One centuries old tradition at the time of the Winter Solstice is the lighting of the “Yule Log”.

Welcome to the Friday before Christmas. It probably feels like it’s been a long week. Today, the Moon (Emotions) is working well with Jupiter — the giant planet with a lot of pull toward prosperity. That’s a good sign for the coming year. Remember that is how you feel about things that draws you to them. The Moon is also squaring off with the Sun today, and this often means that your gut tells you one thing, while your brain tells you another. Use them both. Trust your intuition, but temper emotions with right and logical thought. One example — even though a really expensive item “feels” like it would be good to purchase and give as a gift — you’re probably right if you’re telling yourself you can find a more affordable gift they will love too.

“The wheel of the calendar is always turning and this time will past but once. Remember: moment by moment, this life is given… just as moment by moment, it is taken away.”

Earlier this week, the Moon was squaring off with Mars, so you could have found it hard to get going. The Moon was also working in conjunction with Saturn, so have been able to borrow a bit of that energy to get things done in a practical way. Remember to try and group your errands into a logical order to be more efficient. Keep your communications at work brief and to the point. This is not the best time to seek creative solutions — save those for when you have more time to explore them.

On Saturday, the Moon is working well with both Venus (Love) and Chiron (The Healer) — a perfect combination as you see old friends and family for the holidays. The Spirit of Christmas is in the heart, and letting those around you know you love them is a very healthy thing to do. The Moon also squares off with Mercury — the Communicator — today, so keep an eye on your emotions, and make sure that your feelings don’t inspire you to speak out of turn. Sure, seeing people you haven’t been with for a while can churn up some deep feelings — but they can do you good, if you manage them well.

Sunday is the Winter Solstice — a time to celebrate the reversal of the Sun’s ebbing presence in the sky, as the power of of the season is at its full, but the wheel now turns toward Spring, and the year is reborn again. The Moon is working well with Mars and Neptune today — an excellent configuration to help you get in the spirit of your last minute gift shopping. Don’t you love a quick Mocha as you dash from store to store? Savor this season, even as you savor your mocha. The wheel of the calendar is always turning and this time will past but once. Remember: moment by moment, this life is given… just as moment by moment, it is taken away. That’s the secret to staying focused on the “now.”  All is a cycle — a great ebb and flow on earth, in time, and in the cosmos.

Cone Nebula captured by NASA’s Hubble Telescope — The part pictured here is 2.5 light years in length (the equivalent of 23 million return trips to the Moon).

Welcome to Friday. Things are perking up a bit after Thursday felt “ho-hum.” On Friday, the Moon is in harmony with Jupiter (Prosperity), while Jupiter, meanwhile, is dancing nice with Saturn (Practicality). So sure, you feel like enjoying success, and you can attract it today, but you will truely prosper when you keep your plans down to earth. Make sure they are “doable”, and even in tough economic times, you can realize your reward. This scenario looks doubly promising since the Moon is also at play with Uranus (New Ideas), so get your pencil out and fashion a good, tight working plan for what you need to do.

“…look for healing to come on Sunday via your relationship with God and your Spirituality.”

Earlier in the week, the Moon was dancing in Trine with Pluto — the energy of transformation and renewal. That’s always a good time to get a burst of energy — you can use it in your career… and at home. Sometimes, more gets done when you are busy, anyway. You might have felt a bit out of sorts on the emotional side on Wednesday as the Moon squared off with both the Sun and Venus. Things go in cycles, and it is wise to embrace even the tension and some of the stress of life — it is how we change, grow… and renew ourselves.

As we head into your weekend, the Moon is playing nice on Saturday with Mercury (Communication), Mars (Initiative), and the Sun (Personality). So, you will feel that you can talk about plans for the holidays, end of the year, and looking forward to 2009. This is good on a Saturday afternoon as Thanksgiving approaches. Interesting now, that the Moon is also squaring off with Pluto — the planet of transformation. How can it be? Well, while it’s natural to talk a good game about new initiatives, it’s also natural to feel a bit nervous about actually moving forward. That’s ok — that tension will provide the energy you need to focus.

Sunday brings energy for positive emotions, via the power of Chiron — the great shamanic healer. The Moon is also moving into a Trine relationship with Neptune — the planet of spirituality. So, look for healing to come on Sunday via your relationship with God and your Spirituality. This is good because there is also heavenly turmoil occuring with Mars, Saturn, Mercury and the Sun. So, you may find it hard to voice your concerns about practical ways to proceed for your family and within your love relationships. Your Faith will help in that department too.

Distant Galaxy captured by Hubble telescope.

Here comes Thursday. The Moon is working well with both Saturn (practicality), and Jupiter (prosperity), while showing stress in the realm of Chiron (the “Healer”). One simple interpretation is that being practical in your finances is the path to fixing any unbalances and will lead you to prosperity. Sound like common sense? Tell that to Congress, Wall Street, and all those loan lenders that didn’t serve us well. The Moon (Emotions) also cooperates well with Uranus (New Ideas), so you can work with this energy to give birth to your inner feelings. That’s just as important in your career as it is in your romantic life.

“Yes — check things twice and thrice because of the Retrograde period, but don’t hang back now. “

Earlier this week, we saw Mars dancing with Pluto. Pluto’s energy is about transformation and renewal, so mid-week brought a good time to put forward a proposal to try something new… at work, or in your personal relationships. How did that work out for you?

Friday looks a little emotional with the Moon (Emotions) putting stress on the Sun (Personality). Then we have Saturn (Restrictions), and Mercury (Communication) putting stress on the Moon. Hmmmm. Remember too that the Mercury Retrograde is in effect, so it is a time to be very careful in your negotiations. There might be something that has been holding you back, which you need to speak about with a boss or a loved one, but you’re worried about how emotional it can be. Just do what you know to be right, based on your Spiritual principles. That’s all any of us have to do at any time. And, we are emotional beings, so some feelings are to be expected.

On Saturday, the Heavens get busy and “bring it” with the Sun making nice with the Moon, Mercury dancing with Chiron the Healer, and the Moon playing well with both Chiron and Mercury. This is the time to speak and negotiate as it can bring about a fortunate result for you. Yes — check things twice and thrice because of the Retrograde period, but don’t hang back now. Your emotions and personality are all aligned with the potential for healing from your communication which means both speaking… and listening. Good luck.

The “Eagle Nebula” as capture by the Hubble Telescope, about 7,000 light years distant from earth.

The Moon is working well with Neptune on Monday, but squaring off with three planets: Mercury, Venus, and Uranus. So, while it’s not a good day to talk with your romantic interest about new ideas for your relationship, you might like to use the compassion you feel to just listen and understand. People don’t seem to slow-down enough to listen — really listen (not the same as waiting to speak). What you learn today, when listening with your heart will be key to future developments.

Listening on Monday, and watching on Tuesday will give you the information you need to take the next step — in the workplace, and in your love life.

Over the weekend, Venus, Mercury, and Uranus worked to help communication regarding new ideas in your Romance) — did you agree to try anything new and adventurous? On Sunday, the Moon (Emotions) squared off with Saturn (Practicality), making you feel like doing something a bit wild. Hope you enjoyed yourself.

And on Tuesday, there’s a sense that you need to play it safe, not take the lead, and wait to see what your partner will do. Listening on Monday, and watching on Tuesday will give you the information you need to take the next step — in the workplace, and in your love life. The Moon is also in opposition today with Jupiter (prosperity), tomorrow, so listen also to your own feelings. Why do you feel like the growth you want is not coming to you yet? What do you have to do to make it happen?

Wednesday may bring some answers for what you seek, since the Moon is working well with Venus, Mercury, and Uranus. Uranus brings a sense of new ideas back to the table, a bit like their influence over the past weekend. Time to discuss inventive ideas again with your loved one. But Mercury is also squaring off with Pluto, so you may not want to discuss a total transformation just yet. It’s one thing to take a few steps in the right direction (this could mean discussing marriage), but quite another to rush right out and just do it. Discuss the idea and see what happens… then you’ll have the feedback you need to make a wise and measured decision.

During its flight, the Galileo spacecraft returned images of the Earth and Moon

Greetings. As we head into the weekend, the Moon (Emotions) is a bit at odds with old Mars (Initiative), which can leave you feeling like new endeavors aren’t the best policy right now. Mercury (Communication) is also tugging with Saturn (Structure) so talking about future plans is not the best idea either. What’s that leave you with? Sit back, enjoy a cup of coffee at the bookstore… relax. It’s the weekend, and Spring is in the air. Enjoy what you have and live in the present — now, is all anyone really has.

“The Sun has been working with Neptune so that the compassion in your nature can come out.”

It has been an interesting week. The Moon entered Aquarius at the start the week — a sociable influence — and it also formed a nervous aspect with Uranus (New Beginnings). This can be why you feel comfortable being social, but you’re not rushing into anything new. That’s good. Enjoy the people around you and what they mean in your career, family, and relationships. There’ll be time enough to surge ahead later.

The Sun has been working with Neptune so that the compassion in your nature can come out. While this is a good attribute, you have to apply a certain amount of logic along with the good feelings to keep your head about you in business and relationships. Mercury (Communication) also is in position to encourage speaking your mind quickly. Is that an advantage for you, or a note of caution? Both. It’s good to balance that the urge to talk about what you’re feeling with some careful forethought. Running on feelings, and speaking quickly can get you in trouble sometimes. Give important matters the time they require before moving forward.

At the close of the week (Friday) the Moon (Emotion) works with Jupiter (Growth) to bring good fortune. This gives you a feeling of freedom as the Spring weekend slides into home. At the same time, the Moon is tugging a bit with Neptune (Spirituality), and you may feel that you need to deal with some deception in your ideals. That’s ok. Learning to see the truth means accepting some disillusionment. You can find prosperity in your life and relationships when you see things as they really are.

Jupiter photo shot from NASA’s “Cassini” space probe.

This is a Virgo-Moon weekend. This serves to organize our thoughts and allows us to speak clearly about important things — now is the right time for communication. We are also in the Sagittarius time of the Zodiac now, and it is governed by the giant planet Jupiter. It is a season of good fortune and prosperity. If you are seeking justice in your worldly dealings, the influence of Jupiter is also good for that pursuit. Also, in astrology, we look to Jupiter as ruler of your 9th House (religion, law, and higher education), and 12th House (psychic matters). So, there’s quite a lot going on with Jupiter which also is headed toward an interesting conjunction with Pluto on December 11th.

“Because no two people share the exact same configuration (even “identical” twins come into the world at different time intervals) in their horoscope, so are relationships between two people unique.”

How are your growth plans coming along? Jupiter, the largest Planet in our Solar System, is active right now, as it moves toward a conjunction with Pluto on Dec. 11th. In Roman Mythology, Jupiter ruled over the Gods themselves… a very powerful influence. It was the Babylonians who used the approximately 12 year voyage of Jupiter along the Ecliptic to delineate the twelve constellations in the Zodiac. Astrologically speaking, Jupiter stands for prosperity, growth, and expanding fortune. Not a bad thing during these festive days.

Is your Holiday Season going well? During this busy time it is normal to come in contact with a lot of people — some new, some old friends, colleagues and acquaintances. Auld Lang Syne. What would the world be without friendships — without people? A bit like the sky without planets and stars, I think. How will you celebrate among all of these celestial bodies this year?

You are unique, and your time and place of birth is equally unique. It is on this — the precise location and time you were born — that Astrology bases your Horoscope with particular attention to the positions of the planets in the Zodiac at the moment of your birth. Because no two people share the exact same configuration (even “identical” twins come into the world at different time intervals) in their horoscope, so are relationships between two people unique. We can look at compatibilities between signs in general, but each partner you team up with represents a unique combination of personalities and combined traits.