Oh my gosh my golly, eclipses, retrogrades and folly!
Dear Ones,
Welcome to 2018, the Chinese Year of the Dog, and the magic and wonder of a fresh start.
There are five eclipses this year. These are cosmic doorways and if you have planets within one degree of an eclipse you’re likely to experience its influence. Eclipses occur in both 19-year (Metonic) and 18-year (Saros) cycles, so you can look back 18 and 19 years to 1999 and 2000 and see what was going on for you. The eclipses are January 31, February 15, July 12, July 27 and August 11. The most interesting eclipse for Americans will be the one in February because it activates Donald Trump’s chart. It occurs opposite the eclipse point of August 21, 2017 which was a direct “hit” to his Mars. That’s two “hits” in six months – that’s a lot to overcome. As my perceptive astrologer friend Nancy says, “His karma will come due.” We shall see! Something will happen that’s for sure. Eclipses are powerful tools for change and in my long experience as an astrologer I have seen the extraordinary relationship between eclipses and significant life effects.
Mercury retrogrades three times this year: 3/22 to 4/15; 7/25 to 8/18; and 11/16 to 12/6. Mark those dates on your calendar. Those are your reflect, redo, relax times when you can catch up with yourself. Don’t buy any big items or electronics during that time. And don’t sign anything noteworthy. I’ve seen the effects of Mercury retrograde deals and they are not pretty. Of course, there are always a few exceptions to this rule. Another astrologer friend, Cassandra, loves to mess with Mercury retrograde periods by traveling during them. I affectionately call her the “contrary astrologer.”
Change agent Uranus really shakes things up by nipping from Aries into Taurus for the first time in 84 years. Wow. This will really highlight earth changes, climate change, resource availability and so on. There are major value changes ahead of us and I’m glad, though also concerned. Why does it have to get this bad before we wake up?! Keep your eyes and ears open mid-March to early November before Uranus skedaddles back to Aries. Don’t worry, it’ll be back and those issues will be right there in front of us for the next seven years.
Uranus in Taurus reminds me of Pharaoh’s dream (Genesis 41). I certainly hope we’ve got enough sense to avoid something that dangerous in this country, though there are many parts of the world where this is already happening. Truly, we are One World, our climate patterns are so huge now, that what happens there, happens here. I’ll be teaching a class on Uranus in Taurus in the near future so we can fully explore what this 84 year/7 year cycle will look like for you. In the meantime watch the History Channel show “Alone” for a keen understanding of our connection to wilderness. Better yet, get yourself out there in it.
Active Mars retrogrades this year also from 6/26 to 8/27. Be mindful of wasted action, or things that need to be redone at this time. Issues associated with the military may arise now too.
The Chinese Year of the Male Brown Earth Dog begins in mid-February. It has a lot to do with matters related to the Earth and natural resources.
There’s a lot more to the year then just the above highlights and I’ll elaborate on them in my monthly columns as they occur.
Yellowstone – Earth, Fire and Water
January brings us the energy of Capricorn – the water goat. Water because Capricorns do struggle with emotions and goat because they want to get to the top no matter what. There is nothing these folks can’t do. Happy birthday to ya! And good luck over the next two and a half years as your ruling planet, Saturn, moves through your sign. You’re going to be able to get a lot done as you focus on your priorities. As Tim Gunn says in Project Runway “Make it work!”
January gets us off to a good start with not one, but two full moons. The first is on New Year’s Day in the sign of Cancer. It’s a super moon (that’s a really big moon that’s closer to the earth than usual). Full of emotions and good intentions this watery lunation encourages us to come from the heart this year and to tend to our foundations. Pluto, the Sun, Venus and Saturn are all in Capricorn – foundation and structure; business and authority; family and duty; career and country. This is a major theme as stern Saturn is now in thrifty Capricorn for the first time in 29 years and we’re all considering what’s the most important thing for us. I’m teaching an experiential workshop January 27th on this very subject. I so hope you can join me. You’ll understand Saturn as you never have before. https://www.astrologybydulce.com/events/
This Full Moon trines with Neptune and Mars encouraging you to live your dream by putting it into action. This is helped by Uranus’ direct motion the following day on January 2nd. You can do it!
If you need a push, use the 5th through the 8th when Mars meets with Jupiter. You can move mountains under these skies. It’s heavy lifting time so be careful.
January 9th the Sun connects with Venus and Pluto exactly. Wow. What a day. It’s a powerful opportunity to transform hate to love, fear to empowerment and the opposite is true too. There could be some kind of governmental decree at this time, possibly related to money or coins.
Mercury hovers at the Galactic Center helping us orient to the truth before it too enters Capricorn on the 11th. It’s time to get serious and to walk your talk. The Moon connects with Mars and Jupiter now suggesting public response to legislation and/or taxation. Emotions could run high. There’s a sudden change in mood on the 13th when Venus squares Uranus.
The 13th and 14th could bring heavy news when Mercury connects with stern Saturn. Get busy and keep working. You can accomplish a lot under these skies.
The Capricorn New Moon January 16th at 7:15 PM (MT) is loaded with energy. This New Moon is your best opportunity to get your project started. The Sun, Moon, Venus, Mercury, Black Moon Lilith and Saturn are all in Capricorn for this lunation. Remember the key words for Capricorn? Practicality, business, family, duty, tradition, government, work, career, father. There are books on the subject of Capricorn – check ‘em out. But do use this New Moon to your advantage. Use it. That’s what Capricorn teaches us. It shows us how to be useful and how to put things to use. You can kick serious butt by using the last of the Capricorn energy because soon the energy changes.
The energy prepares to shift to social, rebellious Aquarius which it does the very next day on the 17th when the Moon and then lovely Venus enter this egalitarian sign. The energy continues to change on the 19th when the Sun enters friendly Aquarius too. The people have a voice and there’s a sense of rebellion in the air.
Things feel a little tender on the 21st when the Moon connects with Chiron. Mercury approaches a conjunction with secretive Pluto. It’s best to bite your tongue as words have power, especially on the 24th when Mercury meets up with Pluto. Pluto has a lot to do with secrets. Are you holding on to toxic secrets? If so, this is the time to let them go, in a safe setting of course.
There’s a profound energy shift on the 26th, when active Mars leaves intense Scorpio for fun-loving, happy-natured, and sometimes dogmatic, Sagittarius. Let the adventures begin! Pack that bag. You can plan your trip, or even head out to meet friends on the 27th when the Aquarian Sun and Venus trine the Gemini Moon. You can come to the Saturn in Capricorn class! https://www.astrologybydulce.com/events/
Energy builds, and emotions rise as the Moon in January waxes to fullness at around 6:15 AM MT, on the 31st at a total lunar eclipse at 11° Leo/Aquarius. This is a Blue Moon (2nd Full Moon in a month) and another Super Moon (close to Earth). As such it packs a punch and you may want to make an easy day of it. Just ride those emotions out. This too shall pass. The eclipse will be visible across much of the USA. Check out its path here: https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/lunar/2018-january-31
If your birthday is around this time 2018 may be a significant year for you. Think back 19 years and see what was going for you. If something significant happened, then 2018 may be another turning point for you. The last time an eclipse occurred in this spot was Jan 31, 1999.
The energy of the eclipse continues as little Mercury, not to be outdone, gets in on the act and moves into Aquarius that very next hour. The message that this eclipse brings is that we are indeed all connected. This is our home. There’s no where else to go and those people are our people. There’s only one of us here, says the Course in Miracles. That knuckle head over there is a part of you. What ya’ gonna’ do? Acceptance and equanimity are keys for this time. How can you reduce the mental stress in your life? What can you relax into and simply accept?
From the practicality of Capricorn and the development of foundation, we end the month focused on the inter-connected web of society and our place in it, and our contribution to it.
I look forward to seeing you next month which features a solar eclipse the day after Valentine’s Day.
Many blessings and take care out there!
Your astrologer,
Dulce
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