For this column, since about September or October of 2008, I usually follow two rules: (1) Keep it Short (two or three, maybe four, paragraphs); (2) Keep it Simple (Most people don’t really care if Mercury Sextiles Uranus or not, but they DO want to now that this would be a time for creativity in both finances and the arts.) This time, I’m going to break both of those rules.

Before I go any further, I want to may plugs for two sites I’ve found recently.  I like what I’ve seen in both places: (1) http://www.newworldastrology.blogspot.com/ and (2) http://astrologyscout.com/  This last one is an astrology aggregator, and includes my site as well as others.

This prediction is for the general period from the Winters Solstice of 2008 until the following New Moon on Saturday, December 27th.

Tuesday (today): Venus Conjoins Chiron (both in late Aquarius) to bring to the forefront issues of healing. Late Aquarius is really about justice, especially social justice, more than any other part of the Zodiac, including all of Libra. Late Aquarius is the “Libra Decan” of Aquarius, and Aquarius won’t let things rest until the appropriate change has come to pass. Venus is love, beauty, health, and finances, and it joins with the “Wounded Healer” today. Try to resolve disputes today, and if not today by Saturday. Any thoughts that you can cover up or shut up someone will bite you badly, probably within a few days of January 11th.

Wednesday: Just in case you didn’t get yesterday’s message: this period is about healing old wounds. Take a look at your family and your economic sustenance (your business, workplace, or whatever you do to “take home the groceries”). Some innovative ideas may come to you today, but realize that this aspect of Mercury (in Capricorn) Sextile Uranus (in Pisces) will favor Earth and Water Signs the most. Creative finance engendered today will either go very well or very badly. Don’t debt, no matter what the temptation.

Thursday: This is a mostly uneventful Christmas that turns back into “business” as usual in the evening for those on the East Coast, early afternoon for those on the West Coast, and about Midnight for those in the UK. Do what most people do: spend the day with family today. One special exception: (re-read Tuesday): visiting those in Nursing Homes and other Institutions who have been left alone and abandoned.  If you know someone who works this day (nurse, police officer, etc.), please do something special for them.  A special, and unexpected, gift may come to you if you do these things today (or yesterday).

Friday: Issues from the time of the Full Moon on December 12th to Monday December 15th have re-surfaced due to yesterday evenings “T-Square” activation of the “Grand Cross” of that time. For you, that means today has a kind of frantic feel to it. This isn’t just about returning goods or “re-gifting” or any of that stuff. Urgent issues come to light, and not enough time seems available. Actually, you are right. Not enough time is available, and that situation will get worse, much worse, between now and January 11th. Don’t be afraid to work as hard as you need to; do “get things done.” Remember, today is mostly about cleanout and planning. Do NOT launch any new ventures until Monday. (However, you might want to refer to the Daily Planetary Guide and Jim Shawvan’s note of a Cazimi period about 7am EST on Saturday morning.)

Saturday: The VERY short Cazimi period is useful to get a very SMALL handful of focused items done. This lasts for a MAXIMUM of an hour, starting about 6:30 AM EST. After that, the rest of today is about “down time.” Play if you will, but don’t do anything dangerous or “too” physical. Today is a good day for romance, but probably a bad day for anything to last. Romances STARTED today (you meet that special new person) have a tendency to fizzle, and that will probably happen by January 11th.

Think of Saturday as “Love Potion #9″ day: you’ll be kissing everything in sight, until you kiss the Policeman and 11th and Vine. 

Mercury Retrograde: Why do I keep mentioning January 11th? That is the day of the Mercury Retrograde station for the next retrograde. We’ll be entering the “storm” phase soon, and getting things done will be difficult. Expect misplaced items, lost messages, and delays. If you DO “clean house” during this period, then the few weeks after January 11th can become very useful as you can focus the retrograde energy on rediscovering old projects that deserve a second look. Please have you vehicle (car, boat, or otherwise) serviced as soon as possible. You don’t want “that” kind of surprise.