December 2007 is a very important month for many reasons: There is a major conjunction which occurs on December 11th and two major ingresses which occur on December 18th. Yet, what makes December 2007 more important is that it prepares you for January 2008 when Pluto enters Capricorn for several months and the major paradigm shift from small neighborhood communities to the greater global community starts to impact your life.

Mercury enters Sagittarius on December 1, 2007, and you find you are thinking about the large concepts of life and wondering about the meaning of your life. When you start looking at the long view, do it with caution. You may be optimistic about your plans, but are they realistic? You may think that you can get all those plans going in your life, but Mars is still retrograde right now and you may find there are some blockages to those plans.

The Moon formed a conjunction to Saturn just before Mercury entered Sagittarius and that may be a good thing. Sometimes you feel a little confined when the Moon is conjunct Saturn. But other times you may feel that you have stability in your life. This conjunction forming just before Mercury entered Sagittarius may create an underlying emotion that you want to start moving in new directions but you need to be very careful before you commit to any grand schemes in life.

In addition, Mercury in Sagittarius forms a T-square to the Moon’s nodal axis. The North Node is what you need to strive for. Here it indications that you need to strive for compassion in your communications with others. The South Node indicates either the reward you receive for success or the cost that is exacted if you aren’t willing to be compassionate. If you are compassionate, the reward you receive is healing in your relationships with others. The cost that can be incurred is dissatisfaction with life and difficulties with day to day details because suddenly you feel you have to do everything alone.

On December 5th, Venus enters Scorpio. When Venus is in Scorpio, there is a need to be private about your personal life. It’s also important for you to understand the values of other people before you make any commitments with them. The good news is that you are usually more willing to listen to other people when Venus is in Scorpio. The bad news is that other people may try to manipulate you with their words. If you need to seek guidance during this time period, take time to filter the advice that other people are giving you. What is meant by filtering is this: When other people are giving you advice, try and determine whether they are speaking from their own perspectives and needs or whether they are speaking from a true understanding of your perspective and need. If they are giving you advice from their needs, you may find that while their advice works for them, that advice will not work for you.

Mercury in Sagittarius forms a T-square to Saturn in Virgo on December 6th and the mutable T-square begins. This mutable T-square will include Uranus as well.

When a mutable T-square occurs, there is a sense that things are shifting and you’re not totally certain of what this shift means. Mercury forming a square to Saturn can indicate that you’re not comfortable with your plans. Or, it can indicate that you feel other people aren’t listening to you. Either way, there is a sense that while things need to change, you just can’t get the changes started. Perhaps that’s not so bad because Mars is retrograde. On the other hand, you may be considering changes in the wrong areas of your life and you need to re-evaluate just what it is you want to change.

Today is not a good day to seek advice because other people either won’t hear what you have to say or they will be critical in their communication style. Also, there’s a tendency, when Mercury is in Sagittarius to over justify your actions. This could get you into trouble because suddenly you’re giving out too much information that could be used against you later.

What’s interesting is that the new Moon (Sun and Moon in Sagittarius) occurs the following day on December 8th. The reason that this is interesting is because the new Moon usually indicates time to start new things that bring you emotional satisfaction. Yet, with this new Moon, things are a little different. First, the new Moon creates a stellium in Sagittarius. It forms a separation from Mercury in Sagittarius and starts approaching the conjunction that Jupiter will be forming with Pluto shortly. In addition, the new Moon is separating from a square to Uranus, the planet that indicates if you are not in the right place for yourself spiritually, things just seem to fall apart in your life.

The best thing to do during this new Moon is to meditate on those areas of your life where you feel that things are going the way you’d like them to go. It’s also a good time to look at some of your plans and start taking “baby” steps in developing those plans.

On a global level, the topic of immigration will seem to be in the news over the next several weeks. Countries, not only the United States, are going through culture shocks as people with other values to express their lifestyles in their adopted countries. This could lead to clashes between different factions. Yet, if people can use the positive energy of this new Moon, it will lead to understanding and resolutions.

When Mercury in Sagittarius forms its square to Uranus in Pisces on December 10th, the mutable T-square starts coming to an end. This could be a very explosive day if you are feeling frustrated that other people aren’t listening to you. You may feel that other people are criticizing your ideas. Sparks can flight and angry words may be exchanged. Also, be very careful because this could be a day full of accidents. It can also be a very difficult day as it relates to violent weather.

If you are feeling frustrated and want to express this frustration in angry words, try to stop and think before speaking. What’s really happening if you feel frustrated is that you are out of balance with your spiritual needs. By taking time to think before you speak, you may also be able to sort out what you feel is missing spiritually.

On December 11, 2007, Jupiter in Sagittarius forms a conjunction to Pluto in Sagittarius and the signs of paradigm shift are really beginning to show up, if not in your life, at least through various articles in the print media or various programs in the electronic media.

This conjunction usually occurs only once in a cycle. The only times between 1706 and 2007 that it occurred more than once in a cycle were in 1955-1956 and 1808. This is a 12-year cycle intended to get you to understand where your goals fit into the larger picture. Looking at the larger picture means that you need to look at the personal impact of economic changes and human rights.

Economically, things are expanding too quickly and contractions are now more evident. This includes changes in your job and changes with the credit structure. Credit is getting tighter. You need to watch your various bills. One way that companies will try to increase their profits, especially credit card companies, it through shortening the time period between when the bill is incurred and the payment due. You may also find that when other people leave your place of employment, you are expected to pick up aspects of their job without additional pay.

While there may be many sales this holiday season, you’ll find less help in the stores because fewer people are working those special holiday retail hours. You’ll also find that while specials are being advertised, the number of specials is limited. So, be very careful of more problems with bait and switch tactics in stores.

On December 18, 2007, both the Moon’s North Node and Jupiter change signs. The Moon’s North Node changes signs first by entering the sign of Aquarius. This is a 19-year cycle that lasts approximately 1.5 years. In this case, the Moon’s North Node will be in Aquarius from December 18, 2007 to August 21, 2009.

Spiritually, the Moon’s North Node represents what you have to strive for in life. The Moon’s South Node, which is always in the opposite sign and in this case moves into Leo, represents rewards that you receive for living in harmony with your spiritual needs or the difficulties that occur when you are out of harmony with your spiritual needs.

On a mundane level, the Moon’s North Node represents societal actions that occur either due to necessary changes or fear of those necessary changes. The Moon’s South Node represents benefits that can be felt and seen when actions are taken. Yet, the Moon’s South Node can also represent difficulties that occur in countries if appropriate actions are not taken, especially actions taken as a result of fear. Whenever you consider the ingress of the Moon’s North Node, you most consider the ingress of the Moon’s South Node.

With the Moon’s North Node moving into Aquarius, it becomes more important to understand where you fit into the world at large. Your relationships with friends and allies are more important. Your ability to communicate with others is more important, especially if those others are from a different culture. The rewards you’ll gain are increased friendships and love in your life.

Historically, when the Moon’s North node moves into Aquarius, changes in currency and its valuation occur. (For more detailed information on the historic changes in this area and other areas as well as what this means for you, you may want to read my book, Trend Analysis for the Year 2008, which is now available.) Add this to the fact that Aquarius rules the relationship between foreign nations, and you’ll find that the inter-relationship of money in the global marketplace is more important.

The United States dollar (US$) will continue to decline in value against other currencies, such as the Euro. This will impact your foreign travel plans since foreign travel will become more expensive. This will impact your gas prices as well since the per gallon cost of gas, which will likely move near or up to $5.00 per gallon in 2008.

Since Aquarius rules wave and wireless technologies and Leo represents technology that can make life safer and easier for individuals, you might not be surprised to hear there will be more developments in the areas of mass communications. There are technologies being developed right now that will make it easier for you to use your cell phone globally, not just in the country where you purchased your cell phone account. In addition to communicating verbally with people, you’ll find that it’s easier to use your email accounts while traveling.

When Jupiter enters Capricorn, again on December 18th, a new 12-year cycle begins. This cycle lasts for approximately 13 months which means that Jupiter will stay in Capricorn until January 5, 2009. (If you want to read the full details of Jupiter in Capricorn, you may want to order my book, Trend Analysis for 2008.)

There are many astrologers who feel that Jupiter in Capricorn is not an easy placement because Capricorn likes everything to be structured in life while Jupiter likes to move forward and expand into new territories. However, on a spiritual level, this placement of Jupiter can actually be very good. Capricorn, such as Cancer, is a sign of holding true to the past and understanding corporate or mass cultures. Jupiter is the planet of ethics and reaching into new frontiers. If you understand your past and use that as a firm foundation, you’ll be able to make ethical judgments that enable you to move into a better future. The key is to learn from your mistakes without using fear from those mistakes to prevent you from taking action.

On a mundane level, Jupiter represents the global economy and Capricorn represents the corporate structure. More businesses are going international. This means that you’ll continue to see more goods being produced not only in the United States but in other countries. Some of these goods could provide economic benefits to you as they are less expensive to produce. However, there could be some problems with these goods if other countries have different ethical standards when it comes to the safety of those products.

Historically workers who feel that they are not valued lead to strife in the workplace. While unions seem to be losing strength in the United States, workers in other countries are gaining strength. They are beginning to place demands on better salaries and working conditions. In some cases, these demands for better wages and working conditions will be met. In other cases, foreign companies will lay off workers in order to try and keep lower costs. This will have an impact on goods imported into the United States. In those cases where workers’ demands are met, the goods produced overseas will increase in price. In those cases where workers’ demands are not met, the number of goods produced overseas will decrease and fewer of those goods will come into this country.

One day after both the Moon’s North Node enters Aquarius and Jupiter enters Capricorn, Saturn turns retrograde on December 19th.

Normally, Saturn’s retrograde motion isn’t that important. However, both Aquarius and Capricorn are actually ruled by the sign of Saturn. So, this is very important. As the global changes indicated by both the Moon’s North Node and Jupiter start to occur, leadership, ruled by Saturn, will do everything possible to attempt to stop changes that they perceive create difficulty in their leadership.

Spiritually, this is important. This is a time for you to look at the changes that are occurring on a global level and determine whether your own foundation is solid. If not, it’s time to review what needs to be changed. If you are on a solid foundation, this is a good time to enjoy your life and take time to understand what the changes will mean for you.

Mercury enters Capricorn on December 20th and forms a conjunction to Jupiter. So, you may feel some excitement in the air. As you try to understand the foundations in your life, you may finally also understand how valuable your life really is.

This is a good day for contracts not only because you’ll see the opportunities in them but also because you’ll be able to think very clearly.

The Winter Solstice (in the northern hemisphere) occurs on December 22, 2007 when the Sun enters Capricorn. This is the last quarter of the astrological year and usually heralds the time when you start thinking about your future and how you can build more safety into your life. With winter now officially here, you may feel that it’s time just to retreat.

For many people, the Winter Solstice is a time of meditation and religious celebrations. This is a good time to meditate on the global changes that will occur and how those changes will impact your life. This is also a good time to reflect on all the wonderful things that have happened to you and how those wonderful things can build a great foundation for your future.

The day after the Winter Solstice, a full Moon occurs. The Sun will be in Capricorn and the Moon in Cancer. This could be a day of conflict if you are unwilling to make changes in your life and want to maintain things the way they are. On the other hand, this could be the day when you really understand what changes you need to make in your life. What’s most important is that you don’t let other people influences your decisions.

As the month of December and the year of 2007 draws to a close, Venus enters Sagittarius on December 30th and Mars retrograde re-enters Gemini on December 31st. These two days are a wonderful time to relax and enjoy being alive. This is a good time to spend with friends who share your spiritual viewpoints and enjoy communicating about the wonderful things that you’ve achieved in life.

The world is definitely in transition and moving from a small community to a global community. How this shift will impact your life is still being seen. And, the month of December 2007 is just the beginning of this shift.