Before I go into this month's planetary aspects, I want to mention a few things about the Y2001 chart, which is calculated for the beginning of the new millennium. After studying the astrological charts for each event last year, I concluded that we could gain invaluable guidance by seeing the Y2K chart as a preparatory or initiatory event for the millennium chart. Specifically, the Y2K chart represented to me the inevitable breakdown and transformation that preceded the major breakthroughs that we will experience as we enter the new millennium. One of the side effects of the Y2K preparation last year was that it brought people together in a massive cooperative effort. To me, this is at the heart of what the Y2K experience was all about. We were asked last year to let go of our sense of separateness and isolation. As we learn to let go and trust, we can begin to open to the deeper spiritual potential of the new millennium. In the Y2001 chart, this spiritual potential is symbolized by our longing or desire for unity or oneness with spirit. With the moon in Pisces in the sixth house (squaring Chiron, Ceres, and Pluto in Sagittarius in the third house), we are addressing and healing the core thoughts that keep us from experiencing this oneness on a day-to-day basis. The call with these aspects is to address our issues around abandonment, whether on the level of personality or spirit. All abandonment issues ultimately have an underlying spiritual basis. If we are worried about being abandoned by our loved ones, on some level we are worried about being abandoned by spirit as well. The core issue is trust. Do we really trust that we are supported and unconditionally loved by the universe, God, Spirit? Do we have a deep and abiding sense of connection to the divine feminine energy that is always loving and supporting us? Intimate connection to the loving grace of the divine feminine is both the challenge and the promise of the Y2001 chart. The moon in Pisces is in a grand trine (three planets, 120 degrees apart in an equilateral triangle) with the north node of the moon in Cancer and Pallas in Scorpio. This powerful water element trine speaks to our awakening to the healing power of the divine feminine, or goddess energy. In addition to Pallas in Scorpio (the healer) in the second house (representing our core values), we have Mars, the planet of will, in Scorpio as well. This indicates that we are learning how to dance with the healing power of the serpent, our fundamental life force. The paradox is that this life force is both creative and destructive, light and dark. Our job is to fully accept and express this power as it manifests through us in the form of our creativity, sexuality, passion, power, and emotional intensity. As we learn how to channel this power in appropriate ways, we become willing conduits or transmitters of the divine feminine energy on this planet. To fully develop our connection with the power and grace of the divine feminine requires that we learn about surrender, which is another theme of the Y2001 chart. Many people are scared of tapping into the energies of the divine feminine because they are so powerful and sometimes overwhelming. Equal numbers of people worry that they would misuse these powers if they had them. What is being asked of us in the new millennium is that we learn to align our personal will (Mars) with divine will (Neptune). In the Y2001 chart, Mars in Scorpio is squared Neptune in Aquarius. The challenge of this aspect is to learn how to surrender our personal will and power so that it can be guided by spirit instead of ego. 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. Opening to the power of surrender represents a major shift, because the dominant paradigm on this planet for so long has been around control as a method of manifestation. The new paradigm of surrender suggests that we can exercise the same degree of will, intention, and focus that we always have. The difference is in the attachment to the outcome. By letting go of our attachment to the results of our actions, we let go of control and allow spirit to support us in manifesting. Deepak Chopra calls this "the law of least effort." We could also call it learning how to go with the flow. Regardless of what we call it, surrender is a gift of grace. It allows us to intimately connect to the loving guidance of the divine feminine in every area of our lives. January 3 Venus enters Pisces Speaking of surrender, Venus travels through Pisces, the sign of compassionate surrender, from January 3 through February 2. Venus in Pisces brings awareness of how we can be more accepting of ourselves and others. In other words, no matter what we have done, or have failed to do, we are always loved in the eyes of God/Goddess. Let the unconditional acceptance of Venus in Pisces permeate every cell of your being this month. January 9 Full moon in Cancer and lunar eclipse The moon is full at 19 degrees Cancer this afternoon. The focus this month is discovering what we need for nurturing and comfort. Most of us are better at nurturing other people than ourselves, so this month is about "nurturing the nurturer." Spend some time by or in the water (preferably hot) this month. Examine your needs for being dependent on others. Is it really hard for you to ask for help? Do you go out of your way to look independent so you don’t have to acknowledge your dependence needs? Open yourself to the nurturing influence of "the Mother" this month; you might be surprised at how she is always close to you through a myriad of helpful friends and loved ones! January 10 Mercury enters Aquarius Mercury enters the sign of Aquarius on January 10 and will be there until March 17. With Mercury in Aquarius, 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. January 19 Sun enters Aquarius The sun moves into Aquarius at 4:16 this afternoon. The challenge of Aquarian energy is to blend the personal with the impersonal. The ruling planet of Aquarius is Uranus, and with that rule 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 24 New moon in Aquarius The new moon at 4 degrees Aquarius at 5:07 a.m. brings in a new cycle of growth and awareness this month. Relationships, in particular, will be affected by this event, as the moon represents what we need for emotional security. The new moon in Aquarius calls us to learn emotional detachment. The challenge is to be able to detach from our relationship dramas without abandoning our partners. In other words, the challenge is to learn how to maintain our own sense of personal autonomy while being emotionally present to the needs and desires of others. January 24 Saturn in Taurus goes direct Saturn, which has been moving retrograde since September 12, goes direct on January 24 at 24 degrees Taurus. 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 25 Jupiter goes direct Jupiter, which has been retrograde since September 29, will be going direct on January 25 at 1 degree Gemini. The Jupiter retrograde, which lasts about four months, was a time to tap into our own inner teacher. In Vedic or Hindu astrology, the Sanskrit word used for Jupiter is "guru." Each of us, whether formally or informally, is a teacher of something. The sign and house placement of Jupiter in your chart not only refers to where you get the greatest expansion of your own consciousness (where you teach yourself), but also indicates what you naturally wish to teach others. Since Jupiter is also the ruler of the second chakra, the center of "pro-creation," it is also associated with how you express your creative urge. Now that Jupiter is moving direct, we can tune in more deeply to the wisdom and creativity that wants to flow through us out into the world. January 31 Mercury enters Pisces Our job when planets are journeying through the sign of Pisces is to learn the value of surrender and to open our consciousness so that we can transcend our perception of separateness. With Mercury in Pisces from January 31 until April 6, we have an opportunity to communicate our understanding of these principles to others. Having learned the lessons that transiting Saturn in Taurus has taught us over the last two and a half years — walking our talk, taking a stand for ourselves, creating distinct boundaries — we can then flow more gracefully with the Piscean energies without fear of losing ourselves through unconscious merging with others. Creating a sense of distinct personal boundaries is often one of the greatest challenges for those that have been very open emotionally and intuitively from an early age. Oftentimes, the intuitive sees his or her gifts as a liability rather than an asset. The hidden blessing from the soul perspective, though, is that the intuitive/feeler personality has had great training in merging or transcending self. If we can reframe these abilities in a spiritual context this month (i.e. the "urge to merge" with Spirit), then the highest manifestation of Pisces energies, the desire for unity consciousness, can emerge. James Jarvis, M.A., is a master astrologer, professional life coach, and transpersonal counselor. See display ad below for information on his January schedule in Seattle. For those who want support in discovering, clarifying and manifesting their vision, James is available for astrological consultations and life coaching sessions by phone. For a brochure of his services, or to schedule phone or mail order consultations, call (831) 688-0574, e-mail <jjarvis@lifeqwest.com>, or visit <http://www.lifeqwest.com>. If you would like to receive James' free e-mail newsletter, send your e-mail address to <newsletter@lifeqwest.com>. |
The universal year 2001 resonates with the frequency of the number 3 (2+0+0+1=3). The main themes for this year are creation and expression. Whatever you started in 1999, you now have the opportunity to expand and share with others this year. The 3 year brings out the spirit of the child and the desire to create joy in our lives. What aspect of your creativity wants to come out this year? Are you a closet painter, writer, dancer, or musician? Is there something that you are really passionate about that you would like to share with the world but have been holding back? Use 2001 to discover your own form of creative expression. Let yourself be like a child, and really play and express yourself this year!