SKYWATCH FOR JANUARY 2007

1	Mars sextile Neptune
3	Venus enters Aquarius
	Mercury sextile Uranus
	Full Moon 8:59 am EST
6	Sun conjunct Mercury
8	Mars trine Saturn
10	Chiron conjunct Venus
13	Mars conjunct Pluto/G.C. inconjunct Mercury
15	Mercury enters Aquarius
16	Mars enters Capricorn
18	New Moon 11:01 pm EST
	Venus conjunct Neptune
20	Sun enters Aquarius
	Mercury conjunct Chiron
22	Jupiter square Uranus
26	Mercury conjunct Neptune
27	Venus enters Pisces
30	Sun conjunct Chiron

Happy New Year!!

As 2007 begins, Pluto is conjunct the Galactic Center, a powerful event that occurs only once every 258 years (for more on this event see my earlier article). We can only theorize about the effect the Pluto/Galactic Center conjunction will have since this is the first time this event has been experienced since the discovery of both bodies, but I have little doubt that this is a potent combination that will bring about a course correction for the planet.

Saturn with its discipline and practical nature has been in close range of a trine (harmonious aspect) to Pluto since November but it is moving away now and won't make its exact connection until August of 2007. The harmonious connection between Pluto's transformative power and Saturn's desire to create form and structure offers a gentle means to integrate some of the more difficult issues that have arisen over the past year. 2007 was very difficult astrologically and most of us are in need of this integration as we attempt to put the pieces of our understanding back together.

In late December abundant Jupiter made a sextile (harmonious aspect) to Chiron, facilitating our understanding and openness (Jupiter) and encouraging us to face the painful facets of our lives and experience healing there. We are still experiencing the echo of this combination until mid-January.

Jupiter is traveling through Sagittarius until December, and because Jupiter rules Sagittarius its power to expand and open up new possibilities can operate unimpeded by other influences. Jupiter in Sagittarius seeks adventure, prosperity, faith and meaning in life. Jupiter was last in Sagittarius in 1995 when Pluto entered Sagittarius, and this journey through Sagittarius marks Pluto's leaving Sagittarius for Capricorn. There is a danger with Sagittarius of reckless optimism and self-righteousness, and we are likely to see some of these more negative aspects of this very positive sign over the next year.

Jupiter is also approaching the first of a series of squares (challenging aspect) to Uranus which will culminate towards the end of January. This is a revolutionary cycle that will continue through October of this year, bringing an eruption as Jupiter's need for expansion accelerates the rebellious demand for change and freedom that Uranus inspires. This could also bring even greater religious battles since Jupiter rules religion and theology and Uranus seeks to knock the power base off its structure. This cycle will return again in May and conclude in October and signals extreme volatility in world affairs. On a more personal level we will experience an urge for change and expansion.

Last year we had quite a bit of time with multiple planets in retrograde motion, where their influence tends to require us to continually be looking backwards, redoing projects that have already been completed and rethinking our plans and goals. As January begins only Saturn is retrograde and we'll have several months of limited retrograde activity. This will help to speed up progress in all areas of life, including in the political realm.

On January 1 Mars makes a sextile to Neptune, harmonizing the aggressive instinct (Mars) with a heightened sensitivity and compassion (Neptune). Our drive for action is tempered now with concern for the feelings of others, and our physical energy is channeled into pursuits that have a higher purpose. Neptune is not content with mundane reality but demands that we pursue a relationship with the divine essence within us. This is a wonderful time for creative endeavors such as art or music.

On January 3 Venus (planet of love and values) leaves the earthy sign of Capricorn where it has brought practicality to our relationships for the more intellectual sign of Aquarius. In Aquarius Venus seeks fair play and honesty in all relationships and may be unconventional. We may suddenly find ourselves interested in people that are very different from us, or new acquaintances may enter our lives and bring the unexpected. This same day (and for the next day or two) Mercury (communication) harmonizes with Uranus (innovation and radical change), bringing new and original ideas and insights, accelerating the thought process and enabling understanding at new levels of awareness. Uranus opens the doorway to other dimensions of consciousness, and the harmonious aspects with Mercury can bring radical change to the way we think about an issue.

These influences set the stage for the Full Moon in Cancer that takes place at 8:59 am EST on the 3rd. The Moon makes a trine to Uranus, accentuating even further the Uranian (unusual) quality to this period. The Full Moon occurs when the Moon is opposite the Sun and the Sun's light illuminates the Moon, giving her power and exposing her inner secrets. The Moon is the ruler of Cancer, which is the sign that is focused on family and caregiving. This Full Moon will bring our attention to issues of family; both those that we love and those from whom we are estranged. The healing component of this Full Moon cannot be ignored; Jupiter is still in aspect to Chiron where it is operating to facilitate the healing process, and the Uranian influences will encourage a detachment from emotional grudges that hold us back from making progress in our relationships. The effect of the Full Moon can last up to a week, beginning a few days before and lingering for several days afterwards.

During the Full Moon Mercury is approaching a conjunction to the Sun which will facilitate communication even more. Both the Sun and Mercury are in sextile (harmonious aspect) to Uranus for the Full Moon and for a day or two after the exact Sun/Mercury conjunction on January 6. This is a beautiful time for communication - for coming up with new ideas to solve old problems, for writing letters or novels, for self-exploration in our journal.

Mars (action) makes a trine to Saturn (discipline) on January 8. Harnessing Saturn's discipline and hard work to the drive and action of Mars enables us to accomplish great things. This is a combination that empowers us to manifest our goals and achieve success. Mars moves quickly so this influence will only be effect from January 5 through the 11th or so. If you're stuck in a project and finding it difficult to make progress, this event will help you to take the required action and accomplish what needs to be done!

Venus (relationships) conjuncts Chiron (wounding and healing) on January 10, which could bring up old emotional issues which we thought were long gone. Chiron requires us to face those old wounds so that they can be healed, and the more we are able to embrace painful feelings the deeper the healing process will be. This is a time when healing can occur, but also a time when our loved ones (Venus) can unwittingly push a button that brings us pain (or we are the ones pushing the button for them). These old wounds store energy within them, and as we are able to set them free we become more energized and free.

At the same time, Mars is approaching a conjunct to Pluto which is still conjunct the Galactic Center. Any combination of Mars and Pluto can be explosive, since Mars is the god of action and war while Pluto is the god of death and the underworld. The galactic center is the center of our galaxy, a point the ancient Mayans called the "Hunab Ku." The Mayans worshiped Hunab Ku as the Supreme Creator, the source of consciousness which organizes all matter. You may already know that the Mayan calendar describes the end of the Fourth World in 2012. It seems likely that the conjunction of Pluto to the Galactic Center marks a turning point and a realignment of the destiny of our planet, just as it has throughout history. The addition here of Mars could provide the spark to the flame that speeds up the process.

On a personal level, particularly if we have planets or angles in the mutable signs of Sagittarius, Gemini, Virgo and Gemini, we may be feeling an inner adjustment at the core of our being. Pluto represents the higher self, removing from our lives anything that no longer serves us. As Pluto contacts our own Galactic Center, it is changing our course and adjusting our track so that we move forward in the intended evolutionary direction. The conjunction of Mars and Pluto that is exact on January 13 but we will begin to feel its power about 5 days before and for several days after.

Geeky astrological detail: This event includes an "inconjunct" to Mercury. I typically don't include this aspect in the Skywatch discussion but I feel it is relevant here because of the magnitude of the Mars/Pluto/G.C. event. The inconjunct aspect creates discomfort without offering an outlet; unlike the challenging aspects which create a crisis that promote growth, the inconjunct brings a continual irritation. The inconjunct of Mercury in tandem to the Mars/Pluto/G.C. event suggests that we will have difficulty integrating the fiery energy of the event in a way that would provide intellectual meaning. This is a gut-level event, one that occurs at an instinctive and soul level and bypasses the intellect completely.

On January 15 Mercury, the planet of the intellect, enters the intellectual sign of Aquarius. For the next month or so communication and information processing will be more rational, less emotional. Mercury in Aquarius holds a fascination with technology, and there is a strong element of innovation and invention here as well. This is a time of new discoveries and revelations.

Mars leaves Sagittarius for Capricorn on January 16 which will mark the end of its influence on Pluto and the Galactic Center. Capricorn is an earth sign - practical and concerned with worldly matters of success and goals. This helps to ground us after the fiery events of the previous week.

The New Moon on January 18 occurs at 11:01 pm EST in the last degrees of Capricorn. The New Moon is a time of beginnings, when the Sun and Moon are conjunct and begin a new lunation cycle. The new beginning at the end of a sign has a special symbolism: the beginning of the ending. The initiation of the completion of that sign. In Capricorn we are called on to achieve, to make our mark on the world, to be responsible. This is a reminder that it's not enough to be spiritual, it's not enough to love. We also need to take responsibility for ourselves and be a contributing member of the planet. This New Moon incorporates the square of Jupiter to Uranus that was discussed above which suggests a struggle between the need for discipline and structure of Capricorn and the urge for freedom of the Jupiter/Uranus cycle. The New Moon event also includes a conjunction of Venus (love) to Neptune (transcendence), suggesting that meditation and a focus on love will help to integrate these dynamics, facilitating the new beginning that is offered here.

The Sun enters Aquarius on January 20, with Mercury and Chiron conjunct in Aquarius as well. Aquarius brings sudden revelations and insight, and the combination of Mercury and Chiron offers an opportunity for healing. This is a great time for psychotherapy and problemsolving.

On the 26th, Mercury conjuncts Neptune which expands the Neptunian focus on the world of spirit rather than the world of matter. This is followed by the entry of Venus into Pisces, the sign ruled by Neptune. This begins a new Venus cycle focused on romance and creativity with a flash of divine inspiration. The conjunction of the Sun and Chiron on the last day of January is an offering of healing and hope to conclude the month.