The Celestial Farewell: A New Year’s Eve Meeting of the Moon and the Seven Sisters

As the clock winds down on December 31, the universe is offering a parting gift: a rare and elegant pairing of an 88% waxing Moon nestled beside the Pleiades star cluster. High in the constellation of Taurus, this "Celestial Farewell" is more than just a beautiful photo op—it is a bridge between ancient history and your personal future.

The Cosmic Clock: Why This Matters

For millennia, the Pleiades (or the "Seven Sisters") served as the world’s calendar. In many cultures, their movement dictated when to plant, when to sail, and when to celebrate.

Seeing the Moon visit these stars on the final night of the year is a poetic reminder of our connection to time. In Canada, this event is even more spectacular: a Lunar Occultation. For those in the North, the Moon will actually pass in front of the sisters, momentarily "blinking" them out of view—a literal curtain call for the year.

The Spiritual Weight of 88%

In lunar cycles, an 88% Waxing Gibbous Moon is the phase of refinement. It is not yet a Full Moon; it is the "final push."

 * The Energy: This is the time for final adjustments and polishing your intentions.

 * The Setting: With the Moon in Taurus, the energy is grounded, stable, and sensual. It asks us to look at what we have built and ensure the foundation is solid before we step into January.

Your New Year’s Eve Ritual by Element

To harness this energy, step outside between 8:00 PM and Midnight. Use the ritual associated with your Zodiac element to set your "Celestial Intention."

Earth (Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn): The Foundation

 * Intention: "I am building a foundation that will support my highest growth."

 * Ritual: Hold a stone or coin while looking at the Moon. Visualize your 2026 goals and leave the object on a moonlit windowsill overnight to "charge" your physical intentions.

Air (Gemini, Libra, Aquarius): The Clarity

 * Intention: "I release the noise of the past to hear the wisdom of my future."

 * Ritual: Take a deep breath of the crisp winter air. Exhale a word you want to leave behind (like "doubt") and whisper a word you want to invite in (like "focus") toward the Seven Sisters.

Fire (Aries, Leo, Sagittarius): The Vision

 * Intention: "My inner light burns brighter than any obstacle I faced this year."

 * Ritual: Light a single gold candle. Write down three things you accomplished this year. Safely burn the paper, transforming your past efforts into the "fuel" for your next big adventure.

Water (Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces): The Intuition

 * Intention: "I flow with the rhythm of the universe, trusting that I am exactly where I need to be."

 * Ritual: Create Moon Water. Place a glass of water where the light of the Moon and Pleiades can touch it. On New Year’s morning, use it to wash your face or water a plant to symbolize a fresh emotional start.

How to See the Show

Since the Moon is so bright (88%), the delicate Pleiades might be hard to see with the naked eye.

 * Grab Binoculars: This will reveal the cluster as a shimmering "mini-dipper" of blue jewels.

 * Look South: Face South/Southeast and find Orion’s Belt. Follow the line of the belt upward past the red eye of Taurus (Aldebaran) to find the Moon.

A Final Reflection

As you look up, ask yourself: "What is the final 12% of effort I need to give to feel complete?" The Moon is almost full, and so are you.

The Zodiac Mantras for Dec 31st

Aries

"I trade my restless pace for the Bull’s steady strength; I am grounded in my power."

Taurus

"I am the vessel for beauty and abundance; the Moon honors my worth tonight."

Gemini

"I quiet the many voices to hear the one truth that guides me home."

Cancer

"I trust the tides of my heart; the Grandmother Moon protects my path."

Leo

"My warmth comes from within; I shine steadily, even in the quiet of winter."

Virgo

"I release the need for perfection and embrace the magic of being 'enough'."

Libra

"I find balance in the dance between my dreams and my reality."

Scorpio

"I shed the old skin with gratitude; I rise from the shadows into the starlight."

Sagittarius

"My spirit is an arrow aimed at the stars; I trust the universe to carry me far."

Capricorn

"I honor the mountain I’ve climbed; I rest now to enjoy the view from the top."

Aquarius

"I am a bridge between the ancient stars and the future I am creating."

Pisces

"I swim in the sea of infinite possibility; my intuition is my truest compass."

How to use your Mantra:

 * Wait for the Moment: Between 8:00 PM and Midnight on the 31st, find a quiet spot where you can see the Moon.

 * Focus on the Pleiades: Look for that tiny, shimmering cluster just above the Moon.

 * Speak it Thrice: Whisper your mantra once for the past (to release), once for the present (to ground), and once for the future (to manifest).

Since this "Celestial Farewell" takes place in Taurus—a sign ruled by Venus that governs values, the earth, and the physical senses—your ritual should focus on grounding and manifesting tangible results.

Here is a celestial intention and a small ritual for each element. Choose the one that matches your Zodiac sign:

Earth Signs: Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn

The Vibe: Stability and Legacy.

 * The Intention: "I am building a foundation that will support my highest growth."

 * The Ritual: Since the Moon is in Taurus, this is your power moment. Before you go out for New Year's Eve, hold a small stone or a coin in your hand. Visualize your biggest goal for 2026. Place that object on a windowsill where the 88% Moon can "charge" it. This represents turning your thoughts into physical reality.

Air Signs: Gemini, Libra, Aquarius

The Vibe: Clarity and Communication.

 * The Intention: "I release the noise of the past to hear the wisdom of my future."

 * The Ritual: The Pleiades are associated with "divine whispers." Step outside for five minutes and look toward the Moon. Take a deep breath of the cold winter air and exhale a word you want to leave behind (e.g., "doubt" or "stagnation"). As you look at the Seven Sisters, whisper one word you want to invite in (e.g., "clarity").

Fire Signs: Aries, Leo, Sagittarius

The Vibe: Vision and Expansion.

 * The Intention: "My inner light burns brighter than any obstacle I faced this year."

 * The Ritual: Fire signs can feel restless during a Taurus moon. Light a single gold or white candle. As you watch the flame, look at the Moon (or imagine it). The 88% Moon is almost full—it’s "nearly there." Use this energy to write down three things you are proud of finishing this year. Burn the paper safely to transform that effort into fuel for next year.

Water Signs: Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces

The Vibe: Intuition and Healing.

 * The Intention: "I flow with the rhythm of the universe, trusting that I am exactly where I need to be."

 * The Ritual: The Moon is your natural ruler. On the night of the 31st, create "Moon Water." Place a glass of water near a window where the light of the Moon and the Pleiades can reach it. In the morning (New Year's Day), use this water to wash your face or water a plant, symbolising a fresh, hydrated start to your emotional life.

A Universal New Year’s Eve Reflection

As the Moon sits at 88%, ask yourself this one question:

"What is the final 12% of effort or 'polishing' I need to apply to my life to feel truly complete?"

This Moon isn't about starting from scratch; it's about the final refinement before the Full Moon of your new year begins.

On December 31, 2025, as the New Year begins, the Moon and the Pleiades (the "Seven Sisters") will perform their final celestial dance of the year across the Canadian sky.

In Canada, this will be particularly special as it isn't just a close passing—it is a Lunar Occultation, where the Moon will actually pass in front of and "hide" some of the stars in the Pleiades cluster.

Best Viewing Times in Canada

Because Canada covers six time zones, the exact "meeting" time varies, but the general window is between sunset and midnight.

 * Atlantic Canada (AST): The Moon will be high in the sky by 7:00 PM. The cluster will be tucked very close to the Moon's upper-left edge.

 * Central Canada (EST/CST): The best viewing is around 8:00 PM to 10:00 PM. In cities like Toronto or Winnipeg, the Moon will be high in the south-southeast.

 * Western Canada (MST/PST): Look up as soon as it gets dark (around 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM). In places like Edmonton or Vancouver, you will see the Moon move through the cluster as the night begins.

What You Will See

The Moon will be 85% to 92% illuminated (a bright Waxing Gibbous).

 * The Challenge: The Moon’s brightness acts like a searchlight. To see the "Seven Sisters," you will likely need binoculars.

 * The Position: Look for the Moon in the constellation Taurus. The Pleiades will appear as a small, blurry "glitter" of stars just above or slightly behind the Moon’s disk.

 * The Occultation: If you are in Northern Canada (like Whitehorse or Yellowknife), you may see the Moon slowly "blink out" specific stars like Sterope as it passes over them.

How to Find Them

 * Face South/Southeast: As the sun sets, the Moon will already be visible.

 * Locate Orion: Find the three stars of Orion’s Belt.

 * Follow the Line: Draw an imaginary line through the belt and "upward" (away from the horizon). You will pass the bright reddish star Aldebaran (the eye of the Bull) and land right on the Moon, which is parked next to the Pleiades.

A Spiritual Closing

In many indigenous Canadian traditions, this time of year is a period of "Storytelling and Reflection." As the Moon (the Grandmother) meets the Seven Sisters, it is seen as a gathering of ancestral wisdom. It is a perfect moment to whisper a "thank you" to the year passing and an intention for the year ahead.

The pairing of an 88% Waxing Gibbous Moon with the Pleiades (M45) on New Year’s Eve is a poetic "celestial farewell" to the year. This alignment brings together the two brightest objects in the night sky—the Moon and the "Seven Sisters"—creating a bridge between ancient mythology and modern astronomical wonder.

1. Historical Significance: The Ancient Calendar

For millennia, the Pleiades served as a cosmic clock. Because they are located near the ecliptic (the path the Sun and Moon travel), their movement has defined seasons for civilizations across the globe.

 * The Māori New Year: Though traditionally celebrated in winter (Matariki), the rising of the Pleiades marks the beginning of the New Year for many Polynesian cultures.

 * Agricultural Markers: From the Aztecs to the ancient Greeks, the position of the Pleiades told farmers when to plant and when to harvest. Seeing the Moon "visit" the sisters at the end of the solar year reinforces this ancient connection to timekeeping.

 * Navigation: Early mariners used the Pleiades and the Moon to guide their ships across the Mediterranean and Pacific. On December 31, this pairing acts as a symbolic "guiding light" into the coming year.

2. Spiritual Significance: Introspection and Unity

In spiritual traditions, the Moon represents the subconscious and emotions, while the Pleiades are often associated with higher consciousness and sisterhood.

 * The Waxing Gibbous Energy: At 88% illumination, the Moon is in its "refining" phase. Spiritually, this is a time for final adjustments, polishing intentions, and gaining momentum before the Full Moon. It represents the "final push" of the year.

 * The Seven Sisters' Protection: Many cultures view the Pleiades as a protective cluster. In Taurus (the Bull), this energy is grounded and stable. The pairing suggests a sense of being "watched over" as we transition from the old to the new.

 * A Call for Connection: Because the Pleiades are a cluster of stars, they symbolize community and the strength found in numbers. Their proximity to the Moon on New Year's Eve emphasizes the importance of family, friends, and "chosen kin" as we cross the threshold into January.

3. The Visual Spectacle

The "88% Moon" is bright enough to light up the landscape but not so bright that it completely washes out the delicate blue shimmer of the Seven Sisters.

Pro-Tip: If you look slightly to the side of the Moon (using "averted vision"), the Pleiades will appear as a shimmering, misty "mini-dipper." This subtle glow against the bright Moon creates a visual metaphor for finding magic even in the midst of brilliance.