Yes, as a "numbers" person, this full moon certainly caught my attention. But I happen to love Astronomy, too. And, interestingly, a mere few hours before the final full moon of the decade appears at its fullest (and highest!) from the Northern Hemisphere, Venus, ringed-Saturn and Pluto align.
In Astrology--which is not the same as Astronomy--the planet Venus is connected to love. Saturn, dubbed "Lord Karma" by astrologers, keeps everyone honest. Saturn is centered on loyalty and commitment--including helping you prioritize who to be loyal to and what commitments to get out of. It's "dance" with Pluto continues in the New Year when Pluto and expansion-prone Jupiter enjoy a triple conjunction in 2020. A triple conjunction is an astronomical event where Jupiter and Pluto "meet" from our perspective on Earth three times throughout 2020.
Astrologers see Pluto as representative of power struggles. Because Saturn, Jupiter and Pluto will be influenced by the sign Capricorn (which begins on 22 December), people may be *a tad* more intense. The theme of 2020 according to the stars??? Transforming (and transformative) relationships!
If you're in a partnership nearing the end of its social contract (meaning, it's been over for a while now but you're complacent, afraid to be alone, and/or are socially/financially vulnerable), 2020 will be your year to make some major changes!
Jupiter is supposed to help us expand our lives--in love, that might translate as expanding on new beginnings from 2019, which always means closing out accounts elsewhere (thanks, Saturn...).
When we think of astrology, it's easy to discount it as "magical thinking." If you read my work in Psychology Today, you know that I'm not a fan of magical thinking (unless used as a tool to help an individual beat seemingly impossible odds). And yet, the way the moon affects the tides is not magic or magical. It's physics.
I grew up in and on and around the ocean. Anyone who knows the ocean knows about the tides. The moon, especially a full moon, affects the tides thanks to its gravitational pull. That gravity makes the Earth and its oceans "bulge" out on the side closest to the moon as well as the side furthest from the moon. When that happens, you have "high" tide. During summers at the Cape, I plan my whole day around the tides. And by that I mean I try to get in the water before the tide is closest to the shore or "high" so I can enjoy deeper water closer to shore before heading out into the open ocean with the tide as it slowly rolls back toward the horizon--yes, that means hours upon glorious hours in the water. Friends float or boat out to bring me food and water--because once I'm in the ocean, only things like a storm, darkness or sharks drive me back to shore. I don't wear a wetsuit but I do wear a rash guard over my bikini to keep me warm(ish). And no, no floaties or rafts or paddle boards. Just me and the sea. Let's just say, I have feet where fins are supposed to be. Probably why I'm so hopeless on them when not in the water!
Even people who aren't swimmers are composed of about 60% water. The brain alone has more than 70%. Your lungs? 83% water, followed by your kidneys and muscles--made up of just shy of 80% H2O. Our skin is composed of more than 60% water (but I wish it was more like 80% because it would help prevent wrinkles). Heck, even our bones have just over 30%. We humans are water-creatures at our core. If the moon can affect the Earth and it's waters...guess what? It can affect us, too. Which begs the question. if one heavenly body can create physical change on our planet's surface, why can't others? It is interesting to note that astrology has persisted across space, time, geography, and all cultures. Though the languages may be slightly different, any words used to describe how the planets affect humans seem to mean the same basic things. Uncanny. Like the XMen! Einstein may not have had the cool outfit, but he was still superheroically-smart. And, according to Einstein, there are no coincidences in the physical universe.
Jonathan would agree....
The cold moon rises tonight in Gemini. Cancer follows Gemini in the Zodiac. Gemini is a twin-sign that starts in late May and goes until 21 June (Happy birthday, Meryl Streep!). The very next day, on 22 June, Cancer begins. Gemini is known as a Jekyll-and-Hyde sign--great energy with lots of positives, but can turn on a dime. Also, a very expressive sign. Friendly, too. You may feel more like having deep conversations right now, or talking through your issues with a partner--or maybe you'll just get more blunt, like me. People who are alone a lot can do what I do and talk into a recorder (play it back to get massive insights into your psyche). You may be ready to be more forthcoming as well. I don't know about you, but I do not feel comfortable sharing my real feelings with actual people. How we feel is sacred--a person needs to earn that knowledge for themselves. But I admit that I keep things so tight sometimes, I unwittingly hurt people I care about. it's something I became aware of this year and plan on changing in the next.
Astrologers believe we water-based humans are affected by the moon in terms of our emotions. If you ever worked in an Emergency Room, you know that the volume of people increases exponentially during a full moon. Full moons also seem to affect birthing rates.
The Geminids are an annual meteor shower with a radiant point in the Gemini constellation. The radiant is just the point of apparent origin from Earth's surface. This year, the Geminids will peak on the evening of 13 December into the early morning hours of 14 December.
But let's get back to those numbers! Spiritualists believe 12 December to 21 December (12.12-21.12) is part pf a "portal of light." Souls that come (and go) during this period are very special people. But everyone can "upload" a program of "light" or positivity during what is, ironically, the darkest days of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. The winter solstice is 21 December. During that week, Romans celebrated Saturnalia, a celebration of the god represented by the ringed planet, Saturn. But when Constantine became the first Holy Roman Emperor, he also legalized Christianity (313 AD)--in fact, he "branded" it as "Christianity," converting Saturnalia to "Christmas." Yup, decorating with evergreens, saying "ho-ho-ho," gift giving, feasts, making merry, and time off from work are all part of original Saturnalia traditions.
Saturn represents dissolution that leads to renewal, wealth, abundance, and liberation. Bring it on Saturn! Talk about the rewards of courage...I'm in!!!
Saturn (the god, not the planet) fathered Jupiter and Pluto, so it's interesting to note how these three representative celestial bodies will be hanging out together as we end 2019 and begin 2020...not just epic, it's mythic!
In terms of Numerology, 12:12 is something you see when your soul mate or twin flame (or the person who is your person) is "close." Basically, it's a call to start a new life, to be brave and make necessary changes to welcome the "new" and say goodbye to the people and situations that hold you back and down (and, not in a good way). It's also a call to service for "light workers," or people who are meant to help others, and can be broken down to 11 and 22, simplifying to 33. "11" is the number of awakening (and the simplified total of my birthday, too!). "22" means "master builder" so you 1974 tigers (or 1983 pigs, 1992 monkeys, 2001 snakes, 2010 tigers, and 2019 pigs) born at the start of Cancer on the actual 22nd simplify to a "22"; 11+22=33, and "33" is the number of ascended master builders and master teachers.
Whether or not you believe in things like Numerology and Astrology, it's just fun to note that the last full moon of the year...and of the decade(!!!) is happening at 12:12am on 12.12 in a "12" year. When you look up at the sky over the weekend--check out the last full moon of 2019 as well as the last full moon of the second decade of the 21st century. You can also catch one of the best "shooting star" shows ever!
As we welcome back the roaring 20's at the end of the month, remember to always look UP! Stay positive!!! You may find opportunities to experience more of the love your soul craves. Those opportunities will create good foundations in the next year for a lovely and loving future with a partner that "fits"--perhaps in more ways than one!
And, don't stress over the inevitable endings that always precede beautiful beginnings:
2019 was about life cycles--beginnings and endings that at least started to surface this year. In 2020, new relationships and partnerships rule--especially for those born on days that add up to "4" (4, 13, 22, 31).
#1212
PS: On 11 February 2020 you can find me doing a very special star show at the Planetarium in the Boston Museum of Science. In conjunction with Boston Sci Fi Film Festival, we'll be showing Joss Whedon's Serenity next to the night sky. And, I'll be narrating both! Tickets go on sale soon. Stay tuned!
*picture courtesy of NASA/Getty Images--Cold Moon over UK 12 December 2019