Astro Tips
January 2014
January 1, 2014
New Moon 10 degrees
Capricorn
The January New Moon actually falls on New Year’s Day. How odd is that? When I look at the horoscope for this
New Moon, I just want to frown.
There is one hard aspect after another in this chart. I hope we know how to get out of a
pressure cooker because that is what it looks like. Pressure has been building
up ever since Mars stepped into the sign of Libra and that Mars in Libra is
activating the Uranus/Pluto big show.
We are rattled,
fatigued and overwhelmed by energy that feels relentless with its demands.
The cycle of Uranus and Pluto started in the mid 1960’s when
the planets made a conjunction in the sign of Virgo. This conjunction initiated a social revolution on our planet. In 2012 Uranus and Pluto reached the
first Square Aspect of this cycle.
You might say they reached the first serious challenge of all that
occurred in the mid 60’s. There
will be two more serious challenge times before the cycle is complete and a new conjunction of Uranus and Pluto forms. Their current square connection has many exact aspects between 2012
and 2015. Our puny minds can’t
totally grasp what this revolution is about because it is really beyond our
comprehension and most of us will not live to see how it actually unfolds. The next major crisis in the
Uranus/Pluto exchange won’t occur for almost fifty more years. Most of the time we are just in
reactive mode to this event. Other
times we speculate on what it all means.
One example of the current revolutionary changes would have to be gay
rights. There has been a profound
change in how the majority of people think about gayness. Even the Pope!! Maybe these current times represent a
small step toward becoming citizens of a Universe (not just citizens of a city,
state, country, planet). But
each of us is in our own revolution.
Maybe it’s in our psyches, in our bodies, in our relationships with
family, or in our careers. We are all Mr. and Ms Uranus and Mr. and Ms
Pluto. We are all control freaks.
We are all “out of control” freaks. We are trying to shift away from old ways of thinking. We are trying to ascend into different vibrations. Meanwhile, we are rattled, fatigued and
overwhelmed by energy that feels relentless.
Have you noticed any change in your sense of time, or is it
just that I’m getting older and time flies by? It seems there is not enough time to do everything. Life keeps rushing along. Life keeps asking me to make
adjustments. Nothing stays in place.
Everything seems messy. Mad
drivers fill the freeways. Friends
are irritable. I’m behind in
everything and frustrated beyond belief.
Uranus (planet of
shock, trauma, upheaval, revolution) and Pluto (planet of control, elimination
and transformation) are not necessarily causing anything to happen. However, their cycle should be
understood this way: As Above, So
Below.
Metaphorically, these two planets might be viewed as
archetypal deities. They are
waging a battle and we are experiencing their battle on earth. Does that sound crazy? Uranus is the sky god. Sky god rules things like wind and
thought and lightening bolts and striving for perfection. Pluto is the underworld deity where
riches are found. Think diamonds
and gold. Who controls the underworld controls life, or so it seems. Pluto doesn’t want to give up control
of all those pretty things. Think
stock market. The movie, “Wolf of
Wall Street”, has a strong Plutonian theme: being seduced by wealth and the sense of being
invincible. The rich Wall Street
players seem to get away with living a life out of the days of the Roman
emperor Nero. It’s just in their
nature to use other people and to try to grab more than they really need. They prove their power through having
too much and living without scruples. This is how they experience themselves.
Uranus is the planet that brings surprise and awakening to this operation. Uranus driving the car off the road or
brings a tornado to the neighbor.
Or the FBI tracks them down.
We all have some little part of Pluto telling us we must be
in control . . . my will, my will, MY WILL. We all have some little part of Uranus, the
rebellious impatient awakener ready to bring the fire of innovation to all. Furthermore, as a community on planet
earth, maybe we have gone too far in our hubris. We have robbed the underworld
of its treasures. We have used
more than we needed. Now Uranus
and Pluto play out in the heavens and we watch on earth as the environment
suffers, animals suffer, people suffer and many people make fools of
themselves. Some people turn to
religious fervor to justify antiquated behaviors and beliefs. Judgmental
religious/spiritual arrogance can only lead us further from the center of the
Universe.
Back to January and
the New Moon: Imagine that all the
planets are living parts of your inner being.
Those of us who lived through the 60’s really believed the
revolution was a done deal and we were on the way to a more compassionate
world. The chart for the New Moon
on January 1st tells us we still have a long way to go. The Sun, Moon, Mercury and Pluto (all
in Capricorn) are all sitting on a stone bench (it’s stone because this is the
sign of Capricorn, solid earth).
They are bunched together and they don’t like it. The happy, warm, vital Sun and the
emotional Moon must hold hands with the underworld (Pluto) where confronting
secrets and truth must happen before we get the gold. In addition, Pluto is holding hands with Mercury (Hermes),
the messenger. We are sure to get some powerful news on January 1. Maybe we could start right now and
practice how to talk to each other without damage. Mercury and Pluto together is a sign of truth telling. Pluto gives intensity to our words and
also to the Sun’s ego identity expression. Venus retrograde is sitting off on the corner of the bench
(8 degrees away from Mercury). Maybe Venus is trying to stay balanced while the
rest of the crew is arguing. It’s
possible that the Moon in Capricorn will just shut down and wait for the Sun to
come up tomorrow.
Planet Jupiter, the deity of excess and bravado, is opposing
all five of these entities from
across the playing field in the sign of Cancer. Maybe a Cancerian Jupiter is a little toned down, but still
the Sun, Moon, Pluto, Mercury and Venus are all extremely big and in your face
due to Jupiter’s presence. If
planets Mars and Uranus were not involved, we could almost say it’s just an
optimistic kind of big day. Alas,
Mars in Libra and Uranus and Aries are in the big grand square pressure
cooker. Imagine a big square, now
it becomes a shouting match in a boxing ring.
Venus in Capricorn is retrograde so maybe we are longing for
the good ole days. Maybe we call
up some old friends to help ease the pressure. Maybe we hear from an old lover. Mars in Libra is full of the fighting spirit, particularly
in the relationship arena. Uranus
in Aries brings surprises and possibly shock. In fact, Mars connecting with
Uranus and all these other planets could mean some surprise announcement in
partnerships. The rest of the cast
of players in Capricorn wants life to be settled and dependable, but the
interaction with Mars, Uranus and Jupiter forces the staid Capricorn energy to
squirm and wiggle. Trying to find
a comfortable thing to say or a warm & fuzzy place to relax could be hard.
I see the New Moon in Capricorn as a time of frozen emotions. The Moon is
overwhelmed by all the excitement, agitation and aggression.
If you are into New
Year’s resolutions, do a ceremony and seal it with your word!
These planets are all in the cardinal/moveable signs: Aries,
Cancer, Libra, Capricorn. Remember, the moveable signs literally move us along
through the seasons. They get
stuff going. New Year’s Day is a
great one to get stuff going. If
we commit to a plan, we will probably carry through. If you are into New Year’s resolutions, do a ceremony and
seal it with your word!
What’s it good for?
Here are a few possible remedies that hopefully will keep
the day from becoming a boxing match. This new moon energy might be great for a
rock concert, any kind of musical performance, theater, creative undertakings,
journaling, hiking in nature where weather permits, intuitive readings for the
coming year, and finally, deep explorations of our belief systems and our
current life situations.
Saturn trines
Jupiter: We have hope no matter
what!
At least Saturn, our good planet of structure and planning,
is making a wonderful connection (trine) with Jupiter. All is not lost. We have hope in this New Year no matter
what. We can get serious and
thoughtful about our plans and purposes.
Neptune is a dim
light on this New Year’s Day
On the bigger collective/social stage, one might expect
explosive news from anywhere on the planet. Political players will be caught in their shenanigans or
they will take up air space trying spread their version of truth. Poor planet Neptune is hardly visible
in the planetary arrangement.
Neptune, ruler of the victim, will be victimized by harsh words about
the new health care agenda.
Neptune rules compassion also, but compassion is a dim light on this New
Year’s Day stage. Maybe we can
light a bunch of candles and try to up the level of caring. Speak
out for justice (Mars in Libra). Refuse to be seduced by the promises of the
corporate rulers (Pluto in Capricorn). Recognize your own genius (Uranus in
individual Aries) and make plans to
be a pioneer in your special area of expertise. Dream up ways to help
others. With Jupiter in Cancer
we can feel the need of all sentient beings. Instead of using the Jupiter energy to brag and boast, we
can extend to others with enthusiasm and nurturance.
Have a board meeting
with your inner self
All those planets in Capricorn have a message: be realistic,
be pragmatic, and fight all illusion. Have a board meeting with your inner
self. What do you want to happen
this year? How do you want to live
your life? Can you give up being a victim? Can you change how you think about your life? Can you align your beliefs with the
present hour? How will you thrive and be prosperous and yet not be seduced by
wealth? How can you be a good
steward of planet earth? What are your bottom line values? Where is your community? Are your
relationships supporting your wholeness?
We are being cooked
for some purpose but it feels like we are still raw.
The Big Square in the heavens is a pressure cooker. We are being cooked for some purpose
and it feels raw and scary. Life
goes on. We will meet the
challenge. Perhaps a mantra like,
“I eat change and transformation for breakfast” will help us stay in the flow
of fast moving energy. Meanwhile, tuning in to dimensions beyond this earthly
plane can save your body and soul.
Remember Neptune is the silent player on the stage all month. These days
are about “what you see is what you get” and it’s hard to escape the busy,
harsh reality. Seek out Neptune,
the silent player. Take time to
remember other times of sweet connection with planet earth and with higher
dimensions. Remember special, profound, happy experiences. Connect with the heavens and the stars
and the moon, and with the angels and all the spiritual beings that dart in and
through our existence to help us.
There is plenty to look forward to in 2014. We look forward to more fun, more learning, more happiness,
deeper connections with others, better health and new ways of expressing
ourselves. Keep a light heart and
continue to watch the show. Keep
an open heart and it will fill with new sources of awakening and love. And remember, the wise ones tell us we
signed up be here NOW. Welcome to
2014.
