January 2019

We begin January and the new year of 2019 in line with the Hollywood maxim of ‘hurry up and wait’.

Mars has come into its own Sign of Aries on the evening of December 31st to ring in the new year with horns blazing and us trumpeting our own personal resolutions for the year ahead. We are truly feeling in control of our circumstance.

No matter how fast out of the gate we start the year, we could hit a wall early on as the Sun conjuncts Saturn on the 2nd. Responsibilities, commitments, past matters unresolved could force us to look back in the rearview mirror with a realization that we have unfinished business before we can sprint ahead into the new year.

We might feel the wind knocked out of our sails. Our great intentions could seem to die to our usual obligations.

While the beginning of this year may seem paradoxical with us on the one hand ready for new beginnings and on the other hand restricted by our present conditions, let’s keep in mind the concept of creating a suspension bridge. Our suspension bridge is developed by our putting down one slat after another with the recognition that we might have to go back at times before we finish our suspension bridge, can cross to the other side into our future and are able to cut the ties that bind.

Past and present can serve as ingredients to grow our future.

We may have already come to the realization that ‘same old, same old’ just isn’t going to cut it any longer. Like a horse with blinders on only able to see straight ahead, it is time that we remove our own blinders to what we assume to be reality based upon our conditioning and our past experience. We have entered into the NOW, a time of paradigm shift where linear reality gives way to asequential reality, a time space where the progression of beginning, middle and end is imploded to give way to seemingly random occurrences, things occurring in a most unexpected manner, and a time of magic and mini-miracles. Welcome to the true new world order [although order is a misnomer in our ‘new normal’].

While the 2nd of January could have us looking at the way things were and our past ways of doing things, the 4th of January offers a glimpse, even validation, of the paradigm shift. The 4th has us on the dark side of the Moon prior to the New Moon and Solar Eclipse on the 5th. But the 4th also has Mercury trine Uranus and the Sun sextile Neptune and then Mercury exiting Sagittarius to enter Capricorn to make the Capricorn New Moon on the 5th a power-packed Capricorn force to be reckoned with.

With Mercury trine Uranus and the Sun sextile Neptune on the 4th, this is a day when it would be wise for us to be receptive to the stirrings of our inner voice, and suspend judgment in order to be privy to indications of magic and mini-miracles. Unexpected news, ‘ah-ha’ moments and flashes of revelation could be ours if we do not get in our own way, try to figure things out according to an old template, but rather we open ourselves to the wondrous moments of surprising insights.

Let’s keep in mind the slats on our suspensions bridge. The 4th might provide us a slat of options and alternatives we have not previously taken into account. We may not be able to fully engage what we see, what we hear, what we become aware of, but we are given a brief view into the possibilities and prospects beyond our usual circumstance.

The 5th of January may pull us up short. The Capricorn New Moon is a Solar Eclipse with the Sun Moon conjunction within orb of a conjunction to Saturn. We also have the Capricorn Stellium reinforced by the Solar Eclipse with the Sun, Moon, Mercury, Saturn and Pluto all in the Cardinal Earth Sign. Whatever ‘ah-ha’ moment we might have received on the 4th with our blinders removed to see from a peripheral perspective, the 5th seems to put the blinders back in place, limiting our vision to the mundane, conditioned reality we are familiar with.

Although our concerns can come back to our responsibilities and our obligations and our financial condition, it would be wise for us to keep in mind the typical method in nature. Things stir and percolate in the seeding stage, preparing the way for growth and development. Initially, more goes on below the surface, behind the scenes than is readily apparent.

Drawing upon my analogy to the suspension bridge, there are times when we need to go back in order to move forward. Often our backtracking gives us greater evidence that the way things were no longer truly work for us. Even if we cannot make a great leap forward but feel stuck in our past conditions, we see the way ahead. We don’t need to know the means, only to have the intention. We shall develop the slats to our suspension bridge and eventually build the bridge, get to the other side into our future, and cut the ties that bind.

There are just times when we need to take care of business, deal with mundane matters and complete what we had earlier intended for ourselves. This Solar Eclipse and its impact on the next two weeks and going on even beyond is a time when we could lay down solid foundation stones regarding our goals and ambitions for the year ahead and for our future.

With the strong emphasis on Capricorn and a beneficial influence from Neptune, we can build upon rock rather than sand. We might feel guided, and it would be wise for us to listen to the muse of our inner voice. While the Capricorn impact speaks to conservatism and being cautious in the steps we take, we can get a thrust of energy by Uranus ending its retrograde cycle and turning direct on the 6th.

The main thing for us to do during this two-week period is to be patient, take our time, develop our template regarding what we wish to accomplish, and be willing to march to our own drummer. If our trajectory is right and we engage a best practices approach, we might find that we are operating on greased wheels.

This early January can be a time when we consider organization, infrastructure, repair or replace.

Turning direct, Uranus will complete its seven-year cycle of Aries before moving into Taurus for its seven-year cycle of the Fixed Earth Sign at the time of the Pisces New Moon on March 6th. Whatever we have explored over the past seven years regarding increasing our autonomy, embracing our individuality and putting our personal mark upon our life’s ingredients, we can use this mid-January period to lay a solid foundation for our future.

On the 7th, Venus exits Scorpio, a Sign of Detriment for Venus, where Venus is not at all comfortable but tends to be wracked by jealousy and introversion and holding out little for fear of rejection. With Venus entering Sagittarius, there can be more lightness and more upbeat interactions with our connections. Relationships may seem more inspired with a desire to seek out those people whose experiences may be far different from our own and who can shed light on different perspectives and different understandings. Instead of relying solely on a small circle of trusted confidantes, we are more willing to engage anyone and almost everyone.

Mercury in Capricorn squares Mars in Aries on the 8th. What we want to do and what we need to do may be at odds. We might feel that our daily obligations are like shears clipping our wings, preventing us from flying close to the sun. If we avoid depression or resentment over the circumstance, we could fine-tune our ambitions by considering a best practices approach to achieve successful results. Reflective consideration can provide us the most expeditious means to realize our goals.

The 11th of January has the Sun conjunct Pluto. While there can be some elimination at this time, even to the point of someone significant stepping off the world stage, we could also prioritize our involvements, focus on the truly meaningful all the while that we rid ourselves of what has become extraneous.

On the 13th, Mercury conjuncts Saturn, and Jupiter squares Neptune. Our mind may have one idea, our feet something totally other. This is a day for us to put ‘the horse before the cart’. Fighting off a sense of limitation to the point of depression, we could spring forward with unbridled optimism and the hope that things will work out. We can justify impetuous action by affirming that things do truly work out in the end. But a labyrinth is far better than a maze, and so it would be wise for us to restrain our impulses and take the time to strategize and plan our ‘right’ approach to the day. Our thoughts may be deep and serious but they do not have to take us down a rabbit hole. On the contrary, we can blend critical analysis with faith in our capabilities. Patient consideration and trust in the process can go a long way towards a successful trajectory and journey.

Patience and humility could serve us well, for on the 14th Mercury sextiles Neptune. Even if we banged against impediments by not taking the time to develop our methodology, our intuitive sense is now sharpened and we might be able to guide our actions by an inner sense of knowing the right moves and the correct decisions.

The 18th of January is a highly energetic time. Venus trines Mars, Mercury conjuncts Pluto, and the Sun squares Uranus. Our mind can be insightful, able to dissect any situation down to its essential parts. Our presentations to other people may be charming and seductive. But we might also find ourselves champing at the bit, wanting to step into our future, but restrained by our obligations. This is a time for us not to jump the gun and move into new directions prior to conclusions or the eliminations of outstanding matters. Harnessing the energy at this time would allow us to prioritize our involvements and present our case in an appealing manner and without any detail left out. We might want to get on to our next adventure, but this day calls for us to herald our achievements with the sense of mission accomplished. Things we have been working on, and especially those matters of the past two weeks under the influence of the powerful Capricorn New Moon back on the 5th, can be closed out. If we have developed a solid foundation for our engagements, taken the time to hone our procedures, and focused on the truly significant, then we can move ahead with the knowledge that we have divested ourselves of unnecessary components and have created a strong template for our future endeavors.

The 20th of January has the Sun exiting Capricorn to enter Aquarius, and Venus square Neptune. We might be more interested in our future than our present. Although we can see a wide range of possibilities for ourselves, it is important that we not run away by unbridled optimism or by our hopes and wishes. We may be a little too trusting now, and someone could easily put one over on us by drawing upon our enthusiasm to the point of our being irrationally exuberant. Not every thing nor everyone is the way they appear. This is a time for us to be on the lookout, mindful and fully aware. We could be doing the dance with the trickster, someone who appears one way, the reality being totally different. Our good will and our faith in the greater good might make us open to being deceived, our buying into illusions, and consequently our being taken advantage of. We can have our head in the clouds, but we need to keep our feet firmly planted on the ground.

The Leo Full Moon on the 21st is a Supermoon and a Lunar Eclipse. Mars squares Saturn on this day. We have to be wary that we don’t get carried away with ourselves. We might feel that we have the world on a string and able to do what we want the way that we want to do it. If we engage such an attitude, we might get significant pushback from the universe. This is a day when narcissism and arrogance are liable to pay a heavy price. I often say that the universe taps us on the shoulder. If we don’t get the message, the universe taps a little harder. If we still don’t get it, we’re liable to get a lateral lobotomy, one of those whacks on the side of the head. There are times when humility and patience pay handsome dividends. And this could be one of those times. We can feel upbeat about our prospects and we might come up with the best approach, both in methodology and presentation, if we take our time and not get frustrated by any delays. Delays often serve as a tempering process, and so it could be at this time.

The 22nd of January could be one of those times when everything seems to go our way. The two ‘good guys’ of the Zodiac, Venus and Jupiter, are conjunct today. Good fortune and favorable reception can pave our way today. We could be feeling at the top of our game. They say that there’s never such a thing as too much good luck, but in truth too much is excess, and we are often looking for balance. Like a metronome, we often go between extremes, and certainly the 22nd could have us feeling as if we are walking on cloud nine.

There is a great deal of Fire on the 21st and 22nd of January. We have the Leo Full Moon on the 21st with the Leo Moon triggering a Fire Grand Trine with the Moon trine Mars in Aries and the Moon trine Venus in Sagittarius. The 22nd has Venus conjunct Jupiter in Sagittarius and the Leo Moon continuing to trigger a Fire Grand Trine with the Moon trine Jupiter in Sagittarius and the Moon trine Uranus in Aries. Our creativity and our drive towards self-realization may know no bounds. These can be highly productive days, but it is essential that we maintain vigilance, keep aware and be mindful. It is essential that we also keep in mind the actions of the metronome and the law of cyclical action.

The 23rd may provide us a good heads-up and a whack on the side of the head. Mercury squares Uranus, one of my least favorite aspects for air travel, and a day when I try to avoid air travel and be highly astute to the conditions in which I’m operating. This energy configuration can wreak havoc with communications, with Internet and computer problems, travel difficulties and traffic congestion, and unexpected news liable to upset our plans.

Mercury exits Capricorn on the 24th of January to enter Aquarius. In its Sign change, Mercury also ends the Stellium of three planets in Capricorn. Serious of thought can shift to consideration of possibilities, options, alternatives and future intentions. We may be more interested in exploring things beyond our normal experience.

An interesting aspect of this latter part of January into early February is an energy setup similar to Noah’s Ark of twos. We have two planets in Aries [Mars and Uranus], two planets in Sagittarius [Venus and Jupiter], two planets in Capricorn [Saturn and Pluto], and two planets in Aquarius [the Sun and Mercury]. We also have four planets in their own rulership, planets transiting the Signs they rule — Mars in Aries, Jupiter in Sagittarius, Saturn in Capricorn, and Neptune in Pisces.

We are in a very powerful period with the energies accentuated. This is a time when we can make great strides in co-creating our future, embracing our personal destiny. This is not a time for us to fall prey to victimhood or negativity.

Our society and too many of us presently seem largely focused on the negative. As opposed to seeing possibilities and engaging opportunities, a number of people are seeing life as a dystopia and are resistant to change, transition and transformation. Instead, many people are focused on all the bad things they imagine. Too many people are engaged in such extreme negativity that is toxic to the community, to society, to the Self.

These are times of a major paradigm shift — a time of dramatic transition from sequential, linear reality into asequential reality, where things no longer operate in an orderly succession, but occur in the most unanticipated and unexpected manner. Although threatening to old stabilities and old securities with a breakdown of things that no longer function effectively; these times are times of disruption and transformation and offer each of us and every one of us the opportunity or the challenge to go through major changes, often in a nanosecond or less. We might not like the process, but the process will continue to unfold whether we like it or not.

It would be far wiser for us to get on board the transformation train, recognize and appreciate that we are no longer in control [as if we ever truly were], but rather we are co-creators with the dynamics of the universe. Let us suspend our judgment and realize that our view of reality is only an opinion, an opinion based upon our limited personal perspective or an opinion we are conditioned into believing by societal bias and belief — opinion and belief not true knowledge and understanding.

Putting our imprint upon our involvements and expanding our activities can be a large part of our energies around the 25th when Mars trines Jupiter. We are less interested in playing second fiddle, far more interested in going our own way. Not that we are looking to upend anyone else. We want to be ‘ME’, and in the process assert our individual expressions. No matter whether we have receptive listeners or advocates of our cause, we are willing to go our own way and do our own thing. We are buoyed by self-confidence and optimism with great faith in our own abilities.

Feeling pumped up and ready to expand our activities, we could be looking to develop our future endeavors as the Sun conjuncts Mercury on the 29th. Even the seemingly impossible, we might believe that we can successfully accomplish. We may draw upon the affirmation of the proverb: ‘where there’s a will, there’s a way’. And we certainly are likely to be feeling the will.

Our gung-ho attitude and a desire to pull off fulfilling new engagements may not be just idle hopes and unattainable wishes. We could blend our enthusiasm and self-confidence with a practical vision, as we blend foresight with a best practices approach. From the seeds of concept and the abstract, we can devise and strategize the means to accomplish our goals.

On the 31st of January, Saturn sextiles Neptune. If we would take the time to devise our methods, draw from a solid base, and harness our irrepressible optimism, then our progress can be undaunted.

But if we try to go too far too fast then we suffer the liability of hitting the wall and our greatest ambitions can all fall down.

January 2019… New Begin Again…