Sun into Aquarius: Higher Wavelengths & New Frequencies

What is on your mind?  In 2011 how each us answers that question at any given moment will become increasingly important.  On January 20th, the Sun moves into the sign of the future, community and innovation. This Aquarius solar cycle will see benevolent Jupiter move into pioneering Aries, intellectual Mercury join the Sun and active Mars in progressive Aquarius and the healing asteroid Chiron enter holistic Pisces.  Individualistic and humanitarian, Aquarius compels us to express our unique identity, yet it obliges us to do so in service of the greater good.  Fortunately for us, Ghandi revealed the shortcut to this lofty objective when he said that we must BE the change we want to see in the world.  And that leads us right back to that original question; what is on your mind?  In no other time has the answer to that question determined so much.  It is shaping our future, the future to which we are all connected and in which we share a collective stake.  Aquarius is here to assist us with our visions and associations as we map out the year ahead, and she has brought along some inspiring companions.

The first mover and shaker of this cycle is Jupiter’s reentrance into self-oriented, instigative Aries on January 22nd.  Jupiter’s job is to expand and amplify the energies it touches, and Aries insists that we break new ground.  Favorably aligned with feisty Mars and the Sun in inventive Aquarius, the desire to boldly ditch the herd to blaze trendsetting trails will be practically irrepressible.  Then, on February 3rd, when Mercury ventures into unorthodox Aquarius, our thinking will become highly original and those new frontiers brighter and more enticing.  Aquarius is after all ruled by erratic and revolutionary Uranus.  Still under the influence of that new Aquarius moon of February 2nd, Mercury’s presence in eccentric Aquarius, in combination with the Mars, Sun and Jupiter placements, will charge the air with electricity, passion and exciting new ideas.  

Fully prepared to restore law and order, should that become necessary, will be a sober and stern Saturn in Libra, the sign of partnerships and fairness, and ruthless Pluto in grounded Capricorn.  Jupiter’s reentry into Aries after all, reignites that famous T-Square, and Uranus is set to join the action on March 11th when it also reenters Aries.  Saturn in Libra will directly oppose Jupiter (and then Uranus).  And like a cosmic referee, sitting 90 degrees apart from both sides, Pluto is set in pragmatic Capricorn.  With Venus also moving into the austere earth sign on February 4th, a healthy balance should be able to be struck between the radical impulses hellbent on rebellion and the forces devoted to fair play and the common good and the preservation of useful institutions and productive endeavors.  

To fuel our nobler Aquarian aspirations, on February 8th wounded healer Chiron enters Pisces for the beginning of a seven year voyage.  If we learn empathy from pain, then life’s slings and arrows deepen our understanding and compassion.  Chiron beckons us to remember our hurts, but not for the sake of erecting yet another altar to Victimhood.  Its aim is to teach us empathy and to assist us with healing and personal growth.  In the sign responsible for assimilating our lessons in the cause of unity and integration, Pisces, we see the richest expression of Chiron’s purpose.  Best-selling astrology authors Rick Levine and Jeff Jawer describe the Chiron through Pisces transit this way.

“Its association with forgiveness while in compassionate Pisces reminds us that blame only perpetuates our problems.  This isn’t about avoiding the truth; it’s about the power of unconditional love as a healing force that releases others and ourselves from the past.”  

Now there’s a wavelength to be on in 2011.  Associated with the 11th House of astrology, one of Aquarius’s other sphere’s of influence is friends and associations.  This makes perfect tense in the context of future-building.  For as gifted and astute astrologer Steven Forrest points out, “Friends reflect our goals.” When surrounded by supportive energies, our aspirations are strengthened and energized.  In turn, and in true Aquarian fashion, we gladly share our love and support to buoy the world around us. The Chiron through Pisces transit will assist us in choosing healthy relationships so that the energies of giving and receiving are in greater balance.  So, back to that initial question; what is on your mind?  Just notice it during the cycle ahead.  The Aquarian energies on hand can help us refine our ideas, align with like energies and take those first brave steps into the future.  

Sun into Aquarious 2010: You Say You Want a Revolution, well...

“You say you want a revolution
Well, you know
We all want to change the world”
John Lennon

In a seeming call to arms, the first volley of blaring, rapid fire electric guitar chords of the Beatles’ “Revolution” jolt us to attention. True to his brilliant Libra nature, John Lennon instantly dismisses the impulse for radical overthrow characteristic of his counter-culture era by thoughtfully weighing the pros and cons of the various arguments of his day. The 60’s icon’s lyric in fact seems to ultimately denounce extremist politics. The Sun moves into progressive, rebellious Aquarius on January 19th at 8:28pm PST where it is joined by Neptune, Chiron and Venus, also moving through the fixed air sign. That irrepressible Aquarius urge to change the status quo is in the air again. With Mars stirring things up close to the January 29th Leo full moon followed on January 31st by the next massive Saturn Pluto square, the energy to drastically alter things is certainly at our disposal. The song “Revolution” prompts us to both shake things up and to think them through. With the vast majority of planets spread across the winter axis of the zodiac, it might be a good time to take a page from the sagacious Beatle’s songbook.

“You say you got a real solution
Well, you know
We'd all love to see the plan”

On the one hand, Mercury, ruler of our thoughts, and Pluto, our core feelings, are hanging back in conservative, institutional Capricorn. Any “bright ideas” will have to pass the rigors of critical analysis and inner truth. On the other hand, expansive Jupiter has joined rule-breaking Uranus in dreamy, intuitive Pisces. We’ll want to green light projects that feel right. Capricorn is the cardinal or first sign of winter and mutable Pisces is the final sign of the season. Between the two Venus, Neptune, Chiron and the Sun move through innovative and visionary Aquarius. There are four fixed signs in astrology, each anchoring the energy of its respective seasons. Being one of the three air signs, Aquarius is a lightening rod for futuristic ideas. Nonetheless, it is firmly rooted in winter’s midst. It’s this fixed quality that gives Aquarius the stability to realize its visions. Susan B. Anthony, Charles Darwin, Thomas Edison, Franklin D. Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln were Aquarians. Visionaries of their times, their contributions to humankind are excellent examples of that Aquarius combination of brilliance and resolve. This winter has one other major player insisting on cautious progress and humming along to the Lennon classic, Mars.

“You say you'll change the constitution
Well, you know
We all want to change your head
You tell me it's the institution
Well, you know
You better free you mind instead”

The planet of War and desire went retrograde in fixed fire sign Leo on December 20th and will not be going direct until March 10th. He’ll just be getting into forward motion as the Spring Equinox arrives and we collectively spring forward. On January 26th Mars opposes Venus and on January 29th he opposes the Sun. What makes these oppositions a little more tense than usual is that they occur so close to the full moon in Leo on the 29th and against the backdrop of this cycle’s most formidable activity, the next Saturn square to Pluto. The two planetary heavyweights meet again on January 31st.

In its lower vibration Aquarius rebels for rebellion’s sake. It upsets the apple cart for the shock value. In this context, the quest to be different is self-defeating. As these planetary energies intensify, we may want to ask ourselves some of the following questions. To what end is our inner call for revolution? What machine are we raging against exactly? And why? Most importantly, how would we like to see things change? With the Sun, our Will, loving Venus, relationships, dreamy Neptune, our capacity for compassion, and healing Chiron, our chance to improve things, in electrifying Aquarius, this sign’s most lofty ambition and ultimate purpose, freedom, is within grasp.

The winter of 2009-10 has been delivered with one Cosmic foot on the gas and the other on the brakes. Aquarius asks us to look down the road and to ask ourselves where we want to go and what will give us the greatest sense of freedom in that not-so-distant place. With that destination mapped out internally, the directions and decisions on the path ahead become much clearer. Note the issues that arise around this full moon and Saturn Pluto square because similar energies will reappear on July 26th. In addition to Saturn in Libra and Pluto in Capricorn, Uranus and Jupiter will have moved into Aries, thus forming some extremely provocative angles between large, outer planets. Major transformation is indeed possible in 2010. With Venus, Neptune, the Sun, Chiron and Mercury after February 10th in the sign of the future, now is the time to envision it. As Lennon sweetly assures us,

“Don't you know it's gonna be all right
all right, all right”



If you’d like some assistance aligning with the Cosmic cycle of 2010, please join me and 12Listen’s Chris Donovan for “A Mystical Journey Through the Celtic Wheel,” beginning on Monday, February 1st at 5pm PST 12Academy. We will be celebrating Imbolc, the first fire festival of the Celtic wheel and the midway point between Winter Solstice and Spring Equinox. Chris will be leading a guided meditation which I will be accompanying live on the harp. We hope you will join us for this enchanting and enriching evening.

Sun into Aquarius - Embracing Liquid

In order to become a butterfly, a caterpillar must undergo chrysalis, the portion of its evolution in which its form turns completely into liquid. How apt a metaphor this is as we enter the Sun sign of the water bearer or “carrier” Aquarius in 2009. During this cycle of Aquarius we will experience the year’s first set of eclipses, work through the rest of Mercury’s retrograde and have another Saturn Uranus opposition. And all of this will be taking place while Pluto churns through conventional Capricorn and conservative Saturn retrogrades in Virgo, while Jupiter, Neptune and Chiron amplify the innovative and futuristic energies of Aquarius. We’re in pupal territory.

The Aquarius season starts on Monday, January 19th at 2:40 P.M. PST when the Sun will be greeted by newly arrived and generous Jupiter, spiritually minded and dreamy Neptune and Chiron, the force dedicated to healing our wounds. Aquarius’ quest for the common good, fellowship and Universal love and understanding will set the stage for the inauguration of President Obama, who’s rising sign is also Aquarius. With a Cabinet of wise advisors, we should see a hopeful and sober agenda set by this Administration.

In terms of policy, Jupiter’s expansive outlook will want to add billions to the next stimulus package, Neptune’s unrealistic perspective will consider resources bottomless and Chiron will seek to heal the wrongs of the previous Administration. Those lofty ideals are well and good, but Saturn being retrograde in detailed Virgo and truth demanding and revealing Pluto in cautious Capricorn will constantly question rosy assertions. Add Mercury’s retrograde stance during the first twelve days of the new Obama Presidency, and we’ll likely see numerous revisions to initial proposals.


As I noted in early November, when our first Saturn Uranus opposition occurred on Election Day, themes of conventional wisdom being challenged by new ideas will be the order of the days ahead. And on February 5th we have the second of these cosmic confrontations. Perhaps the vote on the latest stimulus package will take place about that time. If not, the debate will likely be in full swing. Liberal Uranians will call for a New Deal of unprecedented governmental spending while Conservative Saturnians will earnestly question how much more can be added to the $47 trillion public and private debt America has amassed without total economic collapse. And in your own life, expect to feel the drive toward the new and pull from the old hit an intense point in early February.

Adding to the Universal prompt to change will be two eclipses, on January 25th and February 9th. As the sun rises in the morning, we can count on eclipses to change our lives. The degree to which any given set effect your world largely depends on your individual chart. To get your personal bearings, I highly recommend a reading with my talented colleague and top-notch astrologer C.A., especially if you are an Aquarius or a Leo, Aquarius’ opposite sign. At 12Listen and 12Angel change will take the form of a completely remodeled pair of websites that will be introduced during these eclipses (and Mercury retrograde).

As you can see, the Universal chorus is singing of “change” and clearly asking us to envision the future, to scrutinize ideas and aspirations for their soundness, and to do so from a point of inspiration and community. This is the cosmic call to “keep your feet on the ground and keep reaching for the stars,” as Casey Kasem used to say. So as you navigate the push and pull of the coming cycle, see the multi-colored wings of butterflies fluttering about majestically on a warm Spring day. A much greater sense of where it all landed will be yours by mid May when Saturn turns direct during the Sun sign of grounded earthy Taurus. In the meantime, embrace the inevitable liquid.