Cheers — it’s time to eat, drink and be merry! The Sun is now in SAGITTARIUS and the holiday season is officially underway. Kick up your heels and let the good times roll! A spirit of hope, optimism and generosity is in the air – it’s the month for counting your blessings, giving thanks for the positive things in your life, and sharing your abundance. Let the gratitude flow! This is a time for connecting, communicating and celebrating with friends & family — ’tis the season to be jolly!
A mutable fire sign, SAGITTARIUS is associated with inspiration, wisdom and knowledge. Educational, religious, philosophical and philanthropic ideals will be illuminated during this solar month (along with the sparkling holiday lights). Speak your truth, practice what you preach and renew your faith. Positive thoughts and prayers for peace will encircle the earth, as this sign is aligned with global consciousness, international affairs, foreign cultures and religious customs. It’s the time to remember that we are all one human family!
Since adventure and expansion are SAGITTARIAN concepts, you may feel fired up to extend your horizons, explore new viewpoints and travel to faraway places ‒ the world is your playground! It’s also a great time to catch up on your reading, sign up for winter classes or initiate a writing project. Marketing and networking activities can be especially effective these days…
Jovial SAGITTARIUS (ruled by Jupiter, the largest planet in our solar system) is infamous for excess and extravagance – no wonder we tend to overindulge during this month! Since Jupiter is currently in the sign SCORPIO, the boisterous nature of SAGITTARIUS will be somewhat modified, calmed and controlled. This could help you stay on top of things amidst the holiday clatter and make more sensible decisions with purchases, food & alcohol. Some important personal or professional goals can be achieved this month, so utilize the power of positive thinking to your advantage – think big, aim high and shoot for the stars! 
Mystical Neptune (in PISCES) turns direct (after a 5-month retrograde) on November 22, initiating this solar month with a spiritual uplift and a charitable outlook. You will likely feel a desire to be of service to those less fortunate than yourself, particularly as the sensitive Jupiter/Neptune trine comes to fruition on December 2. With the empathy, kindness & compassion inspired by this aspect, you’ll find yourself happily contributing to some worthy causes. Be kind to yourself, too — make healthy choices. At the same time, sing, dance and let your spirit soar ‒ let music fill your soul!
It’s timely that we celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday each year just as the Sun enters SAGITTARIUS. Many travel far & wide to be with loved ones, to catch up with each others’ lives, and to share stories & opinions, good humor, food and drink. The electric Mercury/Uranus trine, on November 25, will stimulate enthusiastic conversations, enlightened ideas and sporty activities over the holiday weekend. You may be inspired to warm up your home with Christmas lights and decorations and brighten up the long, dark evenings ahead.
The sober Mercury/Saturn conjunction on the 27th, however, will bring things back to reality as the normal business of life resumes. This would be a good time to assess finances, pay bills and put your season’s greetings in the mail before getting distracted by the holiday madness. Use caution with electricity, mechanical objects and computers as the explosive Mars/Uranus opposition ramps up to peak on December 1. There’s an edgy, unpredictable energy in the air — be on the alert for lightning storms, wildfires, power outages or accidents. Go out of your way to avoid divisive situations — jump right in to diffuse any relationship or communication tensions that may erupt. Explore alternative solutions and make an honest attempt to understand the other person’s point of view.
Venus leaves SCORPIO and joins the Sun, Mercury and Saturn in SAGITTARIUS on December 1. Your social interactions will tend to be more communicative, exuberant and playful over the next few weeks. Mercury turns retrograde once again (from December 3 through December 22); use this review period to go update your mailing list, catch up with long-lost friends & relatives and re-evaluate travel plans. Double-check all reservations and appointments — the devil’s in the details! Put off any purchases of computers, electronics & vehicles until this period is over to avoid getting a lemon; if you have no choice, at least keep the receipt handy and consider getting an extended warranty. It would also be wise to get your holiday cards and packages off before the 3rd if possible, as the post office and delivery services will be on total overload from that point on, and mail could easily be misdirected or delayed.
Also on December 3, the spacey Sun/Neptune square comes to a head, along with the hectic FULL MOON in SAGITTARIUS & GEMINI (at 7:47 am). Adding to the drama, this happens to be a SUPERMOON — a full moon which coincides with the moon’s closest point to Earth in its monthly orbit (perigee). The Moon will appear to be much larger than usual as it rises on the eastern horizon!
This can be a confusing time with a whirlwind of activity — do what you can to avoid feeling overwhelmed, overextended or over-stressed. Take some deep breaths, don’t bite off more than you can chew and maintain your sense of humor — laughter will be the best medicine! Make sure that your communication channels are clear and straightforward — honesty will be the best policy. Be prepared for possible transportation snafus and keep your eyes on the road.
Set aside December 6 for getting things done! With the Mercury/Saturn conjunction, the Mercury/Mars sextile, and the Mars/Saturn sextile all occurring on this day, you could power through your projects and be highly productive. The weekend of December 8 will be a good one for getting out & about, especially with the second Mercury/Uranus trine on the 9th; if you party too hearty, however, you may have to face the music on the 10th (due to the befuddled Venus/Neptune square).
Mars finishes its transit of LIBRA on December 9 and begins a new 6-week stay in its own sign, SCORPIO. Together with Jupiter in SCORPIO, this dynamic duo will provide you with lots of ambition, energy & drive to accomplish your objectives. We can expect that our heated conversations about war, politics, guns, power and sexual misconduct will only intensify as this disruptive year comes to a close. Long-held secrets will be exposed to the light of day. 
You’ll want to set aside the time to enjoy the social and cultural activities that make this season so special, particularly on December 12th (Sun/Mercury conjunction), 15th (Mercury/Venus conjunction and 16th (Sun/Uranus trine). The NEW MOON in SAGITTARIUS arrives late this month — on December 17 at 10:30 pm. Adventure awaits — explore opportunities to travel, learn, teach, write or promote those things you believe in. Stretch your legs, extend your vistas and expand your mind; listen to your inner truth and speak what’s in your heart.
Saturn — in SAGITTARIUS for the past 3 years — will be starting a new transit in CAPRICORN on December 19. While galloping along in SAGITTARIUS, Saturn has challenged us to practice what we preach, to examine our belief systems, and to seek truth, understanding and tolerance. Our national conversations about immigration, foreign policy, international trade, global terrorism, sports, higher education, religion and ethics continue to be controversial and divisive. It will be interesting to see how these issues settle down and manifest once Saturn enters CAPRICORN, as it is leaving a fire sign (rhetoric) and entering an earth sign (reality).
CAPRICORN is a practical, constructive sign, associated with respect, morality, sobriety, structure, government, authority, rules & regulations, responsibility, karma, debts & obligations, taxes, insurance and the financial markets. This new transit will be initiating a period of restructuring and downsizing (personally, as well as nationally and globally); discipline, patience and serious commitment will be required in the upcoming 3 years. This will be a reality check!
Thank heavens for the Venus/Uranus trine on December 20, a playful, scintillating aspect which will bring the SAGITTARIUS month to a happy conclusion. There will be a social & romantic sparkle in the air; do something fun & different — and discover the magic!
Best wishes to you and your loved ones for a joyous holiday season!
© 2017 Diane Elizabeth Clarke