We are now just hours short of the New Moon and moods and emotions may tend to be anxious and on edge, with tense nervous restlessness.

This could make it hard to settle or feel at ease and the slightest pretext will be enough to cause a major upheaval with the possibility of arguments and volatile expression. The consumption of alcohol will make this all the more likely and although it is possible to have a good time with close friends and acquaintances, there will always be the potential for even the most convivial of settings to suddenly turn nasty. Indeed where arguments do occur there may be little restraint in what is said or done, and the resulting consequences may be of a lasting nature.

Around 02:00 GMT on the 9th December (21:00 EDT on the 8th) the Moon will come into alignment with Mercury. This will tend to heighten moods even further, and as the Sun is also beginning to align with Mercury this will create a short but noticeable period of powerful mental and nervous activity. In addition this will increase ones overall sense of perception and awareness, and some may find this makes them vulnerable to disturbing thoughts and feelings that may have a vulnerable or upsetting edge to them.

At the very least this will increase levels of alertness to an almost psychic level of perception, with enhanced imaginative powers that make this atmosphere ideal for creative or artistic endeavours. This may also prove a time of increased mystical and spiritual awareness and one that may open up new avenues of personal awareness, with the possibility of taking up activities or interests that one may not previously have considered. There may also be a great need for change and variety with intensely escapist inclinations that may play havoc with ones normal routine of work. Indeed it may prove difficult if not impossible to stick to a definite pattern of work and ones daily tasks may be severely disrupted by other more attractive alternatives.

As mentioned in previous alerts, one factor of this time of year, particularly in the northern hemisphere is that time may seem to pass unusually rapidly, with seemingly little appearing to get done. Under these circumstances those on a tight deadline may come to feel extremely pressured, as it will require extra discipline to stick to the task in hand.

All in all this represents an intensely powerful emotional setting with the possibility of feelings and emotions that could prove challenging and difficult to come to terms with. On the other hand this atmosphere offers great potential for self evaluation, with the possibility of a renewed sense of direction, or ideas that may serve as a valuable source of future development.

Alert is 7.5. Moon 1% illuminated.