Monthly Vedic Astrology Forecast

Mars Enters Pisces December 6

While preparing for a reading this morning, I realized that there were a few important astrological happenings that truly should be noted as we plunge full on into our holiday celebrations and wrap up of 2003. Focusing with effort on the planetary positions as portrayed by my astrology program, it occurred to me that I've been out of touch with the cosmos this month, awash in an unending stream of action: work, food, sleep, play. Since Mars entered Pisces on December 6 after his long stay in Aquarius, it's as if I've been jetting around in an endless sea of work, projects, and events. Pisces is friendly territory for Mars: Jupiter and Mars are friends. They each rule both a water sign (Mars/Scorpio and Jupiter/Pisces) and a fire sign (Mars/Aries and Jupiter/Sagittarius) so they can get together and commiserate about how hard or great it is having the life of a planet that rules both a fire and water sign. At any rate, being such a Mars ruled individual as I am, I've been continuing my work but in a different mode. The Piscean environment is watery and expansive. It's not about seeing the big picture; it's about being the big picture.

While Mars in Aquarius was a time of choosing, planning, and regrouping, Mars in Pisces represents launching our efforts in whichever direction we may have chosen, ended up, or forced ourselves into. It represents using our power and focus to navigate through the boundless sea of existence. Mars will emerge from his high-powered work vacation at sea on January 25, 2004, when he moves into his own sign of Aries. Until then, when you begin to lose focus, and you don't know where to put your effort, try to remember your plans and choices, refer to your list, or otherwise check in with yourself so that you can set a course and move forward in some direction that will further your journey.

Sun Enters Sagittarius December 16

Jupiter is also hosting some other prominent guests in his fire house, Sagittarius, this month. Ancient Vedic sages and modern scientists alike agree that the center of our galaxy lies in the direction of the constellation of Sagittarius. Jupiter ruling this domain gives him the status of Lord of the Gods. Jupiter and his domains, Sagittarius and Pisces, inspire expansion, the quest for truth, and union with divine, cosmic forces. Likewise, when other planets occupy Jupiter's signs, they tend to act accordingly. The Sun and Mercury occupy Sagittarius during the latter part of December. The Sun remains in Sagittarius through January 15, 2004 and in this position exchanges signs with Jupiter who is currently in residence at the Sun's house, Leo. Leo's influence on Jupiter is bound to imbue our holiday celebrations with a bit of royal tradition, pomp, and ceremony.

Mercury Retrograde in Sagittarius December 18 - January 6

Mercury, currently in Sagittarius, went into its third retrograde cycle in 2003 on December 18. Each of Mercury's retrograde cycles in 2003 was in a fire sign and this one could prove to be the most poignant for several reasons. Retrograde Mercury in Jupiter's Sagittarius is exactly opposite retrograde Saturn, who currently occupies Mercury's Gemini. What we have here is the potential for movement and change. Mercury and both the signs Gemini and Sagittarius are mutable in nature, and Gemini, an air sign, is light and quick. Saturn, our slow moving grandfather planet is in friendly hands in Gemini and his retrograde motion pushes him toward his opposite nature, and he actually gains some of Mercury's speed and wit. I'm getting this visual of an elder and a youth, grasping hands and spinning around the centrifuge of that grasp, the vigor of the youth inspiring the memories of good times past for the elder. The lightness generated by this energy gives us space to move on, to let go, to grow in a new direction. We realize the cyclical nature of life and death and become unfettered by the impossible task of preserving the past and preparing for an unknown future. I see this energy being created by Saturn and Mercury as being just what the doctor ordered for all of us, but in a certain way, it churns the status quo in a way that Jupiter would prefer to officiate himself. The detachment of Saturn and the fickleness of Mercury threaten Jupiter's firm station in lordly Leo. It could be that we can slip in some true transformation and really move on with our individual paths right under the nose of the usual holiday celebrations. This churning will most probably be felt throughout Mercury's retrograde cycle that ends on January 6, 2004. Interestingly enough, Jupiter will begin a retrograde cycle on January 5, 2004, the day before Mercury's ends.

Winter Solstice December 21

The moment of the Winter Solstice is approximately 11:05 pm PST. During our lifetime, the position of the Sun at the winter solstice is aligned with our galactic center. I find that poetically interesting: during the time when we seem to lack enough light, we are actually at the door to the kingdom of light. For some reason that gives me hope and that feeling of hope is always intensified with my own celebration of winter solstice. Now that I live at 48 degrees north latitude, the play of seasonal light and dark is more prominent than ever before, and the promise of longer days is refreshing. That same sense of hope exists when I see how close we as conscious beings are to realizing our own divinity, which to me is symbolized by our winter solstice aligning with the galactic center. Of course, if I lived in the southern hemisphere, I would have a totally different philosophy because the summer solstice would align with the galactic center. Can anyone say philosophical (Jupiter) fickleness (Mercury)!?

New Moon in Sagittarius December 23

As if the winter solstice wasn't enough to symbolize the dark night of the soul and the promise of a new day, the new Moon occurs very early in the morning on December 23, 2003 in Sagittarius. Our holiday season this year proves to be a great time for ringing out the old and ringing in the new. Let the changes you've made this past year find their place in your life path. Turn over your new leaves and make room for what really makes you tick, because it is your desire that makes you uniquely you and the free expression of your uniqueness is a gift to all.