The solar month of Aquarius (January 19/20 – February 18) is a time to detach and look at our life as objectively as possible. Where are we stuck? What needs to be released? Aquarius teaches us to de-condition from our patterns and progress forward in life. The Evolutionary Astrology mantra for Aquarius is: I break free with new creativity in myself.

Our souls desire security quite strongly. We tend to become entrenched with holding on to what has come before. In other words, we project past experiences forward into the future. We then wonder why nothing in our lives ever change. The future, no matter how much we may desire to create it, is unknown and therefore insecure. It takes courage and willpower to move ahead and leave the past behind.

Aquarius, with its rulership from Uranus, represents the unconscious mind or the individuated unconsciousness. It is where all the left-brain details end up. It is the storehouse part of our mind we access to understand the past, no matter how far back, no matter how many lifetimes ago.

Our tendency is to push the present day issues we wish to avoid below the surface into the subconscious. Aquarius will not allow us to do that for long. It will keep popping those issues back up into consciousness to be processed. These are the thoughts in our head that just do not go away. Aquarian energy is always helping us address things in order to evolve.

Aquarius can also give us visions of the future and the blueprint to follow. Our unconscious mind sparks us with repeated messages of what is coming next. The more repetitious the messages we experience, the more immediate our choices become. Many times it is where our soul really desires to go on the deepest levels. If it is too disassociated from the present moment, we tend to ignore things again.

Then, due to this tendency to suppress the revelations of the unconscious mind, the present moment can blow up in our face. Here is how Aquarius signifies shock and trauma. We ignore our own warning signs. Who hasn’t had that relationship or job or possession taken away, and upon reflection we can see how we just ignored the signposts along the way.

Such are the meanings of Aquarius. We can detach to observe and yet we must reengage back in and live life. The polarity sign is Leo, which can be full of self. Leo thinks the world revolves around it. Aquarius comes along to teach us about the world and community. The detachment is to look outside of ourselves in order to see our role in the collective.

As the second-to-last sign of the zodiac, Aquarius demands that our perspective broaden until we can glimpse the whole global village. Aquarius tends to rip apart whatever Capricorn has tried to crystallize for its security reasons. Many times the Aquarian rebels are working to move things forward which are very threatening to the status quo.

Society is always balancing the needs of the group with the needs of the individual. Aquarius is our opportunity to relate to the community and yet not hold us back from changing. When we can break free from the past or societal conformities, we individuate. This is more difficult than it sounds. It is much easier to go along with the crowd than stand up and be noticed as different or progressive.

Yet to truly be ourselves is the only way to satisfy our soul. Allowing others to condition us makes us feel trapped. From Capricorn to Aquarius we get to figure out how to be in society yet not of society. We quest to become a free individual functioning in our groups as we continue to evolve and change.

Today the first day of spring in the tropical zodiac is moving backwards through the constellation of Pisces and into the constellation of Aquarius. The transition into the Aquarian Age is happening. The exact date can be debated; however, the changing times on this cusp of Ages cannot be ignored. The transitions of the Great Ages always bring the shakeups of old cycles and patterns to be released in order to move forward. Jesus is associated with ushering in the Piscean Age 2,000 years ago and both were known as the symbol of the fish.

Every year as the Sun passes through tropical Aquarius, these detach, break free and evolve lessons are intensified. It can be quite unsettling, and it is a preview of the times to come. It requires a major effort to detach and see the larger picture versus the immediacy of our own situation, both individually and collectively.

One of the most popular Aquarian Age messages is “unity in diversity” rather than demanding unity in conformity or sameness. Look around and observe nature. Have we found any two fingerprints, snowflakes or animal species the same yet? Diversity is natural law. How diverse can you become while serving your community? Let Aquarius show you the way.

Mercury is catching up to the Sun again and enters Aquarius on January 22 for a little over two weeks. As the messenger, this quick passage may be a good thing. Mercury is the conscious mind and tends to make sure we get those deep Uranian messages. Pay attention to whatever pops into your head the first half of the solar month, especially with repetition.

Make the effort to heal the past, address the present and take your next step forward. You can ask for honest feedback from friends and acquaintances that have no vested interest in the outcome of your situations.

Venus retrograde makes the second of three waning trines to Mars on January 23 at 18/19 degrees Capricorn-Taurus. What relationship patterns are coming up for you again? Venus is asking us to review what is important, and not settle for what society or family or partner expect from us.

This is usually a nice relationship aspect. However, three times during a Venus retrograde cycle means we must take a deeper look at the love patterns we take for granted. This can include the love of nice things that may satisfy temporarily yet not long-term. We can also avoid that equal “give and take” issue with someone we feel used by.

Do not take the couch potato choice in the relationship issues arising at this time. Venus retro is about addressing whatever is necessary in loving your self better. That can help take care of any love issue outside of your self. Are you substituting a love relationship, or a desire for one, for a lack of relationship with God/Goddess?

The deepest level of Venus retro is learning how to return to Source. What does this mean for you? Where are you in avoidance of your spiritual growth? Make the effort. Outer values and substances can never replace inner values. When we go for the inner work, somehow the outer world falls into place with whatever we desire.

Mercury makes its superior conjunction to the Sun on January 26 at 6/7 degrees Aquarius. This is like a Full Moon for Mercury and Sun. It is another “ah ha” time. The last Mercury retrograde cycle was in Sag-Scorpio and answers from this retro cycle may still come through here.

The Sun is in the opposite sign (Leo) of its rulership. Mercury likes air signs. The insights coming up to the surface at this time can be like the lightning rod. It is an excellent time to ask for deeper answers to be revealed. This can be a very inspirational time.

If you are experiencing shocking news or traumatic events, it is your soul’s way of realigning you with natural laws and what you really need. As the shock wears off, do your best to move forward instead of returning to the past and a repeating pattern again. Aquarius can liberate us even when it feels painful at the time. Afterwards, we can look back and wonder how we ever settled for the previous limitation.

Mercury makes an opposition to Saturn retrograde on January 27 at 7/8 degrees Aquarius-Leo. Both Mercury and the Sun oppose Saturn before this day is over. It will be a weekend of searching for objectivity. We are reaching the mid-point of Saturn’s annual retro cycle. Mercury will bring the conversations or messages about the new creative realities we are wanting.

Saturn retro in Leo can be tough on the ego. We figured everyone would love our ideas. We thought such-and-such is what we wanted to do with our life. Now we must consider the forces outside ourselves in order to bring our creative ideas into manifestation. Mercury is here with the objective feedback. Take a deep breath and listen.

Venus retro makes the second of three waxing sextiles to Jupiter on January 27 at 16/17 degrees Capricorn-Scorpio. This is the other Venus aspect during its retrograde passage. In our reevaluation process, finances and possessions can come into the picture. Do you really want to go in debt over that thing you just need to have?

This Venus-Jupiter aspect can be an opportunity to replace our stuff with relating. We could find the time to have those meaningful conversations about life and what we are here to do. We can make the time to be with those who are important to us.

If we blend this Venus-Jupiter aspect with the two Saturn aspects today, we may receive all kinds of ideas on how to move into new work that can actually bring us money.

We may be figuring out our relationship patterns with sexuality as well. All year Jupiter in Scorpio asks us to choose sexual partners and interactions wisely. No games or manipulations. With this Venus retro, it may be no “parental” roles with our sexual partners, ie “If I just love them a little more, or take care of just one more debt, my lover will love me.” Chances are, you will be used as a free bank again and your partner will move on. Venus retro always brings up lessons of equal giving and receiving. If you do not receive as you give, stop the giving!! Better yet, give to your self.

The Sun makes it annual opposition to Saturn retro on January 27 at 7/8 degrees Aquarius-Leo. Saturn is in the Sun’s sign of rulership and pointing to the Sun in Aquarius. What are the repeated messages you have been receiving about any creative area of life? What old realities need to be released? These areas can show up as power struggles of some kind.

When you combine the Sun with Saturn it brings the ability to energize and achieve our goals. If, during this opposition and Saturn retro, we get clear on what those goals are, we can then utilize the power of intention to help us manifest those goals. Saturn is moving through Leo for two-plus years, and we all desire new creative expression. This first Saturn retro shows us the areas of dissatisfaction in our self-actualizations that we need to do something about.

Then Jupiter makes the first of three waning squares to Neptune on January 27 as well at 16/17 degrees Scorpio-Aquarius. The second waning square is March 16 and the last one is September 24, 2006. This is the last of a series of aspects Jupiter makes three times each to the four outer planets (Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto) throughout this next year. See end of forecast for more dates.

Just in case you need a little help in letting go of old realities, here are the great releasers Jupiter and Neptune in the aspect (waning square) known for releasing. The waning square is a crisis in consciousness. We have reached the point where something no longer makes sense or has meaning. There are old beliefs to detach from and let go.

Yes, Jupiter the great planet of expansion releases too. We must create the void in order to have space to expand into the new. The test during Sun in Aquarius is to actually create anew versus recycling the past. This is where Neptune in Aquarius can help as the great dissolver of everything separating us from God/Goddess.

Saturn retrograde is making all these attempts to create new realities. It can seem like everywhere we turn we find a roadblock. Breathe. Listen. There are Aquarian messages arising from deep down below to help us really move forward in the directions we desire from our soul’s perspective. It can just take a little Saturn time.

We need Jupiter waning square Neptune to help us liberate from limited belief systems that keep us stuck in old realities. Jupiter can relate to our personal beliefs while Neptune tunes in to the broad collective beliefs. Neptune’s long passage through Aquarius (1998-2011/12) brings more and more spiritual objectivity as each year passes. Now, as Neptune moves through the middle degrees of Aquarius, all kinds of belief system crises can occur, individually and collectively.

We have only to look at religion in the U.S., or wars started in the name of religion. One of the reasons the religious conservatives are reaching such extremes is because they unconsciously sense the masses moving forward while they cling to their old distorted beliefs. They become desperate in holding on to the past for security reasons. Merry Christmas friend or foe anyone?

The United States was founded upon religious freedom or separation of church and state. Neptune in Aquarius will move over the Moon (public, women) in the U.S. chart (July 4, 1776, 2:13am, Philadelphia, PA) three times in 2006 (March 3, 2006, August 20, 2006 and January 2, 2007). U.S. citizens, and the world, will be shocked at the religious judgments and statements yet to come from religious conservatives. Roe vs. Wade anyone?

As Jupiter makes three waning squares to Neptune, many will wonder what the real meaning of Christianity is as they observe evangelical behavior. 2006 will see the popular book The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown released as a movie in major theatres. They will question the real role of women and sexuality (Jupiter in Scorpio) in the church. What was suppressed?

Aquarius seeks to liberate from whatever is conditioned. Neptune in Aquarius gives everyone the possibility to liberate from thousand of years of human-made religious conditioning and find natural, spiritual laws and principles. This is very threatening to many. It is wonderful, anticipated news to many others. Jupiter in Scorpio can attempt to bring sacred sexuality back into the religious/spiritual picture. The United States and the world are not through with religious/spiritual discussions. They may only be starting again.

Saturn in Leo needs to hang in there. All kinds of creative opportunities will come during its passage through Leo from July 16, 2005 through September 2, 2007. Jupiter in Scorpio, Saturn in Leo and Neptune in Aquarius activate three of the four fixed signs. Mars has been with them activating Taurus from July 27/28, 2005 through February 17, 2006. Every time the Sun passes through one of the fixed signs this energy is emphasized.

The four fixed signs (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius) want security. The planetary journeys through these signs bring up insecurity. It does not feel pleasant. The lesson is to reach for the next level of inner security, which just happens to be the message of Venus retrograde. When outer is insecure, go within.

The New Moon of Aquarius is January 29 at 9/10 degrees. This is the annual New Moon of objectivity, yet how do we objectify our emotions? With Aquarius, it is the repeated feelings and emotions. It is emotional shock and trauma when we ignore those repetitious messages.

We can observe the co-dependent soul who ignores the inner emotions and mental messages as they experience a partner’s cruel selfish behaviors. Add on the friends who give the famous “dump him/her” feedback. It takes the partner leaving for the co-dependent one to get it sometimes, and even then they can just repeat the same pattern with the next selfish lover. A “taker” needs a “giver” to play the game.

Aquarius New Moon is a time to strike out in new emotional directions, and it can feel quite insecure. This very insecurity can be the barometer of moving in a healthier direction. When we take the time to really get quiet and listen to the voice within, we can know what is coming. Find the courage this New Moon to intuit your next step of emotional growth.

In ancient times, early February was always a time for fortune telling. What will the future bring? It is the halfway point between the Winter Solstice and Spring Equinox, a cross-quarter holy day in the pagan world. It has traveled down through time and across the continent from Europe to America to become Ground Hog’s Day. What is the ground hog doing? He/she is casting the future from its shadow or lack of shadow.

Aquarius is a visionary. What do you envision in your future?

Mercury makes a conjunction to Neptune on February 1st at 17/18 degrees Aquarius. Now Mercury gets involved with this Jupiter-Neptune waning square. This aspect is about taking our Neptunian insights and making sense of them. Mercury steps things down. It can help us with communicating these broad Neptune ideals.

A limitation of Aquarius, relating to its fixed nature, is thinking our idea is the “right” idea or the best idea. Our friend or spouse or another country thinks the same thing about their ideas. The part of Aquarius that fears the future can cling to the past. Here is Neptune dissolving it away. So we cling to our ideas tighter until we are a tiny island in the vast ocean.

Try lots of conversations this solar month. Aquarius is an air or mental sign. You can ask your friends what they think. You can try conversation and debate with those whose ideas differ from yours. Can you find common ground and evolve from there?

Mercury makes a waxing square to Jupiter on February 1st as well at 17/18 degrees Aquarius-Scorpio. This is left-brain (Mercury) and right-brain (Jupiter) in the crisis of action first quarter square. New thoughts and ideas are needed here. New actions become necessary.

While Jupiter is surrendering to Neptune (last quarter square), Mercury is then taking Jupiter forward. Scorpio has the abilities of intuitive detective. What emotional insights are coming through? Is Mercury sparking the thought process that supports these new insights?

We are only a month into the New Year. What are your plans, ideas and resolutions? Venus is slowing down, almost ready to go direct. This is a time period for wonderful insights about our self and our relationship to others, to the world.

Again and again this year, Jupiter-Neptune will ask us to surrender to a larger spiritual picture than we knew before. The waning square is a “return to Source” aspect. We can remember natural, spiritual laws and principles. Ask for your limitations and co-dependencies (substitutes for God/Goddess) to be revealed to you.

Venus turns stationary direct on February 3rd at 16 degrees Capricorn. The last six weeks have brought major reevaluations around career, self-determination, possessions, finances and anything that can represent the material world. What have you found to be important to you?

Venus retro in Capricorn pointed to Cancer and inner emotional self-reliance. Take a moment and reflect what your emotional growth has been over the last six weeks. Have you become a bit more self-confident? That was a Venus lesson this time too.

Have you faced reality with your intimate relationships, or lack thereof? Have you figured out your role in your family or origin? Can you recognize that you are the only person who will ever really satisfy your soul’s needs? As you do, it frees up a whole lot of energy for attracting others who are doing the same. This can make for relationships that can feel deeply fulfilling with a minimum of projections.

This Venus retro cycle in Capricorn can bring realizations of your social role in your family, your community and the world at large. Self-reliant souls become healthy functioning citizens. This Venus retro is teaching us social maturity. Sun in Aquarius can bring the insights on how to make this happen. As Venus moves over its retrograde degrees for a third time, until March 7, we will continue with these lessons. Now, Venus direct, we can feel the progress. Keep working on getting your financial house in order.

It seems like we just finish up a Mercury retro cycle and it starts all over again. The next Mercury retrograde will be 26/27 – 13/14 degrees Pisces from March 2 through March 25, 2006. This next time Mercury makes three aspects each to Mars, Jupiter and Pluto. Mercury will square both Mars and Pluto as they are approaching opposition to each other on April 8 at 26/27 degrees Gemini-Sagittarius. Pay attention to your escapism tendencies. Make an effort to be flexible.

Mercury makes the first of three waning squares to Mars on February 5 at 24/25 degrees Aquarius-Taurus. Mars is finishing up a long journey through Taurus. Resources and possessions have been a repeating theme through the Mars and Venus retrograde cycles this fall and winter.

Mercury can be busting out with ideas and Mars is trying to find the funds. The question becomes “Is this really what I want?” It is OK to take some Taurean time. These two planets will meet again in Pisces-Gemini and Aries-Cancer. Mars is getting a handle on what our evolving desires really are, and is building up the confidence to do something about it. Trust in the process to unfold as best for all.

The Sun makes it annual conjunction to Neptune on February 5/6 at 17/18 degrees Aquarius. We now have the Sun interacting with our Jupiter-Neptune spiritual questing. This Sun-Neptune conjunction initiates an annual cycle to actualize our spiritual ideals. It can be that famous walking the talk.

Neptune in Aquarius, Uranus in Pisces and Pluto is Sagittarius just will not let this religion/spirituality/belief system subject rest. We will find it affecting every area of life (as it always does) and showing up all over the world. Many countries are appalled that the United States, founded upon religious freedom, is engaged in this attempt of religious conformity takeover. Sun-Neptune will have a few things to say here.

Then the Sun makes a waxing square to Jupiter on February 6 at 17/18 degrees Aquarius-Scorpio. Let’s add some sex into the picture as well. We have watched human-made conditionings distort sexuality right out of religion. Yet it is a natural law and a natural part of spirituality. We just cannot even remember it that way anymore.

These two planets rule the sacral chakra in Evolutionary Astrology. There may be a few sexual scandals this year with Jupiter-Neptune. Today’s distortions of natural sexuality boomerang in Hollywood with blatant sexual exposure and themes. This weekend could see the gay movement making lots of headlines (Oscars) while religious conservatives claim, “the sky is falling.”

What sexual judgments are coming up for you? Would you want others to judge your sexual behavior? Can you understand that thousands of years of sexual repression and distortion will create a pendulum swing in the coming Aquarian Age as sexual freedom in all kinds of ways?

These are the religious/spiritual debates to come with Jupiter-Neptune.

Mercury makes a waxing sextile to Pluto on February 6 at 26/27 degrees Aquarius-Sagittarius. Mercury moves so fast it makes a waxing sextile to Pluto before the three waxing squares of its retrograde cycle. This is Mercury bringing out new ideas for Plutonian desires. Pluto will turn retrograde March 29 at the same Sag degree as Mercury will retro in Pisces on March 2.

There are messages about getting clear on our deepest desires. We also have another layer of truth to uncover about ourselves. This will allow us to move forward even as we review things. There is a lot of energy for communications; however, do not forget what feels right in your gut as you express yourself.

Mercury enters Pisces on February 8 for the next two months. This is a long time for Mercury through one sign of the zodiac when it normally takes two weeks. Mercury is not very comfortable in dreamy, intuitive Pisces. The detailed analytical side of our brain will be forced to get in touch with ourselves emotionally.

Pisces is the last sign of the zodiac and can symbolize anything and everything. It is the sign that loves to escape reality. Mercury rules Virgo the opposite of Pisces so one of our next Mercury retro lessons will be getting in touch with reality. You can start observing the ways in which you want to just check out. Strive to put your feet on the ground as you reach for the stars.

Mercury in Pisces can intuit ideals and wholeness as well. There can be messages about your own spiritual path as Jupiter-Neptune takes away what no longer works. Mercury in Pisces can relate to telepathy. Can you intuit what you need to know regardless of another’s words?

The Full Moon of Leo is February 12 at 24/25 degrees Aquarius-Leo. The Full Moon of creativity that can help Saturn retro in Leo reach for its next spark of genius. What ideas are coming through? How does it make you feel?

It is possible for the subtle messages that have been coming through Sun in Aquarius to burst out now. We can move into leadership roles however it is right for us. This is the time to engage back into our emotional bodies as Aquarius forced us to stand back and observe. This is a time to deeply love your self and acknowledge you are a creative spark of Source. Let God/Goddess come through you.

This year could see lots of activity on Valentine’s Day. Here is the most romantic day of the year in dry Aquarius. Perhaps it is necessary due to the human-made distortions in relationships for so long in history. Westernized cultures tend to promote victimization over self-reliance. We need some objectivity when that is the case. As always, the most important person for you to love is your self, deeply and inwardly. May you be successful.

Venus makes the third and final waxing sextile to Jupiter on February 14 at 18/19 degrees Capricorn-Scorpio. This is a nice aspect for two planets who love to love. They could bring opportunities for romance, or a deepening of friendship. When Capricorn and Scorpio are self-reliant the commitment can be the deep and fulfilling soul mate kind of love.

As Venus finishes up its retrograde cycle, we can understand what is truly important to us. It may be real love over the flowers and chocolates. It may be time together instead of the next promotion at work. It can be taking time out for play, or becoming more responsible.

Mercury makes a conjunction to Uranus on February 14 at 9/10 degrees Pisces. Whatever we need to know about love will come to the surface here. Astrological symbols have a range of spectrum. If we have been pretending to love, our lies may be exposed and we just cannot do it anymore. Others may find a surprise engagement coming.

Mercury-Uranus never lacks for excitement. These two get along like Venus and Jupiter do. We can know that whatever has been circling in our brains is busting out now, especially when the theme is around love and relationships. The most important thing needed is honesty and that is what Mercury-Uranus can bring about, perhaps unexpectedly.

Valentine’s Day also has Sun-Pluto to add to the mix. The Sun makes a waxing sextile to Pluto on February 14 as well at 26/27 degrees Aquarius-Sagittarius. Venus is moving full steam ahead again so look out. Whatever we have been putting energy towards is coming through. Sun-Pluto brings power to the situation.

It is like this year’s Valentine’s will not be skipped over. Things will happen. It is best to get our values in order this solar month so we can create the best possible scenarios in love.

Finally Mars enters Gemini for the next two months on February 17. Mars is ready to take off! It has been a long seven months in Taurus. Now we can move ahead in acting upon our desires. Just remember Taurus was there to help us refine which desires we really wanted. Let Gemini provide multiple ways of achieving them versus going back to attempting every desire we can think of and running ourselves ragged.

It might be best for Mars to start by communicating with others again in going forward. Talking through things can be just as satisfying as doing them. We need to be a bit cautious as Mars gets out of the Taurean gate. We can feel like we are spinning in circles. That means we need to mentally work our way through all the ideas in order to know which way to proceed.

Mars in Gemini will be such a fresh breath of air in all this fixed energy through 2006. Do your best to utilize the next two months to communicate, process and act. Then repeat. We may even see that the appearance of standing still last winter really wasn’t. There was much going on beneath the surface. Sun in Aquarius will be revealing the real progress all through this solar month.

May God/Goddess bless you through Sun in Aquarius!