*Times are Pacific Standard Time, unless stated otherwise. Planetary positions are expressed as the degree (rounded to the nearest whole degree) followed by the sign.

**If you aren’t already, be sure to follow Sher Astrology on Twitter to keep up with the daily astrological events.

Are you wondering why you feel some of the transits we talk about and not others or why a friend may feel one but you don’t? If the transiting planet affects a planet in your natal chart, that is, where the planets were at the time you were born, then you are more likely to feel the transit or may feel it stronger than one that does not affect a planet in your natal chart. Don’t have a chart? Would you like one? Let us know.

As is often the case, the faster moving “personal” planets will be acting as go-betweens for the outer “transpersonal” planets during this time period. The Messenger of the Gods, Mercury, activates the ongoing alignment between the titans of the sky, Saturn, Neptune and Jupiter, asking us to take a deeper look at how we go about achieving our dreams. The Goddess of Love, Venus, does another dance between the planets that can and will rock our world – Pluto and Uranus. She’ll be kicking up the dust of their square now gearing up for their big game next summer. This passion play may seem to be staged from the other side of the looking glass. As time stretches in powerful ways, integrity, resilience and daily reality checks are in order.

Clarity may suddenly appear on February 7th when Mercury catches up to the Sun, passing on the far side away from earth, reaching the “superior conjunction” (or “full Moon” phase) of the Mercury/Sun cycle at 1:03 a.m. This cycle began with Mercury’s inferior conjunction (“new Moon” phase) on December 4, 2011 at 12° Sagittarius. This also marks Mercury’s transition from morning star to evening star. In Aquarius, the heart and mind of the sky may offer us a high tech blueprint to objective reasoning power. With Saturn stationing retrograde at 29° Libra at 9:03 am, we would do well to take advantage of that detached position to learn how to find balance and stability in relationships. Saturn will be retrograde until June 25th when he reaches 22° Libra, during which time we may be asked to revisit all the events he triggered since November 3rd. By 1:54 pm, the full Moon at 19° Leo opposing the Sun at 19° Aquarius could catalyze the theme of this lunar cycle – how to balance, in Dane Rudhyar’s words, the “heroic intensification of personal magnetism” with the revolutionary with a “powerful incentive to social action.” By reaching across the divide to join these opposing fixed energies, the liberator can become king in heralding the future. At 10:01 pm the energy towards relationships will shift as lovely Venus bids adieu to diaphanous Pisces and enters daredevil Aries. Venus here brings her unique talent for reaping bounty from experience to the Aries explorer just setting out on a new adventure. “Venus in Aries,” writes Rudhyar “may develop a prophetic sense which can be used to evaluate both personal and social issues and to inject a quality of wisdom into every act.” Being able to see the end of the road before its been travelled may give the wanderer some pause before embarking on anything with typical Aries impetuosity.

On February 9th Venus conjuncts Uranus at 2° Aries putting yet another unusual spin on the way we approach relations with others. Expect the unexpected in areas of love, wants and desires. We would do well to avoid impulsive behavior in acquiring lovers or anything else of value as we could just as soon become detached from them. Any amount of high level energy or expense put into such efforts should be well considered. Whatever sparks fly will certainly be an enjoyable show in the moment but will require solid logs underneath to sustain a fire. This aspect will remain in effect for about a week and could make it a very fiery Valentine’s Day. The caution light on the evening is the Moon going void-of-course in Virgo at 9:11 pm after conjuncting retrograde Mars. We may feel restless but without strong support for decisive action.

The moon finally gets direction 14 1/2 hours later when she enters Libra on February 10th at 11:54 am giving a social stamp to the day. Shortly thereafter, the Moon opposes Uranus and then opposes Venus adding emotional intensity to their volatile conjunction still operating. Venus is also approaching a square to Pluto who will amplify all her passions, wants, desires and needs. This challenging period, which will reach a peak when Venus hooks up with Pluto in five days, has the potential to shake loose some shocking taboos. Be prepared to let go of anything that is not authentic.

There may not be any exact planetary aspects for a couple of days, but the Moon continues her transits through the sky and the planetary aspects discussed earlier in this article continue to grow and wane. On February 13th Mercury at 29° Aquarius trines Saturn at 29° Libra bringing some mental stability to this potentially unstable period. For any of us out there who are feeling a need to get organized, this is the time to do it. Cool, efficient and steady, Mercury’s perceptual abilities will be honed by Saturn’s meticulous approach to discipline and order. Mercury then leaves intellectually focused Aquarius for stream-of-consciousness Pisces. With the advent of Neptune’s long stay in his home sign of Pisces promising a spiritual resurgence, Mercury here may prime our minds for transformation. As Dane Rudhyar writes: “Mercury in Pisces may be a sort of oracle, uttering deep and mystical statements which ‘just come to her’ and which surge from the treasures of the Collective Unconscious.”

Happy Valentine’s Day everyone! February 14th begins with poetry as Mercury conjuncts Neptune at 0° Pisces whispering sweet words of love. Although Saturn’s undertow may temper a complete loss of reason in favor of the vast, mystical realms, Mercury in such close quarters with Neptune will foster acutely sensitive perception that can dissolve even the most rigid walls of thinking that choke off growth. Authenticity will mitigate any penchant for disillusionment. This is a good day to just BeLove. Shortly after waking the Moon at 25° Scorpio makes a third quarter (“crisis of consciousness”) square to the Sun 25° Aquarius bringing us to the climax of this monthly lunar cycle. The Aquarius New Moon was compelling us to take a giant leap into the future. If we haven’t yet done that, we may do it now!

On February 15th the square between Venus at 9° Aries and Pluto at 9° Capricorn becomes exact. Rising passions, or obsessions with others, may reach a peak. This is a first quarter (“crisis of action”) square, which means we may feel the need to act but are uncertain about what action to take. In this case our focus will be on relationships and we’ll feel a need for dramatic change. Some kind of “death” may be required, or letting go. As always, it is helpful to remember that we are fellow travellers on this journey of life and compassion is the fuel that will ensure we all get to our destination together and intact. For several days on either side of this aspect reactive emotions may be irresistible, but if it is at all possible, take a step back from the heat and check in with the Neptune/Saturn/Jupiter configuration for a little intuitive, rational and philosophical help.

Mercury making the rounds to these planets during this period will facilitate an understanding of their archetypal energies and give us a better intellectual grasp of what they are asking of us. Mercury at 5° Pisces sextiles Jupiter at 5° Taurus on February 16th activating the deep thinking module of this configuration that is concerned with applying our natural resources in support of evolutionary growth. The higher mind Jupiter combined in harmonious aspect with the lower mind Mercury creates a sharp holographic tool for assessing what needs to be done. It could also lift our spirits with ebullient conversation.

The Sun at 29° Aquarius makes its last exact aspect while in the sign of the Genius on February 18th with a trine to Saturn at 29° Libra. This is a very good time to embrace Saturn with so many easy aspects to this demanding planet in effect. We may find being disciplined a delight rather than a chore, which could lead to taking on added responsibility or becoming a trusted partner in some effort of material manifestation. While this particular aspect lasts only a few days, it could at least be good for patient groundwork. With Mercury at 9° Pisces sextiling Pluto at 9° Capricorn we may feel compelled to know all about the deep and profound roots associated with any endeavor – helpful preparation for the Sun entering Pisces on the 19th which we’ll cover in the next AstroCast.

OK, it’s here. Mars is now retrograde. It went retrograde on Jan. 23, 2012 at 4:54pm PST and occurred right after a New Moon. I’ll write about the significance of this later on. This retrograde period is unusually long as it lasts for 11 weeks, returning to direct motion in mid-April. As this cycle begins, Mars is moving slowly, so its full intention has not yet been revealed. What do I mean by ‘intention’? Every retrograde cycle has a purpose. They are not mere inconveniences or hassles. Often people think of them solely as just ‘something to get through.’ They may indeed cause delays or even reversals, but to only see these cycles in this way is too limited and even negative.

Instead, it is better to ask the following questions:

1.  What is being revealed to me?
2.  What do I need to discover?
3.  What new things are coming into my life?

Armed with this approach, we are open to understanding the meaning of both whatever happens or whatever doesn’t happen. Reversals and shifts are meaningful and important. While doors may close, new doors will open. And, without the closing of an ‘old’ door (the ending of a cycle of action) we wouldn’t see an approaching opportunity or ‘new’ door that will excite us, allow our imaginations to soar, and take us down new paths toward unknown territory that our Soul actually needs for it revival and growth.

At this point in the cycle, however, the new has not yet emerged. It is too soon. So, it can feel like things are moving more slowly or, for some people not moving at all. We could feel a bit lost or even frustrated not knowing what to do. Worse yet, we could blame ourselves for what is or is not happening. This is needless because for the most part we are not in control of the situation. We can only do what we can. It is so helpful to know about the existence of cycles and to perceive our lives through that awareness.

During this 11 week period Mars is in Virgo, but it will affect all of the mutable signs as well (Gemini, Sagittarius and Pisces). This is especially true if you have planets between 3° and 23° of those signs.

The General View of Mars Retrograde

The usual statements of astrologers about this period are that it is not a good time to start a completely new project. It is a bit more complicated than that however. Firstly, you may not want to do so, because it doesn’t ‘feel’ right. Or, you may find that circumstances don’t permit you to act, at least not yet. There are two things to look at that will be helpful:

1. This is a time to finish old projects or complete any activities that remain open for some reason. This part of the cycle is about ‘clearing the decks.’
2. Also, it is a time to be open to new ways of self-assertion or activity. It is important to note that as we get into February or March, we will be approached or approach others about some new and unexpected opportunties. In fact, there may be many opportunities showing up. The best thing to do if this happens is to explore whatever you feel good about so you can patiently determine if you want to move in that direction.

This is a very unusual Mars retrograde and may be much more favorable than most. There is a very powerful earth grand trine that will bring many of us some amazing possibilities. Thus, I cannot just glibly say, “Don’t start anything new.” In general, one should really take a good look at whatever emerges, but they should not be rejected out of hand. There’s even more than this.

But…..There’s Even More

Complicating things further, there are four coinciding transits of which we can be aware. They occur on February 6-7, 2012 and are as follows:

1. There is a Full Moon which can bring some new things to a head or to some fulfillment.
2. There is the Superior conjunction between the Sun and Mercury which is the fulfillment of the Mercury retrograde cycle two months ago.
3. Saturn will turn retrograde at 29° of Libra.
4. Neptune enters Pisces which will last until 2025.

Any one of these is important, but together they could bring about some unexpected opportunities. I will write more on this as we get closer to those dates. As you can see, the Mars retrograde may not act in a normal manner, so we will all get to watch it together over the next fewe months.

As always, we love your input so feel free to let us know your thoughts about this interesting period of time.

*Times are Pacific Standard Time, unless stated otherwise. Planetary positions are expressed as the degree (rounded to the nearest whole degree) followed by the sign.

**If you aren’t already, be sure to follow Sher Astrology on Twitter to keep up with the daily astrological events.

Are you wondering why you feel some of the transits we talk about and not others or why a friend may feel one but you don’t? If the transiting planet affects a planet in your natal chart, that is, where the planets were at the time you were born, then you are more likely to feel the transit or may feel it stronger than one that does not affect a planet in your natal chart. Don’t have a chart? Would you like one? Let us know.

The out-of-sign opposition between Jupiter at 1° Taurus and a very slow moving Saturn at 29° Libra discussed in the last AstroCast is still in effect and will be activated in a T-square configuration by the Sun, Moon and Mercury during this period.  An “out-of-sign” aspect occurs when two or more aspecting planets are in signs that are different “modes.”  In this case, Aquarius and Taurus are both “fixed” signs whereas Libra is “ cardinal.”  While the planets are in orb for the squares and opposition, because Saturn is not in a fixed sign, it is called an “out-of-sign” T-square.  While this doesn’t diminish the effect of the T-square, it can modify it with its mix of cardinal (initiating) and fixed (sustaining) energies.  While the Sun is waning off it’s exact square to cautious Saturn, it is now in sights of the square to optimistic Jupiter, and the Moon and Mercury aren’t far behind.  Issues of faith and commitment may come into focus and require attention, or be tested to determine the authenticity of our purpose.  Also at play at this time is the fact that both Mars and Saturn are moving very slowly in the degrees at which they will station, hanging motionless in the sky for extended periods:  Mars at 23° Virgo until January 23rd and Saturn at 29° Libra until February 7th.  Any aspects made by either of these to your natal chart or to any of the other transiting planets will be greatly intensified or exaggerated.  The correlation for us here on earth is that it will be difficult to start anything new or move forward on an existing project or idea, so our efforts would be best put to use by reviewing, reassessing, readjusting and refining that which is already in motion.

We may receive some impartial help as the Sun enters Aquarius on January 20th.  This naturally aloof sign is deeply concerned with humanity and its progress.   Being able to stand back from the fray and be the observer allows greater perspective for determining paths to take and solutions to broker.  The deep social consciousness associated with this third of the air signs, according to Dane Rudhyar in The Universal Matrix is a synthesis of the “natural type of thinking developed in Gemini” and “the individual type of mind flourishing in Libra.”   As with all air signs, the challenge for the Sun here is to allow feelings to be taken into account rather than dismissed, no matter how prickly or awkward they are.   With Aquarius however, feelings must be invested with a social cause.  “Aquarians,” says Rudhyar, “are called upon to give civilization a Soul.”   Revolutionaries and reformers are associated with Aquarius, which is governed by perennial rule-breaker Uranus, because they are tasked with disintegrating any crystalized form that ceases to function within the growing organism that is society.  Ironically, it is in breaking up outmoded institutions where Aquarius is most constructive.  “Aquarius is a sign of release of power,” states Rudhyar.  Whether that power is socially “creative” or “explosive” entirely depends on our collective state of consciousness.  Venus sextile Pluto on this day has the potential to infuse any release of power with relationship-transforming love.

On January 21st, the Sun at 1° Aquarius sextiles Uranus at 1° Aries.  As the ruler of Aquarius, Uranus will imprint the suns’ transit through his home sign with a pride in uniqueness and insistence on independence.  Later in the day, the Sun at 2° Aquarius ends the “translation” of the Saturn/Jupiter opposition with a square to Jupiter at 2° Taurus.  This should be the point of maximum intensity for the Sun/Jupiter/Saturn T-square.  From Earth’s point of view, expansive Jupiter is traveling faster than during the end of his retrograde period on Christmas Day, and during the next four months will more than triple his speed before he too gradually slows down in preparation for his next retrograde in October.   The conflicting energies of the fast-forward moving Jupiter and a very slow Mars and Saturn preparing to retrograde can bring tension or anxiety to our endeavors over the next several days.  Additionally, Saturn’s restraining energies are still in play.   However, this restless aspect may propel us to commit visionary acts with the fearless feeling of indestructibility.  The explorer in us will want to open our hearts to the joy of living so that we may experience whatever it is many call God.  Once that happens we will have tapped the ultimate authority to become the leader in our own lives.

Furthering the explorer spirit, the New Moon at 3° Aquarius on January 22nd (or January 23rd in China) marks the beginning of the Chinese New Year.  This is the Year of the Black Water Dragon.  It also is the start of a new cycle that may propel us to take a giant leap into the future.  Aquarius is the sign of the genius who shuns common knowledge expounded over generations in classrooms, boardrooms and living rooms worldwide.   Aquarius is the quintessential outside-the-box thinker able to resist pressures brought to bear by society.  This sign of the water bearer brings about evolution by pouring advanced consciousness over society so that it may grasp more enlightened ways of being.   She stubbornly lives by her freedom-loving individuality even if it means being in exile away from all those who think her crazy, including loved ones, which is the great irony because she does it for her love of humanity.  She knows anything that has crystalized ceases to be an effective driver of growth and thus becomes the bringer of death.   Under this annual union of the luminaries in Aquarius, we may meet our inner rebel, but one who will be the “Mother of Civilization” nurturing innovative social ideas in their infancy.  With the stimulating squares to Saturn in Libra and Jupiter in Taurus, and the energizing sextile to Uranus, this New Moon will be concerned with finding original ways to ensure social equality and care for our natural resources.

January 23rd begins a week dominated by fast moving Mercury who networks with stationing Mars, Saturn, Uranus, Jupiter, and changes signs.   As he cross-pollinates the planets, sending and receiving messages on a diverse array of affairs, in Capricorn he’ll be all about the business of life.  It will be interesting to watch the correlations trending here on earth in the media, social and otherwise.  When he trines Mars at 23° Capricorn/Virgo we’ll have the competitive edge for clear, incisive thinking. Mercury channels Mars’ aggressive behavior into sharp communications.   In Virgo, which is ruled by Mercury, Mars is mentally efficient so words will come swift and raw, without embellishment.   With this aspect the pen is indeed mightier than the sword and cuts to the chase in all matters.  It can cut deep too unless we find a proper outlet for the nervous tension associated with this planetary pair that favors impulsive action before thought.  The challenge is to find a way to engage even the slowest of minds if we are to avoid frustration or simply boredom.  Amplifying this energy, Mars stations retrograde this day, drawing Mercury in even further as a player during his long retrograde period to emphasize strength of mind and conviction of purpose.  Welcome to mental boot camp.

On January 27th, Mercury at 29° Capricorn has his chance to activate the T-square to the Saturn/Jupiter opposition beginning with the square to Saturn at 29° Libra.   He’ll have to slow down a bit to be able to discern Saturn’s purpose.  This serious minded aspect is opposite to the Mars/Mercury pair as it will definitely think before acting and won’t speak out unless it knows what it is talking about.  Deliberate, uncluttered reasoning makes for the voice of authority.  Here the Ph.D. is mightiest of all; together this pair represents tested mental ability.  As Saturn rules cardinal Capricorn, Mercury here will have to work doubly hard to resist negativity or overcome barriers to being understood.  Thoughtful expression could be the key, at least until Mercury enters fixed Aquarius and elevates the chatter to a futuristic level.   Mercury moving into Aquarius morphs from being the builder of society to the reformer of it.  He endeavors to help society transform with state-of-the-art perception and will talk to anyone who will listen to his far out ideas.  The challenge for him here is to stay grounded and find practical means to launch his innovations.   Cool and detached, Mercury in Aquarius will help us tap into our inner group leader.

With Mercury’s sextile to Uranus on January 28th at 2° Aquarius/Aries, he will favor free speech and contrary opinions.  Again, Mercury’s planetary partner rules the sign he is in so, in this case, Uranus has the upper hand and may open us up to unexpected understanding if we dare to speak the truth.  That truth will be concerned with improving the future of our land as Mercury completes the T-Square configuration with a square to Jupiter at 2° Taurus.   While we may be prone to over-mentalizing, this aspect could open us up to big ideas.  It puts a wide-angle lens on perception that prefers philosophy over facts and broad-based knowledge over specialization.  We may expose our arrogance as we grandstand for a cause, but hopefully with Saturn still linked in we will make sure we know what we’re talking about.  The intuitive energy of Mercury/Jupiter is excellent at synthesizing myriad components to get to the heart of a subject in dramatic, inspirational fashion.  It’s like taking a short distance trip to get a long distance experience.

The Romantic adventurer in all of us will definitely want to come out on February 1st as Venus opposes retrograde Mars at 23° Pisces/Virgo.  In the sign of service, Mars will want to go with Venus wherever she is, and in Pisces, she’ll want to go out of this world, interested in merging with her beloved as a means of transcending the mundane.  Mars’s strong need for love may find a cooperative partner in Venus, if he doesn’t make a competitive game of it. Outside of romantic relationships, this pair could spur creativity or it could just be a good day for relations of any kind with the opposite sex where charm, warmth and personal magnetism could win over hearts and minds.

Neptune returns home to Pisces on February 3rd for a 14-year stay.   During Neptune’s last sojourn through Pisces 164 years ago we experienced the abolitionist movement and the beginning of the American Civil War.  As early new thought movements and religious groups emerged, it was a time of scientific and intellectual expansion and advancement.   At the dawn of 2012 we hope for a renaissance of the New Age that was defined by its goal of self-awareness.  We dream of a world with a peaceful heart that lives by love and long to dive into the vast ocean of consciousness just waiting to be explored by all.  Amid the despotic turmoil at the outer edges of our lives we’ve but to conquer our fear of the unknown, to shift our perceptions every so slightly and look through the gauze of physical reality where we will see the map to transcendence.

All happily grows towards knowledge and towards bliss.

A divine Puissance then takes Nature’s place

And pushes the movements of our body and mind;

Possessor of our passionate hopes and dreams,

The beloved despot of our thoughts and acts,

She streams into us with her unbound force,

Into mortal limbs the Immortal’s rapture and power.

An inner law of beauty shapes our lives;

Our words become the natural speech of Truth,

Each thought is a ripple on a sea of Light.

-  from Savitri by Sri Aurobindo

Janet Korenchuk

Milford, Connecticut

As Janet is not a local Southern California resident, her prize could be chosen from any issue of DLYS! as long as the item could viably be shipped.  Being the obviously smart woman that she is, she chose the decadent Gingerbread Truffles (since nicknamed our “Jimgerbread Truffles”) specifically suggested for those luxurious Leos in the DLYS! Holiday Edition.

SECOND PRIZE WINNER

Louann Williams

Jonesboro, Texas

Since the Second Prize was the corresponding gift for her sign from the same DLYS! Holiday Edition, we were able to surprise Louann (a lovely Libra) who received a jar of Mexican Hot Cocoa Mix and Homemade Vanilla Marshmallows. (She must have had time to recover from the shock when this photo was taken, for she is clearly serenely floating in melting mallow heaven.)

We’d like to say we hope they enjoyed their gifts, but just look at those smiles.  The camera just doesn’t lie. Our many thanks to all who entered and we hope to make the contest an annual tradition, so don’t give up!  Next year  there will be another chance for you to be the one we feature blissfully indulging in holiday goodies.   Until then, wishing you all a wonderful and tasty year ahead.

It’s time to resume our look at the deeper nature of Pluto in Capricorn with Part III of our series on Scorpio. You can read the first two articles at the following links: Pluto in Capricorn- Part I and Pluto in Capricorn- Part II- Libra. Let me summarize what the nature of the Plutonic process is.

The Plutonic process in psychological terms is concerned with what is referred to as the field of depth psychology. This field studies the relationship between the conscious mind and all of the psyche’s contents held in one’s unconscious. Human beings are actually ruled far more by the unconscious mind than we can imagine. This is the part of our psyche that provides our real motivations and even our goals and aims in life. But, usually, this is below our awareness. We live our daily lives under the false assumption that we are completely conscious of everything we do, of every decision we make and why we do it. The Plutonic process is the process by which we become aware of these subliminal levels so we might begin to become authentic ‘beings-in-the-world.’

How can we become aware of this field or level of our own psyche? The answer is that this area of our psyche must be greatly magnified, amplified or intensified. When this happens we can become aware of what had hitherto been hidden from us. Sometimes, this happens by ‘force,’ or it seems to be because we are ‘pulled into our own inner world’ even if we truly don’t want to go. When Pluto is operating, events happen and we do not understand why. Then we must look and see why they did. It is these so-called ‘fated’ events that force us to look at all of what we have refused to see. We may feel the world is conspiring against us, that things aren’t going the way we planned or the way they should. Life seems to have suddenly become dark, foreboding and disturbing. Carl Jung referred to this phenomenon as facing one’s shadow.

When we retreat from the Plutonic process, the unconscious material turns back on us and becomes negative or dark. Astrology books are filled with data and keywords describing this negative side of Pluto. Here are some examples of these: Pluto is said to rule greed, the Mafia, organized crime, the ‘Underworld’, despots, ruthlessness of any kind, the super-wealthy, the oligarchy, tyranny and tyrannical leaders, the need to control others at all costs, deep secrets such as conspiracies, cruelty, and many more. This list should give you a good idea of the darker side of Pluto. These characteristics apply only when we are cut off, separated from our own truth or nature. Thus, Pluto can lead to one’s knowing of our own divinity, but without that experience, we are going to engage in all sorts of projections of our own inner demons onto others. Our job is to work with them directly by acknowledging them as our own and becoming conscious and aware of them. They are not going to disappear if we refuse to do so. Instead, they will appear through our view of and dealing with other people.

When we cut ourselves off from our own inner world, we detach from both ourselves and others. People then become mere ‘objects’ to us and we can easily blame them for everything. Any sociologist or historian will tell you that throughout history, when things go bad in a society, the poor are blamed. It’s easy to do and humans have done it for millennia. It’s the oldest trick in the book and you can count on it every time. This occurs when we do not see our own failures and find someone else we can project those failures onto. Does this sound familiar?

The reason for this is that instead of facing the truth of something, we repress it instead. It becomes unacceptable to look at the whole situation and see all of the facets that go into making things they way they are. We go into a dangerous state of detachment that is the death knell of one’s own Soul. So, when I say that the Plutonic process leads to the discovery of our divinity, I am also describing a process that leads to what some have referred to as an ‘ensouling process.’ We become alive in ways we did not believe was possible. That’s the bright side and purpose of this transformational process. There is much to gain when we face our inner world and its demons, but also much to lose if we are not willing to engage in this Plutonic process.

Pluto can take us into the depths so we can discover our own essential nature, a Soul that is divine in nature. From this evolutionary leap, life changes for us and we ‘die’ so as to be ‘reborn’ into Life, a fullness that can be truly joyous. But it takes courage and fortitude to enter this game and yet, if we don’t, we find that we still must face the negative side anyway.

Pluto in Scorpio

Pluto entered Scorpio in the fall of 1983 and fully entered that sign on August 28th of 1984. For astronomical reasons, Pluto spends the least amount of time transiting Scorpio as any other sign as it exited that sign in 1995, which is only 11 years. This is due to the fact that Pluto’s orbit of the Sun is elliptical and is moving even faster than Neptune during this time.

It seems to me that that fits the archetype of Scorpio as it is thought of as the sign of intensity, passion, and deep desire. It is also referred to as the ‘urge to merge’ with another person (marriage or partnership) or with a project, subject matter or area of experience. This enigmatic sign also is concerned with the process of death and dying. While this does refer to that process literally, it also is where a person is encouraged to see life as a series of moment to moment ‘little deaths’. Scorpio also is related to the processes that occur in sexuality, such as the orgasm, which is a form of little death. Ultimately in Scorpio we begin to see that to be fully present means that we must experience life as a never-ending, life-death process where anything can happen at any moment. This is where life is seen as an awesome mystery which can enliven or awaken us.

As I’ve said, Pluto intensifies and amplifies whatever issue it touches, so one would expect the life-death process and sexuality to suddenly arise powerfully in the consciousness of humanity during this time. This is exactly what happened. One of the main ways in which we experienced this transit is, of course, through the rise of AIDS, an international crisis wherein suddenly sex and death became united under one banner. Pluto also rules taboos, or more specifically, the examination of that area of life, wherein people prefer to avoid something rather than look at it in an objective manner. AIDS brought forward into consciousness all sorts of taboos. Suddenly homosexuality could not be avoid as a topic of everyday conversation. This brought forth all kinds of very strong resistances. This issue, which exposed unconsciouis belief systems, brought forth all kinds of very strong resistances and became a lightning rod that catalyzed people into taking very polarized positions. Passions ran very high and with it bigotry, intolerance and injustices were exposed that are still in play today.

It is at times like these that hidden fears powerfully come to the surface. The ideal is for people to deal with it, but that does not happen easily. The shock of Pluto is the sheer uninhibited way it arises. It comes out without any of the usual dainty politenesses we enjoy so much. It comes forth in a raw, chaotic way that disturbs and exposes. The anger and hatred against gays were openly expressed at that time, but were always there. Nothing happened that wasn’t already present. It’s just that usually it is held back and denied. This can’t happen when Pluto is ruling however. The truth is that in the 80′s and 90′s extraordinary cruelty is what truly came out of the closet. Evangelicals and many conservatives were openly calling AIDS as God’s punishment. These ‘evil’ people deserved to die. They earned their death sentence.

And, who were the evils ones? Who were the sinners? What happened to the classic maxim of “Judge not, lest ye be judged!” But the point of this article is that before Pluto can transform any situation or set of considerations, they first must be exposed. Pluto amplifies and exposes the issue for all to see, and then the psyche of a person or even a nation is forced to look at it. The Plutonic process creates extremes so we are forced to see what we hate to see and thus, a possibility for real transformation can begin.

Now, there are five states who have made gay marriage legal, and while the hatred continues, it is no longer the ‘wedge’ issue it once was. Even conservatives are calling for gay rights, and many have noted that the younger generation simply doesn’t care about it. The direction things are going is truly different and what it took was the intensity of Pluto to bring it about. The process is very hard and before things change we see that very negative characteristics and behaviors occur, but through that very thing, people begin to see what they refused to see earlier. The treating of others as mere objects horrifies us and we can no longer act as if it’s acceptable.

It is through this painful process that ‘Soul’ can emerge, that detachment and uncaring are replaced by the inner knowing that we are all human beings and deserving of being treated with respect and decency.

The next article in the series, Part IV, will look at Pluto in Sagittarius, the sign of religion, religiosity and more.

*Times are Pacific Standard Time, unless stated otherwise. Planetary positions are expressed as the degree (rounded to the nearest whole degree) followed by the sign.

**If you aren’t already, be sure to follow Sher Astrology on Twitter to keep up with the daily astrological events.

Are you wondering why you feel some of the transits we talk about and not others or why a friend may feel one but you don’t? If the transiting planet affects a planet in your natal chart, that is, where the planets were at the time you were born, then you are more likely to feel the transit or may feel it stronger than one that does not affect a planet in your natal chart. Don’t have a chart? Would you like one? Let us know.

A couple of lunar transits open this period offering up a challenge to rise above our personal dramas. On January 6th the talkative Gemini Moon trines aloof Venus in Aquarius, trying to engage her with sweet declarations of love. If he doesn’t get a response by the time he squares Mars in Virgo more defensive postures may take over. Understanding our emotions may help us navigate this seeming contradictory set of aspects. It may also help to look within for the love we seek.

Mercury has a lot to say during the next two weeks as he will aspect all the outer planets, asking us to stretch beyond personal realms of thought and pin our perceptions to the destiny of collective man. Beginning in the wee hours of January 7th Mercury in Sagittarius sextiles Saturn at 28°39’ Libra, then seven hours later sextiles Neptune at 29°04’ Aquarius. In the process he activates the developing trine between Saturn and Neptune, engaging our intellect to search for meaningful ways to link discipline with imagination to make our dreams become reality. Before bidding adieu to Sagittarius, Mercury goes “out-of-bounds,” which technically means it is extending beyond the “normal” north/south relationship to the earth’s equator. Symbolically this means that Mercury is no longer “bound” by usual rules of behavior; his archetypal energies become more intense and uninhibited. The best way to handle the planet of communication under these circumstances is to think first, then speak. It is similar to Mercury retrograde wherein we need to choose our words carefully, except in this case we don’t get the chance to revisit them. The consequences therefore have greater impact, for good or bad, without the opportunity to correct course, so be alert to all forms of communication for the next two weeks until Mercury goes back in bounds on January 20th. Before the clock strikes midnight, Mercury, after more than two months in fun loving, mutable fire Sagittarius makes his exit and joins the Sun and Pluto in practical cardinal earth Capricorn, shifting the overall planetary emphasis to matters of state. Dane Rudhyar in The Universal Matrix writes that Capricorn’s main focus is the welfare of humanity and each individual only in terms of his contributions to humanity. Mercury in Capricorn, he says, “is a constructive position which is of real value for anyone operating, in ever so small a manner, as a builder of civilization; thus many people of note have it in their natal charts: writers, statesmen, inventors, directors of large social movements or heads of collectivistic groups.” Setting the tone for the inaugural month of the mythical 2012, this is our collective moment to be the builder of a civilization that will mark a new era in our history. How do you want to write it in your life?

On January 8th, as music lovers everywhere honor the 77th anniversary of Elvis Presley’s birth, the Mercurial action continues when the thinking planet trines Jupiter at 0° Taurus, then squares Uranus at 1° Aries. Under this influence, it is conceivable that we could tune into an expanded consciousness so unconventional we would be challenged by the more conservative elements within society, our personal social network, and even ourselves. Just imagine what could happen if we would embrace new forms of thinking and not resist change even though we and everyone around us may be apprehensive about doing something unfamiliar and untried. The key is to tap into Jupiter in Taurus’ practical resourcefulness to identify what can reasonably manifest in the foreseeable future. All we need right now is that first step to begin building our new civilization. The Full Moon at 18° Cancer opposing the Sun at 18° Capricorn will undoubtedly impose its flavor into this aspect gumbo. The Moon is all about personal feelings, the way in which we sense the environment around us, without using our mind. Sublimely at home in Cancer, the Moon at her highest expression intuits the outer environment, focusing and integrating the energies within to a high level of concentration from which she creates form, her “shell” of protection against the cacophony outside. Her constant challenge is to bravely emerge from the secure confines of that shell to outwardly express all that she has discovered deep within using her extraordinary sense perception. The Sun in Capricorn is occupied with building solid walls of structure through which the network of society buzzes with activity. He is not programmed to understand the essence of what he is building; he just knows it is his responsibility to do it. While in his highest expression, the Capricorn Sun is integrity personified, he often times identifies that which he builds with his own personal ego and loses sight of its collective purpose. The dynamic polarity inherent in this annual Full Moon is the pull between the inner experiences of the exquisitely sensitive Cancer Moon and the externally engrossed Capricorn Sun. The key is what separates them – the membrane between inner and outer reality that contains the code to existence understood by both. It is the essence of relating. If we can put our vulnerable sensing nature under the full protection of our inner statesman, and if our inner statesman will allow himself to be touched by his soul nature, we will infuse our capitols, our temples, our universities and societies with their essential purpose to reveal higher truths so that our consciousness may evolve. As a secondary focal point to this Full Moon, Mercury is within orb of major aspects to Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto activating our minds to reach beyond the personal to the transpersonal for creative solutions to build the bridge to our new collective reality.

On January 9th the receptive Moon trines ingenious Uranus at 10:29 p.m. giving us a brief window of opportunity to understand how to navigate the energies of transformation without feeling threatened by them. Then we enter another period of relative planetary quiet as Luna spends the next 47 hours without making an exact aspect to any planet. Finally she breaks the spell on January 11th at 9:28 p.m. when she opposes Venus, setting the stage for us to look at any unresolved issues between the need for security and the need for love, and how we may roll over to satisfy those needs. For several more days the Moon is still the only celestial body making exact aspects to the planets, which means that the only means of communicating they have with one another is through the Moon or our individual natal placements.

On the evening of January 12th the Sun at 22° Capricorn trines Mars at 22° Virgo. While this should indicate easy action, Mars is slowing down and within one degree of the point at which he will station retrograde, so he may not be in the best place to act or at least not act appropriately. While the slow pace Mars is keeping may make it seem like it is hard to get up to speed on anything the trine to the Sun should give us confidence that our core principles will guide us in the right direction, and that self-confidence may inspire others to follow our lead.

Friday the 13th may get a bad rap in certain circles, but the one on January 13th may give us reason to believe differently as Venus gets her chance to co-star in the dream building trine between Saturn and Neptune. First, she trines Saturn at 28° 57’ Aquarius/Libra shortly after 1:00 a.m. This is a harmonious aspect that favors long lasting love and stable relationships. Shortly after 7:00 a.m. she teams up with Neptune at 29°15’ Aquarius elevating her sense of love, beauty and art to the sublime. Not to be completely silenced by Venus’ scene stealing movements, in the midst of it all Mercury conjoins Pluto at 7° Capricorn to give us a profound message. Our deeply probing minds may reveal hidden truths but we must be aware of any mental obsessions. Returning for her final curtain call of the day, Venus detaches herself from Aquarius and enters, exalted, into Pisces. To Rudhyar, Venus is “full of charm and mystery. Venus in Pisces is the dream-lover, the mystic Beloved, Dante’s Beatrice, the ‘redeeming woman’ of the Romantics.” He describes her as fascinating and indefinable. Here at the end of the zodiacal rainbow, Venus wafts in the clouds of memories and fantasies where ideals are made and becomes compassion at its highest expression. Willing to sacrifice herself for the greater good, she would die so that collectively we may be rebirthed at a higher level of consciousness. Venus’ challenge in Pisces is to emerge out of the idealistic ocean of consciousness long enough to feel her individual form and use it to set some boundaries in relations with others and not be doomed to romantic martyrdom.

On January 14th Saturn reaches 29° Libra and will remain at this degree for the next 48 days as he continues moving slowly forward, stations on February 7th, then turns retrograde, not returning to 28° Libra until March 2nd. The Sabian symbol for the last degree of Libra is “Three mounds of knowledge on a philosopher’s head.” The keynote, from An Astrological Mandala by Dane Rudhyar is: “The fulfillment of man’s power of understanding at whatever level of existence the person operates.” Rudhyar goes on to say about this symbol: “A true philosopher is one who is able to ‘understand’ not merely ‘know’ the processes of life as he comes to experience them directly.” He calls it “a holistic approach to knowledge.” Giving us a little relief from Saturn’s long stationary dominance, early in the evening Venus at 1° Pisces sextiles Jupiter at 1° Taurus to give us the sweet taste of the good life. Then things seem to go quiet again with not even the Moon making an exact aspect for more than 30 hours.

While the planets appear to be quiet with only the Moon making exact aspects to them from the 16th to the 18th, all may not be as it seems. While the Universe may be giving us more time to ponder the significance of Saturn hanging in the last degree of Libra, there is a planetary configuration setting up to make some noise: Jupiter at 1° Taurus is in orb for an out-of-sign opposition to Saturn at 29° Libra while the Sun at 25° Capricorn is in orb for squares to both creating a powerful, potentially anxiety provoking T-square. This T-square will continue to get stronger as the Sun moves into an exact square to Saturn, which happens in the early afternoon of January 19th at 29° Capricorn/Libra. Sun square Saturn in itself may present obstacles at every turn. Everything that is being built needs to withstand all tests if it is to succeed. We’ll need to rely on discipline, endurance and determination to achieve our goals. A little sense of humor couldn’t hurt as well. Hopefully, the Jupiterian influence here will add a little levity to the uber seriousness of this configuration, if we can manage to maintain self-assurance in the face of whatever challenges arise. No respectable civilization builder ever left home without the notion that she was all in. Mars moves into 23° Virgo in the evening and will spend a week in this degree space before stationing and moving back to 22° Virgo. Aspects Mars makes to a natal chart or aspects made to transiting Mars by other transiting planets during this time will be greatly amplified. The Sabian symbol for the 24th degree of Virgo is “Mary and her little lamb.” Referring again to An Astrological Mandala, the keynote is apropos: “The need to keep a vibrant and pure simplicity at the core of one’s being as one meets the many tests of existence.”

On January 20th the Sun will bid adieu to Capricorn so stay tuned for the Aquarius AstroCast wherein we will explore this ingress and the other astrological events that await us.

*Times are Pacific Standard Time, unless stated otherwise. Planetary positions are expressed as the degree (rounded to the nearest whole degree) followed by the sign.

**If you aren’t already, be sure to follow Sher Astrology on Twitter to keep up with the daily astrological events.

Are you wondering why you feel some of the transits we talk about and not others or why a friend may feel one but you don’t? If the transiting planet affects a planet in your natal chart, that is, where the planets were at the time you were born, then you are more likely to feel the transit or may feel it stronger than one that does not affect a planet in your natal chart. Don’t have a chart? Would you like one? Let us know.

Winter Solstice arrives on December 21st at 9:30 pm as the Sun moves from high-flying Sagittarius into down-to-earth Capricorn.   While each sign seems to be an antidote to its immediate predecessor in the zodiac, each one also comes equipped with the capability to take the gift of the preceding sign to the next level.  According to Dane Rudhyar in The Universal Matrix, Capricorn “gives stability and substance to the metaphysical, religious or social enthusiasm of Sagittarian thinkers, seers and prophets.  It establishes the dream into the soil of human collectivities and makes it take root in normality – in our ‘common humanity.’  Capricorn puts to practical use what Sagittarius has released.  It builds substantial vehicles for the operation of ideas, engines for the operation of new powers, a body for the divine Spirit to function through, states and empires to serve the purpose of social revolution and social creativeness.  Through states and empires, Capricorn glorifies and perpetuates culture-building power and those that hold collective power.”   The Sun in Capricorn gives us our annual opportunity to focus on the foundations and structures of our lives and to build them up using the elements of our life’s purpose.  Tuning into our internal CEO could give us the inspiration we need to take charge of our lives and slowly but steadily steer it towards our goals.

The Capricorn ingress is the chart most frequently used by mundane astrologers to analyze the energies that will be in play in the coming year for sovereign nations.  For the United States, we look at the chart based in Washington, D.C., December 22nd, 12:30:03 am EST, which features the Sun 0° Capricorn 00’ in the third house of communication and short distance travel straddling the IC with Pluto in the fourth house of home.  The focus of the powers that be in our government will therefore in 2012 likely turn to our country’s domestic challenges.  Mars is rising in the east in Virgo, the sign of service, in the twelfth house of secrets, institutions and self-undoing.  Will this bring greater awareness and attention to serving the needs of the masses or will those needs continue to be placed in the closet while tending to the needs of the few?  Clandestine military maneuvers are also probable.  Retrograde Jupiter is setting in the west, in Taurus in the seventh house of significant relationships, known enemies and contracts, and within orb of an opposition to Saturn in the first house of self. What challenges might these two pose for us?   Saturn demands that we be forthright and disciplined.   Jupiter will expand whatever is foremost in our minds – positive or negative. Are we focusing on our blessings or our misfortunes?  Focusing on the poor economy, unemployment and other negatives could exacerbate the existing conditions.  TIME’s Person of the Year “The Protestor” will certainly have a lot to shout out about in 2012 as the Uranus/Pluto first quarter square tightens its grip.  The Moon, which represents the people, is in Scorpio in the second house of personal finances, how money is made and what is valued.  The Moon is in the balsamic phase, the last of the waning crescent and going dark, possibly meaning that the needs of the 99% may be overlooked again in this election year.  Mercury in Sagittarius joins the Sun in the third house asking for dialog about issues that are close to home.  Our collective philosophies and belief systems ask to be addressed but, as Mercury is unaspected, the discourse may fall on deaf ears.

On December 22nd, six and half hours after the winter solstice, the Moon leaves fixed water Scorpio for mutable fire Sagittarius, leaving no planets in water signs for more than six days.   This means that we will need to make a more conscious effort to tune into our emotions and those of others.  Resist the temptation to stay numb over the holidays.   Connecting with others on an emotional level, even if it seems negative, can be cathartic, especially if done with even a hint of conscious self-observance.   Nine hours after entering Capricorn the Sun has the first of a series of major aspects during this period that offers up the theme of creativity, will, vitality, and perhaps most importantly the heart, the symbolic center of our being.  When the Sun trines Jupiter, still retrograde but stationing at 0° Taurus 23’ it has the potential to pump up us with enthusiasm and add a sense of philosophical purpose to our daily lives.  With the Sun in ambitious Capricorn and Jupiter in resource-conscious Taurus, both practical earth signs, we may find sensible tools to manifest our desired future for the coming year.  And perhaps surprisingly original ones as, less than eight hours later, the Sun squares Uranus at 0° Aries 42’.  We may also feel pulled by conservative or radical forces, depending on which side of the fence we’re on and how these aspects are hitting our natal charts.  Uranus in Aries is the call of freedom squared, which liberates the mind of standard notions and formulas that inhibit the magic of invention.  The Sun in Capricorn favors the inch-by-inch, brick-by-brick stable, reliable (i.e. predictable) approach to life building.  Insisting on a truthful dialogue between the extremes of these two positions could foster a significant break-through where we most need it.

The New Moon on December 24th at 2° Capricorn 34’ sets the tone for the coming month.  What better time for planting new seeds than Christmas Eve as we celebrate both giving and receiving.  However, the annual conjunction of the Sun and Moon in industrious Capricorn strengthens selfish ambitions.   Being so concerned with organizing, building and running the world, Capricorn does not always feel the love and so can act without conscience to achieve its goals.   Amplified by the trine to stationing Jupiter and Square to Uranus, this New Moon is a powerful one so it is important to be conscious of what is motivating us.   Under the influence of this heavy Capricorn energy, we could lose sight of our own humanity.   Only if we are empowered with a higher purpose will the means justify the end.  “We envision a future society,” says Rudhyar, “in which every individual who, having consecrated his or her life to the whole of humanity in Libra, having felt the power of our common humanity in Scorpio, and having seen the Pattern of a truly universal Order in Sagittarius, attempts to courageously and in utter self-sacrifice to perform, in Capricorn, the creative act of positive participation in the building of the new global society. In Capricorn, everyone can become an incarnation. This is the zodiacal Promise, the eternal “Glad News.”

Merry Christmas Day, December 25th, Jupiter stations direct at 0° Taurus 21’.   Hopefully this will translate into a truly joyous day with our hearts expanding to encompass the universe.  Excess is also possible, but what would Christmas be without a little over-indulgence?  Now we enter a period of more than four weeks during which no planets will be retrograde and forward motion will seem easier.  While the general energy may feel like full speed ahead, there is also a point of caution as both Mars and Saturn are slowing down and in their shadows (in the degree space that will be revisited during their upcoming retrogrades).  With Mars having slowed down to just slightly more than 1/3 its normal speed, it may be more advisable to concentrate our energy on existing projects rather than starting new ones.

On December 28th the Sun completes its trio of aspects with the outer planets as it conjuncts Pluto at 7° Capricorn 13’.   After walking through the expansive trine to wise Jupiter and the fractious square to rebellious Uranus, the Sun, which represents our Spirit, touches deep and profound places with Pluto, the source of our power. In Capricorn, this combo could bring forth a ruthless nature that could quash just about anything it wants to, and an intense will that can move mountains.  Imagine what we could accomplish with this power if it were purified by a divine purpose.   Then we could become a steward for real effective change.

On December 30th the Moon in Pisces goes void-of-course at 5:37 am for the next 20 hours giving us ample time to review our dreams of the past year and have a sense of which one we will ride on into the new year.  Best to do this now as tomorrow will leave no room for reflection.

The last day of the year, December 31st, starts with the Moon charging into Aries ensuring all eyes will be forward to the year ahead and not sentimentalizing about days gone by.  As the year draws to a close on the west coast, Mercury finally leaves its shadow at 20° Sagittarius 07’, ready to tread fresh ground in our way of perceiving and making new contacts.   One hour later, at 10:14 pm, the Moon at 10° Aries 13’ makes the first quarter square to the Sun at 10° Capricorn 13’ and 10 minutes later Mercury at 20° Sagittarius 10’ makes a first quarter square to Mars at 20° Virgo 10’.   This brings 2011 to an end on the west coast with a “crises of action” making it a potentially contentious rather than celebratory New Year’s Eve.   The tests we encounter between what we feel (Moon) and what our hearts will (Sun) will be juxtaposed to the clashes between what we think (Mercury) and what we want (Mars).  With the Sun and Mars in realistic earth signs and the Moon and Mercury in inspirational fire, we could best be supported if we look for balanced cooperation above the noise of complaint. Rather than succumbing to argument get out the Erector Set and build a bridge of hope into the New Year.

As 2012 begins the planets seem to be giving each other the silent treatment, as there are no major exact aspects between them until January 7th.  However, we aren’t completely free of the astral dialogue as the Moon makes her rounds, touching every one of them during this time.  With no other planets in water signs (other than the Moon) until Venus enters Pisces on January 13th, this makes the Moon our main resource for emotional awareness.  While the Sun represents our Spirit, the Moon represents our Soul, which has the wisdom gained from living this all before.  As we move into the symbolic new chapter of our lives in the legendary 2012, we would do well to look to the Moon and what she reflects back to remind us of what we’ve learned and the leaps we’ve taken to get where we are at this moment in history.

As we enter the winter season, Mercury has now gone back to its regular, direct motion and on Dec. 25th, 2011, when Jupiter turns direct, none of the planets will be in retrograde. This will be true until Jan. 24th, 2012 when Mars goes retrograde. I will be writing a great deal about this very significant transit later. Actually, it is not rare to have one or more planets in retrograde. Most of the time at least one planet is in retrograde motion. What is rare is to have all of the planets moving forward as they are about to be. This means that we can move forward in the latter part of this year and the first three weeks of January quite easily. The energy for this is there, but that may not help unless one can push past the inertia or lack of desire for movement that often occurs during the holiday season and the first few weeks of January. It may feel like a push-pull which will require us to really decide if we want to engage in action or wait until it feels better.

Having said this though, Mars is now moving much more slowly than it does normally. It usually moves almost one degree a day. But, right now it will only go about one degree per week. This tells us that the normal speedy Martian desire for movement is just not there. Many of us may be sensing this already. Hopefully this information will help us in that we can know that it isn’t just us feeling lazy. To act, we will have to really be conscious about it.

Right now, we are at the end of a Moon cycle. It is called the balsamic phase and lasts until the New Moon, which occurs on Dec. 24 at 10:06am PST. This is a phase of slowing down as the energy that began at the last new moon is running out. It is a time for evaluating where you are and looking forward to the coming new beginnings made possible by the next New Moon. The New Moon on the 24th is at 2°Capricorn which means that it is very cardinal. The Sun has now reached the bottom of its descent (latitude) and is now returning towards the north. We won’t feel it for several months, but the days will be getting longer again. So, even though the winter months represent dormancy in the northern hemisphere, new beginnings are both possible now and encouraged. But there is a caveat. With Mars going retrograde, something it only does once every two years, we can’t really depend on being able to start something completely new. What? OK, then. So, what is possible?

What is possible now is thinking about new ideas, new directions, and new possibilities. I have found that long before I actually make a significant change in my life that it is prepared for by many months, or sometimes years, of thought about it. It can’t go from the idea realm to the manifestation realm without having to go through many steps and even many levels of both contemplation and research. This New Moon is interesting because it contains an exact square to Uranus, the planet of sudden shifts, revolutions and independence. So, the next month is a time to consider major and even radical new ideas and concepts of where you would like to go in the coming future. It is not an ideal time to start completely new projects, though if you are in one now, it is necessary to use this time to move strongly towards furthering its development. And, if you can, try to bring it to some kind of completion.

The best use of this time period is to be very open to new ideas of what is possible for you.

Along with the square to Uranus, this New Moon also trines Jupiter. This is what makes me believe that there are a lot of opportunities presenting themselves. They may not be spectacular as Jupiter is in the stable earth sign of Taurus, but they can be important in a practical way that should not be underestimated. What we do now has a very good chance of succeeding. And, the more you have done the research and the ‘due diligence’, the better the odds.

This holiday season has Venus in Aquarius dominating the landscape. It is a great time for socializing, connecting with family and friends in a casual way that brings people together. Lively communication, some of it even being a bit out there is the way things can go. It should be a fun time for all of us. Maybe there will even be some sharing of astrological ideas. It can certainly stir up a party.

So, here’s wishing you a very happy holiday season.

Best wishes,

Jim Sher

I don’t know if it’s the most wonderful time of the year, but it’s most indulgent, and as we all know, sometimes the most stressful.  For one month there’s suddenly so much to do on top of normal living – the decorating, the shopping, the social engagements.   But for me, the most frustrating part of the holidays is trying to figure out what presents to give.   We all know what it’s like to rush shopping malls in desperation, where they willingly pack the isles with items we would never consider buying for people if we were in our right mind.  (Oh admit it.  Would you really want a cotton candy machine?)

There’s one person who I never have to second guess.  Years ago I started a tradition of giving my mechanic Harry a basket of home-baked cookies.  The thing is, be careful which traditions you start, as they will become expectations (and believe me, when you live in Los Angeles, you want to be very, very good to your mechanic).   Now the assorted baked goodies are so anticipated that he starts dropping hints as early as October (I guess, just in case I forget. Ha.)   One year I made a big batch of my grandmother’s famous spaghetti sauce, filled some nice mason jars and gave them to friends with fresh pasta and a big colander.   Everyone loved it, and all I heard was how it was the best sauce they’ve ever tasted.  (Don’t thank me – thank Nana!)

So I’m dedicating one last  Dine Like Your Sign! to a suggestion of homemade gifts from your kitchen for each sign.  Sure, you can pick up a box of assorted chocolates or those boring Danish butter cookies no one likes but will still eat when all the good stuff is gone.  OR you can whip up some magic in your kitchen that is both sentimental and sensational.   Make a tradition of your own.  There are all kinds of wonderful delights you can create – fresh baked cookies, breads or muffins, or mason jars filled with dry mix recipes so they easily whip up their own goodies with a few ‘wet’ ingredients.  For those with less of a sweet tooth (huh?), what about herb and spice blends or infused oils and vinegars in elegant bottles.   Your creativity will also flourish coming up with ideas to decoratively wrap the gifts.  And it’s even more fun (and less work) if you invite a friend over and spend an afternoon creating in the kitchen keeping pace with some classic Christmas tunes.   Not only will it make for a mini-holiday party of your own, but it’s a whole lot more fun than spending an afternoon trying to find a parking spot at the mall and wresting the last foot massager away from that little old lady.  (She had it coming.)

And don’t forget you-know-who.

(You don’t want to end up on the Naughty List again!)

Ho Ho Ho-liday Contest !!!

It looks like Christmas is coming a little early this year, because we’re having another Dine Like Your Sign Contest! Everyone has been so supportive in all the issues of DLYS! that I wanted to say a very special thank you.  So here’s what I’m going to do…

• Send in your name, mailing address and astrological sign to leeann@sherastrology.com with the subject line reading DLYS! CONTEST.
  

• We’ll have a random drawing to choose not one, but TWO winners!

• The First Place Winner will be able to choose one item from any of the twelve editions of DLYS! If the winner happens to live in the Los Angeles Area, I will put on my apron and come to your home to make the recipe for you!  (Or deliver it pre-made, if you prefer.)   If the winner does NOT live in the Los Angeles Area, you can still choose any item from the entire year of DLYS! (as long as it is non-perishable) and I will send it as fast as the reindeer can fly.

• The Second Place Winner will receive the corresponding goodie for their astrological sign from this Special Holiday Issue of DLYS!

Note:  Previous winners from DLYS! Cancer Contest are not eligible.  So sorry Barbara & Dee!

The deadline is DECEMBER 27th!

Aries

This is your chance to tell them that they’re sweet and OK, a little hot, but they still make everyone nutty!

Spiced Mixed Nuts

2 tablespoons butter, melted
2 tablespoons maple syrup
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
2 teaspoons ancho chile powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
2 cups mixed nuts, such as walnuts, pecans, hazelnuts and almonds

Preheat oven to 375°. Combine maple syrup, Worcestershire, chile powder, cumin, salt, and pepper in a large bowl, stirring well.  Add nuts to syrup mixture; toss well to coat.  Arrange nuts in a single layer on a jelly-roll pan lined with parchment paper.  Bake at 375° for 10 minutes or until lightly browned.  Let rest until cooled and the sugar has hardened, about 10 minutes  Store in an airtight container.

Taurus

Hand mixed jars of savory blends for the special carnivores in your life.

Assorted Meat Rubs

Each rub makes about 1 1/3 cups.  Instructions to include on the gift tag:  Store in airtight containers in a cool, dry place for up to 3 months. Up to 2 hours before cooking, coat 2 pounds of chicken, beef, pork, or seafood with 1 tablespoon of olive oil and sprinkle with 2 to 4 tablespoons of the rub. Cook as desired.

Barbeque Rub

1/2 cup paprika
3 tablespoons brown sugar
3 tablespoons dried oregano
3 tablespoons ground coffee
4 teaspoon kosher salt
1 tablespoons black pepper

Mediteranean Herb Rub

3/4 cup dried basil
1/4 cup dried thyme
2 tablespoons dried sage
2 tablespoons fennel seeds (optional)
1 tablespoon kosher salt
1 tablespoon black pepper

Magic Dust

1/2 cup paprika
1/4 cup kosher salt, finely ground
1/4 cup sugar
2 tablespoons mustard powder
1/4 cup chili powder
1/4 cup ground cumin
2 tablespoons ground black pepper
1/4 cup granulated garlic
2 tablespoons cayenne

Gemini

A tingly citrus surprise. Send with an airy angel food cake, or in a breakfast basket with a lemon poppy seed pancake mix.

Rosemary & Lemon Syrup

1 cup sugar
1 cup fresh lemon juice
1/4 cup roughly chopped rosemary leaves

In a small saucepan over medium-high heat, bring sugar and fresh lemon juice to a boil.  Add rosemary leaves. Reduce heat to maintain a simmer and cook until slightly thickened, about 10 minutes.  Add the zest of 1 lemon.  Transfer syrup to a small metal bowl and let sit until cool, about 10 minutes. Strain (discard the zest and rosemary) and use warm, let cool to room temperature, or store, covered and chilled, up to six months.

Cancer

Do they make scented candles to smell like freshly baked bread?  If not, they should!   Give them with a loaf of this — and a HUG!  (They’ll probably like the hug best of all.)

Cranberry Orange Bread with Grand Marnier Glaze

1 1/2 cups unsalted butter, softened, plus more for buttering pan
1 1/2 cups sugar
4 eggs
1 cup orange juice
1 cup sour cream
2 tablespoons freshly grated orange zest
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
4 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups dried cranberries
2 cups powdered sugar
7 to 8 tablespoons Grand Marnier or other orange liqueur

Preheat oven to 330° F.   Butter two 6-cup-capacity loaf pans (or, if making the mini loaves, butter six 2-cup-capacity pans).  With an electric or standing mixer on medium speed, cream butter and sugar together in a large bowl until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes.   Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each.  Add orange juice, sour cream, orange zest, and vanilla; mix until blended.  In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.   Add flour mixture and cranberries to wet ingredients, and mix just until dry ingredients are absorbed. (Do not overmix.)

Pour batter into prepared loaf pans.  Bake until a toothpick inserted in centers of breads comes out clean, 70 to 75 minutes for large loaves and 60 minutes for mini loaves.  Meanwhile, in a small bowl, whisk together powdered sugar and 7 tablespoons Grand Marnier.  (Glaze should have consistency of thick maple syrup or corn syrup. If it is too thick, thin with an additional tablespoon of liqueur.)  Let loaves cool in pans for 10 minutes, then remove and transfer to a cooling rack set over a large baking sheet.  With a thin skewer or long toothpick, poke deep holes in tops of loaves.  Drizzle with Grand Marnier glaze so that it coats the top, runs down the sides, and seeps through the holes. Let loaves cool completely, then wrap decoratively. Makes 2 regular loaves or 6 mini-loaves.

Leo

Fancy and seasonal. If the gift includes hand feeding them, I’m sure they won’t object.

Gingerbread Truffles

8 oz good quality bittersweet chocolate, chopped
8 oz good quality white chocolate, chopped
1 cup heavy cream
10 whole allspice berries
10 whole cloves
1 tablespoon molasses
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1 1/2 teaspoons grated fresh ginger root (use micro-plane grater)
16 oz bittersweet chocolate, melted to 115 degrees, for enrobing
Cinnamon, for dusting

Heat the cream with the allspice berries, cloves, molasses, cinnamon, sea salt, and grated ginger in a small saucepan.   When it reaches a boil, turn off the heat and let it steep at room temperature for 1 hour.  Meanwhile, chop the bittersweet and white chocolate and place in a large heatproof bowl.   When the cream has steeped for an hour, briefly heat it back up to a simmer then pour it through a fine-mesh sieve over the chopped chocolate. Let this mixture sit for about 5 minutes, so the chocolate will soften and melt.  Stir with a spatula gently until all the chocolate has melted and the ganache mixture is smooth and glossy. Chill the ganache for 3 hours so it firms up before scooping it.

After 3 hours, scoop the ganache into 1-inch balls, using either a spoon, a spring-loaded cookie dough scoop, or a melon baller.  Place the balls on a parchment-lined sheet pan, and chill overnight.

The next day, melt bittersweet chocolate in a bowl set over a pan of barely simmering water.  Take the bowl off the heat, let the chocolate cool to 115° F, then begin the process of enrobing the truffles: place a ball in the chocolate, use a fork to gently turn it so it gets fully coated, then lift it out of the ganache with the fork, tapping the side of the fork on the edge of the bowl to remove any excess melted chocolate.  Place on a parchment-lined sheet pan.  The chocolate will start to set up pretty quickly, so have your ground cinnamon nearby – sprinkle just a little on the top of each truffle.  Chill the enrobed truffles in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour, to harden fully.   Makes about 32 truffles.

Virgo

For all those health food nuts, here’s a little homemade nut butter with a mix for one of my absolute favorite bread recipes – dense and grainy. (If you’d prefer, you can make the bread and give it gift wrapped.)

Toasted Walnut Butter with Dried Cherries & Cacoa Nibs

2 cups raw, organic walnuts
1 tablespoon toasted walnut oil
1 tablespoon pure maple syrup, plus more to taste
1/4 cup unsweetened, unsulphured dried cherries, chopped
Pinch or two of fine Himalayan or sea salt (start with one pinch, blend, taste, and add more if needed)
1-2 tablespoons cacao nibs or finely chopped dark chocolate

Heat oven to 300° F.  Toast walnuts for 20 minutes and then cooled slightly (if you have time to soak your walnuts in water overnight first, go ahead and do so…this can help make them easier to digest; if you do soak them, rinse them in clean water and pay dry before toasting them, or skip the toasting step).  Process walnuts in blender (or food processor).  Add oil, if needed, to help blend them as they start to get sticky.  Keep blending until the mixture smooths out.  Add maple syrup, dried cherries, and salt, and process again.  Taste and add more salt or maple syrup, if necessary.  Using a rubber spatula, scrape the walnut butter into a small bowl and add the cacao nibs.  Mix well, then pack into a decorative one cup glass jar. Store in the refrigerator!  Will keep for a few weeks.

Swope Bread Mix

1 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups whole wheat flour
1/2 cup white sugar
1 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons baking soda

Mix dry ingredients in bowl and pour into mason jar. Wrap decoratively and include the following instructions.

Gift Card: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).  Lightly grease 9×5 inch loaf pan. In a large bowl empty mix. In a separate bowl, dissolve 2 teaspoons baking soda in 2 cups buttermilk.  Stir buttermilk into flour mixture. Beat well. Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake in preheated oven for one hour.

Libra

These cozy beverages will come in handy when company drops in to socialize.  And homemade marshmallows, just as light and sweet as your Libras.

Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix with Bailey’s Marshmallows

1 vanilla beans
2 cups granulated sugar
12 oz high-quality semisweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
5 oz dark chocolate, coarsely chopped
1 cups Dutch process cocoa

Split and scrape vanilla beans and place in a large bowl or jar with the sugar.  Work seeds into the sugar with your fingers. Bury the pods under the sugar.   Cover tightly and let stand overnight (or up to months–vanilla sugar keeps forever) at room temperature.

In a food processor fitted with metal blade, process semisweet chocolate and dark chocolate until finely ground, using 4-second pulses.  Process in batches, if necessary.  Remove pod from sugar.  Add ground chocolate and cocoa powder to sugar and whisk to blend, making sure to combine well.   Store mix airtight at room temperature for up to six months.  To serve, heat 2 Tbsp of mix with 8 oz of milk over medium heat. Makes 76 2-Tbsp servings

Bailey’s Marshmallows

3 envelopes unflavored gelatin
1/2 cup Baileys Irish Creme
1 1/2 cup sugar
1 cup light corn syrup
1/8 tsp salt
1/2 cup water
1 tsp vanilla
Powdered sugar, for coating and dusting
Baking spray

Place Baileys in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment and sprinkle gelatin over top.  All of the powder should absorb within a few minutes – you might need to swirl the liquid in the bowl if powder remains on top. In a medium sauce pan, heat sugar, corn syrup, salt, and water over medium heat and stir constantly until the temperature reaches soft ball stage (240°F).    Add the heated sugar mixture in a slow, thin stream to the stand mixer while on low.  Increase speed to high and whip for 15 minutes, until thickened and mostly cooled.

Spray an 8×8 pan with baking spray and coat with powdered sugar.  Pour marshmallow into the prepared pan and let sit at room temperature for at least 4 hours (I always do overnight).   Dust your work surface with powdered sugar and turn the marshmallow out of the pan (pull up one of the corners of the marshmallow, flip, and let gravity do the rest).  Using a greased pizza cutter or knife, cut the marshmallows into 1-inch squares, dusting the cut edges with powdered sugar to prevent sticking.  Makes 64 Marshmallows (minus the casualties along the way. Oh no you didn’t….)

Store the marshmallows in a gallon zip-top bag with a few additional spoonfuls of powdered sugar (shake the closed bag to evenly distribute the powdered sugar).

Mexican Hot Chocolate Mix with Maple Marshmallows

3 cups non fat dry milk powder
1 3/4 cups powdered sugar
1/4  cup brown sugar
1 1/2 cups cocoa powder
3/4 cup white chocolate chips
3/4 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
1/4 Tsp. salt
2 Tsp. corn starch
1/2  Tsp. cinnamon
1/4 Tsp. cayenne pepper

In a large bowl, whisk together all ingredients.   In batches, pulse mixture in a food processor until smooth and well combined.  Store in a sealed container in a dry and dark place.

To make hot chocolate, put 1/3 cup of mixture into a mug and mix with hot water or milk.   Top with marshmallows and a sprinkle of cinnamon.

Maple Marshmallows

3 Tbsp. unflavoured gelatin powder (3 packets)
1/2 cup and 2 tablespoons of cold water
1 Tbsp. vanilla extract
1 Tsp. maple extract
3/4 cup water
1 1/4 cup dark corn syrup
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
pinch salt
2 cups powdered sugar, divided
1 cup corn starch, divided

Prepare a 9×13 in baking pan with cooking spray. (Ensure the entire dish is coated, as the marshmallow mixture is very sticky. Combine 1/2 cup of powdered sugar with 1/4 cup cornstarch. Sift mixture into the baking dish and shake so the dish is coated. Set aside.

In a large bowl combine gelatin, vanilla extract, and maple extract with 1/2 cup and 2 tablespoons of cold water.   Gently whisk mixture until well combined and no lumps remain.   Continue to whisk until the gelatin reaches a consistency similar to baby food (about one minute).  Set aside.  In a medium saucepan combine 3/4 cup water, corn syrup, granulated sugar, and salt.  Whisk to combine and bring to a boil over medium high heat.  Cover pot, reduce heat and simmer for about 2 and a half minutes . Remove from heat.   Pour mixture over gelatin and beat on medium with an electric mixer until combined, about one minute.  Increase speed to maximum and beat for 15-20 minutes until the mixture is glossy and makes meringue like peaks.

Pour marshmallow mixture into prepared 9×13 inch dish and spread evenly.  Wet spatula and smooth the top until it’s even.   Leave the marshmallow mixture uncovered on a counter for 24 hours to set.  Once the marshmallows have set, prepare your workspace.  Combine remaining powdered sugar and cornstarch in a medium sized bowl.  Dust some of the mixture onto a cutting board.

Wet a sharp knife and drag it along the edges of the 9×13 inch dish to loosen the marshmallow mixture.   Sprinkle some of the powdered sugar onto the top of the marshmallows and flip the dish onto prepared cutting board.  Cut the marshmallows into squares, occasionally wetting the knife to make more precise cuts.  Toss marshmallow squares in the cornstarch sugar mixture until well coated.  Store marshmallows in a sealed container, layered between wax paper until gift wrapping.

Scorpio

That dark exterior is hiding a complex combination of salty and sweet. But you already knew that.

Dark Chocolate Cookies with Sea Salt Caramel Surprise

2 1/2 cups flour
3/4 cup unsweetened dark chocolate cocoa (Hershey’s sells it)
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup butter, softened
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 eggs
30-36 sea salt caramel candies (Trader Joe’s carries them)
2 tablespoons sugar

Preheat oven to 375° F. In a large mixing bowl, add sugar, brown sugar, butter, eggs and vanilla.   Mix together until well blended.  Add flour, cocoa and baking soda and mix well.  Refrigerate and chill dough for 30 minutes.  Roll dough into 1 inch balls and place caramel candy in the center of each dough ball.   Form the dough ball around the majority of the candy.  Roll each dough ball in sugar.  Very important step – do NOT pop in your mouth, but place sugar-side up on a baking sheet, about two inches apart. (It just had to be said.)   Bake for 7-10 minutes.  Let cool on pan for 1 minute then take off and place on cookie cooling rack.  Makes about three dozen cookies (minus whatever dough was ‘lost’ in the preparation. Hee hee!)

Sagittarius

The classic Italian holiday bread – fruity, but buttery light. After all, there’s a reason you see walls of them lining the stores during the holidays.

Panettone

1 cup golden raisins (5 oz)
1/2 cup sweet Marsala
1/2 cup warm milk (105–115°F)
2/3 cup plus 2 teaspoons sugar
4 teaspoons active dry yeast (from two 1/4-oz packages)
3 1/4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
3 large eggs at room temperature for 30 minutes
1 large egg yolk
1 tablespoon finely grated fresh lemon zest
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter, cut into 8 pieces and softened, plus additional for buttering cans
1 cup diced fine-quality candied citron (not a supermarket brand; 6 oz)
1 large egg yolk
1 tablespoon water

**Special equipment: a stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment; 2 (10- to 15-oz) clean coffee cans (paper or plastic labels removed); parchment paper

Simmer raisins in Marsala in a small saucepan 2 minutes.  Remove from heat and let stand until cooled to room temperature.  Meanwhile, stir together warm milk and 2 teaspoons sugar in bowl of mixer.  Sprinkle yeast over mixture and let stand until foamy, about 5 minutes.  (If yeast doesn’t foam, discard and start over with new yeast.)  Add 1/4 cup flour and beat at medium speed until combined.  Add whole eggs, yolk, zest, lemon juice, salt, and remaining 2/3 cup sugar and beat until incorporated.  Reduce speed to low, then mix in remaining 3 cups flour, 1/2 cup at a time.  Increase speed to medium-high, then gradually beat in butter, a few pieces at a time, and continue to beat until dough is shiny and forms strands from paddle to bowl, 4 to 6 minutes.  (Dough will be very soft and sticky.)  Drain raisins, discarding Marsala, then add to dough along with candied citron and mix at low speed until incorporated.   Scrape dough into a lightly oiled bowl and cover bowl with plastic wrap.  Let dough rise in a draft-free place at warm room temperature until doubled in bulk, 2 to 3 hours.

While dough rises, generously butter coffee cans and line bottom and side of each with parchment (use a round for bottom and a rectangle for side). Punch down dough with lightly floured hands and turn out onto a lightly floured surface. Halve dough and scoop 1 half into each can, pressing gently to expel any air bubbles.  Loosely cover cans with lightly buttered plastic wrap.  Let dough rise in a draft-free place at warm room temperature until dough reaches top of cans, 2 to 3 hours.  (Alternatively, let dough rise in refrigerator 8 to 12 hours; bring to room temperature, 3 to 4 hours, before baking.)

Put oven rack in lower third of oven and preheat oven to 375°F.   Beat together yolk and water and lightly brush top of dough with egg wash.  Bake until tops are deep golden brown and bottoms sound hollow when tapped (remove from cans first), 35 to 40 minutes.  (Firmly thump bottoms of inverted cans to remove.)  Transfer loaves to a rack and discard parchment.  Cool to room temperature.

Note: Panettone keeps, wrapped tightly in plastic wrap and then foil, frozen 3 weeks.  (Yeah, like it will last that long..)

Capricorn

The mighty goats aren’t much into the sweets, so why not go savory? Here’s a unigue homemade mustard with apricots steeped in bourbon. It can be paired with some specialty sausages, crackers, soft pretzels, etc.

Apricot-Bourbon Mustard

2/3 cup yellow mustard seeds
1 cup bourbon, such as Maker’s Mark
2/3 cup water
2/3 cup packed chopped dried apricots
4 tablespoons cider vinegar
4 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon kosher or sea salt

Put the mustard seeds in a medium bowl and pour in 2/3 cup of the bourbon and the water.  Soak the mustard seeds overnight or for up to 24 hours.

At least 1 hour before you plan to make the mustard, put the apricots in a bowl and pour in the remaining 1/3 cup bourbon.  Macerate the apricots until most of the bourbon is absorbed. (The apricots need to soak for a minimum of 1 hour, or you can start soaking them at the same time you prepare the mustard seeds.)

Before making the mustard, wash the jars and lids in hot, soapy water and dry thoroughly.  Alternatively, run the jars through the regular cycle of your dishwasher.

To make the mustard, first strain the mustard seeds, reserving the soaking liquid.  Set aside the mustard seeds.  In a food processor fitted with the metal blade, combine the apricots, any unabsorbed bourbon remaining in the bowl, cider vinegar, honey, and salt.  Purée until almost smooth.  Add the mustard seed soaking liquid and continue to purée until smooth.  Add the mustard seeds and process until about half of the seeds are cracked and the others are incorporated but still whole.  Evenly divide the mustard among the prepared condiment jars, leaving 1/2 inch headspace.  Wipe the rims clean and secure the lids.  Label and refrigerate for at least 2 weeks to allow the flavors to develop and mature.  Makes enough to fill four (6-ounce) condiment jars.  Refrigerate for a minimum of 2 weeks for full flavor and up to 3 months.

Gift Card: This Apricot-Bourbon Mustard was made on [give date] and can be enjoyed for up to 3 months, kept in the refrigerator.

Aquarius

Someone has to get the fudge.  It’s tradition!  Best to give to the Aquarians, because they’re all about communal property.

Peppermint Pistachio Fudge

2 tablespoons unsalted butter
6 oz. semi-sweet chocolate chips
6 oz. bitter-sweet, or dark chocolate chips
14 oz. can organic condensed milk
1 cup roughly chopped pistachios
1 teaspoon concentrated peppermint extract (my addition for a holiday flavor, vary this based on the strength of the extract you find – taste test before pouring into the pan to set!)

Over a double boiler, melt the butter on low heat.  Add the chocolate and stir till it all melts smoothly.   Add the condensed milk and peppermint extract, and mix.   Add the nuts, mix, then take it off the heat and pour it into a big, shallow foil pan.  A bigger pan means more pieces, and shallow means not as large a piece.   Let the whole thing cool to room temperature, then refrigerate till the fudge sets.  Slice the fudge into little squares of varying size, so you can decide just how Nice or Naughty the recipients are(!).  Keep stored in a container lined with parchment in the fridge.

Egg Nog Fudge

2 cups granulated sugar
1/2 cup butter
3/4 cup dairy eggnog
10.5 ounces white chocolate bars, chopped into small pieces
1/2 tsp freshly grated nutmeg, plus a little more for the top of the fudge
7 ounce jar marshmallow creme
1 teaspoon rum extract

Line a 8 or 9-inch square pan with foil and let it hang over the sides.  Butter the foil. In a heavy, 3-qt saucepan combine sugar, butter, and eggnog.  Bring to a rolling boil, stirring constantly.  Continue boiling 8-10 minutes over medium heat or until a candy thermometer reaches 234°F, stirring constantly to prevent scorching.  Remove from heat.  Using a wooden spoon, work quickly to stir in chopped white chocolate and nutmeg until chocolate is melted and smooth.  Stir in marshmallow creme and rum extract.  Beat until well blended and then pour into prepared pan.  Sprinkle with a little freshly ground nutmeg on top.  Let stand at room temperature until cooled.  Refrigerate if you’d like to speed up the process.  When completely cool, cut into squares.  Store in covered container.

Pisces

Enough of these magic balls, and you’ll be transported to a very dreamy place. Just make sure those sugar plum fairies don’t get you! They’re wicked.

Spiced Bourbon Balls

1/2 cup chopped raisins
1/4 cup bourbon
2 cups chocolate wafer crumbs (about 18 ounce package)
1/2 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 cup finely chopped pecans
1/4 cup unsulfured molasses
Finely chopped pecans or cocoa powder for coating

In the small bowl macerate (soak) the chopped raisins in the bourbon for 15 minutes.  In the large bowl stir well the chocolate wafer crumbs, dark brown sugar, pecans, cinnamon, ginger, and cloves.  Add the raisin mixture and molasses and stir until the mixture clumps together.  Shape the mixture into 1-inch balls (we made them smaller) . If the balls are a little dry and crumble, sprinkle some more bourbon over the mixture and stir again.  Roll the balls in the chopped pecans or the cocoa powder.  Store the bourbon balls in an airtight container in a cool dark place for at least 1 week before serving.   (Time is what makes them extra boozie.)  Makes about 36 balls.

Espresso Grand Marnier Balls

1 package (9 ounces) chocolate wafers
1 cup skinned toasted hazelnuts
1-1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar
1 Tablespoon instant espresso powder
1/2 cup Grand Marnier or other orange liqueur
2-1/2 Tablespoons light corn syrup
1/2 cup granulated sugar

Pulverize the chocolate wafers and hazelnuts together in a food processor.  Add the confectioners’ sugar and process to combine.  Dissolve the espresso in the Grand Marnier and add to the chocolate crumbs along with the corn syrup.  Process until the mixture forms a moist mass.  Break off small pieces of the dough and roll them into 1-inch balls. Place the granulated sugar in a shallow bowl and roll each ball in the sugar to coat. Store loosely packed between layers of waxed paper in a cookie tin.  Let age 1 week before serving.  Makes 4 to 4-1/2 dozen cookies.