The Wrong Side of the Bed
Dates and times are given for U.S. Pacific Time zone.
Cursive
Say what you will about Mercury in Sagittarius – that it has a hard time narrowing down its many ideas, that it’s a little more candid than is sometimes prudent – but you can’t deny that it’s wildly imaginative and spontaneous. And as this Mercury squares Jupiter in Pisces (Dec. 5, 2022, 11:05 pm PST) there is almost nothing that can dim its enthusiasm or stem the flow of its candid and amusing observations. Nothing, that is, until Mercury enters Capricorn (Dec. 6, 2022, 2:08 pm PST), which halts the music as abruptly as a needle scratching across an LP.
Mercury in Capricorn wants to get down to business and get things done – the right way. It reminds me of my formative years in Catholic school, where the nuns were pretty serious about penmanship. That was a long time ago; but take a look at the Christmas cards you received from anyone who learned handwriting in a Catholic school and you may see vestiges of carefully cultivated Palmer cursive. In its recognizability we find both the shadow and virtue of Mercury in Capricorn: a tendency toward rigid thinking, but also clear, well-ordered, and tidy communication.
Use Mercury’s time in Capricorn (through Feb. 11, 2023), including its retrograde period between Dec. 29, 2022-Jan. 18, 2023, productively. Tame the unruly stacks of paper in your office, cross long-neglected tasks off your to-do list, and catch up on your thank-you notes. And if you’ve chosen one Mercury in Sagittarius arrow of inspiration to turn into something real, start by stripping the idea down to its bare bones, then outline a clear plan to build it with the greatest integrity.
Where Did That Come From?
My husband likes to say that we don’t really know what mood we’re in on a given day until we have our first interaction with another person. It’s true! I can have been up for a full hour, made my breakfast, listened to a podcast, and not be aware of being in any particular mood. Then he gets up and we start chatting, and I find myself commenting in the most heated way about some story one of us is recounting. Then I catch myself and wonder, “Geez, where did that come from?”
Mars moving through Gemini, especially since it’s been retrograde, has kindled its share of aggravations and scratchy impatience in us. There have been, it seems, more than the usual number of days when we wake up “on the wrong side of the bed,” as the old saying goes – grouchy, not really knowing why.
The Gemini Full Moon (Dec. 7, 2022, 8:08 pm) joins up with Mars and Neptune to fully illuminate whatever it is that’s really eating us. And shortly after the exact lunation (Dec. 7, 2022, 9:42 pm PST), the Sun makes it exact opposition to Mars – not exactly an easygoing combination, either. This opposition marks a critical moment in the cycle that began with the Sun/Mars conjunction in Oct. 2021. That conjunction squared Pluto, and big, hard changes have come our way since then, including powerful conflicts that required us to step into our own individuality and will. If you’re not aware of how much anger you’ve been carrying around, this Full Moon will open your eyes.
But what follows this revealing Full Moon, with the Sun, Moon, and Mars square Neptune, is the potential for insight and healing. Gaze up at the Full Moon and lose yourself in its beauty and magic; let it speak to you. Let it tell you what mood you’re in, and help you figure out why.
New Clothes
Venus in Sagittarius loves a party, especially one that’s filled with new people to meet. And this week, as Venus squares Jupiter (Dec. 9, 2022, 4:55 am PST), the more the merrier, it seems. But Jupiter is finishing the last days of its journey through sensitive Pisces, and the holiday parties and socializing might be starting to feel a bit draining. Don’t hesitate to take a pass on the evening’s revelries if you need to rest, or just need some space.
And the party probably won’t last too long, anyway. That evening, at 7:54 pm PST, Venus passes from party-loving Sagittarius to serious-minded Capricorn (where it will travel through Jan. 2). Venus in Capricorn has two party modes: business-networking function and full-tilt bacchanalia (which you might not have the energy for). Anything in-between won’t really feel worth it.
Beware, particularly, of situations that require you to play a role instead of acting naturally. As Henry David Thoreau (born with Venus square Saturn, Venus in Capricorn’s close cousin) put it, “Beware of enterprises requiring new clothes.” That’s good advice for the duration of the holiday season. Enjoy your natural self, and share your time with those who like you for reasons other than what you wear – or the gifts you might bring with you.
Writing and collages © 2017-2022 April Elliott Kent
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