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Transits

December, 2008

ASTROLOGY.COM'S MONTHLY HIGHLIGHTS

IN THIS ISSUE:
** Note from Astrology.com:
--Free Samples: Career Path Reading, Destiny and Decisions Forecast, Parental Influence Reading
--Free Fun: Celebrity Birthday of the Month, Coworker Compatibility, Planetary Presents, Sun Sign Astrological Resolutions, Astro12 DVD Series
** All about Capricorn
** Your Starcast for December 21 to January 18
** Astrolesson: Saturn: The Grownup Planet

December 21: Sun enters Capricorn

As the Sun leaves nomadic Sagittarius and enters practical Capricorn, put your passport away and park your car in the garage, The Sun's entrance into Capricorn marks the Winter Solstice -- a perfect day to count your blessings as you reflect upon the past and make plans for your future. Just like the mountain goat, Capricorn's ambitious animal symbol, it's time for you to aim high and use the practicality and cardinal initiative of this earth sign to achieve your goals.

While you are thinking about your goals and what you would like to accomplish in the year ahead, some of you may be thinking about finding a new job. Others may be curious to see if your current career is a good match for your temperament. Whether you are climbing a mountain or the ladder of success, life is more interesting and fun when you love your job! Check out our free sample Career Path Reading for insights into what kind of work would be a good match for your personality.

Everybody has a destiny. Have you ever wondered about your life purpose? Do you question some of your choices? With a new year just around the corner, see if you are on the right track with a free One-Week Destiny and Decisions Forecast. As they say, life is short! Make sure you're headed the right direction!

Saturn is the planet of authority, and it rules Capricorn. Anyone who has been an authority figure in your life has substantially influenced you. Those who raised you are at the top of this list, while teachers and bosses also come under the Saturn/Capricorn rays. Find out how your parents or guardians have helped shape you into the person you are today with a free sample Parental Influence Reading.

Responsible, hard-working and outspoken Jim Carrey, born January 17, 1962 in Newmarket, Canada, is a perfect representative of this ambitious sign. Best known for his comedic genius, Carrey is also an award-winning actor. He came from humble beginnings yet never let that stop him from achieving his dreams. These days, he has Scorpio Jenny McCarthy at his side. With a successful career and relationship, it looks like Jim has reached the top of the Capricorn mountain! Happy Birthday, Jim! You deserve every happiness and we hope the year ahead is wonderful in every way. Find out more about this brilliant comedian and other Capricorn cuties in our Celebrity Section. Then, dive even deeper into the lives of Hollywood's hottest in StarStories. See how the movement of the planets affects famous folks. It's a great way to learn astrology -- and to gain insight on the passionate lives of legends!

Why is it that you get along with some of your coworkers, while others get on your last shredded nerve? Whether you need to work together on an important project, or you feel like you're getting a weird vibe from a cubicle mate, this astrological take on Coworker Compatibility will give you just the information you need!

It's that time of year again -- time to shop for others! Did you know that you have your own style when it comes to choosing gifts? We all know it can be tempting to buy people what you would love to receive instead of getting what they'd want. Check out our Planetary Presents quiz to see if you agree with how we think you shop. Then use it to buy the perfect gift for those you love. Shopping is so much easier when you shop by Sun sign!

Don't let the New Year start without making a list of resolutions! This is your opportunity to think ahead and plan well. Our Sun Sign Astrological Resolutions will give you plenty of ideas that are just right for your Sun sign. Plus, check out others' signs to help them make a few of their own!

Keep reading for your Starcast, which will take you through the month's astrological events and prepare you for all the interesting pathways and byways ahead. And be sure to check out this month's Astrolesson: Saturn: The Grownup Planet.

Happy Birthday to all you Capricorns! Your awesome discipline and willingness to step up to the plate and take responsibility is a quality many people in this world could use a little more of! Let a Capricorn in your life know how much you appreciate them -- send your favorite Mountain goat a free astrological e-card!

And since gifts are the order of the day, be sure to treat your loved ones -- and yourself -- to the empowering wisdom of the Astro12 DVD series! Learn all about your Sun sign and how it relates to other forms of divination, all while viewing breathtaking images of our precious planet.

Every sign has a 'patron planet.' Yours, dear Capricorn, happens to be Saturn -- Mr. No-Nonsense himself -- and this is a great place to start explaining the nature of your sign. Astronomers and amateur stargazers find those rings surrounding that beautiful planet simultaneously fascinating and lovely, but the colorful circles are also an appropriate symbol of one of the things Saturn holds dear: boundaries. And as Saturn's favorite sign, you've definitely learned the value of keeping your boundaries intact. After all, without self-discipline, order, rules and regulations, where would we be?

You've also been given a love of structure, a respect for experience and a great big dose of common sense. You only take calculated risks, and you can be the very soul of caution. In fact, if you're not careful, you can end up a bit too pessimistic. This, however, (as anyone who knows you well can testify) absolutely doesn't mean that you don't know how to have fun. While your wit is dry and your humor is the exact opposite of slapstick, your sarcasm is unbeatable. What really makes you laugh, though, is intelligent humor -- the odder and quirkier the better.

You deal with relationships much the same way you handle shopping. Your first step is to see what's out there by doing some observation and comparison. You won't settle for anything less than exactly what you want, and once you have it, you tend to those you love much the same as you treat your most treasured items: You spoil them, pamper them and do absolutely everything you can to make things last. The lucky person who ends up in a permanent relationship with you can rest assured that there's absolutely nothing you won't do to keep that relationship thriving, especially as the years go by and you invest more and more time into each other.

Learn more about ambitious, responsible Capricorn, or look into any other sign at our Sun Sign Central.

Not a Capricorn? Look beyond your Sun sign and find out where the Sea Goat might appear in your own birth chart with a free sample Astro Identity Reading.

The Winter Solstice is marked each year with the Sun's entrance into practical Capricorn, which occurs this year on December 21. This is a great time to reflect upon the past and make plans for your future. On December 22, the Sun conjuncts Pluto, now located in Capricorn as of last month. Energetic Mars enters Capricorn on December 26 when you have the drive to accomplish anything you set your mind to! Then, the new Moon in Capricorn on December 27 marks a new beginning. When Mars conjuncts Pluto on December 28, direct this powerful energy toward something you want to achieve. Old 2008 ends with a major review, as Saturn turns retrograde on December 31. Then, Mercury's entrance into independent Aquarius on January 1 begins the year with innovative ideas. The planet of love, Venus, enters the most spiritual sign of the zodiac on January 3, reminding you to see beyond human imperfections, and only the best in everyone. Teamwork is your motto as Jupiter's entrance into Aquarius on January 5 shifts the social climate. It's time to join with others to accomplish your personal goals. The full Moon in Cancer on January 10 reminds you to pay attention to your feelings. On January 11, Mercury turns retrograde in Aquarius, and it's time to conduct a thorough review of your plans for the year ahead. Then, retrograde Mercury joins Jupiter in a conjunction when you'll have plenty to say -- and so will everybody else!

December 21: Sun enters Capricorn

The Winter Solstice is marked each year with the Sun's entrance into practical Capricorn. This is a great time to reflect upon the past and make plans for your future as the Sun illumines a pathway toward the achievement of your goals. The earthy practicality and the drive of this sign present an opportunity for you to take your ambitions and really do something with them! Just like Capricorn's symbol the mountain goat, it is time to climb to the top.

December 22: Sun conjuncts Pluto

This is quite an intense and creative conjunction and is prominent in the new Moon that occurs on December 27. Conjunctions mark new beginnings, yet this particular one is so powerful (partly because Mars is close by) that it requires you to be clear about where you direct your energy -- otherwise someone else is likely to take charge. Do what you need to do to make sure you feel empowered. Then, create something amazing!

December 26: Mars enters Capricorn

Energetic Mars in such an achievement-oriented sign gives you the drive and resourcefulness to accomplish just about anything you set your mind to -- be it starting a business, sticking to your diet, writing a book or finding a mate! There are few placements that have the sheer tenacity of this combo, so make a list of what you want and get going!

December 27: New Moon in Capricorn

This is the last new Moon of the year in ambitious Capricorn, which is fitting as you reflect upon this past year and plan for the new one. Strategize and focus on what you want to achieve in the year ahead. With dynamo Mars and powerful Pluto conjunct this new Moon, it will be important to be in charge of your emotions so that you can utilize the driven nature of this combination. Although some will take this energy and try to dominate or railroad people into doing what they want them to do, the best way to use this new Moon is to have plans or projects and pour into them everything you've got! You will be amazed at what you can accomplish!

This new Moon will most affect those born December 25-29, March 26-30, June 26-30 and September 28-October 2.

December 28: Mars conjunct Pluto

This conjunction has a reputation for being power-hungry although a more enlightened way to use this energy is to take its strength and power and direct it toward something you want to achieve. If you play well with others and don't try to run everything by yourself, influential people will align themselves with you. If you are a control freak and have alienated those who could help you, now may be the time to reconsider what you are doing. Be pro-active instead of reactive and you will be miles ahead of most people. Chances are, you'll earn a few extra karma points along the way!

December 31: Saturn turns retrograde

Saturn is the builder planet. As you are creating the life you want, every now and then it's important for you to review your progress and to make sure that where you are headed is still where you want to go. Saturn turns retrograde once a year providing you with the opportunity for this important review. This retrograde period will last until May 17, 2009. For the best results, correct those areas that are built on a shoddy foundation and weed out anything that is no longer relevant to your life.

January 1: Mercury enters Aquarius

If you've never recorded your thoughts in a journal, this is the perfect year to start as the communication planet enters into the sign of the independent thinker on January 1. Aquarius is a sign known for uniqueness and innovation, so make sure you break out of old ways of thinking. This is your chance to get a fresh start in a new year!

January 3: Venus enters Pisces

The planet of love adores being in the soulful sign Pisces. Enough talk! Enough running around! Words and busy-ness are antithetical to this transit, which lasts until February 3. Instead, find time to sit and watch a beautiful sunset, commune with nature, visit an art museum or meditate for peace, as the concept of love is not only personal when Venus travels through such a universal sign. This is also a great time to meet your soul mate or strengthen the spiritual bonds in an existing relationship.

January 5: Jupiter enters Aquarius

Jupiter takes about one year to travel through a sign and has been in ambitious Capricorn, an earth sign, since December 18, 2007. Earth signs are interested in tangible achievement; air signs (Aquarius being one) are interested in the world of ideas. Jupiter is a planet that has to do with social systems and has something to say about how we relate to the outer world. Because Aquarius is focused on groups and teamwork, expect the year ahead to be one where you are interested in finding like-minded groups and participating more in your community or in the world-at-large.

January 10: Full Moon in Cancer

Last month when the December 27 new Moon was in Capricorn, it was important to be ambitious and find a mountain to climb. Full Moons are always a culmination of what you began at the last new Moon. With this full Moon in security-oriented Cancer, it is important to tune in to your feelings. Worldly ambitions need to be balanced with personal needs. What do you do to soothe and calm yourself? Do you take a bubble bath, eat comfort food, or curl up on the couch with a good book? You'll feel extra sensitive now, and tuning in to your personal needs is a perfect way to step back from all of your out-in-the-world tasks. Saturn's trine to the Moon provides a supportive environment to enhance your security and emotional well-being.

This full Moon will most affect those born January 9-13, April 9-13, July 12-16 and October 13-17

January 11: Mercury turns retrograde

Are you ready for your first Mercury retrograde of the year? The communication planet retrogrades three times a year (although in late December of this year, we will have a fourth one that ends 2009 and begins 2010). This one starts in group-minded Aquarius, returns to Capricorn and won't turn direct until February 1. All Mercury retrograde periods are about returning to previous thoughts, discussions and ideas. Reserve decision-making until Mercury turns direct. Mercury retrograde periods are famous for misunderstandings and glitches in communications and travel systems. Double-check meeting times and travel arrangements, and wait to buy vehicles and communications products of any kind.

January 18: Mercury conjuncts Jupiter

This conjunction may be the only major aspect for the week, but when Jupiter amplifies communicative Mercury, you'll have plenty to say and so will everybody else! Because Mercury is still retrograde, this marks a week where the dialog gets louder about what everybody is already thinking and talking about. Some of the discussion will feel exciting; for some of it you may want to get some earplugs! Whether you join the conversations or not, one thing is for sure -- you won't be able to ignore them!

Enjoy the Sun's transit in Capricorn!

Astrologer Jean Avery describes Saturn as 'Mother Nature's playpen.' It's an apt phrase for the planet that represents boundaries, rules and discipline! Just like children who want out of the playpen where they are placed for their safety, sometimes we want something we haven't worked for, earned or even know how to do! Saturn is the planet that marks developmental phases. When you are seven years old, Saturn makes its first square to its natal position. When you are 14, Saturn makes its first opposition to the natal placement; at 21 years old, the third-quarter square occurs. And finally at 28 we experience Saturn's return to its position at the time of our birth.

Many cultures mark the rites of passage on the way to adulthood. Astrologers consider the Saturn Return as the completion of the cycle of youth and the beginning of the cycle of adulthood. This is the age that many people make major grownup life-decisions, wanting to determine their own destiny. Some change jobs, others go back to school; some marry and others have Saturn Return babies (which means parent and child have the same Saturn in their natal charts). The Saturn Return marks the time in life when you make important decisions about how you are going to live your life. Hopefully you have the maturity to make good ones!

As Saturn continues along its way, transiting through the zodiac for the second time, your authority is now internalized and you are responsible in a new, more informed way for your choices. At 58 years old, you have your second Saturn Return, and a whole new adventure begins as you decide what you want to be responsible for ... and what you don't. Again, many major life decisions are made at this age.

Think back to the ages of Saturn's important aspects and you will see how you developed and matured. As you look back -- and forward -- remember: It's never too late to act like a grownup!

As we move into 2009, explore more of the divine in our Astrology Blogs! From the witty and sometimes naughty insights of Sex & the Galaxy to the ever-so-timely advice of Financial Astrology to the balancing and energizing teachings of An Intuitive Life to cosmic clues about bringing up baby in Motherhood & Astrology and seven other informative blogs -- you're sure to get your fill of galactic goodies!