In the wonderful words of my dear friend Leslie "My wish for you is a warm and Merry Christmas ~ planets be dammed! All the best in 2014. Keep well."

thieh nhat hanh ~ walk as if you are kissing the earth with your feet

 Blessings,

 Sam

Samantha Kane-Kennedy

The Planetary Alchemist

Andromeda Astrology

250-382-8443

samstar@telus.net

samantha@sam-star.com

www.sam-star.com 

21^ST Happy Winter Solstice! The shortest day of the year signals the return of the light. When the Sun enters the constellation of Capricorn, the fully bare nature appears submerged in eternal slumber. It sleeps, striped of all its colours and fragrances. Nothing appears to move but the hope and desire of life, hidden in the depths of the earth's womb, start to stir: day after day, nights shorten and light slowly defeats the darkness. Capricorn which begins with the winter solace symbolically represents the new seed hidden under the dry and frozen earth.

The Sun has recessed as far south as it will go and now it turns around to return to the northern climates. In Capricorn the Sun is skirting the borderline between the two hemispheres. Symbolically we are encouraged to recondition our boundaries. We are bound to embrace responsibility, duty and obligation. The more responsibility and honour that exists in our life structures and societal traditions, the more we can attain and the more successful we can become. We work to build that for ourselves and our children. If our expectations are disappointed we feel guilty and immensely irritated. Reject cynicism and let the heart open to give the soul more room. Enjoy with gratitude what there is and align with nature to appreciate its beauty.

Venus is turning retrograde; my least favourite retrograde. In some cases narcissism worsens and people become selfishly indulgent. This retrograde however can be helpful in restructuring financial affairs both individually and globally. Certainly new strategies could be developed if the powers that be are inspired. This one should give us a cold hard look at reality if we do not lose ourselves to the illusion or ideal. It is possible to bury our heads in the sand and go on as if there were no reason to reassess the severity of the situation and other lessons of worth and value. We need to reacquaint ourselves with values that are worthwhile. We have to take stock of the activities, people and things into which we are investing our time, energy, commitment and money. Christmas is a good time to learn how to express our love through other means than gift giving.  

All relationships even those of love and intimacy are negotiable. Each person has their own pre-sets and boundaries that contribute to whether we can, cannot or will not meet another's needs. During modern times we are bombarded by sensory overload and this is decreasing our ability to feel, to care and have compassion. So over and above the little frictions and disagreements we are running on fumes or just hanging on by our fingernails. Due to this undercurrents of hostility or frustration can erupt into full-blown conflict. Under the retrograde influence, we must assess the "cost-benefit" of each relationship. For those who have been enduring difficult times and have been actively struggling with problems there can be respite. Couples or relationships that have reached the eye of the storm can evaluate and reconsider the issues. We all can if we set our mind to reconsidering our approach to relationship. What is important, what do we want, why are we involved, who do we want to be involved with and what do we have to offer?

22^ND We are at a crossroads facing a choice between our personal power and our ability to be in relationship. Intense relationship and partnership issues are coming to the forefront. Personal and social transformation of relationship attitudes and roles is once again stressful. If we are trying too hard to win we can be ruthless and unscrupulous. Where we can harness this power within cooperative relations there is an equal sense of influence. We can have the trust we need to be vulnerable and passionately intense in our unification. Mutual trust brings fusion, forgiveness and healing. We can work together as equally acknowledged individuals. However the other attitudes, roles or deep seated resentments generated now would create intense obsessions, destructive conflicts and power struggles. Jealousy is a big issue; it creates stormy passions and convolutes the ability to make wise and decisive choices. Circumstances of abandonment, selling out, showdown, resentment, prolonged attachment, domination, ultimatum and the use of power and control that causes a lot of unfairness to others are possible. We need to feed and fuel the right need.

23^RD What we do and how we do it are at odds with each other. Things do not work out well because we are not synchronised. We can think things through but when it comes time to executing our thoughts we feel differently. Something within the idea, the plan or the execution of it is not quite right. Take time to develop confidence in faltering attempts.

24^TH If taking care of details has been a problem, this is the time we have been waiting for. We get to the things we have wanted to do. Mercury in Capricorn makes our minds more systematic. We get linear, logical and organized! Make lists of things to do or just brainstorm with large paper and crayons. Putting it on paper will help us be more objective. We can easily see what we need to do next. With a focus on strategy it is easier to map out the steps to manifest our goals. This is a great time for accomplishment particularly if the focus is on writing, speaking or any form of communication. It is natural to communicate with long lost relatives and get together with people we do not often see.

Discipline is an old tool but it will work wonders if rediscovered. For those who are having trouble gaining cooperating from their children it is worth a try. Children like discipline, they get attention and feel loved and not only that they get guidance, support and confidence in the right directions. Our method of nurturing has to be solid, consistent and realistic to be effective. We need to strengthen family support systems and emotional bonds. It is time to change our approach. We cannot let the blocks and obstacles in our nurturing program interfere with the care giving of our children. If we do everything for our children and give everything to our children they have trouble discovering their own strengths and confusion in discerning true value. Practical achievement-oriented nurturing may require sacrifice. Fear of abandonment can block the intended tenderness of the approach that fosters self-responsibility.

25^TH Holy Doodle what exciting Christmas energy ~ everyone be very careful when driving, operating machinery or using knives because we are bound to be distracted. This can translate into a fun-filled unscripted celebration but great impatience is also possible as our fuse is quickened. Unrestrained high-strung energy is difficult to slow down so we find it difficult to pace ourselves or relax. It would be wise to prepare for innovative festivities because plans are likely to be changeable anyway and traditions thrown to the wind. Creative change is afoot. What we do not change of our own volition may change for us. Powerful energy is being released and it needs plenty of scope as it will initiate new conditions. If however there are repressed, suppressed or constrained issues they will spring out suddenly or surprisingly. It must be a family holiday; a time when the natural frictions within the family are bound to act out. Escapism, restlessness, impulsiveness, irritability, wrathful anger, arrogance and revolutionary anti-authoritarian attitudes can be unleashed. Play nice, have fun.

The Last Quarter Moon is exact. The Sun in Capricorn is squaring off with the Moon in Libra. Only one half of the Moon is lit up and it is about to decrease. During this phase we are restructuring the old, preparing the way for the new. We desire to change the current scheme of things. A degree of discontent is the motivating factor. There may be many families forced to rethink their financial expenditure this holiday season. We set new boundaries, precedents and traditions. It is time as the old traditions want to retire. Children can reassociate within this time of inspiration and renewal, families can lighten the burden of expectations, we can think freely and without attachment. This is a rebirth, a time succession for the old ways. We enjoy and value each other in a new way. 

27^TH We have to rely on our internal support system of faith, hope and optimism because we are being tested. No one can do it for us but we are not all powerful and all wise either. Be careful not to over commit to anything because we might not be able to deliver on our promises. We need to tend to the incomplete which will take more of our energy than we expect. Too much focus on our own point of view will fail to see the whole picture. Religious or philosophical fanaticism may be in the news. Our psychological defence mechanisms are easily triggered by discomfort or anxiety. The spirituality of sexuality is a worthwhile contemplation as it affords breakthroughs in marital relations. Financial situations can be difficult as payment for expenditure crops up.

Changing needs for independence versus care means the bonds that hold people together will morph. On the other hand a growing dissatisfaction can interfere with relations that are based on care giving. Repressed anger and powerless can surface in situations where one feels dominated, overruled, incompetent or inadequate. Real or imagined we need to address these needs to adapt, adjust and apply more effort to changing circumstances. Frustrated ambitions are another sore point. Fear and a sense of inadequacy needs to be bolstered with new found courage, confidence and self-reliance. Physical exercise or activities are an outlet for all of these conditions. We can vent the energy and gain better clarity. The needy get needier and we are suspicious of the good we can do in response to them.

28^TH The Balsamic Moon in Scorpio is found behind the Sun in Capricorn. This is a very creative conceptual phase. Our minds will be highly structured and our sensory perception will be very tuned in. Good ideas pass through circles of people. We are inspired by others. Great change can affect how we look at things. Our strategies can be perfected. We dissolve the ill thought out agreements we have in place in preference for a new unknown direction. New people open our minds to greater possibilities. But beware of the fraud, those who purposely misrepresent and others who prey on good intentioned people. Energies are intensely pressure cooking great gems of experience.

30^TH Transformative energies are strong and we are urged along our metamorphic path. Life tries to make it crystal clear about what is not working. Our energy levels are highly charged; ripe for psychological work, intense cleansing, purging and renewal. Exceedingly ambitious, our ego and desire nature is prone to displays of strength and assertion. Confrontation tests the credibility of our intentions. It reveals the flaws in our theory too so we can install corrective measures. Seemingly ceaseless activity pushes us to complete important work. We are very self-assertive and want to be in control of our reality. We may tend to overdramatize and exaggerate the importance of incidents. Sexual energies can be strong too. Do not challenge people in positions of power and be extra careful and cautious when driving. Avoid violent or dangerous places, areas or situations as there is great potential for ruthless assault against unsuspecting victims. Steer clear of road rage at the wheel. Try not to give into the lower vibrational expressions.

31^ST Eve of the New Year. Oh boy, what resolutions we need to make! We can visualise success and use our intuitive talents to reach our goals this year. Employing the Secret Mirror we need to get all debris, baggage and attachment out of the way of our ability to attract. Take the time needed to enter into the moment of rebirthing the New Year, forget the self and focus on the present. Detach from disappointments, face limitations and do it unemotionally as this is another time when we can let go. We transcend our ego and tap into an ethereal flow that will help us envision our future pathway. The lineal brain needs to step aside so we can focus the imagination and let it flow. This is very good for artists and scientists. We are free to make discoveries. Other escapes can be employed to get away from our feelings like sleep, lack of clarity, illness, instability, passivity or indecision. This can create a duality within a personality also. If we delve into this expression only one part of us is available or reachable. Many people can confound us with their cold total detachment born of this combination of energies.

With Juno entering Pisces, we take what we believe to a higher level; idealistic expectation. For some this will manifest as an overt desire to save people, to feel sorry for others and to sacrifice the self for a higher cause that may or may not be realistic. Unable to deal with the faults and failings of reality we can project our imagination onto the situation to make it become virtuous. To anticipate that life will live up to our expectations will be very hard on other people as well as on us. This could be a fast track to disillusionment, a state believed to lead to enlightenment just like the pit of depression leads to recreation. On the other hand it could encourage withdrawal, martyrdom, disappointment and victimization. We are looking for complete faith, trust, reverence, value and commitment that will give meaning to our lives and relationships. Escapism allows self-deception; we believe what we want regardless of what exists. For those that can keep their head while everyone else is losing theirs, we can take our commitments, sense of equality and justice into unknown territory. We can refashion our concept of relationship dissolving some of the archaic archetypes and paradigms.

January 1^st Happy New Year and New Moon! It is profound that that these occur simultaneously. The New Year is part of our conscious agreement even though the year is a manmade or fictitious new beginning and because of that the New Year maintains its significance. There is a profound sense of evolutionary importance hovering around the beginning of 2014. The issues we face are larger than life and extremely intense. It is a point in history during which we experience the most confounding threats to our continuance without the state of world war. Perhaps we have learned the lesson of the past about using the war effort to stimulate the economy. In this world however so much is decided behind the scenes and without public knowledge. Many are gripped with the fear of losing their home, of being homeless or disenfranchised. It is going to take ingenuity and invention to muddle our way out. There are great minds who can deal with the most catastrophic conditions and find a way. We need to be strong of heart, soul and mind. It reminds me of the poem by Rudyard Kipling entitled "If".

2^ND Getting in touch with our integrity, relying on our inner resources and readapting to the present we can uplift and inspire each other. Our individual search for truth and meaning draws us to people of the same mind. Financial resources may not be affluent but we can find a wealth of support in like-mindedness. We want to share our insights, our vision of possibility, our philosophical, educational or spiritual beliefs. In tune with humour and joviality we can share the lighter side of life and appreciate another's perspective. By noticing what build's another person's self-confidence we are able to bolster our own. Through the secret mirror we can see how we get in our own way. Then we can focus our will toward our desired actions. Financial issues can arise due to legal complications. The lower attitude of these energies would be arrogance, exaggeration, defensiveness, unethical conduct, prejudice, superiority, insincerity and lack of spontaneity or joy. 

4^TH The Crescent Moon is found in Aquarius ahead of the Sun in Capricorn. This is a difficult juncture. Pressure has risen to eye popping levels and people are stretching our patience and ability to endure. No one is quite certain and yet everyone feels everything is very crucial. It will be easy to make mistakes, act too impulsively and over step our boundaries. We need to make an extra effort to control our compulsions. Make no investment decisions at this time. Consider all options but make no decisions. Read the fine print on all contracts and agreements. Take time to become fully aware of all the details. Other than that remember life is a journey, take your place of preference on the ride.

5^TH At the end of January 2013 we formulated some excellent plans and strategies we hoped to put into action over the next two and a half years. We have reached the crossroads where it is time to put phases of our plan into play. There are some important alterations to be made to our current methodology and pattern of action. We have a stabilised sense of our own assurance therefore are less undermined by our sensitivities or temper. Physical dexterity is high. We can withstand more pressure than usual. This is excellent energy for the martial arts, military organisation and choreography. We have an opportunity to organise ourselves assuredly.

6^TH Pallas Athena, representative of wisdom and winning strategy, is turning retrograde. The internal integrity of this planet orbits around negotiation, communication and brain power. Through the intellect we come to understand and thereby create rightful strategies. The difference between truth and judgement is evaluated. We are indomitable in our sense of self and from this vantage point we rethink all of our challenges, planning and initiatives. It may be time to back out of legal issues or contracts and any place where we do not fit in. Being alert to hidden agendas we are in a position to reassess our relationships and adjust our concept of fairness and gender balance. Father issues can be worked out. But when Pallas Athena's protection shield is internalised we must take better care of our immune system; something we might be too preoccupied to think about.

7^TH We can realign ourselves with that which is within our reach. A brand new approach can be developed. Free to change our mind we rummage through our options sorting out what to keep and what to discard. We stop chasing after what we cannot get and accept the necessary endings. It is possible to trim the excess to make life sweeter. Relationships can agree to disagree.

From Aries, the Sun in Capricorn forms the First Quarter phase with the Moon. We can take a chance, make an educated guess and follow our magnetic attractions. The inspiration of evolution is working with us, dissolving ill thought out relations with others and putting the emphasis on individual needs. Friendships and social involvements are helpful in our search for self-realisation. We can relax a little more now and enjoy going with the flow. There is a better sense of stability now that the pressure is lessening. Make no mistakes with money. Acting too quickly or spontaneously may not work well in every instance. Get grounded rather than shoot from the hip.

8^TH The integrity of our ego is in question. We have the opportunity to correct our mistakes and adjust our perspective. It takes abundant inner knowledge and awareness to examine our own code of ethics. We may have to face karmic shrapnel with the strength of free will in order to accomplish the ego building reorientation of our modern times. It is necessary to be honest and true with ourselves. Our individuality is being tested. Keeping our ego in check we can proceed successfully with energetic activity and expand our sphere of influence. Status, authority and expansion are pre-eminent. Since they are infused with infectious optimism we need to expend more effort to balance our judgement. Get the facts. We are moving toward successful venture. However, strong managerial qualities, psychological and physical strength when wielded in an urgent fashion borders on ruthless or reckless if we are not careful. We may overtax ourselves, spend too much energy and not get enough in return. Too many simultaneous on-going concerns will dissipate the advantage at hand. Be very much in the moment so as not to be carried away with what can be. Some people want more money than what the service they are offering is worth.

There is potential for major disillusionment. We expect things to go one way and they go another. What is in our head is being projected onto what is. We do not easily see the simple truth. We dive right into untenable situations to rescue those who do not want to be rescued. Self-righteous adamant beliefs can also cloud our judgement. We are easily disappointed when things to not live up to our highest ideal. Everyone is bound to fail; even the saints. Blind to all else we will see what we want to see if we are bound and bent. A tempest in a tea pot with nowhere to go comes to mind. Instead we need to embrace the little surprises of life and establish equality and mutual sensitivity as a norm. Skip over the pitfalls and avoid getting into a life sentence or some form of escapism.

9^TH Work toward self-containment. Detach from the machinations and reactions of others. Intimacy issues can arise; there is a lack of closeness. Indifference, distance or subjectivity interferes with relationship. Tested by the how and why of our problems in relationship we take things personally. Obstacles, delays or deadlines interfere with work, goals or objectives. We are developing our authority and will be sensitive to whatever might get in our way. Getting more in tune with ourselves we come to understand things we have been struggling to understand.

11^TH Mercury bebops into Aquarius. This gives us an original turn of mind. Our logic is enhanced along with our ability to comprehend subjects like science and mathematics. It adds strength to the intellect; improves the mind and makes the mind more comprehensive. Our set beliefs can be modified as we are attracted to the unusual. It is normal to feel more excited, alive and less emotional. But we can set our mind and be less open to opinions, most likely the more conservative and staid. This is a social sign; we seek and enjoy our entertainments. Oddly we are more open to the unconventional and offbeat. Our originality is enhanced. We feel more competent with mental work or education. Stubbornness can be increased. Those with a well developed uniqueness will be best served if they do not believe they have all the correct opinions.

The Moon enters the Gibbous Phase from its location in Gemini to the Sun in Capricorn. It is a time of absorption, accumulating information and getting informed. We are likely to rewrite our concept of what has happened in the past due to a new perspective we gather together now. Things we had no way of knowing previously change how we see the things that went before. Health is sensitive. There are too many virus and cold germs to avoid. We are best served if we boost the immune system, dress warmly and we get plenty of sleep or rest. With immunity down we are getting bombarded by the potential for illness. Now that the celebrations are over there is a possibility that seasonal depression can also be a problem. Travel can be interrupted because schedules are disrupted. Business is in a slump. Those that spent a lot of money over the holidays will be bearing up under the strain.

12^TH After all the information gathering we have been processing it is time to pull it all together to establish wholeness. We have confronted our deepest dichotomies or other sources of stress as a means of spiritual awakening. Now we will be mustering our assertively dominant energies to become more forceful. We have to oppose the limitations that would stop us from making this turning point to finding our own truth. Parental influence needs to be addressed and we may find that the core of disapproval exists within ourselves and not within them. The parent-child relationship goes through some changes. The child withdraws, stretches the rules, breaks with convention or expectation and stretches their boundaries. Best if we can honour all choices and peoples on the way to self-realisation.

15^TH The Moon is Full. From its position in Cancer it is directly opposite the Sun in Capricorn. This is more of a positive fullness than we sometimes experience. Things come to the surface in a way that enhances our ability to be more of ourselves and make connections with others. Serious issues seem to come through communication, the mail or other transmission devices. We can also hear from old friends, neighbours or schoolmates. We share many memories and recollections. Health issues continue to be fragile and vulnerable. It takes commitment to good health practices to avoid seasonal illness. Work or business concerns will show improvement. Financial situations can get on track. We are in command of ourselves and must strategise to achieve our objectives.

18^TH If we are striking out in the wrong direction for our overall best good we will experience a detour. But we must be careful not to jump to any conclusions as our assertiveness is easily misdirected, confused or uncertain. It may be necessary to bow to a higher power, acquiesce to others or put other people first. In doing so it brings out that which we have not known before. It is frustrating and irritating to feel powerless or deluded, stalled or uncomfortable because we feel quite sure of our plan of action. There are strong intuitive abilities but we feel spacey, vague and uncertain as well. The imagination is also enhanced and there is little interference with executing its vastness however manifesting the products of our imagination may have to wait for a better time. When putting things away be mindful of their placement as they can be lost or misplaced in this fog of confused assertiveness. Space cadets will be inclined to explore the outer regions of the universe.

It is the Winter Solstice, Happy Birthday to all Capricorns; there is a special year ahead of you. New possibilities are hidden within a time capsule to be released when they can be successful. Venus retrograde in your sign tends to put a damper on your festivities if expectations cannot be met. Look to the brighter side. New boundaries are drawn up to avoid conflict, frustration and friction. Mutual trust calms the storminess of these energies. Being at odds with yourself is the worst outcome. Mercury joins the Sun, Pluto and Venus in Capricorn. This really revs the motor of your mind and opens up the floodgates of exploration and experimentation. Self-discipline and the supportive confidence that gives to others will help you to achieve amazing results. Christmas Day has some very exciting and effervescent qualities. Creative energy is afoot be prepared for changes. Be careful with knives or machines. Developing inner faith, optimism and hope comes on the wings of the Christmas holidays. The needy get needier, dissatisfaction manifests and repressed energies surface in the days following the festivities. Energies build to an intense crescendo.  The stress puts too much strain on your immune system or ability to sleep and rest. You have very strong concerns for other people. New Year's Eve is great for intimate gatherings and memorable food. Only the special few would receive an invitation to bring in their New Year resolutions with you. Juno entering Pisces reveals that 2014 will take what you believe to a higher level. The year is ushered in with a search for truth and meaning. Your good humour helps with the lighter side of life. Your strategies are very important. Check to see where you need to expand on your standard so your hand is not forced. Pallas will now turn retrograde. During this phase of internalised policy you will rethink your game plans and develop a broader range of methodology. Realigned to what is within reach your new approach brings happier endings. Your integrity will be tested and your honesty will be challenged so do not be reckless or stretched too thin. The greatest disappointment with getting carried away is not how others see you but how you see yourself. Live and learn, learn and live. Self-sufficiency and self-containment are important skills during the second week of January. Then Mercury slips out of Capricorn into Aquarius and that helps you to keep calm and carry on. In fact the quicker brain power gets you out of darker places. Do not let anything stop you from finding new truths and making a turning point. Convention or expectation interferes. To give into powerlessness casts you adrift, brings you down or makes you uncomfortable. It is okay to feel vague, uncertain and spacey but do not conclude you must also acquiesce.  

Happy Winter Solstice. Take delight in the fact the daylight will return a little more every day. We are a month away from the time of your birth; from your new start. Venus will retrograde at the Solstice. It will be a soul searching inspiration and reassessment of worth and value; people and commitment. Times change all things. Contemplate how to best renegotiate your relationships, contracts and agreements. Jealousy and other intensely obsessive and destructive passions interfere with circumstances. You will falter unless you are patient with yourself. Mercury enters Capricorn and stirs up the subconscious mind. It stimulates your intuitive guidance as well as the rational mind. This time it is likely to bring back many memories. Discipline will be your friend, especially because it is self enforced. You will get around, through and over any obstacle with a modicum of restraint. Christmas is energised; a happy time full of spirit and pleasure. Very creative energy is unharnessed so agendas, plans and schedules enjoy some spontaneity. After Christmas and Boxing Day is finished be careful not to over commit your time, brain power or energies. Complete the incomplete. Certain associations and fellowships prove to be helpful in unusual ways; they accelerate your progress. Then very assertive energies kick in and you are immersed in strong ambitions that will cause you to overdramatize and exaggerate their importance. New Year's Eve is an opportunity to get all debris, baggage and attachment out of the way. Approaching this new year detach, let go and transcend the ego and its limitations; step aside so the universal will can flow through you to create conditions for your best good. Juno leaves your sign and passes into Pisces. This helps to calm your spirit by letting go of convictions and demands allowing you to focus on the present. As the new year is dawning many people are caught up in their woes. You are able to uplift and inspire them to live in the now. Then it is time to take up plans that were made a year ago and bring them into a pattern of action. Pallas Athena retrograde in motion enhances your inner wisdom and winning strategies. Your consciousness is ripe with negotiation and communications skills and you are alert to other people's agendas. Take your time making a business decision as a new approach is needed for a successful venture. Personal integrity is important do not let your ethics slide in favour of status or authority. You will be easily drawn into rescue situations that are untenable and going nowhere which is disappointing. Help others to help themselves become self-sustainable and sometimes that means stepping back and letting them find their way. Mercury enters Aquarius which is a great boost to your spirits. You feel more excited, alive and open to uniqueness. With this creative turn of being you can easily pull all the pieces of your life together into a holistic accomplishment. This vision helps you to make changes to your ideas and change your course direction. Clever imaginative skills put things into a more mindful placement.  

Happiest of wishes on the Winter Solstice. Create a happy bubble around you, one of warmth, comfort, great value and deep soothing. There is nothing to feel guilty about, be the winner you are. Venus turns retrograde so you need to avoid the mental indulgences that drive you crazy. Attend to the worthwhile and invest your time and devotion well. Analyse your relationships to understand how well you maintain your personal power within their agreements. Move into a more equalised acknowledgement of each individual. As this is new to you the process will be awkward and unsynchronised. Mercury strides into Capricorn which helps you to be more self-contained and self-accomplished. Discipline the mind so to make the most of this progressive potential as it tends to want to wander. With the energies afoot even a quiet Christmas celebration can turn into an event. There will be the unforeseen that occurs; it asks you to be flexible and impromptu. Do not get tied up in knots over it. In the days that follow Christmas and Boxing Day tend to the incomplete or invest time in contemplation. If you cut yourself off from the world you may wallow in the same states of imagination as others. Getting out and interacting with others gives you objectivity and perspective because everyone has issues surfacing now. This too will pass. Spend energy on cleansing, purging and renewing; groom the ego and desire nature, avoid overdramatizing and exaggerating perplexities. Avoid dangerous places, ruthless people, violence or road rage and try not to give into lower vibrational expressions. New Year's Eve is excellent for creating transcending resolutions to greet 2014. Let the force of spirit, the universe and all that is good flow through you. Be optimistic and far sighted. Juno will enter Pisces joining Neptune and Chiron. Take what you believe to a higher level but be realistic and virtuous. Do not expect life and other people to live up to your ideals. As the year gets underway you will get in touch with many more people and find you are supported in your relationships. Get out of your own way so you can see this. There are plans waiting on the back burner and now is the time to initiate their conception. Pallas Athena turns retrograde to help you develop creative self-strategies. The internalised version of a winning negotiator develops and restores your sense of self. You stop chasing after what you cannot get and accept the necessary endings. If you find your integrity is under attack, change your mind and adjust your perspective to avoid recklessly and ruthlessly damaging yourself. No one else is doing this to you. Unrealistic expectations, demands or standards will present you with major disappointment and disillusionment. What follows is enlightenment. Avoid self-depreciation and detach from the opinions, machinations and reactions of others to build self-authority. Mercury enters Aquarius and stirs up many memories, experiences and reminders of times gone by. It can give you the travel bug or the desire to immerse yourself in a journey through reading. This helps you to pull all the pieces of information you need together to complete a project or come to an understanding. Self-creative energy flows through you. Spending too much time in the past will be a detour unless it brings to light that which you have not known before.  

Winter Solstice heralds the return of the Sun which increases our daylight slowly over time. While you enjoy Christmas festivities and look forward to the new year your mind turns to spring Easter celebrations and the time of your birth. Venus turns retrograde and puts you in an awkward situation with yourself. It is helpful to restructure financial affairs and clarify relationship boundaries to avoid conflict. No one should compromise your sense of personal empowerment. People who are envious, jealous, resentful or dominant cause issues. You cannot handle them the same way as always and it feels awkward but necessary to do what you must. Mercury entering Capricorn can be a thorn in your side if you do what you should instead of what you will. Discipline is good but repression leads to accidental mishap when energies become unbridled. Merry Christmas, it is an exciting fun-filled day. Everyone is upbeat and happy to be together. It makes the little incidents easier to experience. Drive careful or be cautious with the use of knives and machinery to avoid accident. Distractions are plentiful. Do not make too many plans if you really feel like staying at home. You might expect too much of yourself. There are people you want to take care of but it can leave you feeling dissatisfied if you are spread too thin. Very strong compulsions push you around and pull at you too; detach, transcend, step aside and get away from this duality as best you can. New Year's Eve is ripe with intuitive vision if you can cleanse yourself of attachment and baggage. Look beyond for your resolution. Juno enters Pisces and this makes it difficult for you to be unbiased. It may strengthen your convictions and ideals. Imagine how life could live up to such expectations. Refashion your archetypes and paradigms this New Year. As 2014 commences you get caught up in yourself because you need to see how you get in your own way. Plans that lay dormant are ready to be engineered. As Pallas Athena retrogrades you get the patience, endurance and fortitude to get to work on all the details. A new project may take much time and need a new approach but it will be worthwhile. Confess to your mistakes so they are not spawned into bigger unmanageable problems. Accept what you do not know and realise other people already know you do not know. Now you can be informed. Trying to stand your ground will not work and is too much of a struggle. Mercury in Aquarius can be mind-scrambling but you feel more alive and unusually excited. A lot of energy needs somewhere to go. Relationships can be confounding, limitations need to be addressed and disapproval does not honour individualism. If you get detoured on your way to accomplishment it will bring a new perspective and put plans in a more mindful place.  

Blessings on the Winter Solstice; know that the light returns a little more every day. It is a lazy time when you do not feel like doing anything even though there is much to be done and you do it. Venus turns retrograde; as this is your planetary ruler you can be very much affected. It is one of those self-improvement cycles that we can procrastinate with. Relationships are analysed to see if they can, cannot or will not meet your needs. You cannot give up personal power, values or respect for yourself to maintain relations. Thoughts crash into each other and bounce you around. Mercury entering Capricorn should be grounding and spatial to put things into perspective. Old school discipline helps to tame the tiger of discontent within. Then it is Christmas. Powerful energy is being released so you are in for some surprises. The quickened pace is dislodging constraint. Once Christmas and Boxing Day are done you find it difficult to get anywhere or accomplish much that relies on others. Being cared for and caring for others feels inadequate and unsatisfactory. It is frustrating. Life brings you mandatory issues that assault the ego and confront credibility. These are not to be magnified; exaggerated or dramatised they are part of an intense cleansing, purging and renewal. New Year's Eve is somewhat magical. Maybe it is your focus or perhaps you are more in touch with the etheric but you get a sense of direction that feels like a breakthrough. Juno in Pisces etherealises your usual hard and fast lines. You dissect black and white components of your standard beliefs allowing shades of gray and other allowances. As 2014 gets underway you are happy with the dissolution of commitments, you enjoy your solitude and would appear moody to others. There are plans you want to contemplate and you need peace and quiet to accomplish that. Pallas Athena turning retrograde lowers your protective shields as well as your immunity. You must take extra care and precaution with your health. Realign yourself to what is within your reach, trim the excess and agree to disagree. You will build strong managerial abilities and psychological strength with a sense of urgency. What you cannot control is your illusions and unreasonable expectations as they are built upon your ideals. There will be little surprises. Any experience of this nature can snap you back into being withdrawn. Mercury entering Aquarius is designed to disturb this comfort zone. You need to be alive and living in the now. You have enough information, you can proceed with what you have, and the need to research and develop more is a stall tactic. It is easy to take a detour in the details. The imagination wants to overrule clarity and certainty and with good reason. You would be well advised to acquiesce to strong intuitive abilities.  

The time of the Winter Solstice is here, the Sun is turning back toward the northern latitudes and daylight will steadily increase. This is the shortest day and it goes by quickly. Venus retrogrades in its orbit and the backward direction makes you more self-centred. Exercising too much dominance or power over relations will stir up trouble and old wounds. Things will not work out well as you are not in tune with all sides. Mercury's entrance into Capricorn draws a line under conflict and fancy. You can be too sure of yourself and take things too far. Self-discipline is better exercised than trying to regulate others. The dichotomy of giving everything and doing everything to please your children and being hard on all others is too difficult to evaluate. Christmas Day is a filibuster of electrified energy. It can be very exciting and surprising. Have fun with the unscripted celebration. After the holidays, too much focus on your own point of view will fail to see the whole picture. Getting lost on a detail undermines broadmindedness. It is just too easy to get caught on your own point of view and miss the point. Follow the urge to purge the psyche of ambitious egocentric assertion. You can challenge people with a dramatic exaggeration of importance. The energies of this time are intense. On the Eve of the New Year the thoughts you have both quietly to yourself or spoken and written to others can turn into seed ideas for the year ahead. Juno enters Pisces which softens the edges and rigidities that you dislike so much. You are less aware of expectation, more tolerant and curious. No sooner the year is underway you are ready to go back to work and eager to show your commitment. Work that was planned long ago will become lucrative now. Pallas Athena once retrograde can be the bearer of expense for repairs or replacements that are overdue. It is best not to act until you can think straight. Take time to adjust rather than act in haste. Too many simultaneous on-going concerns dissipate your strength. Take the opportunity to correct yourself before making a mistake. Bound and bent projected onto what is will fail miserably. Subjectivity interferes with everything in your way. Turn it around. See the negative and act positively. Mercury transiting through Aquarius will brighten and soften your hard headedness and quicken ingenuity. It is far easier to pull things together, make connections, bridge the gaps and solve the puzzle. Recognising dead ends, detours, blind allies and other wrongful directions helps you with your plan of action. Acquiesce to this intuitive judgement.  

The shortest day of the year, the Winter Solstice marks the point in the Sun's orbit when it turns back around moving toward the northern latitudes. The return of the light happens when you begin to feel the totality of the darkness; thank goodness for celebrations! They take your mind off the seasonal darkness. Venus turning retrograde can cause you to relax your grip and lose yourself in wishful thinking. Incidental frictions normally swept under the carpet are blown out of proportion. Personal choice runs into interference from those you are partnered with. It is difficult to make decisions without the details. Mercury entering Capricorn will help with that. Information gathering will eventually make you informed. Take your time to get to the bottom of things, be disciplined about it. When Christmas arrives it is a wonderful super charged event that ties many aspects of family together in an innovative plan. After Boxing Day the doldrums can hit. Your focus narrows and your psychological defence systems cause you some discomfort or anxiety. Bolster yourself with courage, confidence and self-reliance; physical exercise will help too. It would be in keeping with your needs to withdraw, retreat, keep to your inner sanctum and tend to your well being. In your quietude powerful morphic processes will transform your inner nature. You do not have to get sick to take time off. New Year's Eve does not even get you outside of yourself. If you do go to an event you will enjoy yourself and get pleasure from being with other people. Juno entering Pisces makes it difficult for you to deal with the faults and failings of reality. You will see what you want to see and believe what you project onto the situation. As 2014 gets underway there will be a brighter perspective to help you move through realisations. Favourable circumstances will compel you to put your plans into play. You have been waiting for the right time. When Pallas Athena retrogrades it provides you with insight into winning strategies so you can rethink and realign your plans to fit. A brand new approach can be developed. There is an opportunity to correct mistakes and expand your sphere of influence at the same time. If you are still projecting what is in your head onto what is then there will be disappointment, failure or disillusionment. Self-reproach improves the mind, modifies beliefs and conserves dignity. Mercury enters the sign of Aquarius motivating you to enhance your originality and uniqueness. The goal is to reach a sense of wholeness and completion. You may be involved with parents. Too much enthusiasm can leap into confusion, overlook the unknown and get too far out on a limb.

The shortest day of the year, the Winter Solstice is reason to celebrate. The Sun, turning back towards the north brings steadily increasing daylight. This dark time of the year can lower the spirit. Remember your vitamin D. Venus slows down and starts its backward retrograde. Emotions run high and subjective opinions cut lose. If mutual trust cannot be maintained in relations issues become a matter of personal power and control. Intimate relationships are not synchronised, individual differences will be obvious. Mercury occupying Capricorn adds the element of self-authority, right and wrong, black and white to your state. Restrain yourself from going to dark ugly places as the psyche is prone to do at this time. The energy of Christmas is as bright and cheery as a twenty foot Christmas Tree. Flexibility, resilience and entertainment will supercharge this holiday. Let it be what it is. After Boxing Day do not commit yourself, your energy or your finances because you might not want to follow through when the time comes. The bonds that hold you together with other people will morph. This can happen without delving into real or imagined reasons just by accepting the changing circumstances. Will power can verge on the edge of destructive. Restrain the ambitions of the ego and tone down drama. Compulsive forces threaten to cause you to act without forethought. New Year's resolutions can be made in haste and that is a waste of an especially magical time for magnetic attraction. Focus beyond the obsessions and compulsions of recent times and focus your vision on the future. Juno occupying Pisces can help to soften any rage or repressed anger, feelings of inequality or injustice so you can think better. As 2014 gets underway you have increased compassion and more understanding. The lighter side of life brings humour and jolliness. You have a plan; you have had it for a long time. It is time to organise yourself assuredly around this direction. With Pallas Athena in retrograde do not be too sure of the method and pattern of action; there are a range of possibilities to consider. Realign to a new approach; take what you thought in the past and adapt it with new ideas. The ego can act out, become too stubborn or make a nuisance of itself. Self-righteous adamant beliefs can cloud your judgement. Expectations lead to disillusionment which leads to enlightenment. Also you may take things too personally. When Mercury occupies Aquarius it gives you objectivity so you can detach from the personal and open your mind to broader considerations. Structure is important but so is innovation. Consider all levels and dimensions. You may meander along the path rather than forge ahead straightforward, little detours are beneficial.  

The Winter Solstice is here! It is a dark day that leads to the light. You feel the bleakness of the season but have faith in the spring. Venus retrograde is not fun if you let it get to you. Assess the severity of the problems that manifest by their "cost-benefit" analysis. Conflict can erupt within relations. Power issues or struggles are of no benefit to personal empowerment. It is not about winning it is about being. Find out what everyone thinks, digest and assimilate all the points of view and then synchronise with how you will think and act from there. Mercury making its way through Capricorn gives your mind strength and endurance, perseverance and fortitude. Emotionally you are strong. If you feel like things are falling into disorder apply a little discipline and if they feel blocked give more care. Let others discover their strengths and realise their confusions. Christmas has some distinct plateaus within total excitement to total peace. Do enjoy all of it. After Boxing Day is done you may find yourself in a position that no one can help you with or do for you. The bonds between people grow beyond their history. Powerful urges compel you to act on your own behalf and remain true to your values. On New Year's Eve you make worthwhile resolutions and are committed to seeing them through. Juno entering Pisces quickens your resolve, sets your mind in gear and aligns you to deep insight. With 2014 underway you are eager to forge ahead, break new ground and try out new plans and strategies. Make the changes you have wanted to make for some time, get on with your plans. Pallas Athena reversing its direction to retrograde increases your indomitable facet and puts you in touch with a greater sense of self. Let go of the redundant and align yourself with that which can be developed within reach. Mistakes of the past are not locked in take the opportunity to make corrections and move toward future success. Things can go haywire, standard daily operations fail and situations go askew. Therefore there can be disappointment, surprise or let down. You pull things together pretty quick but the delays interfere with objectives. Mercury entering Aquarius can bring some entertaining news, stories about someone's travels and family or other gatherings. A lot of the information you have gathered to date is just that but at this point you are able to pull details together to make a connection. Enhanced imagination and strong intuition helps to shape and relate to more than just facts. With the mind focused this way you might forget where you put things around the home. You are on auto pilot.  

It is already the Winter Solstice, the darkness is all around. You are inclined to plan a trip to travel to the sun. It cannot return fast enough. Venus, ruler of Libra is retrograde in motion so this can have a strong affect on you. It is possible you become somewhat nitpicky, particular or critical and a little self-centred. In relationship you butt heads, each person wanting to have more power and influence over the other. Undercurrents of hostility or frustration can erupt. Jealousy and other destructive conflicts create intense situations. Working this out is not easy but it is possible if everyone chooses to be the better person. When Mercury enters Capricorn it makes you feel like you are stagnant, standing still, in stasis. It is meant to be motivational. Now all you need is the discipline, order and organisation to forge ahead. Christmas can be spectacular or chaotic. There is a super charge to the electric atmosphere that is Charismas. It fires you up, energises but it can upset the equilibrium and plans of others which in turn affects you. A getaway between Christmas and New Years would be enjoyable but it may take more energy than you expect. Staying where you are you can get a lot done but not as much as you expect. The bonds between you and others are revived, reinvigorated and reinvested. Something profound will happen within comfortable boundaries and career changes could be thought out. New Year's Eve you look back on all the resolutions you have made in previous years to come up with something that will stick. Get the fantasy and dream stuff out of the way. Juno enters Pisces causing you to act on your beliefs. They will be tested to see if they are real or desire. With 2014 underway you are concerned with your finances and resources and need to see how you are causing your own problems. Best to focus on realising your plans and ideas, getting to work and getting things done. Pallas Athena turns retrograde and when moving backwards she causes you to doubt yourself and therefore rethink so you can win. Possibilities that are within reach are what you focus on. In the process you experience a bit of an identity crisis. The ego gets out of shape and your status becomes very important. Get out of your own way to move toward successful venture. The older the belief the more likely it will lead to disappointment, disillusionment, untenable situations and confusion. It could be you are taking things too personally; taking yourself too seriously and letting outside authority interfere with being in tune with yourself. Mercury occupying Aquarius provides you with a streak of creativity. Children can play a large role in your joy of life. Be yourself, put yourself forward, pioneer new territory and be happy with who you are. Strong intuition will give you insight into what to do next, which direction to go toward and who to avoid.  

The darkest day of the year, the Winter Solstice, is when the Sun turns back toward the northern hemisphere. There is a task at hand that gives you much joy. Let your light shine. Venus reverses direction and begins to move retrograde. It is not what it does to you but the selfishness that you notice in others that brings out your disapproval. People can be cut from your life by what they do now. You are not interested in having power over others. A preference for being self-sustaining does not want to be controlled or managed. Words do not come out smoothly, impulse interjects with bad timing. Mercury entering Capricorn challenges you to dig deep to endure and persevere. You can do it! Discipline is a new discovery of an old tool. The beauty of it is it is self inflicted and it gets results. Christmas is an exciting energetic day of intense interaction and novelty. Expect the unexpected, enjoy spontaneity and be in your element. The day after Boxing Day requires some work to get through. You are not in a comfort zone but you breakthrough that barrier and get it done. The bonds between you and others, mostly people at arm's length, can be tested and may break. It does not take much of a push history or no history. High energy wants to clean away what is not working. You can withdraw into yourself and not meet this challenge but it will only hurt you in the end. On New Year's Eve make a conscious choice to make things right, to reset, refresh, reboot and so eliminate the debris that belongs to the past. Open your consciousness to the universe and let it be the judge of what your new screen for 2014 should be. When Juno enters Pisces you need to accept your own faults and failings. It is too easy to be disappointed with life and everyone else. Raise your expectations of yourself by believing in yourself. With the new year underway you are drawn to share your recent realisations with people in your close circle. Plans you discussed with another a long time ago can be revisited and organised assuredly. When Pallas Athena retrogrades you may begin to question yourself, fair enough but do not take it too far. You set better boundaries and do not attempt anything that is out of reach. The fun of fixing things, correcting your mistakes, gaining a new perspective or reorienting the ego gives you pleasure. People you have rescued in the past may be in need again but responsibility does not fall to you to enable them to continue to be needy. There are many worthy people in your life; excellent examples of self-sustenance. When Mercury scoots into Aquarius you need to boost the immune system. With Pallas Athena retrograde protection is lowered and virus or cold germs can hit the airwaves in this sign. You will pioneer worthwhile and possibly lucrative new directions for yourself with all the information you have been assembling. Get ready for a detour. It is not an upsetting one, simply a meandering that takes you to the place you did not know you wanted to go.

It is hard to tell but the Winter Solstice marks the point at which the Sun returns from its journey south, a little more daylight each day. Nature is in slumber and you feel like hibernating too. It is a special time for spiritual matters, meditation, retreat or solitude. Venus reverses direction and now retrograde can cause some fluctuations in your relationships. Secrets come to light. The power base shifts. You are more exacting than usual. Still it takes quite a few attempts to get something right. Mercury struts into Capricorn leaving you to your own devices. At first you experience a void of thought but you come to appreciate the quietness of your mind. You have more discipline, endurance and stick-to-it-ness. Christmas is a wing-ding celebration this year. Exceedingly high energies make for unusual escapades. Enjoy the unscripted experience. Following Boxing Day self-reliance is really important. It is okay to retreat into yourself. The bonds between you and others are analysed to reset the conditions of the relationships. You are pushed to complete important work and it makes you feel good about yourself. New Year's Eve is a great time to seed your ideas in the fertile landscape of the universe. Create your reality, manifest your intentions, magnetically draw what you need and recreate yourself in 2014 through resolutions made now. Juno enters Pisces taking you on a trip for truth and meaning. It draws people to you who are of the same mind. With the new year underway you feel like you are on new footing which bolsters your confidence. Old plans are resuscitated and brought back to life. The goal can be one you share with others. Once retrograde, Pallas Athena helps you to see the difference between truth and judgement which adds to your sense of self. You align to the possible. The ego can tie you up in knots; get you entangled in unhealthy assertion that can be reckless or ruthless. If you are disappointed or disillusioned you only have yourself to blame. Presets are bound to fail leaving you with no escape but to see things for the way they are not the way you want them to be. Contain yourself, you are developing and need to be sensitive to whatever comes your way. Mercury in Aquarius draws you to social involvements, dinner parties, festivities and visiting other people. You become well informed on relevant subjects and this helps you make your way easier. Do not get caught on some weird ambiguous point. You might readily adopt something without evaluating its true worth. Try not to be led astray.