When I think of Sagittarius, I think of Chanukah. Yes, I am Jewish and currently in the middle of this festival of light. [Side note: the best chanukah food isn’t latkes, it’s donuts]
But, the connection is deeper than happenstance. Chanukah always begins in the Jewish month of Kislev, connected to the sign Sagittarius. Jews reconquer the Temple in Jerusalem during a war with the Greeks. They wanted to rededicate the Temple but only had enough oil for the menorah for one night. It would take 8 days to make more. They lit the menorah anyway. Despite all practical limitations, the oil lasts 8 nights.
This sums up Sagittarius for me: wild, radical hope. It doesn’t exactly know how it will go the distance, but it goes anyway. The constellation draws an archer shooting an arrow. Does it know how far the arrow will go?
“To hope is to give yourself to the future - and that commitment to the future is what makes the present inhabitable.” - Rebecca Solnit, Hope in the Dark
This year’s Sagittarius new moon on December 12th is the closest to the winter solstice. It may not be the longest but it is the darkest night of our year. It even squares Neptune, leaving us foggy, confused. Looking out at the world hope seems like a fools game right now. How can we imagine it will get better? How can this be our time for faith, hope, and fire when we have even longer nights ahead?
I go back to the Chanukah menorah and how it stands against the dark. It’s only purpose is to be seen by anyone passing your window. Traditionally, you cannot use these lights for anything but looking at them. Seems silly until you think about lighting a fire on a long, dark night. How it may not go far, but still provides a little light, a little heat despite the night.
With the Sun, Moon, and Mars in Sagittarius, this hope doesn’t sit and wait. It asks us, what do we believe? How will our actions reflect our values? Critics may tell you that the future you dream of may be impractical or far away. Who can say how close you’ll get?
Still, this new moon comes with caution. Mercury is stationing retrograde December 13th, just one day after the new moon. This retrograde will go from Capricorn back into Sagittarius. We can’t just jump to action. This beginning needs a slower, more thoughtful start despite impulsive Mars. But with a little planning and vision, it may go far further than you can even begin to imagine.
New Moon Horoscopes
See how this may show up in your life, based on your rising sign.
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