Planetary Transits

December 21, 2004 to February 1, 2005

Yule 2004 to Imbolc 2005

THE BIG PICTURE (for Dec.21.2004 to Feb.1.2005):

Mercury and Venus are playing a game of tag! This brings us 6 weeks of clever negotiation, persuasive negotiation, talking about relationships, and taking inventory of your resources. Just after the New Year, they do-se-do around Pluto, bringing a theme of transformation and deep research of these themes. They also take dance lessons from Jupiter, Neptune, Uranus, Saturn and finally Chiron, as they form aspects with each of these planets. Meanwhile, the spiritually enlightening Jupiter-Neptune Trine continues in the background, although we don’t see another exact pass of it until March.

Saturn has been isolated in Cancer, with the other planets bunched up on the other side of the zodiac, since early November. We’re all feeling the weight of Saturn’s demand for responsibility, accountability, manifestation and discipline during this time. Saturn means hard work in some form, but it can bring substantial rewards. Saturn’s emphasis continues until May 2005—with a few exceptions, when the Moon travels around to the Saturn side of the zodiac (late Dec., peaking Dec.28, and again in late Jan., peaking Jan.24). The Moon’s contact with Saturn grounds our hard work at a personal level and gives us the opportunity to do closure on situations that are coming to an end in our lives. During this time, we are challenged to integrate and finish old lessons and bring manifestation to new goals.

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Dec. 21, 7:41AM EST – Winter Solstice/Yule (Sun in Capricorn, until Jan.19)

Happy Birthday, Capricorn! Just when you think things just can’t get any darker...they start to get lighter! In the Northern Hemisphere, the Winter Solstice (Yule) marks the longest night of the year and the turning point that sees the return of the light. The Sun also enters Capricorn now, and we all experience the side of our nature that is ambitious, serious, hard-working, grounded in reality and seeking structure. While the Sun is in Capricorn, new ideas and opportunities come, but be careful not to bite off more than you can realistically chew—your plans must stand the test of time and external approval, before you can find a balance between individual and collective agendas.

Dec. 25 – Mars in Sagittarius (until Feb. 6/05)

This is a time for inspired and inspiring action! It may be hard to hold back when you are spurred into impulsive action (which could be liberating or reckless) near the end of December. But there’s a wisdom in the resulting commotion that will make more sense in mid- to late-January. Once you stretch yourself to take in the broader implications of your actions, a new kind of empowerment will be possible.

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Dec. 26, 10:06AM EST – FULL MOON in Cancer (Sun in Capricorn)

This Full Moon brings fruition to the energy that was begun at the New Moon of Dec.11., which sought to balance responsibility with the urge to break free of inhibitions. It also focused the need to weed out old judgements and pessimism. The Full Moon can facilitate that balance you’ve been reaching for. Although it’s necessary to respond to the limits of your situation, there will be enlightening and liberating opportunities which allow you to satisfy the needs and hopes of all concerned.

Dec. 27-30 – Mercury/Venus SXT Jupiter/Neptune

This is the last of 3 passes that Mercury makes to Jupiter-Neptune (see Nov.11 and Dec.12), so this time creates a resolution for ideas that were percolating during the other passes. During this pass, Mercury (thought, communication) combines with Venus (relationships, resources). Travelling hand-in-hand, they give you the opportunity to channel the uplifting spiritual energy and broadening horizons of Jupiter-Neptune through your thoughts, perceptions, interactions and negotiations. Aim for spiritual diplomacy, but resist the temptation to slip into well-intentioned white lies or manipulation.

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Dec. 28 – Saturn OPP Chiron (in Cancer/Capricorn)

As already discussed on Aug.15, Saturn and Chiron have been maintaining a long opposition since the mid-80s, indicating a long-term growth process on a Collective level. Now we have another pass of this energy. The challenge now is to incorporate structure, adopt responsibility, and accept necessary endings, but to do it in a way that engages a realistic compassion and empathy for both yourself and others. This influence is especially strong from around Dec.21 to around Jan.3.

Dec. 28 – Mercury CNJ Venus (in Sagittarius)

This is the first of two passes of Mercury conjunct Venus, as Venus overtakes sluggish Mercury, who is still waking up after his Retrograde sleep (going Direct on Dec.20). With Venus being uncharacteristically the faster planet now, your rational thought and communication might take a back seat to your desires, receptivity and diplomacy (until Mercury catches up on Jan.13). This first conjunction is brightly coloured by Jupiter-Neptune (Dec.27-30). It is time to take advantage of creative opportunities and breathe new meaning into your relationships, self-image, communication and worldview. Just be careful you don’t try to be so diplomatic and easy-going that you neglect to say what you mean and mean what you say.

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Dec. 31 – Mars SQR Uranus (in Sagittarius/Pisces)

That impulsive, inspired action (see Dec.25) arrives NOW! You might feel the urge to break free of old ruts and petty details that threaten to strangle you with political correctness. You might want to adopt some radical New Year’s resolutions, or maybe just ring in the New Year as an ultra-wild party animal. This is not necessarily a bad thing, but try to resist recklessness for the sake of rebellion. And please don’t drink and drive.

Jan. 1 – HAPPY NEW YEAR! Welcome to 2005!

Jan. 3-4 – Mercury/Venus CNJ Pluto (in Sagittarius)

This is the final pass of Mercury conjunct Pluto (see Nov.20 and Dec.07). This time Mercury and Venus are the Dynamic Duo joining forces with empowering Pluto in visionary Sagittarius. The pinnacle of this power-packed combo is higher purpose, Higher Power and highest truth. This may be inspired by the need to face your limitations and then “do it anyway.” Whatever your vision compels you to aim for, just be careful not to use a hammer when a fly swatter will do.

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Jan. 7 – Mercury leaves the retrograde “Shadow”

Mercury finally leaves the area of the zodiac where it went retrograde. This means that issues and themes that came to the foreground under the Mercury Retrograde cycle (in November and December) have now finished playing out the changes that were happening under Mercury’s influence.

Jan. 9 – Venus in Capricorn (until Feb. 2)

Friendly, abundant Venus travels through serious, structured Capricorn, bringing out her grounded, material side. Commitment to plans for material or relationship goals is possible during this time, but first you may have to confront the tendency to be a bit greedy or over-confident. Conservative, constructive measures probably work best.

Jan. 9 – Mercury in Capricorn (until Jan. 30)

Cheerful, adaptable Mercury travels through conventional, structured Capricorn, bringing out his analytical, focused side. This is a good time to plan your projects and map out a game plan to reach your goals. It is probably best to choose discipline over distraction.

Jan. 10, 7:02AM EST – NEW MOON in Capricorn

In the coming 4-week Lunar cycle, your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to become aware of the blocks in your path that inhibit you, and eventually to shift them out of your way...or to shift yourself around them. The ultimate aim is to achieve a more workable balance between changing what is within your realm of control and accepting what is not. Help from spiritual sources is available, but you might not recognise it cloaked in practicality and mundane reality.

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Jan. 13 – Mercury CNJ Venus, SXT Uranus (in Capricorn/Pisces)

This is the last of two passes of Mercury conjunct Venus (see Dec.28). Mercury has resumed his faster pace and now overtakes Venus, once again bringing together diplomatic communication, receptive ideas and mental balance. Being in Capricorn this time, these things are more easily manifested in concrete action. At the same time, they form a Sextile aspect to Uranus which brings opportunities to reach for and facilitate insight and new visions. By creatively combining methodical ideas, mutual cooperation, and a vision for the greater good of all around you, you can achieve unexpected (even uncharacteristic) movement in areas that have been stuck.

Jan. 13 – Sun OPP Saturn (in Capricorn/Cancer)

Now is a time when you can really identify some of the blocks that you started looking for at the New Moon (Jan.10). As you do this, it might be hard to distinguish between power and change that come from massive force in motion, versus power and transformation that comes from stable mass that can withstand change. Think about it. You’ll probably find that the latter is what you’re dealing with and probably what is most useful to you right now.

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Jan. 15-21 – Mars SXT Jupiter/Neptune (in Sagittarius, Libra/Aquarius)

Mars inspires action that is coloured by Jupiter and Neptune, giving you a chance to take some of those ideas, insights, visions and inspiration of the last two months and put them into action. You might be a bit distractible during this time, but try to stay focused on your destination and keep one foot on the ground while high stepping to your goals.

Jan. 16 – Sun CNJ Chiron (in Capricorn)

This is a continuation of themes from around Jan.13 (Sun OPP Saturn), when you were able to identify and work with some of the blocks in your path. At this time, those blocks may seem a bit more stubborn than you thought, and you may find there are aspects of your situation(s) that must simply be accepted and worked around, rather than changed or moved out of the way. Look to the Full Moon (Jan.25) for resolution.

Jan. 19 – Sun in Aquarius (until Feb. 18)

Happy Birthday, Aquarius! While the Sun travels through Aquarius, we all have a chance to explore our rebellious, individualistic, futuristic Aquarian nature. Your idealism might take a strange turn initially, during this time, but this can expand the possibilities you envision. Those possibilities will ironically start to seem a bit closer to your grasp.

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Jan. 22-24 – Mercury/Venus SQR Jupiter (in Capricorn/Libra)

Mercury (ideas, plans) and Venus (desires, possessions) are still hiking together up the Capricorn mountain. They encounter a roadblock, which (on your own path) might take the form of your idealistic reach exceeding your realistic grasp. Use this as an opportunity to problem-solve how to bridge the gap between limiting, necessary realities and soul renewing possibilities.

Jan. 25, 5:32AM EST – FULL MOON in Leo (Sun in Aquarius)

This is the point of full emergence of the energy that began at the New Moon (Jan.10). What began then as hardship, struggle, limits, and a seemingly no-win situation, has by now shifted to a need to accept the uniqueness, individuality and separateness of yourself and others. You may feel the urge to strike out in defiance or anger in order to deal with this. Subsequently, there is the ironic danger of sabotaging your aims while trying to stay true to them. Be aware that your automatic reactions are likely to pack a heavier punch than you intend, and listen to your instincts without necessarily acting on them right away.

Jan. 25-27 – Mercury/Venus OPP Saturn (in Capricorn/Cancer)

Mercury (ideas, communication) and Venus (interactions, resources) are now reaching the top of the mountain they’ve been climbing. Surefooted and a steady pace is how you will get to the top of your mountain now, but there is a trick—to empower your words, strategies, negotiations and interactions, you must do so without resorting to aggressive force. This takes a subtle, pragmatic touch that takes a long term perspective into account, instead of just reacting to the current moment. It may help to think back to the blessings of Jan.22-24.

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Jan. 28 – Mars CNJ Pluto (in Sagittarius)

From mid-January until early February, Mars (force, drive, action) and Pluto (secrets, transformation, the Dark Side) have been marching together in conjunction, reaching a peak now. At its worst, this energy can be cruel, violent and relentlessly obsessive, aiming to impose power and control over others. At its best, it can spark a creative force for transformative change that arises from deep, underlying truth and unconditional acceptance of ourselves, warts and all. How you experience this will largely depend on how you assert your wants and desires—focused only on external results or focused on empowerment from within. Strive to act from your highest truth.

Jan.28–Feb.1 – Mercury/Venus CNJ Chiron (in Capricorn)

Mercury (perception, awareness) and Venus (negotiation, commerce) take their final steps in their adventure together. This time Chiron, the Wounded Healer, gives Mercury and Venus a final spin before they part company as they both enter Aquarius, when Mercury sprints ahead. The lessons they have brought you now come to a final conclusion by encouraging you to negotiate, compromise, and perhaps lower your expectations a little, in order to achieve your goals. You are challenged to do this in a way that balances mundane considerations with spiritual striving. And remember to keep those Mars-Pluto empowerment issues visible but in check (above).

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Jan. 30 – Mercury in Aquarius (until Feb.16)

Mercury in Aquarius brings objectivity, detached mental focus, and communication that strives for unprecedented breadth and height—even to the point of adopting an “ivory tower” mentality. You may find yourself overcome by idealism or a vision of perfection that inspires you. Get clear about your true intentions and stay focused on a vision of inclusiveness, tolerance and future growth.

Feb. 1 – Jupiter stations Retrograde (in Libra)

For up to a week before and after this date, you may feel expanded by ideals that inspire you, visions that require more work, judgements that require rethinking, and relationships and strategies that need to be reassessed. In the next 5 months you will have the chance to reconsider and reassess these areas. Right now is a turning point that will take you back into issues that have been developing for the last 3 months.

Feb.1 – HAPPY IMBOLC!

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© 2004 Wendy Guy

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