an astrological look ahead to 2018 - the year reality bites back, part III of IV

Hello by krmenxa

See Part I HERE
See Part II HERE

Both Mars AND Venus will station retrograde in 2018.

This is kind of unusual and tells us that our relationships and what we want/value and what we will do to get/keep (Mars) what we want/value (Venus)  - will be back under the microscope for much of the year.

This time we will have Mars in Aquarius (9 degrees) backing into Capricorn (through 28 degrees) from late June through the end of August.

If you have planets or points between approx 28 Capricorn through 9 Aquarius or any late degree cardinal energy into early degree fixed energy (approx 28 Aries, Cancer or Libra through approx 9 degrees Taurus, Leo or Scorpio) - you will be working through some story/chapter during this transit regrading the themes of your natal Aquarius/Capricorn houses or Mars themes - initiative, action, passion, anger, violence.

This will also be eclipse season, so anything can happen - expect fireworks, and I don't mean the 4th of July!

Venus at 10 degrees Scorpio will back through 25 degrees Libra from early October through mid November.

If you have planets or points in your natal chart within those degrees or any mid degree fixed energy through late degree cardinal energy (approx 10 degrees Taurus, Leo or Aquarius through approx 25 degrees Aries, Cancer or Capricorn) - you will be working through some story/chapter during this transit regarding the theme of your natal Scorpio and Libra houses and/or Venus themes - love, money, values, self-esteem.

Now, because Jupiter and Neptune are both in water signs in 2018 - they will be trining (brakes off) each other. This will be somewhat in play most of the year and exact in late May and late August (we had the first of these aspects on December 2nd). Water signs ensure whatever is happening we will feel it - our emotions will be fully engaged. Think about what these planets do - Neptune dissolves boundaries and Jupiter expands whatever it touches. What are the themes of your natal Scorpio and Pisces houses? This is where the BRAKES ARE DIS-ENGAGED. Is this great news or a slippery slope? This is excellent energy for deep healing, creativity and compassion - also for an obsession/addiction/illusion/lie to drift quietly out of control ....
 
Another big change brewing in 2018 happens toward the end of the year.

In early November 2018, the North Node (our collective way forward) moves from Leo (heart, ego, self) into Cancer (home, family, security) and the South Node (what we are leaving behind) moves from Aquarius into Capricorn.

Yes, the South Node (been there, done that) will be in Capricorn during a very Capricornian time!

This will push us to release unfavorable Capricorn tendencies, at just the right time (divine timing is magical) - hierarchy, tyranny, caution, pessimism, extreme ambition, conventionality, severity, materialism, isolation

and focus us (if we want to be working with the path of least resistance) on the sign of Cancer.

Think about the symbol for the sign of Cancer - the crab. The crab is a fragile sea creature who must somehow create a life where she is not a seagull's dinner. So what does she do? She grows a shell, a protective barrier between her tasty little body and the seagull's mouth.

This works for a while. But a girl has to eat and when she does she outgrows the shell that has worked so well for her. She needs to release that shell and grow a larger shell (this process of molting is fascinating, if you are interested read about it here) or she will not survive. 

So she can't survive without her shell, but she can't grow (and survive!) with it either. Sound familiar? No? Read some Brene Brown before next November!

A king crab may molt 20 times in its lifetime - that's a whole lot of change of households/barriers!

If we think about that shell - well, it needs to be strong, but not too strong. If her shell was solid as a rock she would never be able to shed the damn thing and as she grew ... well, whatever would happen inside that shell, it would not be pretty I can promise you that.

Her very life depends on her ability to construct the minimal, yet most effective, armor/security. So will ours.

This is kind of what we will be working toward - through the Cancerian issues of : mothering, motherhood, mothers, vulnerability (think about our defenseless crab during molting season), nurturing, self-care, home, family, emotions, safety, security, patriotism, country.

The Capricorn/Cancer polarity is really all about safety and security - our way forward will be through the emotional waters of CANCER. We will talk about this as we move through it.

For now though, our collective path of least resistance, is still all about that fiery Leo lion - being brave, standing tall, following our heart toward our natural limelight.

Speaking of Cancer, let's come back from the future, because we have the Cancer Full Moon on New Year's and we are waxing toward that energy now. Expect a big post on this 'Mama-Bear' Moon!

For today, the Moon is void pretty much all day - not a good day to start anything new if you want 'something to come of it'. Void Moons are not good times to launch things because the Moon needs to be aspecting something else to get results. With the Moon by itself we would just dream our life away.

Before her void the Moon is sextiling Chiron (healing), opposing Jupiter (biting off more than we can chew?) and trining Pluto. The trine to Pluto is her last move marking this day as AMBITIOUS - although I guess most people are in holiday weekend mode and will miss this.

Exalted in Taurus with the brakes off to transformational Pluto in industrious Capricorn makes this good energy for business.

The Moon moves into Gemini for the weekend bringing a sense of 'busy-ness'. Good for errands and communication. There are some stressful aspects with Saturn, Neptune and the Sun - so keep a clear head and your feet on the ground.

On New Year's Eve, the Moon is again void, this time her last aspect is a sextile (opportunity) to revolutionary, 'won't be caged in' Uranus so we will feel best doing our own thing. 

Freak flags will fly, people!

The Moon will move into Cancer in the later evening EST so my guess would be alot of people will be staying in, going home early or hiding out in that shell they are preparing to molt!

xo all

(we will talk about the eclipses - which start in JANUARY! - in the final 2018 post with links to the Uranus transits for our anonymous guinea pigs volunteers)

Astrology Forecast for Creatives | Week of December 25th - Merry Christmas, committing to reality, avoiding addictions/escape, healing through helping, start meditating, making art, the third time is the charm, news about the future

merry christmas from sully

Merry Christmas Week!

On MONDAY, Venus leaves flirty Sagittarius and enters "I do give a damn about my reputation" (apologies to Joan Jett) "serious as a heart-attack" Capricorn (thru January 19th).

Capricorns and Capricorn Ascendants find themselves more attractive - both easier on the eye and able to attract what they want.

Everyone's Capricorn natal houses become more attractive, too.

Venus immediately bumps into Saturn (both at zero degrees Cappy), ruler of Capricorn - so everything gets very sober, very quickly. Maybe we literally run into a serious, practical person or someone well-versed in whatever it is we need to have/learn/know to assimilate all this Capricorn (Saturn is in Capricorn for the next two and a half years, folks).

Someone/something to help us "get a grip" on life/winter.

This is us making a commitment to accepting reality. We get ahead with a realistic approach to what we want.

This could also be a time when partnerships (Venus) are tested (Saturn).

Maybe our insecurities are brought to our attention via other people and outer circumstances. We are re-structuring the way we relate to other people - and so is everyone else - so we may not be as available to each other as we would like. Saturn can make us feel lonely even in a crowded room. People will be attracted to whatever makes them feel most secure. Insecure people/situations will be pushed to the sidelines. And, yes, that sounds cold. It is cold. Winter is cold. Keep this in mind.

With Venus meeting Saturn at zero degrees Capricorn (a cardinal sign that initiates) things started now will either be long-lasting or grind to a halt (Saturn) right out of the gate.

I predict (where's that crystal ball?) an unprecedented number of wedding proposals (love-Venus, commitment-Saturn) this holiday season along with an unprecedented number of "um ... no" refusals. (love-Venus, no-Saturn). Venus in Saturn will be looking for quality and have one eye on your gene pool and the other eye on the top of that mountain (will the person doing the proposing be able to help us get there?) - that ring had better be a real diamond and at least two carats. That could leave a whole lot of people/situations not quite measuring up.

Our comfort-zone (Venus) becomes more confined and structured (Saturn). We are more conservative with our resources - love, money, time. I also predict (where IS that crystal ball?) an unprecedented number of returns after the holiday season, especially for items purchased in November, now that reality is kicking in.

The Moon is Void pretty much all day, so don't begin anything brand new. If you are single and meet a guy at your family Christmas dinner, not sure how this would be possible unless you are looking to date your cousin Bob (?) - but if you do manage this somehow, he will almost certainly be older than you, more serious than you and probably a better dresser.

On TUESDAY, the Moon is in Aries making us more energetic and probably head-strong for the next couple days. We could be 'fired-up' about something. We have the first quarter Moon bringing some tension/crisis point regarding whatever we started at the New Moon (December 17th). This happens every month - whatever is seeded NEEDS something to push against at this point in its life cycle. The Aries Moon trines (brakes off) Mercury (in Sagittarius) in the P.M. - good energy for get-togethers and conversations/communications focused on Sagittarius themes - travel, foreign issues, high education, our beliefs, the media, publicity, legal, religion, politics.

The Sun conjuncts Black Moon Lilith in Capricorn (5 degrees). This could shine a light on abuse of power or the pissed off/will not be controlled woman.

On WEDNESDAY, we could wake up drained and stressed from a Moon square Pluto that we mostly slept through, bringing the energy for possible power struggles/compulsions/manipulations into our morning. Let's pace ourselves today and give people a break. The Moon moves into Taurus in the evening focusing us on material things and comfort - get a massage, take a long bath, cook a healthy meal.

The big news now, and this is in play all week, exact on THURSDAY, is Mars (in Scorpio) trining (brakes off) Neptune (in Pisces). This is wonderful energy for deep compassion and healing. We heal (ourselves and others) by helping and taking action. Excellent energy for making art or initiating a meditation practice. Or taking action with someone who is confined/hospitalized(?). Or even seeing some good movies.

This energy will kind of mellow-out the entire week.

The fly in the ointment - it will be too easy to slip into addictive/escapist actions. We don't want to drink/eat/internet our way through the holidays.

We have the urge to merge now. Let's just make sure we are merging with something healthy. 

On FRIDAY, we have the FINAL (of three due to Mercury's recent retrograde) Mercury (in Sagittarius) trine to the North Node (in Leo).

So, now we have had time to go back over the information/conversation/idea that came to our attention around November 19th. We have the information we need to make a decision/come to a conclusion/move something forward, etc. Progress can be made. Think (Mercury) about the future (North Node). We can hear just what we need to hear. The right words can ease things into place. The right book can fall off the shelf and into our lap. News comes in that sets us on our path.

If we need to ask again or take a third look at something, let's do that. Mercury won't be covering totally new ground for a while longer, but after today we really do know all we need to know about this thing.

By the weekend the Moon is in multi-tasking Gemini - prepare to be BUSY.

xo all

I will finish the look ahead at 2018 this week and, fingers crossed, the Uranus transits! Merry Christmas everyone.

Jupiter Squares the Nodes, Venus into Capricorn Conjunct Saturn | the only thing between us and our heart's desire is ... Santa Claus? getting serious about what we are worth

Santa claus by anpan-man

Merry Christmas Eve everyone!

Today we have Santa Claus (Jupiter) in Scorpio squaring the North Node in Leo and the South Node in Aquarius.

There is a situation that needs to be worked through before we move forward. It could seem bigger than it actually is though. The Node action this year has been moving us toward our heart and the people/situations/things we love/are proud of/need to make center stage (Leo) and away from life's distractions, detachment, outgrown groups, escapist technology and the ways we fade into the background (Aquarius).

With Jupiter in murky Scorpio there could be a deep revelation now or some kind of muddy sticking point we need to get over, around or through.

Tomorrow (Merry Christmas) Venus (love, money, our values, self-esteem, beauty) moves into Capricorn and bumps right into Capricorn's ruling planet Saturn. And Venus is Saturn's daughter.

Nothing screams FAMILY REUNION like this one.

Gatherings, especially between younger and older people (or Libra/Taurus and Cappy-oriented folks), could be a bit more serious or traditional than usual, but maybe also more stable and practical.

We could be feeling safe and secure like we have just been tucked in at night with a hot cup of cocoa and our favorite footed pajamas

or maybe that snuggly feeling is a bit TOO much and that warm, fleece blanket is more like a straight-jacket?

We could be the one standing there like Ralphie in that bunny suit waiting for someone else to give us permission to slip it off.

The best way through any rough spots - just take responsibility (Capricorn) for what you are worth/bring to the table (Venus) - don't forget the green beans if you are supposed to bring the green beans and don't get into the damn bunny suit in the first place.

Money/resource issues could be finalized now. Boundaries will be set. Commitments (love and financial) will be made. I would expect lots of marriage proposals this holiday season!

After the holidays Venus in Capricorn will be about us getting serious with what we really value and who and what we are allowing to consume our precious resources. Some people, especially women, could be feeling the effects of time over the next few weeks.

Habits that corrode our resources (including our self-esteem) will need to be worked through. Capricorn loves work though so we will be up to it! I have warned against over-spending - winter is here - please take this seriously.

The stuff that has been just floating around our perimeter will insist on being MADE REAL. Venus in Capricorn, an earth sign, is excellent for manifesting (through time and work) what we WANT.

Saturn nearby will make this "building something that lasts" energy even more potent. We'll talk about this after the holidays.

First we need to get past Santa Claus today.

And you know he has been really packing in the holiday cookies and could be an even larger roadblock than usual to bypass.

Just remember - and get the kids out of room for this one - his girth is no more reality than the planet Jupiter itself which is made entirely of gases.

Issues could seem bigger than they actually are now. Or maybe we are just expecting too much. Problems and delays may cut into our plans a bit, but maybe the plans were just too BIG to begin with? Things don't have to be all or nothing.

A 'no' now might really be a 'not just yet'.

Our faith can get us through here. In some space in our life less is more now ...

xo and Merry Christmas Eve!

Winter Solstice Conjunct Saturn | longest night of the year, Mercury standing still, tradition, accomplishment, report card time

come see inside my bones by natalia drepina

Happy Solstice everyone!

Doesn't it feel better to call the Winter Solstice the longest night rather than the shortest day?

The shortest day sounds like I am missing out on something. The longest night sounds like I can lie in bed and finish my book and still get a good night's sleep.

This is a good time during the busy holiday season to take stock of where we are, what we've done and where we are going.

This is the time of the season, especially this year with Saturn joining the Cappy party, when melancholy can set in.

We have to remember when looking at the bad stuff that was or the good stuff that never was - to own the fact we have survived it!

We are still here!

In Capricorn, the Sun gets serious. We are heading into the serious time of year - the time our ancestors could starve if they hadn't stocked up properly or catch a cold that would turn into pneumonia.

(Can a cold turn into pneumonia? I am one of those people who think it can, although I guess the cold has just left our lungs in a weakened state. I also think I can catch a cold from getting wet on a cold day, although science, and my local doctor, tells me it doesn't work that way. I know it happens though.)

If they hadn't prepared for winter, they wouldn't survive.

They would celebrate the Winter Solstice and go into hibernation for a few weeks (exhausted from the harvest, escaping the cold and, intuitively, the germs, too, I'm sure), venturing back out sometime mid-Aquarius season for some social interaction and hoping to trade whatever they still had plenty of to restock whatever had grown scarce.

This is true for us today, too. Without structure, responsibility and discipline - mandated by Capricorn's ruling planet Saturn - we'll be in trouble when the cold settles in and the stuff we need to survive is covered with two feet of snow and ice.

Today is the Capricorn ingress (Sun into Capricorn) and sets up the next 3 months. I can't remember a Capricorn ingress with the Sun conjunct Saturn (Capricorn's ruler).

It seems the time between today and the new astrological year (Sun into Aries) is going to be serious. It is also excellent energy to be building something, likely from the ground up, that will last.

Saturn isn't about rushing and neither is Capricorn. We can catch our breath, take stock of where we are and what we have (probably more than we think we do) before starting this new chapter.

Mercury stations direct tomorrow. He has been pretty much standing still all week and is uber powerful - imagine putting your finger through a lit candle flame, you are OK if you keep your finger moving, but if you halt your hand over the flame then you are suddenly not so OK. Ouch.

His stationary energies (the fleet footed messenger, he rules all forms of transportation) often seem to increase transportation accidents and acts of violence using transportation within the collective.

We can help to alleviate some of this by choosing to consciously release a bit of the Mercury stuff we are carrying in our own lives that needs to go.

Maybe the wrong word we said at the wrong time. The conversation we didn't have. The email we didn't send or the one we did and wish we hadn't. The idea that didn't work out. The research we didn't do. The thought that stopped us in our tracks and so we quit or the thought that kept us going when we should have quit. The sibling crap. The lemon or 'beyond our pocketbook' car we bought when we knew better. The times we were less than neighborly.

When we personally let go of shadow Mercury the collective Mercury shadow has less to work with/release during these intense times.

Drive carefully and with a cool head. Take care with machinery.

The Sun meeting up with Saturn is our annual report card time. I still can't believe it is happening at the Winter Solstice!

Once a year these big guys meet up and we get to see clearly what is really happening in our world and in the collective.  

A light (the Sun) is thrown on reality (Saturn).

If things are not going well, if stuff is falling apart, if we are beating our head against the wall - these are all signs we need to change direction. 

If things are going well, if we have achieved something, there will be rewards now for a job well done. 

With Saturn (hard work, commitment, time, responsibility) so close to the Sun (our life force) there will be limits to whatever we are dealing with. 

If our relationships are stifling or non-supportive or money is tight (Venus is going to hit this space on Monday) we will feel it.

The good news, if things are not going well, is changes made now can smoothly and simply move us toward different timelines. We are at ground zero.

A new semester always starts after report cards are given out. We all get a fresh start. We don't get a do-over though. That report card is on its way home to Dad. Doing the same thing we did before will not work.

Doing something new gives the energies at play something to work with!

Our muses grow tired of seeing us bang our heads against the wall, too. They whisper to us to go outside and shovel the snow (stretched muscles create the space for us to stretch ourselves in other ways, too).

I was born during one of these Saturn/Sun conjunctions (I have these planets within 1 degree) so can't really feel this energy clearly because I am always feeling it - it's background noise and probably a bit like carrying a stern father around in my head. And yes, he sounds like Dumbledore and likes to be called "Albie" ... but only by me.

This is a good time to care for the basic structures of our life - the stuff that supports us.

We are living in a time of disintegrating safety nets, but there are things we can do to give ourselves a steadier ground to walk on. It could be as simple as cleaning our house and putting in place sustainable systems to keep it clean. The same could be said about our money/resources.

What astrological house holds 0 degrees Capricorn in our natal chart? This area of life is being brought to our attention now.

Saturnian issues around aging, tradition, heritage, the past, ambition, authority, business, government, sobriety, depression, our physical bones, skin and teeth could be in the spotlight now as Saturn sits with the Sun.

This is the longest night of the year - what are we going to do with all this darkness? Christmas tree lights can help. Christmas tree lights always help.
 
If you have planets or points around 0 degrees of the cardinal signs - Capricorn, Aries, Cancer or Libra - you will feel this Solstice energy strongest.

xo all

(of course in other parts of the world it is the longest day of the year! I wonder how it must feel to lay on a beach today? I would like to find out!)