Astrological Trends forJanuary, 2015 – “Wade in the Water, Children”

Edited:

Although the annual reign of Aquarius doesn’t begin until

#17, The Star from Ciro Marchetti's
phenomenal deck, "The Legacy of the
Divine Tarot"©

January 20th,  two planets dawn their energetic galoshes by wading into Aquarian transits early in the month. One of them, Mercury will also go retrograde in Aquarius. I guess we'll simply have to grin and bear it. Get it? Puns are a great way to start the new year.

Aquarius is an air sign in the fixed modality and is ruled by Uranus. Though most people associate the sign of the water bearer with neon-colored  paisley and an olfactory overload of patchouly, that couldn’t be further from the truth.  ( See blog: Aquarius: Independent and Artistic, or Diva) Aquarians are first, and foremost innovators.  They are the intellectual individualists of the zodiac and are also great humanitarians. Susan B. Anthony, Thomas Edison, Jules Verne, Charles Lindbergh and Charles Darwin were Aquarians.

Just as each sign in the zodiac is ascribed to one of the four elements, earth, air, water, or fire, each of the four suits in tarot is also associated with an element.  Tarot’s suit of Swords represents the element of air and in divination this suit explores the worlds of intellect, attitude, truthfulness and certain areas of spiritual connection. January is a month to pay close attention to how and where the suit of Swords shows up in your readings.  Also watch for #17, The Star, tarot’s major arcana card representing Aquarius. This card means hope, inspiration and serenity.

#3, The Empress from "Streampunk Tarot"©
by Barbara Moore and Aly Fell

On January 3rd, Venus enters Aquarius. Venus in Aquarius might appear to be emotionally detached, but that’s not the whole story. Venus in Aquarius is highly charismatic to a variety of people. Aquarian’s love their freedom, so give your partner room to meander on the open range (particularly if Venus, or Aquarius is prominent in their birth chart). No, that’s not giving them license to poach in someone else’s pasture. Venus in Aquarius benefits socially and financially by connecting with people now, but only by using the Aquarian mantra of innovation, industry and humanitarianism. Let long-term relationship issues take a back seat during this transit as partners are less likely to be receptive to deep discussions. Venus’ tarot association is #3, The Empress, who stands for abundance, creativity and nurturing. 

Our Full Moon this month occurs on January 4th in fourteen

Kris Waldherr uses Rhiannon to represent
tarot's beloved charioteer in her
deck, "The Goddess Tarot"©

degrees and thirty-one minutes of Cancer The Moon is said to be high functioning, or exalted in Cancer which means it is at its peak in terms of power and influence. The sign, Cancer is ruled by Lady Moon and is of great benefit to us if we use her power in the appropriate way.  I’ll have more of this Moon later this week.  Tarot’s association for the Moon is #2, The High Priestess. This card deals with matters of the subconscious, indirect action and intuition. Cancer’s tarot association is #7, The Chariot.  Tarot’s charioteer rises triumphantly above the obstacles in his path. Where will The Chariot help you in your life?

Mercury begins its transit of Aquarius on January 4th as well.

#1, The Magician, from
RWCS deck, US Games® version

Mercury is the planet of communications and intellect. Inside the water bearer’s domain, Mercury becomes an inventive mind. Aquarius uses this planet’s skill set to influence the areas of career, reputation and societal structures (such as corporations, government and agencies that benefit the human endeavor).  

Corporate structure becomes not only easier to understand, but also to navigate after January 4th. You’ll also find it easier to have your voice heard, so be prepared.  Know your facts inside and out. All sorts of communications – even the non-verbal kind – are easily understood during this transit. That means stay present it all discussions and don’t let your body language do the talking for you.  Aquarius’ strong human component helps analytical Mercury see into the heart of a person’s motivations. 

Now comes the most important part, so pay attention.

Mercury goes into retrograde on January 21st until February 11th.  (See blog: "Mercury Retrograde, Tarot and You" ) After January 16th be aware of the rules of Mercury Retrograde and follow them faithfully.  Communications, travel plans and computers tend to go askew. Be prepared. Check and re-check everything. Don’t enter into delicate negotiations or contracts during this time and carefully review business matters that are already underway. Mercury has possibly the best tarot association – certainly my favorite – #1, The Magician.  This card is about limitless potential and the ability to create ones realty through focus and conscious, directed thought.  It doesn’t get much better than that, does it? 

Later I’ll cover our Full Moon is Cancer, as well as Mars’ transit of Pisces (more water), Mercury’s retrograde in Aquarius from a tarot perspective and Venus’ leap to Pisces at the end of this month. 2015 is stretched out before us like the Yellow Brick Road.  The journey will often be exciting and sometimes nerve-racking.  Stay tuned to my blog for insights and suggestions. Oh, and watch out for the flying monkeys.

LADY ORACLE

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**Special thanks to Laurie pointing out a pivotal error in this blogs original posting!**

December 8, 2014 – “Santa Claus Goes Retrograde”

Jupiter, the friendly giant of our solar system begins its

#10 Fortune, from Kris Waldherr's fabulous
"The Goddess Tarot" © is tarot's
card for Jupiter. 

retrograde cycle today.  During Jupiter’s ramp-up for retrograde we began feeling the need to rein in our lives a little bit. We had a sense of having spent too long at the banquet table and began wishing for more Spartan fare. (Probably, in part, a reaction to all the dressing and gravy during Thanksgiving) Nationally and globally during Jupiter Retrograde there’s a sense of having too much information to process and that our gains as a species have come too fast and left us feeling a little hollow inside.  

Our desire to slow down and take a serious look at the foundations of our lives is one of the best gifts we receive from our Santa Claus planet.  Jupiter governs the expansion of our worlds – another way of saying it provides us with the opportunities to grow.  Ruler of Sagittarius, Jupiter occupies a place in the ninth house of the zodiac. This where we store our philosophical and religious views, our relationship to the laws that govern our culture and our desires for travel. Jupiter entered Leo earlier this year, bringing us a powerful and charismatic energy to propel our lives forward.  No wonder you’re feeling a little overwhelmed.

Leo's card (of course) is #8 Strength.
From "Steampunk Tarot"© by Barbara
Moore and Aly Fell

Retrograde cycles are based on an optical illusion that as Earth overlaps a planet during its orbit of the Sun, the planet we pass appears to move backwards.  There’s a decrease, or even a slight reversal of the astrological benefits associated with the outdistanced planet.  Many people groan when they hear the word, ‘retrograde.’  They shouldn’t. Retrogrades are a natural part of the expansion and contraction process of the Universe – particularly Jupiter’s retrograde.  As the opportunities slow we have the chance to go inside ourselves and shore up our core beliefs and values.  If you’re going to build a skyscraper, you have to have a solid foundation.  That’s the purpose of Jupiter’s retrograde, to allow us the chance to reinforce the footings of our lives in preparation for the next surge forward.

Jupiter remains in retrograde until April 8, 2015.  Use this time as the opportunity it is.  Make your plans and make certain you have the support systems in place to set them in motion this April, because come this spring there will be whitecaps in the power waves rolling off Jupiter as it turns direct in Leo.  Be ready.

LADY ORACLE

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December 6, 2014, Full Cold Moon It Gemini - "Welcome to the Party"

# 6 The Lovers, is tarot's association for

Gemini.  This depiction is from Ciro Marchetti's

"Legacy of the divine Tarot"©

December’s Full Cold Moon in Gemini should be called, “The Party Moon.”  Sociable Gemini joins party hound Sagittarius and the wild rumpus begins.  Okay, maybe not that wild, but this month’s Full Cold Moon (No need to explain that name, is there?) is everything fun, frolicking and social.  

Gemini is an air sign in the

Mercury's tarot card, #1, The Magician

from "Wizard's Tarot"© by

Corrine Kenner and John J. Blumen

 mutable (changeable) modality. This simply means that because the sign of Gemini falls at the end of a season rather than at the beginning, (cardinal) or in the middle (fixed), some of its traits shift with the changing astral and seasonal influences.  Our Twins govern the third house of the Zodiac where we keep our knowledge, our habitat (neighborhood) and the relationships we don’t choose, like siblings, or neighbors. The third house, and therefore Gemini, are ruled by the planet Mercury, governor of intellect and communication.  

#2, The High Priestess, is tarot's card
for Lady Moon. This depiction from
Kris Waldherr's wonderful "Goddess Tarot"©

Your ideas will be easier to convey to others during Full Moon in Gemini and in turn, other people will have an easier time envisioning how your concept works for their world. This moon has a quick-witted, vibrant mindset.  Making new discoveries, or finding new interests is never a problem. The challenge comes in finding something that holds our interest. 

While we are social and engaging during this moon, there is a downside.  We'll have a tendency to become a little more disorganized – more erratic in our emotions and in what we expect from our relationships. Guard against impulses to manipulate others into doing what you want. Though you may think you're clever enough to pull it off, you can't fool all the people all of the time and once someone discovers they are being played, even in some minor way, you risk the loss of their respect.

Enjoy the social whirl during this holiday season's Full Moon

Barbara Moore and Aly Fell brings us this
depiction of #17, The Star for this season
of light and hope. From "Steampunk Tarot"© 

in Gemini. It's not a moon for deep thinking, or for burning passions.  It carries a light, fun energy that may be just the thing to kickstart your holiday season.

LADY ORACLE

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December 5th Linda and I discuss "branding." What is it? What does it mean and how can we maintain our individuality? Follow the above link...

January 20th - February 18th, Aquarius - Independent and Artistic, or Diva

#17, The Star is the tarot association
for Aquarius - Hope, serenity, social
consciousness from "Steampunk Tarot"©
by Aly Fell and Barbara Moore

Aquarius is the sign of the Water Bearer, yet funnily enough, Aquarius’ corresponding element is air.  Who says the Universe doesn’t favor ambiguity.  The element of air, Swords in the world of tarot, governs intellect and other matters of the mind.  That’s why some of our most famous Aquarians have also been some of our greatest thinkers: Thomas Edison, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Charles Dickens, Abraham Lincoln and Charles Darwin for example.

People born under the sign of Aquarius are walking contradictions - shy, sensitive and artistic on one hand, logical, contrary and aloof on the other.  They are remarkable in their complexity as in the example of other noted Aquarians, Virginia Woolf, James Dean, Mozart and Lord Byron.  Imagine having a kiki with that bunch.  

Uranus, one of Aquarius' ruling planets

Uranus, that free-wheeling, free-thinking planet of rebels co-rules Aquarius and under its influence, Aquarians are encouraged to honor their visions and seek their own destiny.  Not surprisingly, Uranus’ corresponding Major Arcana Card is The Fool.  An open, optimistic heart, coupled with a faith in divine intervention guides The Fool, and by association, Aquarius.  Aquarians love to try anything new and will flit from one thing to another without staying long enough to acquire any real mastery.  The new, the different is their passion and they are the quintessential ‘early adopter.’

Saturn, the planet who teaches us all by placing challenges in our path, co-rules Aquarius.  Although Aquarians learn their lessons well, there is an indomitable spirit in water bearers that is more than a match for Saturn's object lessons.  

People often confuse the watery image of Aquarius with the

Saturn co-rules Aquarius

emotional make up of a water sign.  Don’t do it.  One of Aquarius’ weaknesses is their lack of emotion which often shows itself in a cynical, even sarcastic sense of humor.  Aquarians are frequently accused of being distant in a relationship.  That may be due to their ability to focus on life’s journey rather than on its destination.  Much like tarot’s Fool, they are thrilled with the prospect of what’s around the next corner and don’t deal well with ruts.  

Uranus's ruling card, The Fool
from "OSHO Zen Tarot"© by
Devi Padma 

Aquarians are very self-contained and often appear to enter into a relationship as an afterthought.  They cherish life as a free spirit.  If you are the partner of an Aquarian, you understand every definition of the word tolerance.  Water bearers require freedom and intellectual stimulation in their relationships, as well as the joy of new discovery.  Saturday’s hike, Sunday’s crossword puzzle, theater and art gallery openings, a new restaurant summarize the Aquarian view of the perfect life. Try to keep up.  Their most compatible signs are Aires, Gemini, Libra and Sagittarius - Leo as well, if you believe that opposites attract.

Their humanitarian instincts run particularly deep and when they combine that with their ability to connect to higher spiritual planes, Aquarians accomplish miracles.  They are excellent healers and therefore make excellent doctors.  While January’s birthstone is Garnet, Turquoise, a healing stone, rules Aquarius.  Water bearers also enjoy the arts and do well  as actors, theatrical agents, musicians and poets.   They love history and make excellent researchers too.

The Major Arcana card for Aquarius is #17, Star.  Star indicates hope and a healing peace after a period of dramatic

Saturn's Tarot association
from Corinne Kenner and John J. Blumen's
"Wizard's Tarot"©

change or vigorous transformation.  Star kneels by the pool pouring water effortlessly from one realm into the other, having faith that it will be just the right amount and travel to just the right spot.  None of the careful control of #14, Temperance is needed here.  Also, there are no paths to the pool.  Star is isolated and as is the nature of Aquarians, happy to be so.  Enjoy being an Aquarius and if you have a relationship with one, as challenging as it can be, enjoy that as well.  They are lofty idealists who can take us to the heights of our dreams. They engaging, infuriating, but not dull.  And always remember, “Still waters run deep.”

LADY ORACLE

Check out the mythology for Aquarius the Water Bearer in my blog, "Grin and Bear It"