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New Moon

27th December 12.23 GMT
Sun at 6˚ 08' Capricorn
Moon at 6˚ 08' Capricorn


This chart and interpretation are set for London, UK

Darkness prevails. The nights are so long and the light and warmth of the summer are a distant memory. Though most of the trees are bare, the holly bush is full with red berries and the evergreens and the ones that are dressed with mistletoe and old man’s beard, remind us that the life force continues. The bareness of the trees makes the landscape more sharply defined, exposing the contours of the land, which has been hidden by the foliage of the summer. The fields are empty and it feels like nature is asleep although beneath the surface the seeds are buried and await the return of the light. There are fresh buds on the honeysuckle and fragile new catkins dangle from the hazel. How beautiful the landscape looks covered in the fresh crisp whiteness of the severe frosts we have been having.

The Night Sky
What a treat it was to see the Moon, Venus, Jupiter conjunction. I felt so blessed. Venus has been shining so brightly and through binoculars looks like a small crescent Moon. The brightness of the full Moon was exceptional due the frost we were experiencing at the same time and the white Earth reflecting back the light. The night skies of the winter are my favorite. I love to see the constellation of Taurus and Sirius twinkling so bright.

Winter solstice 21st December @12.05 pm
At this time, there is the anticipation of one year ending and a new one beginning. This is the time of the longest night and shortest day. So the sun rises really late, south of east and sets really early at the most southwesterly point it can, transiting the sky really low on the horizon. The ancient people used to think that the sun was dying, but it soon became apparent, when the days started to get longer that the sun would continue to pour out its life force
The word Solstice means to stand still and feel the stillness. A time to stop and take stock, a state of Being. At this time the sun’s declination is the same for about four days; it transits the same amount of sky, giving the impression that it is at a standstill.. For example on the winter solstice the sun reaches 0 degrees of Capricorn and is at the declination of 23 26 south and stays at that same declination* until 23 of December. Then on the 24th of December, the sun turns and starts getting higher in the sky and the days increase in length from this point onwards. Hence the birth of the Sun!

*Declination: the angular distance of an astronomical body measured in degrees from the celestial equator along the great circle passing through it and the celestial poles i.e.how far north or south the sun is, above or below the earth’s equator which becomes the celestial equator when projected out into space.

The chart of the New Moon
This is the time of midwinter; the sun has reached its lowest, most southerly, rising and setting point and has now started its gradual journey north. Soon we will notice the days increasing in length.
Pluto moved into the sign of Capricorn on the 27th of November 2008 at 2.05am. Major changes happen in the collective when one of the outer planets moves into a different sign. Pluto’s journey through Capricorn will affect everyone in different ways and especially the signs of Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn, which are the signs of the cardinal grand cross. In mundane astrology this would be seen as a major advent having an effect on world affairs. [Mundane means relating to matters of the world.]

This is the 1st new Moon in Capricorn since Pluto entered this sign. I feel that the events that take place around this new Moon will highlight Pluto’s journey in Capricorn and shine a spotlight on what its essential meaning is about. Already we are seeing well established household names disappear, for example Woolworth’s – an event which l feel really sad about.

In the chart of the new Moon the planets make a very interesting picture, they are all in the top hemisphere. Only Saturn is below the horizon - in Virgo in the 6th house. The applying Saturn/Uranus opposition contains all the planets between the 6th and 12th house. This opposition could cause a lot of unrest in the environment, limiting one’s freedom. On the other hand there is a lot of potential for growth through overcoming difficulties. With all these planets being so elevated there is very conscious element to this chart. There are five planets in Capricorn, Mars, Pluto, the Sun and Moon are all in its early degrees, conjunct in a stellium in the 9th house.The Sun and Moon also make aspects to Venus and Neptune. The ongoing issues around money will carry on being in the headlines. The financial problems that the American economy is experiencing, especially through the fraud that has been recently exposed, will have a major affect on the rest of the world.

The ascendant of this chart is Aries and so Mars, being the chart ruler, is very important. Mars is exalted in Capricorn and so feels comfortable here. Saturn, Capricorn‘s ruling planet, is the god of structure, authority, responsibility and tradition. He is the one who upholds the law; he is the taskmaster, and our internal teacher. Being responsible is having the ability to respond. The British Empire has a long tradition. Our infrastructure is tired of supporting so many.  The question many of us must be asking is, are we going to see it collapse?

Mercury and Jupiter are also conjunct in a later degree of Capricorn in the 10th house. Both make a trine to Saturn. Jupiter is the maker of the laws and Mercury is the god of communication. We could see the government trying to impose some new law. Maybe the work force of the nation will see more changes. There are so many people finding themselves without jobs. I keep getting the feeling that we could see the return of a 3-day week. Capricorn is very ambitious, being a sign of long endurance and is not very easily discouraged by difficulties. Capricorn is very hard working, determined and knows about austerity.  Austerity can mean thrift imposed as a government policy, with restricted access to or availability of consumer goods.  Maturity, experience and wisdom come from years of hard work. Failure of any kind is very hard to bear, due to the inner critic being so exacting. Saturn in Virgo seeks perfection and is very critical, stopping itself from completing things due to it not being perfect. The energy of this chart is asking us to be aware of our boundaries. When we take self-responsibility, we get freedom.

The Sun is the hero of our solar system, giving us life, heat and energy. The Moon mirrors what we are feeling, showing us how we react and respond to any given situation. Pluto is the lord of the underworld, the one who rules the mystery of birth and death, he is the one who brings about transformation, through beginning and endings. It has the ability to break down old structures and create new ones in their place. Mars is the red god, the god of war; the one who asserts himself - sometimes quite impatiently! Early myths connect Mars with vegetation, fertilization and the renewal of nature. After Pluto’s transit through Sagittarius, maybe religion doesn’t work any more for the majority. The 9th house emphasis reflected in the new Moon chart asks how we make sense of what’s happening in our lives. Pluto in Capricorn will be looking for a more grounded belief, something that’s more tangible, asking us to become more resourceful and to take a good look at what is sustainable.

There are lots of powerful planetary activities going on in the heavens, with lots of changes indicated, which gives us an amazing possibility to transform. Change is never easy, although what it does reflect is movement.

I leave you with a quote from Charles Harvey. He said that Saturn represents the golden age, a mythical time of perfect order; when spiritual purpose is married with material form to produce the highest possible objective world order.

Blessing of the Winter solstice and a happy Yuletide to you all. Linda Day.