December 2019 By Bob Mulligan (a personal note is at the end of the newsletter) Jupiter enters Capricorn on December 2nd 2019 and will be there until December 19th 2020. This is the sign of Jupiter’s fall, meaning that he acts differently. In Capricorn, Jupiter is destined to bring us luck, but only if we are intentional, specific, and to the point. This favors us if we obey the confines of Capricorn: practical, obedient to the rules, disciplined. We will see this cautiousness acted out on the world stage. Collective feelings of isolation and fear are to be recognized, accommodated, and then transformed. The Eclipse on December 25th at 4 degrees of Capricorn will have an affect spanning over the next three years. Governments around the world will change. There will also be economic realignment on a scale entirely new. Mercury enters Sagittarius on the 9th. He moves rapidly, entering Capricorn on the 28th. This period of 19 days will be challenging for all. Mercury is considered in detriment in Sagittarius. The god of information is more interested in how things “ought” to be, rather than the facts. On the 15th, Jupiter in Capricorn (in his fall) is Trine Uranus in Taurus (his fall). This earth sign Trine will bring sudden luck to some. A “log jam” breaks up at this moment. Basically, the second half of the month will be more optimistic than the first. The die cast last month unfolds. January and February of 2020 will manifest the energy from the second half of this December. The Full Moon is on the 12th at 12:12 AM EST on 19 degrees 51 minutes of Sagittarius/Gemini. Saturn rules everything in the chart except Neptune in Pisces. There is a significant dichotomy between reality and illusion. We cling to what we love and distance ourselves from what we dislike. Neptune is Trine Mars showing our dedication to a cause. The loftiness or baseness of our chosen focus is a direct extension of our level of awareness. Venus (love and beauty) sits between Saturn and Pluto, she is squeezed. Compromises that jeopardize our values unnecessarily limit our joy. We can espouse high sounding ideals while living out of a different set of principles. The real danger here is that our emotions force us out of alignment. Including others from a different realm enriches our lives. The Sun enters Capricorn on the 21st at 11:19 PM EST. This is the Winter Solstice. Venus in Aquarius is Square Uranus in Taurus. They are in mutual reception. Brilliant breakthroughs come periodically over the next few months. Sun Conjunct Jupiter is Trine Uranus. Confidence is strong but overconfidence can spell trouble. Even with the worst of circumstances, sudden changes relieve built up tension. Mercury is Square Neptune encouraging us to see beyond the material world and her values. This is a gift if balanced. If not, we move into fantasy land, which is dangerous. The New Moon Solar Eclipse is on December 26th at 12:13 PM EST on 4 degrees of Capricorn, Conjunct Jupiter on the South Node of the Moon. Saturn Conjunct Pluto rules the majority of the chart, giving a rather conservative fear-driven tone. This is a time of disassembling basic structures in our society, and will continue unrelentingly for several years. However, things will start lightening up when Saturn goes into Aquarius on March 21st, 2020. Saturn and Jupiter are Conjunct in Aquarius on December 21st, 2020. From this point on, the whole civilization will be off in a new and more conscious direction. From the 1st to the 8th we feel the world condensing around us, while at the same time, new options occur. We can power our way through limitations, provided we stay within the laws of the universe. We keep being led back to the basic principles which control movement. When we get in sync with this historical moment, we have peace. From the 9th to the 15th the mindset of the world changes. We are all in a bigger hurry to get to our targeted destination. Funny thing is, even though circumstances dictate a specific outcome, last minute luck redirects people’s attention. We end up, once again, going in a different direction. The rest of the month will unfold along more predictable lines. From the 16th to the 22nd there is no escaping the inevitable. There is no substitute for hard work, discipline, and honesty. With our eyes on our current goal, it is important to keep moving. We need to be practical, but without fear. We have enough time, money, and energy for what is needed now. The universe provides; our job is to discriminate and act. From the 23rd to the 31st linking together the immediate and the practical with our ultimate purpose, brings reward and joy. To be glued to the mundane without regard for the universality of the moment, locks us into a small cage. To be only focused on the higher manifestations of life principles marginalizes our effectiveness. Our attention must remain connected to both spheres. 1st – Sunday – There is a great rush to get things done. The kaleidoscope of world events will keep changing. We need to make time to relax. We don’t have to go anywhere. We can have a good time finding joy and peace right where we are. 2nd – Monday – Jupiter enters Capricorn – Our expectations change. From this moment on, and extending into the whole of next year, hard work and the reliance on our senses and personal history, will be the guiding light to achieving our goals. 3rd – Tuesday – Mercury Sextile Pluto, Sun Parallel Saturn, Venus Sextile Mars – With disciplined forethought, our actions are guided along well-trod paths. Some of the things available now may seem monotonous, but following our plans can bring results. Taking time to replenish our most cherished relationships strengthens our position. This helps relieve everyday tensions. 4th – Wednesday – Sun Parallel Pluto – We reach the limits of what can be accomplished now. Finding a higher path means allowing time for imagining a better future. Emotional impressions provide the initiative to convey our picture of a more wholesome future to others. 5th – Thursday – Impulsive actions can send us down a wrong path. Not all of our ideas are implementable. Although we have things we must do on our own, advice from honest associates can be a real help. We must be capable of extending our help to others, if we want theirs in return. 6th – Friday – When heated exchanges present us with an impasse, it’s time to tone down our enthusiasm and find common ground. Engaging in subtleties reveals new insights. Harmony is closer than it appears on the surface of things. We need to dive deeper. 7th – Saturday – Harsh realities can thwart our momentum. We can learn to take guidance from given circumstances. Just because it is snowing doesn’t mean we have to go out and shovel it. Identifying our real responsibilities provides consistent assurance that we aren’t wasting our efforts. 8th – Sunday – Sun Square Neptune, Venus Sextile Neptune – Art, literature, and music all inspire us and help to unfold our latent capacity to create. Real love is everywhere in our environment. We need to unlock it in order to reach our potential. 9th – Monday – Mercury crosses into Sagittarius – Lofty thoughts of faraway places and ideals will not erase the path of necessity that is so clearly laid out in front of us. However, life offers so much more than we normally comprehend. If we see instructions from the cosmos directly, without trying to bend them to our personal will, we are on the road to a new life. 10th – Tuesday – Sun Sesquiquadrate Uranus, Mercury Semi-sextile Jupiter – Nervous impulses thrust us into the thick of things. Baby steps in the right direction mean more than great leaps of passion. Accepting responsibility for our given tasks molds our actions. Higher wisdom lights the way; now we have to walk the path. 11th – Wednesday – Sun Semi-sextile Venus, Venus Conjunct Saturn, Sun Semi-sextile Saturn, Mercury Quincunx Uranus – “The grass looks greener” somewhere else. It is better to “do your own dharma poorly, than someone else’s well”. If we look carefully, we find joy in the most mundane circumstances. Fear and boredom make life small. Our spirits are lifted by taking even painful things as a gift. 12th – Thursday – The Full Moon is on the 19th degree of Sagittarius/Gemini at 12:12 AM EST, Mercury Semi-sextile Saturn – Some things we latch onto, some things we discard. When confronted with hard facts, it is ok to change our minds. We sleep better when we are true to our own higher insights. Some short term gains have to be forgone so a greater value can be achieved. Liberation comes through duty. 13th – Friday – Mars Trine Neptune, Venus Conjunct Pluto, Mercury Semi-sextile Pluto, Sun Semi-sextile Pluto – Our love nature is ramped up to a fever pitch. Do we answer the call? Do we ignore the impulses of the moment? Growth comes through discrimination. Our passions are not our enemy; they are energy to be used for good or ill. 14th – Saturday – Venus Parallel Jupiter, Sun Parallel Venus – So much is going on behind the scenes that we may be stunned by the outcome when the results finally surface. This is a fortunate moment for initiating new activities, or changing directions. There is a balancing act between the material and factual reality of our situation on one hand, and our vision of a better world on the world. We can’t rewrite history, but we can change the future. 15th – Sunday – Jupiter Trine Uranus, Mercury Semi-sextile Venus, Sun Parallel Jupiter – Last minute luck changes the dynamic and focus. Does a “get out of jail free card” improve us as a person, or work toward our detriment? Material reward comes to those savvy enough to see what is being offered. The sky is the limit. Can we recognize, and utilize beneficially, the current limitations? 16th – Monday – Mars Semi-square Jupiter – Truly fortunate ones know when to move forward and when to stop. Competitive urges can undermine our stability and put something important in jeopardy. Knowing when to quit allows us to take a great leap and win. Both profit and loss can be instructive if we are willing to learn from our current circumstances. 17th – Tuesday – Mercury Parallel Saturn – Tasks are pleasant and productive if critical details are comprehended and addressed. Harnessing our far-sweeping visions to material circumstances bear fruit if we keep our aim in a narrow pocket. Things set in motion last week surface with surprising results. Reorganization, negotiations, and shared interests shape our collective environment. 18th – Wednesday – Mercury Parallel Pluto, Mercury Parallel Venus, Venus Parallel Pluto – Words have power and convey meaning. There will be winners and losers. In the long run, everyone wins. But, this is a moment of destiny. As things turn now, there is either a quick win or a long drawn out battle. The end will be the same. Only the timeline is to be determined now. 19th – Thursday – Mars Sextile Saturn, Mercury Square Neptune – We can hold onto our dreams, regardless of how fanciful. At the same time, diligent effort is necessary to yield practical results. Involving others in our plans is important. What is possible is about to change. 20th – Friday – Venus enters Aquarius, Venus Parallel Saturn, Venus Semi-sextile Neptune – It is easy to sell ourselves short. Being bound to habit or fear becomes self-limiting. Materializing a better life is closer than we might think. Having faith in ourselves, others, and life helps us unravel some of the mysteries in front of us. 21st – Saturday – Mercury Sesquiquadrate Uranus, Mercury Parallel Jupiter, the Sun enters Capricorn – Nervous energy can wreck our concentration and sense of timing. We actually know what we must do; we just have to pay attention to what we already understand. More than the seasons are changing. Lifestyle adjustments are upon us. Watching the show is more rewarding than being part of the drama. 22nd – Sunday – Venus Square Uranus, Mars Sextile Pluto, Sun Parallel Mercury, Mercury Semi-sextile Saturn – Even though people seem unreliable, we don’t have to do everything ourselves. Although our thinking may be stuck back a couple of days, there is something in our past that needs to be brought forward. Mistakes are ok, we just don’t want to repeat them. 23rd – Monday – Mercury Semi-sextile Pluto – Earth changes are manifesting regardless of our preparedness. Wishful thinking won’t alter the facts. We can’t undo what has been done. We are, however, empowered to do the right thing regardless of the outcome. This is one of those times when we can stand on virtue, even when it looks like we are cheering for a lost cause. 24th – Tuesday – Venus Semi-sextile Jupiter, Sun Trine Uranus – Progressive ideas and actions are favored. Expression of far- flung thoughts gain traction, even if just for a moment. However, it is possible to find long-term solutions to pressing and practical issues. We need to advocate for the inclusion of everyone when problem solving. 25th – Wednesday – Mercury Semi-sextile Mars – Great care is needed when we express ourselves. Unrecognized or unacknowledged emotions can inadvertently pour salt into someone else’s wounds. We can’t un-speak something that has been spoken. 26th – Thursday – The New Moon is on the 4th degree of Capricorn at 12:13 AM EST – Great confidence powers our steps, regardless of our particular circumstance. If we grow too tall, we hit our head on the ceiling. There are real limits no matter how expansive the horizon seems. 27th – Friday – Sun Conjunct Jupiter – Big ideas dot the mental landscape. We need to grab the ideas and ponder them. For the moment, progress is made through the practical. It is better to be “a big fish in a small pond than a small fish in a big pond”. This is recognition of some momentary limitations which will pass away over the next month. 28th – Saturday – Mercury enters Capricorn – Sometimes people approach us with a limiting point of view. We need to recognize that people who disagree with us have something of value to offer to the conversation. Even though we all have our own experiences, everyone is exposed to certain realities. These commonalities are emphasized now. 29th – Sunday – Venus Parallel Mars, Sun Parallel Jupiter – Avant-garde ideas pop into our head as we approach love. A new twist in our behavior will benefit either a new interest, or a long-standing companion. Improvement comes by channeling our enthusiasm into a worthwhile cause. 30th – Monday – Mercury Trine Uranus – Our natural inclination is to try something new. Innovation is everywhere. If we try to include everyone and everything in our plans, we will be forced to move too fast, or extend beyond our foundations. Taking care of basics in our own lives lifts us to new levels of perception. This comes in stages. 31st – Tuesday – A magical and dreamy quality lifts us beyond our normal horizons. Emotional input from multiple sources can be overwhelming. Our logical mind does not comprehend everything that is happening. We need to think beyond the rational and use our intuition. We are ready for a leap in consciousness. Several of you took the time to point out the astronomical errors in my last newsletter. I’m truly grateful. My long time friend and soul sister, Leela Bruner, always gets to me when I flub up. There is such a wide variety of readers to this newsletter. Anne Sullivan is 95 and wrote me a very nice and informative response to November. Thanks, Anne. I would like to acknowledge all of you that took the time to let me know what you think and feel. Thanksgiving was a wonderful and quiet affair. My daughter, Katie, pointed out that it was the first completely vegan Thanksgiving our family has ever had. Hopefully, Christmas will also be a quiet affair. My friend, Mary Weiss, has been a member of our family for many years and she will be joining from Hawaii. As I had mentioned before, I write a book review column for Celestial Vibes magazine. The editor, Aswin Balaji, asked me to review Alan Oken’s book, “Complete Astrology.” Alan and I have been friends for many years. This book, written in the late 60’s and early 70’s, is simply the best introduction to astrology, so it is a joy to have time to spend with this work again. To be impervious to the national, international, cosmic setting is almost impossible. We are bombarded with information from every possible direction. It is easy to be depressed or just tone deaf as a byproduct of the continuous onslaught. We live in the information age. Our senses are constantly overloaded. Mental stimulation can either send us over the top, or dumb us down – on one end of the spectrum we become crazy, on the other end we become numb. Being in the middle becomes harder and harder as the middle ground seems to disappear. We start with facts. But what facts? The facts we ingest or ignore come from our biases. But they also shape our world outlook. In the US, on the 321st day of 2019, there had already been 369 mass shootings. (A mass shooting is when 4 or more people are killed by gunfire.) Ireland’s parliament voted to plant 2 million trees a year to completely offset their carbon footprint. The 15-year-old Greta Thunberg started climate protests in her native Sweden in 2018. She spearheaded the youth global movement for climate action. She was been given so many awards, has been on the cover of so many magazines, had so many interviews. She is a double Capricorn with Venus and Mars in Scorpio. On November 11th 2019, Glamour magazine Women of the Year awards were presented. Accepting on behalf of Thunberg was Jane Fonda, who read Thunberg’s statement: “Unfortunately, I cannot be with you tonight. I’m incredibly honored to have received this award. And I’m very happy that it’s been given to a climate activist—that would probably not have happened two years ago. Something has happened. If a Swedish teenage science nerd who has shot star, refuses to fly, and who has never worn makeup or been to a hairdresser can be chosen a Woman of the Year by one of the biggest fashion magazines in the world, then I think almost nothing is impossible. “That is hopeful because that is what we need right now to prevent a climate catastrophe. We must do the impossible. Thank you.” (https://www.glamour.com/story/jane-fonda-greta-thunberg-women-of-the-year) Here is a link to the five minute talk Greta gave at the UN climate change meeting – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KAJsdgTPJpU “The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, worry about the future, or anticipate troubles, but to live in the present wisely and earnestly.” – Buddha Bob Mulligan is available for personal appointments, astrology classes, and astrological material. Call him at 239-261-2840 or by e-mail at bobmulliga@aol.com. Visit our website, www.theastrologycompany.com. | 
