Horoscope Week: December 10 to 16, 2018

Horoscope: December 3 to 9, 2018

Astrologer Pam Younghans writes this weekly astrological journal based on planetary influences, and offers perspectives and insights to assist you in making the best use of current energies. This column is not intended as prediction. Your own experience will be more specifically defined by transits to your personal chart.

Highlighted Aspects for This Week

All times listed are Pacific StandardTime. For Eastern Time, add 3 hours.

TUE: Mercury quincunx Uranus
WED: Mercury enters Sagittarius
THU: Neptune trine Ceres
SAT: Uranus semisquare Neptune
SUN: Sun semisquare Venus, Venus sextile Saturn, Mars sextile Pluto

URANUS AND NEPTUNE are in a working relationship right now, bringing their combined influence to bear on our human reality and spiritual growth. As two of the three "transpersonal" planets in astrology, Uranus -- the god of the starry, eternal heavens -- represents the Higher Mind and Cosmic Enlightenment, while Neptune -- the god of the watery depths of the ocean -- represents the High Heart and Divine Oneness. (The third transpersonal planet is Pluto, god of the underworld, who represents Higher Will and Divine Empowerment.)
 
Transpersonal planets share the higher purpose of helping us evolve beyond the level of the personality, into the realms of expanded consciousness, so that we might fulfill the higher destiny of awakening Heaven on Earth.
 
AS CONSCIOUS BEINGS, we are fully capable of engaging the highest qualities of these transpersonal planets. But, of course, as with all things astrological and in life, there is the possibility of experiencing their more troublesome traits as well. 
 
In this regard, astrologer Jan Spiller has written that the transpersonal planets:
 
"... prod us to grow even beyond the boundaries of social awareness, to participation with humankind as a whole, as part of the Universal plan. These urges from the transpersonal planets are always activated, whether we are consciously exploring them or not. When operating unconsciously, Uranus becomes destructive, erratic reactions; Neptune becomes deception; and Pluto becomes the abuse of power."
 
WHEN URANUS AND NEPTUNE aligned in the early 1990s, we were initiated into a new cycle of consciousness expansion. This baptism may have occurred subtly for some -- but for others, there was a major, tangible shift in some area of life. If successful, the changes that occurred woke us up in some way (Uranus) and also opened our hearts (Neptune). As a result, we began to engage in life from a new level of personal and spiritual awareness. 
 
Uranus and Neptune are presently 45 degrees apart, in a challenging semisquare aspect with each other. They are checking in to see how we have progressed over the past 25 years, and also summoning us to take the next step (or leap) in our consciousness expansion. But, since this is a hard aspect, we may at times feel more pushed and prodded than "summoned."
 
THE SEMISQUARE is more of a phase than an event, given that Uranus and Neptune have been going in and out of exact aspect since mid 2017. The multiple passes occur because the planets' retrograde (backward motion) phases allow their paths to cross several times. But, whenever the aspect is exact to the degree, we can anticipate that another step in the growth process will unfold, usually within a week or two before or after that date.
 
The fourth of the five exact Uranus-Neptune semisquares occurs this Saturday (the final pass is in May 2019). We are more than half-way through a two-year developmental stage designed to help us transcend the mental (Uranus) and emotional (Neptune) blocks that have limited our advancement. And yet, this week marks just step four of the five-step process, so keep in mind that we are still in school, and not ready for the final exam just yet.
 
NOW THAT WE KNOW that the higher purpose of some of our current challenges is to expand our consciousness and open our hearts, what do we do with this information?
 
One option is to review your personal history, to see what was transpiring from 1990 to 1995, that provided a shift in your awareness. (The year of greatest impact may have been 1993, when Uranus and Neptune were exactly aligned three times.) If you find an event or situation that seems to fit the description, ask yourself how those circumstances ultimately enhanced your self-understanding, and either removed elements from your life that were not for your benefit, or opened doors to new experiences that were consciousness-raising (or both). From there, consider how events in your present-day reality may be working to help you take the next step in the process of evolution that began a quarter of a century ago.
 
Another resource for insights, if you know your natal astrology chart, is to find the house location of 19 degrees of Capricorn. This is the degree where Uranus and Neptune perfected their rendezvous in 1993. The house that holds that degree represents the area of life that was involved at the time. Was it the third house of Communication and Personal Truth? Or the seventh house of Partnership and Commitment? Or perhaps the tenth house of Career and Higher Purpose? (For a brief description of house meanings, please see the "Houses" page of my website.)
 
Even more importantly, do you have planets or asteroids at that degree of Capricorn? Or maybe a planet at 19 degrees of one of the other cardinal signs -- Aries, Cancer, or Libra? If you do, these planets and asteroids represent parts of your personality that would have been significantly affected by the Uranus-Neptune alignment. (See the "Planets" page of my website.) 
 
AS YOU PUT these puzzle pieces together, an image will hopefully start to take shape, one that will give you an overview of the higher purposes of changes that occurred 25 years ago, as well as a new perspective on the challenges you are now working with, which are offering you the chance to graduate to the next level.
 
If you are not aware of any major shifts in your life in the early 1990s -- or if you were not yet in body! -- no worries. Simply consider that you are an integral participant in the process of consciousness expansion that is now underway, and find opportunities to bring an enlightened perspective (Uranus) and compassionate heart (Neptune) to all of your interactions this week and beyond -- in spite of (or perhaps because of) the temptation to close your mind and defend your heart.
 
IF YOUR BIRTHDAY IS THIS WEEK: This year, as you look in the mirror, you will find yourself asking profound questions: What do I truly believe in? What new experiences can I allow into my life that will add greater hope and meaning to my existence? But, at the same time, your higher self will be proposing that you look beyond the personality's definition of meaning, and embrace an even more expansive perspective, asking yourself: What beliefs am I willing to let go of, for the sake of experiencing oneness with all life? Where do my judgments interfere with my ability to be at peace, and how can I release them? This is a year of deep reflection, one that will ultimately free you to live your life in ever more expansive ways. It should be an excellent year to go on a vision quest, especially in March, May, or October, when Jupiter aligns with your Sun.

About the Author

Pam YounghansPam Younghans is a professional astrologer, editor, and writer. She lives in a log home northeast of Seattle, Washington with her beloved animal companions. She has been interpreting charts professionally for over 25 years. If you are interested in an astrology reading, e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or leave a message at 425.445.3775. For more information about NorthPoint Astrology offerings, please visit northpointastrology.com or visit her Facebook page.

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