Astrological new year begins, Mercury moves forward

I feel that the New Year has officially begun, now the Mercury is moving forward. We have had a recent pair of eclipse to push us forward deeper into growth and healing, and Jupiter's movement into Pisces, opening up a one-year window of opportunity and expansion. I wanted to comment for a moment on the astrological weather for the coming year, as there are a few dates and guideposts worth mentioning.

We have a somewhat Cardinal year ahead, the planets forming an alignment in this modality, known to herald new beginnings. If you were to look at an astrology chart, the planets would be falling into a cross-like shape - that's the best I can describe it without graphics! Pluto will be in Capricorn for many years to come, creating change and deep cleansing in the structures of our government and our schools. It is joined by the North Node of the moon, connected to what our soul brings in to do here in this life. Add to that a few eclipses in this sign, and it is very potent!

The next Cardinal sign featured is Cancer, home of the eclipse activity for 2009-2010, as well as the current placement of the South node of the moon, connected to your soul's work here in this life. Is this beginning to sound rather karmic? During the month of June/July, the sun and inner planets will join in Cancer as well.

The third Cardinal sign featured is Libra, where Saturn has moved from October 2009-November 2011. This brings an energy or need to give back to others in your immediate environment, to bloom where you are planted, to be aware of your social connections. Libra is the sign of the networker.

Finally, to close the deal, in May Uranus slips into Aries, a Cardinal sign associated with new beginnings, pioneer energy, the fire to get things done. It will be joined, briefly, by a visit from Jupiter (all about expansion) for the summer months.

Astrologers have long talked about something called the 0 point of the Cardinal signs as being pivotal. This year we see this in all four cardinal signs. I feel tremendous opportunities to serve, grow, connect, and feel a connection to Happiness. There may be some around us who need our help; if we have received anything of value in this life, it is our turn to give back.

I will write more on this in the coming year; of particular intrigue to me is the month of August. I am still trying to read out the guideposts offered from the planetary lineup of that month. I feel that meditation, prayer, reaching out, and creative visualization will be very powerful during that time, and, as said before, we may be asked to give back to others from the gifts that we have. May we do so happily and with our own cups already spilling over with love, gratitude, wisdom, and prosperity.

For those who may have interest, I am offering a public talk on the planetary lineup of 2010 on Sunday January 24, 1:00pm at the Hands of Grace massage space in Pennington, NJ. Feel welcome to email me if you are interested in attending spirithappiness@yahoo.com. Many blessings to you in this wondrous and very unique year!

love,

Jane

Jupiter transits Pisces

Today the planet Jupiter moves into the sign of Pisces, where it will remain for about one year. This represents a brand new, 12 year cycle of abundance and opportunity. Pisceans will get the greatest blessings from this transit, which occurs in their sign. Jupiter is the largest planet that we officially notice; it's all about expansion, opportunity, abundance, and increase. Jupiter is so large, that back in the day, when a comet that was about the size of earth hit it, there was barely a dent made in that huge planet. Whatever house in your chart contains the sign of Pisces is where you will find things increasing and expanding - so take advantage of this cycle! Use it to your benefit.

For the last year, Jupiter was in Aquarius, shaking hands with Neptune. Now, it will shake hands with Uranus, harbinger of positive change and revolution. While Uranus has been in Pisces (March 2003-May 2011), we have seen new and inventive ways of healing in our world. We now have an increase and acceptance of complimentary or alternative medicine alongside of mainstream medicine. Back in the day, this would have been unheard of, odd, crazy! Now we have accepted that accupuncture does work with many ailments, that massage therapy is helpful when people have cancer, and that Reiki offered in operating rooms speeds up the healing process. This is progress, people. With Jupiter joining and supporting this trend, I think we will see more of the same.

God Bless the mavericks that learned and implemented these many healing practices, paving a way for the rest of us - the Mari El practitioners, Reiki people, massage therapists, bodyworkers, lightworkers, and feng shui experts. Because of your work and diligence, the door is now open for others. This can only be good for the world and the humans that inhabit it.

My advice during this transit is to bloom where you are planted: start a women's support group, read to children, meditate in public, gather people together to share Reiki, approach your hospital about a volunteer group of healers to support mainstream medical offerings. The time is now; the planets are behind you.

Much love to you all,

Jane

Happy New Year

Greetings, and happy new year to all! We have some exciting formations this week that begin the official start of 2010. The first thing to note is that Mercury, purveyor of messages and communication, begins its direct motion on January 15th. I think we can all breath a sigh of relief! I am feeling the collective as it begins to make forward motions in life, as if the pathways are suddenly clear from traffic and delays. Wonderful!

We also have an eclipse on that same day, a Solar eclipse in the sign of Capricorn, coinciding with the New Moon. The day or so prior may be felt as 'the dark night of the soul' and is very useful for self reflection and prayer. When I say prayer, I do not mean throwing out our wishes to the Universe, as if begging for something we need. I mean prayer more aligned to receiving information about what will help us grow and heal, and about how we can help contribute to the healing of the earth. Trust that if you remain in this energy, what 'you' need will naturally come along.

In general this year, I am feeling opportunities for a lot of togetherness, for sharing, for connecting more with our neighbors and blooming where we are planeted. I feel Saturn transiting through Libra as being helpful in this cycle. Because of what has happened with the economy, people have been forced to self-reflect, to ask for help, and those who see others suffering are naturally reaching out to see what they can to do help. I firmly believe that we belong to each other; any programs that reflect this motto will get the green light, as we come to know each other in different ways and let down the veils of separation.

Best wishes for a wonderous 2010. May your lives be blessed with nurturing friendships, a creative aliveness in yoru daily life, and all that your hearts desire. Namaste.

current astro-weather

Hello! December seems to be racing by very quickly! It is hard to believe that in a few weeks we will be in the year 2010. On December 1, Uranus turned direct after being in retrograde motion since July 1. Those born under the sign of Aquarius should start seeing some results in any areas where there may have been delays or unclarity. December 20-21, we have the Solstice and welcome the season of winter here in the northern hemisphere. The days may be short, but will soon grow longer and longer. Mars in Leo turns retrograde, and it will remain in this sign until June 2010. This should give energy to some projects that you may have in mind? Jupiter and Neptune shake hands in the sign of Aquarius for the last time this year. These two planets have been having a close and intimate discussion for most of 2009, but will soon part company. Pay attention to your dreams.

New Year's eve will see a full moon eclipse at 10' Cancer, squaring Saturn in Libra and opposing Pluto in Capricorn. This feels like a wonderful opportunity for prayer and visualization for the coming year. Search your heart and being for what you truly yearn for....and write it down...as if it already exists.

Blessings to you all at this wondrous time of the year. May your blessings be many and your worries few.

Grand fixed cross with Full Moon in Taurus

Well, as if the Full Moon weren't enough to stir us to alertness! Today begins our full moon, in the sign of Taurus - loyal, earthy, in tune with the sensual pleasures of being alive - a good massage, fine wine, art and so forth. Taurus knows how to live. Full moon will likely illuminate whatever area in your chart contains your "taurus' house.

The full moon is part of a grand fixed cross forming in the sky: this involves squares and oppositions of planets labeled as 'fixed.' For the layperson, this may better be described as conversations that can be uncomfortable, but are very necessary, and do lead somewhere. If you think about the fixed signs - Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius - they tend to get where they need to be, but not through politeness or hanging back. It's not about being mean or dominating - simply standing for the truth in whatever is your realm.

Planets involved include Sun in Scorpio, Jupiter/Neptune in Aquarius, Full Moon in Taurus, and Mars in Leo. It would be hard not to take action under this influence, but please do remember to slow down first, pray to be aligned to the Highest Good.

My gut feeling on this alignment is that it is magical; the time-space between now and the end of the month portends for great change for those who are willing to risk revealing, loving, taking a chance, doing the work. The Mayan calendar changes over mid-month; when this happened last year, I observed many powerful and dynamic changes just in the meditation group I was involved with - I do not even know how far reaching this window of opportunity was, I can only speak for my corner of the world. Great change is upon us again. Are you with me?

Major Astrological Movement this week

We have major astrological movement this week that is certainly worth noting! Saturn, the planet related to discipline, hard work, teaching, and sometimes restriction, is moving from detail-oriented Virgo into relational Libra. Saturn has traveled through Virgo from September 2007 to the present, instituting order and discipline in whatever house in your natal chart may contain Virgo. Saturn is very picky and particular when mixed with exacting Virgo; in some ways this can be very good, if there is an area where you really need to focus, perservere, apply hard work and discipline, you can certainly see your hard work pay off!

Saturn and Jupiter are planets that move in opposite ways, but are both needed in order to keep life in balance. Saturn without Jupiter is bland and tedious; Jupiter without Saturn is sometimes out of control.

As Saturn spends time in Libra, look for relationships and attention to the people around you to take priority. Truly, in this world, we do belong to each other, whether we can consciously realize this or not. Opportunities to increase relationship and decrease the sense of separation that has plagued the human race are all around us at this critical time in earth's history.

Libra/Saturn themes for the next two years include equality, justice, progress, negotiations, stepping away from victim energies and more into personal responsibility. Libra rules civil rights and equal rights. The last time Saturn moved through Libra was September 1980-August 1983. Where were you then?

I hope and pray that humanity feel its interconnectedness to one another, to the Earth, and to What Lives Us as well.

Transits this week....

I thought it may be worth mentioning that Jupiter goes direct this week at 17' Aquarius, after being in retrograde motion since June. If you are unsure how this may affect your personal 'chart', check out astrolabe for a free birth chart at http://www.alabe.com/. click on the left where it says 'free chart' and follow the directions. you'll get a nice 2-3 page printout as well!

Jupiter is all about abundance, expansion, opportunity. Together with it's polar opposite, Saturn, it's part of a team of opposites that cycle together to hold balance in the Universe and in our lives.

Venus is at home this week as it slides into Libra; this is a great time for tending to your relationships with favorable result. Any movements toward joining together with others gets the green light; even a small gesture, such as cranking up some marvin gaye in the office and letting everyone sing along, can be powerful. Opportunities for oneness are just as plentiful as the opportunities that increase separation: which will you choose?

Venus tries to make the peace whereever it goes; today it shakes hands with Saturn, which as been teaching us about the details in life that need discipline and alignment. It's as if Venus is trying to shake Saturn out of its militaristic style of relating and whisper sweetly to just let go of the burden for awhile...Later in the week, Venus tries to work her moves on Pluto in Capricorn, hoping to bring forth a little levity and deeper relationship within the deeper cleansing trend that Pluto has been bringing to us.

on Friday Mars steps into Leo and will remain there for most of 2010....that is a subject for another day!

Namaste, friends.