Category: Articles

Spiritual Aspects of Yule

Spiritual Aspects of Yule

Author:   Crick   

As we approach the season of Yule (Winter Solstice, Alban Arthan) , I personally find myself entering a state of both celebration and reflection. When I reach out and touch the heartbeat of Mannuz, I can sense the intense joy of our Sacred Mother. For her son, our God, is about to be reborn, thus completing yet another segment in the Wheel of Life. When we entered the New Year, which commenced with Samhain and began our life travels anew, I found myself filled with an anticipation and excitement of that which is yet to unfold.

But before I look too far ahead, I muse on that which went before. The highs and the lows of the preceding year, that are now all but fading memories. For each experience is a contribution to our spiritual growth, whether it had a positive or negative impact.

I personally feel that spiritual knowledge is a gift and that the more knowledge that one attains that the greater the gift becomes. And there is no greater gift then that of a life experience that has had some effect on our lives.

As the wheel of the year slowly turned, there were at times life experiences that seemed insurmountable, but we found a way over. There were life experiences that caused so much grief, that we cried a river of tears, but we found a way across. And of course there were life experiences that had us laughing so deeply that we could barely catch a breath, but we found a way to breathe.

And so though the past year has been bittersweet, there is still much to rejoice about within the coming Yuletide season.

It is no secret that some religious belief systems have superimposed the alleged birth date of their God over that of the God of the pagans. This was done, in spite of the fact that the placement of the constellations from that period speaks otherwise. But then Yule is not a time to foment ill will, even if an established cause could be presented.

Instead I feel empathy for those who worship a distant and revengeful God to the exclusion of the Sacred Mother, for they are missing out on some of the most ancient joys of life. For not only do we as pagans have such a deep and enduring love from our Mother, but we also draw strength and wisdom from our sacred father. And between the two, we as pagans have an opportunity to walk the spiritual path with a steady sense of balance. It is through our own perspectives and actions that we maintain this balance or fall out of stride.

As individuals, the choice is ours to make. We have the opportunity to draw upon the spiritual aspects offered by both our Sacred Mother and Sacred Father in order to advance within our spiritual growth.

Yule is a feisty, twelve-day period of celebration, a time during which, feasting is a common activity. But while we feast on food to sustain the physical self, it is also a time to feast on the experiences of the year past in order to sustain knowledge for the journey ahead.
Yule is a time of reflection, then acceptance and then of moving on.

Upon the longest night of the year, our God is re-born from the slumbers of death. He brings with him the sacred light by way of the Sun. And from this moment forth the fertility of the land is once again restored. And so too are the fertility of fresh thoughts and new goals introduced into our hearts and souls. Our spirits cherish this moment of his birth for it is a time to shed the chains of the experiences past and to surge forth with a renewed purpose in our lives. The birth of our Sun God is an affirmation that life goes on and that the door to spiritual growth stands wide open.

Yule is a time to celebrate both the joys and the sorrows we have experienced up to this point. For both aspects, that of light and that of dark have strived to offer us knowledge of life that we can use to build upon as we travel forth. The rebirth of the Sun God, who brings so much joy to the heart of our Goddess is a sign that even within the darkness one can always find a ray of light. For his birth marks the time when the Oak King vanquishes the Holly King. This analogy of victory represents the power of light overcoming the power of darkness. This represents a balance and a sense of hope in the challenges of life that await each of us.

The nights become shorter and the days become longer as life begins to stir within the grasp of the Winter Solstice in anticipation of the coming of Spring.

It is a time to realize that no matter how tough or insurmountable a barrier may seem, we have been given the gift of our life experiences as a tool to achieve our spiritual goals.

As a time of celebration, Yule is also a time to be with family and close friends with which to share the joy of our Blessed Mother as she smiles with anticipation at the thought of reuniting with her son, as the time of the sacred birth draws near. For from such relationships we receive the gifts of love. And like a seed that has laid dormant, awaiting the warm touch of the Sun to sprout forth and prosper, we should take heed and allow these moments of love to define our actions and our mind set as we venture forth into the approaching segments of the wheel of life. To let such an experience to wither away with the passing of Yule is to cast such a special gift asunder.

And so with that I wish each of you a very joyous celebration of our Sun God.

It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Chri… Yuletide!

It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Chri… Yuletide!

Author:   Lori Dake   

One of the things I truly enjoy doing is decorating for the Holidays, and the Sunday before Thanksgiving is when I start doing my yearly ritual. It was a lot later when I was growing up, sometimes as late as Christmas Eve, because we always had a real tree, and as you all know, real trees tend to dry out and look rather Charlie Brown-ish if it’s left up too long.

I do miss the wonderful pine smell, but I certainly don’t miss the pine needles all over the floor stabbing my toes, or the resin giving me a terrible rash as I string up the lights, nor do I miss the aftermath of what an urban Pagan apartment dweller is to do with a tree that was cut down for our amusement. So, since we use an artificial tree year after year, I get to decorate mine much earlier, as well as lavishly cover our humble abode in twinkly white lights and pretty red ribbons. So, early decorating is a bit of a tradition I have started, and hey – one of the perks of having your own family is to change things up a bit!

And why do I choose to decorate before Thanksgiving? I means seriously! Don’t we always complain about how the holidays are rolling around earlier and earlier, no thanks to the Big Box stores (and all their evilness!) trying to make a few more dollars? Well, quite frankly, I’m going to be busy preparing Thursday’s feast all this week starting on Monday, since I do prep work like a well-founded catering company! Also, since we run a home business predominantly through eBay, the Dakes will be in a retail full swing, trying to compete with those aforementioned Big Box stores and their incredibly low prices! And, Sunday is Clean Up The House! day around these parts, so this is really the only opportunity I have to decorate before Santa starts to pack up his sleigh. That, and well, decorating, for me at least, is a lot of work – an all-day thing actually! – so I want to enjoy the fruits of my labor for just a little bit longer. But I promise, after New Year’s Day, they really do come down! I swear! Really! No ornaments will be discovered with decorated eggs!

So, with this being the Saturday before, I’ve already started straightening up the living room / warehouse to make room for all the decorations, and I’ve even bought a couple new items for this year’s Yule Diorama, which is my version of the Nativity Scene; I have a wolf and a moose to add! I have such fond memories of playing with the cast of characters as a kid, so I restructured the scene to more accurately reflect my Pagan beliefs.

My husband said if I keep adding onto it, that by the time our son has his own kids, my little “manger scene” is going to take up a whole wall! And since almost all of the pieces in my Yule Diorama were originally intended to be children’s playthings, as opposed to being delicate, hand painted porcelain religious icons to be admired and not touched, I happily welcome the thought of having that wall of critters and magickal creatures readily available for my future grandchildren.

We also break another tradition of throwing ourselves into bankruptcy over buying the biggest and best gifts for extended family and ourselves. My husband’s family is huge, and their tradition is that everyone buys everyone a gift. When his sisters, their husbands, their children and now, their children’s husbands and children are factored in, even token five dollar gifts can easily jack up to over a thousand dollars!

So, in order to still manage to give something to everyone, I also invest a full day of cookie baking, with at least four varieties and a dozen cookies per gift bag. (Yes, that’s a LOT of flour and sugar, but soooo good!) Okay, so we end up looking like cheapskates to some of our wealthier family members, especially when the gifts we get in exchange are pretty darn sweet, but I am at least trying to convey the message we do care and hopefully one day, someone will do the math and realize just how much work and love was put into them all. If anything, I got to make my home smell delicious and was able to sprinkle a little magick into their tummies!

Now, one tradition I have retained intact from childhood is to add at least one new ornament for the tree. For at least the last decade, I’ve been desperately searching for a blue Santa, more like a Father Christmas than the Coca-Cola image people are mostly familiar with, because somehow, it just feel ‘right’, for lack of a better term. Our tree is very Pagan-ish, but without being blatant or tacky about it, and I feel it reflects our faith as a whole. So, to find that special Santa would be such a wonderful addition to all the birds, bells, stars, icicles, snowflakes and winter woodland creatures that currently adorn our happy little tree, and it would just plain make me happy.

Here’s the way I see it:

Yes, we’re Pagan, yes we celebrate Yule, but yes, we also open presents on Christmas and have no problem calling them Christmas presents. Sure, we also open a special gift at Yule, but just like any religiously blended family, that’s another perk: more presents for the holidays! But no, we do not send out cards that say “Merry Christmas!” on them, unless we specifically know the recipients celebrate the holiday as such.

Oh, and no – I wouldn’t be offended if you or anyone else were to wish me a “Merry Christmas”. I know a couple times, people have tap-danced around that term, and it always came off as rather awkward, even in email form. I was able to just sense that fumbling around with a half-hearted, generic “Happy Holidays”, and to me, it just took away from the gesture.

Now, while I honestly do appreciate that extra effort, the sentiment is all the same to me, so I kindly ask my friends and family to just say whatever comes to mind. It’s not necessary with us. We always appreciate the sincere wishes, in all its guises. I’m a vegetarian too; as just the same, I’m not out to inconvenience anyone when what he or she gives me is out of love (I’ll just stick with the sides!)

So in closing, I wish a Merry Christmas to you, a Blessed Solstice, a Happy Yuletide, a Happy Hanukkah, a Happy Kwanzaa, a Happy Boxing Day and a thousand other ways to wish you a wonderful holiday, however you wish to call and celebrate it!

PS. Pssst! So hey – if anyone comes across a blue Santa ornament, would you kindly let me know where to find it? 🙂 I’d really like to start a new quest!

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Footnotes:
Yule Diorama: http://pagan-wiccan-practice.suite101.com/article.cfm/the_pagan_nativity_scene

The First Yule

The First Yule

Author:   Serenity Starbright Dilsworth (Owl)    

Once upon a time … before your mother was born … and before her mother was born …and even before your mother’s mother was born …. when the world was new and the Earth and the Sun gave birth to the first beings …the very first people … the very first animals … and the very first plants.

It was the season of Spring, which celebrates new life, and the Sun shone warm and smiled down upon the world from his lofty perch in the sky while Earth took pride in all her newborns and nurtured them tenderly and with love. It was a time of great joy!

The Moon waxed and waned and traveled the night skies and Earth’s Children grew healthy and strong through the warm Summer season. They laughed and worked, played and danced and The Earth and Sun watched over them lovingly.

Then came the Autumn season …and the Earth began to sleep longer with every passing day. She grew so tired and was not able to feed her children any longer. She did not have enough strength to bring forth new life. High overhead … the Sun grew distant … and took longer and longer to return each morning. The nights grew longer and cold winds replaced the gentle breezes of the Summer.

Then …one very cold day …the Earth went to sleep. She laid her head down upon a pile of fallen leaves and nestled under a pure white blanket of snow. And she slept … and she slept … and she slept and nothing the Children could do would disturb her Winter slumber. The children called and called to her, but she did not wake up.

The children looked to the skies for advice and comfort from the Sun … but he was so distant that he could no longer be seen at all …and the children were frightened and sad … it was the Longest Night they had ever known.

The people wept and wondered what would happen to them now for it was bitterly cold and the bounty from Spring and Summer was depleting. They were afraid that they would starve and freeze with Father Sun so far away and Mother Earth sleeping.

They went to the Moon … sister to the Sun … with all their concerns and worries … entreating her to have the Sun return and Moon listened quietly.

The Moon gazed upon the children and advised them gently:” Do not fear little ones … go climb the tallest of trees and the highest of mountains … turn your voices to the sky and yule a mighty song to reach the Sun.”

The children had never heard of a yule or a song. (In the Ancient Tongue, to yule means to yell or yodel … to call out loudly in song.) And they asked Moon to explain what it is because they very much wanted to reach the Sun in hopes he could wake the Earth.

The Moon smiled gently. “Look deep within yourselves and find your magick …find that thing that makes you the special person you are … find the thing that brings you joy …take your dreams and your desires … your hopes and your love … and weave all of that together into sound.”

So the children climbed the tallest trees and the highest mountains and closed their eyes to find the magick within them …they brought forth their hopes, their dreams, their joys and their love and when they opened their mouths … their voices rang across the skies in a symphony or harmony and the Sun heard them …he turned and began his journey back … the better to hear this glorious sound.

The closer he came … the more his warmth spread across the Earth … and the Earth smiled in her sleep and dreamt of Spring… The Wheel turned and hope and joy spread amongst the children.

And that …dear children …is the story of the first Yule.

This is an old story that has been told and retold many times. It is one I used to tell at Winter Solstice in the coven I belonged to when I lived in New England. I put it into writing so that the story may be preserved and enjoyed by others and it is my hope that folks will tell the tale to their children who in turn will eventually tell it to their children.

Yule is a time of joy, of hope, of dreams and wishes. On the Longest Night, it is good to gather with those that we love and cherish and stand upon the Earth as she slumbers and call out to the Sun in mighty song to herald his return and the fulfillment of dreams and wishes.

Rowan Pendragon explains: The winter solstice occurs when the Earth is tilted on its axis farthest away from the sun. This means that when the northern half of the Earth is pointed away from the sun at winter solstice then the southern part of the Earth is going to be tilted closest to the sun. This is why when we are celebrating winter solstice in the northern hemispheres our Pagan friends “down under” are celebrating summer solstice. We often celebrate Yule and the solstice on either December 20th or 21st but the fact is the date varies each year since the holiday is based on an astronomical event; when the event occurs is when the holiday takes place.

When the winter solstice comes we experiences the longest night of the year and the shortest day of light. On the night of Yule we first honor the death of the God and the decline of the sun, something that has been slowly happening from the day after the summer solstice. After we make this honoring we then begin to work acts of sympathetic magick to encourage the sun’s return and to aid the Goddess in her long night of labor as she prepares to birth the Son, the Child of Light, the Young God.

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Footnotes:
Day 1 of Yule – Preparing for Yule 2011 by Rowan Pendragon
Day 7 of Yule – The Return of The Light by Rowan Pendragon

The Scottish Song “The Thirteen Days of Yule”

The Scottish Song “The Thirteen Days of Yule”

The 13 Days of Yule was sung in Scotland as far back as the early 1800’s, to the tune of The Twelve Days of Christmas.

“Yule” was originally a heathen feast that lasted for 12-13 days.  Eventually it came to represent the midwinter season of December and January.  Later it became synonymous with Christmas.

The Thirteen Days of Yule

The King sent his Lady on the first Yule day, A papingoe*, aye. Who learns my carol and carries it away.

The King sent his lady on the second Yule day, Two partridges and a papingoe, aye. Who learns my carol and carries it away.

The King sent his lady on the third Yule day, Three plovers**, three partridges and a papingoe, aye. Who learns my carol and carries it away.

The King sent his lady on the fourth Yule day, A goose that was grey, Three plovers, three partridges and a papingoe, aye. Who learns my carol and carries it away.

The King sent his lady on the fifth Yule day, Three starlings, a goose that was grey, Three plovers, three partridges and a papingoe, aye. Who learns my carol and carries it away.

The King sent his lady on the sixth Yule day, Three goldspinks, three starlings, a goose that was grey, Three plovers, three partridges and a papingoe, aye. Who learns my carol and carries it away.

The King sent his lady on the seventh Yule day, A bull that was brown, Three goldspinks, three starlings, a goose that was grey, Three plovers, three partridges and a papingoe, aye. Who learns my carol and carries it away.

The King sent his lady on the eighth Yule day, Three ducks a-merry laying, a bull that was brown, Three goldspinks, three starlings, a goose that was grey, Three plovers, three partridges and a papingoe, aye. Who learns my carol and carries it away.

The King sent his lady on the ninth Yule day, Three swans a-merry swimming, three ducks a-merry laying, A bull that was brown, Three goldspinks, three starlings, a goose that was grey, Three plovers, three partridges and a papingoe, aye. Who learns my carol and carries it away.

The King sent his lady on the tenth Yule day, An Arabian baboon, Three swans a-merry swimming, three ducks a-merry laying, A bull that was brown, Three goldspinks, three starlings, a goose that was grey, Three plovers, three partridges and a papingoe, aye. Who learns my carol and carries it away.

The King sent his lady on the eleventh Yule day, Three hinds a-merry hunting, an Arabian baboon, Three swans a-merry swimming, three ducks a-merry laying, A bull that was brown, Three goldspinks, three starlings, a goose that was grey, Three plovers, three partridges and a papingoe, aye. Who learns my carol and carries it away.

The King sent his lady on the twelfth Yule day, Three maids a-merry dancing, three hinds a-merry hunting, An Arabian baboon, Three swans a-merry swimming, three ducks a-merry laying, A bull that was brown, Three goldspinks, three starlings, a goose that was grey, Three plovers, three partridges and a papingoe, aye. Who learns my carol and carries it away.

The King sent his lady on the thirteenth Yule day, Three stalks o merry corn, three maids a-merry dancing, Three hinds a-merry hunting, an Arabian baboon, Three swans a-merry swimming, three ducks a-merry laying, A bull that was brown, Three goldspinks, three starlings, a goose that was grey, Three plovers, three partridges and a papingoe, aye. Who learns my carol and carries it away.

*papingoe = a parrot (though some people think it’s a peacock) **a plover is a type of bird

MamaLisasWorld

‘Twas The Night Before Yule

Yule Comments & Graphics

‘Twas The Night Before Yule

‘Twas the night before Yule, and all through the Coven, The cookies were baked and removed from the oven. The bayberry candles were lit on the table, The altar was wrapped in a new cloth of sable.

The children were nestled, all snug in their beds, While visions of Yuletime danced in their heads. Their stockings were hung by the chimney with care, In hopes that some presents soon would be there!

With Rocker in his new robe, and I in mine, We were asking our Goddess her blessing divine. When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, We sprang from our Circle to see what was the matter.

Away to the window, tripping over my sash, My eyes were a-glamoured with a bright silver flash. The moon on the breasts of the Goddess and God Drew my eyes to behold the blessed Circle they trod.

When, what to my wondering eyes should appear, But the manifestations of all those we hold Dear. The physical forms of those whom we pray to, Even Saint Nick, and his miniature sleigh, too!

Jehovah, Mohammet, Shiva, Hera and Thor. Zeus, Freya, Brahma, and many, many more. All the Spiritual Entities who’d ever been mentioned. Even some, like dear Loki, who sowed seeds of dissension.

They greeted eah other with smile, warm and sweet. Then, forming a Circle, they all took a seat. With multiple Voices all joined as One, The Corners were Called. And, when that was done.

The Chalice was passed from Hand to Hand. Then, a blanket of silence enfolded the land. A crystal clear Voice began to hold sway. Which Deity spoke? I could not say.

But, clearly, I heard all the love in that Voice. It caused my tired heart to take flight and rejoice. “Our Children, it seems, have missed the whole point. “We now join together, their hearts to anoint.

“Pour all of Our love O’er their hearts of stone. “Let them see that together they’re never alone! “Show them it matters not which of Us that they choose. “Their sad hate and mistrust cause each of Us to lose!”

As I stood there transfixed, I could suddenly see If we all stand as one, what a world this could be! Put ALL of our differences well behind us. Let the love of the Gods enfold and remind us.

We ARE all the same,though varied our skins. We all dream the same dreams, we all sin the same sins. With a look of enlightenment etched on my face, I beheld all the Gods in Their glory and grace!

They all bowed Their heads then said”So mote it be!” They all smiled at each Other bestowing winks on me. One by One they disappeared from my sight. Just the Goddess and God were left in the light.

As slowly They twinkled, fading by degree, “Happy Yuletide to all!! Blessed be times three!”

–Written by Mary, a.k.a. Wandering Poet, a.k.a. littlebit Permission to reprint granted to all who keep this credit line by the author.

Website

Rainbow Gryphon

A Little Humor for Your Day – ‘Care & Feeding Of Your Computer’

Care And Feeding Of Your Computer

I’ve been working on a project at work to ensure all our end users know how to back up data in preparation for company wide computer upgrades. I’m tempted to hand this out to some of our users.
1. Never leave diskettes in the disk drive, as data can leak out of the disk and corrode the inner mechanics of the drive. Diskettes should be rolled up and stored in pencil holders.
2. Diskettes should be cleaned and waxed once a week. Microscopic metal particles can be removed by waving a powerful magnet over the surface of the disk. Any stubborn metallic shavings can be removed with scouring powder and soap. When waxing diskettes, make sure application is even. This will allow the diskettes to spin faster, resulting in better access time.
3. Do not fold diskettes unless they do not fit in the drive. “Big” diskettes may be folded and used in “little” disk drives.
4. Never insert a disk into the drive upside down. The data can fall off the surface of the disk and jam the intricate mechanics of the drive.
5. Diskettes cannot be backed up by running them through the Xerox machine. If your data needs to be backed up, simply insert two diskettes together into the drive whenever you update a document; the data will be recorded on both diskettes.
6. Diskettes should not be inserted into or removed from the drive while the red light is flashing. Doing so could result in smeared or possibly unreadable text. Occasionally the red light continues to flash in what is known as a “hung” or “hooked” state. If your system is “hooking” you, you will probably need to insert several dollars before being allowed to access the disk drive.
7. If your diskette is full and you need more storage space, remove the disk from the drive and shake vigorously for two minutes. This will pack the data (“data compression”) enough to allow for more storage. Be sure to cover all the openings with scotch tape to prevent loss of data.

Daily Feng Shui Tip for Dec. 20th – ‘Mudd Day’

Today’s ‘Mudd Day’ actually commemorates the birth date of Dr. Samuel Mudd, who became notorious when he offered medical aid to John Wilkes Booth, the assassin of President Abraham Lincoln. And while the spelling is different, I would like to use these energies to offer an easy recipe for a clarifying and toning facial mud mask that will keep you from getting your hands dirty like the doctor. The ingredients include one tablespoon of clay powder (available from health food stores), one egg yolk, one-half mashed avocado and a bit of witch hazel. Mix all ingredients together until the mud is a smooth texture. Apply for 20 minutes and rinse with lukewarm water. Pat dry and knock ’em dead.

By Ellen Whitehurst for Astrology.com

Your Charm for December 20 is the Abraxas

Your Charm for Today

Abraxas

Today’s Meaning:

A powerful force will rule you within aspect for the duration of a year. You will be given few choices to make as most will be made for you. This force is benign in nature and the end result will be positive.

General Description:   

Abraxas stones were commonly worn and highly esteemed in the Roman Empire about the time when Christianity was becoming established there. Much importance was attached to the word Abraxas in the Greek notation making up the number 365, signifying 365 heavens, occupied by the 365 gods, who according to the Gnostic religion, formed the earth and ruled its destiny. The Abraxas, the curious divide Jeo, of Jehovah of the Gnostics, has a fowl’s head, signifying watchfulness and foresight; the shield, wisdom; whip, authority; two serpents, mystery, eternity, vitality. These rings were worn as talismans for protection against physical ills.

Your Animal Spirit for December 20 is The Armadillo

Your Animal Spirit for Today
December 20, 2013

Armadillo

You’ll never get too close to Armadillo as his hard shell will keep you at arm’s length! And, if this roly-poly fellow is in your reading, he’s asking YOU to examine the areas where you need a hard shell—boundaries!  Do you “do” for everyone but never “do” for yourself? Or, are you being TOO sensitive, protecting yourself even when danger isn’t present?

Your Ancient Symbol Card for December 20 is The Hand

Your Ancient Symbol Card for Today

The Hand

Although the exact meaning may vary, The Hand is a symbol of some form of personal power in many cultures and religions. The presence of The Hand is an indication that your personal powers are at or near their zenith. The Hand suggest a time when you should leave your mark on the world.

As a daily card, The Hand suggest that now is a time for you to leave your mark on the world. Your unique strengths are heightened to a point where you can not only expect to make substantial progress towards your goals, but enjoy recognition for your efforts as well.

Daily Tarot Card for December 20th is Temperance

Temperance

Friday, Dec 20th, 2013

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What is traditionally known as the Temperance card is a reference to the Soul. Classically female, she is mixing up a blend of subtle energies for the evolution of the personality. One key to interpreting this card can be found in its title, a play on the process of tempering metals in a forge.

Metals must undergo extremes of temperature, folding and pounding, but the end product is infinitely superior to impure ore mined from the earth. In this image, the soul volunteers the ego for a cleansing and healing experience which may turn the personality inside-out, but which brings out the gold hidden within the heart. (This card is entitled “Art” in the Crowley deck.)

Your Daily Horoscopes for Friday, December 20

The energy level jumps up a notch and shifts us into a more festive mood today, as the Moon enters lively Leo at 1:47 a.m. EST. We may be ready to walk away from our obligations in order to enjoy ourselves. Unfortunately, avoiding responsibilities isn’t as simple as we wish, for there are consequences to our actions. However, the dramatic Leo Moon’s smooth trine to independent Uranus motivates us to express our needs without regard to the outcome.

Aries Horoscope

(Mar 21 – Apr 19)

Your self-esteem is on the upswing today, yet your enthusiasm could create problems if you don’t take the time to listen to what others are saying. It’s tempting now to just ignore an important piece of information that can come back to haunt you later, costing you time and money. Someone may unintentionally give you incorrect data, or you might misunderstand what you’ve been told. Either way, it’s wise to check everything you hear twice. Sticking close to the facts is your smartest strategy, even if it’s not the most enjoyable path to take.

Taurus Horoscope

 

(Apr 20 – May 20)

Oddly enough, although the pace of your life may be speeding up, it feels as if your progress is slowing down. It’s difficult to keep up with all that you should be doing now, and you might exhaust yourself by trying to finish everything that you start. Even if you want others to appreciate your reliability, it’s still important to take your time and produce high-quality work. Focusing on excellence will impress your colleagues more than hurrying through your tasks just to get them done.

Gemini Horoscope

(May 21 – Jun 20)

Your life seems quite complicated today, as the evocative Moon visits your 3rd House of Communication, turning up the volume on your conversations with others. But if your day becomes too noisy, a possible misinterpretation can add chaos and confusion. Nevertheless, don’t worry if you need to untangle a delicate issue; it’s worth clearing up a misunderstanding now before it causes any trouble later on. Carving out a bit of peace and quiet may be the first step toward finding clarity.

Cancer Horoscope

(Jun 21 – Jul 22)

You may become quite stubborn if a coworker suggests you change your plans today. You might dig your heels in even further if you have already taken the time to carefully consider your options. You want to do what makes the most sense, but you don’t think you should revise your agenda just to make others happy. Compromising is a necessary part of negotiation, but there’s no need to sacrifice your values to reach a successful agreement.

Leo Horoscope

(Jul 23 – Aug 22)

Escaping your daily routine to have some fun might be tempting, but you have more important things to do because others are depending on you now. You have been itching to make something exciting happen, and it’s time to push ahead with your plans. Just don’t become impatient; positive change must be grounded by a strong foundation, so impulsive action is unwise. Build on what you already have today instead of betting your future success on the unknown.

Virgo Horoscope

(Aug 23 – Sep 22)

You feel torn between presenting your ideas to others and withdrawing to keep your point of view to yourself. Your creative juices are flowing, but you’re not sure if it’s appropriate to express your crazy ideas. Fortunately, your imagination won’t steer you wrong today, so trust your instincts no matter what. Taking a chance by putting yourself out there for everyone to see isn’t as risky as you think.

Libra Horoscope

(Sep 23 – Oct 22)

Chilling out with your friends sounds like a great idea, but you could end up far from your goals if you don’t take things more seriously today. It’s tempting to assume that everything is on track and will turn out as you wish, but you need to deliver on your promises to keep the day from spinning out of control. Thankfully, if you take the time to put your recent commitments into proper perspective, you should be able to negotiate a course of action that won’t require as much hard work on your part.

Scorpio Horoscope

(Oct 23 – Nov 21)

You intuitively know what others want today, which may help you get a head start on the job. There’s no reason to wait patiently for your boss to assign you a new task if you already know what needs to be done. Starting on your chores earlier and being more methodical in your approach can turn a hectic day into a pleasant one, enabling you to accomplish more than you originally thought possible

Sagittarius Horoscope

(Nov 22 – Dec 21)

Your feet are planted firmly on the ground today, yet the Moon’s visit to your 9th House of Adventure also inspires you with a touch of wanderlust. You have a pretty good idea of what you should be doing now, but your restlessness won’t go away on its own. You’re eager to embark on a big trip, but this might not be the most convenient time to travel. There’s no hurry; thankfully, solid preparation will pave the way to your success. The future may be even more exciting than you can imagine.

Capricorn Horoscope

(Dec 22 – Jan 19)

Although the emotional intensity seems to be mellowing out today, there’s still a lot happening in your personal life. Fortunately, you have a specific destination in mind, making it easier to follow the path toward your goals. Visualize your success, make a plan to reach it and then set out toward your target. Keep in mind that shortcuts won’t help you get there any faster now, so prepare to take the more traditional route that consists of hard work and sheer determination.

Aquarius Horoscope

(Jan 20 – Feb 18)

You may strive to take a centrist position today because you really don’t want to stir up any extra trouble. You prefer sharing a point of view that’s easily defendable, but it seems as if everything you say now provokes conflict, even if you’re just trying to make your opinions known. Remember that your plan is merely one way to approach a dilemma; grace others with respect, even if their conclusions are different from yours. Thankfully, there’s more than one route to reach your goals.

Pisces Horoscope

(Feb 19 – Mar 20)

Although you can competently analyze a project by breaking it down into manageable components, it’s not necessary to make such a big deal of what you are doing today. Fulfilling your commitments is important, but don’t waste energy explaining how you developed your strategy. Others don’t need to know your inner process now, as long as you focus on getting the job done in a timely manner.

Birthdays on the Sagittarius-Capricorn Cusp

Birthdays on the Sagittarius-Capricorn Cusp

Learn all about the personality of “The Cusp of Prophecy”

Tarotcom Staff    Tarotcom Staff on the topics of sagittarius, cusp, capricorn, astrology

If you were born on the Sagittarius-Capricorn cusp, from about December 18 to December 24, you were born on the “Cusp of Prophecy,” and you are a true visionary headed toward certain success.

Optimistic Sagittarius and practical Capricorn make a great mix, giving these cuspers the happy-go-lucky attitude and realistic vision to dream up big plans and turn them into reality. Often these plans are so forward-thinking they actually have a hand in shaping the future!

Sagicorns are outgoing and friendly, but also reliable and responsible. They are always prepared to do their best at any endeavor, and would especially excel at an adventurous career related to language or travel.

The biggest challenge here is balancing Sagittarius’ desire to go fast with Capricorn’s slow and steady pace. But no matter which direction these friendly and hardworking cuspers take, they’ve got the right balance of cosmic energy to be the best at whatever they choose.

Learn more about the revolutionary Sagittarius-Capricorn cusp:

Name of Cusp: The Cusp of Prophecy

Date Range: December 19 to December 25

Strengths: Responsible, outgoing, friendly, fair, loyal, humorous, successful.

Weaknesses: Moody, closed, intense, impatient, uncooperative, selfish.

How Sagittarius-Capricorn energy works together: Sagittarius’ optimism and fearlessness mixes wonderfully with Capricorn’s hardworking and practical nature. This results in a person who dreams big, then makes those dreams come true. What they love: Starting ambitious new projects that may change the world and seeing them through successfully all the way to the end.

What they need: Sagicorns need others to give their very best. Because they put forth the best themselves, they won’t accept less from anyone else.

Advice: Try not to cut yourself off from others so much. If you put more time into making friends and forming lasting relationships it will help you become less moody and intense.

Famous people born on the Sagittarius-Capricorn cusp: Robert Urich, Edith Piaf, Jake Gyllenhaal, Alyssa Milano, Billy Bragg, Max Lerner, Chris Robinson, Ray Romano, Jane Fonda, Samuel L. Jackson, Chris Evert, Kiefer Sutherland, Phil Donahue, Frank Zappa, Diane Sawyer, Robin Gibb, Maurice Gibb, Ralph Fiennes, Corey Haim, Susan Lucci, Eddie Vedder, Ava Gardner, Ricky Martin, Mary Higgins Clark, Humphrey Bogart, Sissy Spacek, Annie Lennox, Anwar Sadat, Jimmy Buffett, Barbara Mandrell.

Your Weekend Love Horoscopes for Dec. 20 – 22

Weekend Love Horoscopes

December 20-22: Party, Interrupted!

Maria DeSimone   Maria DeSimone on the topics of love, horoscopes, astrology

 

With the Moon in Leo all day Friday and Saturday, you might think you’re home-free for a magnificent weekend of romance and pleasure. Not so fast.

Unfortunately, love planet Venus will turn retrograde on Saturday, deflating everyone’s plans to party with a cavalier attitude. In fact, beginning Saturday and until January 31, 2014, matters of the heart will become more sober for everyone. Pay close attention to what needs fixing in your love life since, because until you revise this it may be difficult to enjoy even the happiest of lunar aspects.

The Moon will enter serious Virgo on Sunday, and at least by then you’ll be able to honestly look at the wrinkles in your love life. It’s time to get out the iron!

Daily Cosmic Calendar for Friday, December 20th

Every so often the universe appears to go back into a cocoon and declare a ceasefire when it comes to attacking humanity with a wide variety of challenging alignments. Today is one of those 24-hour time-periods when it is okay to embrace the peace and quiet of a favorite den, studio or library. Out with frenetic, dog-eat-dog hustle and bustle; in with joyful learning and creative artistry — particularly as the Sun and Venus connect via a subtle and yet still nurturing, 30-degree tie (8:30AM). This Sun-Venus rapport also has the capacity to energize love bonds and money-making plans.  Anticipate breakthroughs in higher consciousness around the time that the Moon trines Uranus (4:12PM). Check out the latest advances in science, medicine and metaphysics. Take a good, long look at your primary partnerships and think about ways to improve their quality as Venus has virtually no motion as it prepares to shift from direct to reverse in Capricorn tomorrow. [Note to readers: All times are calculated for Pacific Standard Time. Be sure to adjust all times according to your own local time so the alignments noted above will be exact for your location.]

Current Moon Phase for Dec. 20th – Full Moon

Full Moon

(waning/80% illumination)

A veil of self-absorption is lifted and suddenly you gain access to an unbiased view of others. This is a rare moment when you can see yourself objectively and become aware of whether or not what you want in your heart is actually beginning to manifest in your life. Traditionally, the Full Moon phase stirs emotion, and this is because when you “see” what is happening, you may become upset if you’re experiencing the “same ole, same ole” — rather than the things you would like. If the Full Moon phase is a disappointment, on the next New Moon it’s time to take creative action in the direction of your dreams.