COSMIC WEATHER
The beginning of something has significance, and what happens in the sky relates to what happens on Earth. The process of individuation comes down to working with the personal planets, moving through the trends of the social planets, bridging over through Chiron, and coming to integration at the transpersonal level. Understanding these dynamic energies, as demonstrated through the ever-changing cosmic weather, allows a greater ability to live connected to purpose and meaning.
The Sun is the Invincible Spirit. So great is this universal wonder that it must come in small doses, distributed as it travels around the Zodiac over the course of a year. The Sun's position symbolizes the active presence of the Divine. The Sun entered the sign of Aries on March 20, 2019, the Vernal Equinox; a strong full moon at the cardinal axis followed a few hours later. There is a sense of clear, sharp action underway all month.
The Moon is the Receiver. As the Sun energizes her, she receives and moves through her angular relationship with him over the course of the month. She delights in shape-shifting. She delights in the repetitive ebb and flow from night to day, from New to Full in predictable sequence. She delights in being able to portray the Sun's invincible spirit through her silver light. We see this dance every month, beginning at the New Moon, timed for the Moon's alignment with the Sun. The next New Moon occurs on April 5, 2019 at 4:50 AM EST at 15 +Aries. This is a time to begin with fresh starts and broad, wide-reaching actions.
HIGHLIGHTS 2019-2023
Three planets hold dignity in 2019: Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune. Uranus has reclaimed its stronghold, moving into Taurus. The planetary nodes of Jupiter, Pluto, and Saturn (10, 20, 23 + Cancer-Capricorn) are being activated by the year's eclipses and by the transits of Saturn and Pluto. These two bodies will join up on Jan. 7, 2020 at 22 degrees Capricorn, with Jupiter not far behind. On a mundane level, the pressure is being applied to the US Pluto position of 27 + Capricorn. Opportunities for change abound as the business of leadership and the socio-political-economic structures whirl into the vortex of evolution. April, 2019 is a key month: Saturn will retrograde on Pluto's nodes (20 + Cancer-Capricorn); Pluto will retrograde on Saturn's nodes (23 + Cancer-Capricorn), and the Lunar Nodes will continue in retrograde motion at 23 + Cancer-Capricorn. These bodies carry strong energy; natal positions will be activated by their transits, and there will be collective emphasis. There is a sense of common suffering and severity shared by many. The aim is to build endurance as the difficult work that must be done comes to fruition.
THE ECLIPSE SEASON 2019
The Moon's nodes have moved into Cancer-Capricorn, hence this is the energy for 4 of the 5 eclipses of 2019 listed below. Eclipse events urge a holistic awareness as the zodiacal energies seep into consciousness. Eclipse energies remain active and sensitive months before or months after, and can be touched off at various times before or after the actual event. There is a seemingly zig-zag pattern to eclipses, suggesting resonances at different levels of consciousness. If you have planetary placements at the degrees, you can expect some reverberations.
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Jan 5, 2019 Partial Solar 15 CP 25 (After: Sep 13-14, 2019)
- Jan 21, 2019 Total Lunar 0 LE 52 (Before: Oct 27-28, 2018) [Supermoon at Perigee]
- Jul 2, 2019 Total Solar 10 CA 38 (After: Oct 28, 2019)
- Jul 16, 2019 Partial Lunar 24 CP 04 (Before: Mar 23-24, 2018)
- Dec 26, 2019 Annular Solar 4 CP 07 (After: Mar 22, 2020)
PLANETARY LOCATIONS
Mercury has 3-4 Retrograde (Rx) cycles every year, each lasting approximately 3 weeks, and each offering a period of reflection, recalibration, revision, and resolution, as Mercury and the Sun exchange the message of a particular degree of the Zodiac. Mercury is now Direct, and will move through to mid Aries by the end of April.
The Venus cycle is complex and mysterious, beginning while Retrograde as an Evening Star, moving through conjunctions with the Sun, and shifting from Evening Star to Morning Star, and back. It allows Venus to recalibrate her relationship to the Sun. When an Evening Star--calm, mature, settled, and knowing her brilliance, as Venus is best seen outside the clutch of the Sun--she begins her new cycle. Venus turned Retrograde October 5, 2018 at 10 Scorpio 50. Here Venus is at her detriment, not particularly social, but diving deep to weigh out the work of Jupiter's journey over the last year. Having had her Interior Conjunction with the Sun on October 26, and her aggressive Heliacal Rising shift from Evening to Morning Star on October 31, she has changed direction on November 16, is now calm and confidently rushing forward into love and life for 9 months. This period of her cycle epitomizes the feminine as the container of gestation. She will closely follow Mercury in the sign of Aries through April.
Mars travels through the sign of Gemini in April. This is a good month for exploring curiosities that lead to expansive knowing.
Jupiter will remain in its own sign of Sagittarius until December. All sights are on the quest for truth and freedom. Jupiter is currently at 24 + degrees, slowing down now to turn Retrograde on April 11, just before reaching the Galactic Center position. Difficult work done during the 2014-2017 Saturn transit through Sagittarius can be expanded through 2019.
Saturn is at home now, in the earthy, grounded sign of Capricorn. Saturn reveals that practicalities are necessary, and structures must be built methodically through time and karma. Saturn is the reality check, and rewards authentic effort. Saturn is at 19+ Capricorn now, approaching the position of Pluto's Nodes (20 + Cancer-Capricorn). Saturn will turn retrograde at the end of April, at 20 + degrees. With Jupiter and Saturn at home, look for some new trends or memes in the travel or construction industries. Saturn will be joining Pluto at 22 + degrees, near Saturn's own nodes (23 + Cancer-Capricorn) on January 7, 2020.
URANUS, NEPTUNE, PLUTO, and the NORTH NODE: Twists and Turns
The outer planets push us towards the transpersonal realm of consciousness. The twists and turns of these bodies facilitate our evolution by disturbing peace of mind. Uranus, the Awakener, is Direct, and has moved into Taurus, where it will remain for the next 7 years. Current position is 1+ Taurus. Nebulous Neptune is Direct at 17 + Pisces, bringing the vicissitudes of the tides forward. The ever-constant flow takes on a regular rhythm to dissolve and reshape, and it can feel like fog. Unequivocal Pluto is slowing down at 23 + Capricorn, to turn retrograde at the end of April. Pluto is positioned at Saturn's nodes and is joined by the transiting North Node of the Moon, continuing its retrograde motion, at 23 + Cancer. These degrees--20-23 Cancer-Capricorn--are actively purifying all that is not truly authentic. The various plays of the outer planets have been driving home the concepts of evolution, integration, and release of entrenched, enmeshed patterns. Rudhyar describes the Nodal line as a fateful space.
