If you were expecting some kind of sun sign nonsense, forget about it. This is real astrology for the real world, not some mystical mumbo-jumbo psycho-babble word salad. If it's real astrology for yourself that you want, you can get it by phone or in print. And if you need help deciphering the astrological glyphs in the graphics accompanying this article, see Astroglyphs: Astrological Symbols Guide. Please note: this forecast is expressed in terms of Universal Time (UT, aka GMT). Location for all mundante charts is set for the Great Pyramid at Giza; the choice being strictly arbitrary in any case. Also please be aware that, while I never change a forecast once it's published, I do post errata to acknowledge typographical errors and the like.

PLEASE NOTE: This month’s forecast incorporates elements of (and refers to) my complete 2016 World Forecast Highlights (38 8-1/2 x 11" illustrated pages); focused, amplified and elaborated with details for the month as appropriate. The full version of my 2016 World Forecast Highlights is available in hard copy by mail ($75) or as a PDF document by email ($50). Orders may be phoned in (toll-free from anywhere in North America to 800-527-8761), and charged to any major credit or debit card. Orders for the 2017 edition (still $75/$50) may also be phoned in, or placed direct from your own PayPal account page to rnolle@astropro.com – or by using the AstroPro PayPal order page. Just remember: as always, the 2017 edition will be embardgoed until December 31, 2016. Orders will be filled on a first come, first served basis starting on that date.

"There are no secrets that time does not reveal."
-- Jean Racine
 

The Skinny

There are several geophysical stress windows stirring up December, most notably the third and last full moon SuperMoon of the year, plus two garden variety new moons (one a holdover from November). Together, these three point to tidal, storm and seismic events that make headlines at the beginning, middle and end of the month.

The start of the year’s final Mercury Max cycle on the 11th ushers in a different type of geocosmic stress factor; a cycle of elevated solar activity – including high energy solar flares and geomagnetic storms here on Earth. This continues until the end of the Mercury Max cycle on January 19.

Apart from these solar and terrestrial disturbances, December features some significant Uranus factors, including the opposition from Jupiter on the 26th (within a few degrees of exact throughout December and January), and the direct station of Uranus on the 29th (within a degree of exact from early November on into late February). And that’s just the highlights . . .

Storm Signals

The third and last full moon SuperMoon the year anchors December’s most prominent geophysical stress window, ushering in another extraordinary level of solar-lunar tides rippling through Earth’s magnetosphere, atmosphere, seas, and crust this month. I’ve been watching SuperMoons since I christened them in my 1979 article for Dell Horoscope, where I described this alignment as signaling a remarkable increase in extreme storms and tidal surges, and notable seismic activity (M5+ earthquakes and powerful volcanic eruptions). That’s what’s on tap. Watch the period from the 11th through the 17th for a flurry of such disturbances.

Recognize that SuperMoon is astronomical in scale, and therefore planet-wide in scope, It’s extreme tides ripple through Earth’s skies, seas and crust worldwide. The sky is everywhere; therefore we’re all potentially at risk for powerful storms with high winds and heavy precipitation. Risks for earthquake and volcanic activity are more localized, as are risks for tidal flooding. It’s a big planet, and it all feels the tug of Sun and Moon. Still, astro-locality can indicate some areas of heightened vulnerability.

With this in mind, seeing that the December 14 SuperMoon Sun-Moon meridian line grazes the east coast of the North Island puts the whole of New Zealand in the crosshairs again this time – along with the Bering Strait, plus Western Europe and West Africa on the other side of the world. As you can see, the curving horizon arcs sketch out additional risk zones for the December 14 SuperMoon. I’m not saying to ignore the risk if you’re nowhere near one of these lines. I am suggesting that you consider them as the day draws near.

Mercury reaches its maximum elongation east of the Sun on the 11th, so the December SuperMoon storm window gets an extra kick from solar storminess: a blast of M and X class solar flares, coronal holes and coronal mass ejections (CMEs), with their accompanying geomagnetic storms (Kp 5 and up). Dumping Gigawatts of extra solar energy into Earth’s magnetosphere and atmosphere fires up increased storm formation and seismic activity, which amplifies the SuperMoon shock window. It also extends it a bit. That’s because solar storm activity tends to peak within plus or minus three days of key points the in the Mercury Max cycle. This time around, those fall on December 11, 19 and 28, plus January 8 and 19.

Aside from the above mentioned SuperMoon and Mercury Max storm and seismic factors, there are a couple more worth noting this month. One is a carry-over from the November 29 new moon, centerpiece of the November 26-December 2 shock window. More prominent should be the December 29-January 1 storm signal, anchored by the Sun-Mercury inferior conjunction on the 28th and the new moon on the 29th.

For all of the above mentioned storm and seismic factors, sensible precautions are advisable. This includes, if you’ll be traveling, making allowances for weather delays, disruptions due to infrastructure breakdowns, labor actions, protests, etc. A good time to have your emergency kit ready to hand, your backups current and your technological fallbacks primed and ready to go.

Mercury Max

Mercury Max is a special phase in the Sun-Earth-Mercury relationship, when the faster inner planet Mercury comes up from behind Earth, catches up with us, and then passes us by on its way back around to the other side of the Sun. This phase includes the infamous Mercury retrograde of astrological legend – and the Mercury "shadow" and "storm" silliness as well.

For several years now, I’ve been describing the reality of Mercury Max (a genuine astronomically defined cycle) versus the Mercury retrograde lore of unthinking astrological tradition. You’re welcome to catch up by reading my free online article on the subject.

For now, suffice it to say that interference in the flow of radiation from the Sun due to Mercury’s passage between Earth and Sun is the real deal – the reason why all things Mercurial tend to get scrambled during this period. Practically speaking, be prepared for plans and schedules to warp and wobble, for messages to get lost in transmission or translation, for Murphy’s Law to break out all over. Keep your mind on task and your eye on the ball, and you’ll eat everybody else’s lunch!

Remember that all this solar and geomagnetic turbulence is more than scrambled satellites, radio interference, infrastructure overload, computer and network breakdowns etc. The human nervous system is also apt to go on the fritz as well. Forget the Faraday cages, tinfoil helmets and such: Some mindful meditation is your best defense! (High auroral activity is a sign in the sky that circuits are scrambling.)

Take note, political junkies: Mercury’s December 19 retrograde station, January 8 inferior conjunction with the Sun, and January 19 maximum elongation west of the Sun all fall within days of several key dates in the American electoral process: respectively, the date the Electoral College meet to cast their ballots; the date Congress meets in joint session to count the electoral votes; and the date the President-elect is inaugurated. All of this happening at key points of turbulence during Mercury Max promises that the already rocky road to the White House will not turn smooth in the final stretch.

The Jupiter-Uranus Transformation

The single most important celestial factor around this month is the Jupiter opposition to Uranus, from Libra to Aries, (It’s important in its own right, but also because it’s part of the Justinian’s T-Square sky train, analogous to the 594 Jupiter-Uranus opposition in that procession. (See the full version of my 2016 World Forecast Highlights for more on Justinian’s T-Square.) This time around, the opposition occurs once at the end of 2016 (on December 26), and twice in 2017 (on March 3 and September 28). Jupiter opposes Uranus once every 12-14 years or so, but it’s rarely a ‘one and done’ phenomenon. Typically, because of retrogrades, there are several such alignments in the space of a year or two, before Jupiter pulls out of the alignment and leaves Uranus behind – for another dozen years or slightly more.

The year 594 may not mean much to you, but it’s a watershed in the Islamic world; marking the marriage of Muhammad to Khadija. That event was the beginning of his rise as founder of Islam. It was also the year that the system of Hindu-Arabic numerals first appeared in India; whence it later spread to the Arab world, and then to Europe and around the globe. These two events embrace the essence of the Jupiter-Uranus opposition, particularly from Libra to Aries. It signifies a potent union of opposites, a melding of ideologies and technologies that introduces a new structure that quickly takes hold and takes over. People find themselves wondering, "Where did that come from – and why it did it take so long to arrive?"

That’s exactly what to expect as one of the hallmarks of 2016-2017: a breakthrough blend of ideologies and technologies that revolutionizes the status quo of the world – not in a year or two, mind you, but going forward from this time on for decades to come. Watch the technology news for revolutionary advances, and look for a new wave of religious consciousness that radically changes the complexion and perspective of Islam, Judaism and Christianity. (I have no idea of what this may be, practically speaking. I only know that it’s coming, and that it’s big.)

Bear in mind, with all these longer term historical configurations, that there’s no one instant in time that a particular event happens in a flash, and changes history forever more going forward. These are process nodes, not individual events. Individual events can certainly be recognized in retrospect as triggers, but they’re far from the whole story. The real story is what flows from them.

Because of the long term historical nature of this alignment, you mustn’t expect to see a headline in the Times declaring that on the day of the opposition, the world changed. It’s changing and will continue to change as we watch unknowing – until well after the fact. Then, looking back, we’ll recognize what we did not see at the time: a revolution in ideas and technology happened right under our noses. Artificial Intelligence and global networking are cornerstones of this change, but the edifice that springs from them cannot even be glimpsed in the distance now. Just remember this: you were there at the birth. Think out of this world, and you won’t be far off the mark.

Parting Shot - Literally

The January 1 Mars-Neptune conjunction is within a few degrees of exact from December 28 through January 6: trust no one, watch your back, be aware of risks for chemical/radiological hazards. (How close is the nearest railroad track to your house? The closest chemical plant, etc.?) Think safety and security: the greatest threat is the one that is not recognized as such.

Acknowledgments

All mundane astrological charts as well as eclipse and astro-locality maps are set for the Universal Time (UT) of the event, and calculated and produced using Esoteric Technologies’ Solar Fire Gold Version 7.0.8. Charts are set for the location of the Great Pyramid - a purely arbitrary choice, since location is irrelevant to these charts. Unless sotherwise noted, sky map images are screen captures from the Pocket Universe or Star Rover apps for iPhone, or produced by Starry Night for Windows; storm tracks are screen captures from The Weather Channel app for iPhone; and earthquake maps are screen captures from the QuakeFeed ör Quake Alerts app for iPhone.

SPECIAL FEATURE: This month's birthdays of the famous and infamous (with astrological birth charts)

Richard Nolle, Certified Professional Astrologer consultations/orders (AmEx/Discover/MasterCard/Visa) 800-527-8761 data/message 480-753-6261 - email rnolle@astropro.com Box 26599 - Tempe, AZ 85285-6599 - USA www.astropro.com