Signs, phases thru Jan. 2

Wrapping up the year right here

For those of you interested in the phases of the moon and signs of the zodiac primarily as it relates to planting, here’s the information thru the end of the year.

While I am well aware NO outside planting is going on now in our cooler climes there is planting going on in the Deep South and, of course, the Southern Hemisphere – and I have heard from some of you folks too!

Remember all times given are Eastern Standard.

Winter officially begins Dec. 21 at 11:48 p.m. Thus for all but 12 minutes of Dec. 21 it’s still fall. The great thing about winter beginning – and we have to look for something – is that the days will start slowly getting longer now and within a couple of weeks we will notice a marked difference.

Now there’s something to celebrate.

The moon

The moon is in the light phase now, the new moon having come into force on Dec. 11. It will continue to rule until the full moon - a rare one indeed – comes to rule on Dec. 25/Christmas Day at 6:11 a.m. If the sky is clear where you are on Christmas Eve and into the early morning hours on Christmas Day, the light will be of great benefit to Old Santa as he makes his rounds.

And, if you are where you can plant outside or you are planting in a greenhouse, then it’s above-ground producers through Dec. 24. Then, beginning Dec. 25 and until the first new moon of 2016 on Jan. 9 at 8:31 p.m. it will be below-ground producers.

The signs

A look at the signs reveals what remains of today, Dec. 17, is ruled by Pisces (the feet), one of the four most fertile signs. If you are planting, it’s a great time for above-ground producers with the moon in the light phase.

All planting should ceased Friday and Saturday, Dec. 18-19, when the sign moves to Aries (the head), one of the killing signs. Don’t be fooling with anything you want to thrive on killing days.

Fertile days return Dec. 20-21 when the sign moves to Taurus (the neck), like Pisces it’s another of the most fertile signs with the moon still in the light phase for above-ground producers.

Dec. 22-24 find Gemini (the arms) ruling. Were it summer, these would be three absolutely perfect days for planting beans. And if it is summer where you live, then have at it, otherwise enjoy them from afar!

The fertile sign Cancer (the breast) rules on Dec. 25 and 26. With the moon moving to the dark phase on Christmas Day, these days are best suited for planting below ground producers.

Dec. 27-31

All planting or dealing with anything you are looking to thrive should end Dec. 27-28 with Leo (the heart) ruling. Like the Aries days, these are killing days.

Flowering signs are in force to end 2015 and begin 2016 beginning with the flowering sign Virgo (the bowels) ruling Dec. 29-31 and Libra (the reins) opening the New Year, Jan. 1-2. These or bloom days so your Christmas plants should be rocking.

Making changes

With the New Year just two weeks away, I know many of us are making resolutions to lose some weight, start exercising, stop smoking – anything that involves change.

As luck and the signs would have it, we have three absolutely perfect days early in January when the moon is in the dark phase and the signs are going out of the body.

These days are Jan. 6-8 and until 8:30 on Jan. 9. That’s three days, folks – and we haven’t had that many in a long, long, long time! Mark your calendars and make plans now if you have changes you want to make.