NorthPoint Astrology Journal Your guide to planetary energies for December 28, 2015 to January 3, 2016 By Pam Younghans

 NorthPoint Astrology Journal Your guide to planetary energies for December 28, 2015 to January 3, 2016 By Pam Younghans Highlighted Aspects This Week TUE: Sun sextile Neptune, Mercury square Mars, Venus semisquare Pluto, Venus enters Sagittarius THU: Venus sesquiquadrate Uranus FRI: Mercury enters Aquarius SUN: Mars enters Scorpio HERE WE ARE in the last few days of 2015 -- and what a year it's been. Highs and lows and "growth opportunities" galore. We are now in what I am calling "The Overlap" -- we are experiencing the last vestiges of the earth-shaking Uranus-Pluto square, in addition to the beginning stages of the soul-stirring Saturn-Neptune square. I'll talk more about these influences in my teleclass on January 4 (https://pamjan2016.eventbrite.com) -- but for now, it may be enough to understand that we're juggling the energies of two major shift points. THAT MEANS it's important to know ourselves well, and especially to know how we best feel nurtured and supported. It's more important than ever that we make self-care a priority. This is where our natal astrology chart (our birth chart) can come in especially handy. If we want insights into what helps us feel emotionally supported, we can see what the Moon or Ceres -- or perhaps planets and signs in the Fourth House -- tell us about those core needs. And then, of course, it's vital to follow through with some action (or inaction, depending). OUR LAST FEW DAYS of the calendar year show very few exact planetary aspects. It may look like nothing major is going on, but that depends a great deal on what's going on with our personal transits. For instance, we don't see the planet Uranus in the list of highlighted aspects for the week -- but, if we have any natal planets at 16 or 17 degrees of a cardinal sign (Aries, Cancer, Libra, or Capricorn), this is a very "Uranian" time, since Uranus is at those degrees of Aries. That means we may be experiencing upheavals, breakthroughs, and even breakdowns in some area of our lives. And, this effect is increased due to Uranus having been stationary last Friday. BASED ON THE ASPECTS that are on the list for this week, it looks like Tuesday is the most eventful day. The Sun and Neptune are in compatible relationship, which should help us let go of some of the goals we had for 2015 -- those that will no longer serve us in 2016. However, Mercury is square Mars, so we may have internal or external arguments about what is and isn't important going forward. And, we have a minor, but challenging, Venus-Pluto aspect that also indicates tension in relationships. That tension will return on Thursday, when Venus interfaces with Uranus. That's the day when we may see some of the fall-out from whatever issues came to the surface on Tuesday. THE NEW YEAR begins with two planets changing signs. First off, Mercury, the planet that rules thinking and communication, leaves rule-oriented Capricorn and enters nonconformist Aquarius on Friday. This normally would be the beginning of a three-week-long opening to new ideas and plans, but since Mercury goes retrograde next Tuesday, January 5 (and quickly returns to Capricorn), we'll want to consider Mercury's brief foray into Aquarius to be a small, tempting taste of what new directions are possible beginning February 13, when the planet again enters Aquarius for its full run. (If you're wondering why my teleclass is earlier than usual this year, it's because I wanted to avoid holding it while Mercury was retrograde! But, since Mercury's station is only 12 hours after the teleclass airs, we may need to accommodate some communication glitches anyway. My hope is that we can take advantage of the positives of Mercury in Aquarius, and share some enlightening and life-enhancing information ... tune in and see!) MARS ENTERS SCORPIO on Sunday, leaving the calmer but sometimes indecisive realms of Libra. The planet Mars represents our capacity for forward motion, assertive action, and the urge to fulfill our personal desires. When in Scorpio, Mars can become even more determined than usual, more focused, and less capable of putting aside its needs. We'll want to monitor how we feel, and what we feel passionate about, while Mars is in Scorpio. We may be more likely to dive head-first into whatever pool draws our attention, before considering the ramifications of our actions. This rashness could be especially problematic with Mercury being retrograde, since judgment tends to not be as reliable during this time. In other words, do your best to be self-observant and maintain some objectivity, and check out all the facts before committing to something over the next four weeks (Mercury goes direct on January 25). On the other hand, Mars in Scorpio can be very exciting -- just be ready for a bit of a wild ride if you decide to take the plunge! OUR 2016 TELECLASS IS NEXT WEEK! Thanks to all of you who have already registered! If you can't attend the teleclass live on Monday, January 4, everyone who signs up for the class receives a link to the replay and the pdf of the slideshow. If you've already registered, you should have received a confirmation email. If you haven't yet signed up, here's the quick link: https://pamjan2016.eventbrite.com