In Part 1 of the 2011
Year in Preview, we discuss the Solar Eclipse of the first week of January, the
Eclipse and Mercury Retrograde keydates for the year ahead, Jupiter in Aries,
Saturn in Libra, and the U.S. Saturn Return. In Part 2, we will discuss the cathartic and chaotic transit of the
2010's — the dynamic, restless intensity of Uranus square Pluto (the 60's part
2), as well as the rise of the Wounded Healer with the Chiron-Neptune
conjunction. Read Part Two here.
Solar Eclipse
2011 promises to be a
very active year with strong surges of change and evolutionary potential, due
to Jupiter's inspiring acceleration through Aries, and the year's FOUR Solar
Eclipses, two more than the normal amount. We haven't had this many solar
eclipses in a year since 1917. The year begins with the Solar
Eclipse on Tuesday, January 4th, at 13 Capricorn. An eclipse is like a
Super New Moon, a major seed-planting, with its effects lasting for a minimum
of six months out. The eclipse's major aspect is a square to Saturn, ruler of
Capricorn. This emphasizes the general theme for this eclipse about our
dedications to our career, the integrity of our reputations, the ability to act
decisively and maturely, and the necessity of to be held accountable for our
actions. In your personal chart, find what house 13 Capricorn falls in,
and set major intentions in this realm which you hope to see manifested six
months from now. If you would like to see which other eclipses may
affect you strongly this year, look to those planetary intelligences in your
chart conjunct or opposite the following degrees.
Solar Eclipse: 4 Jan – 13
Capricorn
Solar Eclipse: 1 Jun 2011 – 11 Gemini
Lunar Eclipse: 15 Jun 2011
– 24 Sagittarius
Solar Eclipse: 1 Jul 2011
– 09 Cancer
Solar Eclipse: 25 Nov 2011
– 02 Sag
Lunar Eclipse: 10 Dec 2011
– 18 Gem
The Nodes of the Moon,
the forces behind the eclipses, are the major significators of collective
karma, and evolutionary imperatives. This year they shift from
Cancer-Capricorn, where the focus has been on building secure foundations, a
trusted sense of "family," and revelations about systems of governance,
banking, and corporations. With the Nodes and eclipses now entering Gemini and
Sagittarius, our information distribution and absorption, and education itself
is shifting at exponential rates. 2010 was the year of the EReader, with
Kindles and IPADs selling like crazy for Christmas, Barnes and Noble's Nook now
displaying color and their website selling more ebooks than hard copies, and
the widespread dissemination of information through channels such as GoogleReader.
How will education and parenting shift now with children learning much
more quickly, streamlined, and in non-linear formats through multimedia devices
like the IPAD? Are the classrooms antiquated models of teaching?
The Gemini-Sagittarian Nodes/Eclipses may compel many teachers and parents to
seek out more individual mentoring, alternative education, and archetypal
awareness through means such as astrology in order to appropriately educate
their children.
Because this year's
eclipses fall mostly in the Gemini and Sagittarius axis, we know that Mercury
retrogrades will play a bigger role in our collective evolution. They may
also be a bit more irritating, so planning for them, especially regarding our
travels, is essential. Just look to the holidays' crazy weather
delays — with crazy rainstorm floods in California and snowstorms for the
possible effects of Mercury retrograde in the two signs of travel.
Whereas
all the Mercury retrogrades in 2010 were in Earth signs, all of the Mercury
retrogrades in 2011 are in fire signs, which inspires us to apply the
passionate energy, spiritual enthusiasm, and innovative, creative spark to all
of our activities.
Mercury Retrograde Dates for 2011:
Mercury turns retrograde
March 30 at 24 Aries
Mercury turns direct April 23 at 12 Aries
Mercury turns
retrograde August 3 at 1 Virgo
Mercury turns direct August 26 at 18 Leo
Mercury turns
retrograde Nov. 24 at 20 Sagittarius
Mercury turns direct Dec. 14 at 3 Sagittarius
Jupiter in Aries, Saturn in Libra
In 2010 and through
January of 2011, Jupiter and Uranus have been conjunct, amplifying the urges
towards an entirely new level of consciousness. Each of us has been
called to innovate ourselves, to breakthrough and activate our unique genius,
even amidst the omnidirectional confusions and chaotic projections of Pisces.
In 2011, both Uranus and
Jupiter move out of the watery dreamscapes of Pisces and into action-hungry
Aries. Jupiter flies through Aries in just five months, beginning January
23rd, inviting us to take bold leaps into new projects. Some may be
called to travel to facilitate personal growth or to invigorate those fantasies
of our previous Piscean imagination with the passion and daring spirit of
Aries. Burnout and overwhelm may be one of the challenges highlighted by
the Pluto square the last weeks of February, into early March. Jupiter's
accelerated flames will explode the Plutonian urge to transform, catalytically
thrusting each of us forward. April singes us with 7 planets in Aries,
including Uranus, for the first time in 84 years. Excitement, aggression,
risk, and reaction dominate as we feel within ourselves and see the world
reflecting an over-the-top, all-or-nothing attitude, hinting at the extreme,
revolutionary tensions of the extended Uranus in Aries-Pluto in Capricorn
square of mid 2011-2015, which I will discuss in Part 2. This
may be a collective shamanic moment — an encounter with a power, ferocity, and
mystery forcing us to unite our empowered Aries will with strategy and
dedication.
Aries Sun signs will be
thrust forward into opportunities for leadership and adventure. Whatever
planets we have in Aries are asked to fearlessly seize the day, thrust into
their most inspired expressions.
Riding the heels of the
Jupiter-Pluto square is the Saturn-Jupiter opposition — Between March and
April, a battle ensues between the conservative judge of Saturn in Libra and
the fearless daredevil Jupiter in Aries. Jupiter in Aries compels us to
spread our wings and soar beyond our previous limitations. No more
are we dreaming the next phase of evolution, as we did with Jupiter in
Pisces. Instead, we must put our ideas into action.
Our urges for freedom,
change, and autonomy may dominate under this transit, but will serve a higher
cause if aligned with the visions of others. Thus, this combo's fiery
optimism must also include a rational and coherent plan and a dedicated support
system–themes emphasized by Saturn's opposition in Libra. During the
March and April conjunction, we have a strong opportunity to manifest our
visions through our Libran ability to anchor our goals with our teammates,
intimates, and partners. We may find ourselves vacillating between
our urges for superhuman capabilities and melancholic awareness of the
confining laws of space and time. We are asked to not hurl Zeus'
thunderbolt of ambitious spirt in just any direction. But rather, to
consider carefully that which deserves our energy and experimentation.
Jupiter, planet of faith,
inspiration, and expanding horizons makes many helpful trines and sextiles once
he enters the calm and stabilizing Taurus June 5th, which should help us get
more practical and realistic with our projects after all the fervent energy of
the winter and spring Jupiter ransits.
One of the greatest tools
I've found for this visionary activation is a timemapping strategy i've been
practicing for a number of years. In this technique, which I offer as a
special reading to clients, we harmonize with the Sun and Moon's transits
through our personal horoscope to discover how best to flow with our personal
rhythms. This will be the topic of February's webinar workshops, most
likely occurring the 8th and 15th. Stay tuned.
Saturn Transit Pluto in Libra Generation
From September 2010
through September 2012, every member of the Pluto in Libra generation (born
1970-1984) is experiencing the raw, tooth-and-nail transit of Saturn on their
Pluto. Saturn forces the layers of the unconscious to the surface,
revealing wounds, traumas, depths, and evolutionary potential–especially in
the realm of relating, the great alchemical work of this generation.
If you're a member of the
Pluto in Libra generation or would like to learn more about this generation and
transit, as well as relationship astrology, visit this page on my blog.
The U.S. Saturn Return
On a national level, the
U.S. is experiencing its Saturn return, which occurs every 30 years.
Saturn return requires a country to deeply contemplate the consequences of its
choices, how the country define itself in the world, and how to limit growth in
order to concentrate efforts. Saturn, force of conservative pressure, set
down his agenda in the results of the mid-term elections of November, with the
highest GOP presence elected to the House ever. We will likely watch the
continued rise of conservative movements through 2011 politically, while
individuals continue to innovate with exciting ideas about sustainable local
communities. The rift between big government and local community needs
will likely increase. Although the media may tell us one story, growth and
expansion economically during a country's Saturn return is unlikely, especially
in the case of the U.S., getting pounded by Pluto, lord of death,
transformation, and regeneration throughout the decade ahead. Each one of
us, now, is building a new image of this country, and that image looks like
your neighbor next door.
Happy 2011!! I look
forward to sharing Part 2 with you. Please enjoy the recent interview online
with Adam Sommer. Blessings.
Image by Luc Viator, courtesy of Creative commons license.