The Energy of 2012 - Uranus

Uranus, the planet of the unexpected, takes 84 years to orbit around all 12 signs of the zodiac.  In 2012, it will pass over Aries at 0 degrees 51 minutes to 8 degrees 33 minutes.  

Uranus first entered fiery Aries for 2 months between 28th May and 13th August 2010.  It left Pisces completely on 11th March 2011 and will stay in Aries until 15th May 2018.  Just to complicate matters, it will revisit Aries for about 4 months from 7th November 2018 and leaves Aries for good on 5th March 2019.

With Uranus, expect the unexpected.  If you can think of it, then Uranus can take it one step further.  This planet demands freedom and independence.  Once your planets get zapped by its electrifying energy, life will not be the same again.  As with other transits, you can choose to fight against it or flow with it, or in this case, shake with it.......

On a global level, Uranus in Aries symbolises an increase in sudden violence, which has already started with riots breaking out in various parts of the world.

The house(s) that Uranus transits in can give us clues as to what kind of unpredictable events may occur to you in the next 7.5 years.  However, birth chart analysis is not that simple.  Besides looking at the planets residing in the house that Uranus transits in, we also need to consider the aspects to those planets and their rulerships too.

In 2012, Aries born between 20th-30th March (also those on the Pisces/Aries cusp) will have their Sun conjunct Uranus.  Libra born between 22nd September to 3rd October (also those on the Virgo/Libra cusp) will have their Sun oppose Uranus.  Capricorn born between 21st to 31st December (also those on the Sagittarius/Capricorn cusp) and Cancer born between 20th June to 1st July (also those on the Gemini/Cancer cusp) will have Uranus square their Sun.  These 4 cardinal signs are likely to experience Uranus in a stronger and more 'in your face' way than Aquarius (19th - 30th January, plus those on the Capricorn/Aquarius cusp), Gemini (20th - 31st May, including those on the Taurus/Gemini cusp), Leo (22nd July to 2nd August, and those born on the Cancer/Leo cusp) and Sagittarius (21st November to 1st December, plus those born on Scorpio/Sagittarius cusp).

Rebellious Uranus sends an earthquake through your system and breaks down old beliefs, values and routines.  You may feel awakened and excited to start something new that is being presented to you.  You could find a new job, start a new relationship or move on to a new place of residence.  There is a sense of wanting to break out of your everyday routine and do something completely different.  

Since I just had almost all of my significant planets electrocuted by Uranus while it was in Pisces for the last 7.5 years, I thought it would be more insightful to share that with you instead of analysing all the separate Uranus transits.

With the Pisces ingress, Uranus had conjunct my Mars 3 times, oppose my Saturn 3 times, conjunct my Sun once, oppose my North Node 3 times, square my Neptune 3 times and inconjunct my ASC and Pluto 3 times each.  My Sun oppose Saturn and the North Node natally and square Neptune too, so in effect, my Sun was activated by Uranus' hard aspects 10 times in total.  Thanks to my natal Sun trine Uranus aspect and also the softer Uranus transits (sextile to my Moon, MC and Chiron 3 times and trine my Uranus 3 times), I live to tell the tale........so what happened in the past 7.5 years?

In a nutshell, I was trained as a primary school teacher, thinking the certification would set me up for life (or until retirement anyway).  I loved the work but I kept on getting the 'trapped' feeling.  I didn't understand it at the time and got rather restless - even though I wasn't clear about the road ahead, I just knew I couldn't allow myself to stay where I was.  All in all, during this period, I resigned 3 times, worked in 3 different places of employment and relocated to a different country once.  Whilst overseas, I moved house once.  

I'm now at a place where my Sun waves goodbye to Uranus and it waits, with trepidation, for Neptune's arrival....

Where is Uranus shaking in your chart?

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The Energy of 2012 - Neptune

Neptune, the planet of illusion and spirituality, takes 164 years to complete one cycle of the zodiac.  Currently, it is in its final degrees of Aquarius and will enter Pisces early next year.  It had a brief visit in this dreamy sign back in early April and returned to Aquarius by early August.  This imaginative planet will be in its own sign, Pisces, for the next 14 years from 4th February 2012 and will pass the torch onto Aries by the end of January 2026.

As a Pisces, I should welcome this ingress.  After all, living under the current waves of economic turmoil, turning to spirituality of some form does help the soul to escape and get some inner peace and healing; as is developing compassion and exercise the act of kindness to those in need.  However, it's not that I can't accept having boundaries and structures dissolved by Neptune, it's the fact that this planet can bring deception into the game.  A pet hate of mine.

In Robert Hand's Planets in Transits, he mentions that 'planets pertaining to the ego drives - Mars, the Sun and Saturn - may produce fear, insecurity and anxiety when transited by Neptune by conjunction, square or opposition.' Great!  I am due to have my Mars, Sun and South Node conjunct by Neptune in the coming 12 years, this in turn, will activate my Saturn and North Node which are in opposition to my Piscean cluster.   So I have that to look forward to......of course, it's not all doom and gloom, as each planet carries positive and negative energies to be expressed slightly different by us mortals.

In 2012, Neptune will pass between 28 degrees and 54 minutes Aquarius and 3 degrees 9 minutes Pisces.  Any planets, points or angles between these degrees will get a strong taste of Neptune, depending on the angle they make with it.

For the purpose of this entry, I will focus on the Sun only. A tight orb of 1 degree is used.

You know you have been zapped by Neptune when matters become unclear and boundaries are being trespassed and/or removed.  A feeling of confusion then sets in.  As with all aspects, it is merely a life lesson.  Riding along with the motion may be easier than swimming against the current.  Extract the essence of the lesson then move on.  This is easier said than done, especially when Neptune clouds your perception, but stick with it and you are likely to come out of this transit with your hard-earned dosage of spiritual wisdom.

Pisces (born between 19th to 22nd February) and Aquarius (born between 16th to 19th February) will have Neptune tightly conjunct their Sun in 2012.  The initial stage may bring confusion concerning their identity and their life path.  Positively, this transit can heighten their sensitivity and intuition.  On the down side, they may be prone to deception and betrayal as Neptune can flood them with sympathy and compassion for those who appear to be less fortunate than themselves.  Forewarned is forearmed.  There is no need to put up a barrier for the next 14 years and adopt a Mulder attitude of 'Trust no one'.  If matters become unclear, demand clarification.  Take advantage of the creative and healing side of this transit instead.

For Taurus (especially those born between 18th to 21st May), Gemini (21st to 25th May), Scorpio (19th to 22nd November) and Sagittarius (22nd to 26th November), Neptune will square them tightly in 2012.  These people may find their well-planned out paths get flooded by Neptune, causing confusion and disorientation for the future.  Life could also bring other forms of disappointments, depending on the house Neptune is transiting in, which can force these people to alter their old beliefs, values and attitudes.  The challenge here is not to wallow in self-pity and to give in to addiction.  The purpose of any Neptune transit is not to cause unease but to feel at one with the universe, that physically, we are separate entities, but spiritually, we are all part of the universal light.

For Leo (20th to 23rd August) and Virgo (23rd to 27th August), Neptune will oppose them tightly in 2012.    Misunderstandings are more likely to crop up in their dealings with other people.  They should consider only to put their trust in those who have proved their worth and integrity.  Be cautious before entering into any new ventures as they may not be what they seem.  Again, spiritual enlightenment and a new way of viewing life await those who manage to navigate their way out of the fog.

Aries (17th to 20th April), Taurus (20th to 24th April), Sagittarius (19th to 22nd December) and Capricorn (22nd to 26th December) should find it easier to tune into Neptune's spiritual energy with a sextile to it.  They are likely to be sensitive to the needs of their friends around them. The blurring of boundaries is understood and assimilated into their systems much more gently.  They may also become involved in spiritual pursuits of some kind.

Gemini (18th to 21st June), Cancer (21st to 25th June), Libra (20th to 23rd October) and Scorpio (23rd to 27th October) are also able to tap into Neptune's realm of imagination and creativity under this transit (trine).  The danger here is procrastination.  Harness the artistic energy and funnel it into projects that are close to their heart - chances are that these people know what those dreams are.  Being overly idealistic is the other pitfall in this transit, however, if they clear away the fog of idleness and focus on their intentions like a laser beam, manifesting those plans can become a reality.

Which house will Neptune visit in your chart in 2012?


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Cosmic weather report for the last week in 2011

The atmosphere lightens up as the Moon in Capricorn pulls away from its square to Saturn and enters Aquarius on Boxing Day.  In humanitarian Aquarius, the Moon then square Jupiter, opening our eyes to those unfortunate souls in society who may not have had such a heart-warming Christmas.  Is there anything we could do to help them?

On Tuesday 27th, the Moon conjunct Venus in Aquarius, creating an air of detachment, which helps us to let go of any emotional attachments as we get ready for the new year.  This is further reinforced by the Moon in sextile to Mercury.

By mid-week, the Moon is busy connecting to Saturn (trine) and Neptune (conjunction) before entering dreamy Pisces.  We are encouraged to be realistic with our time and not have our boundaries crossed by offering too much of ourselves away.  The Sun conjunct Pluto may bring power struggles, though with the Moon sextile Pluto, the intensity is directed in positive ways.

Leading up to the weekend, with the Moon square Mercury in Sagittarius and oppose Mars in Virgo, we are reminded not to get caught-up in the details but to take a step back and look at the bigger picture.

Feelings become more volatile as the Moon enters fiery Aries on New Year's Eve.  We begin to ruthlessly review the past year,  reminiscing on all the things we have or have not achieved.  A feeling of impatience accompanies our evaluation of 2011 as we look forward to making a new start in 2012.

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'Tis the season to be jolly

Venus enters the unconventional Aquarius, squaring Jupiter in greedy Taurus.  There is a tendency to overindulge ourselves leading up to the festive season, whether it be Christmas shopping, dining-out or partying with friends.  

Excessive spending, eating, drinking.............................

Merry Christmas everyone:-)

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Jupiter in Taurus going direct

Jupiter, the planet of luck and expansion, first entered the sign of reliable and patient Taurus on 5th June 2011.  Jupiter brings us a feeling of joy, confidence and faith in what we do, but we can equally be overwhelmed by this expansive energy.  By 30th August though, it began its backward motion, giving us almost 4 months worth of introspective time to dialogue with our inner voice, and to work out how to utilise this wave of abundance in practical and sensible ways.  On Christmas Day this year, Jupiter will go direct again and will stay in Taurus until 11th June 2012.

Personally, I have my transiting Jupiter in my 10th house of professional life and public status.  Every time when Jupiter enters Taurus, I'm endowed with a feeling of hope and that whatever happens, it will all turn out to be fine in the end.  You can interpret this as blind faith, I guess!

Where's Jupiter in your chart at the moment?  What is it bringing you?

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New Moon in Capricorn

This year's Christmas Eve marks another potent time to make your wishes and to sow seeds in your garden of desire.  The New Moon in Capricorn at 2 degrees 34 minutes asks us to be our own authority and choose the path that YOU want to be on.  With Uranus in Aries in a tight aspect (square) to this New Moon, it is easy to give in to external pressure and to blindly follow the advice from those around you, whom may think they have your best interest at heart, but at the end of the day, you are your own boss.  By all means, listen to their words of wisdom, but whether you execute them is at your discretion.  Luckily, this New Moon is also in a relatively close aspect to Jupiter (trine), bringing opportunities and an atmosphere of harmony and good will to the area of life that Jupiter falls in your own chart.

Aries
Feeling confident with what you have to offer in your career, you are toying with the idea of adding another dimension to your professional life.  As much as you want to leave a blazing trail and be the envy of your colleagues, the extra workload and responsibilities would mean less time to enjoy life.

Taurus
This New Moon ushers in a wave of philosophical energy, encouraging you to explore the big wide world through travelling or expanding your mind in a higher education setting.  Regardless of the step you take to review what life means to you, you are imbued with a positive outlook on life.

Gemini
The energy of this New Moon is highlighting issues surrounding your relationship with your intimate partner, whether it be the assets you share together or taking the relationship onto a higher level.  This may elicit the fear of losing your freedom and individuality.  However, consider taking the time-out to listen to that inner voice of yours in order to reach a decision.

Cancer
Relationships, both romantic and business, are under the spotlight during this New Moon, whether it be the progression onto the next level or a total elimination.  You are likely to have reached a point where tolerance is not an option.  Like-minded friends could provide you with tactful and sensitive ways to handle the situation and deal with the people involved.

Leo
This is a time to review your current state of employment and how you are serving in this world.  Opportunities present themselves in your career, from extending your professional network to captivating a larger clientele.  Spiritual teachers or gurus could offer you words of advice, but you are the director of your life in the end.

Virgo
Some of your deep-seated fears may surface from the depths of your psyche, hindering the true expression of yourself.  However, if you take a step back and see the bigger picture of life, you may find these 'scary monsters under the bed' are not so terrifying at all.


Libra

Home life is under scrutiny during this New Moon.  Although family members may be testing your patience, you are feeling rather forgiving and can tap into your creative pool to find excuses for their negative behaviours.

Scorpio
This New Moon reminds you that it's time to update your knowledge bank and acquire new skills to remain competitive in the job market.  You may also like to consider communicating your needs openly at work, as your boss and colleagues are not mind-readers.  Offload your worries to a significant other, after all, a problem shared is a problem halved.

Sagittarius
As much as you crave freedom and spontaneity, there comes a time when life's practicalities have to be taken care of.  This New Moon highlights the need for financial stability, even at the expense of curbing your creative nature.  A feeling of contentment surrounds the possibility of expansions at work, whether it be the physical location or your workload; it's all taken in good spirits.

Capricorn
'Working hard' is your life mantra but the New Moon is opening your eyes to explore the possibility of 'playing hard'.  This is also the perfect time to redress your work-life balance - Have you been neglecting your family because of your workaholic tendencies?

Aquarius
Always thinking about other people, Aquarians are asked by the New Moon to take a break and have some 'me' time.  Ask your mind to shut up for a moment.  Go deep within and get in touch with your inner self.  A renewed sense of self-understanding can bring clarity to your next step in life.

Pisces
Friendships are under the spotlight during this New Moon.  Perhaps you feel the need to widen your circle of friends or to detach from friends who are stifling your creative soul.  This could also be a time to acquire new skills and be receptive to new ideas.

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The Energy of 2012 - Pluto

After 76 years of being a planet, Pluto was redefined as a minor planet by the International Astronomical Union in 2006. Despite this relegation, Pluto still holds significance in the astrological world since astrologers analyse minor planets such as Chiron, Ceres and Lilith anyway.

In astrology, Pluto symbolises transformation, elimination, endings, new beginnings and rebirths. This minor planet first entered the sign of Capricorn in late January 2008 and then re-entered it in late November of the same year. It will leave Capricorn for good in November 2024. The energy of Capricorn is practical, reserved, ambitious and disciplined, but it can be negatively expressed as rigid, pessimistic and calculative. Pluto is considered to be a transcendental planet; therefore, its influence is exerted over a generation of people rather than selective individuals. Since its entry in Capricorn, we have observed huge upheavals in the financial world, beginning with the credit crunch, bringing a knock-on effect on the rest of the globe. Fear ripples into every aspect of our lives. All of a sudden, we are faced with the prospect of elimination (job losses, bankruptcies). Those who prove to be indispensable can remain in the game. Otherwise, out you go. These are some of the manifestations of Pluto in Capricorn in the collective world.

In 2012, Pluto will traverse between 7 to 9.5 degrees in Capricorn. Individuals born under the Sun sign of Capricorn will continue to feel the pressure to express themselves, to get in touch with their inner will and authority, and to face challenges head-on. In particular, those born between 28th December to 2nd January will feel this stress the most as Pluto will conjunct their Sun during 2012. It is a time to go deep within and to release those parts of you which are preventing you from moving forward. You are likely to feel a need to spring-clean an aspect of your life depending on the position of the Sun in your chart.

Aries and Libra, especially those born between 27th March - 1st April and 29th September - 4th October respectively, will feel the resistance to any possible changes around them. 2012 is a significant year for growth for these people, but only if they are willing to let go and have trust in the Universe. What appears to be 'losses' on the surface may well be blessings in disguise. The deeper the fear, the harder it is to release these outdated beliefs and habits. Detach, accept and embrace the transformation.

Those born under the sign of Cancer, particularly between 27th June - 3rd July, will also feel the stresses like Aries and Libra. Other people may appear to be controlling or undermining you, or you may be doing that to others as a way of holding onto the status quo. Again, it is a time to allow the hidden parts of yourself to surface to the light and to redefine your life values and goals.

Gemini, Leo, Aquarius and Sagittarius may also feel the resistance to the power of Pluto, though the intensity is likely to be less than that of the cardinal signs (Aries, Libra, Cancer and Capricorn). The key is to resist the temptation of remaining stagnant. What happens when you don’t take your rubbish out? Your house will stink!

On a more positive note, Pluto is in a more favourable aspect to Pisces and Scorpio, especially those born between 25th February – 2nd March and 29th October – 4th November respectively. Changes are more internal and are more readily accepted. Old beliefs and habits are released with ease, leaving behind a sense of empowerment.

Taurus and Virgo, especially those born between 26th April – 1st May and 29th August – 3rd September respectively, are also likely to feel focused and vibrant, having got rid of attitudes which have long expired. They may adopt a new approach to life and start a new hobby, a relationship or a health regime, depending on the position of their Sun and Pluto in their charts.

Besides the Sun, other planets in cardinal signs between 7-9.5 degrees (allowing an orb of 1 degree) will also feel Pluto's exertion.

Which planets in your chart will Pluto visit in 2012?

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Total Lunar Eclipse in Gemini 2011

The sun rises in the east and sets in the west daily. Mortals all over the world go about their daily businesses, of earning a living and providing for their families, or to simply be carried away by the motion of their regular routine, because 'that's life, that's the way it is'.

Mercury in Sagittarius going retrograde two weeks ago (24th November) gave us an opportunity to stop rushing around for a moment and go within ourselves in order to ask more profound questions of our existence, 'Why am I here?' 'What do I need to do with my life?' 'What do I REALLY want from life?' This was quickly followed by a solar eclipse, also in Sagittarius, where it was a powerful time to plant a seed in the area of life where this New Moon falls in your chart (Sagittarius at 2 degrees 36 minutes).

Now, two weeks later, we are about to welcome the lunar eclipse in Gemini at 18 degrees 10 minutes. We are still in the midst of the Sagittarian Mercury retrograde, however, having pondered on the bigger questions of life, we now need to release our old beliefs - just like deleting unwanted files from your computer and updating your software. Keep what is working well and discard outdated ways of thinking. Look in your chart and see which axis this powerful full moon straddles across. Coupled with Uranus going direct in Aries on the day before this lunar eclipse, we are encouraged to be bold and to move forward fearlessly. Not everyone may see eye-to-eye with you, but remember, people used to believe that the world was flat and that Earth was in the centre of the Universe. As Brian Littrell said 'Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you'll land among the stars.'

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