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 first thing of note for 2012 is that it begins with all planets traveling in direct motion.  This is a nice jump-start for the year to help you get your ducks in a row as all of the planets express their effects through their respective signs of residence.  However, on January 24 Mars, your ancient sign ruler, goes retrograde in Virgo, your 11th house of friends, groups, organizations, networking and goals.  Vedic astrologers also place big gains in this house, something most Scorpios will undoubtedly appreciate.  While Mars usually only spends a little over a month in each sign, thus giving it an energy boost during that time, due to the upcoming retrograde excursion he will be there for almost 8 months, i.e. until the 4th of July!  This only occurs about every two years which makes it an excellent time for you to really concentrate of this part of your life.  Remember, however, that a retrograde planet's energy is expressed differently and will be internalized.  You are likely to notice a drop in your energy level and motivation during that time.  This is an excellent time to review matters associated with this part of your life.  It is also a time when old, suppressed, unresolved or frustrated ambitions in this part of your life surface.  Retrograde cycles serve a useful purpose in that they force us to ponder such things and do some housecleaning.  They are also helpful for examining our own motives and defining exactly what we want.  These activities are much more fruitful than trying to move forward, which you may not feel inclined to do, anyway.

One important time in any retrograde cycle is when the Sun opposes the retrograde planet.  This tends to illuminate any issues, merge your unconscious and conscious mind, and allow such insights to surface for consideration and eventual action.  The time this is most likely to occur is right around March 4, so mark your calendar accordingly to pay close attention to any "Aha!" moments which occur around then.  The Sun will be in fellow Water Sign, Pisces then, which is your 5th house of ego definition, creativity, children, romance, entertainment and speculation.  This is Virgo's polar sign which will highlight the relationship between the two.  While Pisces represents you as an individual and how you express your uniqueness, Virgo represents your interactions and dependence on others.  With the Sun in Pisces you can get a close look at yourself, your motives and self-expression as it relates to Mars' mission in your 11th.  This could relate to your relationship with friends or group interactions and whether you feel as if you are being acknowledged appropriately.  It is also a time to examine your goals which depend on the help of others as opposed to personal goals which you can accomplish alone.  If there is anything in this part of your life which is holding you back or not serving its purpose this will be the time to leave it behind and make necessary changes.  Mars retrograde tends to break your normal routine as your ambition and motivation fades but this hiatus also makes it easier to do things differently.

The Full Moon on January 9 is in fellow Water Sign, Cancer, your 9th house of higher learning, legal matters, beliefs & expectations, religion, politics, your philosophy of life, relocation, other cultures and travel to unfamiliar places, particularly abroad.  Right around this time you will experience an energy boost which will drop off a cliff about the time Mars goes retrograde two weeks later.  The Full Moon typically brings a culmination or change of phase with regard to the house in which it occurs.  Take a close look at your 9th house as defined above for how you feel about such things, particularly anything that stands out.  Remember that a Full Moon is simply reflecting the light of the Sun, which is in Capricorn for this lunation.  Capricorn is your 3rd house of thoughts, ideas, neighbors, siblings and local travel.  How you think ultimately evolves into your beliefs and philosophy of life, so you can see how these polar houses relate to one another.  If your thinking is not well-founded and has led you astray now is an excellent time to identify it, especially with your modern sign ruler, Pluto, in Capricorn as well as Mercury, natural ruler of thoughts, ideas and communications in general.  If your birthday is right around November 11 this lunation will form an aspect pattern known as a triangle of potential with your natal Sun, which is quite favorable and places you in a position to gather some interesting insights and understanding as a result.

The New Moon on January 23 occurs the day before Mars stations retrograde, so bear that in mind.  A New Moon typically brings something new and is usually an excellent time to start a new endeavor but this may lose steam or be delayed due to Mars.  This lunation occurs in Aquarius, your 4th house of home environment, cultural roots and memories.  If your birthday is within a day or so of October 26 it will square your Sun which may bring some difficulties your way on the homefront.  The Sun/Moon conjunction, which by definition is a New Moon, is at the apex of a T-square as well which implies some challenges.  The other planets involved in this aspect pattern are Saturn in Libra and Jupiter in Taurus.  (If you know much about astrology you may question that opposition since Libra and Taurus are not polar signs.  However, Saturn is in the end degrees of Libra and Jupiter in the beginning degrees of Taurus so the aspect is in orb.)  Saturn is exalted in Libra which brings out the positive side of Saturn who tends to be malefic elsewhere.  His traits of responsibility, providing structure, and general seriousness can be quite beneficial.  Libra is your natural 12th house of enlightenment, spirituality, inspiration, seclusion, confinement, institutions, hidden enemies and self-undoing; I often refer to this as the "angels and demons" house for obvious reasons.

During Saturn's sojourn in this locale you may have had some unpleasant experiences with regard to any self-defeating behaviors you may have.  Saturn as the Lord of Karma and author of hard lessons will be imbuing you with his wisdom, like it or not.  Yes, I know I said his energy is more positive, but in the long run it will be.  If you don't have anything of this nature lurking in the 12th this transit would have been favorable for putting some tangibility toward your dreams, developing your spiritual side in a deliberate, methodical manner, or perhaps volunteering with a charitable organization. 

Jupiter is in Taurus, your polar sign and 7th house of close relationships which includes your significant other, business partners, close friends and relatives and competitors.  Jupiter is naturally a benefic planet who tends to expand upon what he touches.  He recently finished his annual retrograde cycle during which time he emphasizes ethics issues.  This would have been the time to ponder what you expect out of relationships and what you're willing to put into them.  His opposition with Saturn has some interesting implications.  Oppositions demand balance between the two houses.  This is not as obvious as when polar signs are involved which clearly relate to each other on different levels.  The message to consider is how your spiritual self is responding to your relationships.  For example, if you are hanging out with people who are substantially below you spiritually then there will be a conflict.  Taking time to renew yourself is important and if your relationships are so demanding that you don't have time for such, then there will be a conflict.  Placing the New Moon back in its place at the apex centers new resolve in your home, where you have the chance to feed both parts of your life in such a way to resolve the conflict and achieve balance.  Note that Neptune is also in the 4th and in favorable aspect to both Saturn and Jupiter in another triangle of potential which implies that inspiration in how to handle this is available.  While Mars is retrograde and your drive and ambitions stalls will be a favorable time to explore these other areas of your life.

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