The Astrology Company: December 2024 by Bob Mulligan

December 2024 

By Bob Mulligan

(a personal note is at the end of the newsletter)

 

December Highlights 

On the 4th Mercury is Opposite Jupiter. This is the second Opposition between these planets in a series of three.  The first was on the 18th of November.  The third will be on the 26th of December. This five-week period is fertile ground for new ideas or recycling old ones.  Dishonesty comes to the surface. Good ideas will leave the proving ground.

On the 6th Mars turns Retrograde and continues backwards until February 23rd 2025 since Mars rules energy, fire, and all forms of combustion; restraint and planning are a better use of our time and effort.  Anything requiring oomph to move forward is out of favor.

On the 7th Venus enters Aquarius where she will be the rest of the month.  Experimentation in love life, art, and adventure finds an appreciative audience. 

On the 13th Jupiter is Sesquiquadrate Pluto.  Unless lady luck just falls in your lap, it’s best to wait a few days before putting your new brilliant ideas into motion.  A struggle over leadership dominates thinking.

On the 15th Mercury turns Direct. Big adventures gain traction over the next few days as the confusion of the last three weeks starts to evaporate. 

On the 24th Jupiter is Square Saturn.  This is more testing of the Zero degrees of Aquarius Conjunction that took place on the 21st of December 2020.  Pluto (all or nothing) sits on this point now.  A big shift comes to the surface in public policy, or the pressure builds until there is an explosion. 

On the 26th Mercury is Opposite Jupiter; on the 27th Mercury is Square Saturn.  Words spoken and actions taken during this two- or three-day period will be lasting.  We all need to be careful that we mean what we say and say what we mean.  Clarity and mental acuity are the ticket to meaningful peace.

The New Moon

There are two New Moons in December this year.  The first is on the 1st at 1:22 AM EST.  Mutability (mental change) is the dominant mood of this New Moon.  Both Jupiter (ethics) and Mercury (data) are Retrograde; they are Opposite, and sit in each other’s signs, Gemini and Sagittarius.  All month, we will long for something unseen, beyond our grasp.  An uncomfortable feeling and antsiness won’t let go.  The New Moon and Mars form a Grand Fire Trine with the North Node of the Moon. Our only path forward now is to believe in ourselves and act.  If we are guided by an ethical mind and virtuous attitude, we are protected.  We are encouraged to take chances as Venus (goddess of love) is Trine Uranus (spontaneous change).  Neptune is Sextile both and sits between them.  A modicum of caution prevents stupid outcomes.

 

The Full Moon 

The Full Moon is on the 15th at 4:02 AM EST at 23 degrees and 53 minutes of Sagittarius/Gemini. Neptune Squares both Sun and Moon forming a Mutable (adjustable) T-Square.  All T-squares require activity to stay balanced.  Mutable signs are mental thus require careful thinking and planning to be utilized productively.   Those who try to preserve the status quo will be uprooted.  This doesn’t mean that every bizarre attempt at revolution will be successful.  Uranus Quincunx the Sun and Semi-sextile the Moon promise quirky displays of individuality can get provisional acceptance. But insincere actions and halfhearted attempts at compromise won’t bring resolution; still, the next two weeks present a unique opportunity to see what doesn’t work. Now we know what to discard.  Habits change for the better when we aren’t too stubborn. Admitting mistakes clears the air.  Faith in the all mighty allows us to make better choices that land us in a more potent place.

 The Sun enters Capricorn 

The Sun enters Capricorn on the 21st at 4:22 AM EST.  The Moon in Virgo is Opposite Saturn in Pisces; this Solar Month pits a fascination with details against the allure of the enchanting but unobtainable dream.  The Sun in Capricorn is the only Cardinal planet. Changing direction or innovation seems out of the question.  Even though Mars is Retrograde, he is still part of a fire Grand Trine with a Direct Mercury in Sagittarius, and the North Node of the Moon in Aries.  There will be much mental activity, but we will be working with the information we already have.  Mercury and Jupiter Oppose each other; both Square the Sun and Moon.  This is a Grand Cross in Mutable signs.  Over the next three months, raw data is reinterpreted; this forces a change in perspective.  Mars Opposite Pluto increases the search for immediate and forceful solutions; Venus Trine Jupiter helps everyone enjoy some momentary reprieve from the daily grind; however, the die is cast and there is a certain amount of suffering we must go through until we come out the other side.

 

The Second New Moon

The Second New Moon in December is on the 30th at 5:28 PM EST, at 9 degrees Capricorn 44 minutes.  This initiates a month (ruled by Saturn) for dealing with the inevitable practical issues of everyday life.  Saturn, lord of karma, king of survival, is in Pisces.  Saturn here can hold us back out of fear of making a mistake, being vulnerable, or just being swept away by unknowable forces.  Saturn is at the base of a mutable T-Square with Mercury and Jupiter creating nervous excitement that either finds expression in purposeful action or will fall into a pattern of denial, addiction, or some other form of escapism.  Discipline is necessary in order to fulfill our desire to manifest an ideal. The Nodal Axis in Aries/Libra is Trine/Sextile the Mars Pluto Opposition.  This aspect creates a channel; conflicted energies can be safely released.  Violence is avoided when our energy goes full throttle behind projects in-tune with our mission.

 

The Weeks 

From the 1st to the 9th lots of adjustments have to be made quickly.  We need to be careful that we aren’t creating more busy work by chasing a reflection in the mirror.  Shifting of our weight from one foot to the other doesn’t solve problems it just creates complications and wastes time.  A redo is necessary; but faulty judgment about what has to happen and when makes matters worse.  Taking time to think our next steps through saves effort in the long run.  Many of our just completed tasks may be off a little, and worth a second look. 

From the 10th to the 16th joy and pensiveness are at odds in our inner life.  The only way to get ahead is to simplify and complete commitments. Acting is important, but trying to second guess ourselves ties us in knots.  The way forward is to acknowledge what we have done in the past: the good and the mistakes.  This frees our energy.  Proclaiming a victory where one doesn’t exist will not help us, but honest circumspect reflection does.   Once we come to terms with our own shortsightedness, we can correct and forget it.  Recently formed partnerships have meaning but may be short lived. 

From the 17th to the 23rd opportunities come to increase virtues in our present life, thoughts first, then actions.  We profit by playing to our natural talents and interest. New studies come later; for now, a straightforward inventory shows how we naturally fit into a changing world.  Each of us has a specific mission.  Self-awareness and honesty reveal our purpose now. 

From the 24th to the 31st good thoughts bring an advantage in a complex environment. Correct self-appraisal is not so easy; if we act in concert with what we have already set in motion, personal satisfaction arrives on the heels of a job well done.  Shyness and self-deprecation have their place, but not now.  We must assert our principles in practical actions, regardless of other people’s opinion. Victory belongs to the honest, bold, and brave.

 

The Days 

1st – Sunday – New Moon at 1:22 AM EST at 9 degrees 33 minutes of Sagittarius, Mercury Parallel Pluto –  The air is full of excitement; we live on the edge of expectancy.  Just a few slight alterations to our daily routine and we crossed into an undiscovered universe.  Even though our mind has a tendency to exaggerate the importunate of ordinary changes in the flow, we should relish the uniqueness. Opportunity knocks: we need to answer. 

2nd – Monday –  Venus Trine Uranus, Sun Contra-parallel Jupiter – An urge for freedom and excitement powers the day.  Self-confidence is strong; as long as thoughts and actions are tethered to and grounded in reality, we can have fun. Expanding, yet staying within prescribed boundaries, spells a winning hand. 

3rd – Tuesday – Sun Parallel Mercury, Mercury Contra-parallel Jupiter, Venus Parallel Pluto –  For the moment, a higher sense of reason has taken a back seat.  The attraction of the ephemeral world distracts us.  The majority of the world population is drinking a delusional inducing beverage.  The sanest will notice the stupidity but also know it’s a waste of effort to try and convince others.

4th – Wednesday –  Mercury Opposite Jupiter, Sun Square Saturn, Venus Sextile Neptune –  Even when our heart is in the right place, we still have to check our facts.  It’s easy to take another wrong turn when we are trying to correct for the one that we just made.  A day can seem like a year; our sense of time is tilted because the world has been turned upside down.  This is just an intermediate step in a long pattern of universal correction. 

5th – Thursday –  Mercury Semi-square Pluto,  Mercury Contra-parallel Mars, Venus Semi-square Saturn, Sun Conjunct Mercury –  Everywhere we turn there seems to be roadblocks.   The universe is trying to tell us something and it’s important. Enigmatic course corrections will not cure the seemingly endless difficulties.  Comprehensive emotional and mental overhaul are necessary to right the ship. 

6th – Friday – Mercury Semi-sextile Venus, Sun Parallel Venus, Mars turns Retrograde, Sun Semi-square Pluto, Mercury Square Saturn – Following our most traditional instincts we are able to stabilize a rather erratic thought process.  Self-talk can put us in painful and unnecessarily complicated situations. What may seem like straight-laced sophistication is actually helpful.  We are in a world where emotional impressions provide truer meaning than logic.  Good decisions stem from letting our gentler side direct traffic. 

7th – Saturday –  Venus enters Aquarius, Venus Conjunct Pluto, Sun Opposite Jupiter, Neptune turns Direct –  Pushing every encounter to its most extreme expression can feel liberating, but freedom and chaos are not the same. Consciousness and personal identity don’t necessarily agree. Ignoring the collective sense of the world can leave us stranded and isolated. We must give the freedom to others that we wish for ourselves.

8th – Sunday –   Patience and consistent effort give some results.  Realizing our mistakes and correcting them without fuss carries us far.  It isn’t just you; this is a confusing time for all.  The world is going through a seismic shift.  We really are living in a new paradigm; adjustments in thinking come in stages.     

9th – Monday –  Thunder and rain slow us down, get our attention, and allow us to see our mistakes.  We can enjoy the beauty of the day if we discharge our duties then forget them. As events unfold, unique experiences come via a change in perspective.  Pleasure comes by being in the moment, letting ourselves off the hook, and relinquishing a desire to observe every last detail.

10th – Tuesday – Venus Contra-parallel Mars –  Togetherness, romance, compromise are all good, but not necessarily appropriate today. To be true to our own self, our purpose, our life path, we have to go our own way.  If this means we are by ourselves, we need to embrace the purpose of this short time period.  Distance doesn’t mean rejection.

11th – Wednesday –  Sun Semi-square Venus –  Even though helpful suggestions come from others, some of what we are going through is beyond the boundaries of other people’s experience; they are not us; they don’t see what we see.  To share is to roll the dice.  A little further, when we have digested recent events, we can compare notes. Listening is more helpful than speaking. 

12th – Thursday –  Venus Opposite Mars, Sun Sesquiquadrate Mars –  We can’t get the toothpaste back in the tube, so we need to be sure before we act. Others are struggling and may act inappropriately.  Some people will be angry, even hostile.  Avoidance is not a good option as we easily become numb, even comatose.  Exercise and forceful interactions that aren’t dangerous are a good option. What one person thinks is a joke, another takes as aggression. We are always on the razor’s edge; the dilemma now is how to express kindness in a language others understand. 

13th – Friday –  Jupiter Sesquiquadrate Pluto, Mercury Sextile Venus, Sun Parallel Pluto –  An ongoing explosion of new technology breaks out of the incubator; we need to grasp the significance of the changing marketplace in our own lives. What we thought was meant for the lucky few, actually provides direct benefits for all of us.  The good news is that the higher channels are open to share.  Communication comes easy.

14th – Saturday –  The “idea of the month club” just sent out a new bulletin.  Information is everywhere but very little of it is truthful, relevant, or useful.  If we appreciate the incoming data like an addition to our collection of Cabbage Patch Dolls, all is good.  But we are wasting time trying to buy a loaf of bread with Confederate currency.  We should sit back and enjoy the show.

15th – Sunday– Full Moon is at 4:02 AM EST at 23 degrees and 53 minutes of Sagittarius/Gemini, Mars Parallel Jupiter, Mercury turns Direct –  The light of day reveals some important and heretofore hidden truths.  Tremendous vitality and energy power our moves forward.  The worst is over; day by day, we get our feet back on the ground.  One caveat, the facts don’t always match the higher truth; some ideas are still out of reach.  All in all, it’s a great time for learning.  We can change the world, but we must start with ourselves. 

16th – Monday –  If we pay attention to our nurturing instincts, we know what nest is ours.  Primal drives and obvious responsibilities work hand in glove. We expand our reach when we focus on the few good ideas that managed to emerge from the clutter of information that bombarded us over the last few months.  We stay productive by staying close to home base; some eggs will hatch soon. 

17th – Tuesday –  Venus Semi-square Neptune –  Sweeping changes to our set protocol leave us longing for “the good old days.” Preserving what works is appropriate, but it’s time for real change; basic lessons from history, childhood, and recent testing all tell us to follow the psychic impressions that are our guardian angels.  If the devil tells you that your slip is showing, maybe your slip is showing. 

18th – Wednesday –  Sun Square Neptune, Mercury Parallel Venus –  High minded ideals need refinement to be practical.  The time for dreaming is enriched by sharing notes.  Even people we know very well may say the dumbest things.  We still reside in a very confusing period of human history.  Civilization seemingly hangs by a thread, but it’s ok.  Our job is to do what is right, even if it seems like we are the only ones who notice that the emperor’s new clothes are nonexistent.

19th – Thursday –  Venus Semi-sextile Saturn, Venus Contra-parallel Uranus, Venus Trine Jupiter –  God bless our ability to juggle and synthesize.  Ordinary responsibilities seem boring; innovation is tempting but appears like mindless distraction. Our ability to manage several projects, points of view, opposing forces puts us in an enviable place.  We really can make lemonade from the lemons.  Still, when the music stops, we need a place to sit down, or we are out. 

20th – Friday –  Picking up all the pieces of the puzzle is the first step. The second step is assembling them to create the intended picture.  Accepting help is a derivative part of the reconstruction process.  In our personal lives, we need to be both supervisor and line worker in order to break new ground.  We can see the job done long before it occurs in the material world.

21st – Saturday –  The Sun enters Capricorn at 4:22 AM EST, Sun Semi-sextile Pluto –  The road ahead looks long.  We may feel we don’t have the energy it takes to complete our missions for the day, for the month, for the next year.  All that is necessary is that we have love.  Doors open when we remember what we are really doing here.  Objects, treasures, ideas that we have been carrying on our backs for the last year or so, suddenly find use, even purpose.  It’s as if we are building a brand-new Maserati from spare parts of an old Chevrolet.  To our surprise, it works. 

22nd – Sunday –  Whether you are like a kid in the candy store trying to decide what to take first, or the CEO of a sprawling company that is losing money, the frustration and indecision can be the same.  The kid is interested in immediate gratification; the CEO is concerned with long term viability.  Choices for the adult are more pensive.  We are all both; is the kid in the driver’s seat or the adult? 

23rd – Monday –  Judicial decisions bring harmony between people and create symmetry in the environment.  Traditional forms of worship, fellowship, and entertainment provide the glue to hold us together as a community.  If we have something to say, now is the time. Diplomacy and facts are not opposites. 

24th – Tuesday – Jupiter Square Saturn –   The root of our difficulties has been fermenting for a long time; the results we are faced with now are a byproduct of the whole world suffering from shortsightedness. Logic doesn’t help with big problems, but can be of help with small mundane issues of everyday life.  When we sacrifice cherished ideas that hold us back, a door opens; we follow our intuition to a happier place. A new illumination points; we see opportunity right in front of us.

25th – Wednesday –  Sun Quincunx Mars –  Anger and force are not the path to synthesis.  When we feel we are right and other people are wrong, trouble comes.  Disputes over things that don’t matter are a natural ending for misplaced pent-up frustrations.  To reform our inner landscape is to take the high road. 

26th – Thursday – Mercury Opposite Jupiter – Experiments with information are productive and bring stability if we are honest.  Really understanding the source of our information system may seem straight forward, but it isn’t.  Barriers come as an important corrective mechanism.  It may seem close, but dinner has to stay in the oven for a while longer.

27th – Friday –  Mercury Square Saturn –  Promises made today have a way of tangling us up; we can be stuck with commitments beyond what we thought could possibly happen.  Running away from conditions in the world we don’t like isolates us; if we are cautious and keep moving, those around us are affected positively. 

28th – Saturday –  Mars Contra-parallel Pluto, Venus Square Uranus, Mercury Semi-square Pluto, Sun Contra-parallel Mars –  It’s easy to get sucked into a space of violence; anger hangs in the air.  There is a higher way.  Each person can find a doorway to a happier place.  Giving freedom to others is a way of obtaining it for ourselves.  It’s difficult to be firm in our convictions, to be open-mind, and maintain the lightness of being.  It’s what we are called for now.

29th – Sunday –  Sun Sesquiquadrate Uranus, Mercury Sesquiquadrate Mars – The urge for freedom comes on suddenly. Rather than trying to explain to others, it’s better to demonstrate it by example.  People’s spirits are brittle and positive feeling hangs by a thread. We help all when we simply do what must be done; explanations can come later.  Each of us has an assignment; we don’t need anyone else’s permission to fulfill it. 

30th – Monday – Sun Parallel Pluto, New Moon at 5:28 PM EST at 9 degrees Capricorn 44 minutes – Sacrifice and service to others are necessary; when implemented, we no longer feel victimized by other’s actions.  Sticking to our ethical principles, regardless of the consequences, frees us.  To be accepting and kind improves the mix of vibrations for the day.  Diplomacy doesn’t mean obsequiousness.  

31st – Tuesday –  Mercury Contra-parallel Jupiter, Venus Semi-sextile Neptune – Momentary flashes of inspiration coupled with impulsive behavior carries us outside our circle of safety. The end result is fortuitous.  Sometimes we must be brave enough to act beyond the confines of reason, because it is the right thing to do.  When nothing is a risk, life remains stagnant.  We are in transition and that’s ok, for the moment.

Contact me if you would like a personal appointment to discuss your own astrology chart.  Phone – 239-261-2840 or email bobmulliga@aol.com. 

 

My Personal Note 

Happy Thanksgiving: this is my favorite holiday. You’re receiving this a few days early because I’m with my sister, Mary Alice, and my daughter, Katie, to celebrate the weekend.  Bailey and I proofread the newsletter, sent it to Katie, who in turn sent it to you through Net Atlantic.  We got it out before Mercury turns Retrograde on the 25th.  If you ever don’t receive the newsletter, let me know and I will send it to you personally.

My projection for the US election was obviously wrong.  As an astrologer, when I make a mistake, I admit it.  This is true whether it’s for a client, or the general public.  If I learn, hopefully I don’t repeat the same mistake.  As a country, when we make mistakes, I would hope that we learn and don’t repeat them.

Toto recorded this hit song many years ago.  This group did a wonderful cover of it, and I really enjoyed it. I hope you do as well.

Africa – Angel City Chorale

Dori Freeman is an underappreciated singer/songwriter.  This is one of my favorites. – Still a Child (youtube.com) 

This is perhaps my favorite Joni Mitchell concert. So much magic was in the air in 1968 – 1971.  The music showed it.

Joni Mitchell – Live at the BBC Television Centre, London, UK / Sept. 3, 1970 (several songs in HD)

“I’ll be with him, on that midnight train to Georgia. I’d rather live in his world, than live without him in mine.” Gladys Knight 

Here’s a short comedy performance. Enjoy.

Erica Rhodes is Sofia Vergara’s FAVORITE Comedian EVER on AGT! | Auditions | AGT 2024

My book, “The Heart of Astrology” is still on track to be released February 15th 2025.   This will be at the one day workshop,  “Astrology, Karma, and Reincarnation” (based on Chapter 10 of the book).   NCGR South Florida Chapter is sponsoring this workshop.  You can attend in person at Nova University in Ft. Lauderdale, or online.  If you are coming in person, please register early so we can get a larger room if needed.   You can register at:   Bob Mulligan: Astrology, Karma, and Reincarnation – AstrologyFla.   If you are coming from far away, I’m happy to help you connect with others for transportation and housing. 

Bailey and I continue with the book line editing; we’ll be done in early December.    Paula Belluomini designed a fabulous book cover.

It’s always a joy when mainstream science discovers something that every astrologer knows.  “Human aging isn’t a steady decline- rather, it happens in two distinct bursts, at ages 44 and 60”.  – The Week – September 13, 2024.   Age 44 is the approximate time when transiting Saturn opposes Natal Saturn and transiting Uranus opposes Natal Uranus.  This is the mid-life crises, a time of great stress and coming to terms with what our lives mean; we are apt to deviate from our established life pattern temporarily.   However, we are never the same afterwards.  At approximately age 60, we go through our second Saturn return. Father time returns to his natal spot and we recalibrate.  I asked the well known astrologer, Al Morrison, when he went through his second Saturn return, what it meant to him.  He said “since my second Saturn return, how time is spent is much more important.”  The biological aging process starts making a mental mark and we realize we aren’t going to live forever in this same body as it’s breaking down.

“Truth is the glue that holds government together, not only our government but civilization itself.” – President Gerald Ford 

When people lie, it has consequences. When people in positions of power lie, the consequences are far reaching and affect everyone.  Not just politicians, they do of course, but big companies like Exxon Mobil; they lied to the public about the ability to recycle single use plastic.  It isn’t cost effective so it isn’t ever really done; they knew. This is only one example of the many ways that individual and collective greed end up making real solutions impossible. 

So what are we to do?  The answer is simple but not easy.  “We have to be the change we wish to see in the world” – Mohandas Gandhi.  It’s not possible to build a society that is beneficial to all unless the citizenry is literate, educated, and striving for some principle of moral excellence.  We don’t get to a better world by passing great laws.  Better laws come when we wish to do what’s in everyone’s best interest. Meaningful change comes when we are guided by conscience.  The work begins for each of us within our own heart and mind. 

Back in 2019, Elijah Cummings gave this 20-minute Ted talk less than 5 months before he died.  It seems so appropriate; I want to share it again.  He makes the point so brilliantly of what we must do now:

Wake Up America — We Are Better Than This! | Elijah Cummings | TEDxMidAtlantic – YouTube

“We should once and for all understand that no amount of learning, reading, teaching, reasoning and preaching can give us liberation [mukti]… Only when we transcend intellect and enter the domain of love can we aspire for liberation.  When love for God reaches its zenith, we lose ourselves in the Beloved God and attain Eternal Liberation.  Liberated ones are ever free from all illusory attachments.  Good and bad, virtue and vice, cannot pollute the Ocean of Divine Truth.” –Meher Baba

 

Bob Mulligan is available for personal appointments, astrology classes, and astrological material.  Call him at 239-261-2840 or e-mail bobmulliga@aol.com.  Visit our website, www.theastrologycompany.com.