Cold Full Moon (December 7, 2022)

The funny thing about the movements of the Moon is that they occur regularly, like clockwork. But, once in a while, something significant seems to stand out from all the background noise of astronomy.

On its own, this chart has but one interesting feature: the Moon will occlude Mars when it becomes full.

Maybe I’ve been watching too many adaptations of “A Christmas Carol”, but I feel like this is a harbinger of some spectral visitations.

Perhaps my father will come to see me again (Saturn transit my natal Sun).

Saturn Conjunct Sun

This transit can bring both fulfillment and difficulty. Roughly fourteen years ago, when transiting Saturn opposed your Sun, you went through a period of adversity and low vitality. But at the same time you made new beginnings, which are having results now. These efforts will either reach a climax and be successful, or you will realize that they have failed. In any case this is a time of tremendous responsibility and hard work. either to guarantee the successful conclusion of your old projects and endeavors or to salvage the best from the failures.

The energy of Saturn holds back the energy of the Sun, which is your basic life energy. Saturn confines and restricts it so that you can do only certain things. As a result, you may feel cut off from others and lonely, but do not be too concerned about this. Even if this transit coincides with the breaking up of a relationship, which it may, it means that the relationship itself is distracting you from matters that you must attend to now. This is a time for concentrating energy, not scattering it.

(from Planets in Transit by Robert Hand)

Saturn in the Second House

When Saturn transited your first house, you had to learn who you really were in your own terms. Now, as Saturn enters your second house, you have to learn what is really important to you, what you really value. This does not mean just material things, but also psychological, spiritual and moral values. In fact these may take precedence over material values, if that is where you need to work on self-understanding.

(ibid)

A Lesson to be Learned?

I don’t doubt that, even in my advanced years, I can still learn a thing or two. During the leadup to the holidays, I have watched my wife, Susan, buy presents for her extended family which seems to be extravagant, in my opinion. In fact, we’re going back into credit card debt, which I was able to get us out of this past year. And with inflation skyrocketing, it seems wasteful to ‘treat’ the family so generously.

But, I suspect, this is the lesson: do I trust the Universe, or not? Susan shares what she has with kith and kin because that is how she celebrates Christmas. I definitely act like a Scrooge, in comparison. Do I need waking up to a different reality? I suspect I do.

It’s time to enjoy being alive and able to share with friends and family! Merry Christmas, everyone.