Number 57                                                     

 Sorry this newsletter is a little late. There is a lot to say and I have been busy with other things. The format is a little different too. The December Overview is very much that – the big picture without too many details.

 Early bird discounts are available now for 2009 Astrology Classes. First year will be held on Thursday evenings, Second year on Monday evenings and Third year on one Saturday afternoon a month. Email or ring for a brochure.

 Wishing you all the best for the Solstice and the festive season

 Blessings

Christine

 Christine Rothwell

' 03 9584 6532

Email: christiner@netspace.net.au

Website: www.christinerothwell.com

 Contents

1. December Overview
2. Pluto In Capricorn
3. 2012 & the Summer Solstice
4. 2009 Astrology Classes.

·        Beginner’s / First Year on Thursday nights

·        Intermediate / Second Year on Monday nights

·        Advanced / Third Year one Saturday afternoon per month

5. Consultations and Gift Certificates

1.    December Overview

 

Late November saw two big astrological energy shifts with Pluto moving into Capricorn and Saturn opposing Uranus. Both these energies will be felt for a long time to come: Pluto remains in Capricorn until 2023/24 and the Saturn / Uranus opposition will form five times over the next 2 ½ years. Both these transits speak of the need for major restructuring and change, especially in the areas ruled by Saturn/ Capricorn and Uranus/ Aquarius. Government, authority structures, big business, financial structures, science and technology are all going to undergo major change over the next 15 or so years. The issues that have arisen with urgency this year – climate change and the need for clean energy sources and the Global Financial Crisis – will not resolve quickly. Indeed quick fixes will not work under energy as potent as these transits. Whatever is patched up with haste runs the risk of collapsing later as these transits will severely test any attempted solution. These transits will demand nothing less than major change; Pluto always calls for the transformative process of death of the old so something new can arise.

 December starts with two opposing energies in the form of Saturn [stability, need for security] opposing Uranus [need for change] as well planets in both Sagittarius and Capricorn; Sagittarius [Sun, Mercury and Mars] invites us to experience optimism and faith in the deep changes that are taking place while Capricorn [Venus, Jupiter and Pluto] tends to fear and resist change.

 Early in the month the energy may move back and forth, or we may identify with whatever is stronger in our make-up; the optimism of Sagittarius or the pessimism of Capricorn. Ideally we are asked to feel the optimism of Sagittarius but ground it in Saturnian reality by taking responsibility for what we desire and seek to manifest in our lives.

 Around December 6 [December 4 to 8] the Sun conjuncts Mars in Sagittarius, - a headstrong and energizing but impulsive image – squares the current Uranus opposition with Saturn. Initially the need for freedom is highlighted as Uranus squares both planets on December 10 and 12. This is a good time to try to avoid confrontations as things could easily escalate and get out of control. Try to find constructive outlets for the need for change that don’t leave you with problems when Saturn joins the scene on December 13 and 16. There will be immediate consequences if you have rebelled or pushed too hard, so back off, take a few deep breaths and hit the pause button while you try to think through the consequences of forcing your will [Sun conjunct Mars] or acting out/running away [Uranus squaring the Sun and Mars].

  By the end of the month the Capricorn energy predominates as Mercury, the Sun and Mars join Pluto, Jupiter and the Moon in Capricorn. The Capricorn New Moon of December 27 has a serious and intense vibration with the Sun, Moon and Mars in Capricorn and conjunct Pluto. If you are feeling flat you will not be alone. The Xmas / New Year energy may be tempered by this heavy Capricorn / Saturn /Pluto vibration but it is an excellent time to review your life and set some meaningful New Year Resolutions.

 This energy will tend to focus us all on what is wrong with our lives, and wrong with the world, so instead of seeing the glass half empty ask yourself what practical steps you can take to improve things. This New Moon is essentially a call to business; it highlights the work that must be done in order to achieve our personal and collective desires and goals. If you can meet this challenge you will avoid some of the heavier energy this constellation suggests.

  December 29 [December 27 to January 1] sees Mars [and the Sun and Moon] conjunct Pluto. The lower will meets the higher will of the transpersonal Pluto and issues around power, control, personal power and empowerment are the key notes here.  Now is not the time to force your will, especially if it comes from your ego. As Mars meets Pluto we are called to align our personal will with the higher will and let go ego based attachments and desires. Some will find this challenging and become obsessed with holding on, only to find it brings more pain. If you can focus this conjunction in constructive ways you will find tremendous reserves of strength and energy available.

 2. Pluto In Capricorn

 Pluto’s entry into Capricorn on November 27 heralds a major paradigm shift. Pluto moves into Capricorn for the first time since it was discovered in 1930, suggesting that this is the first time humanity will experience this energy consciously.

 Pluto’s transit through a sign heralds a major paradigm shift in the affairs ruled by that sign. Indeed each time Pluto changes sign the collective energy shifts and the sign that Pluto is transiting becomes a collective obsession. Pluto is said to be the key to mass consciousness and the sign it is transiting becomes the focus of power struggles. There is an unconscious collective need that comes to the surface to transform our experience of this energy, almost as if the collective is trying to free itself from bondage. Often the obsessive Plutonic energy becomes toxic as the shadow side of the sign comes to the surface.

 During Pluto’s sojourn in Sagittarius [1995 –2008] we have seen this process unfold in the Sagittarian realm of beliefs, faith and religion. There has been a huge need to believe in something that offers certainty and this has lead to the rise of fundamentalism in the three big religions. There has been [and continues to be] power struggles within and between beliefs that have lead to the rise of FANATICIZM [religious obsessions] and RELIGIOUS WARFARE / TERRORISM. The rise of ‘New Age’ teachings is also highlighted by this process and people have looked to find alternatives to the main religions. Much of this has been transformative,  but some ‘New Age’ philosophies also border on fundamentalism in the simplistic approaches they take. Pluto is Sagittarius has taught us that we need to be very careful about whom we embrace as our teachers, preachers, gurus, wise men and women.

The next 16 years will see a Plutonic contraction in response to the expansionary energy of Sagittarius that has prevailed since Pluto moved into that sign in 1995. Many structures that have become bloated and excessive will break down so they can undergo the plutonic process of death and rebirth. What has substance will prevail, and it is important to not fall into fear about this transit as it could provide the grounding and restructuring that is so necessary at the moment.

Pluto will transit Capricorn until November 2024, transforming all things ruled by Capricorn: business, government, large bureaucratic and institutional structures as well as all authority structures including armies and police forces.

Pluto is the God of Death and Rebirth and rules the process of death, rebirth and transformation. It is important to remember that every cycle of clearing and endings offers the potential for something new. The cycle of life constantly renews itself. There is obviously much Plutonic clearing and purging to take place in the realms of finance, business, government and law and order as Pluto transits Capricorn. Our challenge is to find a way to be with these changes that doesn’t contribute to the collective hysteria.

 3. Summer Solstice and 2012.

 At 11:05pm on Sunday December 21 [Australian Eastern daylight time] the Sun will reach its maximum declination south as it moves into the sign of Capricorn. This marks the Summer Solstice in the southern hemisphere and the Winter Solstice in the northern hemisphere.

 December 21 also marks the time each year when the Solstice Sun aligns with dark band of sky near the centre of our galaxy. The peak of this cycle is December 21 2012. This event takes place once every 25,800 years [approx] and is a 36 year process. The end of the Mayan Long Count seemed to be dated to coincide with this event, suggesting that the ancient Mayans had a very advanced knowledge of astronomy and mathematics. To the Mayans this area of the sky marked the original point of creation and was said to be the pathway of the Gods who dwelled in the Underworld, a place they called Xibalba. This black band of sky near the Galactic Centre has been revered by many cultures and is said to symbolize the home of the Gods and the wisdom of the cosmos, similar to the Buddhist concept of the emptiness from which all life in the Universe is birthed.

 The alignment of the Sun with this point has been taking place each December Solstice since 1994 and will continue to do so until 2030. This phenomenon occurs due to the 26,000 year cycle known as the Precession of the Equinoxes. The Sun measures ½ a degree width on the ecliptic [360 apparent path of the Sun through the zodiac] and moves backwards against this circle 1Ò every 72years. Hence it will take 36 years to move across this point.

 So the point behind the December Solstice is now aligned with the dark band at the centre of the Milky Way and has been every December since 1994. Potentially it symbolizes humanity gaining greater access to the wisdom of the cosmos symbolized by the dark band [home of the Gods, source of creation] at the centre of the Milky Way. Accessing this energy will require humanity to experience a collective and personal symbolic death and rebirth on many levels - spiritually, psychically, energetically and intellectually with advances science, technology, healing, communications all likely.

 But the point I want to make is that it is HAPPENING NOW. It is not an isolated event that occurs in 2012. This is the key astrological indicator [but by no means the only one] of what is often referred to as the Shift, the Awakening or Ascension process.

 The Summer Solstice

 The Summer Solstice marks the time of the longest days and shortest nights when the Sun reaches the mid-point of the cycle that began 6 months earlier at the Winter Solstice. The Solstice is a paradox that is well known to those who reach middle age – as soon as the Sun has reached the peak of His power the days begin to shorten even though the hottest days are still to come [Due to a seasonal lag in heating the surface of the Earth].

 The Summer Solstice is always a time of review as it mirrors the energy of the Full Moon, both being half way points in the cycle. Traditionally it was a time of rest and relaxation before the hard work of the autumn harvest.

 Christmas is a Winter Solstice celebration; the anniversary of the birth of Christ was placed close to the old pagan Sabbat that honoured the rebirth of the Sun God from the darkness of winter. It is important to find a way to honour the Spirit of Place here in the Southern Hemisphere by acknowledging the energy of summer.

 A Summer Solstice Ritual

To honour the spirit of place you can have a special Solstice meal [can be December 25] that includes seasonal produce – summer foods rather than heavy winter dishes we associate with Christmas. I light gold and silver candles to honour the Sun and the Moon and offer thanks for the abundance that Mother Earth and Father Sun have given me throughout the year and ask for their blessing for the harvest yet to come.

 If you would like something more reflective, even as part of your Christmas meal, you can invite everyone to share their hopes for the coming autumn harvest and light a candle in a colour that symbolizes the harvest. You could use one group candle or each person could have their own candle in a colour that is personally symbolic of the harvest they desire. As the candle[s] burns, see your desires manifesting and reflect on what may need to be done to ensure an abundant harvest.

 For those of you who would prefer a more private ritual here is another offering. Ground and centre yourself then call to your guides and angels for their guidance and protection. Light a gold candle to honour the Summer Sun then close your eyes. Imagine that you are travelling in the lunar crescent with the Goddess. She invites you to reflect on what you are seeking to manifest in your life and what you need to achieve this. Allow yourself to receive whatever you need with her blessings and visualize your desires manifesting in the weeks and months ahead.

 Blessings

Christine Rothwell

 

 

Courses, Workshops and Classes

 Contact Christine at christiner@netspace.net.au for a brochure.

 

 

Blessings

Christine Rothwell