by James Jarvis, M.A.
The universal year 2000 resonates with the frequency of the number 2 (2+0+0+0=2). The main themes of this year are Reflection, Cooperation, and Harmonization. We can achieve a great deal this year by bringing our lives into greater balance and harmony and through working in cooperation with others. In a "two" year, we learn to harmonize with life so that it becomes a cooperative effort rather than just an individual one.
Use this year to reflect on the new life experiences and directions that you initiated in 1999. Ask yourself, What is the universal feedback that I am being given about the new directions that I have chosen? The key is to balance the individual goals and desires that we established last year with the need to work cooperatively with others this year. As we balance the needs of the individual with the needs of the group, we will be successful at creating peace and harmony in all aspects of our lives.
The Y2K Chart: January 1, 2000 Before I go into this month’s planetary aspects, I want to mention a few things about the Y2K chart, which is calculated for the beginning of the new millennium as most people will celebrate it. In the Y2K chart, we see the cooperative effort I just spoke of numerologically, illustrated by the asteroid Ceres in Libra located in the 12th house conjunct the Libra ascendant, or rising, sign. Ceres is the goddess of nurturing, and her position in the Y2K chart speaks of our desire (still somewhat unconscious, as Ceres is in the 12th house) to learn how to interact with others in an egalitarian manner.
It is now time to throw off the injunctions (from past and present lives) that have prevented us from speaking the truth as we know it.
Ceres in Libra is also squared (challenging) Mercury and Juno in Capricorn in the third house and the sun in Capricorn in the fourth. This square speaks to the tension between our need for self-reliance and security (Capricorn) and our need to unconditionally support others (Libra). This "every man for himself" or isolationist attitude is also reflected in the T-square formation among the moon in Scorpio, Uranus in Aquarius, and Saturn in Taurus. By suppressing our emotional response to the world’s problems (moon in Scorpio opposite Saturn in Taurus), we also suppress our ability to intuitively sense the solutions (moon in Scorpio square Uranus in Aquarius).
Resolving the issues of this T-square requires that we align our thinking with the source of creative intelligence or intuitive awareness (Pallas in Leo opposite Uranus in Aquarius). This T-square suggests that the answers to the problems we face cannot be discerned at the level of thinking that created them. It is our willingness to fully experience our problems without denial or repression that opens us to the possibility of innovative solutions that come directly from higher mind.
January 3 Mars enters Pisces
Mars journeys through the sign of Pisces from January 3 through February 12. The question with this transit is, How are we using our power? The opportunity, both personally and collectively, is to see that "our" power is not really our own but a reflection of a collective power that flows through us. The challenge of Mars in Pisces is one of surrender and letting go of the illusion of control. Globally, we could see some military flare-ups as we let go of domination and surrender individual control for the benefit of all.
January 1-11 Pluto conjunct Chiron
Pluto and Chiron in Sagittarius have been conjunct — at the same degree — since mid-December. With Chiron and Pluto conjunct in Sagittarius, the focus is on healing the wounds we have around trusting our inherent wisdom. It is now time to throw off the injunctions (from past and present lives) that have prevented us from speaking the truth as we know it. This may look like letting go of the thought that we must have advanced degrees or special training to validate and prove our spiritual authority, or it may require that we learn to let go of the conscious mind long enough so that our inherent wisdom can surface on its own without censoring. For those of us who have done our healing work, Pluto and Chiron in Sagittarius will bring incredible opportunities to powerfully manifest universal truth and wisdom on the planet.
January 6 New moon in Capricorn
For this next month, the emphasis is on creating emotional safety, groundedness, and security. The moon in Capricorn calls us to reconnect with the earth element in our lives. The challenge this month is to tune in to our natural self-reliance. The new moon in Capricorn is asking us to take whatever steps are necessary so that we can be more fully in our bodies, secure in the knowledge that we are approaching life with a pragmatic and realistic focus.
January 11 Saturn in Taurus
goes direct Saturn, which has been moving retrograde since August 30, goes direct on January 11 at 10 degrees Taurus. One of the greatest challenges of the new millennium, as we increase our sensitivity, energy, and awareness, is to remain centered and grounded in our own experience. With Saturn now moving direct in Taurus, we are being asked to develop a strong sense of center and personal integrity. If our boundaries are weak, we may need to strengthen them so we are not overwhelmed by the feelings we pick up from others. If our boundaries are too strong, we may need to evaluate if it’s still necessary to keep others at a distance. Either way, the challenge is to develop inner and outer strength so that we can remain grounded as our awareness increases.
January 17-23 Mars square Pluto and Chiron
Mars in Pisces will be in challenging aspect to both Pluto (January 17-20) and Chiron (January 20-23) in Sagittarius. The challenge here is to balance personal will (Mars) with collective will and truth (Pluto/Chiron in Sagittarius). It is time for the world to learn that surrender and yielding can accomplish just as much as direct conflict. By being willing to let go of resistance and force as methods of negotiation, we can actually accomplish a great deal more than we could before with less effort. Like the tai chi master who effortlessly throws his opponent using the opponent’s own force, we can learn how to use our energy much more efficiently and humanely with these transits.
January 18 Mercury enters Aquarius
Mercury moves through the sign of Aquarius from January 18 through February 5. With Mercury in Aquarius this month, the emphasis is on liberating (Uranus) the mind (Mercury). The Aquarian influence helps us to break free from any ways in which our thinking has become crystallized or stagnant. Use Mercury in Aquarius to help open your mind to new possibilities and insights. Be willing to act on any "illuminations" or intuitive insights that you might receive during this period.
We are being asked to develop a strong sense of center and personal integrity.
January 20 Sun enters Aquarius
The challenge of Aquarian energy is to blend the personal with the impersonal. The ruling planet of Aquarius is Uranus, and with that rulership comes visionary, forward-thinking qualities. Aquarians want to be on the cutting edge of what is next for the planet. Unfortunately, though, they are often misunderstood, as they are usually far ahead of their times, and often seen as quite eccentric. With the sun in Aquarius, we have the opportunity to heal our wounds around alienation or not fitting in. We also have the opportunity to serve the collective through sharing our original insights and visions of how the world can be transformed through positive and progressive change.
January 21 Full moon and eclipse in Leo
With the full moon in Leo, we have an opportunity to bring to light our inner, divine child. Take time to tap into the qualities of the divine child this month: spontaneity, authenticity, creativity, and fun! For many people who had to be responsible at an early age, these qualities may seem quite foreign. Learning how to express more of these qualities in your life this month, though, may be just the ticket for freeing up your creativity and your aliveness.
January 24 Venus enters Capricorn
Venus travels through the sign of Capricorn from January 24 through February 18. Venus is the planet that is associated with the heart chakra; what has heart for us, what we are passionate about or what we value. When it is in the sign of Capricorn, we feel the effect of Capricorn’s ruling planet, Saturn, as well. Saturn represents the principle of manifestation, or our ability to ground ourselves in the physical world.
With Venus in Capricorn, we tend to be more pragmatic or realistic about what we can accomplish. This is a great time to look at how we can ground our financial position (Venus) by increasing our assets and streamlining (Saturn) our liabilities. Use Venus in Capricorn to come up with a solid plan for saving money or paying off accumulated debt. It’s also a great time to review your spending habits to see if you are "putting your money where your heart is."
James Jarvis, M.A. is a master astrologer, professional life coach, and transpersonal counselor. He combines an M.A. in transpersonal counseling, 28 years’ experience with Eastern and metaphysical traditions, and 15 years coaching and empowering clients to actualize their full potential. James will return to Seattle January 6, 7, 10, and 11 for individual consultations and to present his "State of the Planet: 2000" lecture Friday, January 7 at East West Bookshop. For information, call (206) 523-3726. For those who want support in discovering and manifesting their vision, James is available for astrological consultations and life coaching sessions by phone. For a brochure of his services, call (831) 688-0574 or e-mail jamesjarvis@mciworld.com.
