Sandy Stars -> Older Cosmic Weather

As April begins, the Sun is in Aries, along with Mercury and Venus. The Aries time of year is a time of energy, action, and new beginnings. Spring is here! Renew your self and your life. The Sun will enter the practical earth sign Taurus on April 19, beginning a 30-day period conducive to getting grounded and following through on the fresh beginnings initiated during Aries.

As April begins, Pluto is at its "station", turning retrograde* on April 4. This adds a surge of intensity and transformative energy to the mix. Seek to renew and transform your life, releasing the past and moving forward into new possibilities. If life has seemed intense and fraught with transitions lately, this is probably a high point. Life may mellow out a bit during April.

Venus turned retrograde* on March 6. Venus is retrograde for about six weeks approximately every 19 months. Venus is the planet of relationship, friendship, affections, beauty and pleasure, and our values. We reassess some or all of these aspects of life while Venus retraces her steps. As relationships lose their forward momentum previously overlooked issues stand out and demand consideration. The little niceties of daily life and social interchange seem in short supply, and the pleasures and indulgences with which we pamper or pacify ourselves seem excessive. This is a great time to live simply and without artifice or extravagance, eliminating excess in diet, spending, or other aspects of one's lifestyle. If a relationship is out of steam, let it be and rediscover your relationship with yourself. This is nature's way of providing a clearer view of your life by dispelling the distractions. Venus retrograde periods often reconnect us with relationships and pleasures of the past. You may be in touch with people from your past during this time. Venus will turn direct on April 17. After a period of relative quiet in social and relationship matters, and perhaps some simplification and curtailing of excess and indulgence, we are ready to begin anew with a fresh perspective.

Venus will be conjunct Mars on April 21. Venus normally conjoins Mars approximately every two years, beginning a new relationship cycle. Because of the current Venus retrograde, there are three conjunctions at the beginning of this Mars-Venus relationship cycle. Venus and Mars were conjunct in Libra on September 11, 2008. They will be conjunct in the last degree of Pisces on April 21, and they will be conjunct a third time on June 21, at the powerful degree of 15 Taurus.

Mars has been in Pisces the last several weeks. Mars is a fiery planet, and Pisces is a feeling, compassionate water sign. This is a good time to use your energy in a gentle, intuitive manner. You may be caring for others; dancing or using your physical energy in a graceful, flowing manner; or simply going about your activities with a view of the big picture. Mars is the ruler of Aries, and the Sun is now in Aries, so we may all be feeling this gentle Pisces overlay to the Aries springtime energy.

Week of March 29-April 4: There is one major influence this week, and it is significant. Pluto will turn retrograde* on Saturday. When a planet is at its "station," appearing to stand still as it turns retrograde or direct, the processes related to that planet are very magnified, and significant developments are likely. When Pluto is stationary, our processes of change and deep transformation become more urgent. Those deep urges to transform come to the surface, and many people will go through crises of one type or another. The Pluto station's impact in your life is related to how it is affecting your chart, so this may go well for you, even though things are intense, or it may pass you by, or there may be a huge upheaval, or perhaps society's upheavals impact you. If you are not in transition, others around you likely are. Pluto stations are usually felt for at least a couple of weeks before and after the exact station.

In addition to the generalized intensity of the Pluto station, Venus will square Pluto early Friday morning. Any relationship issues percolating during the Venus retrograde will likely be coming up on Thursday and Friday. Mars will oppose Saturn late Saturday afternoon. That often signifies low energy or blocked efforts. Mars is in fluid Pisces opposite Saturn in perfectionist Virgo, potentially bringing up issues of going with the flow versus being meticulous and deliberate. For many of us, particularly males, there will be limitations and frustrations. Guard against mishaps, particularly falls, and avoid speeding in your car. Speeding tickets perfectly embody the symbolism of the brashness of Mars pulled up short by authority, rules and limits. It's natural to want to move past needless rules and limitations, but use patience and diplomacy for best results.

We are building to Full Moon, and energy should be high this week, with culminations, including emotional peaks. The Sun is in Aries with its focus on one's personal desires, and the Moon is in Libra, which focuses on balance and fairness. You may be seeking to balance your rights with those of others, and striving to get the right balance of assertiveness and cooperation. The Sun and Moon are in positive alignment with Jupiter in Aquarius, which enhances open-mindedness and inclusiveness, helping resolve any tensions. Full Moon comes at 8:56 a.m. MDT on Thursday. Mercury will have been in the late degrees of Aries up until Thursday morning, bringing out feisty expressions of individual desires and opinions. Shortly before Full Moon, Mercury enters patient Taurus, helping us to be steady in our communication.

The "Sabian Symbol" for the degree of the Full Moon is "a Jewish Rabbi in a tiny room full of books, performing his duty." This symbolism may show up in our individual or collective lives in a literal and recognizable fashion, or perhaps in a more symbolic way, as our awareness turns to religion, traditional wisdom or study. Try not to be dogmatic or righteous or overly conservative or traditional.

Mercury is in positive alignment with Pluto at Full Moon, and will be in exact alignment late Friday evening, blessing these days with depth of insight and powerful and effective communication. Venus in retrograde moves from Aries into Pisces early Saturday morning. After the assertive, desire-driven energy of Venus in Aries, Venus in Pisces inspires empathy, tenderness, compassion, imagination and romance.

Week of April 12-18:The big news of this week is that Venus turns direct. Over the past six weeks social life may have slowed down, relationships may have run out of passion, and we may be living with more simplicity and quiet than usual. You may have connected with relationships and pastimes of bygone parts of your life. During Venus retrograde periods I sometimes find that my social niceties fall flat, gift giving is uninspired or the wrong size/color/etc., and social occasions are less fabulous than expected. Now all that gets back on track, possibly with a flurry of activity as the week proceeds. Hopefully you have done some re-evaluation during this period, and are more in touch with your own needs and desires, your own truth. At midweek Mars is conjunct freedom-loving Uranus, bringing out everyone's needs for independence and excitement. (Avoid mishaps fueled by haste and impulse, and drive with care. Even if you are cautious, others may not be.) Enjoy some solitude before getting to the relationship renewal of Venus turning direct.

Week of April 19-25: The Sun enters Taurus Sunday afternoon, 4:45 p.m. This brings us to the physical world and the burgeoning springtime. If you have not gotten into the outdoors, particularly including gardening and sprucing up your outside living space, this is the time for it, particularly once we reach New Moon which comes Friday evening.

This week, then, is the time of "dark of Moon" before New Moon, a time to clean up unfinished business, rest, and plan for the coming cycle. On Tuesday Venus conjuncts Mars, for the second time in a series of three conjunctions. (See April overview.) This gives life and spark to relationships and may be a time of relationship renewal or of new relationships beginning. It may also be a time of tempering the self-driven desires of Mars with the harmonizing and balancing qualities of Venus. Venus and Mars are in the last degree of dreamy Pisces, so there may be a lot of romanticism tinged with the impulse of the next sign, Aries.

Mars springs into Aries early Wednesday morning, bringing fresh energy and inspiration. Mercury squares expansive Jupiter, exact Wednesday evening. That can accelerate and expand thought and communication. On the upside, we're talking and embracing the broad overview, the big picture, with inspiration and idealism. Mercury-Jupiter inspires expansive ideas and plans and great verbosity. Keep it reasonable for realizable results. Also on Wednesday, the Sun trines powerful Pluto, helping us to channel and focus energy for positive transformation. Wednesday could be a positive and powerful day if we stay balanced and focused.

New Moon, start of a new 29-day cycle, arrives Friday evening, 9:23 p.m. MDT. We are boosted by Venus's entry into Aries very early Friday morning, bringing fresh energy to our relationships, and renewed zest to our living. Mercury sextiles Uranus at midday Friday, supporting effective communication. The New Moon chart features the Sun and Moon in patient, fertile, productive Taurus, in positive alignment with powerful Pluto, planet of transformation and renewal. These are in practical earth signs, helping us to renew in the material realm, and this may be helpful to the economy and to our personal material well being. One caution: Mercury is at a degree known for outbursts and extremes, and it is in square to Jupiter, planet of exaggeration, and Neptune, planet of confusion and illusion. There will doubtless be incidents of people going off the deep end, fueled by misunderstanding and confusion. Avoid that, and keep your feet on the ground. The Sabian Symbol for the New Moon degree is "a bridge being build across a high, narrow gorge." Look for way to bridge the chasms in your life. This is conducive to solving problems and making connections in our larger world as well as our personal lives. Seek opportunities to realize this in your life.

On Saturday Mercury squares Neptune. Miscommunication and confusion can come up now, and it's not a good time for exacting thought. Take some time to relax and daydream. At this same time, Mars is coming into square with Pluto, exact on Sunday, bringing out a strong drive to transform. This can be productive or can draw us into power struggles. Be conscious, avoid miscommunication, and channel your energies to best effect.

Week of April 26-May 2: The week begins with the square of Mars to Pluto, described above. Put some energy into constructive transformation on Sunday. The remainder of this week is without remarkable planetary influence. Perhaps this will help us to proceed in an uneventful manner, enjoying the stability of the Sun in Taurus. The Moon is waxing, making this a good time for initiating projects and carrying them forward. We do have a couple of days with the Moon void of course** for several hours, indicating periods better used for completing projects than for new initiatives. The Moon is v.o.c. on Tuesday from 10:23 a.m. until 4:38 p.m. MDT, and on Thursday from 10:45 a.m. until 6:56 p.m. MDT. It should be easy enough to get tasks and projects started before the v.o.c. begins, and then carry forward during the v.o.c.

Mercury is lumbering along in the late degrees of Taurus this week, keeping some of our communications and daily doings rather slow and laborious. Mercury will enter Gemini Thursday evening, enlivening communication a bit. Mercury will be turning retrograde on May 6, so we need to make hay while the sun shines, getting things moving before the retrograde precipitates a backslide in our affairs. There could be a relationship glitch or two toward the end of the week as Venus squares Pluto on Saturday morning. This may bring up issues, which is how things get resolved and improved if we communicate with creativity and understanding.

May Preview: May features several noteworthy influences. Mercury will be retrograde* from May 6 to May 30, indicating a slowdown in our affairs, with challenges to communication and daily doings including travel. Saturn will turn retrograde on May 16, indicating that we will all be challenged to deal with the realities of our lives with patience and realism. There will be an unusual triple conjunction of Jupiter, Neptune, and the minor body Chiron in late May. Jupiter and Neptune in conjunction normally gives rise to idealism and inspiration, and illusion. Chiron is associated with teaching, healing and advocacy, giving the potential for inspired vision and healing. Chiron also seems to bring us in touch with that which needs healing, as part of a "healing crisis." So, this could also be a time of pain along with insight. Keeping the vision of possible healing as an outcome can help keep us on track. (Since none of us have ever experienced a conjunction of Jupiter, Neptune and Chiron before, this is of course speculation. We'll see how it turns out and maybe learn some astrology in the process!)

As March begins, the Sun is in the sensitive water sign Pisces. This is the dreamy time of late winter before we leap into springtime at the Vernal Equinox on March 20. At Equinox the Sun enters the fire sign Aries. The Aries time of year is a time of energy, action, and new beginnings.

Venus will turn retrograde* on March 6. Venus turns retrograde for about six weeks approximately every 19 months. Venus is the planet of relationship, friendship, affections, beauty and pleasure, and our values. We will likely be reassessing some or all of these aspects of life while Venus retraces her steps. As relationships lose their forward momentum, any previously overlooked issues stand out and demand consideration. The little niceties of daily life and social interchange seem in short supply, and the pleasures and indulgences with which we pamper or pacify ourselves seem excessive. This is a great time to live simply and without artifice or extravagance, eliminating excess in diet, spending, or other aspects of one's lifestyle. If a relationship is out of steam, let it be and rediscover your relationship with yourself. This is nature's way of providing a clearer view of your life by dispelling the distractions. Venus will turn direct April 17.

Sunday could be a day of movement, mental activity and communication. Mercury is aligning with energizing Mars. This can be a useful influence when applied to mental pursuits or doing errands and it can also manifest as debate, argument or long-windedness. Drive with care and speak judiciously.

Venus turns retrograde Friday morning, bringing feelings and relationship involvements and activities to a peak. Be prepared for relationships to lose momentum over the next few weeks, for social life to slow, and for relationship issues to come to the surface. This is a time to live more simply, with less material and physical indulgence. Venus will turn direct on April 17.

Week of March 8-14: Set a simple agenda for Sunday. Mars will be conjunct dreamy, idealistic Neptune Sunday morning. This is a fine aspect for lazing about, doing graceful activities such as dance or yoga or lovemaking, or creating/appreciating art or music. Mars-Neptune alignments can also show up as overreaction, jumping to incorrect conclusions, or having a physical mishap, so proceed with care on the days leading up to Sunday, and for a couple of days after. This is exacerbated somewhat because the Sun is opposite Saturn around 2:00 on Sunday, and that can signify obstacles, low physical energy, and discouragement. Stay grounded, be patient, and set an easy agenda. Remember that Sunday is the first day of Daylight Savings Time.

Full Moon arrives at 8:38 p.m. MDT Tuesday evening. Saturn and Uranus have been opposite one another the last few months, and at this Full Moon the Moon is closely conjunct Saturn while the Sun is conjunct Uranus. In other words the Sun-Moon opposition is lined up with the Saturn-Uranus opposition. The Saturn-Uranus opposition relates to the pull between the status quo and the need for change, and seems to relate to the current crisis our nation is facing. Individually many of us may be facing those issues in our personal lives as well, with instances where we need to release old patterns and bring in the new, and also with changes happening that we must adjust to.

At Full Moon in Washington, the South Node of the Moon (known for excess) in dramatic Leo will be directly overhead, while the North Node (an indicator of positive direction) is opposite, in the fourth house, with Jupiter, Chiron, Neptune and Mars in Aquarius. We may see drama of one type or another, possibly sensational, regarding happenings in Washington or relating to our place in the world. On a more personal level, with the Moon conjunct Saturn, many of us will be experiencing limitations or loss, and with the Sun conjunct Uranus, changes may be coming right along in our lives. This is a time of releasing elements of the past and creating the future. Venus will be in positive alignment with Jupiter at Full Moon, supporting positive relationship connections. Perhaps we will get by with a little help from our friends.

The Sun will be conjunct Uranus on Thursday, bringing the influences for change to a peak. Accept change that's showing up in your life, and when the choice is yours, choose positive change, new beginnings, release of the limitations of the past. Be open to experimentation, and embrace unexpected developments.

On Friday and Saturday Mars will be in the last degree of innovative, independent Aquarius. This is a great time to take time on your own, or to work cooperatively for change. Repetitive or detail-oriented tasks would not fit the bill, and it may be difficult to keep energy directed productively. Mars will enter Pisces Saturday evening. For the next few weeks, we will be most easily able to use our energy with intuition, compassion and flow.

Week of March 15-21: This week will likely be rather low key. We are at the end of Pisces and the end of winter, waiting for Spring Equinox and the Sun's entry into Aries. Mercury will oppose Saturn Wednesday evening. Communication may be difficult, or challenges may come up. Mars is sextile Pluto also on Wednesday evening, and that helps us to persist and create transformation and regeneration, though potentially difficult communications should be deferred to another day if possible. Solitude is a good option.

Vernal Equinox and the official arrival of spring comes on Friday, at 5:44 a.m. MDT. In Washington Venus retrograde in Aries is on the ascendant. That could mean that relating and connecting is taking place, or efforts are being made, in circumstances of restraint and non-indulgence (Venus retrograde). The Sun is square Pluto, planet of breakdown and regeneration, and of survival struggles and power struggles, and Pluto will be overhead in Washington, emphasizing the struggle aspect. That seems like a good description of our current national condition. Mercury is still in opposition to Saturn, indicating the potential for difficult or blocked communication. On the upside, the Moon is in Capricorn in the 10^th house, in positive alignment with Mercury and Saturn, helping keep the whole process grounded, productive and on track.

In Albuquerque and environs, dreamy Neptune is rising at the Equinox. Some situations are just going to be fluid and unclear as we enter this season of spring. The Capricorn Moon should be some help in staying grounded and productive, but we may just need to go with the flow.

Mercury will be conjunct Uranus on Saturday. Conversations will go in unexpected directions, we won't want to go with conventional thinking and routine interactions, and concentration may be difficult. The best thing might be to unfetter your mind today, expose yourself to stimulating ideas, and free yourself from following your usual routines. You might discover something new and exciting, meet a new friend, or arrive at a liberating new idea or a life-changing conversation. Take any shocking statements in stride, and if you have something to say, do so with care and clarity.

Week of March 22-28: The Sun will be exactly square Pluto around noon on Monday, bringing to culmination many of the adjustments and transitions and struggles that we have been going through individually and collectively. Keep the goal of positive transformation and rebirth uppermost. The Moon will be void of course** from 6:10 a.m. until 3:08 p.m. MDT on Monday, making it hard to accomplish outwardly, which seems appropriate, given the internal processing we may be doing. We're in the slow time before New Moon, which comes on Thursday.

New Moon comes at 10:06 a.m. MDT on Thursday. Mercury, Moon, Sun and Venus will be conjunct in Aries, and all will be square Pluto, indicating continuing intensity and transformation. That Aries energy can be rather fiery in some cases, but Aries is also associated with springtime and fresh beginnings. These Aries planets will be overhead in the 10^th house of government and the outer world in Washington, DC. Let's hope this brings out the springtime renewal energy. Interestingly, the ongoing Saturn-Uranus opposition keeps showing up in our New and Full Moons and at Equinox. This time, Uranus is right overhead in Washington, while Saturn is below, in the place of home. We are working to put our collective home in order.

The Sun will be conjunct Venus around midday on Friday. Sun-Venus conjunctions normally indicate harmony and affection. However, Venus is retrograde and in fiery Aries. Attempts at charm and diplomacy should be done with extra care to be successful. Some deep relationship insights and turning points could come at this time. Be thoughtful and insightful.

Week of March 29-April 4: There is one major influence this week, and it is significant. Pluto will turn retrograde* on Saturday. When a planet is at its "station," appearing to stand still as it turns retrograde or direct, the processes related to that planet are very magnified, and significant developments are likely. When Pluto is stationary, our processes of change and deep transformation become more urgent. Those deep urges to transform come to the surface, and many people will go through crises of one type or another. The degree and quality of the Pluto station's impact in your life is related to how it is affecting your chart, so this may go well for you, even though things are intense, or it may pass you by, or there may be a huge upheaval, or perhaps society's upheavals impact you. If you are not in transition, others around you likely are. Pluto stations are usually felt for at least a couple of weeks before and after the exact station.

April Preview: As noted above, Pluto turns retrograde on April 4. Venus will turn direct on April 18. After a period of relative quiet in social and relationship matters, and perhaps some simplification and curtailing of excess and indulgence, we are ready to begin anew with a fresh perspective.

It's February, and the Sun is in the communicative, idea-oriented air sign Aquarius. Aquarius is "ruled" by Uranus, planet of change, innovation and revolution. Aquarius is humanitarian, concerned with the good of all. The focus is on ideas, and with that comes a capacity for abstract and theoretical thought processes.

There are four other planets in Aquarius this month, adding to the overall Aquarian emphasis. Mercury was in Aquarius in January, before it turned retrograde * and appeared to backtrack into Capricorn. Mercury turned direct on January 31 and will re-enter Aquarius on February 14. Matters that have lost momentum during January will get back on track.

Mars will enter Aquarius on February 4. Mars is the planet of energy, initiative and assertiveness. Its placement gives indication of how we will tend to direct and use our energy and how we will assert ourselves. With Mars in Aquarius, we will tend to be more independent and oriented toward innovating and making changes, sometimes revolutionary ones. We'll also tend toward humanitarian ideas and actions. Mars will enter compassionate Pisces on March 14, bringing us to more sensitivity, subtlety and imagination. We may also have less focus and direction during the following six weeks while Mars transits Pisces.

Jupiter began its approximately one-year transit in Aquarius last month. Jupiter is a key to what qualities we are expanding and developing. Jupiter in Aquarius brings out innovation and humanitarian concerns, thinking outside the box (a phrase you will hear a lot this year), as well as personal self-expression and eccentricity.

On February 5 Saturn will be opposite Uranus, the second in a series of five oppositions occurring between November 2008 and July 2010. These two planets are opposite in their orientations, Uranus mandating change and revolution, and Saturn seeking caution and stability. This is a time of balancing the caution and conservatism of Saturn with the need for innovation symbolized by Uranus. Aside from shifts and changes on the larger scene, many of us may be experiencing issues raised by this opposition, questioning whether to remain in certain situations or break away. Some things and circumstances in our lives may be to the point where we are ready to replace them. The same goes for attitudes. Review your life and consider making some changes. It probably doesn't need to be a radical revolution. More likely a few changes will provide the renewal that you need.

There will be a Lunar Eclipse on February 9. We normally have a Solar Eclipse and a Lunar Eclipse a couple of weeks apart, every six months or so. Solar Eclipses occur at New Moon, when the Sun, Moon and Earth line up so exactly that the Moon blocks the Sun's light from reaching Earth. A Lunar Eclipse is a Full Moon at which the Sun, Earth and Moon line up so exactly that the Earth blocks the Sun's light from illuminating the Moon. Eclipses are especially powerful New Moons and Full Moons. The alignment may be more or less exact, producing partial or total or annular eclipses. We may see them from our particular place on Earth, or not, depending on where on Earth the eclipse is visible.

The January 25 New Moon was a Solar Eclipse in which the Sun and Moon were conjunct Jupiter in Aquarius, potentially a very positive alignment supporting innovation and humanitarian values. The February 9 Lunar Eclipse features the Sun conjunct Chiron and Neptune, with Moon opposite. Neptune is idealistic and compassionate. Chiron is a small body that many astrologers associate with teaching, advocacy and healing. There's the potential, then, for compassion, healing and advocacy. Because Neptune is rather subtle and nebulous, there may also be some confusion and lack of clarity in the process. This Eclipse will not be visible in most of the United States because the Moon will be below the horizon.

Week of February 1-7: The Moon is increasing this week, building toward the Full Moon/Lunar Eclipse on February 9. Sunday may be a bit slow or out of focus, as the Moon will be void of course** from 11:09 a.m. MST until 3:09 p.m. It's not a time conducive for achieving feats of productivity. This is a great time for watching the Super Bowl or otherwise relaxing and enjoying life.

Venus is at the end of Pisces on Sunday and Monday. This brings out compassion, sensitivity, and imagination, and could enhance creativity or romantic leanings. Venus enters fiery Aries Monday evening. We'll be passionate, know what we want, and express our desires in our words and actions.

Mars is in Capricorn through Tuesday. This is a great time to work with diligence and discipline to create greater organization and efficiency in our lives. It's easy to be overly regimented in our drive to achievement. Mars enters Aquarius Wednesday morning. Having things organized as a result of our efforts during Mars in Capricorn, we can turn our energies to innovation. This is a time to make some new beginnings and to permit ourselves some freedom and self-expression, over the next several weeks.

Saturn is opposite Uranus, exact early Thursday morning, 4:00 a.m. MST. This period of several weeks is a time of contention between the inertia of how things are versus the possibility of what could be or needs to be. Saturn is cautious and conservative; Uranus supports change, innovation, and group or humanitarian concerns. Those of us who tend to be cautious and conservative may be challenged to flex, loosen up and experiment. Those of us who operate in a more freewheeling way may feel pressure for discipline and conformity. Bear with it and try to meet in the middle.

Fireworks could flare Wednesday through Friday. Not only is the Saturn-Uranus opposition exact, the relationship planet Venus, in fiery Aries, is squaring Pluto, exact Thursday evening. Venus-Pluto squares bring interpersonal issues to the surface with intensity. Try to deal with them in a calm and even-handed fashion. Remember that the building Full Moon/Lunar Eclipse is adding to the energy level, and try to maintain perspective and balance. The Moon will be in sensitive, vulnerable Cancer from Thursday evening until late Saturday evening. Nourish yourself and others in healthy ways.

Week of February 8-14: The Full Moon/Lunar Eclipse, exact at 7:49 a.m. MST Monday morning, is the major influence for this week. The Sun will be conjunct Chiron and Neptune, with Moon opposite. Chiron is a small body associated with teaching, healing and advocacy. Neptune is idealistic, visionary and compassionate, and also dreamy. We may see idealistic advocacy this week, and some confusion or uncertainty. Chiron can bring attention to the wounds all of us carry, giving an opportunity for healing. Depending on how strongly this Eclipse aligns with your personal chart, this could be a time of advocacy and idealism, or of confronting pain and moving toward healing, or of confusion and uncertainty in the face of evolving circumstances, or all these. Spend some time in contemplation of your current circumstances, where you would like to be, and what's needed to get there.

The Sun-Neptune conjunction operative at Full Moon is strongest on Wednesday and Thursday. This can be a time when there is so much in flux that we can't see our path clearly. Paradoxically, this is a good time to contemplate our circumstances and clarify as much as we can. Know that things are not clear this week, and hold off on major decisions.

Though this has been a week in which Neptune's subtle influence has been a major factor, Mercury has been in late degrees of Capricorn, an influence for practicality and realism. This may do quite a bit to help us maintain a balanced perspective, though we might be rather frustrated as we persevere in trying to stay organized in the midst of fluid circumstances. Mercury will enter Aquarius Saturday morning, leading us into a much simpler week coming up. Happy Valentine's Day!

Week of February 15-21: The main influence this week is a series of alignments among Venus, Mars and Jupiter. Venus will make a sextile alignment with Jupiter, exact Monday evening. The planet of love aligning with the planet of expansiveness and abundance can smooth out interactions and facilitate happy social occasions and fortuitous encounters. Mars is coming into conjunction with Jupiter, exact Tuesday morning and influencing us Sunday through Wednesday. Mars-Jupiter conjunctions support good timing, abundant energy, positive beginnings and successful accomplishments. Beware the tendency to overextend or overexert or to be overbearing or excessively opinionated. Venus being in the picture will help us balance those tendencies, and in any case can help us smooth over any rough spots with a little tact and diplomacy.

The Sun completes its transit of independent, eccentric, revolutionary, humanitarian Aquarius, entering compassionate, dreamy Pisces before dawn on Wednesday. We'll tend to operate with more fluidity, sensitivity and intuition the next four weeks, providing some balance to the detached, intellectual, theoretical orientation of Aquarius, which remains strong as Mercury, Mars, Jupiter and Neptune continue in Aquarius.

The Sun will be sextile Pluto on Friday and Saturday, providing opportunities for transformation and renewal. On Saturday the Moon will be void of course nearly all day, from just after midnight until 7:06 p.m. This would be a good day to relax or to finish projects rather than plunge into something new. We are in the slow "dark of Moon" time before New Moon. New Moon comes on Tuesday.

Week of February 22-28: Sunday and Monday will likely be rather slow, a good time to finish projects, to rest a bit, and to plan for the new lunar cycle that begins with New Moon Tuesday afternoon. Mercury will be conjunct Jupiter on Monday and Tuesday. This alignment supports positive conversation and fortunate contacts, and also a tendency to talk and talk and talk. Keep conversations focused and purposeful for best results.

At New Moon the Sun and Moon will be at the 7^th degree of Pisces, a degree sometimes associated with weathering the trials of life and with the importance of keeping faith. That could mean that we are collectively or individually grappling with the trials we have been experiencing, and the need to keep the faith and do what's necessary to get through to the other side. This is only a speculation, but if that should be the case, we are also buoyed by a conjunction of Jupiter, Mercury and Mars, which confers the faith, optimism and grasp of the big picture that allows us to gather our resources and keep on keeping on.

On Wednesday Mercury will sextile Venus, supporting positive connections and communication. The Moon is now waxing, helping us get our energy on an upswing. On Saturday the Moon will be void of course** from around 11:00 a.m. MST until 8:30 p.m. Get your important tasks done by 11:00, and either carry them forward or take time to relax during the v.o.c. period. Moon v.o.c. is not the time to attempt ambitious new endeavors.

March Preview: Venus will turn retrograde on March 6. Venus turns retrograde for about six weeks, approximately once a year. Venus is the planet of relationship, values, and pleasure. During the retrograde, we tend to turn inward. Relationships tend to be less active, providing opportunities for reevaluation. This can be an excellent time for each of us to reestablish our relationship with oneself, to examine our values, and to pull back from the pursuit of our pleasures and live more simply. This could be an excellent opportunity to spend time alone, to cut back on our extravagances and conserve resources, and to make healthier lifestyle choices. Venus will be in retrograde until April 17.

As 2009 begins, the Sun, Mars, Jupiter and Pluto are in Capricorn. Capricorn is an earth sign, practical and down to earth, pragmatic, organized, a sign of discipline, seriousness and commitment. The Sun enters Capricorn every year at Winter Solstice, around December 21. The Sun is in Sagittarius just before, as parties and travel and spending carry us up to the holidays. Capricorn is a more serious and traditional sign, and Solstice carries us up to the more traditional aspect of the holidays and on into the New Year with the perennial push to be more organized, disciplined and effective. As we enter this Capricorn season and the New Year, there is a great need in the world and for many of us individually to take hold of situations where lack of discipline, restraint, common sense and reasonableness have led to breakdown and unhealthy circumstances. There is a great need for Capricorn's strong suits as described above, and fortunately we have an unusual amount of Capricorn energy just now.

The sign Mars is in indicates how we are inclined to use our energy, and for what ends. With Mars in Capricorn (from December 27 to February 4), we have unusual discipline, focus and tenacity, which is easily applied to practical matters and producing tangible results.

Jupiter's transit through a sign brings opportunities for expansion and improvement to matters related to the sign it is transiting, though the process sometimes entails very exaggerated circumstances. Jupiter has spent the past year in Capricorn. It appears that the realms of business, government and politics, Capricorn's venues, have gone through exaggerated expansion, over the top, and are now deflating rapidly. Jupiter is at the very end of Capricorn as January begins, and will enter Aquarius on January 5.

Capricorn can be limited in perspective, and the next step in the process is to think beyond the box, with innovation, humanitarianism, and inclusiveness. This is where Aquarius, the sign following Capricorn, comes in. After its year in Capricorn, Jupiter enters Aquarius on January 5, facilitating development of progressive humanitarian principles. Jupiter in Aquarius supports progressive ideas, actions and agreements. Jupiter spends one year out of twelve in Aquarius and was last in Aquarius in 1997, up to February 1998.

Pluto's transit through any sign signals testing of the matters related to that sign, with breakdown in areas of disrepair followed by rebuilding where needed. Pluto has been in the beginning degrees of Capricorn intermittently in the past year, and entered Capricorn in late November for a long stay of 15 years or so, to 2023. Government, business and the economy are all related to Capricorn, and it's no surprise to astrologers that these matters at the foundation of our collective life are being tested at this time. There is great potential for renewal and positive long-term results coming from this initial upheaval.

So, we have this confluence of planetary energies in Capricorn. And then there is the next sign, Aquarius. Each sign is the answer to what the previous sign lacks. Capricorn focuses on the practical but may not consider the needs of the people involved, individuals and especially groups. Capricorn is cautious, practical and conservative, and values stability. Aquarius considers the people involved, and is humanitarian and progressive, revolutionary, forward thinking, and innovative. Aquarius is the other sign with major occupancy this month. Mercury is in Aquarius until the 20th, and Venus is in Aquarius for the first few days of January. Jupiter enters Aquarius on January 5, for approximately a year. Visionary Neptune is in Aquarius, and will be for three more years, having already passed eleven years of its fourteen-year sojourn in Aquarius. (1998-2012)

In terms of the current preponderance of planets in Capricorn and Aquarius, Mercury has just passed from Capricorn into Aquarius on New Year's Day. After turning retrograde on January 11, Mercury will backtrack into Capricorn on January 20 for a few more weeks. Mercury will turn direct on January 31 and will reenter Aquarius on February 14.

With all this grouping of planets in Capricorn and Aquarius, there are only a few planets in other signs. Venus and Uranus are in sensitive, spiritual Pisces, Venus for one month and Uranus for a couple more years. Pisces is a water sign. There are no planets in fire signs this month. Saturn in the earth sign Virgo adds to the earth and air preponderance from the Capricorn and Aquarius placements. Earth and air makes for practical thinking, a good thing in these times of transition.

Saturn turns retrograde* this week, on Wednesday, New Year's Eve, lending a serious note as we enter the New Year. A planet's energy seems to be magnified at the time of its turning retrograde or direct, and Saturn stations seem to bring forth all the serious issues and "problems" we perceive in our lives. Saturn stations can feel overwhelming in some cases, and the best approach is to face up to the matters at hand. When you're willing to do what's necessary to deal with them, they tend to work out more easily than expected. At the same time, New Year's Eve, Mercury is conjunct positive Jupiter, supporting positive communication and the flow of information, which just may help with any issues being addressed. Mercury and Jupiter are at the very end of serious, practical Capricorn, helping us put our ideas and communication to productive use.

On New Year's Day, Mercury enters Aquarius, to be followed on January 5 by Jupiter. It's time for a fresh new point of view, new ideas, and collaboration. Venus enters Pisces on Saturday, supporting increased compassion and empathy, and romance. Jupiter is still in late Capricorn, and this could be a time of lots of structuring, organizing and work, to be completed and a new phase begun as Jupiter enters Aquarius on Monday, January 5.

Venus aligns with Pluto around noon on Sunday, favoring deep relating and strong feelings. Sunday is also the last day Jupiter is in Capricorn, making for exaggerated feelings of seriousness, responsibility and the urge to organization. On Monday morning (8:42 a.m. MST), Jupiter enters Aquarius, opening a period conducive to humanitarian ideas, inclusiveness, and progressive actions. Welcome this trend and apply it in your own life, as well as in our collective experience, including in any projects you are getting under way before the Mercury retrograde. On Friday, Sun aligns with Uranus, further supporting innovation.

The Moon will be full Saturday evening, 8:27 p.m. MST. Saturn has been opposite Uranus beginning last October (exact on Election Day!) and will continue in opposition until September 2009. Saturn represents the status quo, caution and tradition; Uranus represents innovation, change and new perspectives. We need to strike a balance, in society and in our personal lives, between the needs for stability and change. This process is emphasized for us as a nation at Full Moon as Saturn is just rising in Washington and Uranus is just setting. The Sun and Moon are aligning positively with Saturn and Uranus in a "mystic rectangle" configuration, which indicates synthesis and smooth operation. This appears to bode well for the Presidential transition and other matters of importance on the national scale. It also should help with getting our personal matters running smoothly prior to the Mercury retrograde which begins on Sunday, January 11. As with any Full Moon, there will be some emotion coming up. Capricorn knows how to "maintain" and get the job done. At Full Moon, the Moon is in emotionally vulnerable and insecure Cancer. Do we give in to our vulnerabilities, or do we buck up and get to work? Probably the latter, or one may experience both ends of the opposition, going to the emotional and then bucking up and getting to work.

Week of January 11-17: Mercury turns retrograde Sunday morning, at 9:44 a.m. MST. It's a good idea to finish getting software installed, transactions finalized, and projects running now or in the next couple of days if you haven't already done so. Daily activities and comings and goings will slow down and be prone to delays and complications the remainder of this month while Mercury appears to backtrack in its orbit.

The remainder of the week is fairly quiet, with only a couple of v.o.c.'s** to work around. The Moon will be void of course all Tuesday morning, until 11:33 a.m. MST, and will be v.o.c. again on Thursday, from 7:37 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. During Moon v.o.c. periods, things seem to run out of momentum and deviate from plan. This can be especially notable when Mercury also happens to be retrograde, as it is now. It's best to hold off initiating new projects and to stick to routine activities or rest and meditation during a v.o.c.

Week of January 18-24: Mercury is conjunct expansive, optimistic Jupiter around noon on Sunday. This can support positive communication and good connections. As Jupiter is also the planet of exaggeration and excess, there may also be tall tales or just a great deal of talking going on.

The Sun is at the end of Capricorn as the week begins, bringing up urgency about responsibilities and work to be done. The Sun enters Aquarius Monday afternoon, 3:41 p.m. MST. It's time for group activities, innovation and humanitarian principles. We reach the midpoint of Mercury's retrograde cycle on Tuesday morning, as Mercury is in "inferior conjunction" with the Sun. Answers and insights often come at this point in Mercury's retrograde cycle.

On Friday and Saturday, the Sun is conjunct benevolent Jupiter. Life will go swimmingly for many of us, with matters falling into place in a fortunate manner. There will be opportunities for exaggeration, extravagance and other excesses, but Mars and Venus are aligning with cautious, circumspect Saturn, holding matters in check. Mars trine Saturn favors steady work and effort, and good self-discipline. Venus opposite Saturn on these same days means that some social arrangements meet with delays or don't work out at all. Relationship issues come up to remind us that they still need work. Mercury retrograde is no help here. Venus is sextile Mars, however, a synergistic alignment that helps social and relationship matters work out in spite of Venus's opposition to Saturn and that pesky Mercury retrograde.

Week of January 25-31: Solar Eclipse/New Moon comes Sunday night, actually 12:55 a.m. Monday morning. This is an annular eclipse, visible in Africa and Asia but not the United States. The Sun and Moon will be conjunct expansive Jupiter, and has potential to be very positive. The "Sabian Symbol" for the 7^th degree of Aquarius, where the Sun and Moon will be, is "A child born of an eggshell." Lynda Hill in her book The Sabian Symbols as an Oracle says of this degree, "This symbol signifies finding new ways of doing things, with new directions and new solutions." This seems auspicious, particularly for the new American Presidency inaugurated on January 20. The Saturn-Uranus opposition, which was exact on Election Day, is again emphasized in the Eclipse chart as seen from Washington, D.C., with Saturn overhead and Uranus at the bottom of the chart. An Eclipse is an opportunity for realizations and shifts. The Saturn-Uranus opposition highlights the need for solving problems (Saturn overhead) and the tension between the need for stability and the necessity for change.

On Monday of this week Mercury is sextile Venus and conjunct Mars. The conjunction with Mars suggests strong ideas and the likelihood of debates, while Venus adds a note of civility and the ability to see opposing points of view. The Moon will be void of course just about all day Tuesday, from 10:13 a.m. until near midnight.

February Preview: Strong Aquarius influence with its potential for innovation and humanitarian values continues, with Sun, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter and Neptune in Aquarius all or part of the month. Mercury has just direct on January 31. Matters that have lost momentum during January will get back on track. Saturn is again exactly opposite Uranus on February 5, the second of three such oppositions, the third coming in September. There is a Lunar Eclipse on February 9.

As December begins, the Sun is in the idealistic, expansive fire sign Sagittarius. Every sign is a balance to the sign just previous, and Sagittarius is a welcome contrast to moody, introspective Scorpio. Our time in Sagittarius each year is the run up to the holidays - a time of parties, socializing, travel, indulgence and extravagance. Sagittarius's "ruling planet" is expansive Jupiter. That planet is currently in earthy Capricorn, meaning that this year our expansiveness is tempered with practicality and caution, providing a good balance. This month we have predominantly fire and earth placements, conducive to productive action, without a lot of air sign intellectualizing or water sign sensitivity.

Our Sagittarius phase of the year will end when Winter Solstice, the Sun's entry into Capricorn, arrives on December 21. Jupiter has been in Capricorn over the past year, since December 2007. Jupiter's transit through a sign facilitates growth and development in that area of life experience. Jupiter in Capricorn has been an opportunity to develop discipline, organization and productivity. Pluto is just beginning its lengthy transit of Capricorn, having earlier ventured into Capricorn from January to June of this year before retrograding* back into Sagittarius. Pluto re-entered Capricorn on November 26, where it will remain until 2023.

Pluto's transit of a sign is a time when our weaknesses in that area of life come to light and result in breakdowns, providing an opportunity for rebuilding and renewal. Current economic developments illustrate the breakdown phase of this process. May the transformation and renewal be only as extensive as is necessary to heal the deterioration that preceded it.

December's Capricorn signatures are unusually strong because of Jupiter's presence in Capricorn and Pluto's having just entered the sign, in addition to the inner planets' transits. Mars, which transits Capricorn every couple of years, will enter Capricorn on December 26 for a stay of six weeks. Venus is in Capricorn as December begins, until December 7. Mercury will be in Capricorn December 12-January 1 and will retrograde back into Capricorn from January 21 until Valentines Day. To cap it off, Capricorn's ruling planet Saturn turns retrograde in Virgo on New Year's Eve, adding further sobriety to the time. So we are in a most unusual month, being in Sagittarius but having so much Capricorn energy tempering the buoyancy of Sagittarius.

Venus will be conjunct Jupiter on Sunday and Monday. Relationships do well, and meetings and interactions unfold in a positive way. Toward the end of the week some discontinuity creeps in. Mercury squares Uranus, taking conversations in unexpected directions, on Thursday and Friday. The Sun will be exactly conjunct Mars on Friday. The Sun and Mars are in talkative, curious, philosophical Sagittarius. At best there will be lengthy debates, if not plain old arguments and overbearing behavior. On Saturday Mercury squares Saturn, indicating blocked communication. This is a scenario for overbearing, opinionated interactions leading to rifts and blocked communication. Forewarned is forewarned. Saturday evening ends with a minor alignment of Mercury and Neptune, which helps to restore rapport.

Week of December 7-13: Venus enters Aquarius on Sunday afternoon. After much relationship responsibility in recent days, there's a new feeling of freedom, sociability and the exchange of ideas. The continuing Saturn-Uranus opposition, which was exact on Election Day, is once again emphasized as the Sun and Mars square Uranus at midweek, followed by the Sun's square to restrictive Saturn on Friday, the day of the Full Moon. The Sun squares Uranus on Tuesday-Wednesday, bringing out restlessness, impulsivity and unexpected developments. Mars square Uranus, exact Thursday evening, stimulates even more restless impulsiveness, feelings of independence and impatience, and accident proneness. We should all be particularly careful all week, lest hasty actions and a tendency toward speed make us vulnerable to accidents and mishaps on and off the road, by our own actions or the recklessness of others.

Mercury is in the last degrees of loquacious Sagittarius through Thursday. Very early Friday Mercury enters serious, cautious Capricorn, but in late morning Mercury is conjunct Pluto, planet of focus and intensity. It's easy to be too serious and strong in our opinions and communication.

All this strong energy is made more intense by the build-up to Full Moon, which comes Friday Morning, 9:37 a.m. MST. Full Moon brings to the fore the tension of the ongoing opposition of Saturn and Uranus, (discussed in more detail in the November forecast) and the continuing pull between Saturn's cautious desire to play it safe and the Uranian recognition of the need for change and experimentation. At Full Moon the Sun is conjunct Mars and opposite the Moon, with these three bodies in square to Saturn and Uranus in a "grand cross" configuration. This may be a very volatile week in our individual lives and on the larger scene. After the volatility of the exact alignments of the Sun and Mars to Uranus this week, the Sun comes into square with Saturn Friday evening. Saturn is the planet of boundaries and consequences. In a good scenario, all the speed and chaos of the week could come down to a place of stopping and getting grounded. In another scenario, that stopping could be courtesy of a brick wall.

Week of December 14-20: The week begins with a square of Mars to Saturn on Monday. The planet of drive and action at cross-purposes with the planet of discipline and limitations can signify efforts to overcome obstacles, or running out of energy so that we stop and rest, but it can also indicate being at least temporarily thwarted by blockages and frustration. It's a tossup whether we prevail or the obstacles do. This alignment also may precipitate conflict with authority and the way things are done. Choose your battles. And beware of a continuing tendency to accidents and speeding tickets.

Mars will be sextile Neptune Tuesday morning. That may help to smooth things out. Mars in alignment with Neptune favors compassionate actions and graceful movement. The remainder of the week is quiet, though the Sun is at the end of Sagittarius and a lot of energy may be expended in the social whirl, holiday shopping, winter sports and travel.

Week of December 21-27: Winter Solstice and the Sun's entry into Capricorn occur Sunday morning, 5:04 a.m. The holiday whirl eases in the direction of tradition, responsibility, the social forms of the holidays and year-end activities. The Sun will be conjunct Pluto as it is at all the Equinoxes and Solstices in 2008 and 2009, making for more crisis and transition than usual at the quarter-points of the year. The equinox and solstice points relate to the world at large, which means that there's more societal turmoil attendant with these quarter points. Pluto is catalyst to transformation and renewal, but the first step is to stir things up. Keep your eye on where you are headed and how to get there. The Sun will be exactly conjunct Pluto Sunday night. Be prepared for issues to come up, including unexpected ones, and be prepared to deal with them with positive and creative energy.

There is still lots of movement, and some outspoken moments and conversational gaffes as Mars transits the end of blunt, direct, impulsive Sagittarius. Mars enters Capricorn ‘round midnight Friday. We'll awake on Saturday to New Moon, with Sun, Moon, Mercury, Mars, Jupiter and Pluto in Capricorn. What an opportunity to conclude the year purposefully and with forethought. Mars is conjunct Pluto, making for focused and direct activity, and perhaps a bit of compulsive, driven focus that could use some modulation.

Copyright 1998 - 2008 Sandy Bryan