Sunday’s Full Moon at 27 Gemini is ruled by Mercury, planet of mind and communication, who joins Venus, goddess of love, relationships and the things we value, and Pluto, lord of the underworld and planet of trauma and transformation, in Capricorn. The Full Moon makes a near exact trine to Jupiter at 28 Aquarius highlighting inspired conversations and social interactions that could spark brilliant new ideas or provide valuable insight into scenarios we’ve been grappling with. At the same time, the Sun sextiles Jupiter renewing optimism regarding our soul’s aspirations as Jupiter prepares to move into its own mystical temple on the 30th.
Tomorrow’s Full Moon is also the last lunation with the nodes of the Moon in Gemini and Sagittarius, which suggests a fruiting and culmination of some of the lessons we’ve been learning over the last 18 months, although the full nature of those learnings may still be coming clear. In Capricorn, Mercury gains an earthy, grounded quality, and in the sign of age and decay, I’m reminded of the communicative powers of mycelium. As the primary decomposers in ecosystems, fungi recreate the world through processes of death and transformation, creating life from dying matter, turning waste into riches, transmuting poisons and toxic pollutants, digesting plastics, dissolving rock and even facilitating mystical visions. Only 8% of the Earth’s fungi are currently described and although we’re most familiar with their exotic fruiting bodies most fungal activity occurs below ground in the chthonic Plutonic realms in symbiotic relationships with trees. These mycorrhizal systems comprise vast underground bio-informational and trade networks that nourish all life above ground via complex webs of fungal mycelium. Trees pass water, nutrients, deterrents, warnings and other messages we’re yet to understand, to plants connected via the network, and it retains 30% of the sugars generated by trees to continue powering the mycelial web.
These extraordinary processes of communication, transformation and interchange are, of course, also occurring beneath the surface of our own relationships. With Venus conjunct Pluto and the Gemini Full Moon triggering the goddess’ retrograde descent the day after, we’re reminded of the power of supportive intentions and of cooperating with others in our networks as we generate life-giving energy from the parts of our lives and relationships that need to die. Although we may fear exposing the rot or shame at the heart of certain relationships, or the traumas that have prevented true bonding and connection, we can trust that we will receive what we need through this web of relations, and that the parts of our experience that have been subject to deterioration are being purified as they nourish new life in the psyche. All processes, including decomposition, are sacred and mysterious, and there may be extra power in addressing them now. In Capricorn, Mercury would often prefer to dispense with the flowery rituals of diplomacy in favour of getting to the root of matters, calling a spade a spade and calling out the rot, but how we articulate important information could have a significant impact now and difficult truths may be best delivered in the form of mutually beneficial sugars.
Mars in Sagittarius:
The planet of conflict and aggression, Mars, is in Sagittarius, indicating the potential for overreaction and emotional responses blown out of proportion. However, it’s also conjunct the South Node on this lunation, which suggests it might be easier than usual to release anger and avoid reactivity. Seeking mindful outlets for combustible energy whilst cultivating curiosity about other people’s perspectives should also help to prevent the accidental burning of bridges. Directing Martian drive and passion into activities that re-energise and inspire us could make it easier to release old patterns of belief that could deactivate certain triggers altogether and expand our relational horizons. As the guide of souls, Mercury possesses the power to move between the realms, highlighting the potential for insight, transformation and healing in relationships that have important history. Mars also rules infections and injections, and in the sign of Jupiter, we can expect increased numbers of both so staying masked and mindful and booking in boosters could help to minimise unnecessary chaos in coming weeks as well.
Venus retrograde:
On Monday 20 December, Venus begins her retrograde journey. She begins her descent into the underworld as an evening star, travelling through Capricorn for 40 days and nights, disappearing from view and finally making her heliacal rise and emerging as a morning star, on January 15. This is an extremely significant process, which although challenging, provides profound opportunities for renewal in the areas of life ruled by Capricorn in the natal chart and their relationship to Venusian themes: love, relationships, money, power, beauty, art, pleasure, sex and friendship etc. Under the influence of Capricorn, this journey takes on a more serious calibre. We may be contemplating true value, considering longterm investments and the need for boundaries, cultivating discipline, reviewing episodes from the past to shed light on unfolding narratives. Venus retrograde cycles can indicate temporary reversals in relationships and finances but they are also an excellent time for reflection, review and reimagining, and to prepare for the exciting energetic shifts and creative opportunities that could begin fruiting by March 20 when Venus attains her maximum brightness and influence as morning star.
The myth of Inanna, which was associated with the retrograde cycle of Venus, offers us a few extra warnings about this cycle. The Queen of Heaven entered the underworld with intentions to usurp her sister’s power and was stripped of the trappings of her own at each of seven gates, judged guilty, killed and hung on a meat hook for three days before being returned to life by the Galla, two sexless beings created from the dirt under Enki’s fingernails. Her story reminds us that we may be able to prevent unnecessary suffering by avoiding power plays, dishonesty, greed and manipulation. With Venus configured so closely to Pluto in this story, we will find power in working to understand the roots of jealousy and by regarding it as an invitation, which speaks to the soul’s desire for change. What kind of beautiful life are we aiming towards in the next 10 years, and what do we need to change in our own lives in order to get there? Aligning our actions with our values, sloughing off old habits and patterns that no longer serve us could make this powerful period of personal transformation feel like less of an ordeal.
Saturn-Uranus square:
Saturn remains immensely powerful until March, ruling from its own domicile over Pluto, Venus, Mercury and as of the Solstice on December 22, the Sun. Saturn’s influence emphasises the need for maturity, discipline and restraint and suggests the likelihood of limitations, restrictions and obstacles we may need to navigate. No surprises really. The peak astrological event of 2021 could well be the final exact square between Saturn and Uranus on December 24, which intensifies the year-long, epoch-shifting dynamic between the two rulers of Aquarius. In a nutshell we could describe the vibe as painfully slow progress. Revolutionary breakthroughs tempered by depressive restrictions. Violent rebellions in response to repressive controls. Unexpected obstacles, disruptive delays. This epic Saturn-Uranus dynamic, which continues into the 25th, is additionally intensified by the second exact conjunction between Venus and Pluto, which occurs on Christmas day, which emphasises deep feeling in relationships. Jealousy, passive aggression and manipulation are signatures of this energetic combination but so too is the healing power of love, which unites and harmonises our differences, providing opportunities for renewal and regeneration in relationships. This Saturn-Uranus/Venus-Pluto combination is excellent energy for initiating new traditions that break free from expectations that have previously deadened connections. Consider small, heartfelt innovations that ritualise affection.
In mythology, Uranus and Saturn are father and son, and the shift in power from the elder to the younger was associated with the emergence of the Golden Age. However this transfer occurs through a process of highly stressful, incremental change, which is necessary for achieving long-lasting progress in society as well as in personal growth. The Aquarian rulers continue their progress by square until March 2023 and this dynamic provides ideal conditions to cultivate the discipline necessary to work towards personal liberation. Meditation and mindfulness are ideal tools for harnessing the discipline of Saturn and the profound awakening potential of Uranus, and establishing a daily practice will turbo-charge the slow and steady release of lasting breakthroughs.
Of course it goes without saying, but nonetheless bears repeating, that the 24th and 25th are definitely not good days to engage in power struggles over opposing views; the fall-out could be more explosive than usual. Difficult truths would be better aired on December 29/30 when the Greater Benefic, Jupiter, planet of good fortune and the higher good, moves into its own watery temple of Pisces, a sign associated with compassion and forgiveness. Mercury joins Venus at 24 degrees of Capricorn on the same day and conjoins Pluto the next, eliciting communications that centre on the revelation of deep truths or reveal more of a story, enhancing understanding and compassion. Either way, Jupiter’s entry into Pisces should hopefully feel like a tangible shift of energy, which brings renewed inspiration, optimism and enthusiasm as it hints towards a renaissance of creative possibilities to come when Jupiter conjoins Neptune in Pisces in April 2022.
Final things:
Venus will turn direct on January 30, returning through the seven gates of the underworld until she meets Pluto again on March 3. This time they’ll simultaneously conjoin with an exalted Mars, further emphasising the powerful opportunities for personal transformation that are available to us in this cycle. And if at times we feel overwhelmed by grief or hopelessness while Venus undergoes this life and death journey, this is an important reminder: things are not hopeless, we’re just in the tricky process of transmuting toxins into riches. As we embark on this cycle of endings that precedes the birth of a new creative era, we can look again to mycelial metaphors. By grounding intense feelings in nature, paying attention to the information received through networks of support and our own intuition, and mindfully processing emotional poisons in order to derive the sweet benefits of their transformation, the old forms and patterns falling away are guaranteed to nourish an abundance of new life…
Congratulations on making it through nearly two epic, world-changing years of social and personal upheaval my dear, beautiful friends. You are fucking
A M A Z I N G!!! Sending much love and wishing you all a richly deserved, deeply restorative break in which to relinquish the old and dream into new and inspiring energies.
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