Solstice, Christmas and Hanukkah are behind us (whether you celebrate one or more of those holidays or not), which means the turn of a new year is right around the corner. For some, this weekend is a chance to catch a breath before burning the candle at both ends December 31 and setting resolutions for the next 12 months. For others, not so much.
If you put yourself in the first camp (or would like to start), you have Saturn on your side. Saturn entered Sagittarius December 23. The single-pointed arrow of Sagittarius combined with the authoritarian (ahem, responsible) nature of Saturn says: Get serious about your goals! Take aim, focus your energy, and get disciplined.
Overall, Saturn’s move from Scorpio to Sagittarius is going to open up some breathing room, allowing your sense of self-authority a more fearless confidence. If Saturn in Scorpio was about dredging out our more secretive emotional waterways, Saturn in Sagittarius is able to own it—both the shadows and the space that’s been cleared—with a little detachment and a sense of the bigger picture.
That said, the days right after Christmas can be emotionally difficult, just as the days leading up to it can be. For some, losing the distraction of holiday hype only reinforces any sense of alienation or loss exacerbated by this time of year. Or perhaps in between facing family dynamics for a few days and facing the end of yet another year, you might find yourself feeling a little “out there” and lonely, not sure where you truly belong now, given all the changes you’ve been through in 2014.
If either of those scenarios sounds familiar, you might have to apply a little of the scientific method (a Saturn in Sagittarius theme) to your life. That is, be conscious of when you’re projecting emotional fears and anything that sounds remotely like, “I’ll never fit in; I’ll never get it right; another year gone by and I’m still struggling with the same damn problems.” Thoughts like these are perfect for a reality-check—whether with a friend or using a tool like Byron Katie’s Four Questions.
Part of what’s in the air is that Saturn squares asteroid Psyche in Pisces December 26. Psyche generally points to some sense of emotional/psychic/mental wounding that feels as if it can never be healed—though that is not actually the case.
Taking a more “scientific” or detached approach to any post-Christmas blues might mean you need a plan, a strategy. Luckily, asteroid Pallas enters Sagittarius Saturday to offer reinforcements to Saturn (as if Saturn needed any—although you might need to consciously adjust to Saturn in this new sign). Whether you need solitude or socializing, Pallas is there to help you plot a course aligned with your highest good—and that of all involved.
That’s true if you’re setting ambitious New Year’s resolutions this weekend, trying to fend off the blues, or on the verge of freaking out about another year gone by. Byron Katie’s questions are a great tool; so is your social network (in the flesh or online), if you need a hand breaking things down into manageable steps (or need some cheerleaders).
The longest night is behind us, but the nights are still long—it’s ok to reach out and lean on others if you’re not sure how to get out of your own way. If you’re well on your way, put some muscle behind it—and look to see who around you needs a little help taking aim.
