The Astrology Blog 20 January 2020
All times in GMT
“The best way to resolve any problem in the human world is for all sides to sit down and talk.”
Dalai Lama
https://www.astrotheme.com/astrology/14th_Dalai_Lama
A QUICK WORD ABOUT FLIGHTS TO GREECE THIS SEASON
Prices are hiked up, the same happened last January, but historically they come down again. If you want to receive alerts for the best deals for any course week just let me know as I’m watching availability and prices all the time.
London Workshops
13 Feb Valentine’s Astrology of Relationships (10 of 20 places available)
15 Feb Secrets from my 25 Years of Tarot (4 of 20 places available)
Contact me direct for more info or to book your place.
What’s Happening this Week
The major events last week were Mercury and Venus changing sign and ushering in new cycles. Both planets met up with Uranus as their first port of call, and this week starts with the Sun doing exactly the same –
Monday 20 January
- Sun ingress Aquarius 14.56
Thursday 23 January
- Sun 2 Aquarius square Uranus 2 Taurus 06.55
This is an interesting combination, as it was last week when Mercury moved into Aquarius and made the square, as this sign is co-ruled by Uranus (main ruler being Saturn). So it’s a double whammy. Uranus in traditional astrology doesn’t in fact have any other place of “dignity” although in modern textbooks you’ll read that Uranus is “exalted” (best placing) in Scorpio, which means that he’s in “fall” (most difficult placing) in the opposite sign of Taurus, the sign through which he’s now travelling. This certainly fits symbolically as Taurus is the sign of Fixed Earth – think Rock of Gibraltar – and Uranus is explosive in nature. Hence earth shattering bombshells.
This symbolism is showing unmistakably in the royal family. Here are Uranus’ main principles –
- Society at large, the collective
- Change and progress, especially in terms of modernizing
- Rebellion, non conformism
- Doing things differently, innovation, anything “new age”
- Separation/divorce
- Strong opinions and principles
The timeline of astrology in the Harry and Meghan story actually shows from the day they got married –
- The wedding took place on 19 May 2018
- On that day transiting Uranus was exactly conjunct the Queen’s Sun of 00.13 Taurus (a transit that happens only once every 84 years)
- Anything at 0 degrees is extra significant too as this is known as a “critical degree”, a power point of change
- The reporting of the wedding focused hugely on the breaks with tradition and its multicultural flavor, especially the unforgettable American bishop Michael Curry
On the Mercury (news, decisions etc) square Uranus at the end of last week details of “the deal” emerged. There were no half measures, including the couple relinquishing their HRH titles and repaying £2.4 million of public money on the renovation of their home.
BBC royal correspondent Daniela Relph told BBC Radio 5 Live: “When they first issued that statement about what they wanted, they talked about forging this progressive role within the Royal Family, about stepping back from royal duties. This isn’t stepping back, it’s stepping away entirely.”
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-51163865
The astrology clearly suggests that this is ground (Taurus) breaking (Uranus) stuff and not just a new life for Harry and his family, but a precedent for future royals, to have the option of choosing their own way of living and becoming financially independent. This is the beginning of the road to a slimmed down royalty. It’s one in the eye for the tabloid press too as they are at the root of the problem. There can’t be many who don’t feel intense sympathy for Harry’s worry that his wife would suffer the same fate as his mother. I have absolutely no doubt that Diana (whose own astrology resonates with the current story, being born on a Moon in Aquarius – Uranus in Leo opposition, making a T-Square to Venus in Taurus in the 5th House of children) is cheering him on. Go Harry!
The Month of Aquarius
So we’re now into the Aquarius time of year as the Sun will travel through this sign for the next four weeks. The square to Uranus midweek rather sets the tone so, in our own lives, there’s definitely a message around progressiveness and daring to be different. You CAN achieve the life that you want if you’re true to you and if you’re not afraid to raise eyebrows, possibly including your own. Whatever your current desires why not surprise yourself? Other people’s news may surprise you this week too!
At a more general day to day level the Sun in square to Uranus doesn’t exactly make for a smooth ride. It’s an unsettling backdrop but it’s also a time when things can get sorted just because they do go haywire. The things we’ve been putting off have a way of catching up with us so try and build in some slack during the first half of the week. Or it will be the things you didn’t expect that will disrupt your carefully laid plans. I still haven’t booked my tickets for flying over to the UK at the end of the month but there are plenty of flights available. However in terms of exact dates and times I’m definitely still spinning a lot of plates so, if I’m going to take my own advice lol, the time to decide and book tickets will be Thursday. The disruptive Sun – Uranus square will then be separating (past its moment of exactitude) and the more cheerful picture for the second half of the week will be underway. This includes Jupiter, planet of long distance travel.
Mercury, Venus & Jupiter
As mentioned earlier Mercury and Venus both changed sign last week and have made their first aspects, both to Uranus. These new cycles showed very strongly for me as there was a rush of bookings for the workshops coming up in Feb (Aquarius/Uranus rule groups) and I also heard from a magazine editor about starting a new column (Mercury rules everything to do with the written word). The exact format for this is still under discussion but the first one will be in the March issue and I’ll be telling you more about this nearer the time.
This was also a brilliant example of a personal transit working out exactly as we started these discussions months ago but the offer for the column landed in my inbox when Mars (my chart ruler) was at 9.33 Sagittarius, and my natal Sun (which rules my 9th house which is where we locate publishing) is 9.34 Sagittarius. Even after all these years of being immersed in astrology it’s still deeply satisfying to me when such moments happen and it reminds me that everything really does happen at its appointed time.
Mercury and Venus continue on their way and the second half of the week brings a delightful dance between these two planets and lucky Jupiter, known as the Greater Benefic in traditional astrology, all followed by the New Moon –
Thursday 23 January
- Venus 12 Pisces sextile Jupiter 12 Capricorn 13.08
- Mercury 12 Aquarius semi-sextile Jupiter 12 Capricorn 17.18
Friday 24 January
- Mercury 12 Aquarius semi-sextile Venus 12 Pisces 01.08
- New Moon 4 Aquarius 21.43
This trio adds up to good news, optimism, plans coming together and conversations of the intimate or helpful kind. They’re smiling on all love and money issues, especially as Venus is now in Pisces her sign of exaltation, so create some quality time with a partner, deal with finances and be generous wherever you can. If you’re on the receiving end of generosity there’s little doubt that it will be heartfelt and make a real difference. Either way the proviso of no strings attached is the real blessing. Midweek is the time to enjoy or learn about the power of giving with unconditional love.
And new romantic attractions starting up at this time are full of promise. If you’re single and searching pay close attention to whoever comes into your life this week, not that you’ll be able to miss them. Aquarian/Uranian types are often distinguishable by their differentness, being quirky or unusual in some way, with a knack for standing out in the crowd. Or a meeting will carry the hallmarks of this symbolism in other ways, such as through matchmaking friends or the classic when and where you least expected to meet someone.
The New Moon links to new beginnings of all kinds, not just emotional ones. It’s a power point of change, especially as this one falls in square to Uranus, so yet again the Aquarius/Uranus symbolism is dominating the picture. Look out for themes that fit with the symbolism belonging to this sign and planet as already mentioned throughout this blog – eg groups and everything connected to our wider circle of friends and colleagues, or the unexpected.
Mars Joins In
At the weekend Mars moves into the picture and it’s his turn to make aspects to Mercury and Venus. The latter is exact just as we click into Monday so it belongs to this week rather than next –
Saturday 25 January
- Mercury 15 Aquarius sextile Mars 15 Sagittarius 13.11
Monday 27 January
- Venus 16 Pisces square Mars 16 Sagittarius 01.38
Mercury – Mars combinations are great for list ticking. If you find yourself in overwhelm with too many things to do the weekend is the time to get a handle on things, to make lists and then prioritise. Find me an Aquarian who doesn’t make lists btw, they’re brilliant at it. If you’re having trouble getting organized then enlist an Aquarian friend, they’ll sort you out.
On a warning note Mercury – Mars can also indicate heated situations and the exchange of sharp words or even full blown division one arguments. Mars now in truth freak Sagittarius can be honest to the point of bluntness but the fire signs are great at exploding, clearing the air and then not bearing grudges, especially Sag. So if something blows up on you deal with it, and then let it go.
Mercury of course is all about communication and as this is a dominant planet this week there’s also a theme about how we do or don’t talk to each other. Look back to the top of the blog for the quote from the Dalai Lama, and the link to his horoscope. In keeping with the Uranus theme note that he’s now having his Uranus Return, at the age of 84, so am watching the news with interest to see what stories emerge.
At a chart interpretation level he’s a nurturing double Cancer (Sun and Ascendant) but with his Moon in Virgo (one of Mercury’s signs) conjunct mystical Neptune in the 3rd House (communication), and with Mercury in Gemini (Mercury’s other sign) in a harmonious sextile to Venus in Leo, also posited in the 3rd House. His chart reminds us that his job is not just about being a spiritual leader but about talking, educating – and listening.
This recalls a very interesting Whatsapp chat that I had over the weekend with a friend of mind who’d had a date with a guy who seemed to have everything going for him –
“On paper he was perfect, but omg he just couldn’t listen. It was all about him, all the time. So, though he was attractive and intelligent and artistic and super-fit, there was no point in taking it any further.”
How very disappointing and frustrating. I wrote back, “Years ago I saw a documentary about first dates, and it was fly on the wall reporting, observing what couples do and how they behave. Almost without exception the man did nearly all the talking, and the analysis was that, especially on first dates, men set out to impress. The feedback from the women was that the more the man tried to impress them the more bored and disengaged they became, and the more they felt that they didn’t matter. They could’ve been anyone.”
This is so men are from Mars, women are from Venus! And with these two squaring up to each other at the weekend we’ll be up against our differences rather than our similarities. The difficulties found in trying to understand how the opposite sex operates have been around for as long as we have, it’s an issue that never goes away, even in our psychotherapeutic age. No wonder John Gray’s book sold over 15 million copies. His explanation is that women don’t want or need to be impressed, they want to be heard and validated. Conversely, men don’t need this as a first requirement. The aim to impress is about courting admiration which, apparently, brings out the best in the male psyche, and that this is why they don’t listen – they just want to be told how wonderful they are. But the overall message of the book is about learning how to communicate with a partner and how to talk about issues openly.
Whatever, we can’t talk and listen at the same time. In my view, and of course this is crucial in my line of work, listening is of paramount importance. I also have to say that I know very few people who really know how to listen, it’s a skill it seems that we have to learn and develop. But when you do find yourself in the company of someone who’s a real listener, someone who engages and who gives you their full attention, it can be very powerful, and very sexy! That’s my view as a woman of course!
But if I had to sum up the essence of the positive side to Aquarius it would be, “stay curious”. Being genuinely interested in what makes other people tick, learning how to initiate conversations, how to ask questions, how to listen to the answers without interrupting, how to hear someone’s real opinions and feelings – and so on – this is the stuff of authentic connection.
Mercury and Venus continue to dominate the picture next week too so whatever takes shape for you this week, there’s more to come.
Until then, happy listening!
With love from Greece
Joanna