January 2012 Astrocast

Key Events:  

Full Moon (18:26 Cancer): 9 January 2012

New Moon (02:42 Aquarius): 23 January 2011

Retrograde Planets: 

Mars (23:05 Virgo - 03:41 Virgo):  24 January 2012 - 14 April 2012

Easy Reference

Sun   Moon  Mercury   Venus   Mars   Jupiter   Saturn   Uranus   Neptune   Pluto  

1st House   2nd House   3rd House   4th House   5th House   6th House   7th House   8th House   9th House   10th House   11th House   12th House

Aspects     Sign Rulers     Fire-Earth-Air-Water     Cardinal-Fixed-Mutable

Eclipses  Solar Returns  Retrograde Planets

Lunations and Long Term Aspects

Note that this year begins with all of the planets in direct motion, which is great for jump-starting 2012.  However, your sign ruler, Mars, goes retrograde on the 24th.  This is not necessarily a bad thing but you may notice that your energy level decreases somewhat during that time.  Mars will be in Virgo, your 6th house of work, service, health and pets, during the entire retrograde period which will also extend his stay in that sign from the usual month or so to eight given that he won't be leaving until the 4th of July!  This is going to give you a good, long time to be pondering this part of your life.  You may already know that there is something going on here and it may even reach a bit of a frenzied peak at the time Mars stations on the 24th.  After that, however, the tension will relax, at least somewhat, as his energy is internalized and the process of merging your conscious and subconscious minds begins. 

Also involved with this retrograde period will be the Sun, particularly when he opposes Mars the first part of March.  You may encounter an "Aha!" moment at that time or perhaps encounter something significant with regard to what the Universe's message for you is at this time.  Since when the opposition occurs the Sun will be in Pisces, your 12th house of enlightenment, spirituality, institutions, confinement, seclusion, hidden enemies and self-undoing, this house will be activated as well.  Polar houses are connected and while it may be more difficult to see how these matters tie in with your work, it's certainly not as hard to see how they tie into your health.  Given that, it's not much of a stretch to see how your work can be tied into your health, especially if you are either unemployed or in a job you don't like.  The main point is that your livelihood will be much easier to bear is you are doing something which is soul-satisfying.  If this is not the case and all your job is to you is a paycheck, this is an excellent time to let your unconscious ruminate on that for a few months.  It is highly likely that a change is afoot and will become apparent sometime around your solar return a.k.a. your birthday.

The Full Moon on January 9th is in Cancer, your 4th house of home environment, cultural roots and memories.  With the Sun in Capricorn, your 10th house of career, this ties in with the theme of Mars retrograde which relates to your work.  Clearly work and career are not always the same but your life is likely to be more harmonious if they are.  The 10th house also incorporates your status and what you'll be remembered for.  In other words you may have a significant hobby or some other activity that occupies your 10th house while you go about earning your paycheck week to week.  Again we're looking at polar houses and it doesn't take a rocket scientist to understand there is a subtle connection between your career or status and your home as well as those other things residing in the 4th such as your cultural roots and memories.  Not only do your roots affect whom you become but your status, in turn, reflects back on your current home, memories and so forth.  While these two parts are often at odds with each other, achieving balance between them is important.  This is a favorable time for a sanity check to make sure this is the case.  Especially take note if you come home in a bad mood every night in a bad mood. 

The New Moon on January 23 is in Aquarius, your 11th house of friends, organizations, groups, goals and networking, making it the time to initiate activities in this part of your life.  If you didn't quite make any New Years' Resolutions, it's not too late.  Also, if there is anything going on with your job as implied above, put this lunation to work as far as networking is concerned as well as setting some new goals. 

There's a T-square in effect between the New Moon, Jupiter and Saturn which is worth mentioning as well.  Jupiter is in Taurus, your 2nd house of income, finances, possessions, needs and pleasures where is will typically have an expansive effect, though this will be a bit less obvious given that Taurus doesn't move very fast.  Nonetheless, Jupiter tends to bring some luck along so keep that in mind as well.  His opposition with Saturn in Libra, your polar sign and 7th house of relationships, is trying to tell you something as well.  Saturn is typically a malefic planet but he's exalted in Libra which means his more positive side is more likely to come out which is to instill discipline, responsibility and structure.  (If you know a bit about astrology you are probably wondering why this opposition is between two signs which do not oppose each other.  This is simply because Saturn is at the end degrees of Libra and Jupiter in the beginning of Taurus but still within orb for opposition.)  One thing this opposition may be trying to express is how your relationships are affecting your financial condition.  There are any number of possibilities there, too many for me to try to list, but you know your situation and what the connection might be.  Since this is a T-square with the New Moon, you are likely to encounter some conflicts that involve your goals that involve finances and relationships.  The New Moon implies that this is a favorable time to give it some thought and make some plans accordingly.

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Just because you're related doesn't mean you're compatible.

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