by Amanda Sibilia

~Belief becomes a lived experience~

This New Moon at the late degrees of Sagittarius is an auspicious and untamed transit. Arriving during the season of magick, it is accompanied by a Moon that has been out of bounds since December 17th, signaling a wild card moment in time. In Shamanic Astrology, an out-of-bounds Moon speaks to the unexpected, the uncharted, and the breaking open of familiar patterns. A golden inquiry arises: What is the nature of my truth, my meaning, and my path toward enlightenment? And how can I expand my vision not only for this moment, but across the entirety of my life, all while remaining in service to Spirit?

This lunation invites us into a field of disruption that is not meant to destabilize us, but to liberate us. When the known is interrupted, new possibilities emerge, and with them, profound opportunities for self-discovery. This is a moment ripe not only for the expansion of consciousness, but for the manifestation of the soul’s deepest desires—those that cannot be reached by linear planning, but only through trust, courage, and openness to the unknown.

With this lunation forming a square to both Neptune and Saturn in Pisces, we are asked to honestly examine the nature of our service. Where am I directing my energy? Is my vision primarily in service of personal, third-dimensional gain, or am I aligned with something larger than myself? This aspect challenges us to refine our intentions, ensuring that our dreams are not only inspired, but responsibly embodied and anchored in integrity.

As we seek to understand the universal truths of the cosmos and our place within the macrocosm, we simultaneously uncover how our role affects our personal world. In this process, we begin to unveil an essential realization: the power we seek has never existed outside of us. The kingdom of God is within. God is not separate from us; God is expressed through us. The answers, wisdom, and authority we search for have always been accessible from within our own being.

This awareness reconnects us to intuition: the divine voice that speaks through the heart and is interpreted through the mind. When we quiet external noise and listen inwardly, we remember that guidance is not something we must chase, but something we must learn to hear.

Sagittarius is a deeply creative and meaning-making force. It is the sign of the philosopher and the storyteller. Through mutable fire, we are taught how to translate abstract, cosmic knowledge into human language using archetypes, myths, and symbolic narratives. Sagittarius bridges heaven and earth by turning wisdom into stories that can be lived, taught, and embodied.

The philosopher takes what is ineffable and distills it into form. Through myth and allegory, mystics and sages have supported humanity in understanding God, the Universe, and all beings contained within it. These stories are not meant to be taken literally, but spiritually. They offer us frameworks through which we can explore life’s deepest questions: Why am I here? What is my purpose? What is the meaning of this cosmic dance?

In Hermetic Qaballah, this process is beautifully illustrated through the archetype of the Archer. Sagittarius corresponds to the path of Samekh, the direct path on the Tree of Life that leads toward Tiphereth, the Sephirah of Beauty, Harmony, and the seat of the soul. The image of the archer aiming toward a rainbow represents the focused spiritual aspiration of the seeker. The rainbow itself symbolizes divine balance and integration.

This entire image serves as an allegory for the spiritual journey and the ascent toward enlightenment.

The Archer represents the concentrated will and intention of the seeker, consciously aiming toward a higher truth.

The Bow and Arrow symbolize the disciplined direction and energetic alignment required to travel from Yesod, the subconscious and instinctual foundation, toward Tiphereth, the balanced and heart-centered self.

The Rainbow, or Tiphereth, represents the goal of this phase of the path: inner harmony, integration of the soul, and conscious union between the human and the divine. It is the sacred midpoint where spirit and form meet.

This New Moon is not asking us to arrive at certainty, but to recommit to the pilgrimage itself. Sagittarius teaches us that truth is not static; it is something we walk, something we live into through experience, curiosity, and faith. When truth hardens into belief without breath, it becomes dogma. When belief remains fluid and alive, it becomes wisdom.

With Saturn and Neptune in Pisces squaring this lunation, we are reminded that spiritual truth without structure dissolves into fantasy, and structure without spirit calcifies into control. This moment asks for a sacred middle path. Where can your devotion become more embodied? Where can your spirituality be anchored into daily discipline, service, and integrity, without losing its magic?

Pisces asks us to remember that service is not martyrdom. Service is resonance. It is offering what naturally flows through you as an extension of your soul’s design. Sagittarius then asks: Do I believe in my vision enough to live it? Not someday. Not once conditions are perfect. But now.

This lunation is especially powerful for setting intentions around education, publishing, teaching, spiritual leadership, travel of the mind or body, and the courage to speak your truth aloud. It is a moment to ask yourself:

• Where have I outgrown an old philosophy of life?
  
• What story about God, success, love, or purpose am I ready to rewrite?
  
• Where have I been seeking permission instead of aiming my arrow?

The archer cannot hit the rainbow by accident. There is choice involved. There is focus. There is the willingness to release the arrow and trust that what you have aimed for is worthy of pursuit.

As this is the final New Moon before the Gregorian New Year, it acts as a threshold moon, inviting you to consciously choose the narrative you will inhabit moving forward. This is not about resolutions rooted in self-criticism, but vows rooted in devotion. Devotion to truth, growth, and a vision that stretches you beyond the familiar edges of your life.

Let this New Moon be a ritual of alignment. Light a candle. Write the story you are stepping into for the year ahead. Not just what you want to achieve, but who you are becoming in the process. Sagittarius reminds us that meaning is not found at the destination, but in the courage to walk the path with an open heart, eyes lifted toward the horizon, trusting that the divine meets us the moment we choose to aim.

Many magickal blessings and love to you this holiday season.

 

KEY ASPECTS:

December 18th – 27th: Chiron in Aries trine Jupiter in Cancer, 22 degrees

This supportive trine between Chiron and Jupiter opens a powerful window for healing and expansion. In Shamanic Astrology, Chiron represents the sacred wound and the wisdom gained by facing it directly, while Jupiter acts as the great amplifier, bringing meaning and growth to whatever it touches. With Chiron in Aries, healing begins through courage, self-trust, and the reclamation of personal authority. Jupiter in Cancer draws this process into the emotional and ancestral realms, inviting us to access deeper layers of feeling, memory, and belonging that have long influenced our sense of safety and identity.

Together, these two form a strong current, much like the ocean after a powerful tide. What has remained hidden beneath the surface is pushed toward the shore: forgotten strengths, emerging talents, and aspects of self once buried for protection. Old wounds may resurface, not to reopen, but to be met with greater compassion and understanding. Pay close attention to what arrives during this time. What washes ashore now carries medicine, offering the opportunity to integrate healing in a way that nourishes both your personal growth and your capacity to support others.

 

December 21st: Winter Solstice with an Out-of-bounds Moon

The Winter Solstice marks a sacred turning point in the solar cycle as the Sun reaches its deepest descent, gifting us the longest night of the year before beginning its slow return to the light. This moment invites us into stillness and remembrance: even in the depths of darkness, renewal is already underway. The solstice is not a time to rush forward, but to honor the fertile void, the quiet womb space where reflection, release, and rebirth naturally occur. By holding reverence for the dark night, we allow what has completed its cycle to gently fall away, creating space for a more authentic expression of who we are becoming.

Though the Sun appears dimmed, the days surrounding the Winter Solstice are infused with potent solar power. This subtle yet concentrated energy supports the manifestation of long-term intentions, making it an ideal time to revisit and solidify your New Moon visions for the year ahead. What you set into motion now is not meant to be rushed; it is meant to take root and grow steadily over time. Work slowly, intentionally, and with devotion. Trust that the light returns in perfect timing, and that your soul’s desires are already finding their way toward form.

 

December 22nd: Moon conjunct Pluto in Aquarius, 2 degrees

This Moon–Pluto conjunction opens a powerful emotional undercurrent, inviting deep transformation within the collective and within ourselves. In Aquarius, this initiation asks us to examine where we belong, where we resist change, and how our emotional patterns are influenced by group dynamics, beliefs, and future-oriented visions. Feelings may arise suddenly or intensely, acting as messengers from the deeper psyche. Rather than resisting what surfaces, allow this moment to reveal where emotional liberation is needed. This transit offers an opportunity to release outdated attachments to identity, community, or mental constructs that no longer align with the future you are being called to embody.

True individuation may feel unsettling at first, but over time it reveals one of the greatest gifts of all: authenticity, and the courage to embody the qualities that make you distinctly and unapologetically yourself.

 

December 24th: Venus enters Capricorn

As Venus enters Capricorn, love, values, and creative expression shift toward maturity, commitment, and long-term intention. This transit invites us to take our desires seriously, asking where we are willing to invest time, energy, and devotion. In Shamanic terms, Venus in Capricorn teaches us that love is not only a feeling, but a responsibility and a practice. Relationships, finances, and self-worth are clarified through action rather than promise, encouraging us to build something enduring rather than fleeting. What we choose to value now becomes a cornerstone for future stability and growth.

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Amanda Sibilia is a certified NPA astrologer, and the Administrative Assistant for the New Paradigm School of Astrology. You can find more information about the services she offers here>journeywithamanda.com

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