Dear Planet Waves Reader:
In December we come back to the fast-changing astrology that is linked to Mercury retrograde and eclipses. For those who can remember as far back as December 2009, this is similar — but not quite the overwhelming whirlwind of energy. Still, navigating through holidays when Mercury is retrograde (Dec. 10-30, which can add confusion, tense communication and the sense of things not quite going the way you plan) and eclipses (lunar on Dec. 21 and solar on Jan. 4, which increase the intensity of experience, and enhance the sense of rapidly moving into another phase of your life) calls for foresight, skill, patience and all the spiritual growth that you’ve been working on for so long. This is the time to put it all to work. I suggest you plan to do less than you think you should; do your best to get rid of the word ‘should’ altogether, and aim to do what feels right.
There’s something you need to forget about and move on. The sticking point is emotional; you seem to think it’s ethical or spiritual. These are merely rationalizations, or layers of language and concept draped over an emotional attachment. If you need some leverage, I suggest you break the issue down into its fundamental parts, and use logic. Yet there’s also a hint that it’s not your material that’s bothering you — someone else’s judgments are lingering, potentially from childhood. If you could look at this issue subtracting your parents’ filters, and subtracting the influence of religion, and assess it through your values alone, what would it look like? This sticking point, this bit of doubt about whether you’re ‘right’ or ‘wrong’, may be what’s holding you back from some significant accomplishments. Set yourself free.
Have you considered the extent to which your psychological orientation is fixated on the past, and how this obscures your view of the present? This would be a good time, because the issue is in plain sight. Usually, it’s hidden — there is a word in Sanskrit, sumscara, which means the latent past impressions that obscure our view of the moment we’re actually in. These include belief systems and concepts through which you try to process your immediate impressions, which is a little like trying to cook dinner in the same pots you used last night without washing them first. You may need to do some extra scrubbing, but at the moment you have extra help. Use your senses, and feel how you respond to new experiences that come your way. Comparisons are unnecessary; direct perception will teach you much more.
You run the risk of digging yourself deeper into an unsavory relationship or contractual situation. I suggest you keep your mind on the simple issues, and the basic feelings involved. Ask yourself why it’s necessary for you to be involved in the affairs of anyone but yourself. This is a good opportunity to extract yourself from a situation that is not working for you, or that is simply too complicated for your tastes. The issue you may be dealing with is obsession. Is it yours or that of someone else? Very good question. The energy is in the environment, and you can now explore it and see your responses and your circumstances for what they actually are. But this adventure comes down to something even more basic: how do you claim your power in a situation where you feel you have none?
As you know, your mind works on many levels. Your feelings exist on many levels. Some of these are what both psychologists and spiritual teachers call ‘unconscious’. Of course, when the unconscious manifests in your perception, it’s become conscious — though it helps if you choose to notice. The seemingly odd circumstances of one particular relationship are a demonstration of this phenomenon. Acknowledge everything that comes to your awareness. Notice the tendency of a conversation to loop back on itself. You will need a few reality checkpoints in order to navigate this one; some solid or trusted value that you can depend on as a reference point. Remember that, whatever may be going on in the world of ego, soul connection is where it’s at. And this you have.
Focus on a health and mental wellbeing strategy now, and stick to it. Part of the plan needs to be refining your process as the environment around you and within you changes. Make sure you keep up with dietary and exercise regimens through the holidays, and remember to keep expressing yourself in ways that have nothing to do with work or family — spiritual practice comes to mind, with plenty of time for contemplation. Yes, this is a tall order with all the obligations of the holiday season, but the benefits will pay off, and the problems you prevent will be well worth the relatively small investment. Scale back your plans, do only what is the most meaningful and above all, please take care of yourself before you take care of others.
Sometimes the best creativity is the messiest and the most disruptive to our daily routine. At a certain point the creative process takes over and becomes the core of your life and this is what I suggest you guide yourself toward. It’s actually truly liberating when that happens, the moment you realize that all this other stuff is really basic maintenance, and that the focus, the actual purpose of existence, is engaging your passions. I know there are many people who would wonder if this is even possible in the world. I can tell you that while it may be challenging, it’s definitely possible. You may have to re-gather your sense of purpose many times, even several times a day, but once you’re centered, you’ll wonder how you ever lived any other way.
Be aware of people to whom you have intense emotional reactions, and handle them carefully. If you can, keep them out of your home, or keep the visit short. If you ‘must’ spend time with someone, maybe go out to dinner. As for those with whom you already share your home, do your best to set up listening sessions, or keep the focus there all the time. Remove any irritants that you can, such as those created by over-commitment. Since you have the benefit of knowing the astrology in advance, I can tell you that this holiday season has the potential to be wild and wooly. If you stay centered and remember what is important to you, you’ll be able to stay focused and do just fine. Remember — your home is your home.
Once the turbulence and challenges of December and early January pass by like so many thunderstorms, you will find yourself embarking on a new phase of your life — and I don’t use that concept lightly. The orientation of your existence changes in a way that will reach into every aspect of your life. The events of the next month or so will teach you about what you don’t want and remind you of what you truly desire; dispense with the negative lessons quickly after taking the information, and focus on what is the most meaningful to you. Remember — what you focus on increases. It is essential that you keep it positive, and remember that your notion of what should be (in a particular relationship) may differ wildly from what is actually so. Mind the gap.
If the holidays have a spiritual dimension, you get to be its messenger. That’s a big if in our society, but you’ve got a lot of mojo going and at the moment, your inherent connection to the cosmos (one of the things that makes Sagittarius seem a little ‘weird’ to most mortals) is at full strength. Remember that people not only need but want some of what you’ve got, so don’t keep it all to yourself. Speak the truth you know. You’ve got some potent channeling ability at the moment. Your presence may be a significant help for children in any situation — remember that. Keep an eye on them at any family functions, and spend as much time and energy as you can listening. You will understand things that the adults around them cannot.
The astrology for the next five or six weeks may serve to remind you of all that is wrong with the world and with yourself, but that’s far from the point. Don’t waste your time being pissed off. The point — the very pinpoint bull’s eye — is learning how to focus your intentions. Get away from ‘I need’ and learn how to state ‘I want’. Let any form of irritation or anger quickly propel you to a better place. Your feelings are the energy source, and you control the rudder with your mind. This is not the way most people live — we humans tend to be jerked around by our feelings and never get to the point of decision about them. If you can do that, you’ll go one step better than ruling the world. You will rule your life, and you will do so gracefully.
There’s plenty rumbling in the depths of your psyche. It may be coming out in dreams, fantasies and subtle fears: I suggest you be intimidated by nothing that you notice going through your mind. You’re getting a rare opportunity to explore a region of consciousness that most of the world denies the existence of. In that space, some things are scary, some are exquisitely pleasurable, and many are taboo. This may raise the question ‘what is real and what is not?’ On one level, everything is equal: anything you think is a thought; anything you feel is a feeling; anything you see or hear is a perception. What manifests in a more tangible form is what you attach to, or put energy into. In this, you have significant freedom to choose, and I suggest you choose on the basis of what you want.
I suggest you take an emotionally detached approach to whatever is going on amongst your friends this month. People you care about may be caught in some odd dramas, which to you look like they have no real meaning. That’s the thing — they may not, and the most significant meaning they have is what people assign to them, so be careful when interpreting. Don’t let any of this distract you from your business affairs. Keep your focus. If you take nothing for granted, you’ll see your potential for what it is. Be honest about your message, remembering that you may need to explain yourself several times before the point gets across to those who matter the most. Meanwhile, focus on refining your goals and objectives. Be clear with yourself, and don’t hesitate to come up with a second or third draft of your plan.