by Celeste Teal, January 2000

The December 22nd Full Moon was a beautiful sight. Occurring coincident with the first day of winter, our Winter Solstice and longest night of the year – this was the last Lunar Harrah of the Millennium! The Moon was within a few hours of its perigee, its closest point to the Earth. This made the Moon appear larger than usual. Also just ten days from the Earth’s closest point to the Sun, the reflected sunlight made this Full Moon brighter than usual. The last time this particular configuration occurred was 133 years ago. Click image for a full view.

This photo of the spectacular Full Moon rising over Manhattan, by Chang W. Lee, appeared in the NY Times 12/23/99. Tides were higher, animals friskier, and this dynamic Full Moon reflected the group excitement and our very entry to the New Millennium. A Full Moon also brings a completion, so anticipation/anxiety about y2k reached its peak and by the New Moon of January 6th, we were ready to begin a new cycle.

Having already noted the unusual significance of planets occupying an Aries Point degree, I was delighted to have the opportunity to observe the last Lunar Hurrah of the century.

With the Sun at the 0 degree of Capricorn and the Moon at the 0 degree of Cancer, dynamic and broad scale events were suggested, so reflective of this most celebrated time in our history the world over. The level of excitement at anticipating the y2k transition and the transition itself was mirrored in the configuration. Was not everyone around the world tuned in to see how each time zone held up for the roll over?

If there were to be ramifications from y2k, the countries, businesses, cities and even individuals with a natal planet in one of the Aries Point degrees would have been most likely to have experienced them. As a matter of fact, I was one of those people and I have to say just a bit nervous. Ok, I made a lot of backups :) Sure enough, on New Years Day, my web site and host site were both down, apparently just from precautionary measures, but y2k related nevertheless. I’m certainly not complaining though.

The Aries Point degrees are also associated with fame and falling in appropriate configuration with natal planets in these degrees can bring a sudden rise in status. I said we should expect many new names in the news and a surge of news breaking events as well as the fruits of articulately laid plans. All of these did take place, with the eight-day hijacking, US border arrests of potential terrorists, tightened security at all levels, etc.

(Incidentally, I just found out that Judge Judy has Neptune in an Aries Point. At 0 Libra, Neptune rules her 6th Solar house of work and service and what a fast rise to publicity she’s had. Go Judge Judy! Read more about the Aries Point in the article called Fame & Popularity where Walt Disney‘s chart is one of several featured. Medium James Van Praagh also has two chart features in Aries Point degrees – Link to Sixth Sense.)

Earlier in the year, I’d noticed that transiting Mars on y2k eve was opposing the Solar eclipse of February 99. Combined with this Full Moon, there was definitely some risky potential. It looked like maybe military intervention or even martial law to avoid terrorism. Look at how close at hand these things came and the strident preventive efforts of law enforcement agencies was a positive utilization of the potential.

Also on the night of December 31st, however, Mercury came to the 0 degree of Capricorn, reinforcing the earlier Full Moon and it was very well-aspected. Ruling communication, Mercury was fairly insuring a successful y2k transition overall. In Capricorn, ruling big business and the government, it looked very good. In particular, it appeared to give support to the efforts of so many authorities working toward the same goal. With combined efforts, all those potentially hazardous energies were directed to the best possible advantage and our preventive measures worked beautifully. This is the way astrology is supposed to work. A pat on the back to our global tribe!

The Aries Point degrees are the 0 degrees of the Cardinal signs (Aries, Cancer, Libra & Capricorn). I have to say it’s one of my favorites for predictive purposes. A planet in any one of those cardinal 0 degrees practically tells a story all by itself. See more in Predicting Events with Astrology. Learn more about the Aries Point. January 2000, Celeste Teal