AstroForecast January 2001

by Lance Rodriguez

Happy New Year to everyone as we start out the official new millennium. The Sun is transiting the sign of Capricorn that symbolizes patience, discipline, responsibility, pragmatism, accountability and sobriety. Negative expressions of the zodiac Goat are pessimism, limitations, melancholy, despondency and the "Oh, I've been dropped in a deep, dark tunnel and can't see the light at the end of the tunnel for I fear the light is a freight train coming at me!" The angel associated with the month of January is Gabriel and angel Gabriel's sacred day is Monday, which happens to be the first day of the New Year!

The first day of January witnesses an inharmonious aspect between Mars and Neptune possibly involving upset and frustration with self-martyrdom. Clashing of ideals can also be played out with this aspect. Aggressive victimization could also develop.

The second day of January is the ecliptic change of the Moon that symbolizes shifts in emotions and the potential for meteorological, seismological or volcanic activities to occur.

Chiron, the Wounded/Healer in astrology, reaches its Pre-Shadow point degree on Wednesday the 3rd that links it to the degree point it will hold when it will be stationary direct on August 26, 2001. Chiron is currently in the sign of Sagittarius orienting itself to explore and discover all wounds with the ability to heal and bridge gaps in regards to philosophies, religion, aspirations, the judicial branches of government, export/import, higher education, and transportation. Whatever is happening on this date may have relevance to the August date already mentioned above. Keywords associated with this Pre-Shadow Point are: human migrations occur to stimulate accessing new frontiers in a pioneering direction. Nurture the body's wisdom to harmonize being in touch and in tune with the reawakening of cellular resonance.

Our planet Earth is at perihelion (closest approach to the Sun) on the 4th at 2:53am indicating our identified desires that wish to be grounded. The Moon on this day is in the sign of Taurus symbolizing concerns with financial matters and personal values. Solar flare activities as well as coronal mass ejections can have a profound effect on our planet on this day.

The potential for financial losses or windfalls in the financial markets can occur on Friday the 5th due to an inharmonious Venus/Jupiter aspect. Fathers and daughters are at a definition point in their relationship to one another as well for this day. Corporate and executive strategies are also being clarified this Friday as Saturn is being activated. An excellent Saturn/Mercury aspect happens Saturday the 6th at 9:46pm that can strengthen New Year's resolutions that require daily mental discipline. This harmonious aspect involving these two planets is also very good for committing mental plans to paper with realization and success to follow. The midnight oil can be burned with this so make the most of it!

Asteroid Vesta enters the sign of Pisces on Monday the 8th at 4:10pm remaining in this sign until mid-March. This asteroid symbolizes focus, concentration, dedication, self-perpetuation, self-reliance and self-preservation. Large institutions of confinement such as hospitals, asylums, prisons as well as drug rehabilitation centers will become the center of attention just to name a few. On a personal level this Vestal journey through Pisces symbolizes accessing our innermost dreams and inspirations. Some individuals may isolate themselves from close loved ones and can even become unsociable. Respect and hold this sacred space for them, as they will emerge with a better definition of their inner self.

The annual Cancer Full Moon happens on Tuesday the 9th at 2:24pm symbolizing the release phase of the Moon. This Full Moon also happens to be the first Lunar Eclipse of the new millennium and the year 2001. The potency of this lunation is heightened due to a Perigee Moon (closest approach of the Moon to Earth) that occurs the following day at 2:57am. The following individuals born approximately around these dates, in order, July 11, January 9, April 8 and October 12 are highly sensitized to this Lunar Eclipse. Cancer is a watery emotional sign highly attuned to security, home and family. The above-mentioned birth dates can work positively on releasing all negativity associated with issues concerning insecurity, discord in the home or with family. Other Cancerian negative issues to be released would be clinginess, smothering behaviors, neediness, being haunted from one's own past and hyper-sensitivity to being slighted. Angel Barbiel is associated with this lunation so seek this angel's guidance and protection. The Arabian Peninsula and Iran are strongly pulled into this Lunar Eclipse. Watch developments occurring from this side of the world. Cancer is a sign associated with strong nationalistic tendencies and trends. The following are keywords associated with this lunation: link arms to create and foster cooperative relationships. On a deeper level there is a strange mix and flow of the duality of the consciousness and unconsciousness of humanity. All new options are ready to be implemented to fuse what apparently seems fragmented.

Fleet-footed Mercury enters egalitarian Aquarius on Wednesday the 10th at 7:26am and will remain in this sign for a longer than usual 14-day journey due to retrogradation that will occur in the month of February. Some modern astrologers consider Mercury in Aquarius as its exaltation position that signifies a planet vibrating to its highest frequency and utilizing its best expressions. Advances in science, technology and engineering are suitable during this Mercury passage. Aquarius is a sign of intuition through the realms of knowledge so any bursts of insight and future visions that one can experience eventually can become a reality. Teenagers can also become more rebellious than usual and will definitely test boundaries that apparently challenge their innate sense of freedom and independence. Aquarius symbolizes emotional detachment, whether positive or negative, therefore dialogue that fosters impartiality and objectivity is the key to successful communications.

Thursday the 11th and Saturday the 13th Mercury has harmonious contacts with Jupiter and Neptune. Thursday's aspect with Jupiter can foster global treaties and diplomacies that implement peaceful accords. Saturday's aspect with Neptune stimulates imagination and idealism. Artistic inclinations are also stimulated. Daydreams may provide answers in a "Eureka!" kind of way.

Everyone has a third chance of committing to New Year's resolutions with a wonderful Saturn/Sun aspect on the 14th. Identify with the more persevering, patient and disciplined approach Saturn teaches one. Fathers in particular can set healthy examples for children to pay attention. Fathers can help guide as well as provide experience for children to learn about how to handle oneself in the outer world.

The third week of January witnesses a lot of activity involving Venus, the planet of relationships, finances and personal values. A strong desire for commitments in any and all relationships starts with the alignment of Venus and asteroid Juno on Monday the 15th. This same day the Moon goes south of the ecliptic indicating emotional shifts as well as the potential for meteorological, seismological or volcanic activities to occur. Negatively Juno can harbor jealousy, betrayal and humiliation so if these areas need to be addressed and healed work with forgiveness and understanding. Sexual issues in relationships can arise especially Wednesday the 17th as Venus makes an inharmonious aspect to Pluto and then a harmonious aspect to Mars. Impotency and/or frigidity can take center attention in sexually challenged relationships.

Neptune reaches its Pre-Shadow Point degree on the 18th alluding to the position it will hold when stationary direct next October 17, 2001. Whatever is happening on this date may have relevance to the October date. Keywords associated with this Pre-Shadow Point are: there is a real opportunity for human society to embrace true mediation due to the divine indwelling of universal love. A new kind of awareness frequency opens up to allow spontaneous revelation. The floodgates open for something different to happen.

The majestic Sun enters humanitarian Aquarius on the 19th at 6:16pm for its annual 30-day journey. Aquarius symbolizes community, brotherhood/sisterhood, freedom, uniqueness, detachment, teamwork, politics, alliances, innovation and originality. Negative expressions of Aquarius are rebelliousness, chaos, disruption, accident proneness, aloofness, being distant, cold, cynical and callous. The angel of Aquarius is Gambiel.

This same day is the Pre-Shadow Point degree position of Mercury that links it to the degree point it will hold when it will be stationary direct on February 25, 2001. Again, whatever is happening on this date may have relevance to the February date. Keywords associated with this Pre-Shadow Point are: this is a symbol of personal stability through organizational powers and how to be genuinely successful by remaining undisturbed by any wild vicissitudes. There is also the potential to discern clearly and brilliantly the difference between truth and falsehood.

Inauguration Day, January 20, 2001, witnesses asteroid Pallas Athena, the astrological strategist and tactician, entering the sign of Sagittarius for an almost one-year journey due to retrograde motion later in the year. Sagittarius rules the global village concept and international diplomacy. The new administration needs to be very confident in handling all global conflicts without having to resort to the negative Sagittarian reaction of "I'm going to clobber you over the head with what I think is best for you!" syndrome. June 21, 2001 maybe a date importantly linked to this Inauguration Day. The astrological chart set for Washington, D.C. for this presidential inauguration has Mars setting on the western horizon that can symbolize war, warring factions or coups occurring with U.S. partners. The U.S. can become involved in the internecine battles of allies. The Moon is in Sagittarius on this day so international affairs are strongly highlighted. The national mood is for optimism combined with a desire to expand and create opportunity. Later in the evening the Sun is in a harmonious aspect to Jupiter, the planet that rules Sagittarius, indicating mirthfulness with all the Inauguration festivities set for the evening.

January 24th has many significant celestial occurrences. This is the Chinese New Year of the Snake that was last seen 12 years ago and only repeats once every 12 years. This day is also the annual New Moon in Aquarius at 7:07am symbolizing the bring/attract phase of the Moon. Innovation, invention, experimentation, humanitarianism, friendliness, volunteerism, community work and originality can be fostered with this lunation. Angel Abrinael is associated with this lunation and according to Arabic zodiacal meaning this angel is linked to the Star of Fortune. Keywords associated with this lunation are: the individual mobilizes social values as a self-refinement ensues. The ability to discover breakthroughs and epiphanies is by orienting to the emerging Divine Feminine within Earth expression. The collective synchronizes to the next evolutionary spiral that has deep roots to a long forgotten past and yet exuberantly embraces its future symbiosis. The Moon is also Apogee (farthest approach to the Earth) on this day symbolizing the ability to access impartiality and objectivity.

Saturn is stationary direct on this day at 6:24pm halting its retrograde motion since beginning last mid-September 2000. The ringed-planet holds the degree position it held last June 8, 2000 and here is an excerpt from the June 2000 AstroForecast: "The sign Saturn is occupying at this time is Taurus; so many issues/themes will concern financial affairs, fiscal stability, banks, and value systems. World currencies can be strongly affected at this time as well; many vexing and limiting problems occur for some international economies. The following world regions and countries are sensitive to this degree point of Saturn: the African nations of Malawi, Burundi, Equatorial Guinea, Rwanda, the Congo, Uganda, Swaziland and Zimbabwe; the Latin American nations of Cuba, Bolivia, Paraguay, Venezuela and Nicaragua; the European nations of Romania, Monaco, the Czech Republic and Slovakia; the Middle Eastern nations of Israel and Lebanon; the Eurasian nations of Turkey and Uzbekistan; and finally the Australasian island nation of Papua New Guinea". Keywords associated with this station of Saturn are: cultivate a high devotion to the practical welfare of all people collectively. Allow an indwelling realization that all is beautiful, impeccable and superlative.

Thursday the 25th at 2:38am is the direct station of Jupiter after its retrogradation since late last September. The planet of progress and advancement holds the degree position it held last July 5, 2000 and here is an excerpt from the July 2000 AstroForecast: "The first degree of Gemini is involved with this degree point as Jupiter recently last June entered this communicative, air sign. Jupiter symbolizes expansion and growth, so all areas involving communications, learning/teaching, negotiations, the media, electronics and the internet, all ruled naturally by Gemini, will have Jupiter visiting for one whole year". Keywords associated with this Jupiter station are: demonstrate appreciation for what the Earth provides and help Mother Nature to renew itself. Truly, variety is the spice of life.

The last remaining days of January will be important to observe the financial markets as aspects on the 25th and the last weekend can indicate wildly gyrating markets. Venus going north of the ecliptic on the 30th at 6:19am can also indicate changes in the markets as well. Relationships also experience shifts with a sense of confusion, uncertainty or tentativeness in place.

An inharmonious aspect between Mars and Uranus can witness transportation disasters, conflagrations, and explosions coupled with the Moon changing ecliptic on Monday the 29th can really ignite meteorological, seismological or volcanic activities to occur. Rebellions and revolutions can also occur with these two stirring the pot. Espionage, technological secrets and political intrigues are also playing a part. Clandestine affairs are divulged in a startling manner. Kinky and bizarre behaviors are played out sadistically/masochistically. Power struggles come to the fore.

January is named after the Roman god Janus who was depicted as two faces backed up against the other so one could see the past and the other to see the future. Janus can play an important role in the dawn of this new millennium by wisely seeing the lessons of the past so that they may be implemented for the future. There are two New Year's celebrations held this month: the traditional one Western countries revel in and the other that the Orient has been celebrating for millennia. May both, like the god Janus, prepare you for the greatest health, peace and prosperity that can be seen backwards or forwards. Blessings!