Deccember Signs and Phases Overview

Phases ands signs Overview

Here’s December’s information about the phases of the moon and signs of the zodiac.

The moon

December begins and ends with the moon in the dark phase. The full moon rules until 5:29 a.m. Dec. 11 when the new moon – or no moon visible in the sky – comes to rule.

The light moon is then in force until the full moon returns at 6:11 a.m. Christmas Day, Dec. 25. The dark moon will then be in force until the new moon returns at 8:31 p.m. Jan. 9, 2016.

“General Tips” for dark- and light-moon activities are below and if you are planting veggies, it’s above-ground producers in the light moon and below-ground producers when the dark phase is in.

The signs

Remember: Again, check to see if the moon is in the light or dark phase (information above) before proceeding with planting, or other activities, indoors or out.

December begins with one of the killing signs in force, so that’s where we will start, too.

Killing signs: No planting, transplanting, or dealing with things you want to thrive should occur on these days. Reserve them for cultivating, cleaning out fencerows — anything but planting: Leo (the heart), Dec. 1, 27-28; and Aries (the head), Dec. 18-19. There are five killing days this month ruled by either Leo or Aries or Leo.

Flowering days: These are “bloom days” and well suited for planting flowers — maybe like pansies outside since they are all that can tolerate freezes, snow and cold. If, of course, you have a greenhouse then weather isn’t a problem. Virgo (the bowels), rules Dec. 2-3, 29-31; and Libra (the reins), Dec. 4-6. There are eight flowering days this month – and that’s as many as we’ve seen for quite some time.

Fertile signs: The most fertile signs in the zodiac rule these days: Scorpio (the secrets), Dec. 7-8; Pisces (the feet), Dec. 16-17; Taurus (the neck), Dec. 20-21; and Cancer (the breast), Dec. 25-26.                                                                                       There are eight days this month ruled by the fertile signs — Scorpio, Pisces, Taurus and Cancer – and they are scattered during the dark and light of the moon.

So-so days: These aren’t particularly fertile nor destructive, just so-so: Sagittarius (the thighs), Dec. 9-11; Capricorn (the knees), Dec. 12-13; and Aquarius (the legs), Dec. 14-15. There are seven days again this month ruled by the three so-so signs, Sagittarius, Capricorn and Aquarius.

Gemini days: Gemini rules Dec. 22-24. Gemini is the “bean sign” but there’s no bean planting going on but we’ll be talking about planting peas after the first of the year.

General tips

Here are a few general tips for activities other than planting:

>If you have gravel to pour on a drive or roadway, do that when the light moon rules. The same applies for stones on a garden path: Place them when the moon is in the light phase so they don’t sink.

>If you’re setting fence posts, do that in the light of the moon so the posts don’t sink.

>If you’re putting on a new shingle roof, do that when the moon’s in the dark phase so that the shingles stick down and don’t curl up on the ends.

>Finally, there are at least two perfect days this month for making changes when the moon is in the dark phase and the signs are going out of the body past anything that functions

Those days are Dec. 9 and 10 when the moon is moving toward the light phase on Dec. 11 and the sign is in Sagittarius (the thighs).

So, if you have changes to make like weaning babies or small animals, scheduling elective surgery – not emergency surgery since that usually can’t be “scheduled,” stopping smoking, starting a diet or exercise program then you have two perfect days in December to get started.

Can’t get it done then? You have, in my opinion, the second best choice Dec. 11-17 when the moon will have moved to the light phase but the signs are still moving out of the body past anything that functions, Sagittarius/thighs through Pisces/feet.

How to be in touch

Here’s how to be in touch, get instant information or ask questions.

>Email pcase211@gmail.com.

>Call or text 502-682-5995.

>Visit my Facebook page, Planting by the Signs.

 

 

 

Moon changing today

Time to make changes

The moon is moving from the dark to the light phase today at 12:47 p.m. EST. When that happens any planting done in climes where planting can be done outdoors should focus on above-ground producers. The new moon remains in force until the next full moon at 5:44 p.m. Nov. 25.

As I wrote on Nov. 10, this begins the second best - in my opinion - stretch for making changes. The signs are going out of the body past anything that functions - Sagittarius/thighs through Pisces/feet - and while it would be better if the moon was in the dark phase at least half of the equation is right. So, if you have changes to make then the next several days should be good for you.

Time to make changes

Thursday thru Nov. 20

While there are no perfect days this month for making changes, those with the moon in the dark phase and the signs going out of the body past anything that functions, we have half of the equation beginning Thursday with the sign in Sagittarius (the thighs).

The stretch will continue through Nov. 20 as the signs descend through the knees, legs and concluding with the feet. If you want to start a diet, stop smoking, wean animals or children - anything that involves a change - these days are for you.

The Happy Gardner, Nov. 4

Put your garden to bed for winter

Good morning, gardening lovers!

Here in central Kentucky, home of The Happy Gardener, we're enjoying a week of lovely early September-like weather with the temperature near 80 and a clear sky yesterday. It is supposed to remain that way until later in the week when more seasonal weather returns.

Wherever you are - unless you're in the deep south or the Southern Hemisphere -  the gardening season is over. And while we long for it, there are some things you can do to help yourself next year if you have a big, traditional garden or a few plants in a pot.

For those with big gardens, get them cleaned up. There are options ranging from nothing to getting the garden plowed and planting a cover crop. Here are a few, from worst to best:

>Do nothing and leave the spent plants where they fell with the last frost of freeze, the tomato plants tied to the stakes to dangle lifelessly and waft in the wind lik abandoned scarecrows all winter. This choice is easiest on your back but it gives bad buggies and diseases a place to hang out over the winter and be poised to jump your first plants out of the ground in the spring.

>Plow them under where they fell. Better than the first but bugs and diseases still get a place  to hang out over the winter.

>The best is to remove the plants from the garden, pot, raised bed - wherever - grind them up and put them in a working compost heap. The heat should will most "baddies" and you will have rich compost to add to your garden next year.

Whatever you do, enjoy your day ... more soon.

November 2015 Signs Overview

 

Here’s November’s information about the phases of the moon and signs of the zodiac. My apologies for it being a little late, I had some technical difficulties.

The moon

November began and ends with the moon in the dark phase. The full moon rules until 12:47 p.m. Nov. 11 when the new moon – or no moon visible in the sky – comes to rule.

The light moon is then in force until the full moon returns at 5:44 p.m. Nov. 25. The dark moon will then be in force until the new moon returns at 5:29 a.m. Dec. 11.

Since we “fell back” in the wee hours of Nov. 1, all times given are now Eastern Standard Time.

 “General Tips” for dark- and light-moon activities are below and if you are planting veggies anywhere that can be protected or is indoors, it’s above-ground producers in the light moon and below-ground producers when the dark phase is in.

The signs

Remember: Again, check to see if the moon is in the light or dark phase (information above) before proceeding with planting, or other activities, indoors or out.

Fertile signs: The most fertile signs in the zodiac rule these days:  Scorpio (the secrets), Nov. 9-11;                                                                                      Pisces (the feet), Nov. 19-20; Taurus (the neck), Nov. 23-24; Cancer (the breast), Nov. 27-28. There are 10 days this month ruled by the fertile signs — Scorpio, Pisces, Taurus and Cancer – and they are scattered during the dark and light of the moon.

Killing signs: No planting, transplanting, or dealing with things you want to thrive should occur on these days. Reserve them for cultivating, cleaning out fencerows — anything but planting: Leo (the heart), Nov. 3, 29-30; and Aries (the head), Nov. 21-22. There are six killing days this month ruled by either Aries or Leo, up from four in October.

Flowering days: These are “bloom days” and well suited for planting flowers — maybe like pansies outside since they are all that can tolerate freezes, snow and cold. If, of course, you have a greenhouse or are in a warm area, then weather isn’t a problem. Virgo (the bowels), rules Nov. 4-6 and Libra (the reins), Nov. 7-8. There are five flowering days this month, five if you count what is left of Nov. 3.

So-so days: These aren’t particularly fertile nor destructive, just so-so: Sagittarius (the thighs), Nov. 12-13; Capricorn (the knees), Nov. 14-16; and Aquarius (the legs), Nov. 17-18. There are seven days again this month ruled by the three so-so signs, Sagittarius, Capricorn and Aquarius.

Gemini days: Gemini rules Nov. 25-26. Gemini is the “bean sign.”

General tips

Here are a few general tips for activities other than planting:

>If you have gravel to pour on a drive or roadway, do that when the light moon rules. The same applies for stones on a garden path: Place them when the moon is in the light phase so they don’t sink.

>If you’re setting fence posts, do that in the light of the moon so the posts don’t sink.

>If you’re putting on a new shingle roof, do that when the moon’s in the dark phase so that the shingles stick down and don’t curl up on the ends.

>There are no perfect days this month for making changes when the moon is in the dark phase and the signs are going out of the body past anything that functions — but we’re getting closer to days that fit the formula perfectly and should have some in December.

So, if you have changes to make like weaning babies or small animals, scheduling elective surgery – not emergency surgery since that usually can’t be “scheduled,” stopping smoking, starting a diet or exercise program then I would suggest picking one half of the formula or the other – dark phase of the moon or when the signs are going out of the body past anything that functions – Sagittarius through Pisces/legs through feet.

My preference would be Nov. 12-20, Sagittarius through Pisces, thighs through feet. All are past anything that functions even though the moon is in the light phase.