December 2006                                                 christiner@netspace.net.au

 The introverted intensity and deep soul searching of the big line up in Scorpio that was so prominent during October and November is shifting to a more optimistic and expansive [but still intense] energy with the Sun, Mercury, Venus, Mars and Jupiter all moving into the sign of Sagittarius to join Pluto. It is time to move forward and embrace the new insights that were seeded during the Mercury occultation.

 Next year I will be teaching astrology classes for those wanting to know more about their birth chart as well as those who would like to gain professional qualifications.  Classes will be on Thursday evenings and Friday mornings. More information is available at the end of this newsletter or on my website.

Best Wishes for the Solstice and 2007

 Blessings

 Christine

Christine Rothwell

Email: christiner@netspace.net.au

Website: www.christinerothwell.com

 Contents

1. December Overview
2. Pluto’s First Exact Conjunction with the Galactic Centre
3. The Summer Solstice
4. Courses and Workshop Information
5. Consultations, Gift Certificates and Printed Reports

  1.   December Overview

·        December 5: Venus reappears as the Evening Star

·        December 4: Mercury leaves the “retrograde loop”

·        December 5: Full Moon in Gemini

·        December 5: Jupiter reappears in the morning sky

·        December 6: Mars to Sagittarius

·        December 6: Saturn moves retrograde

·        December 8: Mercury to Sagittarius

·        December 10: Mercury conjuncts Mars at 2° Sagittarius

·        December 11: Mercury conjuncts Jupiter

·        December 12: Mars conjunct Jupiter

·        December 10 to 12: Mercury, Mars and Jupiter conjunct in the morning sky

·        December 19: Sun conjuncts Pluto at the Galactic Centre

·        December 21: New Moon at Sagittarius 28° [conjunct Pluto and the Galactic Centre]

·        December 22: The Summer Solstice [Sun moves into Capricorn]

·        December 22: Venus conjuncts the New Moon as the Goddess integrates root chakra lessons

·         All December:  Pluto conjuncts the Galactic Centre [26° 55 Sagittarius]

  This month has two highlights: the stellium in Sagittarius and the focus on the Galactic Centre. The energy is still intense but it is pushing us to move forward and release our fears after the more introverted and reflective Scorpio line-up that was emphasized by the Mercury retrograde/occultation in Scorpio. The re-emergence of Venus as the Evening Star is worth observing – physically and ritually.

 The astronomical highlight of December is the alignment of Mercury, Mars and Jupiter in the morning sky. From December 10 to 12 they will be visible in the morning sky, forming a stellium around the early degrees of Sagittarius. They will rise in the south east about an hour before the Sun. All three planets have been invisible for some time as they were travelling close to the Sun and were lost in its glare. 

 Astrologically this stellium suggests the need to put our Sagittarian visions and dreams ‘out there’ in the daylight and walk our talk. The insights and new perspectives that were seeded during the recent Mercury retrograde phase are ready to be birthed. Sagittarius always calls us to expand our horizons, see the big picture and not be afraid to make a leap of faith.  In a sense it is a call to renew our sense of faith and optimism. Working with positive affirmations and intentions will be very powerful at this time.

 The danger with this energy is overdosing on the fiery Sagittarian energy that could lead to impulsive words and actions and a tendency to excess, arrogance and conflict.  The Sagittarian shadow can be pompous tactless, excessive and inflated – it is easy to get carried away under this energy and become self righteous and feel we are invincible. The excessive Sagittarian mood will heighten the tendency to overdo the Christmas merrymaking, so make a mental note if you don’t want to over-indulge in food, drink and Christmas shopping. Or just go for it and start the detox / diet when the more restrained Capricorn energy comes into play later in the month.

 Collectively, the fiery Sagittarian line up suggests the potential for firing up over our beliefs: issues around faith, religion and philosophical frameworks. The Sagittarian shadow can be pedantic and highly opinionated so try NOT to get drawn into heated discussions around beliefs during December, unless of course you enjoy an argument.

Venus disappeared from the morning sky in September and reappears this month as the Evening Star where She will be visible for the next several months. In Sumerian myth Venus as Evening Star is said to be the Goddess Inanna returning from the Underworld where She has been held hostage by her sister Ereshkigal during the time She has been missing from the sky. In reality Venus has been too close to the Sun for the last few months to be visible.  

  Each month when the New Moon conjuncts Venus it is said a portal opens and Inanna reclaims another of the symbols of her power that were removed as She made Her descent.  The lunar crescent of the new moon was said to be the boat that Inanna travelled in as She made both Her descent and ascent to and from the Underworld.

 The New Moon-Venus conjunctions are powerful times to honour the Goddess and the sacred feminine through ritual and intention. December 22 marks the first portal in Inanna’s ascent and this coincides with the Summer Solstice. The first portal symbolizes the root chakra and issues around basic survival – safety, grounding, food, shelter, physical energy, vitality and courage. In the feminine mysteries this is a potent time to work with these themes and reclaim our warrior and a sense of personal power and safety and the right to exist and prosper.

 2. Pluto’s First Exact Conjunction with the Galactic Centre

December sees a big line-up of planets on or close to the Galactic Centre as the Sun, the New Moon, Venus, Mercury and Pluto all conjunct this point. The Galactic Centre [GC] is found at 26° 55 Sagittarius and is the central point of the Milky Way that our Solar System [and the whole galaxy] revolves around.

 During December this point is activated or conjuncted by

·        Venus on December 8

·        Sun on December 19

·        New Moon on December 22

·        Mercury on December 25

·        Pluto on December 29 [ but within orb all December and most of January] Pluto will return to this point twice more during 2007.

Jupiter and Mars are also in Sagittarius but won’t activate this point during December. The Sun, Mercury and Venus activate this point once a year but the planet Pluto takes 248 years to orbit the Sun and therefore conjuncts this point once in this time. The last time this happened was in 1745, the beginning of the Industrial Revolution. The old agrarian order was giving way to a very different way of life that has altered the fabric of our society irrevocably.

 Pluto is a messenger of change; as God of Death and Rebirth he challenges us to let go of the past so something new can take its place. Yet the process of letting go is very fearful and brings up primitive survival instincts that prompt us to hold on to what we know, as the only option feels like annihilation. Currently we are in the midst of CHAOS as the old order dies before the new order is birthed.

 At the moment a vast, transformative change is taking place both collectively and within the hearts and minds of humanity.  We are being called on to let go much of that which has held us safe and move forward into an unknown future. This is unfolding whether we like it or not, whether we are willing to embrace it or not.

 The image of the Galactic Centre speaks to me of two important messages for humanity.

1. The need to discover and hold our centre during this time of transformation. It is our centre that will anchor us and allow us to stay grounded and connected to spirit through-out this process.

2. The OPPORTUNITY to align with potent, transformative wisdom symbolized by the Galactic Centre. This can take us into unchartered realms that may awaken new levels of consciousness and understandings of reality.

 We are experiencing what has been called a SHIFT or ASCENSION and transformative changes on this scale are never easy. Pluto is calling us to let go old out moded ways of being and doing. The old ways /models are decaying yet there is no clear path ahead.

 My suggestion: centre and allow your heart to guide you. Do what FEELS RIGHT –not what you think is right – or what you have always done.

 More information on this transit is contained in the May and July Newsletters posted on my website www.christinerothwell.com 

 Astrologer Eileen Nauman has a very interesting article on the Medicine Garden website titled A Crack In the Cosmic Egg 2006-2007: Are You Prepared? www.medicinegarden.com/astrology/cosmic_egg_GC.html

  3. The Summer Solstice

 At 11:23 am on December 22 [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.

 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].

 This Solstice is astrologically very potent as it coincides with

• The New Moon conjunct the Galactic Centre and Pluto the day before
• Venus conjuncting the New Moon.

 Astrologically the imagery suggests it is time to set intentions and release old fears; especially around root chakra issues. 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 their abundance.

 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 harvest and light a candle in a colour that symbolizes these hopes.  As the candle burns see your desires manifesting and ask what else needs 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 wanting 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.

 4. Courses, Workshops and Classes

Contact Christine on 9584 6532 or christiner@netspace.net.au for more information or to reserve your place.

 Summer Solstice Celebration: December 18, 7:30pm in Beaumaris

Heart Awareness: Saturday January 20 [optional advanced techniques day on February 17]

This workshop will introduce you to simple yet powerful meditative techniques and processes to allow you to access the intuitive wisdom and healing power of your heart. Heart Awareness is more than a meditative technique – it gives you the tools to use throughout the day to manage stress and access the intuitive knowing of your heart as well as meditative techniques to de-stress and even dissolve long term blocks to happiness and success

 2007 Astrological Trends Seminar: 2pm Saturday February 10

Christine Rothwell