“And now let us believe in a long year that is given to us, new, untouched, full of things that have never been.” — Rainer Maria Rilke
As winter begins, the stars hint at the dawn of a new era for humankind. We are privileged to witness rare and previously unknown astrological events. For the past year Pluto has slowly been making inroads into Aquarius, the sign it last visited during the late 18th century, two hundred and fifty years before its discovery in 1930. Those now living are the first to consciously experience this transit. Pluto is about power, who holds it and how it is used. Aquarius is the sign of friendship, sisterhood and brotherhood, the recognition that we are all in this life together. As it was during the period of the American and French Revolutions, a transfer of power from a small, privileged hierarchy is taking form.
At the start of winter, Neptune resides at the final degree of Pisces. The planet of dreams and mystery has many people reflecting on the past, what has inspired and given joy, as well as what has been irretrievably lost. True to the dual nature of the sign of the fishes, one fish looks backwards and the other forwards. Dreams of a kinder, more harmonious future are also percolating. Before the winter season is over, Neptune will be in Aries, the sign of new beginnings. Saturn, the ultra-realist, will closely follow Neptune, transitioning from Pisces to Aries. What future shall we build, as individuals and collectively? These are questions we all face during the coming months.
Uranus is also poised to make history. The eccentric planet of revolutions, evolutionary experiences, science and technology, has retrograded from early Gemini back into earthy Taurus. Uranus’ seven year stay in Taurus will not end until springtime. For now, we must contend with unstable financial markets, inflationary pressures and other ongoing security issues.
Lofty Jupiter has an important role to play this winter. The solar system’s largest planet is retrograde in Cancer, the nurturing sign of mom, home, family and the USA. Jupiter’s calming presence offers reassurance that all will be well. It also stirs deep loyalties and patriotic feelings.
The Sun In Capricorn (December 21st-January 19th)
The winter solstice is Sunday, December 21st. The Sun arrives in Capricorn during the late morning. This astrological gateway marks the return of the light. From now until summer solstice, the hours of daylight gradually increase. With the gritty Sun flanked by Venus and Mars, the potential for fun and enjoyment is huge. Ambitions, and the capacity for work are also strong. However, the trio is at odds with the Saturn and Neptune pairing in late Pisces. Doubts, negativity, dishonest actors and inclement weather may each present obstacles. Honor your intuitive feelings but do not be disempowered by them. Use detachment when it is needed.
Venus’s square to Neptune requires principled poise on Tuesday, December 23rd. Sensitive souls find their hearts easily go out to less fortunate souls. Giving is fine but do not allow anyone to take advantage of your kindness. By noon Wednesday, the Goddess of Love is more cautious in earthy Capricorn. Lunar harmony with Venus bestows Christmas Eve with warmth and charm. Good vibes carry through into Christmas Day. Spirits remain high on Friday the 26th, and holiday revelries can easily go on past midnight.
Saturday the 27th brings challenging cosmic energies. The waxing first quarter Aries Moon tests Venus, the Sun and Mars. Feelings can be awkward one moment, needy or combative the next. Slow down. Be patient and gentle with others. Sunday’s weekend finale brings easier going.
Monday the 29th features a thoroughly enjoyable early evening, but worries may also be increasing. Mental Mercury is at odds with Saturn. Regrets can stir. Let the past go and resolve to do better the next time. New Year’s Eve is socially lively under the waxing, nearly full Gemini Moon. Whether you are tucked away at home or out enjoying the nightlife, senses are keen.
Happy New Year! Mercury’s otherworldly square with Neptune dominates Thursday the 1st, New Year’s Day. Morning hangovers can hit hard. While some souls pine for times gone by, others dream of better days ahead. Whatever the case, Mercury’s late afternoon entry into pragmatic Capricorn has a sobering effect. Life moves on at full speed. Treat others as family on Friday the 2nd. The waxing Cancer Moon reaches a crescendo early Saturday morning, just before dawn. The full Wolf Moon is conjunct Jupiter. The Sun is joined in Capricorn by Mercury, Venus and Mars. The opposing forces are mighty. Passions are high, opinions and debates are fiercely held. Fortunately, most folks have good intentions. Be respectful, even to those you disagree with. Saturday’s daytime hours are a joyful lark under the Moon/Jupiter conjunction. Good fortune smiles.
Late Monday night on Martin Luther King Day, January 19th, the past bridges the future. Take your dreams seriously. If we tune them in, our better angels are there for guidance.
The Capricorn stellium of Mercury, the Sun, Venus and Mars continues to gather strength throughout the week of January 5th. The concentration of planetary energies fuels ambitions as well as a zest for life. Passions intensify as Venus overtakes Mars on Wednesday the 7th. Friendships and romantic liaisons are captivating. Business opportunities are numerous. By Friday, January 9th expectations can be far greater than what is actually accomplished. The Capricorn Sun, Venus and Mars stand opposite Jupiter. Think big. The chances of notable success are good but be careful, not to go too far out on a limb.
Saturday the 10th’s last quarter Moon in Libra contributes to a highly motivated but potentially stressful morning. Attend to your priorities yet do not expect everyone’s blessing. Gentler, more manageable trends arrive on Monday, January 12th. The 12th through 14th are strong days for business. Expect good news to arrive on Friday, January 16th. Friday night is magical, excellent for love, friendship and enjoying assorted amusements. Venus arrives in Aquarius early Saturday morning, promoting tolerance of individual human traits and foibles. With the Sun in a midday trine to Uranus, expect pleasant surprises.
The Capricorn new Moon of Sunday, January 18th is emphatic. The conjoined Sun and Moon are conjunct Mars and Mercury in late Capricorn, as well as Venus and Pluto in early Aquarius. Favorable angles to Saturn, Neptune and Uranus makes this a remarkably good time to set intentions and begin again. Well-imagined and humanitarian projects are especially favored. These stars encourage trying new things and thinking far beyond normal parameters. If you have the energy, all day Sunday is fabulous for socializing.
The Sun In Aquarius (January 19th-February 18th)
The planets remain hyper busy. Visionary, artistic and healing abilities continue to flourish on Monday, January 19th, Martin Luther King Day here in the US. Appropriately for Dr. King’s message, the Sun enters egalitarian, forward-thinking Aquarius Monday evening. The day is complicated. Under Venus’ conjunction with Pluto certain personal and professional partnerships show important growth. Other relationships may struggle. A persistent imbalance in power and respect can be insurmountable. Luckily, the Sun’s sextile to Neptune encourages personal sacrifices and making amends. Late Monday night Saturn in Pisces’ sextile to Uranus is timely, bridging the past and future. Take your dreams seriously. If we tune them in, our better angels are there for guidance. Make use of technology, but apply hard won wisdom as you go.
Progress remains steady for much of the week. We are tasked with pushing towards our dreams. Late in the week Mercury and the Sun form conjunctions with Pluto. Thoughts and feelings deepen. Remain sensitive to the needs of others. On productive Friday, January 23rd, multiple successes are likely. Evening moods are celebratory. Take time over the weekend of the 24th and 25th to catch up with chores and errands, or simply to relax. Plan to take it easy Sunday evening as a series of tense lunar angles play out.
Neptune enters Aries for a thirteen year stay during the noon hour of Monday, January 26th. The new placement will undoubtedly have an impact on the continuing development of artificial intelligence, its advantages and risks, as well as health care, various spiritual movements and the arts. Much in life will be re-imagined. Creatives take note: with pragmatic Saturn following close behind Neptune, translating elaborate visions into concrete reality presents an ongoing challenge.
Tread softly on Tuesday, January 27th. Fiery, impatient Mars is conjunct Pluto. The tendency to overreact to a provocation, real or imagined, is heightened. Power can easily be abused. Fortunately, the channels of communication flow freely this week. Wednesday the 28th is blessed with easy conversation and winning charm, while the early Thursday morning conjunction of Mercury with Venus represents another social high point. Thursday afternoon brings challenges. Use clear, concise messaging. The waxing, nearly full Moon provides an energy boost as the month ends on an upswing. A Saturday night movie or stargazing are both fine options.
The full Snow Moon in Leo is exact during the evening of Sunday, February 1st The spirited Moon opposes the Aquarius Sun, Mercury, Venus, Mars and Pluto, spotlighting the need for warmth and friendship in this fragile, often polarized world. Aquarius embraces the notion that we are all one. We recognize the uniqueness of every person, while honoring the common threads that sustain all humankind. Pride and superiority complexes are a disadvantage.
Full Moon fallout will likely shake a few things loose on Monday, February 2nd. Mr. Groundhog is challenged to get his bearings, let alone forecast the weather. Be prepared to step up and help colleagues and friends. Uranus returns to forward motion in late Taurus on Tuesday the 3rd, boosting social awareness. Winter doldrums then set in under relatively quiet skies.
On Thursday, February 5th, Mercury’s early morning square with Uranus can precipitate a rough awakening. Computer problems and other technology glitches are possible. Expect schedule changes and disrupted social plans the weekend of the 7th and 8th. Travelers are advised to allow extra time for flight delays and missed connections. However, the weekend ends on a happy note.
Monday, February 9th’s last quarter Moon in Scorpio generates momentum, but unexpected complications can arise any time throughout the day. Learn from similar situations in the past. Be flexible and quick to adjust tactics and plans. Venus dives into sensitive Pisces during the early morning hours of Tuesday the 10th. Love takes on dreamlike, at times transcendent qualities.
Saturn enters Aries during the evening of Friday, February 13th. It is wise to adopt a more patient and deliberate approach to important commitments. Valentine’s Day features a tradition-oriented Capricorn Moon. However, the Moon is trine the inventive, rebellious Uranus during the evening. Celebrate love with reckless abandon. Try out a new restaurant or gift idea. Most importantly, keep it light and have fun!
The Sun’s biannual square with Uranus is exact two minutes after midnight on Monday the 16th, President’s Day. The unstable alignment reflects the sketchy state of our presidency, as well as friction between voters and leadership. Sun/Uranus squares are also known to shake up the status quo through unexpected, often humbling events. Fortunately, Mercury trines Jupiter later in the day. Changes will be for the better even as uncertainties persist. Winter eclipse season is here.
The early morning Aquarius New Moon on Tuesday, February 17th is also a partial or annular solar eclipse. Every eclipse configuration lends itself to inner awareness. Because the Sun/Moon duo is testing Uranus, plans as currently conceived are less likely to play out as planned. Emerging information or other surprise developments could necessitate changes. Feelings of deja vu may be noted. Venus’ proximity to the Moon’s North Node highlights the evolutionary value of kind and loving ways.
The Sun In Pisces (February 18-March 20)
The Sun reaches the changeable, charitable, imaginative waters of Pisces during the late morning hours of Wednesday, February 18th. Dreams and other subconscious promptings become more accessible as we transition from frigid winter to spring’s awakenings. Things are looking up, although staying on point during the afternoon of the 19th has its challenges. On Friday the 20th, a new die is cast. Saturn conjuncts Neptune at 0 Aries, the pro-active first degree of the Zodiac. The great challenge before us is turning Saturn’s realism and Neptunian idealism into tangible, life-impacting realities. Our dreams and capacity to love do make a difference in this world.
Cheerful alignments usher in the week of March 9th. Monday’s good vibrations are infectious. Welcome news could include a healthy financial boost.
The weekend of February 21st and 22nd is one of winter’s most enjoyable, graced by Venus’ uplifting trine to Jupiter. Playful and romantic vibes fill the air. Challenging aspects during the week beginning Monday the 23rd could necessitate rethinking plans. Mercury is slowing and turns retrograde in impressionable Pisces on Thursday. Friday, February 27th sees a volatile midday square between Mars and Uranus. The risk of an accident is heightened. Slow down and take extra care while driving or operating machinery. Friday evening brings far more agreeable influences. It is a wonderful night for a dinner date or party.
Sunday the 1st of March comes in quietly. As the working week begins, the nearly full Moon is testing Uranus and Mars. An associate could be ornery. The chances of an early Monday morning mishap increase. Speed increases risk factors. By mid-morning Monday Mars is in Pisces, where fiery behavior is tempered by vacillating emotions. The full Worm Moon in Virgo is a total lunar eclipse. For those in the eclipse path it will appear brick red at approximately 6:38am EST on Tuesday morning, the 3rd. Tune inwards. This is a great time to be in meditation. Eclipse related revelations are problematic for folks harboring secret guilt or shame. For lovers of truth, disclosures are a breath of fresh air.
Camaraderie and joie de vivre are alive and well the morning of Wednesday, March 4th. This is a fabulous period for meetings and brainstorming sessions. Ditto for Thursday, as the Sun and Jupiter enhance the morning with optimism and enthusiasm. Venus arrives in Aries before dawn on Friday the 6th The Goddess of Love dispenses with sentimentality and takes on a more pro-active, independent disposition. Venus soon engages Neptune and Saturn, making the weekend of the 7th and 8th a beguiling fairyland of social meetups and reunions. A notable parting of ways could also occur.
Daylight Savings Time begins at 2am Sunday, March 8th. Cheerful alignments usher in the week of the 9th. Monday’s good vibrations are infectious. Welcome news could include a healthy financial boost. Opportunities come through networking so do not be shy — get out and socialize. Jupiter resumes forward motion on Tuesday the 10th. Work at keeping communications flowing during the coming weeks. The exchange of ideas and vital information will see many folks through the inevitably challenging moments.
On Wednesday, March 11th and Thursday the 12th, Mars’ proximity to the lunar North Node hastens many souls on their psychospiritual journey. If you occasionally feel a magnetic attraction to investigate a potential opportunity or meet with an interesting person, go for it. Reminiscences, reveries and reunions are likely during the weekend of the 14th and 15th. Retrograde Mercury is conjunct Mars in Pisces. Magic could also work its way into the proceedings.
Tuesday, March 17th sees many souls feeling lucky, counting their blessings and in a celebratory mood. The waning Pisces Moon, Mercury and Mars are favorably disposed towards Jupiter. The final new Moon of winter is on Wednesday night, the 18th. The conjunct Pisces Sun and Moon are in a sweet sextile to visionary Uranus. A meaningful personal and social change can feel imminent. Progressive and humanitarian causes are promoted. The sextile aspects suggest action will be required to reach goals. That time will soon be with us. Under Venus’ lovely auspices, winter ends peacefully the morning of Friday the 20th. We stand at the threshold of renewed energy, courage, movement and breakthroughs. Keep looking up!
Eric Linter offers a complete range of astrological services including readings and classes. Contact him at stars@ericlinter.com or by telephone at 508-541-4115. Read his Daily Forecast on the Spirit of Change homepage at spiritofchange.org or sign up to receive Eric’s daily forecast right in your inbox each morning.
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