5 Stand-Out Astrological Events in January 2018

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Felix Vallotton

Ah, not to be cut off,
not through the slightest partition
shut out from the law of the stars.
The inner — what is it?
if not intensified sky,
hurled through with birds and deep
with the winds of homecoming

– Rainer Maria Rilke

1. Uranus Stations Direct — January 2, 2018 — An Impulse Toward Sundering

“In what sense the visible landscape under my eyes is not exterior to… the other moments of time and the past, but has them really behind itself in simultaneity, inside itself, and not it and they side by side “in” time.”

~Merleau-Ponty – The Visible and the Invisible

Uranus. Our planet of iconoclasm, freedom and political disruption. The planet that delivers lightning quick insights that induce one to cough up a smokey haze that, once it settles, makes one realize the suffocating archaic dross one has surrounded by. And that one must make a change tout de suite. Uranus folks are excited by life and excite others by the keenness of their fine perceptions. Uranian times disrupt the way things have been an interject uncomfortable exhales that make imagining a new way of being possible. Uranian creatures are fast but sensitive. They need to care for their nervous systems.

Uranus direct on the Full Moon amplifies the jolting energy of this planet. Often people complain of being unable to sleep for the 5 or so days surrounding this planet’s station. (A regular exercise routine as far as one is able should take care of that).

Uranus was discovered in 1781, when all the King’s Men didn’t want to be the King’s Men anymore, the world over. When Uranus entered Aries in 2010, the Arab Spring had begun emerging in Tunisia and Egypt. Iran was experiencing its Green Movement protest of the previous year’s election — the largest protest in Iran until today’s. As Uranus stations direct today, Iranians are staging anti-government protests in numbers rivaling the protests from 7 years ago.

On a personal level, it’s important to note that Uranus is a transpersonal planet. Unlike the energies of the classical seven planets, Uranian qualities of experience require a good amount of self awareness to get a grip on and even then, its transformative urges can be a lot to manage for humans who value stability. Uranian impulses do well with creative outlets.

But its purpose is to liberate energy. At its station, Uranus is offering fine fine and fast liberating insight. Listen and watch closely over the next several days for a key to freedom that arrives in the course of a conversation, event, day dream, night dream, realization, heightened inspiration during meditation. You might try inviting this energy in by making space for it. Declutter and clean with intention, put on a bright citrus essential oil in a diffuser, take a long walk between your favorite city streets, or among trees would be even better. And see what comes.

2. Mars conjunct Jupiter in Scorpio — January 6, 2018

This combination of planets signifies massive undertakings. Militaristic campaigns. The regiment of physical training. The unforgiving cut of an indifferent sword. This alignment in this sign can spell the victory that is calculated. The emotional and material sacrifices required to undertake a trained soldier’s campaign.

Watch for the Scorpio part of your chart to unfold a new campaign intended to create freedom. That could look like a choice to cull something in order to create a larger, more healing, more beneficent, more whole or more complete experience.

While physical changes can inform, shape and keep a candle lit for emotional changes — emotional changes are the core shifts that precede the outer transformation. Mars is all physical though, and this configuration points to effort made to make something bigger, freer, and more joyous.

Read for both your Sun and Rising signs below to note where in your life this aspect will unfold.

Aries — Shared money. Give and take in emotional experiences. Private experiences of change.
Taurus — Relationships with others.
Gemini — Health, work, employees, employers.
Cancer — Lovers, children, creativity, sex
Leo — Home, Family, Ancestral emotions
Virgo — Communications, writing, day to day tempo, siblings, short travels
Libra — Money earned, earning strategies, moveable property
Scorpio — Self presentation, self conception, body
Sagittarius — Private experiences of victory. Inner attitudes. Solitary journeying.
Capricorn — Networks, friendships, social causes, long term dreams
Aquarius — Career, calling, your public face
Pisces — Mystical traditions, philosophical attitudes, higher education, politics, long travels

3. Venus begins a new Synodic Cycle — January 8, 2018 — Linking the Bulbs of an Hourglass

“Then they talk about this thing in the head; what’s this they call it? [member of audience whispers, “intellect”] That’s it, honey. What’s that got to do with women’s rights or negroes’ rights? If my cup won’t hold but a pint, and yours holds a quart, wouldn’t you be mean not to let me have my little half measure full?

Then that little man in black there, he says women can’t have as much rights as men, ’cause Christ wasn’t a woman! Where did your Christ come from? Where did your Christ come from? From God and a woman! Man had nothing to do with Him.
If the first woman God ever made was strong enough to turn the world upside down all alone, these women together ought to be able to turn it back , and get it right side up again! And now they is asking to do it, the men better let them.”

~ Sojourner Truth, Ain’t I a Woman

On this day Venus is swallowed into the heart of the Sun. Here, for a day, Venus dons her crown and takes respite from the licks and scorches of the Sun’s beams. The dross of the old cycle is burned away and Venus is cleansed and sanctified, preparing to emerge in her softer form as she begins to rise in the night sky in the coming months.

In love, in friendship, in relating, in beauty, in the arts and the melodies of creativity, Venus casts a new light. These topics are seen through the eyes of babes from this moment. But the fresh birth happens in the underworld with the Lord of Hades presiding. These topics are psychologized – their forms are draped in folds of power, and the way the material can shape or bind or sully our closest bonds. This combination encourages seeing through to the soul of a dynamic, and points out how willingly or unwillingly we become subsumed by the undulations of desire.

Venus’ new cycle is therefore colored by this configuration. Our task becomes to engage with these dynamics in the most self-aware, self-honest way possible, remaining true to what is best for us personally. Not shunning the difficult personal realizations, and not building castles on looking away from the truth — that won’t do. This cycle is an opportunity for utter clarity and personal responsibility to one’s own compass — using that as a starting point for navigating all kinds of relationships — with your partner, with your co-parent, with your boss, with your self.

4. Mercury conjunct Saturn in Capricorn — January 12, 2018 — A Real Conversation

“It is through the ritual power of speech and song that the Navajo are enabled most powerfully to affect and alter events in the enveloping cosmos. According to Gary Witherspoon, in his landmark study of Language and Art in the Navajo Universe, the Navajo consider the act of speech to be an externalization of thought, “an imposition of form upon the extern world”, in which the surrounding Air is transformed.”

~David Abram, The Spell of the Sensuous

This union of planets represents the culmination of a process. It is interwoven with two other conjunctions of Mercury and Saturn. The message is, what is the philosophical foundation on which your thoughts (which are the forerunners of your outer structures) are built? What is the history you are building on when you identify with a conviction? Does what you say reflect the truth of who you are?

When Mercury sidles up to Saturn on January 12th, it gives voice to Saturn’s message in Capricorn for the first time since it entered the sign. Conversations at this time could be weighty. The words expressed have consequences. The words themselves either come from somewhere digested, real and true, or they’re released without full consideration of their truth or their impact. Either way the effect is to communicate a notice from Saturn. This notice is the culmination of a month’s worth of serious deliberation, past visitation, and profound introspection.

The mind at this time is clear and focused. In addition to giving heed to the words you choose to express, it would be a good time to read the parking signs where you park your car and to carefully inspect, clean and detail your personal mode of transportation. On the communication front, be aware of too much negativity or harsh criticism.

Mercury first conjoined Saturn on November 27th. What event or conversation started for you around that time? It then joined Saturn again on December 5th, while it was retrograde. This conjunction on January 12th will represent the closing of this cycle. Watch for a conversation that puts something consequential to rest.

5. Mars at 28 Scorpio — January 23, 2018 — Squaring The Eclipse Point

The total Solar eclipse of August 21, 2017 took place at 28 degrees Leo. When Mars crosses 28 degrees Scorpio, it will set off this eclipse point. During this time, expect to see a flashpoint of eclipse related developments. Since Mars is fast, physical and fiesty, these could take the form of showing off brawns, pioneering, discoveries, disputes, courage, or famous military personnel in the public spotlight.

If your chart was impacted by the eclipse, this will activate those planets and the eclipse storyline surrounding them. While major changes can happen around the time of an eclipse, larger scale story waves typically unfold on a 12-18 month timeline post-eclipse.

 

While there are several other notable astrological events this action-filled month, including 2 full moons, one of which is an eclipse, Jupiter sextile Pluto, a super stellium of planets in Capricorn on the 15th, Mercury conjunct Pluto, I wanted to choose only 5, and these were the ones that stood out most to me.

Wishing you an excellent month and a wonderful New Year!

Warmly,
Ichrak

 

Astrology of 2018

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Ichrak

Ichrak

California based astrologer in practice since 2014. Blending traditional astrology with Yogic/Vedic philosophy, and wisdom teachings, art, poetry, literature and spirituality.

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