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

The one thing to note about this month is that it begins with no retrograde planets, which is actually a bit unusual.  This allows each of them to express themselves through their resident sign in an overt manner.  When retrograde their vibrations are internalized and work upon your unconscious mind, which is certainly a good thing because it forces us to introspection and also allows our unconscious and conscious mind to merge when the planet and Sun oppose each other.  Lest we encounter too much of a good thing, Mars goes retrograde on the 24th, something which only occurs about every two years.  This is going to extend his stay in your nextdoor neighboring sign, Virgo, far beyond the usual month to a total of approximately 8 months in your 12th house of inspiration, dreams, enlightenment, spirituality, seclusion, confinement, institutions, hidden enemies and self-undoing.  Mars rules your polar sign and 7th house of close relationships, Aries, which is also likely to be affected by this transit.  Nextdoor neighbor, Scorpio, your 2nd house of income, finances, self-worth, needs and pleasures, may encounter some impact as well.  However, most of the influence is probably going to show up in the 12th which I nicknamed the "angels and demons" house.

Note that Mars is covering a lot of ground in Virgo, approximately 20 degrees of the total of 30, so if you have any planets or chart sensitive points such as an ascendant, midheaven or any house cusp there it may take a total of three hits before all is said and done.  This will be even stronger if Mars stations on something.  Equally important when considering a retrograde planet is how the Sun is positioned.  After all, the fact that the Earth is not the center of the solar system is what causes planets to appear to be moving backward in the first place.  Thus, one of the most important times during a retrograde cycle is when the planet opposes the Sun which means that they are in polar signs.  With Mars in Virgo, that means the Sun will be in Pisces when this occurs next March 4.  You may want to note that on your calendar so that you can pay attention around that time because this is when your unconscious and conscious mind are most likely to have a dialog which illuminates the matter at hand. 

Pisces is your 6th house of work, service, health and pets.  There is always a link, albeit subtle one, between polar signs, and the link between this one and your 12th can be your body, more specifically your health.  Unresolved emotional issues have been found to cause health problems.  The effects of stress are well-documented and nearly every other malady which can affect your health has a similar root cause.  Thus, if you have been afflicted with some physical problem you may be able to identify what the hidden cause is by the time this retrograde period is over.  Your work or job may be involved if what you do is not in synch with your spiritual values, if you're kidding yourself in some way, or suppressing a dream or perhaps your mission in life or higher purpose.  Needless to say this can manifest in a plethora of ways which will relate specifically to you.  Thus, it is up to you to figure out what is going on.  Obviously this may not be too easy from the beginning since this is probably secured locked up in your unconscious.  If you have some idea what it might be, then mediate upon it and open yourself up to the information forthcoming from Mars' retrograde cycle because there is undoubtedly more to it than you think.  Awareness of what to watch for is important for getting the most out of these cycles.

The Full Moon on January 9 is in fellow Cardinal Sign, Cancer, your 10th house of career, reputation, public image and status.  The Full Moon typically brings a culmination or shift to a new phase as the Sun illuminates the Moon at its maximum as the two oppose each other.  At this time the Sun is in Capricorn, your 4th house of home environment, cultural roots and memories.  It's important to recognize the importance of polar houses and the need for balance.  If you are not maintaining such, which is especially important for Libra, the resulting unrest will be tremendously uncomfortable. 

Take a moment to ponder at this point the many things included in the simple word "status" as a keyword for the 10th house.  For starters, think Facebook.  If you're a regular user, you enter your "status" there frequently and it covers a variety of conditions.  Generally, status refers to anything that could appear in the newspaper or public record.  And don't be fooled, regardless of your privacy settings, Facebook is part of the public record.  This is where you might discover that one of your "friends" really isn't when they reveal some semi-confidential matter to those you may not wish to know.  Status includes getting married or divorced; promoted or fired; elected or defeated; becoming a parent for the first time or having your last child leave home; obtaining any sort of license and a variety of other things, most of which will involve a title or label.  So in that context, ponder how that may relate to your home environment, past and present.  Helping in this endeavor is Pluto who's in Capricorn along with the Sun and squaring your natal Sun if your birthday lies around October 1st.  The rest of you may not feel the effects as intensely, but his influence is still there which is to dig up unresolved issues so they can be addressed and ultimately healed.

The New Moon on January 23 is in fellow Air Sign, Aquarius, your 5th house of ego expression, creativity, children, romance, entertainment and speculation.  The New Moon starts a new cycle and thus is the case for this house as well.  This is an excellent time to deliberately start something of a creative nature or anything else residing in this house.  There may be a few roadblocks, however, due to the fact that the New Moon, which by definition is a Sun/Moon conjunction, is at the apex of a T-square completed by Saturn in your sign and Jupiter in Taurus.  (If you know anything about astrology you probably noticed that Libra and Taurus are not polar signs.  However, with Saturn in late degrees of Libra and Jupiter in early degrees of Taurus they two are within orb.)  Saturn is exalted in your sign which helps direct his energy to its positive vibration.  This includes the ability to structure and manifest something and having the discipline or sense of responsibility necessary to see it through.  If your birthday is within a day or so of October 23 Saturn is sitting on your Natal Sun and thus increasing this effect. 

Jupiter, on the other hand, is typically benefic though his expansive nature may be held back a bit in Taurus who, as a Fixed Sign, does not take to easily to change.  Taurus is your 8th house of transformations, shared resources, debt, sex, death & rebirth and those intense experiences that force you to see things you previously were oblivious to.  Thus, in this house, Jupiter can expand your awareness and help you to grow, which when balanced with Saturn's energy can be very beneficial toward attaining a personal goal.  On the other hand, if you've been expanding your debt load, which is possible, then Saturn may be slapping you upside the head and the T-square could relate to the fact you want to start a new creative endeavor but until you get a grip on your debts that isn't going to happen.

The good news is that Neptune may bring you the inspiration you need to get this figured out.  You may not be able to have your cake and eat it, too, but you may be able to find a less painful way to bring it to fruition.  Inspiration in the 5th house is well-placed, particularly when it comes to creative endeavors.  For this lunation Mercury is in your 4th house of home environment and trining Mars, who is getting ready to go retrograde, so a family member may provide some ideas or thoughts which stir up whatever Mars is going to be ruminating upon for the next several month.  Put the planets to work for you at a conscious level so you get the most out of these transits.  

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What are Your family Gatherings like?

Holiday get-togethers can be heavenly or they can be hell.  Ever wonder why?   Our Family Dynamics report not only explains who gets along with whom but WHY!  

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

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