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THURSDAY DECEMBER 1. New Moon at 10 Sagittarius occurs at 10:01 a.m. EST. With this New Moon, we come into the light of spirit. We have gone through the tunnel of darkness, and now we can feel ourselves uplifted and supported in new ways.

This Moon establishes something lasting, for it makes a grand trine with Saturn in Leo and with North Node in Aries. It also connects with the very important fixed T-square of Saturn, Jupiter, and Mars, the big significator of the next year. I discussed this challenging formation extensively in General Influences, which it would be well to reread now. This New Moon sets our new deal rolling.

Sagittarius is a fortunate influence, for it establishes an atmosphere of success and good fortune. Visionary qualities are high now, and we can feel much more optimistic than we did even a few weeks ago. Help and hope are on the way. Yes, Saturn makes difficult squares, but this lovely fire trine will carry us safely through the barricades.

Sun/Moon now conjoin the fixed star Antares, the red star in the constellation of Scorpio. This conjunction gives extra energy to this New Moon, along with enhancing the risk-taking impulses of Sagittarius.

In Washington DC, Jupiter in Scorpio is overhead, and Mars in Taurus is on the nadir. This is a potent combo, determined to fight for its investments, whatever they may be. It is oriented towards the military, as is the fixed star Antares which, in fact, squares George Bush’s Mars in Virgo. He may find within himself an optimistic feeling in regard to military aggression.

In fact, we all have a renewed vigor to fight for our rights and our place in the Sun.

The Sabian Symbol for 10 Sagittarius is:

“A THEATRICAL REPRESENTATION OF A GOLDEN-HAIRED GODDESS OF OPPORTUNITY. Society’s efforts at dramatizing the greatness of what it offers to the ambitious person. Civilization as a process demands the goading of individuals to spend their vital energies in the pursuit of achievements which, while fulfilling the individual’s ambition and greed, nevertheless generate various forms of what we call 'progress.' The reference is to the drive for advancement along “human, all too human” paths of growth. FORCED GROWTH.”

FRIDAY DECEMBER 2. Moon conjoins Pluto this morning to give us a power jolt. There can be an explosion or a power struggle as Pluto is emotionally stimulated. Then, at 10:17 a.m. EST, Moon goes VOC for the remainder of the day. We are left hanging with this subconscious irritation of Pluto, unresolved. Relief comes when Moon enters Capricorn at 8:42 p.m., and we meet mundane reality.

SATURDAY DECEMBER 3. The New Moon’s promise of Sun trine Saturn occurs today, and we will be determined to set something in motion. This is an excellent work day, with aspects favoring success. We can use the great creativity of the fixed T-cross positively and productively.

Tonight, at 9:24 p.m., Mercury turns direct, and gives us the green light to move ahead. At this time, the powerful fixed grand square is in effect. Furthermore, in Washington DC all four of its planets—Jupiter, Saturn, Mars, and Neptune, are on expressive chart angles, where each one is sure to be manifested. Mars is overhead, beaming down aggression, Neptune is on the Descendant, clouding the nation’s relationships, Jupiter is on the nadir, lending optimism and the weight of authority to the endeavor, and Saturn is on the Ascendant, exerting personal authority.

The Jupiter-Mars opposition rests exactly on Dick Cheney’s Saturn, in his ninth house of foreign relations, while Saturn conjoins Bush’s Pluto. Indeed, ambition and greed do show here.

Venus and Mercury have a productive sextile, which shows ease of acquiring what is desired. Venus and Mercury are both slow-moving now, and this sextile lasts through December 12. Mercury begins its direct trip at 25 Scorpio, and its sextile with Venus at this time promises benefits.
All in all, a very good day.

SUNDAY DECEMBER 4. Moon continues in ambitious Capricorn, with loving aspects this morning. Enjoy a special brunch with somebody you care for. At 1:56 p.m. EST, Moon goes VOC, and remains void for the rest of the day. This can be a very pleasant day, and we can particularly enjoy family, in unusual ways. It’s also a good day to exercise, or at least be active. Tonight Mars opposes Jupiter, and warrior energy is on the loose. We can find ourselves in conflict, or being impulsive. Instead, choose a goal today, and go for it. If anger arises, don’t let it be destructive.

MONDAY DECEMBER 5. Moon in Aquarius sets in motion the grand fixed square. Humanitarian ideals, and bottom-line values are the two major aspects of this square. Today the focus is on the ideals, and we may feel a need to struggle for their expression. Our nervous systems begin running in high gear now, for tonight Chiron, the Rainbow Bridge between personal and transpersonal, enters the sign of Aquarius. It will travel through Aquarius until 2010.

Chiron raises our vibratory rate, and so does Aquarius. Even so, this will be a much more grounded Chiron than the usual Chiron in Aquarius. This is because it conjoins Venus in Capricorn, and sextiles Mercury in Scorpio.

Chiron conjunct Venus is all about healing values. We begin now with Capricorn’s institutional values, but by the end of the month, Venus in Aquarius conjoins Chiron twice more, and the focus is on progressive values.

Night on the east coast has a serious cast. On the west coast, it’s party time.

TUESDAY DECEMBER 6. Moon continues in Aquarius with far-out aspects. Listen to your intuition; new ideas and images can come flooding in. We are communicative and want to talk, and perhaps argue, with others. On that note, at 4:58 p.m., Moon goes VOC, and we can relax with friends.

WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 7. Today we go with the flow, with Moon in Pisces. Although Pisces isn’t exactly a smooth flow these days, with Uranus adding unpredictability and excitement to that sign. Once we hit the Uranus bump, around noon EST, the rest of the day should be smooth sailing. We can be open to a sense of renewed power, and images of new possibilities.

THURSDAY DECEMBER 8. First Quarter Moon at 17 Pisces occurs at 4:36 a.m. First Quarter is when we make the breakthroughs necessary to fulfill the new moon cycle. We tend to feel energized and goal-oriented. Both Sagittarius and Pisces can be expansive, and spacey, and our various options may feel confusing. Perhaps there are too many choices. What do we choose for a focus? We may feel beset by subconscious, unseen urges which are hard to define. Late this afternoon Moon squares powerful Pluto, and we could erupt with explosive impact as we release those subconscious forces. Compassion also comes to the fore today, and perhaps anger with cruelty as well.

This would be a great day for stream-of-consciousness journal writing, where we can let it all hang out. Tonight’s aspects are soft and loving, and super for being involved with music or film.

The Sabian Symbol for 17 Pisces is:

“AN EASTER PARADE. The capacity inherent in all great sociocultural Images to unite the members of a community in a display of excellence. The unifying power of great myths and symbols in truly organic and self-perpetuating cultures. COLLECTIVE PEAK EXPERIENCES.”

At the New Moon which began this Moon family, there were marches and demonstrations against repression. They were peak experiences.

FRIDAY DECEMBER 9. Each day we feature a DAILY SPECIAL. Today’s Daily Special is Mars at long last turning direct, at 9 Taurus, after nearly nine weeks of traveling retrograde! Aries is Mars’ sign, and Moon is obligingly in Aries today. Even so, we might be a bit hesitant, for Mars doesn’t make its turn until tonight. Times of directional change are conducive to wakefulness.

Moon in Aries is enthusiastic. There are many minor aspects during the day which encourage us to take action towards our goals, and Aries doesn’t need much encouragement.

Because Mars is stationary, its energy is extra strong. Often Martian things are set in motion when Mars turns direct. It is a time for conscious caution, for we can be more pushy than we realize. Even weather can be extreme now.

Mars now really is larger than life, for its closest aspect is its opposition to Jupiter, who expands all it touches. This opposition will slowly grow to exactness during the next five weeks, like the moon grows to fullness. We are building up to an assertive endeavor. It is exact on January 14.

Sun now conjoins Cheney’s Mars, energizing it. Juno opposes it, indicating that as a result of Cheney’s aggression, someone is suffering. Moon now conjoins North Node, and trines Saturn, joining all human beings around the world.

With Mercury and Mars now both direct, we are eager to be up, out, and tackling the big world. Do it quickly, before Venus turns retrograde on Christmas Eve.

SATURDAY DECEMBER 10. Moon continues in energetic Aries with fine aspects. Activity today is strong and successful. The productive long-lasting sextile of Mercury and Venus is exact again. We can make gains in getting what we want.

SUNDAY DECEMBER 11. Moon enters earthy Taurus at 8:46 a.m. EST, and at the same time Ceres enters organized Capricorn. Adventurous fire signs dominate this month, and it’s calming to bring some earth into the mix. In addition, Moon’s aspects today are with asteroids, who are concerned with daily life. If you can, relax a bit. This is a high-strung month.

Around midnight, Moon occults our freshly-direct Mars, giving it pause on its forward journey. This eclipse of Mars is visible in Siberia. In the chart set for Washington DC, it occurs in the 8th house of finances, opposing Jupiter in the 2nd house of money.

The fixed cross is stimulated throughout the early morning hours, and we may be wakeful.

MONDAY DECEMBER 12. Moon continues in Taurus, the money sign. At noon it squares Neptune, the planet of dreams, and we may be ready for a siesta after lunch. Moon’s aspects today are primarily with Vesta in Cancer and Ceres in Capricorn. Security, and taking care of business have top priority.

TUESDAY DECEMBER 13. A good breakfast, and some loving connections, are in the air this morning. Information is on our minds this afternoon, and some revelations may shake us up. Tonight we access Pallas Athena in Sagittarius—the visionary strategist. All in all, an interesting and varied day.

WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 14. Moon is in quicksilver Gemini, and her lively aspects start very early this morning. Communication of all kinds is favored today, and it may well be weighty, important information which needs conveying.

THURSDAY DECEMBER 15. Full Moon at 24 Gemini occurs at 11:15 a.m. EST. Gemini Moon concerns specific information which grounds the philosophical Sagittarius Sun’s energy. The Gemini-Sagittarius axis is a mental polarity, and we can be sure that our minds will be busy. They will be not only busy, but renovated and transformed.

For this is a Plutonic Full Moon. Pluto, the Regenerator, conjoins Sun and opposes Moon. Something dies in order to make way for new birth. RENEWAL is the key word.

This is also the Sun’s annual conjunction with Pluto, when powerful Pluto gets its marching orders for the coming year from Sun, director of the show. Whatever is illuminated with today’s Full Moon will be the basic theme of the year’s transformation process.

Not only is the fixed grand cross alive and well, but the super-significant first Jupiter-Saturn square is moving into exactness, which triggers action in regard to social challenge. (The second and third squares, continuing the process, will occur in June and October of 2006.) Again, in Washington DC we have the 2nd through 8th houses of money and finances involved, as well as the 6th house of problem-solving.

In Washington, Uranus is rising, indicating that surprises are in store. Sun and Pluto are in the 10th house, showing the power of the U.S. government.

(This Moon could bring to prominence John Edwards’ War on Poverty. John Edwards was John Kerry’s running mate, for which he quit the Senate. He could have returned to his lucrative profession of suing big corporations on behalf of little people (successfully—he was skillful), but instead he has been campaigning to eliminate poverty in the U.S. This is a return to the traditional progressive Democratic Party roots, and I suspect that it will catch fire when the time is right. John Edwards is a strong Gemini.)

This Moon family began with the June 17 New Moon of 2004. On that day the Summer of Truth was launched, with whistleblowers Sybil Edmunds and Daniel Ellsberg speaking out.

We are certainly set up to experience a Full Moon of Truth now. This refers to the truth of our own lives as well as to the world in which we live.

At 12:11 p.m., Moon goes VOC for the rest of the day, and we have a lot to absorb. Late tonight, the Pluto aspects set in. Sleep may not be peaceful.

The Sabian Symbol for 24 Gemini is

“CHILDREN SKATING OVER A FROZEN VILLAGE POND. The use of inhibiting circumstances for the development of character and a transcendent approach to the environment. The developing mind can learn to use restrictions and the disciplining power of 'cold' external responses to rise above the outer 'freeze' and to grow in strength and skill. Humans’ TRIUMPH OVER ENTROPY.”

FRIDAY DECEMBER 16. Moon in sensitive Cancer has easy aspects. There is a harmonious flow of energy, especially in regard to memories, home, and family matters. At the same time there is the enormous pressure of the exact hit of the major Jupiter-Saturn square, which occurs late tonight. Perhaps too much has been exposed. Can we accept the reality which has come our way? What can we do about it? Do we feel a need to make changes in ourselves or in our world? Are they being made for us, and do we need to accept them? We may be feeling stressed out and irritable. Today we can get in touch with those feelings. Moon goes VOC at 7:33 p.m. EST, and remains void until Sunday morning.

SATURDAY DECEMBER 17. The exact Jupiter-Saturn square occurs just after midnight, which puts it between yesterday and today. Mars is very much in the picture, so that we have a Jupiter-Mars opposition ready to conquer the world. And there sits Saturn squaring them, putting a lid on both of them. We may feel our enthusiasms limited or restricted in some way. But Saturn deals with reality, and those limitations show how things really are. Reality is sometimes disappointing.

On a larger note, we are working now to shape both our roles in the world, and the kind of world which is receiving us. Altogether we have 10 more months for this process—which we are now setting in motion.

We will also have time to revise our values, associations, and relationships to make them more appropriate for this process, for on Christmas Eve, Venus turns retrograde for six weeks.

During Venus’ stationing process, beginning now, Venus conjoins Chiron for a very long conjunction in early Aquarius. Chiron works towards healing through a process of realignment (chiropractor, for example). Our realignment will be a progressive reform which looks to the future. This is also part of the Jupiter-Saturn square dynamic.

Pallas in Sagittarius is also part of this dynamic, and she helps us to move into the future. She quincunxes Mars, urging him to leave his comfortable rut in Taurus.

All of the Full Moon dynamics are also part of this rolling into motion a big—and wrenching—change. VOC Moon gives us a chance to assimilate it in our own way, and to regroup.

It will be a very emotional time for the U.S. and for Bush, for Moon now is at 14 Cancer, the degree of their Suns.

SUNDAY DECEMBER 18. Moon enters Leo at 9:18 a.m., and we can regain our balance. However, immediately Moon opposes Chiron and Venus to bring their long seeding process to our attention. Venus is moving very slowly now, and our likes, loves, values, affinities, and finances will be prominent in our lives. Notice now what is important to you. Mercury dominates this day, and our minds are moving quickly and with new ideas. Perhaps our bodies are moving as well. We may be wakeful tonight.

MONDAY DECEMBER 19. Moon in passionate, determined Leo is moving through the fixed square, illuminating our conflicts and responsibilities. Afternoon and evening favor tuning into higher channels. This may be a difficult day, and some time alone would be helpful.

TUESDAY DECEMBER 20. This is a powerful and creative day. Our changes can flow into new alignments. Moon goes VOC at 8:08 p.m. EST, and enters Virgo at 9:39 p.m.

WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 21. This is a very busy day, with much going on. Virgo Moon, today’s influence, always has much to do. Again we have a very active Mercury. Once Mercury and Mars turned direct, they really set out to express themselves this month! Together they can hurt, so do be careful about what you might say, especially when you’re angry.

In the midst of the hubbub occurs Winter Solstice.

Winter Solstice celebrates one of the year’s four great seasonal power gates. This is, essentially, how we measure the Sun’s annual cycle. The new year is born at Winter Solstice, when the Sun is at its lowest point of the year. This is like a new moon, but it is a New Sun. (The Son is born.) At Spring Equinox the Sun has its first quarter, the most dynamic moment of the cycle. At Summer Solstice, there is fulfillment, similar to the full moon for Moon, and at Autumnal Equinox, we harvest the year’s wisdom, and begin to release that which is no longer needed, as at the fourth quarter moon.

Sun enters Capricorn at 1:35 p.m. EST to mark the moment of Winter Solstice. At this time, Mars is rising in Washington, and Jupiter is setting. This is the major significator of the Solstice Chart. Mars with Jupiter is the combination of The Warrior, and thus we have much energy available to us for the winter and for the entire next year.

Mars and Jupiter are part of the current fixed T-square, so of course the third leg, Saturn in Leo, is highlighted as well. But its placement is more obscure, hidden in the 4th house of home and security. And Saturn’s opposition to Neptune, which creates a grand square, is still wide. However, Mars, the fastest mover in this quartet, is beginning to stir now, and it will square Neptune in mid-January.This coincides with the Cancer Full Moon, creating a kind of climax to the events set in motion in December. This January climax will be, however, only a step in the year’s major process, the Jupiter-Saturn square. This Solstice Chart shows this fixed square process to actively dominate the coming year.

Sun now is in the 9th house of foreign affairs. This house also includes politics, the law, religion, and the press. These will be the areas emphasized for the next year. Sun has an easy trine to Virgo Moon, as well as to the Taurus ascendant. Thus we have a grand trine in earth, which encourages us to be practical and reality-oriented.

The influential Venus-Chiron conjunction is in the 10th house of goals, profession, government, and the public. A reform-minded realignment of values will dominate our public life. Our personal goals will also look to the future.

Neptune and Uranus, which facilitate deep changes in consciousness, are in the 11th house of Congress and of corporations. This is hopeful for positive public change. And in fact, Uranus there has an exact opposition to Moon in Virgo, showing that the people’s need for better problem-solving will push Congresspeople towards more independence.

The 2nd and 8th houses of money, resources, and finances show much illusion and greed still governing that arena. Pluto in the 8th, and conjoined the Sun, indicates transformation of investments. The entire economic arena is likely to be a major sector of change. Mercury conjoined Pallas Athena there gives us excellent strategic abilities in meeting financial problems.

Vesta herself in the bottom of the chart shows how basic is protecting the home front, and all of those things which mean security.

The prominence of Mars shows extreme weather, and frequent storms. The earth signs, and Saturn, bring cold. This chart promises a severe winter. An ominous sign of lack of preparation by the U.S. is the U.S. boycott of a major climate conference in Montreal, happening as I write, to set new global goals to deal with greenhouse gases—now said by scientists to be the highest in the last 650,000 years.

Sun at Solstice is on the midheaven through central United States, and on the nadir through central Asia and India.

THURSDAY DECEMBER 22. Moon continues in workaholic Virgo, and we are newly energized by yesterday’s aspects. This is an intense day, with perhaps a power explosion tonight, as emotions become overloaded. At this time, 11:30 p.m. EST, Moon goes VOC until tomorrow morning.

FRIDAY DECEMBER 23. Moon goes into Libra at 10:26 a.m. EST. Shortly afterwards it reaches Last Quarter at 3 Libra. There it gives the Solstice Sun a go-ahead.

In the chart set for Washington DC, Sun is again in the 8th house of economic affairs, along with Pluto, the transformer and renovator. Moon is again in the 5th house of speculation, but now in the sign of Libra, which seeks balance. However, the square to Sun, and a trine to disruptive Chiron will tend to put it out of balance. The money houses are again being emphasized, as they have been all month.

Neptune in the 10th house will cast a veil of glamour, or deception, on public affairs, and Libra Moon, who wants harmony, may accept this illusion as reality. At the same time, Neptune in Aquarius strives for humanistic ideals. Messages may be confusing.

Saturn in Leo at the bottom of the chart puts government, or authority, clearly in charge of events now.

The Sabian Symbol for 3 Libra is

“THE DAWN OF A NEW DAY REVEALS EVERYTHING CHANGED. The person who plays the role is an INNOVATOR.”

SATURDAY DECEMBER 24. Moon continues in sociable Libra with really excellent aspects. Our intuition us operating at high speed, and at the same time we can be grounded and practical.

Today’s DAILY FEATURE: Venus turns retrograde. She has just entered Aquarius and joined up with Chiron, and the excitement of it all may be a bit too much. She’s going back into the traditions of Capricorn to reconsider this sudden opening to the future, and pick up some threads from the past. During this retrograde period, we internalize and review such Venusian concerns as values, priorities, money, and our affections. Money is especially on the front burner, for Venus and Chiron are now in the second house of money—as are Sun and Ceres. Venus turns direct on February 3 at 17 Capricorn.

SUNDAY DECEMBER 25. Christmas Day, and we continue with the daily specials. Today it is Venus, just having turned retrograde, conjoining Chiron for the second time. When Venus was direct, and just into Aquarius, she conjoined Chiron on December 18. This entire last week has been a strong Venus-Chiron week, and life has not been “normal.” This will be a very different Christmas. Venus and Chiron will have their third and final conjunction in mid-March, again with money houses emphasized. That will complete the values-realignment process which is beginning now.

Moon goes VOC at 10:52 a.m. EST, perhaps after a discussion of weighty matters, and remains VOC in Libra for the entire day. We will want to talk and discuss with people, and we will have plenty to talk about. Tonight at 9:04 p.m., Moon enters Scorpio. Soon after, at 11:42 p.m., Moon in Scorpio squares the newly-retrograde Venus in Aquarius, and there may be fireworks—and excitement. This is the main message which Venus will carry with her on her retrograde journey.

MONDAY DECEMBER 26. Moon is in intense Scorpio, and we can delve into mysteries and dark hidden recesses. This morning we get ourselves in gear, and this afternoon we work hard. Just as Christmas was an odd day, this will be an odd day. We may want to finish it tonight with some soothing music.

TUESDAY DECEMBER 27. Moon is VOC in Scorpio for the entire day. VOC means that life does not go as planned. There are unexpected happenings and turns. However, we are still under the dynamic, probing Scorpio influence. This evening we have another daily feature: Mars squares Saturn to push us along in our current social transformation. Mars is overhead in Washington, and Saturn is rising. This is a harsh combination.

WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 28. Oh, relief! We move out of the heavy Scorpio vibration into lighter, more optimistic Sagittarius. Feelings are beneficent and freedom-seeking. We do still have our daily specials to keep us on our toes: Today three of the asteroids are prominent, and women may be featured in the news. Religion and labor may be the contexts of their activities. A strong desire for freedom may enter into the relationship calculus. The torture situation may come to a head. Weather, too, may be highlighted. Tonight life is serious.

THURSDAY DECEMBER 29. Moon in adventurous Sag has conscious-changing aspects. We can move our brains into new realms of awareness. Tonight power is in the air—a tango kind of vibration. Visualize what you intend to manifest with the coming new moon.

FRIDAY DECEMBER 30. Moon is in serious Capricorn today. It is dark-of-the-moon time, and we can relax and simply give ourselves up to the universe. (Don’t let conscientious Capricorn—the 24/7 on-duty sign—give us a hard time about it!)

Tonight at 10:12 p.m. EST, New Moon at 10 Capricorn occurs. This moon is truly universal. It ties in closely to almost everything in the chart for this moment.

This is the first new moon of the new season, and arrives just in time for us to make practical plans for the new year. Sun-Moon’s close trine to Mars in Taurus, which is part of the powerful fixed T-square, will help us to manifest them in reality.

However, an out-of-bounds moon provides a joker in the deck. It does not follow rules or guidance. Moon represents the people, our daily lives, and the weather. Anything can happen.

Saturn in Leo is also closely involved. Saturn is pushing us to take charge of ourselves, to be independent, and to be guided by our own inner authority.

Pluto conjoins Mercury, to help us be more conscious of the enormous changes now occurring, and also to transform our thinking and attitudes. The year ahead will be mentally powerful. A year from now, our ideas about life, and about ourselves, will be radically different. Old paradigms are dissolving.

Pluto/Mercury also spreads, or disseminates, things which transform life, such as ideas, propaganda, and viruses.

In the chart set for Washington, nearly half of the stellar bodies are in the 4th house of foundations. With this New Moon, we begin to set new foundations for the U.S. and for each of its residents. On the cusp of the 4th house, which is its doorway, is 13 Sagittarius, the degree of the U.S. Ascendant. With Sag, there is a need to be free, which can translate to recklessness. However, savvy Pallas Athena, sitting at the bottom of the chart, is guarding this doorway. She has both strategic and protective abilities. She can create boundaries to control the reckless Pluto/Mercury combo, as well as, hopefully, the out-of-bounds Moon. She does have her hands full, however.

Opposite Pallas, exactly overhead, is Juno in Gemini, at the degree of the U.S. Descendant. At the top of the chart, Juno is what the world sees. Partnership is one face of Juno. In this case, it is partnership on U.S. terms. Abuse is another face of Juno. As she partners with what she perceives as power, that power can lose respect for her, and she can become lost in an abusive relationship. The U.S. policy of torture, now being seen by the rest of the world, is such an example. As this becomes more widely known, it may become a subject of general discussion.

Juno was Goddess of the Seasons, and her prominence in this chart indicates that weather will be central. It will be extreme weather, and the combination of water and air continue to be instrumental.

Ceres conjoined Sun show that issues of nurturing of all kinds are wrapped up in our goals. In Capricorn, it can mean nurturing of corporations and of the establishment, also of elders. In general, Ceres refers to all issues of food and labor.

The upcoming month promises to be very interesting, with the U.S. again in a pivotal spot. Remember that Venus is retrograde, and we are taking another look at old Venusian issues, such as love and money. People from our past are apt to enter our lives now.

We may be wakeful tonight, restless for action.

The Sabian Symbol for 10 Capricorn is

“AN ALBATROSS FEEDING FROM THE HAND OF A SAILOR. The overcoming of fear and its rewards. The communion of love and compassion can bring together the most disparate of lives. The power of such a culture of harmlessness and compassion generates TRUST everywhere.”

SATURDAY DECEMBER 31. Did you think we were through with daily specials? Not yet. Moon continues in ambitious Capricorn, but it is VOC for the entire day. However, another important conjunction occurs in the midst of a VOC moon—which renders its outcome unpredictable. Today we have the exact conjunction of Mercury and Pluto. This sets in motion a cycle of mental extremism which lasts for the next year.

Yesterday’s great 4th house gathering is now squarely in the 1st house. But there is no Pallas Athena on the Ascendant for protection. Pluto/Mercury are squarely on the Ascendant, broadcasting out their message. This combination is about influencing the masses through words and ideas. Especially in Sagittarius, it is the primo propaganda combination. (GB has this combination, also in his 1st house.)

With Mercury representing movement in general, the Pluto/Mercury combination can signify the propagation of a variety of things, not only ideas. Viruses are one example, bombs are another, as is radiation. We can include everything traveling through the air and spreading to the masses. With Pluto it is extreme, and it can be either healing and life-giving, or toxic and death-dealing.

Jupiter rules this Sagittarius-rising chart, and Jupiter now in Scorpio adds to the killing ability of this combo.

Our old friend Juno closely connects with all of this. She is in Gemini in the 6th house, indicating the importance of air and of health.

The 2nd and 8th houses of money, resources, and crises are full. Crises in the financial sector may induce the manipulation of public perception which we are seeing in the 1st house. Wag the Dog looks to be alive and well.

Moon in Capricorn (out-of-bounds, remember) opposes Vesta in Cancer. Business and security are on everyone’s minds. Outcome? Unpredictable.

We may be depending on Mars in Taurus for stability, but Mars is not as firmly anchored as we might like. It opposes Jupiter of the big schemes, and is now contra-parallel to Neptune, giving it a strong connection to fantasy. Further, progressed Mars in the U.S. chart goes retrograde this summer for the first time, which creates another truly unpredictable scene.

We do not start the new year on a footing of great stability, but the huge advantage of the Pluto/Mercury combination is that it gives us great acuity, excellent observational abilities, and a fine detective nose. We can use it to see what is really happening.

Our major thrust for 2006 will be to face reality, and adjust course accordingly.

Happy New Year!