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SKYWATCH
FOR JANUARY 2009
 1/1
Mercury enters Aquarius
1/3 Venus enters Pisces
1/4 Venus sextile Pluto
1/5 Jupiter enters Aquarius
1/9 Sun trine Uranus
1/10 Full Moon 21 Cancer, 10:27 pm
1/11 Mercury turns retrograde
Sun trine Saturn
1/18 Mercury conjunct Jupiter
1/19 Sun enters Aquarius
1/20 Sun conjunct Mercury
1/21 Mercury retrogrades into Capricorn
1/22 Mars sextile Uranus
Venus conjunct
Uranus
1/24 Sun conjunct Jupiter
Mars trine Saturn
Venus opposite
Saturn
Venus sextile
Mars
1/26 New Moon 6 Aquarius 2:55 am (eclipse)
Mercury
sextile Venus
1/27 Mercury conjunct Mars
As
January begins, Saturn
has just turned retrograde on the heels of a New Moon that
was packed with Capricorn planets. Capricorn is ruled by Saturn
and they share the qualities of hard work, discipline (sometimes
to the point of drudgery), concerns of the material world. When
planets appear to turn retrograde from our perspective on earth
their influence is emphasized and we experience them with a bit
more intensity than usual so with Saturn retrograde there is a
strong emphasis now on Saturnian qualities such as disicpline
and social structures that create a strong foundation.
Mercury
enters Aquarius on January 1st, and now we move from Capricornian
practicality to an emphasis on the rational and the innovative
that Aquarius brings to the table. In Aquarius our thought process
(Mercury) becomes more agile with more of a creative and intuitive
understanding.
Venus
has been traveling through Aquarius, but enters sensitive and
emotional Pisces on the 3rd which places more emphasis on the
feelings we share in relationships. There is a desire to be compassionate
and connected now, and this is made easier by a sextile (harmonious
aspect) from Venus to Pluto's intensity. This sharpens the focus
and helps us to clarify our relationships and our interactions
with others.
On
January 5, Jupiter enters Aquarius, where it will remain throughout
the year. Jupiter is the planet of abundance and opportunity,
and enjoys a positive reputation as a beneficial planet. In Aquarius,
Jupiter brings an expansion of Aquarian innovation and creativity,
as well as an increased consciousness of social justice and fairness
to all that is a hallmark of the Aquarian influence. All astrological
signatures, even Jupiter, carry a positive and a negative manifestation,
and the dark side of Jupiter is a confident self-righteousness.
Combined with the Aquarian urge for rational and unemotional improvement
in the collective, there can be a depersonalization in this combination
that can be unsettling at times. While Jupiter is in Aquarius
is will form a conjunction both to Chiron and Neptune, amplifying
the need for healing (Chiron) and achieving harmony with the divine
(Neptune). Watch these pages for a new article to be posted shortly
on Jupiter in Aquarius.
The
Full Moon on January 10th is in Cancer, with the Moon opposite
the Capricorn Sun. Home and family life is emphasized now under
the sign of Cancer, and Saturn (stability and structure) forms
a harmonious aspect to the lunar event with a trine to the Sun
and sextile to the Moon. Uranus (innovation and that which is
new) is involved as well, with a trine to the Moon and a sextile
to the Sun. These four form a Mystic Rectangle (two oppositions
and two sextiles). The Mystic Rectangle is a very positive aspect
signifying balance and harmony - there is enough tension from
the planets that oppose each other to energize the aspect, yet
the sextiles offer a harmonious route to resolution. This Full
Moon, in the sign which it rules and is therefore most happy in,
is a lovely time to honor our responsibilities to our loved ones,
to create and enjoy a nurturing space within our home, to rediscover
a family member who has perhaps been out of touch. Full Moons
are periods of emotional fullness, and this Full Moon will be
a beautiful time to open our hearts.
Mercury
turns retrograde on January 11th where it will remain through
January 31. Mercury Rx periods are famous for communication glitches
and machinery failures. Often these are due to user error, as
our brains function diffierently during the three weeks, four
times a year, when Mercury is retrograde. If you must enter into
a contract or begin a new job or project during this period, do
everything you can ensure that all agreements are clear and in
writing. Read all of your instruction manuals, and don't be surprised
if your phone messages don't reach their intended destination.
Just shrug your shoulders and laugh: "Mercury is retrograde!!"
The Sun forms a trine to Saturn on that day which should offset
some of the challenges with a nice clear focus.
Mercury
(mental functions) conjoins Jupiter (expansion and confidence)
on the 18th, and for a few days it becomes much easier to expand
our views and our confidence is increased. For the next few days,
particularly on the 19th and 20th with the Sun conjunct Mercury,
public speaking or any kind communication is highlighted (despite
Mercury being retrograde!!). This is a very fortunate combination,
and the only danger is that we may become a bit too certain of
our own views which can make it difficult to negotiate an argument.
The
Sun enters Aquarius on January 19th, illuminating the new Aquarian
influence that has been amplified by Jupiter's having entered
that sign. Everything is a little brighter under Aquarius - our
vision is sharper; our intuition more astute. We seek the unpredictable
and emotion takes a back seat. Aquarius is a mental air sign,
but it is concerned with Higher Mind - the knowledge that we glean
through our intuition and higher consciousness.
On
January 21 Mercury retrogrades into Capricorn and brings the focus
back down to earth temporarily. Mercury will remain in Capricorn
throughout the rest of the month as it continues its retrograde
travel. On the 22nd a sextile of Mars (action) to the revolutionary
planet Uranus urges us towards greater autonomy and freedom. Venus
forms a conjunction to Uranus later that day, so the Uranian revolutionary
fervor is hard at work here. Uranus rules Aquarius, and these
short-lived planetary cycles help to continue to stimulate the
Aquarian/Uranian urge to disrupt the status quo and create a life
that is more authentic and true.
The
next few days bring some powerful influences. A conjunction of
the Sun to Jupiter is a beneficial influence that adds confidence
to all of our endeavors, and a trine of Mars (energy) to Saturn
(discipline) helps to provide the focus to get things done and
manifest our desires and wishes. Venus (relating to others) forms
a sextile to Mars (aggression) which helps to energize our relationships
and aid in collaborative ventures. However, an opposition of Saturn
to Venus suggests that there may be tests and challenges in our
interpersonal relationships that will require some work to navigate
successfully.
All
of this leads up to a powerful Solar Eclipse, one of an amazing
six eclipses in 2009. The eclipse on January 26 occurs in a New
Moon in Aquarius at 2:55 am EST. This New Moon is a potent Aquarian
fiesta, with Jupiter conjunct the Sun and Moon, and Chiron and
Neptune also in the sign of Aquarius. A New Moon is a time of
new beginnings, and in Aquarius we see an emphasis on Justice,
innovation, invention, community. Eclipses can be significant
harbingers of a shift in awareness or focus, and this one, coming
so closely after the inauguration of Barack Obama, is certain
to energize the power of that new beginning for the US and the
rest of the world as well.
Mercury
(the mental function) forms a sextile to Venus on the day of the
eclipse, a planetary combination that enhances creativity and
facilitates understanding, and is energized by Mars the following
day (January 27th). The mind is a crucial player in the Aquarian
drama, and the fact that Mercury is so active now suggests that
it will be easier to bring our mental processes on board with
the consciousness shift occurring now.
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