Astrology Stress Zones Predictions for December 2007 Pt. 1 - Mars in Cancer Retrograde Going Very Slow with lots of Oppositions

by Robert Wilkinson

Mars triggers whatever happens of note in our charts. In December 2007, Mars moves from 11 back to 1 degree of Cancer. This month almost exactly mirrors Mars' forward motion in October, so expect returns from that time but seen or done from a different view or approach. As with last month, get used to familiar lessons repeating themselves from new angles. However...

The big news is that from mid-Dec on, various Mars oppositions are at full throttle, dominating the atmosphere and making for very volatile circumstances that will bring a rough ride to many while bringing new decisions, powers, and beginnings into major focus. As it involves Capricorn-Cancer polarizaton, expect things to get very personal in some ways, but as Saturn provides a sextile-trine to the oppositions, there will also be practical ways to work a plan to move out of old nebulous circumstances and misunderstandings into greater vision and compassion while knowing "we won't get fooled again."

The first half of the month, Mars is completely unafflicted by other planets except for quincunxes from the Sun and Mercury. These adjustments will open productivity in Aquarius and Taurus sectors, so do what you must in those departments, since early December Mars is supported by a very favorable trine from Venus in Scorpio. This trine is exceptionally strong due to Mars ruling the sign Venus is in.

This trine throws a harmonic void into early Pisces, helping us attune to a deeper compassion, emotional intelligence, and larger feeling awareness. For those who are still suffering from ambivalence, this will help with getting very clear about the "call" we're supposed to hear, and reawaken the resolve to participate in some social work as widespread crises approach.

Take a look back at whatever was awakened in your life in Spring 2005 that led you to the "gates of the Sanctuary" in 2006, and see if there's some way to "refertilize the ground," or readdress something from then that will be needed for you to move into the new dedication in March 2008.

This month Mars takes a break from participating in non-rational aspects, except for brief ones triggered by the Moon. However, the bigger picture for December, which I'll address in the next series of "Spiritual Astrology" articles coming soon, involves Sun, Mercury, and Jupiter all septiling Neptune and conjuncting Pluto at the Galactic Center, triggering The Grand Irrationality in a BIG way. As I've noted,

Regarding the on-going Grand Irrationality created by Neptune septile Pluto, all septile series aspects indicate strange choices, crucial decisions, and general edginess and the sense that forces beyond our control are at work. Not necessarily bad, as long as we remember that we may not be able to reason our way through what's happening and the energy doesn't get too crazy or destructive.

This aspect set moves us to make choices that affect our potential "higher destiny." The days when the Moon moves through the 7 trigger zones of the Grand Irrationality will be points when the generic weirdness is triggered, and bring decisions that may not make much sense but have to be made anyway.

All septiles, biseptiles, and triseptiles show forks in the road forcing choices and changes, where pretty weird stuff is in the air and things aren't very rational. They are also associated with minor and major obsessions, good and bad, or sometimes compulsive behaviors in others.

Mercury's stationary degree in early November biseptile Mars fused this late Libra "hot zone" that will be triggered every time the Moon or any other planet crosses over it. This long term influence will bring forth ideas and perceptions directly related to when it originally crossed late Libra just before the Autumnal Equinox followed by the Sun illuminating the nature of the biseptile.

This late part of Libra is said to expiate old karmas and reconstruct the balance of things on the social, emotional, and cultural levels of our lives, so I suspect our emotional allegiances have been shifting, as are our relationships, responsibilities, habits, and our sense of how our needs are or are not being fulfilled. We've been reworking a lot of how we do our daily lives over the long run as a result of this configuration.

As noted last month, the joker in the mix is Venus going over the Mercury stationary point the end of November, triggering the biseptile to Mars retrograde, put into focus when the Moon is in early Virgo Nov 30/Dec 1. Thus late November and early December cements the process as a result of the Moon and Venus transiting that degree span.

So the first few days of December we have a quincunx from Sun at 11 Sag to Mars at 11 Cancer, opening productivity in terms of being shown rewards for what we've cultivated the past 5-6 weeks, showing us how effectively we're "partnering" with Nature. We also have a very good opportunity to contact an inner creative power and see its relationship to social behavior. This gives a brief period where we can crystalize a form of power, finding ways to exploit parts of our lives to further larger goals, ambitions, and friendships (and maybe secure some resources as well!)

We'll understand more and be able to coordinate the energies better with the Mercury quincunx the second week of December which falls from 10 Sag to 10 Cancer. This triggers productivity through taking a look back at why certain projections had to be abandoned or rejected so we could see our larger consecration, whether to an ideal, a way of life, or a greater service to humanity.

The second half of December features a plethora of oppositions involving Mars beginning December 22. The first involves Mercury at 4 Cap to Mars at 4 Cancer, the second brings in the Sun at 3 Cap in an "inferior opposition" to Mars at 3 Cancer, the third involves Jupiter at 2 Cap opposed by Mars at 2 Cancer, and the final one brings a return of the Mars opposition Pluto at 30 Gemini and 30 Sag on January 2-3, 2008. Since there are many conjunctions to Jupiter and Pluto during this time, expect an expanded "otherworldly" quality to events, some of which will spin out of control fairly quickly.

These oppositions challenge us to slow down, be more thoughtful and deliberate, and not exaggerate or overreact to circumstances. Good luck! Jupiter conjuncts Pluto in Sag in mid-month, followed by Sun and Mercury conjunct Pluto in that sign. Sag isn't a very restrained energy to begin with, and adding Jupiter and Pluto to the mix makes everything a bit over the top.

Mercury then conjuncts Jupiter at 1 Capricorn followed by the Sun conjunct Jupiter at 2 Capricorn, showing new power players will soon hit the world stage, as well as new levels of violence. The degree of the Sun-Jupiter conjunction is the same as the Mars-Jupiter opposition, indicating a great time to withdraw from dramas and struggles that aren't your business, and refuse everything that is petty or petulant. If you must do something or convince somebody of something, it'll be more a matter of style than substance.

There are some rays of light in the fog, so take heart. There are quintiles and sextiles from Sun and Mercury to Uranus, a Venus tredecile Uranus mid-month and biquintile Mars just after Christmas, with Mars sextile Saturn all month moving into a quintile toward the end of December that will last through mid-February 2008.

Quintile series aspects bring an element of favorable, specializing, gifting arrangements and relationships, and in the case of the biquintile, things we've been dealing with that were difficult will become easy if we did what we had to up front. To find out more about the quintile and biquintile and how they work, please check out this link to the quintile series aspects.

The second week of December should be extremely productive, given we have Venus trine Mars, both in sextile to Saturn, adding a level of sanity, thoughtfulness, and harmony to the times. This will harmonize planets and houses involving Aries, Taurus, Cancer, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Capricorn, and Aquarius, so go with the flow of practical self-gathering that should establish some deep feelings, as well as a greater maturity, in our relationships. This productive harmony of understanding will be valuable as we surf the oppositions that immediately follow this period in mid-December.

One thing that will help the oppositions toward productive focus are the trines from Mercury and the Sun to Saturn, opening the void in Taurus, a very stabilizing configuration. The last week of December will show us signs of understandings and activities to come after Jupiter slips into Capricorn and begins its trine to Saturn. Use late December to see ways of creating happiness and hope in the midst of difficult conditions, sound a joyous counter-tone to whatever cold or "barren" circumstances that present themselves to you, and be pure of heart as you see clearly what practical work is to be done in 2008.

On a final note, the oppositions will force us all to drop every unnecessary consideration and every superfluous element in our lives and affairs so we can quicken our dedication to and pursuit of whatever social goals we're aiming for. Late December will be a time when we must joyously rally to some higher task at the end of an old cycle in our lives and use our power to bargain and do trade-offs, demonstrating fairness.

In December 2007 we will also have to find forms of self-protection against aggressive social elements so we can secure better foundations as a basis for greater realizations , be more conscious in handling our affairs to know what within us is truly indestructible, and move through metaphoric traffic jams as we become accustomed to more intense social interactions and link to greater community values,

As noted last month, we're now stalled in the middle phase of the Sun-Mars cycle that began October 23, 2006 at 30 Libra, a degree of philosophical completion. After the opposition of Sun and Mars just after the Winter Solstice, we should experience things picking back up again, accelerating in late January and resuming course in March after Mars crosses over its stationary retrograde degree.

Another important cycle began in December 2006 with the conjunction of Mars and Jupiter at 4 degrees of Sagittarius, marking the end of the last Mars-Jupiter cycle that began at 1 Libra in late September 2004. The cycle that began in December kicked a new period of expanded activity into motion through February 2009, when they will next conjunct at 10 Aquarius. These larger cycle conjunction points are important in showing us where our outreach will occur in the future.

As I mentioned earllier, Mars sits in early Cancer all month long. When it left Gemini in late September it moved energies out of the Act of Differentiation (Aries through Gemini) to the Act of Stabilization (Cancer through Virgo). To remind you:

When in Cancer, Mars is in a zone whose keywords are "Decision" and "Expansion." Dr. Jones terms this span Sustaining, Critical, Universal, and Specializing in physical, social, and spiritual ways. It will be in the first half of Cancer through the end of the year, so figure the Cancer keywords and qualities will dominate through then.

We will be dancing between Gemini and Cancer until March 2008, so get used to learning a lot about how these energies relate to each other. Gemini energies will be dominant again in January and February 2008, as it retrogrades back into Gemini December 31 at 8:01 pm PST. Keywords for the last half of Gemini are "Restlessness" and "Exteriorization."

Dr. Marc E. Jones, creator of the Sabian Symbols, says this span is Manipulating, Practical, Ingenious, and Generalizing. It retrogrades back to 25 Gemini, goes stationary direct January 30, and resumes its forward motion in Gemini through March 4th, when Mars again re-enters Cancer and resumes its present Cancerian qualities.

From October through December, we'll see the Cancer terms and keywords working most clearly in the Aries and Scorpio houses in our charts, as well as wherever we have Cancer by house. In January and February, the Gemini terms and keywords will be seen working most clearly in the Aries and Scorpio planets and houses and wherever we have Gemini in our chart.

In September we got a first look at what we'll have to revisit and master in January and February. We moved through diversity, multi-tasking, new curiosity and new discoveries that led us to major decisions in October that won't be finalized until March 2008. November we hit a threshold, and are now retracing steps to get new perspectives on decisions and reorientations we made since September.

We're now over 3/4 of the way in the important Mars-Saturn cycle. As noted in past articles, their last conjunction in June 2006 at 9 Leo indicated

...this 2 year cycle is about authenticity, creativity, play, and reconnecting with our enthusiasm in mature and measured ways wherever we have early Leo in our charts... simplify, stabilize, and see a bigger picture to move into a broader cooperative group purpose. Be a gentle angel, cut back on extravagances as well as pessimism, and find ways to enjoy life without overdoing it... For eleven months, Mars has developed the promise of whatever that conjunction portended for us. The growth process quickened in December... January 2007 showing a natural self-expression of the truth of this cycle... This stabilized the turning point in the larger “destiny cycle” in late November at the biseptile, where important decisions were made and meaningful actions were taken.

February helped us adjust to prepare for whatever surfaced the second week of March when Mars opposed the original conjunction point. This provided us a sense of what needed to change, what has been coming to importance, and what we can expect for some months to come, relative to the lessons that have been presenting themselves since June 2006 in the early Leo area of our charts.

In March, things cut loose in ways that began to bring Spirit to matter, and challenged us to be eager in learning a greater way to live and not take anything for granted. Appreciation was the big keyword, and that theme will continue to be important in June and July 2007 as the gifts continue to come from Spirit. September through December 2007 will be a big time for those who are open to the blessings we've been promised, and followed through on the Neptunian lessons.

November featured powerful changes in almost every area of our lives due to the forks in the road prominent the first half and end of the month. Patterns were set by late September's tremendous pressures to change directions, shift gears, or do something different in the areas ruled by Aries, Gemini, Leo, Virgo, Scorpio, Sagittarius and Pisces due to the T-square. Some things may have fractured in a big way, but we had excellent opportunities to cultivate faith, trust intuition, and say goodbye to old inefficient ways.

October should have brought us harmony in many areas of our lives, with the inspirational Fire of Jupiter and Pluto fed by the Air of the Sun and grounded in deep feelings of connectedness brought by Mercury, Venus, Mars, and Saturn all favorable to each other from Earth and Water. Mercury's influence should have brought us reunions with all kinds of people and feelings, along with a mutation allowing us to show a new heart strength.

November we had the blessings of the Grand Water trines from Sun and Mercury to Mars and Uranus and the quintiles of Sun and Mercury to Saturn in early Virgo helping us get focused in our gifts. We should capture beneficial results of that "grand understanding" as Venus tracks the Grand Water Trine path through Scorpio the second week of December.

Though November was somewhat weird and edgy, we had opportunities to make good progress by shifting social gears, not getting deflected by distractions, making sure we were using the right means to achieve our ends, and fitting everything into a wider long term perspective. We certainly had opportunities to see what needed to be eliminated to further the flow, and what needed regenerating or renewing to keep our lives moving in the direction already established.

In December, use the first part of the month to establish the harmony and understanding that will enable you to use the gifts that will come forth later in the month. That way the generic multiple oppositions won't throw you off your game, and help you to understand amidst the widespread polarization and struggles that you have a specific part to play in your society in 2008.

If you find yourself caught in obvious or subtle power struggles after mid-December, please re-read the many articles I've written about Mars retrograde in Cancer, take a deep breath, slow things down, and refuse to play games that only drain you or leave you feeling frustrated. Look within, rework your feelings, your needs, or your memories, and don't clutch as you move forward into a new practical understanding.

In Part 2 we'll explore how the Mars stress zones are affecting each individual sign.

© Copyright 2007 Robert Wilkinson

Comments

[JT]

Hi, I am a Leo born 8/8/77, with a Sag rising and Gemini moon, with a Sun/Saturn conjunction in Leo and a Mrs/Moon conjunction in Gemini. Needless to say, I am crazy! I am really having a hard time lately and am wondering, what is the problem? Is it the Mars retrograde? Is it Saturn transitioning to Virgo? WHAT is it. I am losing my mind. Please help.

[Dirk A. van Mulligen]

Hi JT,

Sounds familiar (Leo 8/6, conjunct Jupiter, Sag rising and trine Saturn)! Problem seems to be that we are very receptive and resonating to the influx of energies. Our minds work at very high speed, but our essence is to absorb, to balance and to create on the basis of that. A much slower process.

How strange it may seem, Jupiter in Sag for us is, as Robert puts it, over the top energetically, not just a blessing or easy period. We're receiving way to much input. When Jupiter enters Capricorn (december 18th) as well as Pluto (Jan 26th), we can expect more solidity and stability. Then we can start using the input from the last year to manifest something unique and beautiful (Leo's after all ;-)

Hang in there,

Dirk

create

[abacus]

hmmm, how would mars linking nicely to venus in scorpio affect people WITH venus in scorpio, although neptune is there too i think

[abacus]

this is what the party looks like...

Sun in Sagittarius in house 7 direct

Mercury in Sagittarius in house 7 direct

Venus in Scorpio end of house 6 direct

Neptune in Scorpio in house 7 direct

[Felita]

Hi Robert, Does the nth node travelling through Pisces play into this mutable cross and how will this affect everything including what angles it may form with Jupiter and the Galactic centre ?

Great article, Will have to read a few times. Thanking you again
Felita

[v.]

ok, i'm joining in. i'm a gem with juiter conjunct the sun in the 2nd, conjunct mercury and mars in gem in the 3rd, pluto has let me have it all, lol, as it passed through the 7th/8th/9th houses, and begins it journey in cap through the rest of the 9/10th houses, it been a Mr.Toads wide ride. I am not who I was.

I planned to go back to my apt in central mx and decide what i should do next as i calmly pack or stay for a month. i am not sure yet. I have three weeks off and can work online from there.
The galatic fusion is an unkn, so I'm a bit more hesitant then ususal.LOL

[Robert]

Hi JT - Dirk gave you some great insights which you should take to heart! Right now IS a very crazy time. I won't bore you with the details of my own hectic stuff, but it's a very wild ride that requires a LOT of perseverance, patience, and sense of humor on my part. You have phenomenal leadership capabilities once you get disciplined and focused and learn to compete more with the world on its own terms. Take yourself less seriously and your potential for good more seriously and there's nothing to stop you.

Part of your oscillation is Jupiter and Pluto opposing your Jupiter and Mars RX conjunct your Venus square your Pluto. Let go of those who deflect you or get you lost in loose ends, and use Saturn on your Mercury square your Mars to get a mental-verbal discipline that helps you focus. Let go of feeling agitated or needing to keep too many balls in the air, and put your mind on objective things such as studying, reading, and writing rather than subjective concerns. And stop affirming you're crazy - scattered, contradictory, intense and fussy, but not crazy. You probably need to read "The Wisdom of Florence Scovel Shinn" and take it to heart so you stop affirming unhelpful things.

Hi abacus - I would think it could bring forth a deeper and wider emotional understanding of your own Venus. You're reworking what surfaced when Mars opposed your Sun and Mercury in September, and preparing for a new start in late January.

Hi Felita - I don't consider the transiting Nodes as part of planetary configurations. And the Lunar Axis has its own influences, but I don't relate them to Galactic influences. Two entirely different spheres of activity, sort of like one's living room relative to the ocean. And of course you're welcome.

Hi v - I'll bet you're not who you used to be! You may find that Uranus' influence is actually what has disrupted your old life and thrown you into a new form of individuality. Use Saturn in Virgo to discipline your Mercury and Mars in healthy ways that allow you to focus on larger aspirations. And as I noted in another comment, study, read, write, and if needed, go "back to school" to refocus priorities. Slow it all down as you find your way through the minefield of Mars RX. You'll be MUCH clearer by late January.

[CIndy D]

Hi Can you tell me what to expect during the saturn square sun transit?
I am May 29 1960, 12:20 pm San Antonio Tx.7 degree virgo rising.

Things have been difficult the last 2 years and I know I just had saturn/pluto(very tired) but I am feeling so restrained. I want to sell my home and dont know if it is a good idea, since my finances have slowed down ( holiday)

I am trying to stay centered and positive!

[Robert]

Hi Cindy - Well, start with this article, which can also explain Saturn on your Asc. It's the lower, or waxing square, so important new developments will come forth between now and next July that mark the emergence of whatever the next 15-20 years are about. The past two years have forced your genius to take a new shape, and had to get and stay clear about your sense of potential without letting others distract you so you lost your balance.

Lately you've had to rewrite your address book eliminating relationships that were more trouble than they were worth, and those that had outlived their time. You'll continue doing this through next June. Since you cannot afford to waste your vitality through next Summer, cut back on lesser things, get a more worthy creative challenge, and when you're feeling badly, it's probably because you're tired and need to recharge. Next year you have the opportunity to claim a more powerful function in your world.

If you can sell your home for a decent amount, fine. It could free you for other things. If not, don't expect the housing market to get better any time soon, so reorganize, let go of useless indulgences, and get a long term plan. You could be a powerhouse in your world, working a small opportunity into a very large adventure. In late Dec, start to look around and see if there aren't more important things for you to do, and get ready to embrace them in late Jan 2008.

[abacus]

its unusual that the only stuff happening right now is career centric and to my untrained eye none of the signs and houses are career related, unless someone in my career sphere is more than career related to me,

i also did a tarot reading today and one card described the situation very well - it said - defies logic - opening of a space between two people which is more emotional, spiritual and intuitive in nature,

god knows...but thanks robert !

[pamela]

Hi Robert:

What should I expect December 11th, when Pluto and Jupiter conjunct my natal Venus exactly? any insight would be helpful and appreciated.

Kind regards,
Pamela

[Robert]

Hi abacus - Maybe there's an issue of dispositorship going on, or perhaps a previous stationary or lunation point in the career area is being triggered. Maybe Mars RX in Cancer is perfect for "opening of a space between two people which is more emotional, spiritual and intuitive in nature!" And of course, you're welcome, abacus. Glad you're hanging in there!

Hi Pamela - It's the beginning of a 12 year expansion/adventure for your Venus, and therefore whatever it affects in its house and those it rules, as well as planets you may have in Taurus or Libra. Obviously you've had the long term pressure of Pluto on your Venus, purifying you of obsolete vanities, things, and relationships. It may also have brought you some strange, intense, or transformative interactive experiences. Jupiter should bring liberation, release, protection, or at least a glimpse of where your next 12 year adventure is going to take you. More info should present itself as Mercury and the Sun also cross your Venus and conjunct Pluto. At its highest, it could mark a major Spiritual initiation as a result of your attaining a degree of higher knowledge that has led you to seeing a greater group purpose or energy in your life in the context of some form of world service. If this could be the case, please email me through the left hand links on the front page, as there are some books you probably need to read asap.

[mansukh]

what will be the effect of mars entering in to cancer.i am sagitarians can you please tell me the effect on me

[Robert]

Hi mansukh - It should help you express yourself in more caring and sensitive ways, and help you see how your feelings or defensiveness may have created sorrow in the past. You've been learning a whole new way of being with others as an equal, and will soon be given opportunities to regenerate in ways that should replace an old sense of loss.