The holidays are coming and for many of us this means spending more time with family and friends. This year the stars in the sky tell us there will be even more than usual focus on our relationships and where we are heading in life. Things can get a bit complicated, but there are still things you can do if you are prepared. So let’s grab a cup of tea or coffee and see what we can find in the stars to make the best of it.
Not the Same Celebration This Year
The goddess asteroid Juno (relationships) is now in Virgo (practical things) making good aspect to Uranus (change). Juno is interesting for many reasons. One of them is that she is often very activated in the sky and in our natal charts when changes are happening. These changes do not have to be of our own making. Many times they are connected to something happening around us that makes things different. A situation or an event that triggers us to choose our next step or a new direction in life. Because of this, Juno can be challenging even if she is making a good aspect in the chart and even if the Juno transit will leads us towards something good in the end. Changes and new perspectives can many times be uncomfortable in the beginning.
One example may be that your older parents decide to divorce. Suddenly everything changes. All the holidays will be spent differently in the future. And the children will not have their grandparents at the same place and time, and so on. Even if it is your parents who are divorcing, you have to change and the family situation will be different from now on.
Juno is often also active when we change jobs, deciding to leave something or someone. But also when we start a new important relationship or partnership. Juno is involved in the first menstruation, first time having sex, giving birth, getting married, getting a divorce, children moving out, start of menopause and, last but not least, receiving an initiation. Juno may not be the most obvious or loudest of the goddess asteroids in the chart, but when you start to track her movements against big life changes, it becomes obvious she has indeed been there.
Good Time for Negotiations
Now when Juno in Virgo is making a trine to Uranus in Taurus things have changed or is about to. With this energy shift I encourage you to be active and not to be afraid of negotiations. Is your landlord selling the property? Negotiate on the terms of your lease and if or when you need to leave.
Do not be afraid to pick up the phone and try to make the best deal you can, no matter the issue. Does your ex want all the fun holidays but to skip driving the kids to their activities? Negotiate, make lists (Virgo the planner) and make things clear for everyone involved. After the work has been done you may be surprised by how good it finally gets. Personally I believe that the best deals are when everyone walks away with something that they want even if it is not everything that they want. On a global level we can hope that this transition helps the world leaders make decisions that are good for the planet.
- Juno trines Uranus until the 3rd of March.
Tricky and Sensitive Communication
Mercury is the planet of communication. Right now Mercury is about to go into retrograde movement in the sign of Capricorn. Communication does not always flow easily for Capricorn. It needs to think a bit and digest before speaking. And when Capricorn finally speaks, it is usually with authority and power.
Right now Mercury is in opposition (challenging aspect) to Vesta (priest and priestess, fire) in the sign of Cancer (family, friends). That can make you very protective about your family and friends, perhaps even over-protective? You may also become extra hard against the people that you love, especially about how they behave and how they communicate. A good advice during this period is to be careful with what you are saying and especially how you say it.
It may also be good to be generous about giving and accepting apologies. This becomes extra strong because Lilith Black Moon is in Virgo, ruled by no other than Mercury. This makes communication blurry at best and completely off target at worst. So, remember that a “I´m sorry” can go a very long way. On a global plane this will affect countries, organisations and big companies for whom it will be very wise to apologise to the public when needed to.
On a magickal level Mercury (communication) in Capricorn (ruled by Saturn skilled in manifestation) is good for commanding energies and manifesting things with your words. Just make sure that your words speak of what you want to manifest.
- Mercury is in retrograde in Capricorn from the 13th of December (Lucia in Sweden) until the 23rd of December when Mercury moves into the sign of Sagittarius.
- The retrograde period ends the 1st of January 2024. Mercury travels through Capricorn again from the 13 th of January until the 5th of February.
- Lilith Black Moon is in Virgo until the end of June 2024
What Do You Want?
The goddess asteroid Ceres (nourishment, fulfilment) is right now in the sign of Sagittarius. This is an energy that is looking towards the future. Sagittarius loves to learn, travel and explore. It does not want to be held back by others in any way. It is a freedom lover. When Ceres is in Sagittarius it becomes a bit complicated and you may be thorn between wanting the security from your loved ones and what is known on one hand, and on the other hand wanting freedom to do whatever you want and just jump into the unknown future.
Now the question is: What do you want?
The answer to this question is extra hard to answer right now. Ceres is making a challenging aspect to Lilith Black moon (blind spot, difficult to see) in Virgo (planning, strategy, practical things) making it difficult to see and feel what you want for your future (Sagittarius). It is also difficult to see what is possible or not? This inner and outer confusion can complicate relationships more than usual. Accepting that all the answers are not available at the moment can help both you and your relationships. A good sign is that Lilith Black Moon is also making a good aspect to Jupiter (the planet of luck) in Taurus (manifestation). That could also indicate good things and hidden gifts that you did not see coming.
- Ceres is in challenging aspect to Lilith Balack moon until the 30th of December.
- Ceres is in Sagittarius until the 7th of February 2024 when it moves into the sign of Capricorn.
A Very Strong Midwinter
The energies are very strong this Midwinter, especially if you are doing ceremony and healing work. Neptune (intuition) in Pisces (healing, soul work) is in a challenging aspect to the Sun in Sagittarius and Vesta (priest, priestess, devotion) in Gemini (communication).
This makes trance work, channelling and prophecies both strong and unpredictable. If you are doing a Völva ceremony or the like, make sure to take good care of the Völva, Oracle, Medium or Channeler. The energies passing through are strong and it may be difficult to come back to the body. This is amplified by Chiron (the healer) in Aires making a good aspect to Mars. Together they are fast and intensive, which can be challenging for the nervous system when doing healing and magickal work. On the good side this indicates a strong and fast channel for healing and transformation when doing spiritual and magical work.
Turbulence at Christmas
At Christmas, December 24–26, Mercury is moving up right next to Mars in Sagittarius. That can make communication intensive and at worst abusive. They also make a challenging aspect to Vesta (fire) in Gemini (communication) and to Neptune (drugs, alcohol) in Pisces (escaping).
With these aspects it can easily become too much of anything. A good approach to having a good celebration is to stop before things gets too far. Change conversation if it gets to intense, do another activity, say goodnight and break up the celebration when it is time to do so. Basically it is good to think that less is more. Remember that children and animals cannot choose their environment the same way as adults can. As healers and magickal people we can do healing and ceremony for Peace in the Home and protection for those who are vulnerable and exposed to harmful situations or people.
Happy New Year
At New Years eve the relationship confusion and the communication difficulties continues. Now we also have Venus (romance) in Sagittarius making a challenging aspect to Saturn (blockages) in Pisces and to Lilith Black Moon in Virgo, all adding to the confusion and risk of misunderstandings. Listen to your inner guidance and your spiritual guides. If something feels off, change plans and follow your intuition. This is an evening when it is extra important to be surrounded by people that you trust and are comfortable with.
Summary
Despite the turbulence and confusion about the future that many may experience this passage I believe that it is possible to find some relaxation during the Holidays. Remember to breath, to do your spiritual practices and to not carry the responsibility for everyone’s happiness on your shoulders.
On a higher level I would call this passage an Intergalactic Snowstorm. For those I recommend spending time in your pajamas, reading books and generous cups of hot chocolate. I will end this last Astrology blog for the year by quoting my husband Niklas Ugander: “It is as it is, until it is no longer so”.
God Jul och Gott Nytt År!
Karin Spirit Talker Turtle Red
Karin Ugander (Spirit Talker Turtle Red) is a spiritual channeler living in the south of Sweden. In Scandinavia she is known for the AstroNumerology and psychic readings she’s been doing for over 20 years. Together with her husband Niklas, she runs KaniSkolan, a school of astrology, numerology, tarot, StarCode Healing, and natural medicine. They are also the founders of Alven Inner Ring tradition, a Scandinavian mystery school with roots in shamanism and magick. Karin loves to create magickal oils, flower essences and sigils she combines in her “Karin Victoria” sigil candles and flower sprays. In her spare time she likes to travel, walk in the forest with her dog, and spend time by the ocean. Karin is an ordained high priestess and graduate of the Temple of Witchcraft’s seminary program. Her work can be found on Instagram @flowerpowerwitch and @karinuganderofficial and she can be reached at [email protected].