Low-Down Archives January 2007

January 2007

For the New Moon Cycle in Sagittarius:
Dec.20.2006 to Jan.18.2007

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Dec.20, 9:01 AM EST – NEW MOON in SAGITTARIUS (28:33) ("What's a New Moon?"  Read more about the Sun-Moon cycles.)

The New Moon in Sagittarius brings a powerful rebirth to our quest for knowledge, truth and justice! At its best, it can uplift us to new heights of spiritual awareness, inspiration and understanding. At its worst, it can evoke over-reaction, arrogance or blame in an effort to defend against feeling that who we are is not enough.

We currently have six – count 'em, SIX! – planets in Sagittarius. (This is a huge stellium configuration.) Even for sprawling Sag, that's a lot! Included in this throng is Jupiter, the ruling planet of Sagittarius. This emphasizes the Sagittarian energy even more. (Oh ya, like it NEEDS more emphasis! ;-) Jupiter will remain in its own sign until December 2007, and during this time there will be a very strong Sagittarian presence in the skies and in our lives. So in many ways, this New Moon's influence will be felt throughout 2007.

Jupiter and Sagittarius bring lots of promise, opportunity, hope and vision, but without a balance with other more grounding planets, they don't usually provide a lot of substance. That means that we may not see the manifestation of the gifts that seem to be promised.

Ah, but such spectacular visions! You may be swept away by an experience of being connected to something greater than yourself, which surely can sustain you forever! Or you might be inspired to pick up a cause and fight for justice that will right all the wrongs. Or perhaps you are seeing new ways to manoeuvre through situations involving force, aggression and power, while staying true to higher principles that surely will protect you from any harm. You may get flashes of insight or inspiration. You might feel the promise of new hope and believe that change is now possible.

There are so many planets in encouraging Sagittarius at this New Moon that although we are able to see a vast panorama of possibilities and potential, it will still take time and hard work to turn it into something enduring and concrete. And we may have to pick and choose which visions to actively pursue and which ones to let go, since there probably isn't enough time to do everything our imaginations see.

Thankfully, we have two factors in the New Moon chart that can provide a grounding balance: Saturn and Venus. Saturn is a "handle" of the New Moon chart, meaning that it's off on its own with everyone else on the other side of the Zodiac. This gives Saturn a very important voice in the chorus of the chart. Saturn urges us to counterbalance all that Sagittarius vision with some good old fashioned reality checking and hard work. Being in Leo, Saturn also cautions us not to become over-confident or presumptuous.

It is important to keep at least one foot on the ground. It's a little like holding helium balloons – if you hold enough of them, you're likely to float up into the air! It feels great for a while, but sooner or later you have to come back down to earth. And if your bubbles burst, there is a risk of crashing to the ground.

Saturn reminds us that the manifestation of any vision takes time, hard work and lots of planning. So start now by considering how you might be able to turn your wild imaginings into concrete knowledge and growth. With the tendency for Sagittarian confidence and inspiration to sometimes go over the top into hubris, arrogance and self-righteousness, a little Saturn is a very good thing!

Venus is currently in Saturn's sign, Capricorn, which also gives us a grounding force to counterbalance the Sagittarian energy. She reminds us that whatever we promise to other people, we must follow through or be held accountable for the consequences. This is not quite as dire as it sounds. Venus is simply encouraging us to remember that while we want to share our enthusiasm and optimism with others, we can't make empty promises just so we and others will feel good. And if we are ready and able to back up our contracts and agreements with solid collateral, then everyone can win.

The Sun-Moon conjunction (which is what a New Moon is) is also conjunct Pluto. This echoes the recent stellium in Scorpio (since Pluto is the modern planetary ruler of Scorpio). After digging down below the surface in Scorpio to face our "shadow," we now emerge into the light and hope of Sagittarius. The New Moon conjunct Pluto is like an Exit sign glowing in the darkness that brings us to rebirth and renewal.

We have the chance to take some of the fears, distrust, anger, obsession and power hungry motives that lurk in our "shadow," and bring them into the light of new understanding. These qualities of human nature take on new meaning (and generally don't look as scary) when they're viewed in a larger context that allows us to understand them from a new perspective. In Sagittarius we emerge from the raw experience of our more volatile emotions and drives into a better understanding that brings new hope, confidence and faith. Sag also gives us a sense of moral principles that can guide us in dealing with those volatile emotions and drives.

With a new perspective comes fresh potential, renewed hope, expanded possibilities and exciting opportunities. In this New Moon cycle, allow yourself to see the new potential in your life, but also keep one Saturnian foot on the ground!

Whether you are celebrating Hanukkah, Yule, the Solstice, Christmas, Kwanzaa or other special occasions at this time of year, I want to wish all my readers the happiest of holidays and the very best for 2007! 

Dec.21 – Mars square Uranus (11:14 of Sagittarius/Pisces)

Erratic action and unpredictable impulses can surface under this transit. Active energy is more available now, but it can be very hard to control its direction, speed, intensity or predictability. Under this volatile atmosphere, unconscious or suppressed emotions (like anger, frustration, fear or desire) can jump out when you least expect them. Being accident prone is not uncommon. This can be great if you're trying to release inhibitions, find courage to sprint forward or break out of an old habit. Unfortunately, there's no guarantee that your actions won't turn out to be destructive, counter-productive or too much of a good thing. You might be tempted to take greater risks than is wise, but this risk-taking impulse can also break you out of a rut too. It's important to use your best judgment when faced with this kind of potent yet volatile energy. 

Dec.21 – Sun enters Capricorn (until Jan.20)

Happy Solar Return to all Capricorns! And Happy Solstice and Happy Yule to all of us! When the Sun enters Capricorn each year, it marks the Winter Solstice in the northern hemisphere (longest night) and the Summer Solstice in the southern hemisphere (longest day). Yule is the traditional celebration of the December solstice in European-derived cultures, welcoming the start of the increasing light. While the Sun is in Capricorn, we have the opportunity to explore our connection to the earth (Capricorn being an Earth sign) in a physical way. Whether you are bundling up to survive a cold winter, or unwinding after the summer heat, or getting down to business as the landscape blooms in "downunder" summer splendour, there is something very manifest and substantial about the experience of Capricorn. This energy calls on us to get real in whatever we are doing -- to bring structure, responsibility and discipline to whatever we do. It is a time to work on our "containment." Not in the sense of suppression, but in terms of defining the boundaries within which our growth can flourish down the road, and keeping our impulses from inconveniently spilling over the edges of those boundaries. Sometimes that means cutting back in certain areas in order to focus your energy and make room for new growth. Sometimes it means having to delay gratification and reward until you reach a certain point of progress. The Capricorn rule of thumb is: if you do whatever is necessary, the rewards will come. 

Dec.24 – Mercury trine Saturn (24:46 of Sagittarius/Leo)

It can be easier to take a logical, practical approach to problem-solving and pursuit of your goals now. Your mental outlook is likely to be calm and grounded. This is a good time to make plans and work out the logistics of how you're going to get from "here" to "there" in pursuing your goals. You may find it's time to bring closure to finished goals by distilling and systemizing what you've learned in the process of pursuing those past goals. Or, you might find you are able to draw on past achievements to assist and support your current goals and plans. It is a good transit to bring structure to your thoughts and communication. You may find it's a little easier to accept authority -- yours or someone else's -- and that you are able to speak authoritatively about things about which you have knowledge or experience. 

Dec.25 – Mercury conjunct Pluto (26:48 of Sagittarius)

Deep insights and passionate communication are possible under this transit ...although, so is speaking more forcefully than you intend to about things that require a bit of delicacy or discretion. This can be a new beginning in understanding the deeper motives and dynamics of what is happening in your life, although this could happen with great intensity or obsession. The light can finally start to go on in the darker corners that have eluded you. Although what you see there might be both illuminating and disturbing, it is ultimately something you can grow from, which can transform your mental outlook into something more meaningful and resilient. This is a time when you can start to shed and leave behind old worn out perceptions or ineffective forms of communication. You also have an increased ability to take thoughts, ideas and information and transform them into something healing ...or wounding. Choose your words carefully and mindfully. Writing down your thoughts and ideas to capture the energy of this transit can help you gather the deeper qualities. 

Dec.27 – Mercury enters Capricorn (until Jan.15)

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. Communication, ideas and awareness may become serious, structured, grounded and manifest now. Just don’t let them become suppressed or censored. This is a great time to do some serious planning and organizing for future projects and goals. It is also a good time for analyzing and evaluating what you have been involved with during the past year or so. What have you learned? What information has come to you that has led you into new directions? What goals have you achieved, and what goals do you want to pursue now? What plan of action is required to get you from here to there? It may be a time when you can face some hard reality and tough decisions better than you normally do. Because Mercury in Capricorn tends to be serious and factual, it may also be a time when you are more prone to depression or discouragement. It will help to schedule regular breaks in your routine to get away and plug your head into a different perspective for a while. 

Dec.28 – Jupiter sextile Chiron (07:33 of Sagittarius/Aquarius)

There is an opportunity for healing in this transit. This could be a kind of spiritual healing in which you gain understanding that gives the hardship in your life a new and elevated meaning. Or it might be an opportunity to improve your physical healing by increasing your knowledge about good health. There is a chance of glamorizing or idealizing hardship as a way of justifying or enduring it (the noble sufferer). This transit encourages you to take a creative, innovative and transcendent approach to the difficulty in your life, but be careful about over-idealizing it or you may find it hard to let go of it later. 

Dec.31 – Mars sextile Neptune (18:06 of Sagittarius/Aquarius)

There is potential for inspired action now. You could achieve a softening or soothing of the blunt force of anger, frustration, confrontation and conflict, without this resulting in powerlessness or passivity. It may be easier to move forward with your plans and intentions based on the power of faith or ideals. It's important to not get lost in those ideals to the point where you lose sight of what's realistic, but this is a time when you may be more inclined to take a leap of faith and say "Oh what the heck!" Your emotional impact on others (or their impact on you) could be greater than is intended or expected, so use this expanded energy wisely. 

Jan.01 – Happy New Year!

Jan.02 – Sun sextile Uranus (11:35 of Capricorn/Pisces)

You are more open than usual to spontaneity, surprises and "flying by the seat of your pants!" Your sense of humour and fun are more finely tuned during this transit, as is your ability to break out of old outworn habits. It's a great time to try new things and experiment with something that's out of character for you. In fact, it may be surprising how easy it is to break out of your usual routine...so much so that it's good to be careful not to be too reckless under this transit. Just have fun pushing the envelope! You may also find you want things to be spontaneous and new and out-of-the-ordinary so much that it's hard not to feel restless and dissatisfied with ordinary life right now. But remember that trying to plan spontaneity defeats the purpose of the exercise. And if you are hungering for something new but can't seem to find something satisfying, try digging a little deeper to see what is driving that hunger from inside you. You could find surprising answers. 

Jan.03, 8:58 AM EST – FULL MOON in CANCER (12:48) ("What's a Full Moon?"  Read more about the Sun-Moon cycles.)

How do you surrender to your feelings, intuition, need for nurturing and creative impulse, without sacrificing maturity, humility, strength and self-sufficiency? This is the $64,000 question at this Full Moon in Cancer!

The Full Moon in Cancer brings Cancer experiences, issues and themes into our lives – home, family, belonging, safety, nurturing and support. This is a time when you might be involved with family or other support people in your life, especially communicating with them or being especially aware of family concerns. Your home might become a focus, requiring some kind of renovation, renewal, or some "extra feathering of your nest" to make the space work better. Or you might be thinking hard about how to get your emotional or material needs met during a time of surprises, opportunities and new possibilities.

Sabian Symbol for the
Full Moon in Cancer

Cancer 12:48

One hand slightly flexed with a very prominent thumb.

This Sabian Symbol ("What's a Sabian Symbol?") automatically brings to mind palmistry  ̶  the esoteric art of seeing a person's life by studying the shape and lines of the hands. In palmistry, the thumb represents our will-power. The flexibility of the hand and thumb are also significant of the flexibility in the personality.

Lynda Hill (360 Degrees of Wisdom) sees this symbol in terms of being in control of oneself, and the need for a strong character to balance one's flexibility.

In a similar interpretation, Dane Rudhyar (An Astrological Mandala) adds that "individuality can only express itself through a strong character."

Marc Edmund Jones, co-creator of the Sabian Symbols (The Sabian Symbols in Astrology), talks about the importance of determination and control over our environment.

When we combine these concepts with the dynamics of the Full Moon chart, it gives us another dimension of that struggle between the Moon and Saturn parts of us. Or with someone else's Moon or Saturn side.

Which one will have control over the other? And what kind of control will it be? Coercive and domineering? Or supportive and cooperative?

This Sabian Symbol suggests that we need to exercise our will power to mediate between conflicts of interest, but also be prepared to be flexible and open to the needs of both sides.

 

Learn more about the Sabian Symbols:

The Sabian Symbols in Astrology,
by Marc Edmund Jones

An Astrological Mandala,
by Dane Rudhyar

The Sabian Symbols: The Original Symbols Fully Revealed,
by Blain Bovee

Both the Moon and Saturn play important roles in the Full Moon chart this month. We must grapple with two very different energies in order to work this lunar energy to its fullest advantage. On one hand, the Moon presents us with opportunities or circumstances that require us to be emotionally fluid, intuitively receptive, and to carry an open heart. This can make us more needful of support, protection and close connection with others. We may become more vulnerable or impressionable than usual now, and our feelings may be easily expressed at a louder volume than usual.

Although you may feel the need to turn to others to help anchor you, it is equally important that you not lose your self-sufficiency, maturity and sense of boundaries. This is Saturn's role. While your Inner Child is emerging more vocally and openly than usual, your Adult side needs to provide a safe and clear structure within which the Inner Child can play, vent and grow. The problem is that the Adult can sometimes be too strict, overly demanding and more self-negating than self-affirming. And the Child within us may become uncooperative and upset. (Our Inner Brat throws a temper tantrum.)

The question becomes: how to balance these two parts of ourselves? Basically, the Adult needs to learn to listen and connect on a personal level (as opposed to autocratic or arbitrary) without feeling it is losing authority. And the Child needs to accept reasonable boundaries laid down by the Adult without rebelling or shutting down.

This could become quite the "tug-of-war" between these two parts of your psyche. The Moon's energy is very strong right now, but Saturn and Capricorn energy are even stronger. The Sun, Mercury and Venus are all in Capricorn, giving Saturn lots of backup. The Child in you might feel a bit outnumbered. The question is: Can your Inner Child let your Adult be the adult? And can your Adult let your Inner Child be innocent and open?

The answer lies in letting go of trying to control both and allow yourself to be all that you are. Just don't depart so much from your usual patterns of behaviour that you lose track of what you're trying to do and the healing you want to attain. The key is finding balance between conflicting elements. Having a clear, grounded focus of what you're trying to achieve and where you're aiming to go will help a lot too. 

Jan.03 – Venus enters Aquarius (until Jan.27)

Relationships, material abundance and values take a step back to gain perspective, detachment and room to breathe in freedom. You may find that you want to use your finances and resources to benefit those who are disadvantaged or to support the greater good of society in some way. It can be a good time to experiment or try new things, to network with groups of people, and to take an objective view about intimacy and interaction. Relationships can take on an idealistic edge, seeking a state of equality and rebelling against imbalances that give one person advantage over the other. Having a strong element of friendship in your intimate relationships may become very important during this time, and friendships themselves could take a central place in your life. Detachment without disconnection is the ideal here. You may not be in a position to foresee future possibilities and translate desires into wishes and new hope. 

Jan.04 – Mercury sextile Uranus (11:39 of Capricorn/Pisces)

There is potential for brilliance and excitement under this transit. You may be more spontaneous, upbeat and eccentric than usual. If you are used to a fairly predictable lifestyle, it is a time when you may be inspired to experiment with something out of character. If you are used to being whacky, zany and impulsive, this transit can provide opportunities to express this. You may have an increased ability to "think outside the box" if you stretch your mind a little, and there is the possibility of having an "ah-ha!" experience, when answers and realisations fall into place. There is also the possibility of being mentally restless, so that it's hard to slow down your thoughts or apply yourself seriously to your responsibilities. Your attention span may be a bit short for a couple of days. This energy can be used to consider new ideas that seemed outlandish or impossible before, and see new potential in them. 

Jan.07 – Sun conjunct Mercury (16:33 of Capricorn)

During this transit, your sense of self and purpose can become merged with what you think, perceive and say. On one hand, this can make for an easy flow of ideas and communication from inside your brain to the external world. It can also increase your perceptions and observations of the world, as you file it all away in your internal database. On the other hand, you may find yourself a bit tongue-tied, as it could be hard to separate your sense of self from your perceptions and ideas enough to find the words to adequately express them. In that case, just observe and go with the flow; the words will come later. It can also be a time when it's not easy to be objective, especially about yourself and how you bring yourself to the world around you. It's like your Being automatically expresses and sets into motion the things you think, perceive and want to say. This can help you to feel like your sense of self is shining effortlessly, but if your thoughts and perceptions are in conflict with other parts of you (e.g., emotions, needs, objectivity) then it might become a time when you act a little too quickly with blinders on. Strive for balance and self-honesty before you act. 

Jan.08 – Mars trine Saturn (24:04 of Sagittarius/Leo)

This is a great time for disciplined action that can produce grounded, specific and stable results. If you have a project that needs to push ahead to the next step, you may find this is a good time to do that. If you want to make progress with your ambitions, goals and plans, this can be a good time to make plans or to take action. You are likely to feel "together," capable and strong, giving you a serious, calm and realistic confidence. It's usually easier to control or restrain your more volatile emotions, and present yourself as someone who is stable and on top of things. This transit can bring sustained physical energy that doesn't burn itself out quickly and can pace itself for lasting endurance. Remember that the effects of this transit typically last only about a week or two, so make the most of it! 

Jan.10 – Venus conjunct Chiron (08:32 of Aquarius)

Unresolved problems and old wounds in relationships and finances may be in the foreground now, with potential for a new beginning and healing. However, in order to heal something, it is first necessary to become more aware of what is out of balance, which can make a situation seem to get worse before it gets better. You have the ability to wound those close to you, as well as to bring healing, as you explore what is and isn't working in your relationships. It is also a time when your approach to finances and resources may require that you face some hard realities that may not be easily or quickly resolved, but dealing with any problems will give you the chance to achieve a new balance. This is especially true when it comes to the ways that you see your physical resources as a reflection of your self-worth, and the relationships in your life as a reflection of your lovability. These issues may become aggravated under this transit, but ultimately this is meant to increase your awareness of these issues so that you can start to heal them in new ways. 

Jan.12 – Venus sextile Jupiter (10:30 of Aquarius/Sagittarius)

There is an abundance of creative inspiration, material enjoyment, feel-good pleasure in the air! Your luck and opportunity to attract money, love, resources and self-esteem are high right now. It may be relatively easy to attract the people, possessions and opportunities you want or need, but you'll still have to work to get them. On the other hand, your eyes may be bigger than your stomach (as mother would say) and you might be tempted to charm, flirt or bluff your way through a situation more than usual. There may also be a tendency to self-indulgence. These are not necessarily bad things, but it's probably wise to remember to use this energy to enhance your best judgement, not override it. 

Jan.13 – Mars conjunct Pluto (27:28 of Sagittarius)

This transit is a volatile and powerful combination of energies, with enormous potential for both creative healing and destructive damage. At its best, this transit can spark a creative force for transformative change that rises from a deep, underlying truth and unconditional acceptance of ourselves, warts and all. At its worst, this energy can be cruel, violent or relentlessly obsessive, aiming to impose power and control over others. How you experience this will largely depend on how you deal with your wants and desires. Are you so attached to the outcome that you are focused only on the external effects and results? Or can you also focus on strengthening your empowerment from within, so that desired change begins with yourself? The urge to express sexual, passionate and intimate feelings may also run high now. Have fun with it, but remember to use good judgment too. Your powers of persuasion can be ardent and strong now...but since this transit applies to everyone, so can other people's. This could lead to zealous competition (think "Battle of the Titans") or to a powerful blend of passionate creativity (think "alchemical transformation"). Which will you choose? 

Astrology Readings with Wendy Guy, Astrological Counselor

Using your chart, we'll work together to find clarity, get you grounded and find the best path through your situation.

Find out more here or contact me for more details.

Jan.15 – Mercury enters Aquarius (until Feb.02)

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. This is a good transit for anything requiring a scientific or analytical approach, as well as anything that calls for you to "think outside of the box." This can be a time when you start to see old familiar situations in new ways, giving you a fresh perspective on things. This planetary energy is not likely to be supportive if you need to take a gentle or sensitive approach to personal interaction, however, since you may be more tempted to just say what needs to be said and let the chips fall where they may. Your mental outlook may be focused on upcoming possibilities, and it can be a good time to map out future plans and try on new ideas, since you are likely to be more open-minded to things you had previously dismissed as unrealistic or too "out there." This can be a time when you suffer from "cabin fever" and need to get out of the house more, especially if you've been cooped up for a long time due to bad weather, hard work or just lack of motivation to do something different. Breaking free of old routines can be a good thing -- just remember you have to live with whatever mess you make in the process. 

Jan.16 – Mars enters Capricorn (until Feb.25)

Mars works very well in Capricorn -- in fact, Mars can be quite the little workhorse! Action that pursues your ambitions, goals, projects or objectives can make serious progress under this transit. It may be easier to pace yourself and be disciplined in how you use your energy and effort now. Taking a serious, responsible attitude in your actions is likely to produce positive results, even more-so than usual. On the other hand, if you have difficulty with these qualities, and tend to rebel or fight to preserve your freedom, you might feel more like you're being strapped into a yoke and harness and ordered to plough the fields. However, the amount of serious, authentic work you're willing to put your energy into will likely pay off in kind. It can be a good time to show leadership or to make independent decisions that lead by example. Taking risks will make more sense if you prepare your strategy and map out your plan of action. 

Jan.18 – Venus conjunct Neptune (18:44 of Aquarius)

This can be a time of romance and dreamy desire on one hand, or deceptive manipulation and self-serving negotiation on the other hand. At its best, this transit can inspire enormous creativity and healing faith in love and abundance. We can be extremely open to the loftiest possibilities of our close relationships and our ability to attract what and who we desire. However, it may not be as easy to assess these areas in light of the realities that must be dealt with in order to realise that potential. We may find it easier to have faith in the power of negotiation -- that the Universe will ensure our desired outcome -- but it is also easy to slide into wishful thinking that loses touch with the reality of the situation. If you are considering a major change involving income, investment, spending or resources, it is probably a good idea to do a reality check with a trusted friend or advisor. If you are starting a new relationship or negotiating changes to an existing one, it might be wise to take a long-term view to wait and see if your dreams really will come true or if your hopes are colouring your thinking a bit too much. A reality check with a trusted friend might also help with this. This transit begins a new cycle that brings these issues into our lives to explore and gradually unfolds over the next 12 months (approximately). 

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Next Update:  NEW MOON in CAPRICORN - January 18, 2007. Please check back on Jan.18.

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