A Final Lunation

After doing some soul searching, I realize that I cannot continue writing articles the way I have been doing. Having a deadline every two weeks is not leaving enough time to write a book I feel I must write in the area of philosophy of science. Furthermore, after more than two years, the cyclic nature of the lunation has become repetitive and I don’t want to write mediocre articles; it would not be fair to either one of us. So, since I will not stop writing, it is time to make some changes.

First of all, the articles will not revolve around the lunar cycle but instead focus on some astrological milestones worth analyzing. The upcoming preview for 2026 will serve as a rough table of contents for what I will discuss next year. Some key events, like the eclipses, will coincide with new or full moons and, of course, those will be analyzed as usual. But, there may be articles about topics related to our own personal growth or the evolution of humanity that will be only peripherally related to astrology.

That said, this article is a full account of the entire lunar month that will begin tomorrow with the new moon in Sagittarius. It will be the last one of its kind and I think it is a fitting tribute to 2025, a pretty wonderful year in many ways, and a completely baffling one as well. So, without further ado, let’s get on with the lunation, shall we?

Remarkable Synchronicities

Earlier in the year, we had two new moons in Virgo, one in its first degree and the other in its last. Afterwards, the new moons have occurred in the penultimate (29th) degree of Libra and Scorpio, a trend that will continue with the new moons in Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius and Pisces. Thus, within a six-month span, Sun and Moon are moving in such a way that each new moon has made, or will make, key aspects to Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto, thereby involving them in the lunation seed. While perhaps not as dramatic, during the same six months, the full moons in Taurus and Gemini happened in the 14th degree of the sign, as will those in Cancer and Leo, before shifting to the 13th degree for the final two in Virgo and Libra. However, all these full moons have made or will make aspects with the nodal axis, ensuring that actual events are involved in the customary full-moon revelations.

What is perhaps more unusual is that the midpoint between Venus and Mars has been, and will remain, in a tight conjunction with Sun (less than 1.5° apart) throughout the same period of time, as we briefly discussed in the last article. In the meantime, the next Venus and Mars conjunction will occur in this lunation, on January 8, which will end their synodic cycle that began in early 2024. By having Mars and Venus linked in such a powerful manner with Sun while it makes constant contact with the transpersonal planets and the lunar nodes, we are personally involved in the rise of humanity’s consciousness.

New Moon in Sagittarius

The new moon will occur on December 19 at 6:43 p.m. in California, 7:43 p.m. in Mexico City, or on December 20 at 2:43 a.m. in Central Europe. Sun and Moon will be at Sagittarius 28°25′ as shown in the following chart:

As I mentioned, the Sun and Moon conjunction will form aspects with the transpersonal planets: an exact quincunx with Uranus (Taurus 28°19′), squares with Saturn (Pisces 25°35′) and Neptune (Pisces 29°24′), and an off-sign semi-sextile with Pluto (Aquarius 2°22′). Also, at Sagittarius 28°54′, the midpoint of Venus (Sagittarius 24°12′) and Mars (Capricorn 3°36′) will be only 0°29′ from Sun.

Primary Energies

Of these aspects, what calls our attention the most are the squares that Sun and Moon, along with the Venus–Mars midpoint, will form with Saturn and Neptune, especially when these two planets will be speeding to their last entrance into Aries in just a few weeks. In the Pisces phase, Saturn’s structures are normally weakened but, this time, the farther it ventured into Pisces the closer it got to Neptune, the ruler of the sign. As a result, the last two-and-a-half years have seen an erosion of the social norms that were keeping disinformation at bay. After both planets returned from a brief stay in Aries, a phase of extreme directness, Saturn is poised to give structure to Neptune’s dreams, even if they are nightmares. The squares of Sun and Moon will provide energy to build such structures.

Unlike Saturn and Neptune, Uranus continues to move retrograde, going deeper into Taurus and, unfortunately, keeping fascist ideas alive until it changes direction on February 4, 2026. Uranus in Taurus also correlates with seismic activity and, at a personal level, seeks financial freedom and equates it with predictable growth. Uranus retrograde may point to a time when people who are normally subdued turn rebellious or, conversely, when rebellious people become quiet, typically plotting their next move. The quincunx formed by Uranus with the Sun–Moon conjunction is a creative aspect that relies on diversity since it joins two planets in signs with a different element, modality and Yang–Yin polarity. Although it is considered a minor aspect, having Venus involved and the exactness of the aspect may point at crypto-related developments¹ or, at a personal level, at needed work to bring newness in our relationships.

Winter Solstice

Just over a day later, on December 21 at 3:03 p.m. (GMT), Sun will seem to stand still (solstice) in declination at the southernmost point and enter the sign of Capricorn. In the northern hemisphere, this marks the beginning of winter, when the day is shortest and the night is longest. There is no point in adding another chart since the planets will have moved little since the new moon, with the notable exception of Moon which, at Capricorn 17°17′, will be just visible after sunset.

Sabian Symbol

The symbol for Sagittarius 29, where Sun and Moon will be located at the new moon, is: “A fat boy mowing the lawn”, which Rudhyar reworded to: “A fat boy mowing the lawn of his house on an elegant suburban street”, expanded to the need to attend to everyday tasks which both ensure social worth or respectability, and benefit one’s constitution. By mowing the lawn, the boy is undoubtedly participating in what must be done and spending considerable effort due to his physique. Diana Roche interprets the symbol as representing self-discipline, ambition and the willingness to work long and hard to achieve desired goals. When taken as the fourth symbol in the Sagittarius 26–30 series, Rudhyar sees it as referring to Social Respectability. In any case, there will be energy to spend the lunar month working as hard as possible on our personal goals.

Other Seed Considerations

At Sagittarius 10°57′, Mercury will energize the broad dissemination of what it found at a personal and worldwide levels while transiting through Scorpio for the second time. Recall that our relationships were front and center since Venus was also in Scorpio. The tight square it will form with the North Node (Pisces 11°56′) will ensure that actual events are included in the communications.

Another aspect is the exact square between Jupiter (Cancer 22°49′) and Chiron (Aries 22°41′) which often energizes a yearning for meaning and understanding, yet finding it difficult to align ourselves with a personal philosophy or belief system that authentically mirrors our core. Past decisions that once seemed wise may now appear questionable. It is of key importance to look within and gain a deeper understanding of our true needs and beliefs.

First Quarter in Aries

Opportunities to address the above issues may arise about a week later, on December 27, when we may find it difficult to follow through on what we want to achieve. The chart of the First Quarter shows some intriguing aspects:

In particular, note how Mercury (Sagittarius 22°18′) will form an exact trine with Chiron (Aries 22°37′), itself still forming a very tight square with Jupiter (Cancer 21°54′). Mercury is the planet that symbolizes our mental processes and our senses, with which we interact with our surroundings. These energies will be available to help us gain insight on how our needs and our beliefs are linked.

Speaking of needs, at Capricorn 6°42′, the midpoint of Venus (Capricorn 3°55′) and Mars (Capricorn 9°28′) will be, once again, very close to Sun (Capricorn 6°17′). Therefore, the sextile formed by Sun with the North Node (Pisces 11°16′) is likely to bring opportunities to help us realize how hard we are really working to reach our relationship goals. People with Venus in Capricorn are said to be unaffectionate but, in reality, they tend to avoid excessive emotional displays because it is simply not practical. However, in the right setting, they are warm and even passionate; after all, Capricorn is an earthy sign.

The Solstitial Axis

Venus will have entered Capricorn on December 24, Christmas Eve. In fact, the entire holiday season will come during the waxing phases, when we may be trying to pay attention to the new-moon messages and work on our personal goals or discern meaning in our lives. In every lunation, the waxing phases of action end with a revelatory full moon and, as it is often the case, the first one of the year will occur with Sun in Capricorn and Moon in Cancer, the sign it rules.

Each sign of the polarity Capricorn–Cancer begins with a solstice which, in our holistic view of the zodiac, represents the maximum strength of either the Day Force in June or the Night Force in December. Therefore we have a society as integrated as possible in Capricorn and, similarly, individuals as integrated as possible in Cancer. Of course, each of us remains an individual all through the year but we either work on the integration of our individuality or of our relatedness with others.

Full Moon in Cancer

The full moon will happen on January 3, 2026 at 3:03 a.m. in California, at 4:03 a.m. in Mexico City, or at 11:03 a.m. in Central Europe, with Sun at Capricorn 13°02′ and Moon at Cancer 13°02′ as shown in the following chart:

With respect to the main themes from the new moon, we will have Venus and Mars at 12°15′ and 14°33′ of Capricorn, respectively, closing in on their exact conjunction a few days later as mentioned earlier. Glancing at the chart shows them flanking Sun and, indeed, their midpoint is located at Capricorn 13°24′. As we said earlier, this means that the integrating power of Sun is acting in combination with our relationship needs and overall desires. Furthermore, whereas Sun and Moon formed a nearly-exact quincunx with Uranus at the new moon, Sun will form a sesquiquadrate and Moon a semi-square with that planet at the full moon, both only 0°09′ from exactitude.

Earlier in the article we saw that 150° quincunxes are minor aspects by which the corresponding planetary processes achieve creativity in diversity. On the other hand, the 135° sesquiquadrate and the 45° semi-square are minor aspects that bring awareness.² For example, if we used the new-moon energy to integrate more newness in our relationships, the full moon may help us realize what we did and didn’t achieve. In any case, Sun and Moon form a Mystic Triangle with the North Node (Pisces 10°35′), actually a Mystic Rectangle with the nodal axis, which ensures plenty of opportunities and synchronicities to become conscious of what we were able to accomplished.

Sabian Symbols

To get an idea, let’s look at the full-moon symbols. Capricorn 14 (Sun) has: “An ancient bas-relief carved in granite”, which Rudhyar extended to: “An ancient bas-relief carved in granite remains a witness to a long-forgotten culture”, further explained as: the will to unearth, in our culture as in any culture, what has permanent value, and to let go of non-essentials. Both Roche and Rudhyar see in this symbol a reference to sociocultural values we must treasure, for they represent wisdom left to us by prior generations. Its key phrase is: Historical Perspective.

Right across, Cancer 14 (Moon) has the image: “A very old man facing a vast dark space to the northeast”, further explained as: fulfillment in transcending and changeless wisdom. This is one of those symbols that deserves careful scrutiny. On one hand, a very old man facing a vast dark space evokes a feeling of loneliness and the symbol could speak of facing it with courage and perhaps the assurance that no individual is ever truly alone. Under such an interpretation, the symbol could represent the ability to move forward into the unknown with dignity and mettle.

On the other hand, the specific direction, northeast, deserves attention. Rudhyar proposes that, since Earth is tilted 23°26′ from its orbital plane (the ecliptic), the northeast direction could refer to “true North” of such a plane, the direction from which spiritual forces enter the world in occult tradition. He writes: “The Wise Old Man faces the Changeless Reality, the true North. […] He faces the great Void, that apparent Darkness which is an intense Light invisible to our senses.” Its key phrase is: Permanence in Truth.

Together with the new-moon symbol (“A fat boy mowing the lawn”), the full moon may reveal how much of a traditional viewpoint we maintained when working, for example, on our relationships or on finding meaning that would be aligned with our core values. Furthermore, such revelation is likely to come from spiritual sources beyond our rational mind.

Other Revelations?

With regards to finding a personal philosophy that aligns with our core beliefs, after five months of retrograde motion, Chiron (Aries 22°36′) will be stationary at the full moon and begin to move direct on January 4. The change of direction while still forming a square with Jupiter (Cancer 21°02′) may allow us to gain important insights on the issue of finding meaning in our lives.

Meanwhile, Mercury (Capricorn 2°22′) will have greeted the new year by forming a square with Neptune in the morning of January 1 and entering Capricorn eight hours later. Prior to that, on December 30, it will have formed a square with Saturn. At the full moon, both of those aspects will be off-sign but still operational. Mercury in Capricorn represents a cold, pragmatic and analytical mind not easily swayed by emotions. The square with Saturn, ruler of Capricorn, may bring out these energies worldwide and at a personal level. The square with Neptune may result in a dose of reality or even a “cold shower” onto utopian fantasies.

A Rebellion in the US?

It is worth noting that, at the full moon, Uranus (Taurus 27°53′) will begin to form a same-degree square with the US-chart Moon (Aquarius 27°10′) and it will not leave the 28th degree of Taurus until March, 2026. In the meantime, Uranus will change direction in early February and we will have the first two eclipses of the year. Moon symbolizes the people of a nation and a transiting square by Uranus could represent rebellious behavior, especially during an eclipse season. As we have seen, Uranus in Taurus often fuels fascism so that would be a theme to watch.

In January, while Uranus is retrograde, the energies may fuel planning but not much action, and we could experience action once it changes direction. Recall what we said earlier about Uranus retrograde, it may bring rebellion to individuals who are normally subdued or calm down individuals who are normally rebellious, perhaps as they plot their next move. This will not be the last time we talk about this issue for, at the very least, I will write about the eclipses.

Last Quarter in Libra

Whatever the revelations, the waning phases will be a time to make sense of them. As we progress doing so, there will be a time when we arrive to an internal crisis that typically corresponds to the Last Quarter phase. In the lunation we are analyzing, this will happen on January 10:

Interestingly, the two main issues being addressed in this lunar month are front and center at the Last Quarter. The first one, related to bringing newness to our relationships (or our finances), has been represented by Sun forming a conjunction with the midpoint of Venus and Mars. The other one, related to understanding our needs and our core beliefs in a meaningful way while paying attention not to repeat past mistakes, was symbolized by the square of Chiron and Jupiter.

All these planets, plus Moon, are powerfully related in a Grand Square configuration; shown in the chart as a red square. At the top of the chart, Sun (Capricorn 20°25′) forms exact conjunctions (less than 1°) with Venus (Capricorn 21°21′) and Mars (Capricorn 20°07′). The three planets form oppositions to Jupiter (Cancer 20°04′) and squares with Moon (Libra 20°25′) and Chiron (Aries 22°38′). The opposition of Moon and Chiron will bring an emotional component to the search for meaning mentioned earlier.

There may be a sense of urgency since most planets will be moving at higher-than-average speeds. Some will exceed it by a relatively small amount (5–10%) although the personal planets will be going about 30% faster than normal and Pluto will rush at nearly twice its average speed (194%). About the only planet moving slowly will be Uranus which, as we said earlier, is getting ready to change direction in the degree it will be already occupying.

Venus and Mars Begin Anew

Two days earlier, Venus and Mars will have ended the synodic cycle they began on February 22, 2024 at Aquarius 6°58′. The Venus–Mars cycle is intimately related to our needs and desires and these might have been more cerebral in the last two years. Aquarius is the fixed sign of the air element which represents the power of ideals. The cycle of Venus and Mars is most felt in our relationships and the new cycle, which will begin on January 8, 2026 at Capricorn 18°09′, is bound to be marked by practical achievements in that area.

Wrapping Up…

It is clear that there will be many events worldwide during the next lunar month. As usual, keep abreast but don’t let them get to you.

On a personal note, I find the constant presence of Venus and Mars with Sun as a huge opportunity to keep working on our relationships. The aspects with Uranus seem to indicate an emphasis on newness but those with the North Node are likely to bring “signals” so stay observant.

It is difficult to write a lunation article without the historical perspective of writing after the previous new or full moon has happened. I hope the full-moon perspective is adequate.

I apologize for the lateness of this article; I hope you have enough time to declare your intention before the new moon.

Always Love. 🌹🙏💖

Notes

1. There are many reports about the murky relationships of Trump’s crypto company and individuals accused of money laundering and other crimes. ↩︎
2. The conventions I use for drawing aspects are very simple: (1) solid lines are used for major aspects and dashed lines for minor aspects. (2) the color green is used for aspects of creativity, blue for awareness, red for construction, and purple for productivity. ↩︎