved across the United States. This Eclipse, in May 1994, conjoined the U.S. Vesta, at 20 Taurus. Vesta, Goddess of the Hearth, shows the center of security.

One year later, with a Lunar Eclipse at 25 Libra in April, the Federal Bldg in Oklahoma City was bombed. This Eclipse squared the U.S. Mercury-Pluto opposition. The nation’s sense of power was challenged.

Timothy McVeigh was found guilty of the bombing. The papers talked extensively about his life history, where he was born, where he did this, or that—the many places he’d lived. It turned out that every single town mentioned followed the exact track of the Solar Eclipse, from Maine to Arizona! Oklahoma City was the center of that eclipse.

This Christmas Eclipse occurs close to the Arctic Circle. Its path connects both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and moves across all of the polar waters feeding into North America.

I suspect it means a big jump in global warming, so that all of North America recognizes its consequences.

The Capricorn Eclipse New Moon occurs at 5 Capricorn at 12:22 p.m. EST. This New Moon, the first one of the year, is always about how we get it together on the earth plane. That is Capricorn’s job, to climb this mountain and get to the top. Now we begin to organize our coming year—to make our resolutions, projections, plans and hopes. Our Holiday celebrations close the old year and open the new.

Mercury here exactly joins Sun and Moon. It is picking up and disseminating information at an incredible clip, and that information is about developing our solid foundations and our inner authority here on Earth. Realism hits us in the face. Cold hard facts show up to be dealt with.

Yet, we may not know what it’s really about. Mercury’s perceptual powers may be blotted out by being so close to Sun/Moon.

But we continue to seek answers, expand our views, and search for understanding. We may come to understand truly that the world is one, and we are all joined together. Communication is the central theme of this New Moon.

And it is communication for a purpose. We feel responsible. Most simply, for our own grounding and our own financial circumstances, secondarily for using the nation’s and the world’s resources properly, and finally, for the state of the Earth
Mars has just entered Scorpio, and we have the will and the power to accomplish whatever drives us. Mars in forceful Scorpio squares Neptune in Aquarius. This gives a push to our spiritual impulses, and adds spiritual backing to whatever we do. It is also confusing at times, because Neptune’s big picture is indeed very very big.

Neptune rules the oceans and hydrological and climatological cycles. Also oil. Mars means energy and discord around those, and other, Neptunian domains.

Mars in Scorpio is a skillful and willing fighter, and there will be conflict between different sets of ideals and ideas. Pallas in Scorpio, the master strategist, is primed to support beneficial changes for her people, and will put up with no nonsense.

Mars and Pallas are both warriors, and are now both in a pugnacious sign. Challenges are likely, as the struggle for dignity and freedom continues.

The indecisiveness of the earlier part of the month shifts to a desire to do what must be done to make one’s life work.

The current Eclipse axis is Cancer-Capricorn, the polarity of family, government, business, roots, and security. These are the Solstice signs, the major markers of Earth’s yearly cycle. The first of these eclipses occurred last July 1, and the last one will occur June 24, 2002.

The June 24, 2002 Eclipse is a Lunar Eclipse at 4 Cancer, opposed to this one. Fallout from our Christmas Eclipse will manifest then, as well as during this entire two-year period.

Cancer-Capricorn is the major polarity in the U.S. chart. Five of the ten major planets are in either one of those signs. Thus we can know that this two-year period will mark major changes in the U.S. By the time we are through, our economic and security interests will be realigned,

The nation’s birthday, George Bush’s birthday, and the Republican Convention were in the maelstrom of the three July eclipses which began the current cycle. It is likely that they sound its themes for the nation. We saw the parade of corporate money and influence at the Convention, as well as protest against it. At the same time the Foreign Relations Council met and put together a paper detailing "The Next Financial Crisis." The stock market, in fact, did begin to slide.

And during much of the month Yassir Arafat and Ehud Barak were holed up in Camp David, but could come to no agreements about peace.

This Eclipse opposes the U.S. Venus, ruler of the Libra midheaven. It affects the tranquility, balance, authority, and finances of the U.S. Venus in Cancer likes her comfort and security, and now that security is changing. Cancer is also a multi-racial sign, and racial problems will come to the fore.

With Cancer, Moon is important. The U.S. Moon is in Aquarius, showing the people’s desire for freedom. The push of the people for democratic rights is more pronounced from summer 2000 to summer 2002.

Eclipse patterns more or less repeat about every 19 years. The U.S. always undergoes a major realignment with this Cancer-Capricorn pattern, e.g. in 1945 when WW II ended and the U.S. dropped atomic bombs on Japan, in 1963 when Pres. Kennedy was assassinated, and in 1982 when Pres. Reagan upped defense spending enormously, increased corporate subsidies, and at the same time greatly reduced spending on social programs.

Right now many people are feeling that the future is unpredictable. In fact, during such a period of instability as the U.S. is now undergoing, it is unpredictable.

Can we turn around this nation to begin to solve some of the problems created by the corporate steamroller, or will that steamroller increase its destructiveness to basic life?

We each have a special opportunity during these two years to make choices in our own lives which support life, earth, and human dignity. Every eclipse now opens up a window of opportunity for positive change.

Eclipses help us move in the direction of our intentions. INTENTION is thus the key.

The Sabian Symbol for 5 Capricorn is:

"INDIANS ON THE WARPATH. WHILE SOME MEN ROW A WELL-FILLED CANOE, OTHERS IN IT PERFORM A WAR DANCE. The mobilization of physical and emotional energies in a spirit of conquest. The Indian Chief may find it convenient to arouse the war spirit—perhaps under slight provocation—in order to more firmly establish his authority. The group affirms its solidarity by taking the offensive. AGGRESSIVENESS."

This New Moon is over eastern Canada, eastern U.S., Cuba, Panama, and Peru. It rises through New Zealand, Micronesia, and Hawaii and sets through the North Atlantic and through Africa (scene of next summer’s Solar Eclipse). It is on the nadir, setting new foundations, for Southeast Asia and Indonesia.

Pugnacious Mars runs through Moscow, Turkey, Palestine, and eastern Africa. Other centers for energizing Mars are Korea, Japan, the Philippines, Indonesia, Australia, Micronesia, and Brazil.

TUESDAY DECEMBER 26. Moon continues in Capricorn. Capricorn is an ambitious, hard-working sign. From that standpoint, work is favored. On the other hand solar eclipses can zap energy, new moon is a vulnerable time, and it is best to take it easy, at least as much as possible.

WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 27. Moon is VOC today until it enters Aquarius at 1:25 p.m. We are energized for the rest of the day, perhaps into a late night. Gatherings with friends will be lively.

THURSDAY DECEMBER 28. We feel deeply the need to make a strong move towards greater independence. Today we start mobilizing our forces.

FRIDAY DECEMBER 29. The resolve to increase our freedom grows, but at the same time we are confronted with obstacles and limitations. We are moving into the close of a cycle begun at the Scorpio Full Moon of last May 18. What was on your plate then? Use of joint resources such that security is enhanced is the theme. The fixed cross, which always indicates power struggles, appears again. Moon goes VOC at 3:47 p.m., leaving us to reflect on our true values.

SATURDAY DECEMBER 30 and SUNDAY DECEMBER 31. Moon is in Pisces this last weekend of the year. Energy flows very well, and can be imbued with love, compassion, and the larger view. Time in nature and near water would be a great foundation for starting our new year. The Goddess is speaking now.

Themes for the coming year which we can incorporate into our New Years celebrations are healing energy which reaches out to the world, and a willingness to fight for social ideals.