There is quite a bit of planetary activity this solar month, with Saturn starting off in a waning inconjunct (or quincunx) to Pluto and ending with a waxing sesquiquadrate (or sesquisquare) to Uranus. Even the names of these Saturn aspects sound strange and confusing, testing those Aquarian abilities to expand our consciousness. Saturn doesn’t like expanding, it prefers to contain and conform, and that is the last thing these two aspects offer.

The Sun enters Aquarius on January 19 and ushers in the annual solar month for de-conditioning and liberation. Whatever has reached the end of its usefulness in Capricorn is now released, or transformed in Aquarius. Just as Saturn (ruler of Capricorn) and Uranus (ruler of Aquarius) tends to go back and forth over the last word, so does Capricorn and Aquarius. And, just as Uranus (larger orbit) has the final say with Saturn, so does Aquarius always follow after Capricorn.

Hard as Cap may try to crystallize something, Aquarius can always blow it to pieces. The Evolutionary Mantra for Sun in Aquarius is: I break free with new creativity in myself. Capricorn can achieve its goals and then want to plateau, and keep the status quo, in order to feel safe and in control. With time this leads to getting stuck and resisting growth. Aquarius comes along, breaks us out of our ruts and into new territory.

It is also the solar month for objectivity and looking at our life from a detached point of view. This allows us to see where we naturally fit into the larger picture and we can take steps to actualize that unique creative role we have to play – Leo, opposite of Aquarius and ruled by the Sun.

Currently, Uranus is in Pisces and Neptune is in Aquarius. For the next two months as the Sun passes through Aquarius and then Pisces, we get to emphasize the big themes of Uranus and Neptune in each other’s sign of rulership, a mutual reception or magnification of their own archetypes. The realization that we live in a holographic universe where everything is interconnected will be brought down to a conscious level via the Sun over the next few months.

The time is ripe for movies such as What the Bleep Do We Know? to spiral out on to the national level in theatres and talk shows, teaching us the principles of quantum physics and that what we energize, we create. Through the Internet (Uranus) the effects of the recent tsunami helped the collective consciousness (Neptune) realize a new level of global citizenship.

Saturn retrograde makes a waning inconjunct to Pluto on January 19 at 23/24 degrees Cancer-Sagittarius. Saturn has moved 210 degrees from Pluto and this aspect is known as a “Scorpio” aspect. Scorpio is the 210-degree mark in the natural zodiac of 360 degrees. This is the second of three waning inconjuncts between Saturn and Pluto with the first one last July 31, 2004 and the third one on May 23, 2005.

Here are the adjustments that the world will demand this year, as our nationalistic (Cancer) viewpoints must face the reality that we are becoming a global village (Sag). Individually, we will also face demands for compromises from those in our lives that ask us to look at a larger picture from their point of view.

Year-by-year Pluto in Sagittarius (1995 - 2008) is uncovering the lies and revealing truth. Consensus state souls attempt to cover things up again with even more lies. Individuated and spirituated state souls quest for deeper levels of what is real. Sag itself relates to the concept of natural laws. These times in which human-made conditioning is so distorted from natural laws create much conflict upon the planet. The battle between the cover-ups and exposures intensifies during Pluto in Sag.

Saturn in Cancer (June 3, 2003 – July 16, 2005) wants security and tradition. It wants things to remain as in the past, even if it is a lie or distortion. It feels better to see the enemy as “out there” rather than in our own back yard. Saturn always wants to draw lines in the sand and create boundaries, and Cancer just builds up these “family” boundaries on a national level.

These Saturn-Pluto waning inconjuncts create power struggles (Scorpio) over who is right, who is wrong and who has God on their side. How interesting that most wars are fought in the name of religious beliefs – how stupid actually, yet can the consensus state even step outside their defensive viewpoints on either side of war and see it?

This is the Pluto in Sag revelation through time as Saturn in Cancer feels the insecurity of its boundaries crumbling, as one more fallen soldier comes home in a box and the community asks why? Is it worth it? What are we really fighting for in Iraq? Sagittarius is about understanding the larger picture of any situation.

Current political leaders in the U.S. continue to use fear (Saturn) to raise our insecurities (Cancer) in order to dictate (Saturn) an agenda that states one thing while they actually do the opposite (Sag lies). These are consensus state manifestations of continued patriarchal conditioning (Saturn) so distorted souls cannot even recognize the truth (Sag).

These Saturn-Pluto waning inconjuncts are exposing these lies all over the place, and yet in order to be secure in the short-term – quarterly profits, the media ignores what is really going on. To continue to do so will create bigger shocks and traumas to come.

Saturn makes its minor, yet majorly stressful aspects to Uranus and Pluto twelve (!) times in 2004 – 2006. How much do we need to wake up?

Where in your own life are you being asked to step outside of your emotional boundaries and securities in order to look at the bigger picture surrounding you? Extended families may face differing beliefs over these national issues and the need to find common ground. Individuals may find their jobs outsourced overseas. Parents may differ on how best to raise their children. Couples may realize the beliefs that make each of them feel secure differs, maybe even greatly.

Throughout this fall, winter and spring, we are all faced with the limitations of our emotional securities in some way, and the need to expand to a broader belief system in order to make sense of everything. Quest for the deepest level of truth you can find and the inner security that comes from that.

Saturn in Cancer can teach us that ultimate security comes from within. Pluto in Sagittarius can help us understand that ultimate security comes from Source, God/Goddess itself. The deeper levels of truth we quest for the less our security buttons get pushed. So, make the adjustments that your life is asking you to face.

Mars makes a waxing sextile to Jupiter on January 21 at 18/19 degrees Sagittarius-Libra. All the planets get along with Jupiter, the party planet. Mars has opportunity to bring some of its desires into manifestation. Make time for deep conversations, quite likely in social activities.

It is possible that we can step into new relating patterns as Mars takes these evolving Jupiter beliefs and puts them into action. Is there fair play in your relationship giving and receiving? Are you recognizing the people in your life that must always be right? Can you stand up and speak your truth?

It might be necessary to watch for any exaggerations of situations. Make the effort to be honest and it will come back to you.

Mercury follows the next day, January 22, and makes a waxing square to Jupiter at 18/19 degrees Capricorn-Libra. The personal planets are getting the chance to work on these Jupiter in Libra relating lessons. In Capricorn, there are work themes, or as least self-determination ideas and needs coming through.

There could be some old relationship or work situations that need to be addressed and changed. Those work mates who want to be in control must realize they are not the only ones in the office. The spouse who wants to make all the decisions in the household, instead of taking his/her partner’s desires into consideration. Talk it out over the next few days.

The lesson is charting new territory in relationships.

Venus gets into the picture and makes a waxing square to Jupiter on January 24 at 18/19 degrees Capricorn-Jupiter. Our own needs, and therefore responsibilities, are coming in to focus. Talk about it with whoever is involved. Can you listen to the feedback? What are the solutions that allow more fairness to come in to play?

There are some great opportunities for social maturity to take place, especially if we have worked on those inner security lessons during Sun in Capricorn. If not, here is another chance. Jupiter in Venus’ sign can really help the listening end of relating. Really strive to hear what others are saying and then move forward in the new directions that come from those conversations.

The Full Moon of Leo is January 25 at 5/6 degrees Aquarius-Leo. This is the annual Full Moon of creativity. The balance to all this Aquarian community energy is the spark of individual self-expression. As we work to de-condition our souls, Aquarius is the time for the unconscious mind to release all kinds of information about who we really are, and which creative path is best for us.

We wish to be emotionally acknowledged, and it starts with an inner acknowledgement that comes from Source when we align with it and listen to how our creative spark is wired. As we work to observe our unique roles in fulfilling societies’ needs, then the outer acknowledgement of the world comes as well. If you find the opposite in your life, where have you wanted to impose yourself upon your circles without stopping to ask if it is needed or desired?

Ask for your creative talents in the world to be revealed to you. Listen to the repeating messages this month. Begin again in initiating your new creative directions with the New Moon in Aquarius February 8.

Mercury moves on to make an opposition to Saturn retrograde on January 25 at 22/23 degrees Capricorn-Cancer. There are still some self-responsibility lessons from this Capricorn energy. From mid-December to mid-February the Sun leads the way through the zodiac, shining the light of day on our lessons. The inner planets then follow and work out the manifestations.

Mercury is trying to shed some practicality on these emotional self-reliance lessons of Saturn in Cancer. How do we make our inner world stronger and take care of our own needs? How do we then utilize these realizations to change our outer world?

Mercury in Saturn’s sign can get some strong messages here. Saturn is retrograde in Cancer and quite aware of our emotional insecurities. How can we grow up? Does it ever end?

Venus then makes an opposition to Saturn retro as well on January 27 at 22/23 degrees Capricorn-Cancer. More of the same, especially in pointing out those unfulfilled emotional needs. Venus-Saturn always brings self-reliance and self-responsibility lessons. Where are you projecting your emotional needs on to another? How can you take care of yourself?

Venus-Saturn oppositions only turn harsh when we are giving our power away to someone else and expecting them to take care of us, or trying to dominate another in order to avoid our own fears. It has been a long two years for Saturn in Cancer and our emotional weaknesses have been revealed many times over. Love yourself. You are the only one responsible for you and your needs.

If family-of-origin wounds are surfacing, face them, process through them and love yourself. No one else can ever do a better job of it than you. You chose that family for a reason. How are they serving your evolution?

Mars makes a conjunction to Pluto on January 28 at 23/24 degrees Sagittarius; unconscious desires made conscious – a brand new two-year cycle of realizing our desires, then manifesting them, and then exhausting and releasing those desires.

Make the effort to look at the desires surfacing within you – are they separating desires or returning desires? How can you utilize your separating desires as tools to help you move towards God/Goddess?

There can be an evolving desire to know greater and greater levels of truth with Mars conjunct Pluto in Sag. Make the sincere desire to know timeless, absolute truths and they will be revealed. Watch any need to be right at the expense of realizing a deeper level of truth.

There is a lot of energy bursting out here, how can you best put it in to action for you?

Mercury enters Aquarius for a two-week passage on January 29/30. Ah, an air sign….Mercury likes it here. Conscious mind Mercury can go deep and bring up lots of info to ponder and rationalize over. As Aquarius is always helping us liberate, it can also be unsettling for Mercury as it wants to control the thought process and yet has to take what comes up from our unconsciousness.

This might be a good time to strive for those objective conversations and feedback from those who have no attachment to any outcomes. Mercury can also be sharp and quick here and make those connect-the-dots that help us understand the deeper things happening below the surface.

Then Jupiter turns stationary retrograde on February 1 for four months at 18/19 degrees Libra. It turns stationary direct on June 5 at 8/9 degrees Libra. Jupiter usually has only one retrograde cycle per sign on its annual passage through each sign. This time there is some kind of relationship review.

Jupiter is evolving our beliefs about relationships, all of them, not just in intimacy. With all the co-dependencies and distortions from human-made conditioning, there is much to review, and throw off. Where is there any inequality in your relationships?

What lessons are you facing? Is there a need for the word “no” in any of your relationships? A masochist always needs a sadist to feel complete. Relationship inequalities can be very subtle and this retrograde cycle can help you realize those areas that just aren’t right.

Jupiter can represent the areas where we tend to compensate, and in Libra it is about giving and receiving love. How many times have you said: “If I just love him/her a little more, things will change.” Is there a lesson here? We must listen to that voice of intuition bringing answers we may not want to hear.

If we tend to fall on the aggressive side of relationships, we may find the people in our lives standing up to us and letting us know their boundaries. Jupiter in Libra is a year to really listen to what others have to say.

Jupiter retro in Libra may be the time to bring a relationship cycle to a close. In natural law, endings are as necessary as beginnings. Nature is always changing forms and so do we.

Venus enters Aquarius on February 2 for four weeks and helps Jupiter out at the beginning of its retrograde cycle with some objectivity. Venus in Aquarius wants to idealize love and it can quickly show Jupiter where that is not happening.

Pay attention to any repeated messages about your relationships during these first few weeks of Jupiter turning retro. Venus (and Mercury) in Aquarius may bring deep relationship issues up to the surface. Ignoring things may only bring any issues back again in more intensity later on – the famous Aquarian shocks and traumas.

Jupiter in Libra wants to smooth the upsets over instead of really addressing what is going on. Let Venus in Aquarius help you step back and see what relationship changes are necessary.

The Sun makes a conjunction to Neptune on February 3 at 15/16 degrees Aquarius. This is an annual time to rebirth our conscious awareness and connection to Source. There may be some sparks of insight here as each of the inner planets pass over Neptune in the next month or so.

Early February was a divination time with our ancestors in the Northern Hemisphere. The emerging light from the Winter Solstice reached its mid-point with the Spring Equinox, so this marked a natural time to intuit what the spring manifestations would be. Today this is the custom known at Ground Hog’s day. See your shadow? Six more weeks of winter. No shadow? Only six more weeks till spring, ha, ha.

Neptune touching this 15/16 degree mark of Aquarius (mid-point) is a natural time (and year) to reach out for our personal connection to God/Goddess and see if we can get in touch with our own divine, our own spark of creativity coming through. For those truly searching, these last few years may have brought huge “light-bulbs” into our conscious awareness of the divine connection to everything – as Neptune has passed over its own south node in Aquarius.

This is one of the triggers to our memories of goddess energy or natural laws and principles. We are remembering how we lived much closer to nature and in total harmony with nature. Everything was divine. So here is Neptune transiting through Aquarius (1998 – 2011/12), and the Sun and inner planets passing over, as we march closer and closer into the Aquarian Age.

Human-made conditionings will be removed one way or another as we realign with natural laws in order to survive on planet Earth. We can delay the realignment; however, we cannot prevent it. At worse, humans will destroy the planet and we just start over somewhere else.

This is the message of the coming Aquarian Age, and the energetic shifts between the Ages allow for the potential of old conditioning patterns from the Piscean Age (and before) to be revealed and released. May we be successful.

Mars enters Capricorn on February 6 for six weeks. Mars is falling behind in its dance with the inner planets. For now, it will finish up those maturing lessons of Capricorn. Or at its worse, go for more control. Where do you want to control things?

Make the effort for an inner control, an inner self-determination that allows you to be flexible with your circumstances. Mars in Capricorn can set some great goals and put them into action. Strive to be as mature as possible in your dealing with others.

Mars in Cap is a natural time to set new career goals. At the beginning of the New Year this energy is emphasized. How are your desires to take care of yourself in the world evolving? Is Jupiter turning retrograde in Libra making you aware of any co-dependencies upon others? What is the next natural step for you in taking care of yourself?

If you have living arrangements or financial situations with others, you can still set the goal to be emotional responsible for your own needs. You can then take that energy and manifest the ability to take charge of your own life. Mars in Cap just has to learn how to do this without that outer control over others.

The Sun makes a waxing trine to Jupiter retrograde on February 7 at 18/19 degrees Aquarius-Libra. There are some nice conversation opportunities here, and an ability to see a more detached viewpoint of what is taking place in your relationships. Take time to listen again.

Watch for any tendencies to avoid relating issues and/or a need to be right at all costs. This can be some beautiful friendship energy upon which to build intimacy. If we really strive for an equal giving and receiving, we can take our intimate relating to the next level and create the rewards that go with it.

Mercury makes a conjunction to Neptune on February 8 at 15/16 degrees Aquarius. Mercury is following the Sun with more intuitive realizations of just what is going on for us spiritually; conversations with God/Goddess. Can you listen from within?

There could also be disillusioned voices within our head. Any Neptunian disconnection to Source – depression, delusion, spacing out, etc. – can symbolize a clinging to the past that draws us inward to figure things out, in other words, a natural inward process in order to change things and evolve.

Who is coming along with shocking messages you want to ignore? Can you hear what is really being said?

The New Moon of Aquarius is February 8 as well at 20/21 degrees. As much as Mercury-Neptune may want to space out, Aquarius is not going to let it happen. This is the annual New Moon to detach and observe our world.

This could also be a natural initiation time for our creativity. The Sun is our self-actualization and creative expression. Its reunion with the Moon in Aquarius allows us to emotionally initiate what is best for us in the midst of our group, our community.

It can give us the courage to individuate and be the group of one. It can give us a direct link to the big computer – God/Goddess. What messages keep coming through this solar month? What is it, time to initiate?

Mercury makes a waxing trine to Jupiter retro on February 10 at 18/19 degrees Aquarius-Libra. Great conversation time. This is the left-brain planet (Mercury) and the right-brain planet (Jupiter) making a nice relationship to each other in air signs – talk, talk, talk. Intuition sparks here. We can’t talk fast enough to get the ideas and thoughts out.

Pay attention to how you feel through this mental back and forth. This is an easy aspect for lies as well. Everything must be taken in context. If a conversation doesn’t “feel” right, check things out more. Trust your intuition. Mercury is breaking free and must have a voice here. Just intuit whether it is a voice of truth or not.

The Sun makes a waxing sextile to Pluto on February 12 at 24/25 degrees Aquarius-Sag. Sun-Pluto aspects always involve actualizing our desires. As Aquarius sparks objectivity this month, we can assess our current desires and the course of action needed in achieving them.

Mercury follows with a waxing sextile to Pluto as well on February 13 at 24/25 degrees Aquarius-Sagittarius. If we are not able to manifest our evolving desires then the messages may be coming through that send us inward. What is realistic in your world of desires?

These Sun/Mercury aspects to Pluto are also good times to ask for truth in your relationships. Quest to see the deepest level of what is going on in your world of giving and receiving. As we move into the human-made celebrations of love, we can crash in on ourselves when we do not have love in the way we think we desire it. Well, how much do you desire to love yourself? Hopefully at least as much as you desire love from someone else.

Mercury makes a superior conjunction to the Sun at 25/26 degrees Aquarius on February 14, a strong mental aspect on this day of love. Aquarius and its symbols of idealized love can come from the mental plane as much as the emotional plane.

Can you love the world on this day? Can you see the human species loving each other?

This can be a strong time to talk about this thing we call love. We can deeply love our acquaintances and friends, many times because we do not have high degrees of expectations from them. Can we treat our loved ones the same? What degree of projection do you put upon your deepest loves?

This year’s Valentine’s Day comes with a Venus conjunction to Neptune on February 14 at 15/16 degrees Aquarius. Here are the ultimate idealizations in love, and it comes in many experiences. From deep hurt and disillusionment to dreams come true, Venus-Neptune spans the spectrum.

And as we hear again and again, our ability to love another is only as good as our ability to love ourselves and vice-versa. Our partners can only love us as well as they love themselves. Much easier said than done.

Venus-Neptune strives to learn that unconditional love lesson. Venus wants conditions and Neptune wants to project the unconscious ideals. Both get disappointed as partners refuse to meet our conditions and fall off the pedestal into reality.

How well can you look at those in your life and just love them as they are? How well can you do this with yourself? These are the ultimate Valentine quests. May you be successful.

Mars makes a waning sextile to Uranus on February 15 at 6/7 degrees Capricorn-Pisces. As goal-oriented Mars in Cap gets going, Uranus in Pisces creates a reality test. Waning sextiles are about letting go of old patterns and desires, or at least following them through to completion.

We humans are not the best examples of this releasing part of any cycle. We ignore wisdom for the rush of youth. We avoid death and dying until it is in our face and we lose it emotionally. The waning or releasing half of any cycle is as important as the waxing or building half of the cycle. How can we say hello if we cannot say good-bye?

What old desires must you follow through on and finish up as you sense new desires emerging? Most of the time we are doing both, hello here, good-bye there. How is it happening for you?

Mercury enters Pisces on February 16 for a two-week journey. Now Mercury leads the inner planets again, starting us off in dreamy Pisces. Mercury has no choice but to let go of left-brain and open up to the deep unknown. Finding the words to convey all that is sensed, here Mercury must learn to ask: “Do you understand what I mean?”

Utilize Mercury to help you discern what is real. It is in the opposite sign of one of its rulerships – Pisces opposes Virgo. With Mercury there can be a bit of objectivity even in imaginative Pisces. Let Mercury dream here and then ask what can be achieved?

Mercury can help us with the awareness of what needs to be released in the last sign of the zodiac. And what needs to be healed and brought together. Carry on those conversations in your head with God/Goddess. That is your inner communion.

Venus makes a waxing sextile to Jupiter retrograde on February 17 at 18/19 degrees Aquarius-Libra. This is another smooth aspect when we are doing our work and making the effort to walk our talk. Venus and Jupiter tend to like each other and get along very well. Both like things to be nice.

Here is a chance to give as you wish to receive. And it is best to do so without those expectations, which can lead to disappointment. It is also best to intuit if more giving is the best thing to do in any particular situation. Sometimes it is best to not give one more time in order to effect equality of giving and receiving. Masochists have a hard time knowing when enough is enough.

Finally Saturn retrograde makes the second of three waxing sesquisquadrates to Uranus on February 17 at 21/22 degrees Cancer – 6/7 degrees Pisces. The first aspect was August 7, 2004 and the third one is June 11, 2005. This is the 135-degree mark, or a square and a half. It is a passage from yang to yin energies.

Saturn-Uranus aspects are always battles between the individuated consciousness (Saturn) and the individuated unconsciousness (Uranus). Saturn wants to stuff things and Uranus pushes it right back up to the surface and in Saturn’s face.

These aspects are about deep emotional patterns. It is hard for Saturn retro in Cancer to feel secure when Uranus in Pisces is dissolving or exploding our boundaries. Saturn retrograde points to the unconsciousness, and yet it is such a deep emotional abyss that Saturn desperately keeps trying to cling to the surface.

Pisces is all about merging with larger sources of power like God/Goddess and it scares Saturn big time. It feels like losing control of our life and ourselves. To merge with other countries as one community of human species feels like we are giving up our power. Never mind that we are destroying our nest with our defensive and immature behaviors.

Reality (Saturn) is facing some big adjustments with these twelve aspects to Uranus and Pluto in 2004 – 2006. It is not comfortable. Those who are aware of what is happening fight the tendency to become depressed over the appearance of our species moving backwards. It looks like it will get worse before it gets better. The majority of souls may be in for some rude awakenings as they blindly give up their powers to leaders who promise much and deliver the opposite.

Such are the lessons in the ending of this Piscean Age as consensus state souls become more conscious of just how unconsciously they actually manifest their lives.

However, the lessons of the coming Aquarian Age are to realize that we create what we energize, and we can create the opposite of what our neighbor next to us creates. As we go the next step of merging with Source, we become more self-empowered not less.

Utilize this Saturn-Uranus aspect to realize your emotional fears on the deepest levels and then energize the healing beliefs, thoughts and emotions to create what you do want. Go within and emotionally connect in to God/Goddess on the deepest levels possible. This is the greatest relationship you can go for and the one that will always be there for you.

May God/Goddess bless you through Sun in Aquarius!