Most of us wish we could know something about the future.  New Year's is a time when predictions are frequently made, however, no matter how prescient and wise you might be, the future remains a mystery. For those who think astrology is about foretelling future events, it might come as a shock to find out that the movement of our planet and its relationship to the other planets, stars and gallaxies impel but do not compel our lives.  Just as we are affected by the weather or by other peoples's actions and moods, so too are we affected by all things that are part of our universe. 

We can learn to hone our intuitive skills and learn to pay closer attention to the cycles, seasons, and energy patterns that affect the world in which we live.  As 2012 dawns, what lays before us are countless opportunities to discern, choose, and create a life that is influenced by our attitudes, beliefs, and desires.  The more aware we are of what impels us personally, the greater the opportunity to make choices, deal with challenges, and take steps toward a more fulfilling, balanced life. On this New Year's 2012 morning, I awoke to a beautiful day after a restful sleep. Yesterday, I shared the late afternoon and early evening with a group of friends and family who came to my house to toast the old year out and welcome the new year.  No one knew each other before we gathered, and I was surprised that everyone chose to sit down together and talk. One friend, Heather, mentioned that the one thing everyone had in common was me.  It made me more aware that my normal behavior would be to hide out and enjoy my solitude, but I stretched my boundaries because I wanted to share something of what I have (my home, some good food, and good company) with people who have meant so much to me and who have given me so much. Sometimes we move closer to what we truly desire by moving beyond our comfortable and familiar behavior.  Perhaps this year, we can challenge ourselves to think a bit differently, stretch our boundaries beyond the familiar, and open our hearts, minds, and lives to welcoming new people and new experiences. I approached the end of the year feeling I had little to share, but sharing the little I had and ending the year feeling full, rich, and happy. 



So what influences are we under as the New Year, 2012 begins? Early in the morning on December 31, 2011, the Moon entered fiery Aries.  The Sun is entering the second triad of Capricorn, making for very earthy Sun energy. Shortly after midnight, the Sun made a quintile aspect to Saturn (in balance seeking Libra).  The Sun shines in areas pertaining to what matters most to us, the pragmatic, day to day actions, events, and areas of our lives ruled by this grounding energy.  For example, if your ascendent is in Scorpio, your 12th house is where Saturn is transiting.  This tends to activate your subconscious, having you struggle with coming to terms with memories, unconscious (shadow) issues, old patterning and conditioning, and those areas of our inner self that we tend not to like to face or deal with. Having just completed this phase, with Saturn turning over every rock of my past and unconscious being, I understand it can be a rocky, uncomfortable time because we can no longer ignore these issues.  That's what Saturn, the Great Teacher, tends to bring when we are under the energetic influence in whatever area of our lives this is happening.  To find out where you are being affected by this Saturn transit, you might consider having a chart done so you can discover what types of issues may be affected. This helps us understand that not everything that affects us is a result of something we have done or not done. Sometimes the energy patterns and influences of the world create collective shifts and interactions that affect everyone, though somewhat differently depending on our individual differences. 

I was chastised once by an old Sunday School teacher for being interested in astrology when I was a young girl.  She "tsked tsked" me for "believing" such foolishness. Normally, a very wise and tolerant person, she responded to my interests without really knowing what she was talking about.  While sacred literature such a the Hebrew Scriptures, New Testament, and the Qur'an warn of soothsayers and certain practices, the warnings are of misusing the signs and interpretations. There are calls in all sacred literature to look for signs, and understand our interconnection with the world in which we live.  My response to the teacher was that if the Universe was created by God, the Creator Spirit, then everything in it was part of the divine plan.  After years of studying not only astrology but also ancient and modern history, psychology, spirituality and religious studies, and from my life experiences and reading, I have come to understand the archetypal understanding that all studies use to help us understand ourselves, our lives, and our interactions with others, not to mention with our spiritual and divine purpose.  Astrological knowledge is a tool that can be used to help us understand ourselves and the world in which we live.  
I invite you to have a consultation with me some time, to talk about some of the influences that are present in your life chart. You might find it very enlightening, and helpful in entering a new year.

During the next week, the first of the New Year, 2012, we will be living out the shifting patterns that have been building over the last few months. Whatever we have outgrown, lived out, or moved beyond, will begin falling away. We might leave a job, relocate, begin a new business, start or end a long-term relationship, or begin a totally new way of living. This movement will be in the form of a birthing of newness, rather than a shocking or jolting shift.  Whatever has been growing in your awareness and life will begin developing and will start affecting your entire perspective including your tastes and style.  In the early stages of this I lost my appetite. Almost nothing I normally ate, tasted good anymore.  I also began changing my tastes in clothes.  A friend gave me a present of a necklace and matching earrings.  At first, I thought I'd never wear them. They just didn't look "like me."  Last night as I was dressing for a party, I put on my little black dress, and also put on the beautiful gold beaded necklace and earrings.  The look that wasn't "me" turned out to be perfect for me.  Once I tried the necklace on, I realized, I had been mistaken about my perceptions. On the other hand, my friend had trusted her instincts about what I'd like. This is a friend I've known for over 30 years, and someone I don't get to see often, but she knew what would be perfect for me now.  Listen to what your friends say and suggest. Trust that what comes to you right now, is opening a new door, a new perspective, and a new path to follow.  Times of great transition, are times when our senses and intuition are activated, strengthened, and sometimes jarring us into awareness of what is needed to release what is no longer viable and nurturing in our lives.  

Changes, even thoughts, dreams, plans and ideas not yet manifested, that opened up in late November or early December, will begin breaking into your reality.  Think of an ice breaker, a ship that moves through heavily iced-over areas, to open the channels for ships to pass.  This is what has been going on, and though it may have been frustrating and upsetting, it has been necessary in order for us to make our way into uncharted territory, into new areas of life, and onto paths that were previously not open to us.  There will be ongoing healing that will come from paying closer attention to our dreams and subconscious drives, desires, and struggles.  Chiron, the Wounded Healer, has just entered Pisces, and is inviting us to pay attention to our dreams and intuitive knowledge  to resolve our personality, financial, psychological, emotional, spiritual, and pragmatic struggles.  It also challenges us to learn to trust the Divine energy through prayer, meditation, and spiritual practices that align us more and more through our spiritual nature. Through the way we handle what life presents as obstacles and challenges, we heal, grow, and develop into a more grounded, whole person...capable of facing and creating a stronger more firmly grounded set of ideals and goals for our lives.  Neptune, the planet that signifies the unconscious and mystical nature of our being and of the hidden aspects of life, is in the last degree of Aquarius (29 degrees). This is called the anaretic degree, and whenever a planet is moving through that degree, it signals final lessons, messages, endings and completion of whatever cycle it is affecting. For example, if it is moving through the fourth house, it may signal a move or relocation.  Or it may signal the resolution of an issue related to one's home. Home also relates to we, ourselves. Home is who we are, not just where we are. We are at home when we are being ourselves. When we feel a sense of comfort, familiarity, and connection.  So when there is a completion in the home, it can signal a resolve or learning taking place that makes us feel more ourselves.  This in turn, can make us more capable of living in full awareness of our gifts, purpose, and meaning. 

Neptune will be moving towards a conjunction with Chiron (in Pisces) in the next few months, so again, the more we develop our ability to pay attention, study, and use the knowledge of our dreams, intuition and spiritual gifts, the greater our reward of learning and sharing what most matters to us.  It truly is a time when we need to strengthen and balance ourselves with and through our intuitive understanding and gifts.  Failure to listen to the intuitive knowledge, will be a failure to release whatever is holding you in place or holding you back. It is not all up to you. Learn how to listen to God's voice in your life.  Allow yourself to seek Divine counsel, and learn to listen. Take the tools and gifts, the experience and knowledge you have, and combine it in an aware partnership with your Divine nature so you can live out the life your soul calls to you. 

During this Capricorn time, we are "maturing and mastering the physical plane" (Stephanie Austin, Mountain Astrologer). We are in community, and as we learn to master our own thinking, behavior, and desires, we do so in a relational way. We are part of greater wholes (families, friendships, marriages, communities, organizations, cultures), and we have multiple parts. In order to be a fully-functioning member of any relationship, we have to be constantly learning, affirming, and honoring our true nature.  Mercury, will be entering Capricorn on January 7th, just a day before the January 8-9 New Moon in Cancer. We are already feeling the movement of the moon's path toward the New Moon. As we watch the moon move through its phases to just a sliver in the sky, we also feel the tug of the tidal influences that stir throughout the earth and within us. Mercury, the planet that rules cognition and perceptions will be making a number of aspects to all the outer, slow-moving planets (Jupiter in 0 degree Taurus, Saturn 28 degrees of Libra,  Neptune 29 degrees Aquarius, Uranus at 1 degree of Aries, and Pluto at 7 degrees Capricorn).  Forming a trine to  Jupiter, conjuncting Pluto, and sextiles to Saturn and Neptune, this next week will make the next New Moon significant for moving us forward in our transitions. With Mars in Virgo, and Uranus in firey Aries, we will be both grounded in actions and motivated and propelled forward with our plans and dreams. There's an expression, "Be careful what you wish for; you might just get it."  This is especially true now, so it behooves us all to practice listening to our self talk, making certain we are projecting out from ourselves what we really want, not what we fear. Operating out of the principles of positivity, love, and creativity are crucial now.  Whatever patterns you set now, will lead you into your future. In that sense, we do create our world. We help shape and form it through the power of our thoughts, ideas, actions, and dreams as we project them through our words, actions, and desires.

Embrace your most loving, positive self, nurture your best habits, and live out your beliefs in positive action.  Happy New Year, and make it the best ever.