Since November and continuing through April, we see major changes involving the outer planets. The outer planets, Jupiter through Pluto, since they are farther from us than the inner ones, Sun through Mars, have more to do with changes in the social spheres than the personal ones, as the inner planets do. In November, Pluto moved to Sagittarius, where it will remain until 2008. Sagittarius connects to how we see the world, that is, philosophy, religion, education and beliefs in general. Pluto is the planet of transformation, eliminating the unnecessary so that the pure essence of whatever it touches shines through. Look for major changes in our belief systems while Pluto is here.
Neptune has been in Capricorn since 1984 and will remain there until 1998. Neptune slowly dissolves whatever it touches. Capricorn relates to structure and organizations like governments and corporations. Since 1984, our belief has diminished in these bodies' ability to meet our overall needs. The fall of Eastern Bloc countries, in particular, is tied to Neptune's position in this sign. Look for doubts about our Western governments and their abilities to meet our needs to continue.
Uranus moved into Aquarius on January 12 of this year and will stay there until 2003. Aquarius is Uranus' home sign, and both planet and sign are connected with systems that tie individuals together, such as electrical grids, computer networks (the Internet!) and even plumbing systems. Uranus in its own sign means that the march of technological changes will explode more loudly in the next seven years. No matter where you stand on the issue of technology and how it affects society, look for it to have an even more profound effect during this period.
Both Jupiter and Saturn will change signs this year, Jupiter already having moved to Capricorn at the beginning of January, while Saturn will move to Aries in April. Jupiter represents expansion, but it is now in the constrictive sign of Capricorn. Look for people to be generally more conservative this year as they get used to the monumental changes we have seen in recent years. Saturn is, generally, not comfortable in the sign of Aries; Saturn prefers discipline and structured ways, while Aries is a pioneer seeking to distinguish itself individually. Look for sparks to fly at times throughout the year as individuals look to remove themselves from the yoke of recently established structures.
Now that you have an idea of the general atmosphere for the year, let me give a week by week idea of what you might expect according to the planets for the next six weeks.
A Full Moon in Leo appearing on the fourth, opposing the Aquarius Sun, highlights the week. The Leo-Aquarius polarity relates to individual accomplishments versus group ideals. Group success depends on the distinct achievements of members of said group. At the Full Moon, the question of empowering each human for the sake of the collective is most important. Our egos are important to reaching success, whatever that is, for each of us. At the same time, an environment that enables that success must be in place for each us to reach his or her potential. Here we may see where this dynamic could be out of balance.
Otherwise, creativity should be highlighted as value-seeking Venus aligns with "just the facts" Saturn and sextiles all-inclusive Neptune. The latter points to the opportunity to use psychic and similar abilities to improve creative output. Mercury also moves from Capricorn to Aquarius, where thoughts about the collective move from being organizational to implementational. It also retraces steps it visited before turning retrograde last month. We may make peace with technical and other systems that went awry then!
Last week's creative promise continues as both Mercury and Venus, inner and thus personal planets, interact with outer ones. The former ties to our thinking processes, while the latter connects to the value we seek to create. Our thinking, thus, promises to be forward-looking, while relationships, what we value from others and creativity will take into account what we have learned in recent months and years. We are adaptable and open to others, even those we never thought we could get along with.
A last-quarter Moon appears on the twelfth. Last-quarter Moons are best used to wrap up affairs and make final emotional connections to the lunar cycle we are leaving. This lunar cycle began on January 19. What began around then that you need to finish now? Pay particular attention to the dark of the Moon period between February 15 and 18, when we should find quiet time away from others to meditate on what has just passed.
We see a New Moon on the 18th in Aquarius, which may seem odd since the Sun is ready to enter Pisces. This New Moon appears, like others in recent months, at the end of a sign, which means we will have a lot of "cleaning up" to do throughout this Moon cycle, which lasts from February 18 to March 19. The Moon's appearance in Aquarius portends much work on social ideals and their implementation. While pioneering thoughts are always welcome, we must make sure they have a place in the real world. Doesn't it seem that much happens in society just because it can be done? We may need to find ways to put wild notions to practical use.
Both the Sun and Mars, recently entered Pisces, square Pluto this week. Squares represent challenges, and considering the all-or-nothing nature of both Mars and Pluto, we may find ourselves in such situations this week. The best advice is probably to avoid such situations in the first place that is, stay out of known dangerous situations. However, Pluto often relates to situations that have been brewing for some time. If you find yourself at a point where seemingly you have no escape, first know on what solid footing you stand. Most will not find themselves in violent placements but may be involved with others in some way that offers no way out. Remember Pluto has to do with circumstances that outlived their usefulness. You may need to give up something that you hold dear but that no longer serves a purpose.
This week should prove to be somewhat less exciting than last. Mars in good position relative to Jupiter means we can easily carry through our initiatives. Venus squares Neptune, which means that we should not believe at first or even second glance what we see or hear, particularly when it comes to relationships. Take some time before diving in!
Mercury moves to Pisces from Aquarius this week, so our thoughts concerning collective issues should move from technical to emotional levels. Mercury squares Pluto, challenging us to alter our beliefs in accordance with recent world changes, on a more emotional, subconscious level than previously. Venus moves from Aries to Taurus, to stay there until April 3, so we will likely create value from relationships and artistic projects we may have impulsively started around the beginning of February. Uranus sextiling Pluto has long-term ramifications in connection with what we learned from the revolutionary Sixties, when these planets aligned. (For more on this subject, see Used Karma.)
A Full Moon appears on the fifth, with the Virgo Moon opposing the Pisces Sun. Here, concerns around feeling emotionally connected to social issues versus our actual contributions to group needs surface. Any matter in which we have escaped our responsibilities may arise. On the other hand, we could be feeling that we have sacrificed too much personally, so now we must let others who we feel have shirked their duties know our feelings.
This week begins with a last-quarter Moon and ends with a New Moon, so again we need to wrap up situations and review our feelings about what has occurred over the last lunar cycle, beginning February 18. At the dark of the Moon, we should not only allow ourselves time to contemplate what this last cycle has meant to us personally, but also about what has occurred since last year.
Again the New Moon appears at the last degrees of a sign, this time in Pisces, bringing us to closing-type situations all spring. Since many of the outer planets have changed or will change signs this year, the social atmosphere will also be radically different. Before we proceed forward, we must wrap up what happened before these changes, lest we are burdened with baggage that unnecessarily weighs us down.
Mercury is in good relations with Jupiter and Neptune, sextiling first one then the other. If we take initiative, we can easily connect with complex perceptions and our psychic abilities. Venus is also trine Jupiter, promising abundance in relationships, creative projects or any area connected to values.
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