The Astrology of the Cold SuperMoon
Breaking through the Standstill
During this Full Supermoon, the Sun and Moon are square to the Lunar Nodes at 13 degrees of mutable signs. This is the last Supermoon of 2025 and the most “extreme” Full Moon until 2042,” according to Starwalk.space. One day following the Full Moon, on December 5th, the moon reaches its maximum declination.
“These four points, the Lunar Nodes and their squares, are pivots of the Moon’s latitude cycle that mirrors the Sun’s declination cycle.”
- AstrologyInstitute.com
It’s helpful to understand the astronomy here. The Griffith Observatory Website has some clear explanations and diagrams that I highly recommend. Basically, there are three different planes involved: the ecliptic (apparent path of the Sun), the celestial equator (Earth’s equator projected into space), and the moon’s orbit, which has a “swivel” and a 5 degrees tilt, that when added to the 23.5 degrees of the Earth’s tilt it makes up the 28.5 degrees of incline of the Moon. All of this creates the 18.6 year cycle of lunar standstill that we see. It amounts to the moonrise and set being the furthest south (or north) on the horizon that it can possibly go for any given location, similar to the Sun’s annual solstices. Suffice to say, this Full Moon is a little more special than your average, run-of-the-mill Full Moon.
The astronomy of this moment calls to my mind the ancient marvels of architecture like the Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworths, which was established as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Located in Ohio, Hopewell is a huge interconnected structure of earthen mounds aligned perfectly with movements of Sun and Moon. It became the 25th World Heritage site in the United States in 2023 and joins such places like the Pyramids at Giza and Stonehenge.
Time and technology march on, but we cannot simply build airports, strip malls and hotels overtop of the Pyramids at Giza. As facts about Hopewell’s ceremonial and astronomical design “came to light,” Hopewell finally received the global recognition, awareness, and cultural preservation it deserves. That gives me some hope. At least this shows that it is still possible to honor past and future generations. That is good news for all of us.
We live relatively short human lives, but observing the movements of Sun and Moon help us think in terms of the grander scale of the universe and time, and helps keep our human activities like tourism and commerce in perspective. That humans build such remarkable marvels at all seems to point to this Sagittarian quest for TRUTH over the millenia.
I have recently experienced a significant decrease in visibility of stars in my local area due to development close to my home. Ironically, a new church boasts an excessively illuminated parking lot. Add to that the additional building of homes and a Costco not more than a mile or so away and there you have it. The visibility of the brightest stars in the sky have decreased significantly in the past two years. Again, it’s a situation where we have a responsibility to preserve the environment for future generations. How sad that children anywhere might see the stars simply because we want to shop or go to a church function at night. Suffice to say, I did send the church an email requesting they consider alternative lighting options that would reduce the light pollution. They have yet to respond.
Refusing to talk to or listen to people with opposing viewpoints remains a major obstacle to overcoming many of our modern problems. Feeling “cut off” or separated by time and space from people (or nature) causes harm. Feeling cut off is a choice though.
In my classroom, every year we read a novel about a Native American boy who befriends a white settler boy and teaches him how to survive. While the book is full of Native American stereotypes that make me cringe, the story does have some redeeming value. I explain to my students about the background of the fur trade during the 1700’s. They are normally justifiably shocked. But, the friendship between the two characters brings each a new cultural understanding of the other, even if the greater cultural conflict of the whole setting remains unresolved at the end. That is sort of my point, people heal through 1:1 connection, one at a time, over time.
Seeing beyond the immediate situation when people only want a sale, higher ratings, “likes” or “subscribes” or recognizing when an individual, business, group, or nation really doesn’t have our best interests at heart is a form of self protection. I am not suggesting that we ignore our own self-preservation. We do need to keep our wits about us in the world. The wolf is always at the door so to speak. Even family bonds can be toxic, but I would argue that these still need to be understood to be overcome.
Venus close to the Sagittarius Sun might suggest that we need to seek the TRUTH in relationships, whether about our past or present, or just to know ourselves better. In fact, all of the personal planets are with the Sun, but the Moon is solo, and 15 degrees away from Uranus.
Mercury, Neptune-Saturn, and Jupiter form a water trine, but now that Mercury is moving direct, it will be separating from this trine. A water trine would suggest increased or easier movement, flow, or exchange into the emotional sphere. I suggest using opportunities this month for healthy exchange to the full advantage rather than denying them outlet. Making the effort of connecting to family and friends, especially when estranged, may teach greater adaptability (mutability) in our character, even if it isn’t immediately fruitful in solving a given problem in a situation.
Wishing everyone a no so “Cold” December Full SuperMoon.
