Our new year begins with a Mercury retrograde in Capricorn and Mars in Pisces. On Jan. 3, Venus joins Mars in Pisces. All of us will be quite reflective, imaginative and dreamy the first part of the new year. Most of the time. Venus will retrograde (March 4 – April 15) during 2017, as it does every 18 months for 40-43 days. With Venus retrograde, intense love Instagrams are not sent. And no weddings! Instead, assess self-esteem and how to save the world. The stock market shifts wildly during Venus retrograde. With Uranus in Aries, we understand liberty with more clarity, and the importance of freedom. Our world accelerates forward, unfolding the Aquarian Age.
The year of the Fire Monkey ends, and the year of the Fire Rooster begins. We will continue to see activism, new arts awakening and new frontiers forged. “Put a little love in the heart (first)” is Jupiter in Libra’s theme. Before sex happens (Jupiter in Scorpio). Soon everyone will return to the truth of what matters. Justice and equality, too.
And so the Noah’s Ark (humanity) is set to sail into a new year. We sense excitement for what’s to come. Each year an envelope of new experiences opens. We enter into a celestial boat, the Ark. We are transported, like seeds, into a new world, given another chance at purpose and the accomplishment of the Divine Plan on Earth. Each year, a profound wisdom is given to humanity in the present cycle of time. We travel in the ark in pairs, navigating the waters of a new world.
As we enter a new year, the months overseen by the zodiac, it’s good to learn the gifts (purpose, tasks, surprises, nature) of each sign, Aries to Pisces. Then we have understanding of each other.
ARIES: Creates the beginnings of things, has a fiery, quick-thinking mind, does not exhibit patience (especially for slower signs Pisces, Taurus, Scorpio, Capricorn), is filled with enthusiasm (filled with God). Using the “I” word constantly, Aries is developing a sense of self-identity, amidst being decisive, competitive, aggressive, proving themselves as impulsive risk takers. The hierarchy looks on to see if you’re a good risk for them. Can you change the world?
TAURUS: People often call Taurus stubborn, but that’s not the reality. Taurus people must think deeply before responding to questions. Their mind is based upon sensibility and practicality. Give them time to ponder on all aspects of a question before answering. Taurus loves gold and beauty (Venus). Gold is valuable, and like Taurus, a serious, long-lasting investment. Taurus illuminates the minds of humanity—beginning with themselves.
GEMINI: Your eyes are special, different than the other signs except for Aquarius. They gather information in order to disperse that information to others. Gemini’s the messenger (Mercury), quite imaginative, sometimes a gossip, can be charming when it’s important and absent when it’s not. Your purpose, after dispensing information, is to love beyond everyone else’s capacity. Sirius is your guiding star. Become acquainted.
CANCER: Truly a crab, circling whatever interests them, never moving in a straight line. You’re circuitous in order to assess safety and well-being. When safety is assured, you nurture and nourish all beings—people, kingdoms, babies, animals, gardens, the broccoli deva, etc. Shy and evasive publicly, you’re lively and talkative with intimates. And very opinionated! Following moon cycles and ocean’s tides, you’re sensitive, moody, refined. Neptune summons you.
LEO: The world’s your jungle. Proud lions have strong will, great intelligence, a high forehead, often big hair, can be generous, intense, over- confident, and at times a pain to everyone. You’re a leader, must be in charge, very creative, inspiring others and sensitive like Cancer. Your purpose is to awaken, cultivate your gifts, and then offer them to humanity. You are a “fire child.” That fire is God (Agni).
VIRGO: Known as a perfectionist, you’re to bring order and organization into the world. However, before understanding this task, you’re often critical, judgmental, opinionated and silently unappreciative. But this is just a stage. Later, you become trustworthy, exploratory, appreciative. Your purpose is to gestate new realities and realize that “love underlies all the happenings of the times.” Archangel Gabriel is your protector.
LIBRA: Libra likes to play, have fun, be social and cooperate. With their sense of beauty and justice, Libras seek to bring balance to everyone’s life. Libras have many relationships. In each one, they are learning how to be in relationships, how to choose and discriminate how to share and love and extend themselves so they can learn and radiate Right Relations in all interactions. Librans are mediators, servers and are always beautiful.
SCORPIO: The sign of potent and emotional feelings and desires, Scorpios also have strong powerful wills. Serious, deep and extraordinary researchers, they’re always somewhat in a Halloween situation. Always facing death and rebirth, Scorpios ask others to walk with them. As everyone declines the invitation and withdraws, Scorpios never show weakness. They can be harsh and undiplomatic. Often they suffer and we find them deeply and unequivocally admirable.
SAGITTARIUS: The truth sign. Sags are like an arrow of light—straightforward, uncomplicated, undemanding, focused upon what’s ahead, eyes ever on the mountaintop, riding over the plains toward a goal almost unreachable. They’re adventurous, cultural, journeyers, publishers, filled with music, love of food, the need for freedom. Their companion is Jupiter, which suggests joy. But sometimes, for little moments, they can also be sad at the injustices in the world.
CAPRICORN: The sign of self-reliance; like Taurus, but different, Caps never ask for help, for they must prove to themselves they’re responsible, accountable, dependable and trustworthy. Often, no matter how much Caps accomplish, they feel unworthy and undeserving, judging themselves as not having done enough. Caps need help understanding that they are always on the path, having earned a starry place among their serving brothers and sisters. Caps need to know they are the “rising sun.”
AQUARIUS: Honest and sincere, understanding brotherhood and seeking freedom, bringing the future into the present, always different and slightly revolutionary, Aquarians are comforted by knowing everyone in town. They love parties and groups. They’re loyal and sympathetic. These “waters of life” star children, quirky and eccentric, sometimes very determined, learn by being both alone and in groups and consider their work with deep seriousness. Aquarians are the “light that shines on Earth, across the sea.” They are the future.
PISCES: Very sensitive (like Cancer), a delicate fish (actually two), most comfortable in water (ocean, pools, river, lakes, rain), Pisces can suffer tremendously, not understanding life in form and matter. Sometimes the fish find themselves in places and positions not quite right, sometimes with broken feet and bones. This is frightful for them. The Talmud says that “Every blade of grass has its angel bending over it, whispering, ‘Grow, grow.’” Pisces has their angel, bending over them, too. It’s just invisible to everyone else.
