Only a Few Weeks Until the Winter Solstice
A very large boat, wrapped for winter under a lovely sky
There is no denying that cold weather has arrived and we we are moving quickly toward the winter holidays. Regardless of what or how you celebrate, those celebrations are upon us.
Each year, the Holidays evoke all kinds of emotions in everyone. You don’t have to look far to find the person who lives for this season and is already baking and wrapping, making lists, and planning. You also don’t need to look far afield to find another family member or friend who wants nothing more than to hide for the next 5 weeks.
Are you excited with anticipation or full of anxiety and dread? We would all like to avoid the stress inherent in the weeks between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day. We would all like to enjoy the excitement. Perhaps you are one of the lucky ones who has developed a simple way of managing both the excitement and anxiety of the season.
The roots of how you manage these holidays will be found in the celebrations of your childhood. Take some time this week to contemplate your childhood experience of the Holidays. What was important in the culture of your family? Was it a time of simple joys or a time of hostility and drama?
I remember the pleasure of colorful lights and decorations, laying on the carpet in front of a glimmering tree. These were early experiences of magic. The smell of baked goods, cinnamon, butter, and spices brought even more magic.
Focus on things that will make valuable memories for the children in your life, or will bring back memories in the older folks in your life. Honor family and friends enjoy the lights, the smells of baking, music, candles, and old movies.
Don’t spend money you don’t have, don’t buy stuff for those who have too much, and don’t eat more than your belly can hold. Provide experiences to those you love, give to those in need, and help where you can. Take time for yourself.
In 2005 I made an announcement that I was no longer going to celebrate Christmas. I stopped. In retrospect, I needed to go to that extreme in order to get myself to a place that feels joyful and healthy. Now, I enjoy making a gingerbread house with my children and granddaughter and giving simple gifts that I know will be appreciated. I give food that I have made or books. The more simple I can make it, the better it works.
In the past few years, I have heard many folks talking about keeping the holiday simple and down to earth. Perhaps the challenges of the past few years are helping to point us in a direction of understanding what is important.
The song, Imagine, by John Lennon, resonates. During this holiday season, think about the words of this powerful song and use them to consider what is more important. Focus on the most precious gift of time and love.
Imagine
Love and gratitude, Laurie
Boats in the quiet November harbor
SEEKING PLEASURE AND BEAUTY
Monday, December 5, 2022
With today’s Moon in Taurus, we want stability, calm normalcy, pleasure, and beauty to occupy the day. When the Moon is in this fixed earth sign our emotional connection to physical senses and desire are the motivating factors. Whatever you do today, stay on the side of practicality.
Find ways to maintain calm even as the holidays begin to take over with the stress that entails. Stabilize your emotions by connecting to your body and its needs. Schedule a massage, plan a special meal with a loved one and put flowers by the bedside.
At 12:37 PM ET, the Moon joins Uranus, practicality may be more difficult to manage. You may receive some news that changes the direction of the day with an exciting message or a stressful one. At 8:54 PM ET the Moon squares Saturn, practicality comes into focus once again and you are ready to settle down in time for sleep.
Taken from the footbridge across the Passagassawaukeag River
YOU DON’T NEED TO KNOW EVERYTHING
Tuesday, December 6, 2022
In the wee hours of the morning, Mercury forms a challenging square aspect to Jupiter. Don’t try to take in too much information. Understanding the limits of your mind’s ability to process what you take in is important. Restlessness and scattered attention could derail you. This is apt to be more of an issue after the Moon enters Mercury’s sign of Gemini this afternoon. Be selective about the information you pay attention to. Practice slowing down your mind. You don’t need to know everything.
The Moon remains in steadfast Taurus until 3:49 PM ET when she enters Gemini. Taurus is the Fixed Earth sign, steady, stable, grounded, and fully focused on reality. Taurus energies support us to build and maintain the practical structures that support our lives. Once the Moon enters Gemini, let the conversations begin! It is important to use your intellect and your voice to manage your emotions. Your mind is busy and you want to explore and share ideas and conversations with others.
Pay attention and you may notice how the topics that interest you change when Mercury leaves Sagittarius and enters Capricorn at 5:08 PM ET. Your mind moves onto a more ambitious path. What you are thinking about and how your mind processes information takes on a more serious tone over the coming days. Mercury will be slowing down over the next few weeks as it prepares to turn retrograde on December 29.
Boats in the Harbor
GEMINI FULL MOON – NOTICE THE HARD EDGE
Wednesday, December 7, 2022
The Moon remains in Gemini throughout the day building to the Full Moon (16 degrees) at 11:09 PM ET. Adjust the time for your time zone.
Winter berries
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Dock Office on the Harbor
DEVELOPING COURAGE
Thursday, December 8, 2022
At 12:41 AM ET the Sagittarius Sun opposes Mars retrograde in Gemini. This may pull your attention away from the story that Mars retrograde is attempting to teach you. You may need a reminder about Mars’ current retrograde. You can find that here. The Sun is highlighting how we, individually and collectively, grow in wisdom. With Mars retrograde, we are all reevaluating our relationship to assertiveness and aggression. Consider how you develop the qualities of courage, assertiveness, leadership, and direct passion. Commit to releasing any passive acceptance of brutality, cruelty, coercion, and sexual violence. Regardless of your sex, you have both masculine and feminine energies within.
The Moon remains in Gemini today following yesterday’s Full Moon. With the Moon in Gemini, we are pulled to stimulating conversations and mental gymnastics. Communications help your emotions stabilize while the Moon is in this quick-moving mutable Air sign. Without mental stimulation, it will be easy to become irritable or anxious. Keep your mind occupied and try to keep it light-hearted. You can anticipate restless mental activity for the next few days. Find something useful to get curious about and investigate.
The sun sparkles on the water in the bay
MAKE A COMMITMENT TO LOVE
Friday, December 9, 2022
The Moon enters Cancer at 2:49 AM ET, placing the Moon in her domicile. This points our emotions directly to their most tender roots. This is a good day to spend with family, managing domestic issues, and engaging with sensitivity and love. Stay close to home. Bake cookies as a way to heal and nurture those you love.
At 7:54 AM ET Venus forms a challenging square aspect to Jupiter. Even a difficult conversation between these two agreeable parties won’t cause too many problems. The worst of it will result in the tendency to overdo something. There are many ways that we can overextend ourselves. We can be too generous with others, giving more than we have available. We may spend too much on that pair of shoes that we somehow think we just have to have. We may make ourselves sick with just one more piece of the pie. Be wary of wasting time or resources. Go ahead and allow yourself to enjoy all the fine things of your life but keep yourself from going too far. Find your personal middle ground and hold the line steady. Don’t do your holiday shopping today!
At 10:54 PM ET Venus leaves Sagittarius behind to enter Capricorn. Venus has been exploring and having a good time in Sagittarius since November 16th. She will remain in Capricorn until January 2, 2023. During this time, you will find yourself valuing money, productivity, and ambition more than you have in some time. This is a good time to make a serious commitment to love or ambition.
Boats in the harbor
COMFORT AND NOSTALGIA
Saturday, December 10, 2022
Today’s Cancer Moon desires emotional comfort and safety. When the Moon is in this cardinal water sign our attention turns to domestic concerns, the comfort of home, and spending time with loved ones. Emotions are focused on family, love, support, and nurturance.
Although the Moon is very much at home in Cancer due to its rulership of this sign, that does not translate into its being an easy time. When the Moon is in Cancer we may be overly sensitive, moody, more vulnerable than we are comfortable with, and may become defensive when old buttons are pushed.
You will be drawn to places of safety, memories of the past, and people who have cared deeply for us. Practice patience and loving-kindness toward others today. Indulge in comfort foods and allow yourself to drift into nostalgia. Please don’t get stuck there. Use this as a time to consider what is worth revisiting from the past and what is best left alone.
A lighthouse on a cold day
AN AFTERNOON FOR DYNAMIC SELF EXPRESSION
Sunday, December 11, 2022
With the Moon still in Cancer, we retain the need for emotional comfort and nostalgia. However, there are a few complications today as the Moon opposes Pluto at 9:11 AM ET. Anticipate being challenged by someone’s need for power or control. The best way to manage this is by sidestepping it. As a Moon transit, it will pass quickly. No sooner does the Moon move on from that challenging aspect, it forms a trine aspect to Jupiter at 1:49 PM ET. This settles the difficulty and allows us to proceed into a rather delightful afternoon.
At 3:09 PM ET, the Moon leaves Cancer behind. If you have felt particularly vulnerable or nostalgic over the past few days, it will be a relief to have the Moon enter Leo at 3:09 PM ET. Set the sensitivity and nostalgia aside and move into a day that is made for expressing your brightest side.
The Leo Moon supports playfulness and dynamic self-expression. Leo is the fixed Fire sign ruled by the Sun. Leo offers the potential for enthusiasm and optimism. All else being equal the Leo Moon simply feels warm and joyful. Enjoy the afternoon, get out, and play with others. Allow yourself to exude courage and confidence. Express yourself fully.
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