I am reading the biography of James Hillman by Dick Russell. It is three volumes and I am just finishing Vol 2 which is 600 pages. I understand that Vol Three just came out in Nov 2023 and is 800 pages! You need to love Hillman to tackle it. But his biography is very well written and keeps your attention throughout. Hillman was known as a renegade Jungian and was the founder of Archetypal Psychology the specific type of psychology that informs my astrological practice.
If you want to get a feeling for Hillman’s work, start by reading his book The Soul’s Code where he writes about the daimon, our personal spirit guide. The daimon is born with us and pushes us to pursue its agenda through our unique gifts. Sometimes the Daimon pushes you so hard that you can get in trouble as a child. To discover your personal daimon, look at your early obsessions, and what got you in trouble. I almost got expelled from high school because I was publishing a newsletter using the school copy machines. The newsletter was about Mad Magazine. The problem was that I didn’t think the principal understood that I was just a child of Hermes pursuing my daimon.
To get a good idea of what The Soul’s Code is about, see this blog post by my Jungian buddy in Australia. here
For more information about the Daimon see the Artificial Intelligence definition here. I couldn’t have said it better myself. I’m not a fortune teller, but I have a strange feeling that I’m being replaced. I do think we should ‘fess up’ when we are using AI. Let’s try to maintain a little human dignity as we become redundant.
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In my November Forecast, I had the wrong link for the lecture by Ann Baring on Alchemy. Here it is. Here
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This is a pretty quiet month except for the end of the month when Mercury conjuncts Mars in Sagittarius and squares Neptune in Pisces at 24 degrees. There is the potential for deceit, distrust, and confusion around communications.
Mercury turns retrograde on Dec 13 and lasts until January 1. The planet Mercury rules communication in all forms—listening, writing, reading, speaking, and so on—as well as activities closely related to communication; like negotiations and contracts. It also rules travel, automobiles, shipping, and mail. So, when Mercury is retrograde, try to remain flexible, patient, and understanding to allow extra time for travel. Avoid signing any new contracts if at all possible. Double-check your email responses. Take time to review projects and plans before making decisions. Plan ahead, have backup plans, and be prepared for miscommunications.
Dates to Watch
Note to my Astrology Clients. Use your Planetary Placement and Ascendant sheet to find if you have a personal planet (Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus or Mars) or the ascendant within 2 degrees of the degree of the transits listed below. If so, the transit will have a major impact on you.
Dec 1 – Mercury enters Capricorn and goes retrograde on the 13th until January 1st. Mercury transiting in any zodiac sign shows how we will express ourselves. In Capricorn, your conversations will be short, efficient and to the point. You will say what you mean and mean what you say. Maybe we will hear some straight talking from our politicians. Is that possible?
Dec 3 – Venus square Pluto at 28 Degrees of Libra/Capricorn. In your significant relationships, one of you is being controlling and manipulative. Is it you? Also, power issues, jealousy and possessiveness can spring up between partners and friends.
Dec 4 – Venus enters Scorpio until the 29th of Dec. During this time emotions are intensified. You may be seeking more commitment and a deeper relationship.
Dec 5 – Venus Trine Saturn at 1 degree Scorpio/Pisces. This is about making a long-term investment in a person, a different group or your finances. A relationship started today could be with someone in a different age group and it promises to be long-lasting.
Dec 6 – Neptune turns direct at 24 Pisces. Neptune rules idealism, spirituality and compassion, but also its energies can give rise to confusion, deceit, guilt and doubt. So it is important to look at which planet it touches in your natal chart and which house it is in. Neptune stopping at 24 Pisces today can bring a lot of pleasure to those of you born in late, Virgo, Pisces, Sagittarius or Gemini. You will be released from the confusion of the last few years.
Dec 7 – Mercury Trines Jupiter at 6 degrees of Capricorn/Taurus. This brings optimism and good news. Also, this is a good time to study, research and teach. Plan a trip to a foreign country.
Dec 9 – Venus Opposite Jupiter at 6 Scorpio/Taurus. This helps you become more optimistic and you will love having a good time but, all of this may lead to self-indulgence. Venus loves sweets and Jupiter loves to drink and they both love to party. So have fun, but try a little moderation.
Dec 12 – New Moon at 20 Sagittarius. Everyone loves Sagittarius. This sets the tone of the month for expansion, travel and learning. This is a time for new starts and to take risks. The house this New Moon falls in on your natal chart will show the areas of expansion.
Dec 13 – Mercury turns retrograde at 8 degrees of Capricorn and stays retrograde until Jan 1. He backs into Sagittarius on the 23rd until January 13. We can get a breather and a little more optimism during the time he is in Sagittarius, but he goes back into Capricorn on January 13. We all need a period when we can slow down and look over what we have accomplished during the last 6 months. Mercury retrograde is a reflective time. In Capricorn you may reflect on what is wrong with your world and in Sagittarius, you may reflect on how grateful you are.
Dec 16 – Sun Square Neptune at 24 degrees of Sagittarius/Pisces. I’m not crazy about Neptune and on this transit because we could be disillusioned, and gullible. You could be subject to a con.
Dec 18 – Mercury Trine Jupiter at 6 Capricorn/Taurus. This is the second Mercury trine Jupiter. The first one is on Dec 7 as noted above and the last one will be on Jan 19.
Dec 21 – Sun Enters Capricorn until January 20. You will become very organized now in your professional and personal life. Capricorn isn’t much fun, but you had your fun while the Sun was in Sagittarius. Now the chickens come home to roost or the bills from your extravagance over the holidays are due. Or you have to face the overflowing inbox at work. But Capricorn brings you the patience and the energy to take on one thing at a time.
Venus Opposite Uranus at 19 degrees Scorpio/Taurus. Nosey people around you want to know your plans. Be understanding rather than abrupt. Someone in your life wants to break free--let them go.
Dec 22 – Sun Conjunct Mercury at 0 degrees of Capricorn. You can get some bright ideas today, maybe regarding a proposed trip or a literary project. Write your thoughts down. You may not get another bright idea for a while.
Dec 23 – Mercury enters Sagittarius on 13 January. This is a period of optimism and also a chance to expand in the areas of education and higher knowledge. It increases your ability to learn and can bring abundance in all things.
Dec 25 Christmas Day
Venus Trine Neptune at 24 degrees of Scorpio/Pisces. This is probably the best transit to have on Christmas. You are being uplifted by the power of love. Both Venus and Neptune bring gifts. Both gifts of Beauty (Venus) and gifts of the spirit (Neptune)
Dec 26 – Full Moon at 4 Cancer. Cancer is a sign of nurturing, belonging and caring. You may feel very sensitive today, especially if you have planets at 4 degrees of Cancer or Capricorn.
Dec 27 – Mercury Square Neptune at 25 Sagittarius/Pisces. We had this aspect last month on the 27th and will have it in January on the 8th. Both the signs of Sagittarius and Pisces rule belief. With Neptune, you could begin to believe in fairies or UFOs or both. It’s a time to dream big. Mercury in Sagittarius is all about truth, but on this aspect, Neptune is concealing the truth and telling some tall tales.
Sun Trine Jupiter at 5 Capricorn/Taurus. This can bring advantages, especially in the world of finance. You become more grounded today and can make some concrete long-term decisions.
Mercury Conjunct Mars at 23 Sagittarius. Have you been lying around in your PJs doing nothing? Well, Mars is kicking you in the butt today. Get up and engage in conversations, writing and social media.
Dec 28 – Mars Square Neptune at 25 Sagittarius/Pisces. Don’t confide in anyone who could use the information against you. This is a classic aspect of deceit. Because Mercury is conjunct Mars at the same time, this could get messy. This can be a difficult time, especially if you were born around the 14th of June, December, September or March.
Dec 29 – Venus enters Sagittarius until January 23. Venus always brings benefits and in Sagittarius, she can bring romance, wealth and luxury. Look at the house in your natal chart that contains Sagittarius. The matters of this house will expand and you could receive a gift related to this house.
Dec 30 – Jupiter turns direct at 5 degrees of Taurus. This could bring all of you good news related to real estate and property. This brings in new energy and luck in the house that contains Taurus. You could gain clarity and a new beginning if you were born during the 1st week of Taurus, Leo, Scorpio or Aquarius.
Dec 31 – New Year's Eve.
See the Meaning of the Houses Here.
OUTER PLANET TRANSITS FOR THIS MONTH:
JUPITER this month is moving retrograde from 7 to 5 degrees of Taurus. He will stay in Taurus until May 26, 2024. Jupiter is the big fat happy guy who is expansive in all things. In Taurus, he wants to buy property, build up his bank account, and invest in growth stocks. Look to the house in your birth chart that contains Taurus. This coming year can bring good luck and opportunities in the areas ruled by your natal Taurus house.
SATURN is in Pisces until May 26, 2025. This month Saturn moves from 1 to 3 degrees of Pisces. Saturn rules your material world and especially your career. If you have the ascendant or any personal planets anywhere from 0 to 5 degrees of Pisces, you may be in store for some hard lessons about the issues in the house containing Pisces. Pisces is a creative dreamer. While in Pisces, Saturn here, he will try to solidify your dreams and fantasies.
URANUS is in Taurus until April 2026. This month he is moving retrograde and will move from 20 to 19 degrees of Taurus. This is the time to break loose and make some radical changes in your life. I believe in ‘cooperating with the inevitable’. If you have Uranus in a challenging aspect to your ascendant or personal planets, (17 to 22 degrees of Taurus or Scorpio) go on a long vacation, preferably to somewhere you have never been before. Or make some major changes in your life. Taurus represents the earth. Expect news about farming, food, earthquakes, volcanos, tornadoes, or other major weather changes while Uranus is in Taurus.
NEPTUNE is in Pisces until 2026. This month he will turn direct on Dec 6 at 24 degrees of Pisces and then moves from 24 to 25 degrees of Pisces. If you have the ascendant or personal planets anywhere from 22 to 27 degrees of Pisces, you may lack focus during this time and just want to daydream. Beware of a betrayal, a disappointment and a sense of drifting. For the rest of us, Neptune can also bring artistic, musical, and creative expression as well as increased dreams, and spiritual insights. Watch for inspiring films to come out when Neptune is in Pisces.
PLUTO is in Capricorn until Nov 2024. This month Pluto will move from 28 to 29 degrees of Capricorn. He moves back into Aquarius in Nov 2024. Pluto grinds away at our psyche bringing up all sorts of difficult psychological issues. You should run to your nearest therapist, especially if you have the ascendant or personal planets anywhere from 27 to 29 degrees of Capricorn or 0 to 1 degrees of Aquarius. Pluto asks what needs to die in order to be reborn.
Enjoy this month.
Janet Kane