By Jeffrey Kishner
Provided by Tarot.com
2009 is already a very good year, because the United States will have a new President later this month. However, the economy is in the sink and violence abounds in the Middle East. Most recently, Israel's strike on Gaza corresponds with the recent pairing of the two most aggressive planets in the solar system. Powerful Pluto entered Capricorn at the end of 2008, and Mars -- planet of war and aggression -- brought the New Year into a bang when it conjoined this outer planet.
However, there is good news at the beginning of January, as Jupiter entered Aquarius on the 5th. The planet of expansion, good fortune and optimism spends about a year in each sign, so Jupiter will be in the sign of the Water Bearer through the beginning of 2010. Aquarius rules humanitarian efforts, technology, and the collective. We can expect new and innovative inventions, such as personal gadgets that give us the feeling of more freedom. In addition, more people will feel committed to travel around the world to help improve the well-being of struggling communities. Given President-Elect Obama's slogan "Change We Can Believe In," Jupiter will provide a boost to his endeavor to work in a truly nonpartisan manner. Aquarius is about going beyond our personal needs to effect change in our communities. The collective will feel "lifted" in a way that it hasn't for a long time, and we will feel inspired to shake things up without feeling that we have to wait for the government to take the lead.
While Jupiter moves through Aquarius, it will be involved in two significant conjunctions -- when it occupies the same part of the zodiac as another planet. On January 26, Jupiter is conjunct the Solar Eclipse in Aquarius. A Solar Eclipse occurs when the New Moon is conjunct one of the Moon's Nodes. It is an especially potent time to start new projects, to plant "seeds" that will germinate over the next twelve months. Although the area of life stimulated by this eclipse is specific to your birth chart, Aquarian themes such as groups, friendship, the internet and community will prevail. Jupiter brings these themes to new heights and provides inspiration and generous support to take initiative in these areas of life. Just be careful not to overextend yourself with friends or spend too much time on the internet; Jupiter always thinks more is better.
Later in the year, Jupiter will conjoin Neptune, planet of imagination, mysticism and delusion. Neptune wants us to dissolve our egoic boundaries, to transcend "small self" and become one with higher consciousness. However, moving out of one's usual frame of mind can be accomplished through drugs and alcohol or addictive relationships, not just yoga and meditation. Jupiter exaggerates Neptune's energy, which can lead us to become totally ungrounded in reality, living in an idealistic, New-Age, utopian fantasy world. This conjunction is perfect for concocting visions and dreams of a better life, but is only truly useful if we can manifest them in reality. Key dates for this union of energies are late May, early July, and just before Christmas.
Aquarius happens to be one of those zodiac signs that has two ruling planets in traditional astrology: Saturn and Uranus. These celestial bodies have been at opposite ends of the sky, making a series of stressful 180-degree angles to each other. The Saturn-Uranus opposition started last year and will be in effect through Summer 2010. Saturn -- planet of restrictions, boundaries and manifestation -- is in Virgo until late October. Uranus -- planet of revolution, sudden change and innovation -- is in Pisces all year. The combination of these opposing planets yields a potent mix, in which Uranus attempts to disrupt the Saturnian status quo, breaking down walls and shaking up whatever has become rigid. Uranus-Saturn can be personified as the progressive versus the conservative, the Rebel versus the Suit. Given that Virgo rules health care and the work force, we can expect these areas of life to be significantly disrupted. The insurance industry obviously does not want things to change, and neither do the auto workers -- but if our economy is to improve, we need to be willing to approach issues such as job security and medical benefits from a new angle.
No "year ahead" article would be complete without mention of Mercury Retrograde. This is a 22-day cycle that typically occurs three times a year, when the planet of communication appears to move backwards in the sky. When Mercury goes retrograde, trains are delayed, mail is lost and messages are misinterpreted. Make sure you back up your hard drive, and refrain from purchasing any electronic gadgets during these periods. Your best use of this time is to take a look back an unfinished business, rather than go forward with new projects. Mercury will be cycling back through the zodiac from January 11 to February 1 (from Aquarius to Capricorn); May 6 to May 30 (from Gemini to Taurus); and September 6 to the 29th (from Libra to Virgo). Finally, Mercury will change directions in Capricorn on December 26, and won't move forward again until January of next year.
About the Author
Jeffrey Kishner is editor and publisher of Sasstrology.com, a blog about the astrology of sex, love and celebrities. He has been counseling astrology clients since 2001.
