Originally published on 28 November 2006
Taken from Astrology Quarterly Winter 2006/7
“What will next year bring?”, or more likely, “Tell me next year is going to be better?” are questions an astrologer expects to be asked in the run up to new year. So I thought it might be useful to look at how you would go about assessing this.
First you do the numbers, and then you start to pull the flavour of that time period together. Don’t be tempted to make judgements before you’ve got all the information you need, it can send you well off track. As with all astrology it’s easier if you have an idea of where everything is. As one of my teachers said to me once: “Eat the ephemeris.”
The following doesn’t need to be done in this particular order but I find that this builds up in a logical manner as you wouldn’t do cyclical phases before you did outer planetary movement. Anyone wanting to ignore the outer planets, please feel free to do so and if you want to include Chiron then follow the logic concerning weighting. This works for any period of time but we’re using 2007 as an example.
Progress of Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto
Where they start the time period, where they finish, their stations.
Each of these planets will have a retrograde period, a station direct and a station retrograde. Which station comes first will depend on the direction of the planet’s motion at the start of the year. Saturn, for instance, starts 2007 retrograde so will station direct and then go retrograde.
Do any planets change signs? If so, do they stay in that sign or retrograde out again? Jupiter will change signs every year but beware when in the year this happens. Do not base your yearly analysis on Jupiter moving into Capricorn in 2007 when this change doesn’t happen until 18 December.
Planets positions and stations
| Planet | Starts | Station | Station | Finishes | ||
| Date | Position | Date | Position | |||
| Pluto | 27 Sag 03 | 2 Apr | 28 Sag 55 | 7 Sep | 26 Sag 18 | 29 Sag 07 |
| Neptune | 18 Aqu 08 | 25 May | 22 Aqu 02 | 31 Oct | 19 Aqu 15 | 20 Aqu 14 |
| Uranus | 11 Pis 33 | 23 Jun | 18 Pis 42 | 24 Nov | 14 Pis 46 | 15 Pis 21 |
| Saturn | 24 Leo 26 R | 19 Apr | 18 Leo 09 | 19 Dec | 8 Vir 34 | 8 Vir 26 R |
| Jupiter | 8 Sag 18 | 6 Apr | 19 Sag 47 | 7 Aug | 9 Sag 56 | 2 Cap 54 |
Planets changing signs
Note which planets change signs.
Outer Planets
No outer planets change signs.
Jupiter and Saturn
- Saturn 2 Sep Enters Virgo
- Jupiter 18 Dec Enters Capricorn
This is in two tables purely for clarity. In my notes the change of sign would go in its chronological position.
Venus and Mars
Venus and Mars do not have a retrograde period every year. If they do note the dates for the stations and the positions. Also note if either have a prolonged stay in any sign. Note where Mars begins and ends the year but Venus, travelling with the Sun, will move too fast for this to be of any benefit.
| Planet | Starts | Station | Station | Finishes | ||
| Date | Position | Date | Position | |||
| Mars | 18 Sag 47 | 15 Nov | 12 Can 27 | n/a | n/a | 0 Can 04 R |
| Venus | n/a | 27 July | 2 Vir 57 | 8 Sep | 16 Leo 35 | n/a |
Mercury
Mercury will have three retrograde periods which will be in the same element. Like Venus, Mercury moves too fast for its start and finish positions to be of any benefit.
| Planet | Station | Station | ||
| Date | Position | Date | Position | |
| Mercury | 14 Feb | 10 Pis 13 | 8 Mar | 25 Aqu 25 |
| 15 Jun | 11 Can 35 | 10 Jul | 2 Can 29 | |
| 12 Oct | 9 Sco 03 | 1 Nov | 23 Lib 23 |
Nodes
Note where the nodes begin and end the year. Remember they travel backwards so will leave a sign at zero degrees. Does it change signs? This will also indicate where the eclipses will take place.
North Node Starts at 19 Pis 39 Finishes at 0 Pis 22
Eclipses
How many eclipses are there, what type and where are they? You will always have two solar eclipses but you may have as many as seven solar and lunar eclipses. Note also where they are visible.
| Date | Eclipse | Position | Type | Visible |
| 3 March | Lunar | 13 Vir 0 | Total | Visible from all continents, very rare. |
| 19 March | Solar | 28 Pis 07 | Partial | East Asia, Alaska |
| 28 Aug | Lunar | 4 Pis 46 | Total | Pacific, Western Americas, East Asia |
| 11 Sep | Solar | 18 Vir 25 | Partial | Southern South America |
Cyclic Phases
Where are the slower moving planets with regard to each other? Aspects made within these cycles will colour the year. Weight these according to the length of cycle involved. This will give a hierarchy of combinations as follows:
- Uranus, Neptune and Pluto
- Saturn with Uranus, Neptune and Pluto
- Jupiter with Saturn
- Jupiter with Uranus, Neptune and Pluto
When you’ve done these you can also look for aspects of Mars to these planets. Weight the slower moving planets ahead of the faster, for instance, Mars conjunct Pluto ahead of Mars conjunct Jupiter. A quick way of pinpointing the broad tone of this is to look at a graphic ephemeris of the year for 45°. Hard aspects are shown by crossing lines. You will need to consult the ephemeris to determine if it’s a conjunction, opposition, square, semi-square or sesquiquadrate.
Due to retrograde motion these aspects may repeat so we also need to note which instance we are looking at, remembering that the previous or next one may be last year or next year respectively. Hard aspects also get more weight than soft ones. I also note the hard aspects of the Sun to Jupiter through Pluto. This shows you if there is a short term highlight to longer term activity.
This bit of the process is the one which will most often need rewriting to get it in the most logical order. It’s very difficult to put this into chronological order first time. Expect to rewrite this a few times.
Cycles
| Date | Planets/Aspect | Position | Instance |
| 13 Jan | Mars square Pluto | 27 Sag | - |
| 22 Jan | Jupiter square Uranus | 12 Sag/Pis | First of three – all this year |
| 8 Feb | Sun conjunct Neptune | 19 Aqu | - |
| 10 Feb | Sun opposite Saturn | 21 Aqu | - |
| 28 Feb | Saturn opposite Neptune | 20 Leo/Aqu | 2nd of 3 – previous in 2006 |
| 5 Mar | Sun conjunct Uranus | 5 Mar | - |
| 19 Mar | Sun square Pluto | 28 Pis/Sag | - |
| 22 Mar | Mars opposite Saturn | 18 Aqu/Leo | - |
| 25 Mar | Mars conjunct Neptune | 21 Aqu | - |
| 29 Apr | Mars conjunct Uranus | 17 Pis | - |
| 9 May | Sun square Saturn | 18 Tau/Leo | - |
| 11 May | Jupiter square Uranus | 17 Sag/Pis | Second of three |
| 13 May | Mars square Pluto | 28 Pis/Sag | - |
| 5 Jun | Sun opposite Jupiter | 14 Gem/Sag | - |
| 9 Jun | Sun square Uranus | 18 Gem/Pis | - |
| 19 Jun | Sun opposite Pluto | 27 Gen/Sag | - |
| 25 Jun | Saturn opposite Neptune | 21 Leo/Aqu | - |
| 24 Jul | Mars square Neptune | 20 Tau/Aqu | - |
| 31 Jul | Mars square Saturn | 25 Tau/Leo | - |
| 13 Aug | Sun opposite Neptune | 20 Leo/Aqu | - |
| 21 Aug | Sun conjunct Saturn | 28 Leo | - |
| 3 Sep | Mars square Uranus | 16 Gem/Pic | - |
| 4 Sep | Sun square Jupiter | 11 Vir/Sag | - |
| 9 Sep | Sun opposite Uranus | 16 Vir/Pis | - |
| 19 Sep | Sun square Pluto | 26 Vir/Sag | - |
| 21 Sep | Mars opposite Pluto | 26 Gem/Sag | - |
| 9 Oct | Jupiter square Uranus | 15 Sag/Pis | Third of three |
| 21 Nov | Sun square Neptune | 19 Sco/Aqu | - |
| 30 Nov | Sun square Saturn | 8 Sag/Vir | - |
| 7 Dec | Sun square Uranus | 14 Sag/Pis | - |
| 11 Dec | Jupiter conjunct Pluto | 28 Sag | - |
| 21 Dec | Sun conjunct Pluto | 28 Sag | - |
| 23 Dec | Sun conjunct Jupiter | 1 Cap | - |
Lunar Phases
Lunar Phases happen around the same degrees for subsequent lunations which will give a focus on specific areas. Note where these are. Check for lunations conjunct the slower moving planets.
| New Moon date | Position | Full Moon date | Position |
| 19 Jan | 28 Cap 41 | 3 Jan | 12 Can 48 |
| 17 Feb | 28 Aqu 37 | 2 Feb | 12 Leo 59 |
| 19 Mar | 28 Pis 07 | 3 Mar | 13 Vir 00 |
| 17 Apr | 27 Ari 05 | 2 Apr | 12 Lib 35 |
| 16 May | 25 Tau 33 | 2 May | 11 Sco 38 |
| 15 Jun | 23 Gem 41 | 1 Jun | 10 Sag 12 |
| - | - | 30 Jun | 8 Cap 25 |
| 14 Jul | 21 Can 41 | 30 Jul | 6 Aqu 31 |
| 12 Aug | 19 Leo 51 | 28 Aug | 4 Pis 46 |
| 11 Sep | 18 Vir 25 | 26 Sep | 3 Ari 20 |
| 11 Oct | 17 Lib 30 | 26 Oct | 2 Tau 23 |
| 9 Nov | 17 Sco 10 | 24 Nov | 1 Gem 55 |
| 9 Dec | 17 Sag 16 | 24 Dec | 1 Can 50 |
Other Indicators
Once you have gathered the specific items listed above scan through the ephemeris for anything which catches your eye. This will include build ups in a particular sign such as that happening in late 2006 in Scorpio and Sagittarius, clustering of the faster moving planets around lunations or cyclical aspects.
Health Warning
Your time period is unlikely to be hermetically sealed. There will have been things happening prior to its start and things which will happen after it’s finished. Look for these and build them into your analysis. Some will be obvious from your numbers. You will have noted when cyclic phases cross years such as the Saturn Neptune opposition and you can see when outer planets are about to change sign such as Pluto finishing the year at 29° Sagittarius. Pluto will enter Capricorn in January 2008 and this will over shadow the final part of the year.
What to do once you’ve got your data assembled
Hopefully you’ll have assembled your data and resisted the temptation to wade in early. You will have noticed patterns emerging but don’t label them until you’ve got all the data laid out clearly. Then let the astrology speak before you make assumptions. If you do notice something you are certain to be important, such as a major transit to a known sensitive point, then make a note of it and come back when you’ve completed the exercise.
Look for repeating numbers which reinforce and mark specific parts of the zodiac. If you have an outer planet station, a cyclic phase and lunations pulling in the same degree area you know you have a powerful indicator. It’s like a series of people pacing up and down on the same bit of carpet – they will wear a hole in it.
Once your pattern has emerged then you can start thinking about specific people, countries, institutions and events which might be receiving transits.
Greater Cycles and their phases
Looking back to the previous phases of cycles will show us the concerns which may be picked up on. There are three major cyclic phases in 2007:
- Jupiter conjunct Pluto. Last time they were conjunct was at the end of Scorpio in 1994. The National Lottery was launched which fits well with the symbolic association of vast wealth and resources.
- Jupiter square Uranus. This is the outgoing square following the conjunction in February 1997 at 5° Aquarius, conjunct China’s ascendant, incidentally at the time that the Chinese Deng Xiaoping died.
- Saturn opposite Neptune. These are the second and third of three oppositions and follows the conjunction in 1989/90. Key events were the fall of the Berlin Wall and the associated collapse of the iron curtain leading to the opening up of Eastern Europe. The square took place in 1998 at the time of a severe crash in Russian and Asian stock markets. The Saturn Neptune cycle is strongly associated with communism. The Communist Manifesto was written at their conjunction in 1848 and the Russian Revolution in 1917 also shared this aspect. Events which have already come to pass in 2006 which could relate to this cycle are the joining up of Eastern Europeans to the EU and the associated immigration hysteria.
Predictable Events
There will be events which you know are going to happen which will have an impact on the time period considered. For instance, we know that the US presidential elections will take place in November 2008 and that there will be a new US president. What events will happen in your time period which may soak up the energy you have identified? In our example of 2007 we can expect Tony Blair to step down in the first half of the year but we do not know exactly when.
Pulling it all together
Patterns will start to emerge which reinforce each other and start to describe the tone of the year. For 2007 we have the following after a few brief glances:
- An emphasis on mutable
- Jupiter in Sagittarius, square Uranus in Pisces three times through the year, coming to a conjunction with Pluto at the end of Sagittarius at the close of the year.
- Eclipses in Virgo/Pisces, also square Pluto (19 March) and Uranus (3 March).
- Saturn will enter Virgo in September.
- Venus station retrograde at 2 Virgo.
- An emphasis on water, specifically around 9/12 degrees
- Mercury retrograde in water.
- Stations of Mercury at 9, 10 and 11 degrees.
- Mars retrograde with station at 12 Cancer.
- Jupiter square Uranus in Pisces at 12, 14 and 15 degrees.
- An emphasis on last half of fixed signs
- Saturn station at 18 Leo.
- Mercury station (8 March) at 25 Aquarius.
- Venus station direct at 16 Leo.
- Neptune station at 22 Aquarius.
Once you’ve collated your information you start to make deductions.
These are the broad brushstrokes which are likely to apply to the year.
- The mutable concentration is likely to be about Ideas, both ideological, religious and practical. This time period is all about finalising the plan before show-time when Pluto enters Capricorn.
- The emotional impact of existing situations may become apparent. What has previously been known in an intellectual capacity may now have personal relevance.
- The Leo/Aquarius axis is concerned with the individual versus the collective and we saw these ideas being demonstrated during the Jupiter Neptune opposition on 2001/02. Not only is this likely to be felt in terms of religions/organisations against the individual but transiting Saturn is conjunct Saturn in the 1801 chart in the first part of the year. This would indicate that this conflict may involve civil liberties and security concerns. Identity cards – Leo – would also fall under this.
Pulling these three point together we can see a common teme emerging. Ideas of how we defend ourselves and how we feel about our methods are high on the agenda. A Venus retrograde also indicates a place where we will stop talking and start fighting. This marks a place where we care about something enough to fight for it.
