Hi friends,
I hope you had a joyful Holiday week last week, however you celebrate!
Last week the sun was transiting through the Human Design Gate of Vitality, which is known as “Joyousness” in the I’Ching. I love that Christmas/Hannukah/Kwanzaa all fell within the energy of Joyousness this year, encouraging us to rise above our dissatisfaction for a moment, recognize that nothin’s perfect, and find joy in the small things.
There’s nothing quite like the joy of Christmas morning through the eyes of a small child, so my cup is full from watching a sparkly blue princess in a shark mask and a top hat playing Nerf hockey around the living room. The beyond messy yet sparkly and colorful house, the posole and green-chile enchiladas, the gigglefests with my childhood best friend over a game of Scattergories, the random texts from people who use their holidays for sentimental messaging. Joy was truly felt in my heart, and I truly hope you found some moments of joy last week too. Even the things that weren’t so joyful, like almost slicing my right thumb off in a high-speed mandolin potato-cutting adventure, resulted in the type-2 joy of not being able to scroll on my phone over the past few days! No scroll = greater vitality…. that I’ve found to be true.
The sun continues it’s transit through the gate of Vitality through most of Monday, transitioning into the Gate of the Fighter on Monday evening in time for the New Moon in Capricorn. The new moon is the second new moon in Capricorn this calendar month. Just like the 2nd full moons in a month is known as a Blue Moon, the 2nd new moon in a calendar month is known as a ‘black moon’.
The Gate of the Fighter this black moon carries big warrior energy, super useful to help us define what’s worth fighting for as we consider any new year’s resolutions that we want to make. (My daughter has started identifying with the warrior archetype, but pronounces it “worrier”, which is pretty cute…. let’s not make the same pronunciation mistake this New Years season, though! Up with the warrior, out with the worrier….)
This gate of the Fighter is a root-center gate with the desire to act, instead of thinking too much, so it’s interesting to me that a lot of our Gregorian New Year’s resolutions typically orient around getting fit, losing weight, and working out. The deeper, less physical resolutions tend to come over time, but I always think about how much more embodied I want to be around this time of winter, which lines up nicely with the Gate of the Fighter energy.
My partner/Santa got us one of those stand-up vibration plate boards for Christmas, the ones where you stand on it or plank with your hands on it and it jiggles your whole body. I’ve used playing Santa plus Mars-retrograde-in-my-1st-house as an excuse for being pretty damn lazy this holiday season, so I’m pretty stoked to get off the couch and do some squats while being jiggled to high heaven as the Gate of the Fighter takes hold for the first days of 2025!
Right before we enter the new year (going from the Year of the Strong Dragon to the Year of the Hermit Snake, as I discussed in last week’s episode), we are having an auspicious transit on the 31st. As the year winds to a close, Pluto at 1 degree Aquarius is making a sextile to the North node at 1 degree of Aries. This harmonious aspect between the North Node’s collective destiny and the transformative power of Pluto in Aquarius speaks to a theme of spiritual leadership, putting the icing on the cake of the North Nodes’ time in Aries right before it enters Pisces for the next year and a half.
This Pluto-North Node sextile happening one day after the New Moon in Capricorn shines the light on how our destiny is intertwined with how we embody our values. During these last days of 2024, look for subtle signs of synchronicity in your life, and pay attention to what feels enchanted and alive to you. Interestingly enough, if you read the Gene Keys chapter for the Gate of the Fighter, you’ll see the word “destiny” quite often- like when we persevere through obstacles, our destiny becomes more clear.
I haven’t always known what I believed about destiny or fate, but I do love the notion that we help shape our own destinies, potentials, and authentic ways of relating to life through persevering through obstacles rather than turning our backs to them or feeling defeated by them. How do you feel about destiny?
Here’s the forecast:
This week’s highlights:
Monday, December 30: New Moon in Capricorn 10:26PM EST
Tuesday, December 31: Pluto in Aquarius sextiles the North Node in Aries
Wednesday, January 1: New Year’s Day
Human Design/I’Ching:
Monday, December 30- Gate 58: The Gate of Vitality/Joy
Monday evening (new moon) to Sunday: Gate 38: The Gate of the Fighter
This week’s themes:
Look at the world through an enchanted lens, pay attention to moments of synchronicity
The black moon helps us close out the year with inward focus. Think of it as a powerful dark soil to plant seeds that are meant to endure the tests of time
The Gate of the Fighter invites us to persevere, and appreciate obstacles as opportunities to hone our skills or choose more aligned paths toward our destinies
Our Place in the Wheel of the Year
Medicine Wheel Direction: NORTH (Wind, Elderhood, Spirituality)
Wuxing Cycle Element: WATER
Pagan Season: Yule
Zodiac Season: Capricorn (December 21-January 21)
Moon Phase: New moon in Capricorn is Monday, Dec 30
I Ching Hexagram/Human Design: Gate 58 (Mon), Gate 38 (Monday eve-Sun)
58: Lake over Lake (“Joyousness”) or the Gate of VITALITY
38: Fire over Lake (“Opposition”) or the Gate of THE FIGHTER
Monday, 10:26pm EST: The New moon in Capricorn, in the Gate of the Fighter
As 2024 draws to a close, the cosmos offers a rare and powerful celestial event: a New Moon in Capricorn on December 30, 2024, which also happens to be a Black Moon. A Black Moon occurs when there are two New Moons in the same calendar month or four in a single season—a mystical phenomenon that amplifies the energy of new beginnings. This black moon, the moon and the sun are conjunct in the Capricorn Gate of the Fighter, a root-center gate that puts pressure on us to fight for something and stand up for what we believe in.
Capricorn is the zodiac's determined and disciplined earth sign that governs ambition, structure, and long-term goals. This New Moon is a potent invitation to reflect on your aspirations, define your path forward, and commit to meaningful action. Capricorn’s pragmatic energy blends beautifully with the Black Moon's intensity, creating the perfect cosmic environment to set intentions rooted in stability and growth.
Overall, this lunation encourages you to focus on the "big picture." Whether it’s advancing your career, strengthening your foundations, or working toward personal mastery, the key lies in setting realistic yet bold goals. As Saturn, Capricorn's ruling planet, emphasizes responsibility and perseverance, it’s a reminder that success comes with effort and patience.
Since the New Moon coincides with the final days of the year, this is also a reflective time to release what no longer serves you. Let go of fears or self-doubt, and replace them with confidence and clarity. As I mentioned before, I’ve been off the resolution train for a while now, but this moon feels different. If you’re looking to solidify your resolutions for 2025, this is an ideal moment to plant those seeds.
To harness this energy, consider rituals like journaling your goals, meditating on your intentions, or performing a grounding practice to align with Capricorn’s earthy stability. Visualize where you want to be in the months ahead, and trust the process of gradual growth and self-discipline.
This New Moon in Capricorn isn't just about planning—it's about committing. Embrace the Black Moon’s transformative energy, and watch as your ambitions take shape in the coming year. The universe is ready to support you; all you have to do is take the first step.
This is a no-bullshit new moon, reminding us that the intentions that we set to persevere through struggles can pay off with honor- both external and internal. Power and resilience are strong within you this new moon, and the only challenge is discerning for yourself what is truly worth fighting for.
Practice: This new moon in Capricorn, make a list of the causes and values that you believe in and are willing to fight for. By laying them out, you may see how the work you are already doing is aligned with issues that you care about. It’s important to remember that hyper-vigilance and staying in flight-mode constantly is not sustainable, so use the dark sky of this new moon to connect with the most important and aligned actions that you can take toward a better world. Remember, this is a marathon, not a sprint.
Exploring Human Design Gate 38: The Fighter's Spirit
In Human Design, Gate 38 resides in the Root Center and is often referred to as "The Gate of the Fighter." It carries the energy of purpose and perseverance, the drive to fight for what truly matters in life. Governed by the tension of survival and determination, Gate 38 challenges us to discern what is worth our energy and effort, urging us to align with causes that bring meaning and significance to our existence.
The Gene Keys Perspective
Gate 38 corresponds to Gene Key 38, which explores the journey from struggle (Shadow) to perseverance (Gift) and finally to honor (Siddhi).
Shadow of Struggle: At this level, the energy of Gate 38 can manifest as a sense of purposeless fighting. This is the struggle for struggle's sake, born out of fear or resistance to the flow of life. Those operating in this shadow may feel stuck in battles that deplete them or fail to bring fulfillment.
Gift of Perseverance: Moving into the Gift, the energy transforms into steadfastness and resilience. Here, the focus is on discerning which battles are worth fighting and dedicating oneself to causes that align with one’s higher purpose. It’s about turning challenges into stepping stones and embodying the courage to pursue what truly matters.
Siddhi of Honor: At its highest expression, Gate 38 radiates the Siddhi of Honor. This transcends personal struggle and becomes a deep reverence for life itself. The Fighter’s spirit shifts into a state of grace, recognizing the sacredness of every challenge and the opportunity it provides for growth and evolution.
Gene key quote:
The I’Ching Connection
Gate 38 aligns with Hexagram 38 in the I’Ching, known as Opposition or Diverging Interests. This hexagram symbolizes the inherent tension between differing perspectives and values, urging us to find clarity and alignment amidst opposition. It teaches that opposition can foster growth when approached with awareness and determination.
Key lessons from Hexagram 38 include the importance of staying true to one’s path, even in the face of adversity, and learning to navigate challenges with integrity and focus. The struggle represented here is not about conflict for conflict's sake but about standing firm in alignment with one's truth.
Gate 38 in the Chart
When active in your Human Design chart, Gate 38 brings an innate desire to live a life of significance. It challenges you to ask: What is worth fighting for? What gives my life meaning? Those with this gate often feel a deep connection to purpose and may seek to bring this clarity into their relationships and endeavors.
When paired with Gate 28 in the Channel of Struggle (28-38), this energy becomes even more pronounced, weaving a narrative of seeking meaning amidst life’s inherent challenges.
Practical Applications
Reflect on where you’re investing your energy. Are you fighting battles that align with your core values, or are you caught in unnecessary struggle?
Cultivate perseverance by identifying the higher purpose behind your challenges. What lessons or growth opportunities do they offer?
Embrace opposition as an opportunity for refinement and clarity. Opposition can sharpen your focus and help you define what truly matters.
Gate 38 reminds us that life’s challenges are not obstacles but invitations to evolve. By embodying perseverance and honoring our unique purpose, we can transform struggle into a life lived with courage, meaning, and integrity.
All my love as we enter 2025,
Alison
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