Sun enters Aquarius

Sunset on the Columbia                                                                                                                  Catherine Al-Meten

On Sunday, January 19, the Sun begins its transit through Aquarius. The Sun’s entry into Aquarius changes the nature of our focus. Just as our energy shifted during Mercury’s recent entry into Aquarius, we now feel more motivated to pursue areas of interest, change our ways of thinking and behaving, take more risks, and head out in new directions. This coincides with the ending of the Year of the Snake and the start of the Year of the Wooden Horse in the Chinese Lunar calendar. For the next week before the New Moon that opens the door to the New Year, we find ourselves awakening, feeling infused with energy, making plans, and changing our focus towards a very different kind of journey than we have been on in many years. What was important for a long time, has slipped into the background or come into focus as having served its purpose or ended altogether. We move outside the bounds of convention and begin to behave according to a new type of paradigm. 

As the Sun enters Aquarius, the Moon is nearly midway through her transit of Virgo. We use this grounding energy to get things done, to set the tone for the week, and to clear up the details that may have been left undone over the last week or so. The Moon is in her waning gibbous phase, still quite full and shedding light in all the dark areas of our lives. This is the period when buds begin growing, when ideas start to take hold, and when thoughts begin to turn into action. 

On Wednesday, the Moon in Libra conjuncts Mars.  This will awaken you on an intuitive, emotional, and even in dreams or visions, to what is upcoming.  Pay attention. On January 21, the Moon moves into Libra, and the by Friday, into Scorpio.   The Moon trines Neptune in Pisces late Friday night, making for some sweet romantic moments, sweet dreams, and an evening of whispering sweet somethings straight from the heart and soul. Enjoy the gifts however they come to you. A wonderful time for inspiration for music, poetry, or dance. The Last Quarter Square of the Moon to the Sun occurs on Friday, January 24 in the early degrees of both Scorpio and Aquarius (4/8 degrees). When the Moon descends into its waning stage, our emotions are affected more by unconscious fears, drives, and concerns, and we begin discerning what is working and what is not, what is viable, or what is requires more time and thought.  This is the brooding time for our thoughts, dreams, plans, and creations. Between Sunday and Monday evening, there is a period of time when we may still be able to set the wheels in motion for a plan or project, however we want to make certain this is something that is truly what we desire.

Belief systems, behavioral patterns, relationships, attitudes toward work and important areas of our lives have undergone a transformation that is now allowing us to cast our nets into deeper waters. We go beyond what had been unfulfilling or broken, and set out to find new ways live, work, create, love, serve, and connect with one another. We are better able to distinguish between what made us feel safe, secure, and at home and what opened us to living more authentically, creatively, and compassionately. We understand that our chains are those we have accepted, and our true sense of freedom comes from the knowledge that no one and nothing can trap our soul and spirit. Despite what conditions, circumstances, or challenges we face, we know the truth of who we are, and are more willing to act in our best interests. Knowing this, allows us to be more tolerant, more kind, more loving, and more present for others. 

Mercury entered Aquarius on January 11, and will remain their until January 31. Today, January 19, Mercury in Aquarius forms a quincunx to Jupiter in Cancer at 13/36 degrees of both signs. Picking up on intuition, acting on inner gifts and strengths, and taking risks or trying out new ways of approaching communication, benefits and results in good fortune and more edifying connections.  At the same time, our sense of proportion and overconfidence in our abilities may cause us to overreach in some areas. It is a good time to dream, plan, and consider plans, projects, and new paths; it is not a very good time to act on these plans. Better to let things simmer for a while, giving you enough time to iron out the details and double check your work, the details of agreements, or other areas under consideration.

Venus in its retrograde phase of Capricorn, has another 11 days before she stations and turns direct.  We continue through the period of reflection that Venus retrograde phase takes us, pondering and sorting through how we form and maintain, build and shape, and affect and are affected by our relationships and passions. We are beginning to see more clearly, how our emotional temperment, behavior patterns, conscious and unconscious beliefs and perceptions, and our personal narrative and the stories we tell about who we are, shape and affect our relationships.  

Mars transit from  December 7, until July 25 continues in  transit Libra. Mercury in Aquarius forms a trine to Mars in Libra by Friday.  This trine is building during the week, and by Friday we will feel nearly impelled to communicate clearly, directly, and with great enthusiasm. We grow in our desire to express ourselves, and also to hear what is being communicated by others. This is a good time for dialogue, and we are capable of stating our ideas, thoughts, and positions with greater clarity than we have. Mercury in Aquarius enables Mars in Libra to be clear about what matters most, and Mars in Libra allows Mercury to come from a broad-based understanding of all that is entailed in whatever choices, options, risks, or viewpoints may be expressed. We are capable of standing in our truth while understanding that our truth is not necessarily that of others; nor does it need to be for us to effectively communicate. 

Saturn, the Great Teacher, began its cycle through Scorpio October 5, 2012, and will continue its transit until 2015. On Saturday, January 25, Mercury square Saturn, followed by the Moon conjunct Saturn and  Moon square Mercury early in the morning, starts the day off with some delays, cloudy or faulty thinking, or with some challenges that put a damper on plans and outlooks. Emotionally, we may be in distress or at least in a fog. Negativity may be possible if what we seek to achieve or take care of runs into snags. Avoid overreacting to changes, plans run awry, or projects facing revision. Adjust by using these experiences, feelings, or situations to practice what you have been learning from Saturn about listening to your instincts, paying attention to your subconscious or shadow, or seeing the signs that are evident before you. We get into a lot of trouble when we allow our egos to take the lead without paying attention to how the Universal flow and the relational aspects of life far overshadow our own need to be right, on time, or for our desire to have things happen according to our timing.  Divine time is not my time, nor is it yours. Plans are not necessarily going to happen as you want them to; adjust and look for the gifts in whatever comes. Time is a construct that we think we have control of; it is just a construct, not an absolute.  

Jupiter has been transiting through Cancer since last June, and will continue to do so until July 16, 2014. Issues, perceptions, and illusions about what and who makes us feel safe, secure, and loved, remain paramount in our conscious and unconscious behavior, beliefs, and motivation. 

Uranus entered Aries in March of 2011, and continues in the early degrees of its 14-year transit through Aries.  Surprises, shocks, and unexpected information and connections continue arrive in typical Arian style--rough, fiery, and with naive glee and abandon. Notice where in your life/chart Aries rules, and by now you will have noted how Uranus makes itself known in this part of your life.  

Neptune is at 3/42 Pisces and  trined the North Node’s retrograde cycle in 3/42 Scorpio on January 16 (something came up from the past to remind us of an important lesson we are learning on our journey). Chiron, the Wounded Healer, is also transiting Pisces, and is at 11 degrees (ready to semi-sextile the Sun in Aquarius on January 31) giving us new insight and innovative ways to discover healing and answers to heretofore seemingly unsolvable problems. Watch dreams and listen to intuitive hunches for signs, answers, direction, and spiritual guidance.