AstroForecast January 2004

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, perseverance, discipline, responsibility, pragmatism, accountability and sobriety. “The difference between perseverance and obstinacy is that one often comes from a strong will, and the other from a strong won’t” Henry Ward Beecher. Negative expressions of the zodiac Goat are fear, 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.

New Year’s Day an inharmonious aspect between Mars and Saturn kicks off the year with tension, conflict or stress involving individual will against the restraints of social responsibilities. This celestial collision also symbolizes certain individuals whose more conservative and rigid behaviors mistrust the unbridled spontaneity and lack of cautious headlong approaches to new, unknown developments from other individuals. Insurgency, civil uprising, riots, clashes with authority and the law, as well as rebellion are negative expressions of this aspect. “Laws are silent in time of war” Cicero.

Saturday the 3rd at 5:57pm is the retrograde station of the largest planet of the solar system, Jupiter, and will remain in retrograde motion until its direct station in May 2004. Any planet in retrograde motion is that planet’s review, reevaluation and reanalysis of the particular themes/issues associated with that planet and the sign it is transiting at that time. Jupiter, the planet that symbolizes ethics, principles, aspirations, future vision, morality, international diplomacy, wisdom, beneficence, as well as justice is currently traveling in the sign Virgo. Virgo is the sign associated with health, workers, accounting, budgets, military service, fastidiousness, meticulous details, as well as sanitary conditions. In the chart set for Washington, DC, the capital city of the USA, Jupiter is placed in the 2nd house of sources of income. The United States will have to come to grips with financial excesses that require sober analysis especially with such high running deficits. The 2nd house in astrology is naturally ruled by the sign Taurus and rather interesting that the United States is now undergoing heavy scrutiny about Mad Cow’s disease. The Astro*Carto*Graphy Map for the United States targets the following sensitive geographic areas: direct hits with Little Rock Arkansas, Duluth Minnesota, Juneau Alaska and Portland Maine. Indirect hits involve the following areas: the entire West Coast, Spokane Washington, Pendleton Oregon, Boise Idaho, Salt Lake City Utah, Albuquerque and Santa Fe New Mexico, as well as Boston Massachusetts. Worldwide the following sensitive geographic areas have direct hits: Monterrey Mexico, Brasilia Brazil, Birmingham England, Toulouse and Paris France, Gabarone Botswana, Baku Azerbaijan, Bombay India, Tokyo Japan, and Perth Australia. Indirect hits across the globe are the following: Chihuahua and Mexico City Mexico, Montevideo Uruguay, Rio de Janeiro Brazil, Montreal, Quebec City and Vancouver Canada, Madrid and Barcelona Spain, Addis Ababa Ethiopia, Mecca Saudi Arabia, Baghdad Iraq, Karachi Pakistan, Kabul Afghanistan, Tashkent Uzbekistan, New Delhi India, Mandalay and Rangoon Myanmar, Lanzhou China, as well as Sydney, Marble Bar and Brisbane Australia. Keywords for this Jupiter retrograde station are sometimes the small, discounted details of life become larger than life and consume our total attention. Properly applied, will power and mental focus fuse together to create astonishing results. The value of self-perfection is a lofty goal and efforts applied will be quite rewarding.

This same Saturday is the Apogee Moon (farthest distance of the Moon to Earth) that symbolizes the ability to cultivate objective and impartial emotions/feelings. This ability to cultivate objective and impartial emotions/feelings will be helpful to those individuals that have experienced roller-coaster emotions, nervous and restless havoc, as well as temperamental explosiveness. Many times, no matter how chaotic and disruptive life can be at times, there is a unique gift that offers innovation and solutions to problems.

Sunday the 4th is the annual Perihelion of Earth (Earth’s closest approach to its own Sun) that symbolizes a “seeding” period for Earth as “stellar” consciousness is downloaded to the masses. Solar flare activities will be important to observe if any occur. Strong identification of one’s own self-protection especially involving family, home, real estate, self-defense through communications, homeland security, as well as domestic repairs will be strong.

Monday the 5th witnesses many celestial aspects. A harmonious contact between Mars and Neptune symbolizes strong activation of community ideals especially those that involve charity, compassion, rescue and mercy as well as universal peace. “Let us train our minds to wish for what the situation demands” Seneca. A harmonious aspect between Jupiter and Chiron is excellent for educational pursuits, expansion and growth through all healing processes as well as uncanny timing involving opportunities ripe for development. Venus has an inharmonious aspect with Jupiter that requires adjustments that are necessary to restore balance especially concerning matters of health, work and budgets. Venus also makes an inharmonious aspect to the Lunar Nodes that can symbolize a crisis surrounding fiscal matters, relationship matters, bankruptcies, social outcasts that scare archconservatives, as well as great procrastination and aloofness.

Tuesday the 6th at 7:44am is the direct station of Mercury ending its retrograde motion that began December 17, 2003. 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 November 29, 2003. Here is a quote from the November AstroForecast 2003 that helps to clarify this degree position: “Information from the executive branch of government is important in relations to military campaigns and subsequent losses of life due to grave tactical errors. It is in January that a full congressional investigation may be launched to determine the source of these errors.”

This same Tuesday witnesses a harmonious aspect between Venus and Pluto that is excellent for deepening relationships so a greater sense of sharing, merging and bonding take hold. Financial consolidation of past expenditures works well. Profound values emerge that solidify collective will.

The annual Cancer Full Moon occurs Wednesday the 7th at 9:40am 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 Barbiel is associated with this Cancer lunation. Security involving executives, legislators and military personnel is extremely crucial as violent attempts can be made and successfully completed. The A*C*G Map for this Cancer lunation sensitizes the following geographic areas in the US: direct hits with Pendleton Oregon, Spokane Washington, Winnemucca and Las Vegas Nevada, San Antonio and Dallas-Fort Worth Texas, Daytona Beach Florida, Washington DC, as well as Richmond Virginia. Indirect hits are the following: Seattle Washington, San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego California, Boise Idaho, Helena and Butte Montana, Salt Lake City Utah, Pierre South Dakota, Pueblo Colorado, Albuquerque, Santa Fe and Taos New Mexico, Tulsa Oklahoma, Kansas City, Des Moines Iowa, Nome Alaska as well as Miami and Fort Lauderdale Florida. Worldwide the following areas are sensitized: direct hits with Vancouver and Winnipeg Canada, San Francisco and Santa Fe Argentina, Montevideo Uruguay, Inverness Scotland, Valladolid Spain, Kiev Ukraine, Palermo Italy, Cape Town South Africa, Dar es Salaam Tanzania, Nairobi Kenya, Ulan Bator Mongolia, Seoul South Korea, Taipei Taiwan, Mandalay and Rangoon Myanmar, Manila the Philippines, Ujung Pandang Indonesia, as well as the entire island republic of Madagascar. Keywords associated with this Cancer lunation are a web of destiny is soon to emerge. Periods of remembrance and forgetfulness intertwine as a dance of incongruities. Deep personal emotions well up and cast out the non-nurturing, uncaring and heartless dysfunctions of humanity. An interesting closing note about this Cancer Full Moon is that the planet Saturn will make an exact alignment with this degree of this lunation on July 7, 2004 so these two dates may have correspondence with one another.

Friday the 9th is a harmonious aspect between the Sun and Jupiter that symbolizes strong identification with optimism, growth, well being, expansion, magnanimity, and great creativity as well as recreational fun with children. Gung-ho attitudes prevail. An international diplomat receives acclaim for healthy resolutions to sticky problems. “Welcome tomorrow with good humor” Robert Browning.

Saturday the 10th is the conjunction of the Sun with Chiron that symbolizes strong identification with the healing of wounds dealing with lack of confidence, loss of healthy creative expressions, remorse with romance, unhealthy risk-taking, as well as negative self-absorption. Any individual has the capacity to bridge gaps especially in regards to career matters, social status as well as being successful in life. This is the “seeding” period of the Sun with Chiron and the final results will more than likely show up when these two heavenly bodies oppose one another on July 15, 2004.

Tuesday the 13th is the ecliptic shift of the Moon that symbolizes changes with meteorological, seismic and volcanic activities. Emotional shifts that can arise will be associated with sudden mood swings that introduce confusion, vagary, uncertainty and chaotic nervousness. False hopes and false expectations arise because a rose-tinted glasses approach with life denies nitty gritty reality.

Wednesday the 14th several planetary ingresses occur. Mercury re-enters the sign of Capricorn on this day at 5:02am symbolizing this planet’s orientation to mental discipline that can be acquired readily and late-night ponderings that have practical outcomes. Reticent communications develop and sometimes the less said works favorably under this Mercury transit. Learn to bide your time while being very observant to other individual’s behaviors. Uncanny timing is Capricorn’s forte. “I wasted time and now time wastes me” William Shakespeare.

Later in the morning at 11:16pm is the entrance of Venus into the sign of Pisces. This is the sign of Venus’ exaltation that symbolizes the highest vibration or highest frequency of this planet. Over the next 28-day period Venus will focus on the realms of compassion, understanding, emotional sensitivity, charity, forgiveness and absolute love. The arts experience new inspirational visions along with new forms and directions. In relationships tendencies to give support to what is ideal can manifest but caution must be considered with any rose-tinted glasses outlook as well over-idealization of a partner. This Piscean transit of Venus is summed up by an anonymous quote: “It is very possible that God is much more interested in our inside grace than in our outside space”.

Thursday the 15th several harmonious celestial aspects occur. The first harmonious aspect involves Mercury with Uranus that can symbolize rapid, dexterous thinking with strong capacity to apply innovation, inventiveness and keen foresight. The next aspect involves the conjunction of Venus with Uranus that symbolizes refreshing as well as stimulating interactions whether social, personal or professional. The last aspect is between Mercury and Venus that represents harmonious communications and social deftness. “To love is to admire with the heart; to admire is to love with the mind” Gautier.

Friday the 16th is an inharmonious aspect between Mars and Jupiter that symbolizes adjustments that require healthy self-criticism especially when overly aggressive behaviors have tipped the balance. Foreign military campaigns are also due adjustments especially with fierce crackdowns. International controversies overwhelm logic and reason with heated debates and accusations.

Sunday the 18th is an inharmonious aspect between Mars and Chiron that symbolizes aggressive wounding actions that bring conflict, stress or tension especially dealing with issues of personal inadequacies, personal belittling and violation. Caution is necessary especially for the likelihood of personal injury due to anger that can result in bone injuries, blows to the head, teeth damage, lacerations, burns and problems with blood. Different viewpoints that become excitable and contesting ignite outrage and physical force.

Monday the 19th is the Perigee Moon (closest approach of the Moon to Earth) that symbolizes strong intense emotions that can come easily to the conscious surface. Great concern surrounds older females that are hermit-like, widows, childless or isolated from family members. Their security and their provisions are important to consider.

Tuesday the 20th at 11:42am is the annual ingress of the majestic Sun into the sign of freedom loving Aquarius for the following 30-day journey. The Water-Bearer Aquarius symbolizes community, brotherhood/sisterhood, liberation, 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.

This same day is a harmonious aspect involving Mars and Pluto that symbolizes intense drives, deep thorough investigations, strong personal persistence, healthy sexuality, as well as active personal commitment to creating deep trust and loyalty. Military research and development may reveal new discoveries that aid the art of war. International financial markets may experience sustainable growth and spiked activities.

The annual Aquarius New Moon occurs Wednesday the 21st at 3:05pm symbolizing the new beginnings/new initiatives phase of the Moon over the next two weeks. The following areas are positive themes to cultivate with this lunation: priorities, teamwork, groups and associations, memberships, innovations, novel approaches that can be applied, brainstorming, networking, creating new alliances and allegiances that can be tapped for future developments as well as community work. Angel Abrinael is associated with this lunation so if you need angelic assistance invoke this one by name. Legal matters and their outcome as well as subsequent strategies and tactics will garner attention. The A*C*G Map for this Aquarius lunation sensitizes the following geographic areas: direct hits with Houston Texas, Norfolk Virginia, Concord New Hampshire, Boston Massachusetts, as well as Lexington Kentucky. Indirect hits include the following US geographic areas: Eugene Oregon, Spokane Washington, Rapid City and Pierre South Dakota, Dallas Texas, Oklahoma City Oklahoma, Wichita Kansas, Bismarck North Dakota, Atlanta Georgia, Virginia Beach and Richmond Virginia, Washington DC, as well as Erie and Pittsburgh Pennsylvania. Worldwide the following geographic areas are sensitized: direct hits with Edmonton Canada, Georgetown Guyana, Rio de Janeiro Brazil, Vienna Austria, Athens Greece, Cairo Egypt, Pretoria and Johannesburg South Africa, Harare Zimbabwe, Pakse Laos, Ujung Pandang Indonesia, as well as Albany and Darwin Australia. Keywords associated with this Aquarius New Moon are the subconscious outcast side of the individual is keenly watching the oblivious conscious personality. There is interplay between shadow and light, twilight and dawn. The more the conscious self surrounds itself with the safe known, the more the subconscious self introduces the unknown and the element of surprise that stimulate innovation and the unique originality that is the essence of the soul. Icarus plunges from the sky to immerse the brilliance of self-identity with the quintessence of the immortal soul.

This same Wednesday several other celestial happenings take place. A harmonious aspect between Venus and Saturn symbolizes ideal solidification of friendships, partnerships, finances and values. The third and final opposition of Mercury with Saturn that can symbolize the definition and clarification of ideas, plans, communications, negotiations and contracts that need serious and practical solutions as well as successful results occurs on this Wednesday. Behaviors that would hamper these applications would be pessimism, nitpicking, anal-retentive micro-processing and excessive worry or fret. Inadequate facts and lack of thorough details can undermine as well. “Sooner or later, false thinking brings wrong conduct” Julian Huxley. Finally Uranus makes a conjunction on this day to the same degree of the Pisces New Moon of February 20, 2004 so these two dates may correspond to one another.

Thursday the 22nd is the Pre-Shadow Point of Chiron that refers to the degree position it holds on this January day, as this is also the same degree position Chiron will hold when it is station direct on September 26, 2004. These two dates may correspond to one another. Legislative gaps may be bridged at this time with great scrutiny and focus. Keywords associated with this degree position are karmic intransigencies abound. An almost trance-like tragedy/comedy plays out with brooding souls that long for lost causes, lost times, as well as being lost in the past. A misery loves company syndrome can emerge.

Sunday the 25th is the Post-Shadow Point of Mercury that refers to the degree position it holds on this January day, as this is also the same degree position Mercury held when it was station retrograde last December 17, 2003. This concludes the entire Shadow Period of Mercury that began last November 29, 2003 and Mercury will now enter fresh new degrees in the sign of Capricorn. Here is a brief quote from the December AstroForecast 2003: “Interestingly enough the degree position of this Mercury retrograde is the same degree position of the Capricorn New Moon from January 2, 2003. Here is a brief quote from the January AstroForecast 2003 about this earlier lunation: “True understanding of Capricorn energy is best embodied by a quote from Charles H. Spurgeon: “By perseverance the snail reached the ark”. 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. 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.”

Monday the 26th is the Pre-Shadow Point of Neptune that refers to the degree position of Neptune’s station direct on October 24, 2004 on this January day. On an individual level the dissolution of personal delusions and illusions of grandeur lifts the personal fog and allows the individual to hold self-mercy as well as self-forgiveness. Executives experience ambiguity and paradox. “One learns to keep silent and make one’s own confusions” C. Otis Skinner.

This same Monday is the ecliptic shift of the Moon that symbolizes changes with meteorological, seismic and volcanic activities. Emotional shifts that occur would stimulate grimness, pessimism, depression, miserliness, frigidity as well as somberness. Impulses for spontaneity are immediately stifled due to rigidity and narrow-mindedness.

Wednesday the 28th is an adjustment aspect between the Sun and Saturn that emphasizes the elderly, fathers in general, executives, management as well as civil service. Traditional problem solving techniques are due for revisions. Detours occur with social causes. “Being a philosopher, I have a problem for every solution” Robert Zend.

Thursday the 29th a couple of contacts happen with the planet Jupiter. First is the annual opposition of Venus with Jupiter. These two planets were last conjunct one another last August 28, 2003, so this January date is the definition and clarification period. A potential for contamination involving pharmaceutical supplies, oil spills, noxious gases released into the environment, as well as food supplies are strong. Rare outbreaks of disease or contagion can become pandemic. Mercury makes the second contact in a harmonious aspect with Jupiter. This is an excellent aspect for expansive mental stimulation involving higher educational pursuits, publishing, international discourse and negotiations, as well as optimistic planning. “We are citizens of the world; and the tragedy of our times is that we do not know this” Woodrow Wilson.

Saturday the 31st is a harmonious aspect between Mercury and Venus that symbolizes agreeable communications that foster maturity in relationships. Financial discipline can be exercised with efforts rewarding patience. Businesses that emphasize healthy conservation of resources and that value impeccable customer service rise to the cream of the crop. “We earn our living with what we do; but we make a life with what we give” Chinese quote.

This same Saturday is the second rare Apogee Moon (farthest distance of the Moon to Earth) that symbolizes the ability to cultivate objective and impartial emotions/feelings. There is a strong sense of taking action and making decisions that bridge social gaps, social miscommunications and social gaffes. The ability to see two sides to any story increases rapport and affinity. “We must take people as they are; there are no others” Konrad Adenauer.

“The stars are setting and the Caravan starts for the Dawn of Nothing.
Oh make haste!
Omar Khayyam