Starcodes horoscopes for December 18 - 24, 2015

We are in the darkest week of the year in this northern hemisphere. On Monday the sun appears to stand still for three days, and then it turns back, and the days grow longer—a promise of hope through the coldest weeks of the year. We are offered one more year to make it or break it, another chance to turn the tide.

Our western tradition is to also pause- to go home, or go where we can reconnect with ourselves, our roots and renew, slog through karma friends or family, remember our spiritual path- whatever that is (or celebrate Festivus) and then launch that new year next month.

Every year as the Sun enters Capricorn this rebirth of the Sun is honored as a replay of the first light, the birth of our world. And then there was light. We can use whatever cultural traditions we come from to celebrate the return of the light and carry that light within and without to nurture our world and hold the warmth until the summer Sun returns.

But first we have these longest nights. Mercury conjuncts Pluto and squares Uranus this weekend and can leave us overwhelmed, overextended, and staring into the darkest corners of our life. Look for intense debate around the right use of suspicion, investigation, communication and the power of speech. This aspect can also bring little tricks and problems of communication, computer difficulties, missed messages, tricky driving, and unfortunate slips of the tongue; pay attention when working with any machinery or speaking and delicate situations. We may feel some crisis about how we think, where our mind perseverates; this can be tricky on people with delicate psyches, so let’s be kind to ourselves and check in with one another.

We don’t need to get stuck in these feelings. Fresh energy and resistance kick in over the weekend under a fiery Aries Moon. Listen to people hum the theme music to Star Wars, it’s not just the corporate hype around the movie, they are responding to an astrological need for mythology of camaraderie and resistance. But the movie can also feed into the Mars/Uranus/Pluto mythology that we have to go to war and fight in order to survive.

Comforts and security are more important as the Moon enters Taurus early in the week. Suddenly we may want to pull out grandma’s recipes and find extra pretty things to stuff the stockings. Maybe we have too much to do and too little time to do it; if so, let’s accept what is feasible and what is not, and find the joy therein.

The Moon enters Gemini on Wednesday and helps us make last-minute adjustments, travel, and enjoy a more sociable buzz as Venus sextiles Jupiter. We’ll still need time alone, time with the deep stuff, and yet can be fed by the glitter of the season. To make the most of the days of Christmas we have to let go of our expectations on what holiday should be, and feel the medicine of what it can be, this year in the midst of a changing world.

Depression can around the edges of this holiday; it will be easy to feel temporarily hopeless about the world’s problems- or our own, unless we tune into our deep durability underneath. Let’s honor those who were once with us at the holidays but are now gone before us, and choose fresh camaraderie in the days ahead. We are in an era of constant and great change; it is up to us which way the boat turns in the year ahead.

Friday, Dec 18: We’re so ready for the weekend and may feel soft, squishy, and amorphous and easily overwhelmed this morning. But we can get a second wind to act, rebel and enliven as the Moon enters Aries midafternoon. Honor a desire to stay busy and festive to skate over the dark waters of our feelings this afternoon, which may be the best approach as Venus quincunx Uranus. Any art project or actively compassionate act furthers.

Moon opposed Jupiter 1:41 AM, Moon square Sun 8:14 AM, Moon enters Aries 2:26 PM, Venus quincunx Uranus 8:56 PM.

Saturday, Dec 19: Expect emotional extremes, a Mercury-Pluto conjunction demands that we look deep within and at the dark places, the mines is of we what we have yet to do, and hurries us with a sense of urgent deadline. Some people will need to express, some need to keep busy, some need to ritualize these depths. Just don’t believe a voice that says it’s no use; it furthers to throw oneself into a worthy effort. Communication glitches can make midafternoon tricky, go to neutral corners and take a moment to listen to one’s own heart if tension starts. The mood shifts and potentially lightens tonight, as long as we break our usual routine, when the Moon conjuncts Uranus in Aries.

Moon trine Saturn 7:01 AM, Venus trine Chiron 8:26 AM, Mercury conjunct Pluto 11:55 AM, Moon square Pluto 3:18 PM, Moon square Mercury 3:41 PM, Moon conjunct Uranus 6:35 PM.

Sunday, Dec 20: The mood is generally imaginative and headstrong; we may need to deal with shocking news, sudden and questionable decision, or tricky mechanical issues. Confusion or difficult weather can complicate the afternoon, though it may be a wonderful time for a movie matinee. Evening brings a more sensual and grounded vibe as the earthy Taurus Moon offers tangible support. But we can too easily slip on ice or on a misunderstanding, move or speak suddenly and abruptly, and pay for it later. So walk smoothly and ask good questions all day as Mercury squares Uranus.

Moon opposed Mars 3:50 AM, Mars sesqui- quadrate Neptune 2:48 PM, Moon trine Sun 3 PM, Moon conjunct Taurus 5:12 PM, Mercury square Uranus 8:07 PM.

Monday, Dec 21: On this shortest day with the palest light we want to be cozy, feel our strength and safety, and eat cookies or otherwise feed the senses as the Taurus Moon trines Mercury and Pluto. Just watch the temptation to drown sorrows in spiked eggnog. Use any delays as an opportunity to re-center. Take a moment to rest in a profound way, reflect over all let’s take a moment to rest in a profound way, and reflect over the roots of our life. The Sun enters Capricorn 9:47 pm MST.

Mercury sextile Chiron 6:38 AM, Mars semi-sextile Jupiter 9:13 AM, Moon trine Pluto 5:52 PM, Sun enters Capricorn 9:47 PM, Moon sextile Chiron 10:03 PM, Moon trine Mercury 11:43 PM,

Tuesday, Dec 22: The vibe is earthy and sociable with the materialistic streak as the Taurus Moon opposes Venus this morning. Take an important moment to witness for truth as Mercury conjunct Pallas Athena. It may not change anyone’s opinion, and to argue back probably won’t get anywhere under this stubborn Taurus Moon, but we need to be willing to stand in an honest place and speak our truth will further. A more relaxed conversation picks up as the Moon enters Gemini tonight, the holiday spirit and other distractions break our focus, though he may feel scattered and need to make sure important things don’t slip through the cracks.

Moon opposed Venus 3:36 AM, Mercury conjunct Pallas Athena 4:03 AM, Moon enters Gemini 7:30 PM.

Wednesday, December 23: on this busy and disjointed day, follow through can be tricky. Pare down to essentials, and follow through carefully on the few things that actually matter. Midday things just don’t go as we plan as the Moon opposes Saturn, and we can get discouraged over little things and big. If this happens, keep moving. Let’s do what we can and except for what we can’t. Later in the day hearts warm, creative solutions are found, and we can forgive ourselves and others more easily.

Moon square Neptune 7:54 AM, Moon opposed Saturn at 12:44 PM, Moon sextile Uranus 11:27 PM.

Thursday, December 24: The Sun sets a minute later, the mood is relatively funny and sociable under a Gemini Moon and as Venus sextiles Jupiter, though the deep work still homes underneath us. We will still need a mix of time alone in with others, but can get quite sociable midday. The evening bubbles, we can surprise ourselves and truly enjoy time in the company of fellow souls. And then need to tuck in at home, with our memories or let the reindeers dance across our night sky as the Moon enters Cancer late tonight.

Venus sextile Jupiter 3:02 AM, Moon square Jupiter 10:15 AM, Moon trine Mars 1:03 PM, Moon enters Cancer 10:26 PM.