My friend John Rutherford is a professional astrologer.  This is his forcast for the Solstice week.

John Rutherford's
Check Your Chart, for the Week of 19 December 2005
                 Isn’t it time to hunker down with a toddy, get set to fatten up a bit over the next few days, and hibernate, at least kinda, as a way to savour the season?  The maul at the mall should be almost over, the spirit to fight is on the wane, and all and sundry should be as ready as they’re going to get just about now.
                The week centred on the Solstice is classically called the Saturnalia, culminating after seven days on the 25th.  It is a time to honour the Lord of the Dark and the Cold.  It is the bottom of the year, with no way to go but up from here.  By New Year’s Day, everyone’s system will be feeling, somehow deeply seeing, the rise in light that greets the coming Spring.  This is the seed, the foundation, for new growth.  This is where it starts, each year.  Give thanks, light a light or two, and enjoin this Festival of the Light.
 
Looking Out: Speaking of lights, did you see the Full Moon?  Off to its right was the bright, reddish Planet Mars, sitting in the haunches of the Bull.  Between them is the Stairway to Heaven.  The bright stars that make up Orion, the brightest Constellation, form what’s called an open cluster.  With its spindle shape, the three bright stars of the Belt, the stellar nursery around the Sword, they are all about the same distance away.
                To the right of Orion is another open cluster, most of the stars that make up the Head of Taurus, the Bull.  This cluster is called the Hyades, the five daughters of Atlas (who holds up the World) and sisters to the Pleiades.  They are about twice as far away as Orion.  Sitting on the hump of the back of Taurus, the Bull, is another bright open cluster, the Pleiadies, called the Seven Sisters.  Once again, they are about the same distance away as the Hyades are from Orion.  As we look at these three clusters, we are looking through a tube of stars, an arm of our Galaxy.  Truly, stair steps in the Heavens.
Look out for yourself by knowing when to, and when not to.  Send me your birth data, your birth date, place and time of day.  I will send you your Horoscope, along with Your Four Personal Points.
                When you have questions, especially about precise timing of events, or want your Horoscope interpreted, contact me at johnrutherford@shaw.ca or (604) 521-3235.
 
This Week:  Star light, star bright, I wish there would be peas on Earth, and lentils, manioc, rice and more to feed all the starving and hungry through this Winter.  Venus, our Evening Star, is at her most brilliant, standing still on Christmas Eve.  If there is just one chance to make a wish upon a beautiful star, this is it.
                This looks to be a week of greater peace and quiet.  First, so many will feel worn out, and looking to get away from it all, Monday.  The Moon is aloof, at her most distant, Tuesday.  Already, the sense of drive and demand is on the wane.  Busy, buzzy Mercury gets pacified Wednesday by Saturn, saying, “Hey, your shopping should be done by NOW.”  Then, it gets the smooth, shmooze treatment from Neptune Saturday.  Play safe, kids, and don’t try in public, or even at your relative’s, what you’re tempted by at home.  Few will be in that much of a forgiveness mode until Mercury aspects Venus Sunday morning.
                Oh, the Sun would like to hide, as would his spirit and generosity, on the Solstice.  Seek peace and quiet, please.  The Sun’s sense of play, including fair play, won’t return until Sunday.  As for Venus turning ‘round, a soft sigh says it better, much better.
 
Monday, 19 December.  (Moon slow in Leo.  Sun aspects Saturn / Neptune and Jupiter / Neptune.  28 Mut, 13 Fix)
A slow boat to China?  A long cruise to nowhere?  It beats expecting this day to hurry up in any way.  All you’ll want by the end is sweet dreams, or something far, far away.  Treat it as trivial pursuit, no problem.
 
Tuesday, 20 December.  (Moon apogee in early Virgo.  0 Mut, 15 Card)
Now, the Virgos find themselves more out of touch, out of the loop, than Leos have been for the last few months.  Everyone has to take a turn not being the centre of attention.  This can give you a rest, you know.
 
Wednesday, 21 December.  (Moon a lazy, waning trine in Virgo.  Sun at the Solstice.  Mercury trine Saturn.  10 degrees of All Signs)
Wrap it up, the push of the Season is over.  So should any real business.  We are now in the glide path.  Do you have a real problem with that?  I said, “real”.  All will now carry on steadily for days.
 
Thursday, 22 December.  (Moon in Virgo.  Sun aspects Neptune.  0 Card, 15 Fix)
So you found one more pesky issue thought lost or buried.  It’s back just to irritate, no more.  Don’t panic, or be the first to blink, and call their bluff.  Make them prove it or feel comfortable dancing around this.
 
Saturday, 24 December.  (Moon in Libra.  Venus stationary in Aquarius.  1 Fix, 16 Mut)
It’s the last of Venus’s graces for this cycle, so bask in the glow, savour the kiss, since all could be taken away.  Without any embellishment, it is what it is, and that can be really beautiful.
(Mercury sextile Neptune.  15 degrees of All Signs)
Wanna make something of it?  Some petty thing blown all out of proportion.  Wouldn’t you know so-and-so had to dredge up this old bone to pick?  Looking for an audience, getting the opposite.  More trivia.
 
Sunday, 25 December.  (Moon in late Libra, early Scorpio.  Mercury aspects Venus. 16 Mut, 1 Fix)
Short and sweet, a breath of fresh air, prancing and dancing.  For those that share, a full stocking.
(Sun aspects Venus / Uranus.  4 Card, 19 Fix)
Uranus, the Socialiser, has been lurking in the background, feeling somewhat neglected, all week.  Put a smile on everyone’s face and make him happy.  Meet and greet, and make this a Happier Holy-day.
 
If you want the "horrible-scopes", go somewhere else.  If you want the meaning behind them, stay on. 
 
Is your Number up?  Check Your Four Personal Points for every day, see below.  If the numbers match, this day is for you.
 
Each forecast shows: the Moon Sign, the Planetary Aspect, and Numbers of degrees in Signs for the Planetary Aspect.
The Moon Sign is the Sign the Moon is in for that day.  The Moon Sign gives advantage to the Sign it is in, puts extra pressure on the opposite Sign, and tends to cross up or neutralise the Signs at right angles.  For example, with Fixed Signs, if the Moon is in Taurus, Taurus has the advantage, Scorpio gets challenged, and Leo and Aquarius get shifted or crossed up.
The Planetary Aspect is where action is released.  It's the Excuse.  Unlike daily Horoscopes that suggest each day has the same level of influence, this is the core of changes in the daily energies.
The Sign Numbers are the degrees in the Signs of the Zodiac being emphasised.  If the degree for any day is close to any degree of Your Four Personal Points (see below), within a degree or so, THIS IS YOUR DAY.  Pay extra ATTENTION.
You may have several days in the week activated for you, or you may have none.  As a degree hits one of Your Four Personal Points, the forecast tells about the important things in your life.  The daily forecasts tell you when.  The overall story comes through over time.  Sooner or later, the degrees of the Forecast catch up to you.

Your Four Personal Points are, in order of importance:
The Ascendant, the Mid-heaven, the Moon, and the Sun.
These are the most important Points of your Horoscope, calculated from your birth date, your birth-place, and the time of day you drew your first breath.  The first two Personal Points, the Ascendant and Mid-heaven, are the points that fix the Earth in space for your birth time at your specific birth place.  We live on the Earth, not the Sun or the Moon.  The Ascendant, also called Your Rising Sign, is more important than your Sun Sign.
 
Simply, and generally only, forecasts that affect your:
Ascendant     relate to matters in your environment.  Use it to see what's in your "face".
Mid-heaven  relate to matters in your personal life.    Use it to see what's in your mind.
Moon           relate to matters in your emotional life.   Use it to see what's in your heart.
Sun              relate to matters in your physical life.        Use it to see what's in your core.

The Signs of the Zodiac are:
Card: Cardinal Signs (Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn)
Fix: Fixed Signs (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius)
Mut: Mutable Signs (Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, Pisces)

Heaven, Help Us!  The forecast is the mood of the moment. For example, if it rains, we all get wet, no matter what "Sign" we are.
If you like this forecast, let others know.  SEND IT TO THEM.  If you have comments or questions, LET ME KNOW.  Check Your Four Personal Points each week if any of them is targeted, and...  PAY ATTENTION!

Your Horoscope is the picture of the Heavens the moment you were born.  Using the latest advances in Astronomy and Astrology, you can get a Horoscope reading with accurate, up-to-date detail.  Contact me at johnrutherford@shaw.ca or call 604-521-3235.
John Rutherford, Western Canada’s most successful Horoscope Reader, since 1971.