By Edith Hathaway © 2025

At a time of year when we have the Turning of the Light at Winter Solstice (in the Northern Hemisphere), and when Christians celebrate Christmas and the birth of Jesus and Jews celebrate Hanukah, it is especially shocking in December 2025 to also observe so many acts of violence and aggression across the world, some of which are aimed specifically against Christians or Jews.  Meanwhile, this Biblical message of universal peace is a message shared throughout the world:

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”   Luke 2:14

Geopolitics along with crimes of passion can be cited in part for this surge in violent acts across the world. But in astrology, we can especially point to the unusually long period during which transiting Mars is combust the Sun.  The normal time span is 2 ½ months.  This current one runs for nearly 5 months: Nov. 7, 2025 to March 27, 2026.  This is when transiting Mars and the Sun are within a 17 degree range of celestial longitude and often much closer.  (See the list of Dates and degree ranges for Sun-Mars combustion further below.)    Only Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn can be combust the Sun, with different ranges for each planet. Continue reading →