Welcome to December, Mainers. This month drags us into a tug of war between responsibility to the past and the sexy allure of the future. First and foremost, we may notice an urgent, almost desperate sensation bubbling up when — eureka! — we suddenly seem to know exactly what we truly want, what needs to change at work, which toxic people should be jettisoned from our lives, what new health regimens our body is actually asking for, or any such life-altering course corrections.
But here’s the hitch: our ability to reality-jump into these brave new worlds is hampered by unfinished business. Though Sagittarius Season — which carries us through the 21st, before the Sun sidles into Capricorn —will inspire us to literally jump ship and ride a dolphin’s back toward whatever new directions beckon us the loudest, we sadly have some responsibilities to address first. This reckoning can either happen internally, as in rooting out the difference between running away from our present situation versus running toward the calling of our higher selves, or externally, as in paying the piper, fixing the car, taking steps to get out of debt, or addressing any lingering tears in relational networks that we ultimately want show up for with integrity.
This energetic dance is being broadcast to you straight from our old friends Sagittarius and Capricorn, two constellations that twinkle next to each other in the sky but could not bring a more different vibe to the party. From December 1st through the 22nd, the Sun is in Sagittarius. This is our fun, change-oriented, luck-filled bestie. Everyday life often feels more charmed during Sag Season, and when things don’t work out as planned, it’s somehow easier to throw up our hands and say, Fuck it! And there’s wisdom in this, believe me.
That said, all month long we also have Mercury (planet of communication) and Pluto (planet of deep transformational change) in stodgy ol’ Capricorn. What does this mean? Beneath the sheen of happy-go-lucky Sagittarian momentum is an undercurrent of practicality projecting mega value-adds onto our dream-chasing or fuck-it ’tudes. Whether we’re moving toward the novel or simply jumping ship, there’s an annoying voice in our heads (or somewhere deep in our gut) asking, “But what’s the pay off once the excitement dies down?” The truth is, you can horizon-chase all you want, but you won’t really get to enjoy any of these new realities if the responsibilities you’re leaving behind never get fully faced.
This tension is teased out further mid-month: there’s a New Moon in Sagittarius on the 12th, revealing a small but mighty window for capturing visions for the You 2.0 you’re longing (or lunging) for. I recommend using this day to write down a list of your biggest end-of-year-looking-to-the-future dreams as they arise in the moment, no questions asked. What’s calling to you? Own it! And take care to capture these visions now, friends, because Mercury moves retrograde the following day, joined by the Moon also shifting into Capricorn. This mid-month conjunction on the 13th heralds a pretty big reality-check: expect a karmic debt to pop up — either owed to you or by you — as this retrograde (looking backward, being forced to revisit something) communicates (Mercury energy) something karmic (conjunct Pluto) and personal (conjunct the Moon).
Finally, on Dec 21st, we have the Winter Solstice, or the shortest day of the year. The Sun leaves light-filled Sag and enters the dark fertile void of Capricorn, where it stays through the end of the month. Then, to close out the year, on the 26th we have a Full Moon in Cancer, and feels could be a bit … tender.
So what are my recommendations for riding out the rest of 2023? Lean into the practice of holding oppositional forces in each hand. On one shoulder we have Sag yelling “YOLO!” every time we daydream about walking away to start a new life. On the other shoulder is Cap, who somewhat sardonically rolls her eyes and reminds us to keep ours on the prize: climbing the mountain of life one small, unsexy, responsible decision at a time. Who will we listen to? Is there a middle way? The cosmos is reminding us that transformational change and responsibility are but two wheels on the chariot that carries us through each season of our lives; one without the other leaves us broken down on the side of the road. So let yourself get excited about the inspirational visions brewing inside of you. Just don’t forget to take out the trash and call your grandmother. And in the very last days of the year, lean into whatever helps you feel comfy and soft. It’s OK to let go of dream-chasing and responsibility-shouldering for a sec, too, and just let yourself be.
Caitlin Scholl is a writer, artist and intuitive astrologer living in Yarmouth. For private consultations, inquiries or comments about Astral Tides, e-mail her at coaching@friendenergies.com.
