JANUARY 2006

Happy new year! I wish all of us peace, prosperity, health and happiness throughout the coming year. 2006 begins just after the New Moon on 12/30 and with a positive Sun/Jupiter contact on the 4th. The Sun in Capricorn until the 20th supports consolidation, structure, organization, business, leadership, security and control. During Venus retrograde until February 3rd, humanitarian vs. practical values will be weighed and balanced while companies and individuals decide on their future course of action. The most intense times of focus on these issues during this month will be around the Full Moon on the 14th and the square of Jupiter to Neptune (stress aspect) on the 27th. The planetary relationship of Jupiter/Neptune could also indicate severe weather and shifts in financial markets. On the personal level, Venus retrograde can also affect friendships and personal relationships. You may not receive the support you expect from others. Depend on your own talents, values and goals rather than what you think others should do for you. (See Venus) The Sun in Aquarius after the 20th supports humanitarian, global, community and political issues as well as technology, science, computers, inventions and innovative ideas.

Mercury (communications, writing, contracts, commerce) in Sagittarius until the 3rd is positive, expansive and philosophical. Between the 3rd and 22nd Mercury in Capricorn is concerned with issues of business, organization, schedules and training. After the 22nd Mercury in Aquarius supports groups, community, politics, friends and associates. Attitudes will be optimistic until the 4th, will change to thrifty or negative from the 3rd to the 22nd and then finish the month with an objective, community-oriented view.

Venus (values, money, social connections) continues retrograde in Capricorn affecting the values of organizations and businesses as well as issues of control, thrift, training and consolidation. On November 23rd Venus entered the setup of its next retrograde which spans from December 24th to February 3rd. Between November 23rd and December 24th issues of values/talents vs. security/control emerged to be worked on between December 24th and February 3rd. From February 3rd to March 7th is the windup phase when goals can be more clearly defined, decisions are made and new processes put into action. The Capricorn/Aquarius retrograde indicates that companies dealing with downsizing face the dilemma of doing what is right for workers vs. maintaining financial solvency. Venus in Aquarius values humanitarian goals, community concerns and doing what is right for the whole while Capricorn focuses on the “bottom line.”

Mars (initiation, energy, aggression) transits 11 to 21 degrees Taurus, repeating where it was from August thru November 2005. Taurus can be loyal and persevering but also stubborn. It lends energy to tangible things such as the earth, crops, building, machinery and repairs. Mars in Taurus also relates to material security, personal values and self-esteem. On the 12th of August Mars entered the shadow of the retrograde cycle and went retrograde on October 1st at 23 degrees Taurus. The “windup” (completion) phase lasts from December 10th until February 4th 2006. Mars moves more slowly than Mercury, so its retrograde is longer and consequently its entry shadow and windup phase are longer. Since Mars rules war, the people, countries and companies whose charts have planets or angles from 8 to 23 degrees Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius will be most affected between August 2005 and February 2006.

Jupiter (expansion, opportunity, optimism, travel, foreign trade, education, religion) transits 13 to 17 degrees Scorpio where it will repeat in April, May and September 2006. This is a cycle of freedom, opportunity, expansion or movement for those born November 5th-9th, May 3rd-7th, August 5th-9th and February 2nd-5th as well as persons or companies whose charts have planets or angles from 13 to 17 degrees Scorpio, Taurus, Leo or Aquarius. Jupiter in Scorpio supports opportunity thru motivation, commitment, sharing of resources and fiscal responsibility.

Saturn (structure, foundation, responsibility) retrogrades from 9 to 7 degrees Leo, repeating where it was in September and October 2005 and where it will be in June 2006. Saturn will bring changes in responsibility and career shifts to Leos as well as restructuring in the house of the chart it rules or where planets in Leo are found. Leo relates to royalty, leadership, performing, children, entertainment and creative talents. During Saturn in Leo people could develop their hobbies and turn them into businesses. This month’s transits most directly affect those born July 30th-August 1st, April 27th-30th, October 30th-November 2nd and January 27th-29th as well as those whose charts have planets or angles from 7 to 9 degrees Leo, Aquarius, Taurus and Scorpio. Saturn’s last transit thru Leo was 1975 to 1978. Review what was happening in your life about 30 years ago, during the half-cycle of 14-15 years (in Aquarius), the quarter cycle of 7 years (in Taurus) and 21 years, the third quarter cycle (in Scorpio) to understand what Saturn in Leo between July 2005 and September 2007 means for you.
Uranus (freedom, rebellion, surprise, invention technology) transits 7 to 9 degrees Pisces where it was in March/April and August/September of 2005. Birthdays most affected are February 26th-27th, May 29th-30th, August 31st-September 1st and November 29th-December 1st. Between March 2005 and January 2006 they have needed freedom, experienced chaos or made radical changes as well as persons or companies whose charts have planets or angles from 7 to 9 degrees Pisces, Virgo, Gemini or Sagittarius. Uranus will be in Pisces until 2011 and supports social revolution. During 1920, the beginning of the previous Uranus thru Pisces, the U.S. Congress granted women the right to vote. It also supports artistic creativity with innovation and intellect with sensitivity, leading to modern ways of helping those in need and suggesting that the only way that humanity will survive is by caring for each other and doing what is best for all, addressing humanitarian and global issues such as disaster relief and political decisions made for the good of the masses, not just special interests and the wealthy.

Neptune (sensitivity, inspiration, escapism, dreams, trust) transits 15 to 17 degrees Aquarius where it was in March 2005 and will repeat in October and November of 2006. Neptune relates to intangibles such as imagination, inspiration, creative writing and art well as prayer, healing, dreams and escapism. During Neptune’s retrograde (May thru October 2005) was a good time to release addictive habits, attitudes or behaviors. Birthdays most affected are February 4th-5th, August 8th-9th, November 8th-9th and May 6th-7th as well as charts with planets or angles from 15 to 17 degrees Taurus, Leo, Aquarius or Scorpio. Neptune transits bring a lack of focus or direction, a sense of drifting or the inability to see a betrayal, disappointment, error or weakness until it’s too late. On the positive side this can be a time for healing, faith, psychic insights and artistic creativity. Under Uranus in Pisces you can develop musical talents, practice meditation, intuition and inner guidance. But you may also need to watch your back and balance faith with practicality and fact to see events clearly, not with just wishful thinking or remaining attached to the dream or vision of what you think might have been.

Pluto (power, control, resources, transformation) transits 24 to 25 degrees Sagittarius, where it will retrograde in June/July of 2006 and repeat direct in December of 2006. Birthdays influenced most are December 16th-17th, June 15th-16th, March 15th-16th and September 17th-18th as well as charts with planets or angles from 24 to 25 degrees Virgo, Pisces, Sagittarius and Gemini. Between January and December of 2006 they will experience major changes in life such as career, relocation, marriage, divorce or financial problems. Counseling or therapy could be required and self-awareness/motivational work found very valuable. Pluto has passed the 24th degree and is now three-quarters of the way thru the sign of Sagittarius, bringing transformation and paradigm shifts in education, travel, religion, politics and global trade.

Here are the Specific indications for the 12 signs

Note: In addition to reading about your sun sign, you can get additional information by reading about your moon sign, rising sign and the sign on the Midheaven of your chart.

Nancy Bahlman is a professional astrologer with special interests in relating persons to locations using Astro*Cartography and Local Space Charts. Classes now forming.
(248) 546-5407 chartmates@aol.com