Read

November/December 2002 Starscope
Astral Recipe for the Holidays

by Mark Dodich

Mark Dodich

It is time to breathe a sigh of relief as a quick, but intense, year comes to a close. Although constantly shifting planetary energies may have you feeling slightly tattered around the edges, you can take comfort in knowing that the past year’s planetary patterns merged your personality and soul into a higher vibrational alignment with the Universe.

Most people were stimulated to reassess their values and priorities. For example, restructuring Saturn opposing transformative Pluto demonstrated the illusionary nature of money through unstable stock portfolios and corporate accounting practices.

Active relationship planets motivated many people to transform partnership needs, relationship behaviors, and issues of aloneness vs. loneliness. Optimistic Jupiter journeying through passionate Leo stimulated many people to manifest creative projects and ideals in the world.

Whatever your personal 2002 story may be, current planetary positions herald the call for celebration. This holiday’s best recipe for joy combines planets in extroverted fire and air element signs. This mixture brings increased passions, social opportunity, and renewed vision. You may also want to dust off your favorite potluck recipes, because fire and air intensifies the need to come together.

The first part of the holiday astrology recipe places emphasis on the fiery signs Leo (leadership, heart opening, fun, and drama) and Sagittarius (travel, adventure, philosophy, and generosity). The Lion and Archer give you the courage to target your attention towards passionate desires that are in accord with higher truth. Open your heart to the natural abundance of the Universe. A word of warning: this is a classic astrological indicator of overspending and overindulgence.

The air element ingredients of Aquarius (freedom, innovative ideas, rebellion) and Gemini (communications, short trips, ideas) open you to new friends and opportunities. The warning here is that you cannot believe everything you hear. Big ideas presented at parties do not necessarily translate into actions. Regardless of the short-term result, you open yourself to new people and revolutionary ways of thinking. Pay particular attention to your big ideas in the weeks before and after the Dec. 3^rd Total Solar Eclipse (11:34 PM PST over southern Africa). This potent Sagittarius new moon encourages you enlarge your vision and take a risk on yourself.

What passionate philosophy do you want to bring into the world? Is it time to create a new adventure? How can you be generous on a heart opening level (without going into a credit card abyss!)? Now is the time to create a plan to manifest your heart’s desire. Design the plan to bear fruit by July 2003 when optimistic Jupiter will be ready to carry your inspired ideas into the world. The giant planet does things in a big way, so be certain to practice expansive thinking. You are likely to get help (or at least a lot of free advice) if you share your ambitious dreams with those whom you trust.

This opportunity to expand your ideals combines with a prophetic lunar eclipse on Nov. 19^th. The moon’s shadow will be visible in the western USA at moonrise, near 5:34 PM PST. A good website for eclipse information is: sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse/eclipse.html.

This powerful and transformative Taurus-Scorpio full moon is a harbinger of change. Introspective activities will provide insight into your shifting values and desires, helping you to seek information beyond the boundaries of linear time. The prophetic nature of this eclipse prepares you for a karmic change next Spring (see the Spring 2003 issue of New Connexion), so this is your chance to peek into your future.

One way to obtain this insight is to create a lunar ceremony. Activate your inner vision by 1) saying a protection prayer, 2) setting your intent that all that occurs is in the highest good, and 3) opening your mind and heart while calling in your highest vision. Listen, write, draw, sing, drum, or dance your vision into existence.

Both the solar and lunar eclipses tend to cycle your emotions through the hills and valleys of your subconscious. Translation: People prone to depression may want to visit their naturopathic doctor to discuss herbs like St. John’s Wort! Family issues may loom larger than normal this holiday.

On the health level, be certain to speak your Truth when it needs to be spoken. You do not want to hold it in until you explode or implode. Massages, trips to the great outdoors, or other physical-emotional releases will help you through this somewhat stressful time. All of you (us?) hermits will need to make extra efforts to join in the social fun.

The combination of introspective eclipses and the external celebrations of life create a balanced and healthy recipe to finish 2002. Joyful sharing mixed with expanded inner vision will heal and refresh you for the New Year. I would like to thank you all for the kind words that I regularly hear about this column. I send you prayers and wishes for abundant blessings now and throughout the New Year.

Mark Dodich has been an astrologer and intuitive consultant since 1980. He is past president of the Oregon Astrological Association, publishes the newsletter ASTROMARK, and is a Certified Astrological Professional (C.A.P.). Call for his free newsletter: 503.252.1558 or visit his web site at www.europa.com/~/mardo/astromark.html.