Jupiter journeyed into Aquarius early on December 19.  A triple hit of joy lit up the sky when the moon slipped into Pisces (Jupiter’s sign) and Sagittarius (also Jupiter’s sign) was on the horizon as the planet moved into Aquarius.  Saturn also recently entered Aquarius.  Saturn and Jupiter “make it official” in Aquarius on December 21 in a Grand Conjunction!

Jupiter and Saturn moved from the sign of Capricorn (earth, heavy, slow) into Aquarius (air, light, quick).  The spaceship has landed!! 

Aquarian qualities are electrified, detached, and inventive with technology.  Societal systems, such as schools and government, go through a trial of “re-invention”.  The genius and rebel archetypes can describe Aquarius- the quirky outliers!  A certain aloofness marks the sign of Aquarius, geared toward humanitarian concepts of supporting diversity in the whole group.  Social justice issues are seen and heard clearly during times of crisis.  

The everyday working class hero shall be deified under the duress of 2020.  The term “essential worker” is now widely used.  This term could also be coined Essential Dea (which means “goddess” in Latin).  What are ways that Essential Deæ can be fairly compensated for their heroic feats and what armor is needed to protect them in daily battles?

Solstice marks the darkest, shortest day of the year on December 21.  Reflecting back on the year, how can those lost and gone be honored?  The Solstice, or Yule, leads into an underground of inner wealth.  What imaginings occur in the deep, dark dream state of hibernation?  When the light in the outer world darkens, does the inner light burn more brightly?

After the unsettling turbulence of 2020 subsides, dewy eyes blink open in 2021 and see the world afresh?!  If only!!  Yet the astrological events of December begin a new cycle.    

A painful scouring has taken place over recent years, especially this last year.  The rampaging final throes of this dark night of the soul come to a close.  The solstice on December 21 marks a new cycle when Jupiter and Saturn enter 0˚ Aquarius in what’s known as the Great Mutation.  Jupiter and Saturn form conjunctions (aligning in the same sign/degree) every 20 years.  These conjunctions were in earth signs (Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn) for the last 200 years and this event begins the cycle of conjunctions in air signs (Gemini, Libra, Aquarius) for the next 200 years.   Saturn’s rules, limits and structures combine with Jupiter’s optimism, luck and abundance.  

How does Aquarius “fit in”?  No pun intended, as Aquarius is the sign of the “misfit”.  Aquarius is the element of air, though the glyph is a “water-bearer”.  Air flow is an important part of the world these days.  On the symbolic level, air is the flow and exchange of ideas.  Aquarius  champions a society that benefits all, integrating the good of the group with the good of the individual.  The awareness that the actions of one individual can affect the whole group is heightened.  

November 30 a penumbral lunar eclipse occurs in Gemini and December 14 a total solar eclipse occurs in Sagittarius.  Gemini and Sagittarius are opposing signs that connect to learning and education.  Sagittarius philosophically looks at the holistic or “big picture”, thinking symbolically.  Also, the eclipse in December is conjunct the south node, related to endings, a sense of completion or letting go.  Sagittarius is hot tempered and fiery, burning through the rubbish to find the truth.

Hibernation seasons starts with the solstice on December 21.  The ending of the year combines grieving and celebrating before setting sail into 2021.

The Sun moved from Leo into Virgo August 22.  The summer harvest is organized and put to use.  A frugal perspective shows where it’s wise to scale back and save up the summer bounty to help sustain through the coming fall and winter.  The Leo season in August was a celebratory time, at odds with the trio of Jupiter, Saturn and Pluto in Capricorn.  Both Leo and Capricorn vie for the throne of head honcho, but in different ways.  Leo is born with a royal title and Capricorn has worked its way up to boss through toil, though each sign has merits in the ability to take charge.  Celebrating loved ones within the current times was thematic of August.  Now, with Sun and Mercury in Virgo, the element of earth brings a cool practicality in, spic and span and clean.

With Saturn, Jupiter and Pluto residing in Capricorn, the effects of the pandemic are seen but also the shifting in the economy and culture that incites real change.  Saturn in Capricorn and Mars in Aries face off in a square, a contentious dynamic.  Mars will begin retrograde motion in Aries on September 9-November 13.  The planet of war moves backward and turns inward with a “crouching tiger, hidden dragon” manner.  This eruptive Saturn-Mars dynamic sets the stage for what’s to come, the influence lasting through the autumn.  Taking care and slowing down may be a part of the remedy, but also exploring inner workings of sexuality and anger.  

Saturn, planet of limits, structures and lessons, goes direct September 29.  A direct station presents challenges in a different way than a retrograde because the essence of the planet externalizes.  Saturn’s direct motion could put on the brakes to hold boundaries and keep safe when needed.  Saturn governs time, so playing the waiting game over the autumn could be part of the equation.  Patience may be tested, especially in a productivity oriented society.  The “business as usual”of polarized politics, racism, and an undermined working class in the midst of a pandemic is not something to rush back into.  

*Image Una and the Lion by Benjamin West

The moon is full in Aquarius, August 3 (10:59am, CT).  The sun in Leo opposes the Moon in Aquarius as they form a momentarily tense angle with Uranus in Taurus.  Uranus’s influence calls for a break in the norm, a new way of doing things and the use of technology.  Surprises and abrupt changes in direction can be jarring when it seems like temporary chaos.  Figure out what needs reinvention, personally and/or collectively.  The Leo sun shows how to shine as individuals and the Aquarius moon shows how to shine as a member of the group.  How do our individual talents contribute to the group and how are individual needs balanced with those of the group?

Tempers flare with Mars in Aries butting its ram’s horns reactively, fomenting divisiveness.  After the experience of the past 5 months, desire stirs for action and activity.  Forward momentum is held within confinements of the current times.  What plans can be set in motion over the next month?  Mars begins retrograde in Aries September 9- November 13, meaning different things for different people.   Mars retrogrades are a time re-working plans and strategizing.  Depending on the situation, it may not be a time for initiating brand new projects.  Issues of sexuality and anger are spotlighted for re-examination.

New doors appear and await opening, yet the business of unfinished business hangs around for a while.  Saturn, Pluto and Jupiter remain in Capricorn, symbolizing the collapse, transformation and rebuilding of societal structures.  This influence lasts until December when Jupiter and Saturn enter the air sign of Aquarius together in what’s called the Grand Conjunction.  

July 20 (12:33pm, CT) the new moon is in Cancer.  It seems anything but “new”, more like a grandmother hoisting herself out of bed to see her 100th sunrise.   The summer solstice on June 21 also was a new moon in Cancer at 0˚- the “baby” or first degree of a sign.  This new moon is at 28˚, nearly the last degree of the sign, encompassing Cancer’s wisdom sharply, yet ready to peter out and move toward the next sign of Leo.  

Saturn in Capricorn sits right across from the sun and Moon in Cancer, with a world weary gaze.  Old issues and problems stare us squarely in the face.  Long trodden roads come to an end to make way for new ones.  Cancer’s themes are family, home and nurturing.  Capricorn’s themes are societal structures and economy.  Can the economic structures support the people who live in them?  The old way of doing it doesn’t work.  Issues of safety are grappled with.  The need for security can be dealt with by using planning and strategy.  

Deep emotional connections are craved.  What are ways to consistently love others despite limitations?  Momentarily, firm boundaries can be constraining.  No cut off is pleasant, though, keep the long game in mind.  Does temporary restriction foster a gain in the long term?

Mars in Aries motivates toward action in the summer months before he slows down for a retrograde in the fall.  More to come on that later . . . 

July 4 is a penumbral lunar eclipse(11:29pm, CT)and full moon in Capricorn(11:44pm, CT). A lunar eclipse occurs when the earth blocks the sun’s light from the full moon, creating a shadow.  What was previously hidden is revealed.  The sun journeys through Cancer, the sign of home, family and nurturing.  Cancer is in the element of water, like the lakes and pools that are popular this time of year.  The moon is in the opposite sign of Capricorn, practical and realistic, establishing success through meeting goals.  Capricorn is in the element of earth made of sand and rocks.  The lake is symbolized by Cancer and the rocky beach that holds the water of the lake is Capricorn.  

How do structures hold or shelter our loved ones and those we nurture?  What makes a house a home?  July 1, Saturn, planet of restrictions and boundaries(amongst other associations), went back into the sign of Capricorn.  Boundaries may be re-identified as Capricorn tends toward asceticism and caution. The societal shifts Saturn in Aquarius brought in March, when the world changed all at once, are re-evaluated along with the systems that led to the place humankind finds itself now.  Traditions continue to transform.

Mars is freshly into Aries, where passions run high and anger spikes.  Pushiness is activated.  Sharp tongues fuel heated spats.  Words may be taken personally or misinterpreted, take a step back to cool the flames before jumping in headlong.  Mercury goes direct July 12 to step into forward motion again and clear up misunderstandings.

A domino effect is set off.  June 18 Mercury retrogrades in Cancer until July 12.  Summer solstice (Midsummer) is on June 20 (4:44pm, CT).  June 21 an annular solar eclipse & new moon occurs in Cancer (1:39am, CT).  June 23 Neptune begins retrograde in Pisces and June 25 Venus begins direct motion.

The days prior to Mercury’s retrograde, the trickster planet stands still as a statue before setting sail on a journey of reflection.  Mercury retrograde switches the flow of travel and communication; insights enter into consciousness via sleep state and the subtext of Freudian slips.  Take a step back to re-work plans.  The sign of Cancer symbolizes that place we call home.  During this retrograde we redefine our home, acknowledging the past to genuinely reflect the values of the people.

Midsummer on June 20, Mars in Pisces throws darts at moon in Gemini with a feistiness in the atmosphere and also a nebulousness of the unknown. June 21 the moon covers the center of the sun in an annular solar eclipse on the north node. A ring of fire (visible in certain areas of the globe) called an “annulus” is created by the sun’s light surrounding the moon. Lunar nodes are two points in space where the moon crosses the ecliptic path of the earth’s journey around the sun. The north node is the Dragon’s Head and the south node is the Dragon’s Tail. This eclipse is at 0˚ Cancer on the Dragon’s Head, currently at 29˚ Gemini. North node eclipses tend to push events forward. However, as Mercury’s in retrograde, more time may be taken to finalize forward momentum.

Both Midsummer and the eclipse redirect us on a detour.  The question remains: how can we love our family, blood related or not, during times of physical distance?  What are adaptations to different ways of satisfying our needs to connect?  In what manner does nurturing take place during unprecedented times?  Also, how can we support not just our blood relatives but also our neighbor or “global family”?

Venus retrograde’s not a time to ask pretty please with sugar on top- instead the claws come out.  Discord that arose came about to acknowledge the wrongs of the past.  Re-imagining the future seems possible, internalizing those new possibilities with Neptune’s retrograde June 23.  A long lost treasure, abstractly speaking, is rediscovered and enjoyed.  Venus going direct on June 25 clears the cobwebs of perception into focus after fuzziness, pressing the reset button. 

The super moon is full in Scorpio on May 7 (5:45am, CT) opposing sun and Mercury in Taurus.  Demeter, goddess of the harvest in myth, brings the earth alive again in celebration of her daughter Persephone’s return from the underworld after spending time with her husband, Hades.  Demeter is so wrought with grief from the separation that her crops die in the frozen ground during the “death” and barrenness of autumn.  This full moon in Scorpio embodies death & endings and the lush blossoming of flowers in the birth of springtime, both existing in an infinite cycle.

Scorpio is known for passionate intensity & the transformative birth-death cycle.  Taurus is known for peacefulness & the fortitude to maintain earthly riches.  A cathartic release is shown with an explosive influence from Mars in Aquarius, expressing grief but also unyielding resolve.  5 planets in the element of earth relate to the sacredness of the body and an awareness of the physical needs. 

Mid-May, 3 planets will begin retrograde, or backward motion, within days of each other.  The period before and after a planet stops or starts retrograde or direct motion is called a station.  Planetary stations tend to be catalysts.  Retrogrades turn the meaning of a planet inward.  May 10, Saturn in Aquarius retrogrades and relates to boundaries and restrictions such as the parameters of physical distancing.  May 14, Jupiter in Capricorn retrogrades and pertains to fortune and expansion such as the status of the economy.  Jupiter in Capricorn is connected to growth in not-so-typical industries.  

Venus retrogrades May 13 to June 25, inciting a rebellion of the feminine, so to speak.  Venus rules the social realms, her retrograde puts socializing on the back burner and yet irritability bubbles to the surface to “clear the air”.  A past lover or relationship could re-enter for re-examination.  Or, love comes along that is non-traditional, taboo and breaks a norm, like  surprise pregnancies and illicit affairs.  Art and music that is created has a cutting edge and provocative quality, unafraid to show a seedy underbelly.  Venus will be in the sign of Gemini during this retrograde.  Gemini is ruled by Mercury, planet of communication, rumors and gossip.  Deceit that has been brewing makes itself known.  The temptation is to find an escape; to be seduced by a greener pasture, online tryst or a victim-martyr situation.  All is not what it appears at surface level glance.  As unpleasant as it sounds, incidents like this open the door to fix problems or deal with issues.  Venus retrogrades are linked to health and the health of relationships.

3 planets begin retrograde in a short amount of time, journeying inward and taking a step back to internally assimilate.