JANUARY 2008

Happy new year! May you and yours enjoy health, prosperity and peace this year. As Pluto (transformation) begins its entry into Capricorn at the end of the month and Jupiter spends its first full month in Capricorn, we can begin to feel a shift in the energy from the previous two years. Some of the dust begins to settle from the upset and chaos which has been experienced, in particular by those born between 1938 and 1958. While Jupiter (opportunity) is in Capricorn, the sign of business, organization, leadership, control, career and security, the work and preparations done this year will lay the foundation for better times in 2009 when Jupiter will be in Aquarius. The State of Michigan and Governor Granholm are both Aquarians and will reap rewards from restructuring done this year. On the 21st an exact trine occurs between Jupiter and Saturn. Because Saturn is retrograde now, the process of restructuring is just beginning. We will see more of the results by September when they trine again in direct motion. Another big shift is happening as the nodes spend the first full month in Aquarius/Leo, having moved from Pisces/Virgo on December 18th. The Node cycle repeats every 19 years. They will stay in Aquarius/Leo until August of 2009. Aquarius is the sign of groups, friends, community, society and technology. Leo is the sign of ego, saving face, leadership and performing. The Aquarius/Leo issue is whether leadership, ego and technology will be used in a positive way for all humanity and for humanitarian goals or whether leaders will use their power and status to advance their own personal agenda and advancement. During this year and next we have one of the best opportunities in history to do the right thing for all people. This year’s election could be a history-changing one and requires that all citizens participate in our election process and not take it for granted. The Sun in Capricorn until the 20th supports Jupiter and Mercury, returning thoughts to career, business, organization and restructuring. The Sun in Aquarius after the 20th supports groups, friends, societies, polities, technology and all forward-thinking ideas.

Mercury (communication, writing, contracts, commerce, workers) transits in Capricorn, making thinking serious regarding career, school and work. It enters Aquarius the 8th and on the 13th it enters the shadow of the retrograde which begins on the 28th. An issues will arise between the 8th and 13th to be worked on or be in transition between the 28th and February 18th. Aquarius relates to technology, groups, societies, computers, electronics and friends.

Venus (values, money, social connections) in Sagittarius until the 24th values travel, trade, education, religion, philosophy, sports and legal matters. Venus in Capricorn after the 24th values control, responsibility, business, organization, leadership and security. Under this energy, career decisions need to match your talents, abilities and interests in order to enjoy your employment.

Mars (initiation, energy, aggression) retrogrades in Gemini until the 30th when it turns direct. It went retrograde on November 15th, connecting energy, vitality and possibly aggression to the sign of family, emotions, community and country. It expends energy on the family but can ignite political passion for the group one identifies with – country, community, religion or special interest. It entered the shadow of the retrograde on September 16th. The retrograde will relate to issues which were brought up around this time. The Mars retrograde is a combination of Gemini and Cancer – intellect vs. emotion/objective vs. subjective.

Jupiter (expansion, opportunity, optimism, travel, education, foreign trade, religion, legal matters) transits 3 to 9 degrees Capricorn and does not repeat these degrees. Birthdays affected this month are December 25th-31st, September 26th-October 3rd, June 24th-July 1st, and March 24th-30th as well as persons or companies whose charts have planets or angles from 3 to 9 degrees Capricorn, Cancer, Aries and Libra. Jupiter in Capricorn brings opportunity thru business, consolidation, restructuring, organization, land, leadership, control, career and all matters of security.

Saturn (structure, foundation, responsibility) retrogrades from 8 to 7 degrees Virgo, where it was in November/December 2007 and will repeat in July/August 2008. The transit of Saturn thru Virgo from September 2007 to July 2010 will affect those born between 1958 and 1972. This is the generation born when Pluto was in Virgo. Virgo relates to health, everyday routine and doing what is practical, frugal and orderly in daily life. This month’s transit will most directly affect those born August 30th-September 1st, February 26th-27th, November 29th-December 1st and May 28th-30th as well as those people or entities whose charts have planets or angles from 7 to 8 degrees Virgo, Pisces, Gemini or Sagittarius. Saturn’s last transit thru Virgo was 1978 to 1980. Review what was happening in your life about 30 years ago, during the half-cycle of 14-15 years (in Pisces), the quarter cycle of 7 years (in Gemini) and 21 years, the third quarter cycle (in Sagittarius) to understand what Saturn in Virgo from September 2007 to July 2010 will mean for you.

Uranus (freedom, rebellion, surprise, invention technology) transits 15 to 16 Pisces where it was in March, April, September and October 2007. Most affected are birthdays of March 6th-7th, June 6th-7th, September 8th-9th and December 7th-8th as well as persons or companies whose charts have planets or angles from 15 to 16 degrees Pisces, Virgo, Gemini or Sagittarius. Between March and October 2007 they will need freedom, experience chaos or make radical changes. Uranus will be in Pisces until 2011 and supports social revolution. During 1920, the start of the previous Uranus in Pisces, Congress granted women the right to vote and the “Roaring 20’s” began. Uranus in Pisces 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, global warming, health care and political decisions made for the good of the masses, not just special interests and the wealthy.

Neptune (sensitivity, inspiration, escapism, dreams, trust) transits 20 to 21 degrees Aquarius, where it was in March, July and August of 2007. Neptune turned retrograde on May 24th and turns direct on the October 31st. From May to October, during the retrograde, was an excellent time to release addictive attitudes, behaviors or habits. Neptune relates to intangibles such as art, imagination, inspiration, dance and creative writing as well as prayer, healing, dreams and escapism. Birthdays most affected are February 9th-10th, May 11th-12th, August 13th-14th and November 13th-14th as well as charts with planets or angles at 20-21 degrees Aquarius, Leo, Taurus or Scorpio. Neptune transits bring a lack of focus or direction, a sense of drifting or the inability to see an error, disappointment, betrayal or weakness until it’s too late. They dissolve the past in order to open space for the future. On the positive side this can be a time for faith, healing, psychic insights and artistic creativity. Under Neptune in Aquarius you can develop intuition, musical talents, practice meditation and pay more attention to your own inner guidance. You may also need to watch your back and balance faith with fact to see events clearly, not with wishful thinking or being attached to the dream or vision of what you think might have been.

Pluto (power, control, resources, transformation) transits the last degree of Sagittarius and enters Capricorn on the 25th. It will repeat these degrees in June, July and November 2008. Birthdays most affected are December 21st-22nd, June 20th-21st, March 20th-21st and September 22nd-23rd as well as charts with planets or angles from 29 Sag to 1 Capricorn, 29 Gemini to 0 Cancer, 29 Pisces to 0 Aries and 29 Virgo to 0 Libra. Between January and November 2008 they will experience major changes in life such as marriage, divorce, relocation, career and/or financial challenges. These are times when counseling or therapy may be required and self-awareness/motivational work necessary. Now that Pluto has completed 28 degrees of Sagittarius, it has brought focus, transformation and paradigm shifts in travel, education, travel, religion, politics and global trade. It has also brought religion to the forefront of world politics, war, conflict and the need to control.

Specific indications for the twelve signs are as follows:

Note: In addition to reading about your sun sign, you can gain more understanding by reading the signs of your Moon, rising sign and the sign on the midheaven or career house 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