Originally posted on 30 December 2008
Graphic Ephemeris January 2009
1st Quarter Moon 4 January 2009
3rd Quarter Moon 18 January 2009
It’s always difficult to know what to write in January. Do you start with an overview of the year or concentrate on the month? Lets start with a look at the previous Capricorn Ingress where we find the Sun conjunct Pluto on the MC in London. Now it’s important to understand what you expect to see when you look at an ingress chart. Don’t get excited that the Sun is at 0 Capricorn – that’s going to be there in every Capricorn Ingress chart, it’s what the chart is. The fact that the Sun is conjunct Pluto is more unusual but all ingress charts for the next few years will show Pluto conjunct, square or opposed to the Sun due to Pluto being in the early degrees of Capricorn. This marks the current period of time, echoing the authoritarian edge and control freakery which is common at the moment. But the fact that this conjunction is found on the MC is highly significant for the UK and other locations on the same meridian. These three symbols bring together the revision of business and finance with authority. Perhaps this reflects the conviction found in the UK that the Government is actually in the position to do something to alleviate the current situation?
This is the darkest part of the year in the northern hemisphere and this seems to be accentuated by the fact that all the planets – with the exception of the Moon – are bounded by Saturn and Uranus. It can feel a little like everything is below ground.
Moving on from the solstice chart we can look at the moment of new year. Again we have all the planets between Saturn and Uranus but we also have all those planets in Capricorn or Aquarius and so under Saturn’s rulership. In fact Saturn and Mercury are in mutual reception – Saturn in Mercury’s sign and Mercury in Saturn’s sign. Even though Mercury is right at the end of Capricorn it’ll still be ruled by Saturn when it enters Aquarius. The Moon is right at the end of Aquarius and not making any aspects before it changes sign. This, together with the upcoming Mercury retrograde – more about that later – may give the new year a bit of a flat feeling. It’s all Saturn – which is stood still and about to go backwards – and no fire and light. This is a continuing story not a new beginning. However as we move into 2009 the tone begins to shift.
We start with Moon, Mercury, Venus and Jupiter all just about to change signs – the new energy isn’t here yet but it doesn’t mean it isn’t coming. The first Saturn Uranus opposition was at the start of November and the second one is at the start of February. This is one of the major aspect configurations of the next few years and we get a total of five exact aspects. Between now and the second aspect we get Mercury dipping back into Capricorn and a eclipse in Aquarius – there is more than a little Saturn around at the moment. This matches the calls for regulators to solve the current problems but regulators can only enforce the rules which are already in existence; it’s Uranus which must shatter the existing status quo in order that new rules which fit the new circumstances can be created.
Mercury turns retrograde on 11th January which is also the full moon and this full moon links in with the Saturn Uranus opposition to give a mystic rectangle which also has Neptune as the apex of a yod. A lot of energy comes to fruition on 11th so a day to be calm and be aware of underlying tensions.
Another day which may be a bit tense is 24th which gives us the Sun Jupiter conjunction and Venus sextile Mars with Saturn opposite Venus and trine Mars. Venus and Mars are both in the signs of their exaltation giving them extra power and focus when aligned with Saturn. A day to get things done. This is also the day after the Venus Uranus conjunction so is the first day for some time when one of the planets has moved outside of the half of the zodiac bounded by the Saturn Uranus opposition. We then get the solar eclipse on 26th where the new moon is rising over London but the eclipse is not visible from here. Jupiter is two degrees behind it and Mercury and Mars are in the late degrees of Capricorn so they will all trigger the eclipse point in the next few weeks. In fact Jupiter will reach that point on 31 January/1 February. Just as Mercury stations to move forward. This is the point the tide will turn. The second Saturn Uranus opposition points the way.
