New Year Astrology – A New Order Emerging
If you want to see the sign and degree of the planets in your own or any other natal chart, so you can check these against the signs and degrees important this week – here’s the link to Astrotheme. Enter your data into the boxes provided:
https://www.astrotheme.com/horoscope_chart_sign_ascendant.php
The Astrology Blog 31 December 2018
All times given are stated in GMT
Well it’s an action-packed start to the New Year – two planets changing sign, three major aspects, a Solar Eclipse and Uranus turning direct. And it all kicks off in the early hours of the first day of the year as Mars moves into his own sign of Aries:
Tuesday 1 January 2019
-
Mars ingress Aries – 02.21
Mars has a two year cycle so the last time he entered Aries was the end of January 2017, and it’s wonderful timing to see this ingress fall exactly on New Year’s Day. How symbolically appropriate.
Aries is the first sign of the zodiac and anything at 0 degrees of this sign is like a blank page, a clean slate and packed with potential e.g. the Spring Equinox when the Sun is at 0 Aries.
This is a double whammy as Aries is one of Mars’ own signs, where he is said to be “dignified”. From Be Your Own Astrologer here’s my take on Mars in Aries as a natal planet – which will give you a flavour of the upswing in this changing climate:
Mars in Aries (dignity)
Mars in the dynamic and positive fire sign of Aries is just where he wants to be. No messing, get it sorted, do it now, cut to the chase – such are the mantras for these speedy individuals.
Their sense of immediacy and urgency is second to none and they are the least likely people to put things off. Similarly, they’re usually at the front of the queue when help is needed, particularly for the underdog. With their ability to cut through the red tape and pull all the right strings fearless campaigning is one of the hallmarks of this winning combination. Human rights are especially close to their hearts.
Mars in Aries is proactive (plan ahead) as opposed to reactive (deal with it when it happens). These guys spend their lives on high alert, constantly anticipating all possible scenarios, troubleshooting and working out a plan of attack. They are fiercely independent, don’t suffer fools gladly and can channel anger into their beliefs.
Love is boring unless it’s a challenge. This Mars thrives on the thrill of the chase and needs a partner who can keep their attention.
In a nutshell: egotistical, immediate, proactive
So Mars has come full circle, moving off the degree of 29 Pisces (the position of a Fixed Star called Scheat associated with suffering) to 0 Aries, starting a brand new journey.
This is like The Fool in the tarot, the first card of the pack that is significantly numbered 0 not 1. Nothing has yet happened, it all lies ahead. In terms of as above, so below, what transition do you need to make? Here are some ideas to capture Mars’s messages, from:
- Negative → Positive
- Happy → Sad
- Hopeless → Hopeful
- Chaotic → Focused
- Anxious → Confident
- Stuck in the past → forging a future
- Passive → Active
- Reactive → Proactive
- Victim → Warrior
- Dependent → Independent
- Pessimistic → Optimistic
- Criticising Self → Approving of Self
- Addicted → Liberated
I’m not saying we can do all of these things overnight
There are a couple of things on this list that I definitely need to work on.
But once we accept that our approach to life is actually a choice, which translates into either a change in attitude or an action or both – together with the fact that we’re psychologically wired for New Year’s Resolutions – there’s hardly a better time to take up this challenge.
Also look out for the things or the people who naturally appear as our travelling companions and who help us or fuel our resolve.
The best astrology is when events simply reflect back to us and match up with the current aspects and features, without us consciously doing anything! Those are magical moments that let you know that you’re in synch with the universe.
Mars the love planet
And let’s not forget that Mars is one of the love planets. He is lust, libido and in Aries he’s seriously hot.
Want to breathe new life into your relationship or get someone to notice you? It’s time to put out all the right signals and don’t be a wimp lol. For example, forget about winning someone by making them feel sorry for you, and forget about making a partner feel responsible for you. Pity and duty are not what passion is built on. And no matter what or whom you want, right now passion is your top keyword.
Be that alpha male/female and know that you’re a prize worth winning. A little healthy egoism will now go a long way.
The toughest aspect of the week is hard on the heels of Mars’ change of sign
Wednesday 2 January 2019
-
Sun conjunct Saturn 11 Capricorn – 05.51
In terms of traditional astrology Sun-Saturn combinations are not easy.
Before the discovery of the modern planets (Uranus, Neptune, Pluto, Chiron) Saturn was the end of the known universe and in the collective consciousness no life existed beyond him.
Saturn’s main principle is contraction – the opposite to Jupiter’s expansion. If Jupiter is “yes”, Saturn is “no”. Jupiter says ‘let’s party’, Saturn says ‘stop enjoying yourself’. He rules authority, career, duty and responsibility. His nature is pessimistic, realistic and serious. He is the bringer of solemnity, restriction, obstacles, boundaries and endings, ultimately death.
Saturn is the enemy of the “Lights” of life, the Sun and Moon, being in detriment in their signs of dignity, Cancer (Moon) and Leo (the Sun) so Sun/Saturn combinations can bring ill health, reminding us of our mortality and physical limitations. He rules the bones, especially the knees and teeth. So make that dental appointment!
Can we say anything nice about Saturn?
Well, I’ll try. I still haven’t forgiven him for my second Saturn Return.
At least he’s in his own sign so, in theory, his positive attributes should be more obvious, such as:
- Getting our act together
- Embarking on new projects
- Making serious commitments and
- Deciding to be with something or someone for the long haul.
- He’s great for putting in the goal posts and setting firm boundaries.
Many Capricorns of my acquaintance have sailed through the Saturn transits in their lives and found them the most constructive and productive periods of their lives.
If you have planets at or close to 11 Capricorn some tough things will be asked of you but there may also be some real opportunity to progress your career or ambitions.
You may discover a work ethic or discipline that you didn’t know you had. If he brings heavy duty stuff it will be something that you simply have to get through, but it’s definitely happening for a reason, even if it’s one that is impossible to fathom. Struggles or endings are happening at their appointed time.
Saturn rules time itself, he is Father Time and lord of karma. But there’s no getting away from the fact that he can be a misery and a party pooper.
With this aspect out of the way the second half of the week is much livelier
Thursday 3 January
-
Moon conjunct Jupiter 12 Sagittarius 08.24
Friday 4 January
-
Mercury 28 Sagittarius trine Uranus 28 Aries 05.14
-
Sun 14 Capricorn sextile Neptune 14 Pisces 19.59
Saturday 5 January
-
Mercury ingress Capricorn 03.41
Moon – Jupiter conjunction
I always note the Moon – Jupiter conjunction (that happens once a month) and these are especially promising now and for the rest of the year, while Jupiter is travelling through his own sign of Sagittarius.
If you have planets at or close to 12 degrees of Sagittarius, then you can expect a healthy dollop of good luck, generosity from others – or from you to them. And reasons to be cheerful, such as good news or making travel plans – or going on a hot date!
Mercury
Mercury is also in Sag, but now finishing his journey through this sign and this trine (harmonious) to whacky Uranus is his last aspect before moving on into Capricorn.
Positive Mercury – Uranus combinations are great for spontaneity, brilliant ideas, unexpected news and group events.
They can also bring all kinds of changes that you couldn’t possibly have seen coming, but which make you rethink, including breakthrough conversations and light bulb moments.
Some things will be actioned straight away, as with Mercury moving on so quickly into ‘get real’ Capricorn, there’s not much breathing space.
It’s all about getting back down to work after the Xmas break:
- Mapping out a schedule
- Identifying your goals
- Prioritising your to-do list
- Getting to work on your New Year resolutions
- Looking at how you can get plans off the drawing board and materialise your desires or the things you need.
- Make a plan, and stick to it.
In terms of personal relationships Mercury in Capricorn is about communicating in a way that is courteous and low drama.
Best results will come about through quiet determination, but also taking other people’s thoughts or opinions as seriously as you take your own. But note that this Mercury also signals a risk of silences and stonewalling.
Seize your moment
For now though, Mercury’s aspect to Uranus is doubly important because Uranus is also “stationary direct”, i.e. appearing to stand still in readiness for turning direct after months of being retrograde (since the first week of August).
So this is the stuff of seizing your moment – and even something that you’d written off could suddenly or dramatically turn out to be “on” or workable in some clever or crazy way.
Also once Uranus turns direct, we’ll be into a phase of no planets at all being retrograde – for the first time since last February.
The next retrogrades will be Mercury in March, then Jupiter and Pluto in April, but for the whole of Jan and Feb everything is moving in the right direction.
This also coincides with the Solar Eclipse:
Sunday 6 January
-
New Moon/Solar Eclipse 15 Capricorn 01.29
-
Uranus turns direct at 28.36 Aries 20.27
Eclipses work in pairs (or sometimes threes) and happen roughly every six months.
A Solar Eclipse occurs when the Sun is obscured by the shadow of the Moon at the time of a New Moon. (A Lunar Eclipse occurs when the Moon is obscured by the shadow of the earth at the time of a Full Moon and that will fall two weeks later, 21 Jan).
Eclipses are often considered as “power points” in a developing situation in terms of sensitizing a picture in the making.
They also tend to sort out winners and losers in triangular situations. As the intricate pattern between the three bodies of Sun, Moon and the Earth suggests. This means that one person will be overshadowed. Affairs or work promotions are the obvious examples.
Venus
Finally note that throughout this week we have Venus on the home stretch of her long, long journey through Scorpio. This is a combination that also often reflects power or control issues within close relationships, or brings insecurities or jealousies to the forefront.
This suggests that any long running emotional hoo-ha, or any relationship that has basically deteriorated to the point of being in a complete irretrievable mess, will be reaching its finale.
Next week starts with Venus moving on into fiery and freedom loving Sagittarius and I’ll be talking more about that next time.
Have a wonderful New Year’s Eve, see you next year
With love from Greece
Joanna