AstroForecast January 2003

by Lance Rodriguez

The month of January begins with the Sun transiting the sign of Capricorn that symbolizes on a positive level the acquisition of 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 the Capricorn angel is Haniel.

The first day of the New Year witnesses a conjunction of the majestic Sun with Chiron that can symbolize accessing healing modalities that improve physical well-being. Physical discipline especially with exercise regimens can really be applied. New Year’s Day also witnesses an adjustment aspect with Venus and Saturn that can be applied to credit worthiness, debt consolidation and pragmatic analysis within discussions.

Thursday the 2nd at 12:21pm is the station retrograde of Mercury that will last approximately 3 weeks in the sign of Capricorn. Those individuals born the last week of the following signs are quite sensitized to this Mercury retrograde: Capricorn, Cancer, Aries and Libra. The classic Mercury retrograde is a time period to review, reevaluate, reanalyze or repeat documents, contracts, important signatures, learning or teaching materials, and important communications. Sometimes the classic Murphy’s Law is introduced with snags, snafus and snits about schedules, delivery systems, transportation, mechanical breakdowns and computer viruses or dysfunctions. Mercury is very prominent in the Washington DC chart as it sits on the Midheaven so the political bureaucracy and the administration will garner enormous focus. Banking institutions, their stewardship and important fiscal policies can also call attention. A leadership vacuum within the health industry and benefits for the common workers require practical solutions. Keywords for this Mercury station are as scaffolding is necessary to bring finishing touches to the exterior of a building, minor but very important small details are necessary to bring about smooth negotiations and conclusions. Penetrating insights are important to cultivate in any relationship.

The annual New Moon in Capricorn occurs this same Thursday at 2:23pm symbolizing the new beginnings/new initiatives phase of the Moon for the next two weeks. The following are positive expressions of the original Sea-Goat Capricorn: patience, perseverance, industriousness, self-discipline and self-diligence, accountability, responsibility, sobriety, uncanny timing and healthy skeptical reality. Angel Geliel is associated with this lunation. True understanding of Capricorn energy is best embodied by a quote from Charles H. Spurgeon: “By perseverance the snail reached the ark”. A rather curious sideline is that the degree of this Capricorn New Moon is also the same degree that Mercury station retrogrades later this year December 17, 2003. Perhaps these two dates will have some correspondence to one another. The safety and security of heads of state are extremely vital. Governmental responses and reactions to maternal rights, reproductive rights and children’s rights are important as well. The Astro*Carto*Graphy Map of this lunation sensitizes the following geographic areas: the entire West Coast of the United States, Fairbanks and Anchorage Alaska, the mid-continent of Australia especially Alice Springs, Papua New Guinea and the Canadian provinces of Québec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. Keywords associated with this Capricorn lunation are all tangible goals are rooted deeply within spirituality otherwise the crass forcing of these goals exacts a terrible toll. Positive force and energy work well with those who are compassionate and giving.

Earth’s Perihelion (Earth’s closest approach to its own Sun) occurs Friday the 3rd and coupled with an inharmonious aspect of Venus with Uranus on this same day care needs to be taken in regards to unusual, shocking and/or rebellious behaviors involving friends and partners. This Perihelion is a “seeding” period for Earth as “stellar” consciousness is downloaded to the masses. Solar flare activities will be important to observe if any occur.

A harmonious aspect involving Mercury with Venus on Sunday the 5th can perhaps clear the air especially through open and honest discussions with what could’ve been strange behaviors involving friends or partners on the 3rd. Brainstorming ideas, sudden insights and remarkable flashes of intuition are associated with the pairing of futuristic Uranus with the strategist asteroid Pallas Athene on this same Sunday. Important technological breakthroughs can be spearheaded as well.

The first full week of January and the New Year witnesses needs for adjustments and some challenges. Monday the 6th requires some disciplined approaches in regards to excesses, false promises, exaggerations, over-confidence, double standards and hypocrisy. Tuesday the 7th brooding individuals with hurtful emotional issues from the past become entangled with their own impatience and intransigence thus forfeiting meaningful dialogue. Wednesday the 8th the financial markets with a little bit of effort, cool logic and smart observation can see corrections. Thursday the 9th requires some deft backpedaling, spin doctoring or humble admissions from executives and management of corporations, government or the clergy.

The monthly ecliptic shift of the Moon occurs Thursday the 9th that can symbolize changes with meteorological, seismic and volcanic activities. Prayer and deep spiritual introspection is important with this lunar ecliptic shift. Contrition emerges as a topic for debate. Friday the 10th is the Apogee Moon (farthest distance of the Moon to Earth) symbolizing the ability to cultivate objective and impartial emotions/feelings. Individuals that overstep boundaries have to be politely yet assertively told to maintain a respectful distance.

An inharmonious aspect on Saturday the 11th involving Mars with Uranus can be quite tension filled, explosive, high volatility and aggression laden with civil unrest, human rights abuses, atrocities, military threats or just general meltdowns occurring suddenly and swiftly. The potential for earthquakes, freakish weather patterns, tidal waves, electrical storms and electrical outages or even unusual outbreaks of disease and contagion is high. Great concern for nuclear and radioactive materials is sharply focused. This aspect is especially sensitive a week before as well as a week after of this alignment. The A*C*G* Map of this Mars – Uranus contact sensitizes the following geographic areas: Madagascar, the Arabian Peninsula especially Yemen, Qatar, Bahrain, Tehran Iran, Western Pakistan, Western Afghanistan, the entire Korean Peninsula, Eastern Australia, Brasilia, Río de Janeiro, São Paolo, Montevideo Uruguay, Buenos Aires Argentina, the Japanese Island of Hokkaido and the Kuril Islands adjacent to Hokkaido.

Wednesday the 15th is an alignment of Venus with the Moon’s Nodal Axis that can signify a fateful quality and the channeling of themes/issues from the past into all relationships. International diplomacy is also called into question as to how effective can it be when more expeditious forceful approaches are being proposed or acted. “Politics come from man. Mercy, compassion and Justice come from God” Terry Waite. A*C*G Map hotspots for this Venus – Nodal alignment are Lima Perú, Colombia, an intense focus is on Caracas Venezuela, Eastern Europe especially Budapest, Krakow, Warsaw, and Stockholm, all of Central Africa especially Cape Town South Africa, the Asian Indo-China Peninsula especially Mandalay, Bangkok and Saigon, Pontianak Borneo, Indonesia, Western Australia and in the United States Honolulu, as well as Western Alaska especially Nome and Barrow.

Thursday the 16th certain individuals need to be careful of foot-in-mouth disease that will require rapid apologies and adjustments. Premature, hastily drawn conclusions can also wreak havoc. Dogmatic and dictatorial behaviors and attitudes collide with more liberal elements. “A nose that can see is worth two that sniff” Eugene Ionesco.

This same Thursday is the entrance of fiery Mars into Sagittarius at 10:22pm for its approximate 45-day journey. Mars’ Sagittarius transit highlights activating the expansion of discovery, exploration, philosophies, progress, truth, higher law and justice, zealous proselytizing, and long-distance journeys. There will be new frontiers to conquer and Mars is the planet ready and geared for this. All this fiery energy can lead to super-ego issues and the do-as-I-say-not-as-I-act syndrome can be a particular problem of this transit. Mobilize the heart center to honorably eschew truth, honesty and integrity.

A harmonious aspect between Venus and Neptune on Friday the 17th is excellent for romantic encounters, charitable and compassionate acts, artistically inclined endeavors and true spiritual acts of love. Prayers for worldwide peace and goodwill are suitable as well. Films that appeal to the aesthetic side of life are well received.

The annual Cancer Full Moon occurs Saturday the 18th at 4:48am that symbolizes the release/letting go/completion phase of our earthly satellite. Areas to focus on to release are emotional insecurity, moodiness, family disharmony, dependency issues, smothering or suffocating behaviors, excessive complaining, neediness and a sense of rootlessness. Angel Ardefiel is associated with this Cancer lunation. The extremely uncanny surprise of this lunation is the A*C*G* Map exactly mimics all of the geographical hotspots of the Venus – Nodal alignment of Wednesday January 15, 2003! Please refer to the previous paragraph for the cities and areas involved. Keywords associated with this Cancer lunation are an old neglected reality is ready for a fresh overhaul. The awkwardness of old karma sheepishly slides away and renewed vital interests assume a more vibrant life. Archconservative behaviors and attitudes are suddenly brittle and easily chipped away.

This Full Moon Saturday is also the conjunction of Venus with the December 4, 2002 Solar Eclipse chart. Venus symbolically is associated with compromise, mediation and peaceful negotiations. Appreciation, value, appropriate relationships and financial endeavors fall under her astrological rule. A brief quote from the December 2002 AstroForecast will help to define the Solar Eclipse areas Venus wishes to intervene: “International financial affairs, multi-national banking transactions and global financial markets will be emphasized with this eclipse chart. The Astro*Carto*Graphy Map of this eclipse sensitizes the following geographic areas: Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil, Morocco, Lisbon, Madrid, Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Finland, Central Japan especially Osaka, Melanesia and Wellington New Zealand. Keywords associated with this lunation are surrender ingrained prejudices and subjective, pre-mature foregone conclusions. Humility reorients the ego to sacrifice false pride and arrogance.”

Monday the 20th at 5:53am is the ingress of the majestic Sun into the sign of freedom loving Aquarius. The Water-Bearer Aquarius symbolizes community, brotherhood/sisterhood, freedom, uniqueness, healthy emotional detachment, teamwork, politics, humanitarianism, alliances, innovation and originality. Negative expressions of Aquarius are rebelliousness, chaos, accident proneness, emotional aloofness, disruption, being emotionally distant and cold, cynicism as well as callousness. The angel of Aquarius is Gambiel.

A harmonious aspect between Mercury and Chiron on this same Monday as well as Sunday the 26th due to Mercury’s forward motion after its station direct on Wednesday the 22nd is excellent for setting or keeping appointments for alternative therapies such acupuncture, reflexology, Reiki treatments, chiropractic work, etc. Unusual acceleration/deceleration of time can also be experienced. Accessing past memories for pertinent relevance in the present time can be remarkable.

One of the best harmonious aspects of astrology occurs Tuesday the 21st between Venus and Jupiter. The Moon is in Virgo this day so the application of problem solving, orderliness, efficiency and streamlining will be upfront. This Virgo Moon is good for anything health related, workers, and general productivity. This Venus – Jupiter contact is excellent for marriage as well as business partnerships.

Wednesday the 22nd at 7:08pm is the station direct of Mercury ending its approximate 3-week retrograde. The classic Mercury station direct concludes the time period of review, reevaluation, reanalysis of documents, contracts, important signatures, learning or teaching materials, and important communications. The classic Murphy’s Law of snags, snafus and snits about schedules, delivery systems, transportation, mechanical breakdowns and computer viruses or dysfunctions also comes to a close. “The brain is as strong as its weakest think” Eleanor Doan. The degree position of Mercury on this day refers to the Pre-Shadow Point degree Mercury held last December 16, 2002. Here is a quote from the December 2002 AstroForecast that helps to clarify this degree position: “Business financial speculative ventures are prominent with this Pre-Shadow Point. Economic indicators of how well certain companies have held disciplined budgets prove fruitful. Interestingly enough this degree of Mercury on this day is also linked to the Capricorn New Moon of January 2, 2003 and the Mercury retrograde degree of December 17, 2003. All these mentioned dates may have correspondence to one another. Keywords associated with this Capricorn degree position are the shackled mind submits to a higher authority that fosters the intelligent application of appropriate ambitious drives. Negative force gives way to positive self-regenerating power.”

Thursday the 23rd is the ecliptic shift of the Moon that can symbolize changes with meteorological, seismic and volcanic activities. Visionary experiences can be rewarding for some individuals. Ideal partnership behaviors create a greater sense of unity. This same Thursday is the Perigee Moon (closest approach of the Moon to Earth) symbolizing strong intense emotions can come easily to the conscious surface. Benevolence, generosity, tolerance and enthusiastic motivation are also strong within partnerships.

Friday the 24th is the Pre-Shadow Point of Neptune referring to the degree position Neptune will hold when it station directs on October 22, 2003. This date in January and the mentioned one of October can correspond to one another. The forging of political coalitions is done secretly behind closed doors in smoked filled rooms. Welfare either as a social experiment or action for the benefit of economically exhausted workers consumes the national/international psyche. Political largesse is an affront to the sensibility of the common people. Keywords associated with this Pre-Shadow point degree of Neptune are foster a consummate intimacy with spiritual truths that resonate within the deep wells of the soul. Along the way to those deep, dark wells of the soul the individual encounters paradoxical and ironic inclinations to distort, deny and diffuse longings to help others.

Venus and Pluto conjoin one another in the heavens on Saturday the 25th symbolic of a “seeding” period of these two planets’ energies. New far-reaching perspectives of healthy sharing within all relationships that deepen truth, honesty and loyalty are important. The opposition of these two planets occurs June 24, 2003 and profound work begun on this January date can harvest rewards in June.

Venus also makes contact on Sunday the 26th with the Solar Eclipse chart of June 10, 2002. Reconciliation can be important especially focusing on the Solar Eclipse themes/issues with a quote from the June 2002 AstroForecast: “Communications dynamics in partnerships are strongly emphasized whether communications breakdowns or breakthroughs will be witnessed. Pluto, Saturn and the Lunar Nodes are importantly aligned with this lunation so karmic themes/issues that allow the opportunity to bring about transformation are highlighted. Bridges and tunnels grab attention as security risks. The Astro*Carto*Graphy Map of this eclipse highly emphasizes New Delhi, India and Islamabad, Pakistan in Asia. The entire eastern seaboard of the United States is also strongly emphasized as well. In the Americas Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Cuba and the Bahamas and surrounding islands are also significant. Keywords associated with this lunation are multiple resources offer a variety of solutions for those individuals who think outside of the box. Mental webs create diversions for those individuals insistent in playing the old karma games. A new journey awaits those ready to consider a new road leaving behind old trials and tribulations.”

Monday the 27th is the exact alignment of Mars with the Lunar Nodal Axis that can signify a fateful quality and the channeling of themes/issues from the past especially in regards to males in general, military operations, police and firefighters, workers’ strikes and labor unrest, and virulent strains of the flu that weaken muscles. Inflammatory remarks that stir a national/international debate careen out of control. A potential for inflationary tendencies especially surrounding winter heating fuel bursts on the scene.

The opposition of Venus with Saturn occurs January 28, 2003 that seeks realistic assessment, clarification and definition in regards to all financial matters, relationships and values. “An archaeologist is the best husband any woman can have: the older she gets the more he is interested in her” Agatha Christie. These two planets were last conjoined with one another on May 7, 2002 so the May 2002 AstroForecast quote of their alignment then may help to illuminate this January 2003 alignment: “A conjunction involving Venus with Saturn indicates very important developments associated with financial affairs, partnerships and values. As long as discipline, accountability, perseverance and responsibility have been applied in a sustained manner with the above-mentioned areas will a gradual process of stabilization and security begin to take place. Those companies or individuals that lack these Saturnian qualities will be strongly tested and stripped to bare bone essence. The following industries will be strongly affected: telecommunications, cyber electronics, the recording industry, transportation, the Internet, computer chip makers and computer hand held devices. These two planets oppose one another January 28, 2003 and the proof in the pudding will come to the light then. Legal issues can arise as well especially for those ill prepared to make drastic changes.”

The annual conjunction of the Sun with Neptune occurs January 30th symbolizing the “seeding” period of these two planets’ energies with one another. Strong associations with the apparition of the Virgin Mary can be experienced with this celestial alignment. The celestial spiritual mothers of all religions and faiths such as the Quan Yin, the Shekinah, the Sophia, etc., are also associated. Marian phenomena and movements are truly notable worldwide. Children can be the protagonists of these sightings. Eschatological adherents proclaim the Second Coming of Christ. These two planets oppose one another August 4, 2003 so these two dates may correspond to one another.

“Two things fill my mind with ever-increasing wonder and awe:
the starry heavens above me
and the moral law within me.”

Immanuel Kant