Up To Now ✩ Day-to-Day Transits

Moon comes In-Bounds

The Moon now comes back In-Bounds (InB) by declination after being Out-of-Bounds from Dec. 27, 2024 (26 SC 48) to Jan. 1, 2025 (03 AQ 37).

While the Moon was Out of Bounds (OOB) your emotional state may have been a bit disconnected, detached, isolated, or pushing you to go beyond your usual potential. This could have been either a welcome change or a difficult energy for you to deal with. So, when the Moon comes In-Bounds, you typically return to whatever your "normal" is. If your OOB journey was stressful or intense, you may find some relief now that the Moon is back In-B, or you're now in a position to integrate what you've learned from your experience. If your OOB journey felt like a welcome reprieve from the everyday stress or "noise" of the world around you, coming back In-B will hopefully give you a fresh start, like coming back from a brief vacation. The Moon will go OOB next in about 10 days, give or take.

Mercury trine Chiron

Your mental focus and communication now get an injection of healing energy. Cynicism and depression may soften now, as you become more receptive to a more optimistic viewpoint. If you have been caught up in escapism or "stinkin' thinkin'" (thinking you're more in control of your impulses than you really are), you may now find some relief and healing. Mental argument and critical "self-talk" can now find some reconciliation and acceptance that brings some peace of mind. You have increased ability to find the right words and understanding to help others with their problems. Compassion and empathy may be more accessible because you can identify your own experiences with what you see in others. You might also find someone who can give you good advice or support about your own problems – possibly a teacher or mentor – or you could become this to someone else.

Pluto sextile North Lunar Node

When the North Node sextiles Pluto, you may have an opportunity to bring greater commitment, empowerment, courage and dedication to where you're trying to get to in life. That goal itself may or may not be a major thing in your life, but the renewed determination might be easier to embrace now. Alternatively, is it possible you've become a bit too obsessed and controlling, in which case it could help to step back and allow the situation unfold more naturally. There's a difference between forcing a specific outcome versus working with the energies within the situation. It may be easier now to focus your efforts on your own internal empowerment, rather than attempting absolute control over the external situation. This transit probably has more than one pass, and each pass will be most active for a week or two before and after this date.

Mars goes Out of Bounds

Mars is Out-of-Bounds (OOB) by declination from Sep. 6 (00 CN 50) to Sep. 18, 2024 (08 CN 15).

During this time, you have an opportunity to encounter new experiences that challenge your courage, aggression or taking action, as well as expressing passion, anger and forcefulness. For example, you might let yourself be inspired to champion a cause, or you might decide that now is the time to do something you've been hesitating about for a while and were just waiting for the right moment. Or, you may find your temper burns a bit hotter or on a shorter fuse than usual. Or, you might lack patience and try to force the issues that don't unfold smoothly in your favour.

There is a less constructive side of Mars to watch for, as well. For instance, bold action could become reckless if it's not balanced with wisdom, realistic expectations and awareness of the consequences that you might have to live with afterwards. Anger and frustration could flare up more easily or intensely than usual, which is probably best expressed in constructive ways that don't leave ashes and ruins behind you.

Your instincts could be finely tuned during this time, picking up on distant or subtle signals and relaying these to your impulses which result in doing things without a lot of conscious forethought. This can feel exciting or energizing, but remember that you will still have to live with the results, so if you find this is creating problems it might be best to slow things down a bit so you can consider your best course of action before actually doing it. It's also possible that during this time you won't notice much at all. Not everyone is attuned to the OOB Mars energy, although you still might observe it in others around you. Or, your experience of this Mars energy might be a quieter signal that you need to focus on more carefully to get a clear sense of it.

NEW MOON IN CAPRICORN

A new 4-week cycle begins with the New Moon in Capricorn, ruled by serious Saturn. Capricorn is the sign of realism, authority, structure and achievement. This lunar cycle can be used to work with this energy – to start, continue or finish a project, and to acknowledge your successes; or to get serious about something that's falling apart, or to come to terms with something you've been avoiding. This Earth sign works best toward a concrete or clearly defined goal. As a Cardinal sign, Capricorn's purpose is to map out the steps, resources and skills needed to reach that goal. You can find more about this in the Low-Down on the Far-Out blog.

You can read more about this New Moon chart in the Low-Down on the Far-Out.

Chiron goes Direct

For up to a week before and after this date, you may feel a bit like you're caught between worlds—the spiritual versus the physical, the mental versus the emotional, or the outer objective world versus your inner subjective experience. Chiron has been retrograde for the last 4½ months, giving us time to assess the places in our lives that need healing and to discover the ways that we might be wounding ourselves or others. This includes physical health issues, emotional vulnerability and mental perspectives that create more problems than they solve. As Chiron turns direct, everything we have learned over the last five months becomes ready to be applied over the coming three months (while Chiron is still in the Shadow). Right now, you might find you reach a decision or turning point about issues you have wrestled with since May concerning goals, career, expectations or authority. If these issues have been stressful, this might come out now in the form of health problems, so it's a good idea to be gentle yet disciplined with yourself in this area. It could be a time of ambiguity, feeling like you're caught in a whirlpool that mixes up possibilities with limitations. Or, you might experience some clarity, as the paradoxical coexistence of realities and potentials on the path before you come into clearer focus. Either way, it is a time that can be magical because of its ability to bridge the gap between what is and what might be.

Venus square Uranus

Under this transit, you may be tempted by impulse spending, or you might be somewhat erratic in your use of resources. This can result in unpredictable or unstable finances, so double check your bank accounts and credit cards before you draw on them. It is also a time when the way you relate to others (or they to you) could be somewhat inconsistent, fickle or impulsive. If your relationships or financial situation have been struggling with difficulties for a while, this transit could bring a lingering problem to the surface and require attention. On one hand, this could be a welcome breath of fresh air that cuts through the complexity of your problems and puts the cards on the table (despite the stress and conflict that likely triggered it). Or, you might feel resistance to making these changes and instead experience this as a time of unwelcome instability, upset and adjustment. However, this may be a good way to break free of excessive restraint, control or structure, which allows new possibilities to emerge that couldn't do so otherwise.

Moon goes Out of Bounds

The Moon is Out-of-Bounds (OOB) by declination from Dec. 13 (27 TA 02) to Dec. 18, 2024 (03 LE 53).

During this time, your feelings and emotions may move in a different kind of rhythm. One possible effect is that you might feel more disconnected from the world around you; perhaps a bit alone, lonely or isolated. Or, this could be a welcome change where you can let the stresses of the world roll off your back more easily. Or, your emotions could be a bit erratic, extreme or harder to contain. The common thread through these diverse experiences is that your feeling state may reach beyond your usual range of feelings. If you're an artist, musician, writer or other creative person, this can be a very inspiring time as your creativity and imagination could more easily flow into unusual ideas, whims and impulses. Watch to see how you respond during this time. You can work on finding ways to channel this energy into positive, productive, creative experiences, or use it as an opportunity to take another step in your emotional healing.

Mercury square Saturn

Your thoughts, ideas and communication need to become structured, rational and discreet, although this may not be easy to achieve. You may have to work extra hard to get your point across now, since others might be resistant to your ideas or may not be familiar with the basic concepts. It is a time to be clear, objective and down-to-earth in your communication and thinking, but equally important to do this without going overboard and becoming rigid, autocratic or over-cautious. If you find yourself stuck in a "glass half empty" frame of mind, you might be sagging under the weight of melancholy... Or, it might mean you are coming to terms with some hard realities and decisions and feeling the gravity of the implications. But also check to be sure you're not taking yourself and your situation too seriously. By applying your best efforts, this can be a very productive time, especially with anything involving communication, writing, organising or logic.

Mercury opposite Jupiter

Your thoughts and words can become amplified under this transit, which could bring a sense of adventure, a surge of ideas, and/or imbalance due to exaggeration. You may find it's hard to stop talking (or writing), your head is filled with so many possibilities. However, your judgment about the validity of your ideas may be a bit off, or you might feel the urge to overstate your position to keep from being misunderstood. Blame and judgment could creep into your perceptions of others or the other way around. This might spring from a need to find a greater meaning or truth in the facts, having difficulty bridging the gap between the raw information and the big picture. The trick is to keep a balance between simplicity and elaborate complexity. The challenge is to find ways to express, think about and understand the vast range of possibilities and meaning within the perceptions of everyday life. Not all of it will survive the translation, but enormous spiritual creativity can be generated in the trying.

Mercury Max Elongation from Sun
(Morning Star)

Mercury reaches its greatest elongation from the Sun today, meaning it's as far away from the Sun as it's going to get (from Earth's perspective). Mercury is the Morning Star, meaning it is visible in the Eastern sky just before sunrise, which occurs after Mercury has turned Direct and a few days before it leaves the Retrograde Shadow.

Thoughts, awareness and decision-making tend to be clearer, and your path ahead may be easier to see. It can be a good time to reflect on the information and awareness you've gathered in the last couple of months and finalize plans for how best to act on these. If you were feeling confused or frustrated during the retrograde period, things can make more sense now. Let this be a time of fresh perspective and awareness.

Mercury makes the following aspects during this retrograde cycle (all dates in North American Eastern Time):

• Mercury sextile Venus ~ Dec. 13, 2024, Jan. 19, 2025
• Mercury trine Mars ~ Nov. 2, 2024, (SD 00:43 orb – Dec. 15, 2024), Feb. 23, 2025
• Mercury opposite Jupiter ~ Nov. 18, Dec. 4, 2024, Dec. 26, 2024
• Mercury square Saturn ~ Nov. 12, 2024, Dec. 6, 2024, Dec. 27
• Mercury trine Chiron ~ Nov. 19, 2024, Dec. 2, 2024, Dec. 31, 2024

Here are the key dates of this Mercury cycle (for North American Eastern Time):

• Mercury enters the Shadow: Nov. 7, 2024 ~ 06:23 Sagittarius
• Mercury-Sun max elongation: Nov. 16, 2024 ~ 17:09 Sagittarius
• Mercury stationary Retrograde: Nov. 25, 2024 ~ 22:40 Sagittarius
• Mercury Rx conjunct the Sun: Dec. 5, 2024 ~ 14:27 Sagittarius
• Mercury stationary Direct: Dec. 15, 2024 ~ 06:23 Sagittarius
• Mercury-Sun max elongation: Dec. 25, 2024 ~ 24:59 Sagittarius
• Mercury leaves the Shadow: Jan. 2, 2025 ~ 12:13 Sagittarius

Jupiter square Saturn

Jupiter and Saturn have a very long combined cycle—20 years! This is the quarter-way mark (waxing square) in the current cycle, which began with the conjunction ion in Taurus back in 2000. At this stage of the cycle, you are challenged to make a deeper commitment to long-term projects, goals and growth that have started to emerge in your life since 2000. It is a time to evaluate your development since then. "What development? " you might ask. Five years is a long time to think back and compare to the present day.

At that time you might have experienced the end of certain hopes and dreams, although this cleared the way for new ones, which are now starting to take shape. In 2000 you might also have found your spiritual beliefs, practices and faith changing, perhaps to make them more applicable to your physical circumstances. Or, you might have wanted to find a more spiritual, uplifting and optimistic understanding of the external world of cause and effect. So, think back to 2000 and the far-reaching changes that were starting to take place in your life then. What has happened as a result of those changes? Where are you now in the long-term process that has unfolded since then? And where would you like to be five years from now on this journey?

The 3 passes of this transit form a process of committing to a more conscious focus in order to achieve your long-term goal. Is there anything about your goal or plan that needs to be adjusted or changed now? What's holding you back from taking the next step? What dreams, inspiration, knowledge, perspective, faith or optimism can carry you beyond this point? What must you do now to get back on track, or to ensure that you stay on track? This is a major turning point in your process, and the turn will take almost a year to complete. This is a good time to check in with your goals and reaffirm the inspiration that motivated you to begin your direction 5 years ago and where you want to be in another 5 years.

Venus sextile Chiron

Although this transit lasts for only a few days, it is possible to make some progress in your healing and rebalancing efforts, although it will take some effort to make it happen. This may show itself in relationships, social interaction, finances, values, health or your spiritual connection to the Universe. You have an increased ability to negotiate with others and with your circumstances to achieve a fair compromise that results in equal sacrifice and benefit for all concerned. However, there is a risk of wanting to avoid conflict and discord so much that you negotiate beyond what you are truly comfortable with – peace at any price. By accepting and embracing the effort or struggle that is required, you can get out of your own way and achieve a more healing balance in those struggles. You now have increased ability to facilitate changes in situations that are within your control. It can also be easier to accept and adapt to that which lies beyond your control. Your effect on others can be potentially healing right now, especially by helping them find a new balance and point of acceptance in the conflicts and struggles of their lives.

Sun square North Lunar Node

When the Sun squares the Lunar Nodes, your sense of purpose and identity appear to be in conflict with the lessons you need to learn in life. It may feel like you're forced to take a detour around your direct route to your destination (whatever that might be). This may only be true on the surface – if you look deeper at the situation (or possibly in retrospect), you'll probably find that your sense of self is actually helped by the benefits that you are able to get on that detour, which would have missed if you hadn't been diverted from your original path.

Alternatively, you might be confronted by a conflict or stressful dilemma that you usually resist or flail against. This may be an opportunity to explore a deeper level of your experience and feelings. Perhaps there is fear or resentment or defiance behind your reaction. This is a chance to try on a different perspective and respond in a different way that can help you move through the situation instead of just being blocked by it.

When the Sun squares the Nodes it is sometimes called "Moon Wobbles," which is a bit of a misnomer. The Moon itself doesn't wobble or even necessarily interact directly with either the Nodes or the Sun. Rather, the Moon part of us (the inner, feeling, intuitive, sensitive part of us) may feel a bit "wobbly" or unsteady when the Sun squares the Nodes. The "Moon Wobble" effects are said to build and dissipate for up to 10 days before and after the Sun-Node square is exact.

Sun enters Capricorn

Happy Solar Return to all Capricorns! And Happy Solstice and Happy Yule to all of us! When the Sun enters Capricorn each year, it marks the Winter Solstice in the northern hemisphere (longest night) and the Summer Solstice in the southern hemisphere (longest day). Yule is the traditional celebration of the December solstice in European-derived cultures, welcoming the start of the increasing light. While the Sun is in Capricorn, we have the opportunity to explore our connection to the earth (Capricorn being an Earth sign) in a physical way. Whether you are bundling up to survive a cold winter, or unwinding after the summer heat, or getting down to business as the landscape blooms in "downunder" summer splendour, there is something very manifest and substantial about the experience of Capricorn. This energy calls on us to get real in whatever we are doing – to bring structure, responsibility and discipline to whatever we do. It is a time to work on our "containment. " Not in the sense of suppression, but in terms of defining the boundaries within which our growth can flourish down the road, and keeping our impulses from inconveniently spilling over the edges of those boundaries. Sometimes that means cutting back in certain areas in order to focus your energy and make room for new growth. Sometimes it means having to delay gratification and reward until you reach a certain point of progress. The Capricorn rule of thumb is: if you do whatever is necessary, the rewards will come.

Venus trine Jupiter

Your luck and opportunity to attract money, love, resources and self-esteem are high right now. The flow of attraction (whether that is magnetizing people, things or opportunities) is riding a strong current right now. You could find it easier than usual to get the resources and abundance for whatever you need right now. On the other hand, "your eyes may be bigger than your stomach" (as mother used to say), meaning your desire may magnify your sense of need beyond what is realistic or wise. You may be tempted to spend, flirt or bluff your way through situations, preferring to ignore or avoid hardship, boundaries or drudgery. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but be careful you don't get your hopes up so high that you set yourself up for disappointment or make promises you can't keep. It's probably wise to balance this easy flowing energy with some discretion and good judgement.

Sun square Neptune

Your ideals, hopes and wishful thinking may loom a little too large during this time, making you prone to disappointment and disillusionment. You might want a fantasy or dream to come true so much that you disconnect from the reality that seems to be in the way – only to find that the obstacle was serving a positive purpose after all. Your imagination may be very active now, but not easy to control or balance with reality. However, it can be a very creative time if you're able to harness that imagination for productive use. Unconscious urges and longings may be especially close to the surface, so you have an opportunity to learn more about the hidden forces that drive you (and perhaps distort your view of the world around you). Spiritually, you might discover that your yearning for enlightenment is not the straightforward path you had hoped for, but it can be just as valuable (although disappointing) to discover what is *not* your best path. Emotionally you may feel a bit overwhelmed, discouraged or confused. On the plus side, you have an opportunity to observe a deeper part of you, which is usually camouflaged against the distracting background of day-to-day life. There is tremendous creative, spiritual and healing potential to be found by listening to and working with the inner voices from those depths.