January 2009

We are in the midst of a spiritual revolution. We are now only 3 years away from 2012, the date when humanity is scheduled for a collective shift in consciousness. 2012 is not the end of the world, just the end of how we have been experiencing it. We are in the process of making a dimensional shift, from the limited perception of duality, to a collective awareness of our inherent divinity and interconnectedness. This evolutionary transition has been prophesied as the Mayan End Times, the Hopi Fifth World, the Turning of the Ages, Timewave Zero, the Ascension, and the Great Awakening.

One of the hallmarks of this shift is symbolized by Pluto in Capricorn. Pluto moving from Sagittarius to Capricorn through the ONE year of 2008 causes a major shift to occur in your home environment. Jupiter expands your career and business options, which you have had to maintain the ethics of your philosophy and adhere to your strong foundation. You have had the type of trial-by-fire experiences that continue to push you to look at the philosophy and the foundation of all of your beliefs. You will have the opportunity to move through open doors that shift you into a different career, as the transitions of 2008 take you through the twists and turns of a maze. You will ultimately begin to use your strength of ethics and motives to expand the creative opportunities in your career. You will pursue your goals, plans and opportunities. These options begin to emerge all through 2008 as many unexpected doors begin to open and provide you with the type of creative options that you would not have seen coming into your life. As Pluto moves into Capricorn, powerful options begin to take you into new career directions as a wave takes you into a new shore. You will see that you are free to use your creativity, and ideas can now be expressed in the new career environment that has opened up.

As the archetype of death and rebirth, Pluto represents the evolutionary imperative; its transits coincide with the eradication of whatever has outlived its purpose. In Capricorn, the earth sign that deals with collective resources and structures, Pluto focuses its transformative energy on governments, corporations, organizations, and institutions of all kinds. Borders, laws, and property and resource rights will be redefined. Traditions and societal norms will change as patriarchal dominance is challenged, and issues of wealth distribution, the environment, recycling, civil rights, marital rights, and aging will be reassessed and reformed. With an orbit of 248 years, Pluto has not been in Capricorn since November 1762 – December 1778, the period that saw the Boston Tea Party and the American Revolution, the confiscation of church lands in Russia and the murder of Czar Ivan IV, the abolition of the Inquisition in France, the first circumnavigation of the Earth, and the beginning of a worldwide industrial revolution fostered by burgeoning free trade, civil liberties, and technological developments. Pluto entered Capricorn on January 25, 2008, briefly retrograded into Sagittarius last summer, and as of November 26, 2008, remains the 10th sign until 2024.

Pluto reveals the shadow of whatever sign it transits; the dark side of Capricorn is the victim/tyrant archetype, which are two sides of the same coin. Pluto’s passage through Capricorn will challenge our social ideas and legal standards around blame and liability, power and responsibility. There’s no free lunch with Pluto in Capricorn, and zero tolerance for victim consciousness. Pluto reminds us that we always have a choice and that, when we abdicate our responsibility, we give away our power.

The full moon which peaks on January 10 at 7:27 PM PST at 21º Cancer-Capricorn is the first of five SuperMoons in 2009--where gravitational and electromagnetic forces are intensified by the Moon being both at perigee (its closest approach to the Earth) and syzygy (in direct alignment with the Sun and Earth). Wind and weather, tides and tectonic plates, are more strongly affected; psychic undertows and emotional turbulence increase as well. A full moon shines the most light into the dark, revealing where we are and where we need to go. This full moon draws our awareness toward physical realities--limits we must respect, resources we must steward, and consequences we must acknowledge. Capricorn (like its ruling planet, Saturn) is associated with the Law of Karma, the principle of cause and effect. Karma is not punishment, but simply the natural result of our actions. What we sow, we reap. If we plant raspberries, we do not expect redwoods. If we pollute the air and water, we suffer illness and deprivation. When we cultivate respect and appreciation, we experience peace and abundance. Saturn says: "You always have choices, and you will experience the consequences of those choices." This full moon illuminates what we have chosen in the past and the options we are facing now. What are our bodies, our emotions, and our environment showing us? Where do we need to take charge? What needs to change?

The close involvement of Saturn and Uranus with this full moon supports our ability to “Think Different,” both personally and collectively. Saturn at 22° Virgo tightly trines the Sun and sextiles the Moon; Uranus at 20° Pisces closely trines the Moon and sextiles the Sun. This forms an energy configuration known as a mystic rectangle, interpreted by Dane Rudhyar as “practical mysticism.” Oppositions (180°) increase awareness, trines (120°) promote creativity, and sextiles (60°) spark insight. Two oppositions, two trines, and two sextiles greatly facilitate our ability to see alternatives and implement positive changes. Brainstorming and bright ideas are further stimulated by Mercury’s station retrograde, which occurs at 8° Aquarius just a few hours after the peak of the Full Moon. Retrograde until January 31, the mythic Messenger of the Gods directs us to reassess, revamp, and realign our lives with what serves the greater good.

Jupiter enters Aquarius on January 5, where it remains until January 17, 2010, precipitating far-reaching social and technological developments. Jupiter, the largest planet in our solar system, represents the principle of expansion and the facilitation of new perspectives and possibilities. Aquarius is the sign of equality and diversity, innovation and reform, collaboration and community. Jupiter was last in Aquarius from January 21, 1997 to February 4, 1998; that period saw the world’s first cloned animal (Dolly, the sheep), Ted Turner’s donation of 1 billion dollars to the United Nations, and the beginning of construction of the largest hydroelectric dam in the world on the Yangtze river in China. The previous passage of Jupiter in Aquarius (February 6, 1985 to February 20, 1986 coincided with a new era in the USSR due to Gorbachev’s rise to power, the invention of the transputer (a microchip capable of parallel processing), and Live Aid, a multi-venue rock music concert organized to raise funds for famine relief in Ethiopia, viewed by an estimated 1.5 billion people via satellite linkups. Jupiter joins Neptune and Chiron already in Aquarius (since 1998 and 2005, respectively), adding to those ongoing tailwinds for major advances in science and humanitarian efforts.

The other major astrological event for January is the Solar Eclipse which forms on January 25 at 11:55 PM PST at 6º30’ Aquarius. A solar eclipse is an especially powerful New Moon, where the Sun, Moon, and Earth align more precisely, funneling their electromagnetic energies into laser-like precision. In those few moments when the Moon blocks the light of the Sun, the energetic grids supporting creation are opened, rewritten, and rebooted. Old programs are erased; new archetypes become available and higher dimensions more accessible. On January 25, 1990, there was a solar eclipse at 6°35^ Aquarius. What was happening for you then? What is calling you now?

Aquarius, the eleventh stage in an archetypal cycle of twelve, represents the development of group consciousness, where we evolve beyond identification with ego, family, religion, race, and country to being a member of the human race. The Water Bearer pours for the good of all. No one gets left out or left behind. No one person has the answer, but each person has a vital piece of it. Not only are the Sun and Moon in Aquarius, but also Jupiter, the North Node, Chiron, and Neptune, symbolizing an even more significant ending and beginning. Jupiter, freshly in Aquarius for the first time in twelve years (see January 10 Full Moon), is a major influence in this eclipse, as it closely conjoins the Sun and Moon, amplifying our hopes and dreams for a better future. Later this year, Jupiter forms three conjunctions with Chiron (May 23, July 22, and December 7) and three with Neptune (May 27, July 10, and December 21), continuing to advance the Aquarian ideals of freedom, equality, and unity in diversity.

We are alive at a pivotal time on Earth. It's an exciting time and a challenging one, as we learn how to honor both our own individuality and our interconnectedness. Use the power of these alignments to remember your unique gifts and mission. Reach out and connect with those who share your dreams for the world. And remember: “Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go.” (T. S. Eliot) .

If you'd like to get a jump on what will be happening in your own life in 2009, please Contact Tonya Now