When Mars enters Aquarius at 7:48 pm EST today, two significant events will combine in a rare simultaneous occurrence. From long observation, we know that it is significant for Mars to change sign, because your experience of its energy changes with it. Also, no matter what you feel or think about Christmas, it is now a widely pervasive experience, and thus significant as well.
Mars does not return to the same place on the zodiac every Dec. 25, however — which suggests that Christmas Day 2012 holds exceptional meaning.
Christmas Day is an event created by humans. Even those who do not observe the holiday consciously encounter at least some of what goes with it. Hence, it is both an experience in common with others and also a very personal day with meaning unique to you.
Mars was not created by people. It is a planet orbiting the Sun. Mars also reflects some of the Sun’s light in our direction, enough so that it has been visible to us for as long as we have walked the Earth.
Earth is part of the same system of matter, motion, energy and gravity that Mars is. Because you are an inseparable part of Earth, so are you. Any part of any system reveals something about any other part. As indifferently as Mars goes about its business, its movements have information about yours. Observing and correlating the role of Mars and other objects to human events is what astrologers do.