Mars is currently shining more brightly in the evening sky as he makes his closest approach to the Earth in his two year cycle. The peak of brightness will be around December 8 at the time of the exact opposition with the Sun. If you would like to observe Mars as he comes closer, he is currently rising around 9.30pm and setting [Melbourne time] by 7am.
You will see Him if you look to the east around 10pm …he is very visible as the red planet. Each night he is rising earlier so keep an eye on him over the next month.
There will be a few planets, including Mars, Out of Bounds at the Full Moon this month, which also happens to be the exact day that Mars is opposite the Sun, suggesting that this could be an intense time.
Mercury enters the retrograde loop this month, just in time for the Festive Season, so be prepared for a few glitches!
Wishing you and your loved ones a safe and happy Festive Season.
Christine Rothwell
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.christine-rothwell.com
Contents
December begins with Neptune, Uranus, Chiron and Mars all retrograde and with Mercury stationing retrograde on the 29th and Neptune stationing direct on the 4th.
Note: All the dates below are for Australian Eastern Daylight Time.
You will see Him if you look to the east around 10pm …he is very visible as the red planet. Each night he is rising earlier so keep an eye on him over the next month.
There will be a few planets, including Mars, Out of Bounds at the Full Moon this month, which also happens to be the exact day that Mars is opposite the Sun, suggesting that this could be an intense time.
Mercury enters the retrograde loop this month, just in time for the Festive Season, so be prepared for a few glitches!
Wishing you and your loved ones a safe and happy Festive Season.
Christine Rothwell
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.christine-rothwell.com
Contents
- Out of Bounds Planets
- December Full Moon and Mars Opposition the Sun.
- Mercury Retrograde
- 2023 Astrology Classes & Consultations
December begins with Neptune, Uranus, Chiron and Mars all retrograde and with Mercury stationing retrograde on the 29th and Neptune stationing direct on the 4th.
Note: All the dates below are for Australian Eastern Daylight Time.
- December 4: Neptune stations direct
- December 7: Mercury to Capricorn
- December 10: Venus to Capricorn
- December 8: Full Moon in Gemini
- December 21: Jupiter to Aries
- December 22: Sun to Capricorn: Summer Solstice
- December 23: New Moon in Capricorn
- December 23: Chiron stations direct
- December 24: Jupiter semi-square Uranus
- December 29: Mercury Retrograde
2023 Astrology Classes
Beginners through to Advanced Classes
New Brochures now available
Beginners through to Advanced Classes
New Brochures now available
Out of Bounds Mars, Mercury and Venus…
Mars stationed retrograde on October 31 AEDT and will oppose the Sun on December 8 - which marks the peak of his retrograde cycle - at the same time it is Out of Bounds. In fact the Moon, Mercury, Venus and Mars will all be Out of Bounds at this key time. So, what might this mean?
Out of Bounds is the name given to planets when they exceed 23 degrees and 29 minutes declination, either north or south of this zone. The name derives from the fact that this marks the maximum declination that the Sun can reach, and it is suggested that when planets move beyond this zone they have moved past the influence of the Sun and may operate more independently, both in a natal chart and by transit. Planets usually go OOB when they are in either the Gemini/ Sagittarius or Cancer / Capricorn polarity.
Out of Bounds planets are said to potentially be stronger and wilder …enjoying pushing the boundaries in some way. Steven Forrest says they can be more liberated and eccentric and don’t always ‘play by the rules’. Hence, the collective energy has quite a maverick feel around this full moon and the Out of Bounds phenomena can be harnessed to open us to finds new ways of feeling /responding [Moon], thinking / communicating [Mercury], relating [Venus] and acting [Mars].
This is a wild card energy that can throw up unexpected opportunities and responses that can be liberating but it can also sometimes play out as ‘going too far’ and acting out.
Here are the dates for the key Out Of Bounds planets in December:
December Full Moon in Gemini
The December full moon conjuncts a retrograde and Out of Bounds Mars and falls close to 16 Gemini with Neptune at the apex of a very tight t-square. The Gemini Full Moon always highlights the Gemini / Sagittarius polarity, putting the spotlight on communication, speaking our truth, sibling relationships, learning and understanding how our mind works.
With Mars retrograde, Out of Bounds, opposite the Sun and at its closest point to Earth in 2 years, as well as in an exact conjunction to the Full Moon at 16 Gemini there is certainly potential to act out at this time …especially verbally. This is essentially the key moment in the Mars retrograde cycle, and it is intensified through the full Moon and OOB phenomenon. There also exists the possibility of a flare up / build-up of tension and frustration that may lead to some creative solution to an issue that has been frustrating us for some time. On the other hand there is the potential to over-react and erupt, creating external and internal havoc. Try to be mindful and use this energy creatively …it may open new options if you are prepared to ‘think outside the box.’
With both the Sun and Moon square to Neptune in Pisces,
Neptune also becomes a key player in this scenario. Neptune can create a fog and obscure our vision so there is the potential for anxiety and [self] deception. However, this energy can also be highly creative if we can own any confusion we may feel and allow the fog to lift in its own time.
Mars stationed retrograde on October 31 AEDT and will oppose the Sun on December 8 - which marks the peak of his retrograde cycle - at the same time it is Out of Bounds. In fact the Moon, Mercury, Venus and Mars will all be Out of Bounds at this key time. So, what might this mean?
Out of Bounds is the name given to planets when they exceed 23 degrees and 29 minutes declination, either north or south of this zone. The name derives from the fact that this marks the maximum declination that the Sun can reach, and it is suggested that when planets move beyond this zone they have moved past the influence of the Sun and may operate more independently, both in a natal chart and by transit. Planets usually go OOB when they are in either the Gemini/ Sagittarius or Cancer / Capricorn polarity.
Out of Bounds planets are said to potentially be stronger and wilder …enjoying pushing the boundaries in some way. Steven Forrest says they can be more liberated and eccentric and don’t always ‘play by the rules’. Hence, the collective energy has quite a maverick feel around this full moon and the Out of Bounds phenomena can be harnessed to open us to finds new ways of feeling /responding [Moon], thinking / communicating [Mercury], relating [Venus] and acting [Mars].
This is a wild card energy that can throw up unexpected opportunities and responses that can be liberating but it can also sometimes play out as ‘going too far’ and acting out.
Here are the dates for the key Out Of Bounds planets in December:
- Moon in Gemini December 7 to 12 and 22 to 26
- Mercury in Sag to Cap 23 November 2022 – 21 December 2022 21:24
- Venus in Sag to Cap 1 December 2022 – 24 December 2022 01:20
- Mars in Gemini 22 October 2022 – 5 May 2023
December Full Moon in Gemini
The December full moon conjuncts a retrograde and Out of Bounds Mars and falls close to 16 Gemini with Neptune at the apex of a very tight t-square. The Gemini Full Moon always highlights the Gemini / Sagittarius polarity, putting the spotlight on communication, speaking our truth, sibling relationships, learning and understanding how our mind works.
With Mars retrograde, Out of Bounds, opposite the Sun and at its closest point to Earth in 2 years, as well as in an exact conjunction to the Full Moon at 16 Gemini there is certainly potential to act out at this time …especially verbally. This is essentially the key moment in the Mars retrograde cycle, and it is intensified through the full Moon and OOB phenomenon. There also exists the possibility of a flare up / build-up of tension and frustration that may lead to some creative solution to an issue that has been frustrating us for some time. On the other hand there is the potential to over-react and erupt, creating external and internal havoc. Try to be mindful and use this energy creatively …it may open new options if you are prepared to ‘think outside the box.’
With both the Sun and Moon square to Neptune in Pisces,
Neptune also becomes a key player in this scenario. Neptune can create a fog and obscure our vision so there is the potential for anxiety and [self] deception. However, this energy can also be highly creative if we can own any confusion we may feel and allow the fog to lift in its own time.
Neptune always challenges us to surrender to feeling and listen to our intuition. If you can allow yourself not to ‘know’ the answer immediately and reframe anxiety as part of the creative process, then the outcome may be more constructive and illuminating.
All this suggests a potentially fiery, combustible and potentially frustrating time when all the facts may not be available. Can you find something constructive to channel this energy into, especially if you have planets around 16 degrees of mutable signs?
Whenever Neptune is activated, I feel it is also important to remember that Neptune is associated with Divine Love. Neptune transits always challenge us to view life from a heart centred perspective, with compassion for ourselves and others. Can you surrender to your heart and allow it to communicate with you during this time?
Mercury Retrograde: December 29 to January 18
Mercury stations retrograde on December 29 at close to 24 degrees of Capricorn and remains retrograde until January 18 when it turns direct at close to 8 degrees of Capricorn.
Please be aware that the retrograde phenomenon is activated from the time that Mercury enters the loop to the time that it leaves: around December 17 to February 7. The most chaotic times are when Mercury stations – the few days around December 17 & February 7 when Mercury adjusts to the change of direction.
As the new cycle begins in Capricorn, it intensifies the challenge to re-view and re-evaluate all things connected with this archetype, and could activate issues around our:
We may also be challenged to review:
All this suggests a potentially fiery, combustible and potentially frustrating time when all the facts may not be available. Can you find something constructive to channel this energy into, especially if you have planets around 16 degrees of mutable signs?
Whenever Neptune is activated, I feel it is also important to remember that Neptune is associated with Divine Love. Neptune transits always challenge us to view life from a heart centred perspective, with compassion for ourselves and others. Can you surrender to your heart and allow it to communicate with you during this time?
Mercury Retrograde: December 29 to January 18
Mercury stations retrograde on December 29 at close to 24 degrees of Capricorn and remains retrograde until January 18 when it turns direct at close to 8 degrees of Capricorn.
Please be aware that the retrograde phenomenon is activated from the time that Mercury enters the loop to the time that it leaves: around December 17 to February 7. The most chaotic times are when Mercury stations – the few days around December 17 & February 7 when Mercury adjusts to the change of direction.
As the new cycle begins in Capricorn, it intensifies the challenge to re-view and re-evaluate all things connected with this archetype, and could activate issues around our:
- authority, responsibility, boundaries
- insecurities, fears of rejection / inadequacy /failure
- activation of the inner [and outer] critic.
We may also be challenged to review:
- the affairs of the house where the retrograde action takes place in your horoscope [8 to 24 Capricorn].
- Any planets any points that fall between 8 and 24 degrees of cardinal signs: Cancer / Capricorn and Aries / Libra.
The new Mercury Cycle begins around January 7 at close to 17 Capricorn when Mercury makes it inferior conjunction with the Sun. This is a great time for inner work to reflect on issues where we may feel stuck. Answers and solutions may appear around this time but it may be best to sit with them until Mercury is established in its forward momentum before pushing too hard to make them happen.
The whole retrograde phase is a potent time for reflection and review … a time when we can become aware of habitual beliefs and thought patterns and make the adjustments necessary to align our thinking with the person we are now. This is a great time to meditate, reflect, research, seek answers, sort out your paperwork, return calls and generally attend to all the things you have been too busy to do earlier.
Remember, Mercury retrograde always provides us with the opportunity to free our thinking from habitual ruts and develop a more conscious set of mental attitudes and beliefs.
The whole retrograde phase is a potent time for reflection and review … a time when we can become aware of habitual beliefs and thought patterns and make the adjustments necessary to align our thinking with the person we are now. This is a great time to meditate, reflect, research, seek answers, sort out your paperwork, return calls and generally attend to all the things you have been too busy to do earlier.
Remember, Mercury retrograde always provides us with the opportunity to free our thinking from habitual ruts and develop a more conscious set of mental attitudes and beliefs.
May the Goddess & God Bless You All
Christine
www.christine-rothwell.com
[email protected]
2023 Astrology Classes
Beginners through to Advanced Classes
New Brochures now available
Christine offers an in-depth psychological and mythological approach to astrology. Her classes are suitable for those individuals who are wishing to learn more about themselves as well as those interested in becoming a professional astrologer.
All classes are on Zoom. Video files are provided for any classes you miss, and it is possible to enroll for video content only [correspondence].
First Year/ Beginners’
7pm Thursday evenings in 2023
…focuses on learning how to read / delineate a horoscope and covers the elements, signs, planets, houses, aspects etc.
Second Year / Intermediate
7pm Tuesday evenings in 2023
…focuses on additional points and themes in the horoscope [ lunation cycle, asteroids, Eris, Medical Astrology, Career] and Dynamic [predictive] Techniques: Transits & Progressions.
Advanced Group
Second Saturday afternoon each month.
The Advanced Classes give you the opportunity to integrate what you have learned through a seminar format that allows exposure to more advanced techniques and psychological perspectives, plus the opportunity to develop your delineation skills.
Please ring or email for a brochure.
[email protected]
Or
www.christinerothwell.com
For more information
Consultations
are now on Zoom
and are still recorded so the sound file link can be sent to you via email.
Gift Certificates are available for most consultations.
AN INITIAL CONSULTATION explores the soul’s journey as revealed through the personal symbol of the birth chart. The focus is on the potential inherent in the birth chart and the challenges that need to be embraced to realize this potential.
Other readings available include:
In-depth Consultation: Two hours to explore both the soul’s journey [see above] and the year ahead. Includes 2 or 4 supplementary e-booklets.
Chart Up-date: The Year Ahead: Explores the year ahead from a psychological perspective.
Understanding Your Child: A wonderful gift for new parents and explores a child’s unique needs, motivations, potentials, and challenges.
Relocation: Explains how a different location may impact on your psyche. This can be helpful if you are thinking of re-locating and can be included with any of the above consultations.
Christine
www.christine-rothwell.com
[email protected]
2023 Astrology Classes
Beginners through to Advanced Classes
New Brochures now available
Christine offers an in-depth psychological and mythological approach to astrology. Her classes are suitable for those individuals who are wishing to learn more about themselves as well as those interested in becoming a professional astrologer.
All classes are on Zoom. Video files are provided for any classes you miss, and it is possible to enroll for video content only [correspondence].
First Year/ Beginners’
7pm Thursday evenings in 2023
…focuses on learning how to read / delineate a horoscope and covers the elements, signs, planets, houses, aspects etc.
Second Year / Intermediate
7pm Tuesday evenings in 2023
…focuses on additional points and themes in the horoscope [ lunation cycle, asteroids, Eris, Medical Astrology, Career] and Dynamic [predictive] Techniques: Transits & Progressions.
Advanced Group
Second Saturday afternoon each month.
The Advanced Classes give you the opportunity to integrate what you have learned through a seminar format that allows exposure to more advanced techniques and psychological perspectives, plus the opportunity to develop your delineation skills.
Please ring or email for a brochure.
[email protected]
Or
www.christinerothwell.com
For more information
Consultations
are now on Zoom
and are still recorded so the sound file link can be sent to you via email.
Gift Certificates are available for most consultations.
AN INITIAL CONSULTATION explores the soul’s journey as revealed through the personal symbol of the birth chart. The focus is on the potential inherent in the birth chart and the challenges that need to be embraced to realize this potential.
Other readings available include:
In-depth Consultation: Two hours to explore both the soul’s journey [see above] and the year ahead. Includes 2 or 4 supplementary e-booklets.
Chart Up-date: The Year Ahead: Explores the year ahead from a psychological perspective.
Understanding Your Child: A wonderful gift for new parents and explores a child’s unique needs, motivations, potentials, and challenges.
Relocation: Explains how a different location may impact on your psyche. This can be helpful if you are thinking of re-locating and can be included with any of the above consultations.
Southern Sky Astrology Email [email protected] Website www.christinerothwell.com
Cat's Eye Nebula, courtesy of Hubble