The Wider View

Forecast for Mon., Dec. 18th – Sun., Dec. 24th, 2017

Last week, I allowed myself to notice that my feeling body cannot be managed by my desire to move forward and “get over it” — rather, it needs compassion and acceptance to process and heal. It felt like quite a “Chiron-ish” week, if there is such a thing 😉 Another Chiron-related theme for the week was my bringing greater awareness to my emotional triggers and how I deal with them. I’m happy to say that I got lots of amazing support with all of this — thank you, to all the angels in my life 🙂

Before we get to this week’s forecast:

I would like to share with you some important announcements for 2018. The first announcement is about my new Astrology Online Community that I am in the process of creating, the second announcement it about the Forecasting Forum in January 2018: a look ahead at the whole Year! Click here to watch a brief video for more details

This week’s headline items: the New Moon in Sagittarius becomes exact on Monday, very early in the morning — and the Chiron Station ends that day as well. Mercury begins its station-phase on Tuesday, and comes to a halt on Friday evening — ending its 3-week retrograde phase. Saturn changes signs from Sagittarius to Capricorn, Tuesday late evening and Uranus begins its station-phase on Wednesday — slowing down and preparing to change direction. The Sun changes signs from Sagittarius to Capricorn on Thursday, late in the morning, marking the Winter Solstice in the Northern Hemisphere.

There will only be four Moon VoC phases this week: Monday morning (for 23 minutes), Wednesday late morning (for a little over 10.5 hours), Saturday early morning (for almost 4.5 hours), and Sunday late evening (for a little over 21.5 hours).

Monday (December 18th): the Moon remains in optimistic, adventurous, truth-seeking Sagittarius until 8:33am EST.

Sunday night/Monday very early morning, at 1:30am EST, the New Moon in 26.5 degrees of Sagittarius becomes exact. With the New Moon in optimistic, adventurous, truth-seeking Sagittarius, we seek to expand our day-to-day knowledge and look for the larger truth. Also feel free to watch my New Moon video on the subject

Ask yourself: What might I see if I zoomed out for the wider view? Does my life as it is now reflect my philosophy — and vice versa?

The New Moon closely aligns with Saturn and Venus in Sagittarius, and Mercury is still retrograde in Sagittarius as well. This spurs us to question our assumptions. Ask yourself: What fundamental assumptions do I make about others? About life itself? Love? My relationships? What does my direct experience show me?

Take a look at your conditioning and programming too: What messages did I receive from my parents, teachers, religion, and culture? How does my actual experience differ from what I was taught? Where do I still follow old programming, rather than listening to the wisdom of my heart and soul?

Saturn is in its last degree of Sagittarius and is therefore exalted at the time of the New Moon; it will move into Capricorn until 2020, a little less than two days after this New Moon becomes exact!

This heightens the universal request for us to take responsibility for our own perceptions and attitudes towards life — to take a good look at our horizons and think again — but this time, with maturity and realism. It directs us to discard outdated beliefs and determine our own indicators for progress, truth, and fulfillment.

Ask yourself: What do I see from where I stand? What is my understanding about life? How has my perception of myself and my life changed in the last three years?

If you want to know how Saturn’s journey in Capricorn will impact you personally in the next three years, feel free to purchase my 90+ minute webinar on the subject, click here or for a quick preview check out this 30-minute excerpt of the webinar

The Sun and Moon in Sagittarius also trine Uranus in Aries and square Chiron in Pisces.

The Trine to Uranus connects excitement to our vision for the future and our willingness to try something new and break away from “old” outdated ways of doing things. You could ask yourself: What if I took 5% more responsibility for my own reality? It ways could this be the key to creating a better future?

The Square to Chiron, aka the “Wounded Healer”, is asking us to take a closer look at any old wounds and memories of shame or separation. If we get triggered, we can look to see where in the past the trigger originated; then, as best as we can, bring compassion and understanding to that wounded, shamed, or abandoned part of ourselves.

As humans, we experience pain, shame, and separation, but can heal through the unconditional love and self-acceptance of the spirit-human alliance. Ask yourself: What might be possible if I was willing to just “be with” my insecurities and past wounding, without needing to fix them? What if my attempts to fix them was what was actually keeping me from seeing the divine perfection of it all?

Rather than looking to be saved, we are learning to ultimately embody our own divinity — to realize that we are all divine beings, and to live accordingly, knowing that everyone and everything is connected.

For those of you who want to have a better understanding of your personal healing journey, feel free to get the recording of my Chiron-workshop: “Healing with Astrology”, available for FREE when joining my online community: Click here for more info

As the ruler of Sagittarius, Jupiter features strongly in this New Moon chart; the planet is currently in Scorpio, making a trine to Neptune in Pisces and squaring the Moon Nodes.

Jupiter’s Trine to Neptune supports the opening of our heart and mind to spiritual realities beyond the borders of our previous understandings. Neptune represents unconditional love — this is not based on personality or preference, but on the remembrance that we are all one with the Cosmos, eternally exploring and evolving.

Neptune in Pisces asks us to have faith in the infinite support we receive every day from the universe — whether our mind understands it or not (what we understand with the mind is very different from what we comprehend with the heart).

Seeing through the illusion of separation from the divine is perhaps the greatest perspective shift of all. What might be possible if we allowed ourselves to glance past our filters and glimpse the truth of who we are?

Jupiter in Scorpio also squares the Moon Nodes in Leo/Aquarius, asking us to share our deepest secrets, in order to help transform past traumas. We are being asked to take a 90-degree turn, to gain a new perspective, to explore different avenues, leading to different outcomes, especially in regards to our intimate relationships, our ability to connect on a deep emotional level, and in regards to sharing our resources with others.

We are experiencing two quite different needs, pulling us in different directions: On the one hand, we want to focus on having more fun, joy and self-expression in our lives; on the other, we are asked to expand and learn about our inner experiences, our deeper issues — and to find a new perspective for who we are deep down, then communicate and share this, so we can shine consciousness and light on it.

In order to get to a place of greater joy on an individual level, one where we truly feel grateful for our lives, we need to first transform our perspective on old traumas and other deep issues from our past.

If this New Moon had a core message, it would be: Honor old patterns and struggles while releasing your attachments to them. As best as you can, provide yourself with compassion and understanding — embrace your humanity in all its extraordinary capabilities and in its healing capacity. Ask yourself: Why am I here? Where am I going? What beliefs call out for reassessment? What do I believe — and what do I simply “know”? Where do I need to take a leap of faith… or simply trust?

Be open to shifting your perceptions. Where have I made assumptions? Which one of my “filters” could I do without for a while, just as an exercise in freedom?

Keep looking at what needs to heal and keep taking responsibility for the “deeper” issues in your life. Where am I being challenged to “be with what is”? What does “spiritual maturity” mean to me?  Again, feel free to watch my New Moon video on the subject

Do you have your Ascendant (or any personal planets) in 24-29 degrees of Sagittarius, Gemini, Virgo, Pisces? If so, you may feel the effects of this New Moon more strongly. This is also true for those of us who have our Ascendant or Sun-sign in Leo or Cancer (the Sun rules Leo; the Moon rules Cancer).

The New Moon is also the best time to set some powerful intentions for this month’s Moon cycle. Intentions are best done soon after the New Moon becomes exact — and definitely not during a Moon void of course phase. So this month, the best time to set intentions would be any time between 1:30am until 8:10am EST Monday morning (Dec. 18th); and then again from 8:33am EST on Monday (Dec. 18th) until 1:30am EST Wednesday very early morning (Dec. 20th).

Monday at 8:10am EST, we enter a Moon void of course (VoC). that lasts for 23 minutes, until 8:33am EST. Use this intuitive time to focus on long-term projects that involve a truthful perspective or an adventure into the truth. As always with a Moon VoC, as best as you can, don’t start anything brand-new, stick to routine things, or simply go with the flow.

Monday at 8:33am EST, the Moon moves into practical, accomplishment-oriented Capricorn, where it will journey until Wednesday evening. We tend to be more realistic, serious, cautious; this can support practical endeavors and financial matters.

Our ambition surges and brings with it a need for structure and planning; when you add in the pragmatism this aspect supports, you can see how this could be a very productive time for business and long-term goals. Our reputation becomes very important to us.

As best as you can during this aspect, avoid “should-ing” on yourself. Take the pressure off, perhaps by saying “I am doing the best I can and that’s all I can ever do” 😉

Saturn is the ruler of Capricorn; it’s still transiting through Sagittarius until Tuesday late evening, making this a great time to take a long, last look at our belief structures, explore limiting beliefs and bust through conditioned thought structures. It’s also a great time to take a more serious look at the “meaning of life”.

As best as you can, be authentic about your beliefs: Do they actually match your direct experience of life — as it is for you now, rather than 5 or 10 years ago? What is true as of now? What is not?

Tuesday (Dec. 19th): the Moon remains in practical, accomplishment-oriented Capricorn all day (see Monday morning for details). If you haven’t set your New Moon Intentions yet, today (Tuesday all day) is still time to do so during the most potent time… If you’d like some input on how to do that, check out this article — you could also (re-)watch my New Moon video

Tuesday at 11:49pm EST, Saturn changes signs from adventurous, truth-seeking and enthusiastic Sagittarius to practical, accomplishment-oriented and responsible Capricorn, where it will journey until Dec., 2020 (except for the period between March and July of 2020, when it will temporarily move into Aquarius, giving us preview of what’s to come beyond Capricorn).

Saturn feels quite comfortable in Capricorn, as that planet “rules” this earth sign; you might say that Capricorn and Saturn have a lot in common and understand each other. Here are some key characteristics that apply to both:

Building long-lasting structures, diligence, effort, persistence in the face of no immediate rewards (i.e. deferred gratification), resilience, achievement, ambition, being goal-oriented, planning ahead, self-discipline, a mature, realistic approach, patience, hard work, integrity, manifestation through consistent application, setting heathy boundaries, focusing on what’s within our control, taking our time, slowing down, karma (you reap what you sow), working towards becoming an authority of some kind… You get the idea 🙂

So, between now and Dec. 2020, we are invited to look for practical applications for our ambitions. We may well be firming up our long-term goals — this transit is a time to focus on building a secure foundation in our professional lives.

Saturn in Capricorn also reminds us that in order to build or bring forth our visions, we need to look at the practical implications — we need to slow down and take our time, if we are to manifest something that can withstand the test of time — something that is of value to society, not just to a few.

However, before we can know exactly what path to take, we must know where we currently stand — we have to be realistic about “where we’re at” to know what steps to take.

It’s a time when we are working hard, taking on our fair share of duties and responsibilities, and either reaping some of the rewards of our hard work or facing the consequences of poor choices. We are invited, individually and collectively, to apply our newly refined ethics and life perspectives in a healthy and productive way.

Think back to the period between Nov. 1988 and Feb. 1991 — the last time Saturn made this journey: What did you accomplish back then, in regards to long-term goals, or the building of healthy foundations in your life? What area of life got a lot of your attention and focus in those days? Where did you have to apply yourself and have patience?

By the way, if you were born during that time period, you will experience your first “Saturn Return” within the next three years… (and if you were born between January, 1959 and January, 1962, you’re coming up on your second Saturn Return).

If you want to know how Saturn’s journey in Capricorn will impact you personally in the next three years, feel free to purchase my 90+ minute webinar on the subject, click here or for a quick preview check out this 30-minute excerpt of the webinar.

Do you have your Ascendant or Sun-sign in Capricorn or Aquarius? If so, you will most likely feel a greater sense of responsibility, a need to be more realistic, serious and mature.

Also on Tuesday, Mercury starts to slow down (station) in 13/14 degrees of Sagittarius, in preparation to come to a halt on Friday (Dec. 22nd) — ending its 3-week retrograde phase. This station will last until Dec. 27th, and during this time, we will feel Mercury’s energies more strongly.

Pay attention to anything “in your face” in any of the following areas: communications, short travels, transportation of any kind, communication devices. You will get a chance to make adjustments once Mercury is moving direct again (to be more precise, during the shadow phase that follows — for more details on Mercury Shadow Phases and Retrogrades, click here)

For the next 8 days, we might experience delays or misunderstandings; things could feel “off” or stagnant. It might be a good idea to give yourself some extra time when getting ready to go somewhere — and that goes for the journey itself, too — especially if you intend to drive or use public transportation. Going with the flow is definitely recommended at this time.

Be extra-patient if you intend to buy, sell or ship big-ticket items, especially if they are transportation or communication devices like anything connected with planes, trains, cars, phones, computers, iPads, etc. Best of all (if possible): wait until after Jan. 10th, when the shadow phase is over.

Some of us will feel the effects of the Mercury station more than others: those of us who have Gemini or Virgo as our Sun- or Rising-Sign (Ascendant); and those of us with personal planets in 13-14 degrees of Sagittarius, Gemini, Virgo or Pisces.

Wednesday (Dec. 20th): the Moon remains in practical, accomplishment-oriented Capricorn until 9:29pm EST (see Monday morning for details).

Wednesday at 10:37am EST, we enter a Moon void of course (VoC). that lasts for a little over 10.5 hours, until 9:29pm EST. You may be aware of two seemingly conflicting desires: On the one hand, a need for serious, diligent accomplishment — and on the other, a desire to break free and rebel against obligations.

As best as you can, take some breaks, and “let your freak flag fly” — just for a moment — and revel in it! As always with a Moon VoC, as best as you can, don’t start anything brand-new, stick to routine things, or simply go with the flow. You may also want to plan Wednesday (late morning until late evening) ahead of time 😉

Wednesday mid-afternoon, a challenging Venus/Chiron aspect becomes exact at 2:10pm EST. We started to feel this aspect from last Sunday night on; it will remain strong until this Friday evening. This aspect asks us to stretch past injuries and insecurities in our relationships, self-worth and finances. If we can bring compassion and a different point of view to these issues, we will reach a new understanding of ourselves and our life journey.

We have the opportunity to learn from one another; ironically though, social insecurities can be magnified at this time. Whenever Chiron is involved, we are being asked to do some healing work. As best as you can, use this time to learn about your sore spots. Nobody is perfect: we all have our flaws and idiosyncrasies. It’s ok.

If you get triggered by someone, as best as you can, take it as an opportunity to see where this trigger originated — probably in your childhood. Bring love and compassion to yourself as you are, and as you were. Allow any feelings this may stir up in you. A feeling is just energy that wants to be experienced; it wants to move through us and out.

The more we resist our feelings, the more we keep them spinning in place. As best as you can, move from the head to the heart. What might change, if you had 5% more compassion with yourself and others? What if you just decided to have faith in the healing process?

Do you have your Ascendant, Career Point (or personal planets) in the following placements: 21-28 degrees of Sagittarius, Pisces, Gemini or Virgo? If so, you are more affected by this aspect. This is also true for those of us who have our Ascendant or Sun-sign in Taurus or Libra (Venus is the ruler of Taurus and Libra).

Wednesday evening, a harmonious Venus/Uranus aspect becomes exact at 6:13pm EST. We started to feel this aspect from last Sunday night on; it will remain strong until this Friday evening. This aspect helps us to embrace all that is new and unusual in romance and finance. We are ready to experiment — but not to commit. We have an offbeat, pleasant attitude and people are more willing to socialize.

This is an especially good time for financial undertakings involving any of the following: technology and the internet; metaphysics; the arts; group activities. We lose our fear of taking risks at this time, this could be a good couple of days for the stock market indexes…or at the very least, an unpredictable one 🙂

Do you have your Ascendent, Career Point (or any personal planets) in 21-28 degrees of Sagittarius, Aries or Leo? If so, you will be most blessed by this aspect. This is also true for those of us who have our Ascendant or Sun-sign in Taurus, Libra or Aquarius (Venus is the ruler of Taurus and Libra; Uranus rules Aquarius)

Wednesday at 9:29pm EST, the Moon moves into freedom-loving, forward-thinking Aquarius, where it will journey until Saturday late morning. The energy of the Aquarian Moon relates to our instinct for improvement. Reactions are more intellectual than emotional; interactions more impersonal than personal. We are likely to have an increased fascination with the new and unusual.

Social gatherings, anything connected with group ideals and goals for the future, brainstorming, new ideas and methods, progress: all these are promoted during the time the Moon moves through Aquarius. Again: we have our eyes on the future — or on outer space 🙂 Personal freedom becomes paramount.

Thursday (Dec. 21st): the Moon remains in freedom-loving, forward-thinking Aquarius all day (see Wednesday evening for details).

Thursday at 11:28am EST, the Sun changes signs from optimistic, adventurous, truth-seeking Sagittarius to practical, accomplishment-oriented, status-oriented Capricorn. This also marks the shortest day of the year (in the northern hemisphere) and the beginning of Winter — aka the Winter Solstice.

The Solstices are important turning points that take place twice a year: They are energetic gateways for the summer or winter season to come through. Solstice Points are thus extra-potent times to set intentions and take part in ceremonies.

The Sun will journey through the sign of Capricorn until January 19th. Capricorn is a feet-on-the-ground, eyes-on-the-prize sign. As the Sun travels through it, we take a realistic, grounded approach to life; we know how to do things, and how to get things done.

We have a stronger sense of society and its structure, and feel most secure when doing our part within that structure; as such, worldly recognition may take on more importance for us. Making plans for the future can be very effective right now. We are more risk-averse at this time but we are ready to work hard and focus on what is essential.

All this is especially true if you are a Leo or Capricorn Sun-sign or Rising-sign. As a Capricorn, you will feel a good dose of confidence and playfulness in the next four weeks; as a Leo, you are more cautious and practical than usual…working towards a realistic long-term goal might be just the thing for you to do.

Thursday late afternoon, a Sun/Saturn alignment in 0 degrees of Capricorn becomes exact at 4:08pm EST. We started to feel this aspect from Monday on; it will remain strong until this Sunday. This alignment brings a more serious tone to our commitments with our long-term goals — it’s a time when we are called upon to “get real”.

This is especially true for long-term projects that require diligence and self-discipline, but also applies to anything that requires consistency and a mature approach. We are motivated by the desire to manifest tangible results. We are able to focus and work hard right now, especially if we have a goal in mind, welcoming a sense of discipline, structure or order.

Recommended at this time: making new commitments to old goals, taking care of our responsibilities, making careful use of anything that’s within our control

Do you have your Ascendant, Career point (or any personal planets) in the following: 27-29 degrees of Sagittarius, Gemini, Virgo, Pisces or 0-3 degrees of Capricorn, Cancer, Aries or Libra? If so, you may feel the effects of this alignment more strongly.

Also on Thursday, Uranus begins to slow down — it will come to a complete halt on Jan. 2nd, prior to starting its direct motion again after its 5-month retrograde phase. We will feel this station until Jan. 14th; until then, anything connected to Uranus’s energy will come into our awareness quite strongly; we are faced with this planet’s message.

Uranus is all about breaking away from traditional structures, moving towards a new future, a future that serves others as well as ourselves. Keyword: Freedom. We might have flashes of insight or new ideas about what needs to change in our lives. Definitely expect the unexpected.

Uranus also rules electronics, technology and the internet, so don’t be surprised if you experience some interruptions or short-term failures in these areas. Group activities are also ruled by Uranus, so these will also be more at the forefront of our awareness. As best as you can, stay open and flexible, go with the flow — and pay attention to those messages from the Universe 😉

As best as you can, take a closer look at whatever is “in your face” for the next 3.5 weeks. Our intuitions will be very strong during this time and we have access to sudden insights and ideas. This gives us the opportunity to take a look to see how free we actually feel.

Are we expressing our individuality to the fullest? Are we connecting to a larger vision? Is anything holding us back? What did you discover about visions and freedoms these past 5 months?

Is your Sun-sign or Ascendant in Aquarius? Or do you have your Ascendant, Career Point (or personal planets) in 22-27 degrees of Aries, Libra, Capricorn or Cancer? If so, you are more affected by this station.

Friday (Dec. 22nd): the Moon remains in freedom-loving, forward-thinking Aquarius all day (see Wednesday evening for details).

Friday at 8:51pm EST, Mercury comes to a halt in 13 degrees of Sagittarius, and slowly starts its direct motion, after its 3-week retrograde phase. As best as you can, go with the flow, keep an open mind and pay attention to anything that is in your face right now — you may need to address those issues again, when Mercury moves through its shadow phase…more on that later.

We are slowly ready to shift our focus back towards the outer world again, taking in new information and sharing from a new perspective. What did you learn about your inner dialog over the past 3 weeks? How might you share your findings in a healthy way with others? What needs to be addressed around your beliefs, perspectives, and attitudes towards life and other people?

When Mercury gets back to its regular speed (by Dec. 27th), communication and transportation will get back to normal; the same is true of any associated gadgets, vehicles, etc.

Some of us will feel the effects of this station more than others: those of us with Gemini or Virgo as our Sun- or Rising-Sign (Ascendant) — and those of us with personal planets (or angles) in 11-15 degrees of  Sagittarius, Gemini, Virgo, or Pisces.

As you may recall, I mentioned Mercury shadow phases in this update a few weeks back: If you want to buy, sell or ship big-ticket items, it’s best to avoid the periods shortly before and after Mercury goes retrograde. This is especially true if the items are connected to transportation (cars, plane tickets, etc.) or communication (phone, computer, iPad, etc.) This particular shadow phase ends on Jan. 10th. Click here to read my blog on the subject.

Saturday (Dec. 23rd): the Moon remains in freedom-loving, forward-thinking Aquarius until 9:42am EST (see Wednesday evening for details).

Saturday at 5:13am EST, we enter a Moon void of course (VoC). that lasts for almost 4.5 hours, until 9:42am EST. This is an intuitive time that presents an opportunity to connect to innovative ideas and unique world-views — so if you can, connect with like-minded people and explore something new.

As always with a Moon VoC, as best as you can, don’t start anything brand-new, stick to routine things, or simply go with the flow. You may also want to plan Saturday morning ahead of time 😉

Saturday at 9:42am EST, the Moon moves into creative, sensitive Pisces, where it will journey until Monday evening. This Moon placement often finds us more sensitive, intuitive, idealistic and imaginative than normal. We also have a greater capacity for compassion, sympathy and affection for all — but especially for those who suffer or can be regarded as the underdog.

But… that very idealism could also be our downfall at this time: We tend to see the best in everyone and everything, and when reality doesn’t match our idyllic vision, we might feel upset and even victimized by those harsh realities. A way out of this is to channel our idealism into spiritual or creative endeavors.

It’s also a great time for releasing fears — especially the ones based on a sense of separation — and experiencing “oneness”. Feelings tend to flow more freely; as best as you can, let them — in fact, “going with the flow” is the best way to go for the next couple of days.

Sunday (Dec. 24th): the Moon remains in creative, sensitive Pisces all day (see Saturday late morning for details).

Sunday at 9:48pm EST, we enter a Moon void of course (VoC). that lasts for a little over 21.5 hours, until 7:27pm EST (Monday evening). Use this intuitive time as an opportunity to connect to your higher Self, and if possible, bring a sense of flow and faith to your long-term plans — especially those you feel really passionate about.

As always with a Moon VoC, as best as you can, don’t start anything brand-new, stick to routine things, or simply go with the flow. You may also want to plan Sunday night and Monday Day ahead of time 😉

A head’s up for next Monday (Dec. 25th): the Moon remains in creative, sensitive Pisces and VoC until 7:27pm EST (see Saturday late morning for details). At 12:26am EST, Venus moves from Sagittarius into Capricorn where it will journey until January 18th 2018. In early afternoon, a Venus/Saturn alignment in 0.5 degrees of Capricorn becomes exact at 12:55pm EST. We started to feel this aspect from last Friday on; it will remain strong until this Thursday. At 7:27pm EST, the Moon moves into Aries, where it will journey until Thursday very early morning. More about all the details in next week’s forecast 😉

One Last Announcement:

Join me for my next FORECASTING FORUM, Wednesday, Jan. 3rd, 2018 at 1pm PST/ 4pm EST/9pm GMT (London-time). Please note that we will be talking about what’s coming up in 2018 — a look a head at the whole year!

If you want to know how to align yourself with the energies of 2018, join me live or sign up for the mp4-video presentation. To register now, click here

Here is a testimonial from one of our participants right after joining our most recent Forum:

“Thank you for the last Forecasting Forum. Your explanation is always very easy to understand and I really appreciated it!  Also, thank you for mentioning my questions and answered them during the webinar!! Thanks a lot!!” — Keiko

Have a fantastic week!

Many blessings,

Sonja

PS: To apply my forecasts and videos to your own birth chart, watch my 30-minute class on: “How to Read Your Birth Chart” and feel free to go to my Facebook Fan page for my daily forecasts 😉