The Christmas full moon was rising; big and beautiful, when we stepped out of the restaurant after enjoying a wonderful meal. We were celebrating our friendship and the conclusion of a stressful week.

This final full moon of 2015, like all full moons, marks a time of culmination. Its purpose is to enable emotional release, to prepare you to make room for the new energies of the coming year to come in.

Occurring at 3 Cancer/Capricorn at 6:11 am, the Christmas full moon pulls in the inspiration of Neptune. Your dreams and your inner voice are an excellent source of guidance if you are willing to listen. Likewise, the Capricorn Sun and the three other Earth-sign planets  helps ground your vision by helping you keep it real.

Just a few hours later, Uranus, stationary in the sky. is about to go direct. Its stationary position adds to Uranus’s impact, the reason why it feels like things are out of kilter, starting with Christmas weather reaching the 70’s in the northeastern US.

Uranus’ purpose is to upset the apple cart, so to speak, to open the door to the unexpected, surprise, and that which is off the wall. Ultimately it expands our awareness, but in the short-term, its effects disorient us.

And for those who have been pushed against the wall, a direct Uranus contact to a planet or sensitive point in their chart provides the energy to rebel.

Uranus will slowly move forward now, releasing energy held back since July 25th, when it began its long annual retrograde journey. Technological projects that have been on hold since then will move forward now.

Uranus also pulls us into the future, kicking and screaming. This Uranus station along with the Christmas full moon, occurring so close to year-end serves as the de facto astrological kick-off of the New Year. It, like the other outers, Neptune  and Pluto, are all moving forward, pulling us into uncharted territory.

In the meantime, celebrating with family and friends, building on foundations you’ve laid out, prioritizing those commitments that are most important will move you forward and keep you balanced amidst stress and uncertainty that surrounds us.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.