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

First of all note that the new year begins with all planets in direct motion, giving a nice jump-start to 2012.  Direct motion allows a planet to provide an outward expression of its energy which is perceived on the conscious level.  When they go retrograde, this energy is internalized and thus connects with your unconscious mind instead.  When the retrograde planet opposes the Sun this can bring an "Aha!" moment where your unconscious and conscious minds merge and deliver important information.  Mars goes retrograde on January 24, which will occur in Virgo, your 4th house of home environment, memories and cultural roots.  While Mars usually only spends about a month in each sign, due to this retrograde period he will be in Virgo for approximately eight months since he doesn't leave for Libra until July 4th.  Considering that Mars is the planet which motivates you to action when this energy is internalized you may find yourself stalled and even your energy at a lull.  Gemini natives are blessed with an active mind, however, so this can be a fruitful time of contemplation, particularly if you are aware of what the Universe is up to.

Mars will be stirring things up which relate to your 4th house which also includes your sense of personal security.  You may feel a bit restless or anxious about this part of your life during this time without knowing why.  This is a time when your unconscious will be ruminating on your home life, from your earliest beginnings to the present, and determining whether a new direction or changes are required to achieve the appropriate comfort level.  When Mars and the Sun oppose each other right around March 4th this ties in the Sun's location in Pisces as well.  Pisces represents your natural 10th house which comprises your status, career, public image and reputation.  These polar houses clearly relate to one another strongly and if one is out of balance then the other will be as well.  For example, too much emphasis on career will affect your home life and vice versa.  During this illumination period, which you may want to note on your calendar since it's a few months away, be aware of your personal sense of security as it relates to your home and anything that feels amiss.  Success is dependent on both.  We are integrated beings who can seldom departmentalize the different areas of our life as represented by the astrological houses.  Sooner or later one will spill over into the other.  Your 4th house represents your core and the 10th the outward expression of who and what you are.  If these are not in synch it will create a lack of balance which will ultimately demand your attention, which could happen due to Mars' extended stay.  The coming months are a time to get your house in order at all levels, or at least figure out what is required to do so.  Take serious note of the promptings and be prepared to act on them when Mars goes direct in mid-April.

The Full Moon on January 9th is in nextdoor neighboring sign, Cancer, your 2nd house of income, finances, possessions, self-worth, needs and pleasures.  When the Moon is fully illuminated by the Sun it brings attention to this part of your life as represented by the sign it's in, so expect one or more matters resident in your 2nd house to demand attention.  With the Sun in Capricorn, your 8th house of transformations, significant change is likely to be involved.  The 8th includes shared resources, debt, death and rebirth, and intense experiences which change you forever.  Note the polarity between these two areas and expect this lunation to tie them together in some manner.  A Full Moon typically indicates a culmination or change in phase which will be centered in your 2nd house but likely to derive from something in the 8th.  Meditate on it and see what comes up.

The Lunar South Node is transiting Gemini and is on your natal Sun if your birthday is right around June 4th.  The Lunar Nodes can bring significant and important changes with the North Node typically bringing something into your life and the South Node typically seeing something leave.  Given the house placement of the nodes it looks as if a new important relationship may be coming into your life or perhaps a significant change to an existing one which is going to require that you give something of yourself away.  Clearly this can tie into Mars' retrograde theme of personal security as well.  Be open to inspiration and enlightenment so you can tie these influences together and find their meaning in your life.

The New Moon on January 23 is in fellow Air Sign, Aquarius, your 9th house of higher learning, beliefs & expectations, philosophy of life, religion, politics, legal matters, other cultures, relocation and long-distance travel, particularly those which are unfamiliar.  This is also the house of publication, which has a lot of meaning for Gemini's who typically have a pronounced talent for writing thanks to being ruled by Mercury.  Thus anything you may have in-work or been thinking about in this part of your life can get a nice boost from the New Moon.  However, the lunation is at the apex of a T-square which throws a few challenges in as well which you will have to resolve.  Before you can start on this new project you will have to address an opposition between Saturn in Libra and Jupiter in Taurus.  (If you know a little about astrology you have probably noticed that Libra and Taurus are not polar signs and thus don't oppose one another.  However, Saturn is in the last degrees of Libra and Jupiter in the beginning degrees of Taurus so the two planets are in orb, albeit out of sign.)  Saturn is exalted in Libra which mitigates his malefic energy to a more positive vibration.  Thus, his discipline, responsibility and organizational vibes will prevail rather than all the heavy stuff he can dig up.  Libra is your 5th house of ego expression, creativity, children, romance, entertainment and speculation so this has nice implications of getting something together in this part of your life. 

Jupiter is typically benefic and expands what he touches, though this will be a bit stifled in Taurus.  Taurus is your 12th house of enlightenment, inspiration, spirituality, institutions, confinement, seclusion, hidden enemies and self-undoing which I usually refer to as the "angels and demons" house.  There is thus a dialog between Saturn attempting to structure something in your 5th and Jupiter expanding something in your 12th which can be a tug-o-war or attempt to balance these two parts of your life.  The New Moon is going to bring this out in some way which will probably place your beliefs between the two.  At this point you can use some inspiration, which Neptune can provide.  This is a time to let go of existing paradigms and listen to what the Universe is trying to say.  A change of direction is more than likely going to be required in various parts of your life, so be open to what that might be.

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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.

Time, date and place of birth for all family members required. 

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