January 2008 Astrocast

Key Events:  

New Moon:  01/08/2008

Full Moon: 01/22/2008

Mercury Retrograde: 01/28/2008

Other RX Planets:  Mars until 1/30; Saturn until 05/03 

Of course the bad news is that now this astrological enema is on its way toward your Natural 2nd House, which comprises your possessions, finances and pleasures, but the chances are good that this will largely involve a series of annoyances such as unexplained car problems, purchasing multiple items with ridiculous hidden flaws, and so forth.  Your best bet is to make sure you have good insurance coverage and always buy that extended warranty.

More good news lies in the fact that lovely Venus will be in your Sign until January 24, further softening Pluto's last days in your neighborhood.  This will enhance your appearance, perhaps even lightening those dark circles under your eyes that appeared about the time Pluto hit your natal Sun.  Others will be favorably disposed toward you and seem much friendlier than usual.  For a few days around January 4 - 9 you may encounter a problem or two with an authority figure or someone associated with your career, but other than that you should be looking and feeling pretty good about yourself.

Approximately half of the planets, including the Sun, are hanging out in Capricorn and Aquarius these days, which represent your 2nd and 3rd Houses, respectively.  This will stir up a fair amount of action with your 2nd House "stuff" as noted previously as well as your 3rd House, i.e. thoughts, siblings, neighbors, and short journeys, especially since one of the major players is Jupiter, your Sign Ruler.  From January 1 - 28, Jove will be in a rather scratchy aspect with Neptune.  As you probably know, Jupiter is all about expansion and increase as well as being generally viewed as benefic.  Neptune is all about idealism, dreams, inspiration and spirituality on the positive side and hidden enemies, delusion, and dissolving anything he touches on the negative. 

This could make it difficult to shop for anything you're in the market for.  You may think you found what you want, then discover that it either isn't what you thought, or for one reason or another you never receive it, such as the last one disappears off the shelf when your back is turned or it never arrives in the mail.  Since your 2nd House also includes finances, this is definitely not a good time to take any chances there.  Your imagination is going to very active, which is all well and good, but use it in an artistic application as opposed to financial or you're likely to be quite unhappy with the result.  Even with Mercury greasing the wheels and gears in your more than capable brain, Neptune's ability to confound, confuse or delude could leak through and cause problems, so don't trust your thoughts on anything that requires logic.  The New Moon on the 8th is in Capricorn, also, which bodes toward a new phase in this area as well, though it could also indicate a major purchase of some type.

Speaking of which, if you are in the market for something substantial, besides all that Neptune business, you need to make sure if you need something electronic or mechanical that you get it either before January 28 or after February 19.  During this timeframe Mercury will be in another one of its retrograde cycles, which happens about three times each year.  This, as you probably already know, is not a good time to make purchases of that type unless you enjoy repair shops or packaging things up to mail back to the manufacturer.  If you absolutely can't avoid buying something and can't borrow or rent one in the meantime, make absolutely sure that you have a good warranty as you're probably going to need it. 

From January 1 - 3 the Sun will trine Saturn, which should bring some positive attention your way in your career field.  Then from January 10 - February 1 Jupiter will also trine Saturn, which could have a very positive effect on your career or reputation, as well, though bear in mind that all of this could evaporate with Neptune watching from the wings.  From January 30 - February 4, however, Venus will give Jupiter a big, ol' bear hug, with the happy couple both trining Saturn, which could definitely bring something lucky your way and hopefully substantial, like a promotion or raise, versus an empty promise that never arrives.

From January 1 - 13, or almost half the month, Mars in retrograde (RX) will be faced off with your old friend, Pluto.  Mars RX tends up dig up any old resentments or suppressed anger associated with the resident House that was not properly resolved.  Unfortunately, the House involved is your 7th, which comprises close relationships, including your significant other, business partners, and close friends or relatives.  Needless to say this is a target-rich environment for past hurts and unexpressed anger.  Mars has been RX since mid-November, but up until January he was doing his sorry, disruptive thing in Cancer, your Natural 8th House of sex, transformations, and shared resources.  So between then and January, he was stirring up crap in those areas and now he's into your relationships.  As if that's not bad enough, when he opposes Pluto, who'll still be in your 1st House of personality at that time, all this suppressed anger is likely to combine to create a big of a power trip.  If, perchance, one of your 7th House people is the one with the suppressed anger with you, then your reaction is likely to be to take a position of power.  This is obviously not the most effective way to deal with such issues.  Also bear in mind that the suppressed anger thing is likely to go very deep and have transformational effects with Pluto involved.  It will be cleaning house much more than Mars alone, but your likelihood of resolving it once and for all is quite good.  Fortunately, from January 29 - February 1 to be precise, Mercury will trine Mars and throw some good communications in the mix at least, to help talk things out.  (This is right in the beginning of a Mercury RX cycle, but reworking or re-planning during this time is favored.) 

It's likely that all these issues won't be resolved at this time, as you might not get any further than to recognize them and think about how to resolve them.  The actual resolution is likely to come sometime after January 30 when Mars resumes direct motion.  Then as he makes his way back through Gemini and Cancer, the issues will be resolved as their turn comes up.

The Full Moon on the 22nd occurs in fellow Fire Sign, Leo, who represents your Natural 9th House, a Sagittarius favorite as he rules the Zodiacal 9th House.  Venues included here include long distance travel, higher education, religion, politics, and legal issues.  A Full Moon ordinarily indicates a culmination of some type, so hopefully this will indicate a happy ending associated with one of those venues.

This should be a busy and significant month for you.  While everything is certainly not going to be a bed of roses, at least with Pluto moving on your outlook and attitude should improve significantly, especially for those born around December December 18, who may feel much better than they have lately in the absence of those Plutonian swirlies that came far too often.  Those Archers born after that may feel the effects for a bit longer, but with Pluto at least out of your Sign, the effects won't be quite as strong.  Astrologically, that is great cause to celebrate.