The new Moon

At this new Moon, Sun and Moon occupy Sagittarius, a mutable fire sign. Sagittarius is ruled by Jupiter (still accompanied by Neptune and Chiron), which at this time is in the sign Aquarius. This placement of Jupiter expands the Sagittarian's natural desire for freedom and adds an element of the unconventional to her/his thinking. While Sagittarians want to roam free, they are often restrained by their own pragmatism. Alan Oken has published an interesting paper on Sagittarius, titled "Sagittarius-ExpandingOurHorizons."

Uranus, the ruler of Aquarius (the sign which Jupiter currently transits), is square the Sun-Moon at this time. According to Michael Munkasey (Midpoints: Unleashing the Power of the Planets, 1991), this may indicate

Family and family concerns come first in your life despite an inability to feel comfortable or satisfied with your family role; sharp innovative insight; mechanical adeptness; effective insight into family dynamics.

When describing Jupiter's contribution to this Moon/Uranus mix, Munkasey says:

Becoming more aware of the political skills required to market your ideas; luck and skill when promoting your ideas; misjudging the utility or worth of ideas you contribute; success through inventive efforts.

Overall, we see almost all of the planets and lights occupying the second half of the zodiac, Libra to Pisces. This shows a preoccupation with others and others' interests as opposed to one's own. Only Mars and Vesta stand outside, with Mars in Leo, Vesta in Virgo. By their positions, Mars and Vesta act as the handle on a bucket (see Marc Edmund Jones for more on this idea), and they focus and release the energies built up by the remaining planets. Mars in Leo suggests activity in the arts, finding pleasure in risk-taking, and energetic self-expression. The presence of Vesta in Virgo suggests a dedication to someone or something, maybe work.

This new Moon transits the U.S.'s 2nd house with Jupiter in the 4th. As stated before, the 2nd house in a mundane chart represents the economy; the fourth can indicate the interests of the people as distinguished from those of the government.

There is a congregation of four transiting planets and lights in the 2nd house--Sun-Moon-Venus-Pluto. Of these, Sun-Moon-Venus directly oppose natal Mars in Gemini and the 8th house; Pluto directly opposes natal Venus and Sun in Cancer and the 9th house.

Transiting Mars, as handle-on-a-bucket, is in the 10th house, opposing the natal Moon; and the ruler of the new Moon, Jupiter, is conjunct the natal Moon.

It looks to me like many stand-offs, little resolved; but an interesting journey.

The axis activated at this full Moon is Cancer/Capricorn. Since the Moon rules Cancer and is here in her own sign, she is very strong. Note that there will be a partial Lunar eclipse at 10° Cancer as well.

Concerning the Cancer/Capricorn axis, there is this excellent article at Astro-Dienst in the series "Mapping the Psyche," Vol.2. There is a quote from it below; please be sure to read the whole article.

Ruled by the Moon and Saturn, the Cancer-Capricorn axis, naturally associated with the 4th/10th house axis, describes the child and the parent, the one who needs nurturing and the nurturer, our need to belong and our need to stand on our own feet in the world. This is the parent-child axis, and of course there is no child without a parent and there is no parent without a child. Taken to extremes, the signs of Cancer and Capricorn can describe the twin core fears of engulfment and abandonment, which seem to be universal themes deeply lodged in all of our psyches. The sphere of Cancer and the Moon concerns nourishment and nurturing, early experiences of safety and care, and our need for protection. The Moon is the child in all of us, and the child the part of us that doesn't grow up. The sphere of Saturn, on the other end of the spectrum, is the sphere of the parent, the carer and provider, the one who is responsible for establishing safe boundaries. The entire axis is concerned with issues of security, safety and protection. ...

There is a grand square in cardinal signs with Juno in Aries square Moon in Cancer square Saturn in Libra square Pluto-Venus-Sun in Capricorn. According to Michael R. Meyer (Handbook for the Humanistic Astrologer, 1974), a "Grand Cross denotes a necessity to take action for the sake of some concrete and seemingly definite purpose." A grand cross or T-square in cardinal mode "denotes a critical, impersonal, dominant individual who is primarily concerned with the vital issues of personal existence." In the case of a mundane chart, it may be an agent or agency.

Note that there is a mutual reception between Venus in Capricorn and Saturn in Libra, a softening or soothing influence.

With this second full Moon in December the Sun-Moon axis still occupies the 2nd/8th houses, but the lights are conjunct the cusps of the 3rd/9th houses. This suggests that, while concerns with assets and liabilities are still in effect, conditions are changing.

Transiting Sun-Venus in Capricorn are in opposition to natal Venus-Jupiter-Sun in Cancer with the transiting Moon conjunct them. There are many factors at play during this time but, to me, the predominant note is the Moon in her own sign aligning with the U.S.'s natal sun, which is also in her sign. New Year's Eve may or may not be a bumpy ride, but remember that a new year is being born. Nurture it.

Enjoy your holidays.