Welcome to the dawning of a new millennium! January looks to be a month of growing intensity with possibilities for lots of action from differing beliefs and viewpoints. The Aquarian Age message of unity in diversity will be tested over the next few months.

2001 is a 3 year bringing yang energy through communication and movement. The new beginnings and foundations we have created in the last 2 years will now be expanded upon. How do you wish to grow this year? Choice is everywhere.

The outward moving energy of a 3 year will combine with the 3 outer planets in Aquarius and Sagittarius, also yang signs in air and fire respectively. Everyone has a belief and cause to promote. Everyone seems to be involved in multiple creative ventures. It will be hard to sit still as the year will seem to fly by.

The 3 Mercury retrogrades this year are in air (mental) signs. Confusion will be in the air from time to time. We will have to make conscious choices to sit still and go within. Watch your mouth this year. Can you listen as much as you want to speak?

Sun is in goal-oriented Capricorn right now and it is the time of year to make those new year's resolutions. The Evolutionary Astrology mantra for Capricorn is: I achieve my goals with emotional self-reliance. For outer success to be long-lasting it must come from a foundation of inner self-reliance. Our outer world is as successful as our inner world. The Full Moon (and Lunar Eclipse) on January 9 in Cancer will show us where our weakest emotional link lies.

We can all make a very important choice to consciously set intent and visualize world peace daily. The last millennium has brought almost unbelievable changes to our physical world. Now we are entering a mental frontier with the next millennium that will bring even more vast-reaching changes. But first we must survive trying to destroy ourselves. Make a choice to put your mental energy into creating peace, individually and collectively.

New year's day starts out with Mars making a waning square to Neptune in Scorpio-Aquarius at 5/6 degrees. There is possibility here to let go of old, controlling behaviors that no longer support our evolving beliefs. Old desires, and the energy to act upon them, are fading away. Seed thoughts of new desires can excite us.

War (Mars) is always fought in the name of God (Neptune). Today one-third of the countries in the world have some type of civil unrest or war going on. This is almost twice the average when compared to the late 1980s and appears to be increasing. The outer planets in Sag and Aquarius unfortunately synchronize with lesser-evolved souls trying to impose their beliefs and will upon others. How do you choose to say no thank you? Try not to pretend (Neptune) this doesn't affect (Mars) you.

Venus enters Pisces for a month on January 3. Ultimate love, sacrificial love. This is where Venus must learn unconditional love without sacrificing itself. At the end of the Piscean Age Venus in Pisces can play the role of the victim and/or victor.

Patriarchal conditioning has led us to falsely believe that we must "sacrifice" ourselves if we truly love someone. It has led to behaviors that if we just love our abuser a little more he/she will change and love us back. We get caught up in the role of the victim and unconsciously (Pisces) believe that somehow we deserve this punishment based upon the patriarchal belief that we are guilty of imperfection.

Or, Venus in Pisces after enough abuse decides to hurt back. It becomes the victor role with behavior that has no regard for thoughts and feelings of others; the opposite of Piscean spirituality leading to destructive actions with self and others.

Natural law will eventually lead Venus in Pisces to realize that unconditional love must start with ourselves. We must discern (Virgo, opposite of Pisces) love that is neither selfless or selfish but full of self that then knows when to love and when not to love another anymore. A hard thing to do with all the patriarchal conditioning via mainstream religions wanting us to sacrifice ourselves as Jesus did. Do you really think Jesus would have chosen to die as he did?

Matriarchal beliefs help us to realize that Venus in Pisces first learns unconditional love for itself (Virgo, opposite of Pisces) as it evolves. Then Venus in Pisces learns to love the collective whole discerning (Virgo) how to be responsible for one's self and allowing others to be responsible for themselves. Matriarchal Venus in Pisces learns how to assist lesser-evolved souls evolve without becoming responsible for them and yet teaching them healthy choices for the whole.

Venus makes a waning square to retrograde Jupiter January 5 at 1/2 degrees Pisces-Gemini. Opportunity to personally let go of those old beliefs that have us sacrificing ourselves to others. Where in your life are you doing so? Where is the message coming in that you are responsible for yourself?

Mercury gives us the chance to speak up about it when it makes a waning trine to retrograde Saturn the next day at 24/25 degrees Capricorn-Taurus. We can get mentally real with others. We can also easily make this work for environmental changes. We can realize what resources are necessary and what is material fluff we do not need. Some of us will look for ways to receive more material fluff.

The Full Moon in Cancer on January 9 is a Lunar Eclipse at 19/20 degrees Capricorn-Cancer. This is the annual time of the year to address all those buried emotions we each want to suppress. Many times this is the fallout from the Capricorn materialism of the holidays. Our stuff makes a lousy substitute for those emotional interactions our souls need and desire.

This is the time of year to address our emotions and ask how we can each make the next step towards self-reliance. The Full Moon in Cancer is where we realize that our ability to be successful in our outer world and achieve those Capricorn goals and New Year's resolutions is based upon our ability to really love ourselves in our inner world in order to grow and change. May you unconditionally love yourself the way you want everyone else to love you. Find it within first.

Next Mercury enters Aquarius on January 10 where it will set the stage for its next retrograde cycle in February. Mercury will be in Aquarius for almost 2 months except for a brief stay at 0 degrees Pisces where it actually turns retrograde. Mercury is the left brain and conscious mind. Aquarius is ruled by Uranus, which represents the unconscious mind. Mercury in Aquarius gives us the opportunity to consciously realize all our unconscious mental patterns and break free from them into new thoughts and ideas.

We are all in mental overtime. This is the time period of the mental genius bringing forth new ideas, information and technology into the collective consciousness. This is also the time period of the mentally unbalanced souls trying to impose their thoughts and ideas upon us, and in today's world, through violence and Sun in Capricorn control.

Aquarius helps us de-condition from our conditioning. Many times this happens through shock and trauma because we are so conditioned. Mercury in Aquarius can help us mentally detach to objectively look at things in our lives differently. Can you see another viewpoint to the issues in your life?

The next day Mercury makes a waning trine to retrograde Jupiter at 1/2 degrees Aquarius-Gemini. Excellent opportunity to interact with others and see where we can each evolve our personal beliefs which will then allow us to look at our lives differently.

Energy is in the air to mentally open up and then ground those new ideas into reality - Aquarius and Capricorn.

On January 13 Mercury makes a conjunction to Neptune at 5/6 degrees Aquarius. The initiation of an almost annual cycle to make the nebulous spiritual world, something we can grasp and understand. In Aquarius there is a quest to understand spiritual truths. The question is whether we can detach enough to realize the ultimate truth, or, just our version of it.

Neptune in Aquarius wants to de-condition us from patriarchal religious conditioning. At the end of this Piscean (ruled by Neptune) Age and height of the patriarchy, Neptune in Aquarius can help bring in the coming Aquarian Age and let us realize that Goddess is equal to God. At this time Neptune in Aquarius represents the reemerging of the matriarchal movement - witness Goddess coming out. Mercury conjunct Neptune brings opportunity to understand this on an every day level.

Unfortunately Neptune in Aquarius also represents those who want to keep us spiritually conditioned - witness the areas of the Middle East who want to keep women suppressed. This is the time of year, and with the 3 outer planets in Sagittarius and Aquarius, that can bring rises in religious conflicts as the mentally-unbalanced (Aquarius) few want to hurt the rest of us in the name of their god (Neptune in Aquarius).

Many of us have witnessed the power of prayer. The energy whenever 2 or more are gathered. Again, pray for peace. Set intent and send love to those who have been conditioned by the patriarchy. Visualize them healing their emotional wounds. Visualize healing the inner child that made them turn that way.

Sun makes a waning trine to retrograde Saturn on January 13/14 at 24/25 degrees Capricorn-Taurus. We have opportunities to create wise use of our resources. We can make those work for environmental changes again. What is happening in your world of work and career? How do you fit in? Or out? Can you see the changes others are pointing out to move forward in work? Are you facing reality in your world?

Venus activates the next few days with a waxing square to Pluto on January 16/17 at 14/15 degrees Pisces-Sagittarius. The push to meet our own essential needs. Venus in Pisces wants that unconditional love from others and here we need to get it from ourselves. Deep soul realizations of how we need to love ourselves better and then see where our interactions with others can grow in new ways.

At the same time Venus makes a waxing trine to Mars on January 16/17 at 14/15 degrees Pisces-Scorpio; one of the nice intimate relationship aspects. Combined with Pluto above it can bring deep emotional/sexual intimacy with another if both come from self-reliance. If not, it could perpetuate controlling abuse. Where are you in this?

This Venus-Mars waxing trine will repeat in June when Mars is retrograde. 2001 is a relationship year with a Venus retrograde cycle in Aries in March-April, and a Mars retrograde cycle in Sag during May-July. A 3 year (2001) also relates to relationships by way of needing to improve communications in all relationships.

Mercury makes a waxing sextile to Pluto on January 18/19 at 14/15 degrees Aquarius-Sag. This allows for communications about those intimate issues of the last few days. This also has us collectively wanting our version of the truth to be heard. Again, can we listen as well as speak? Can we understand another's version of the truth as also valid?

Sun enters Aquarius on January 19 this year. The Evolutionary Mantra for Aquarius is: I break free with new creativity in myself. Aquarius ranges from deep conditioning to total rebellion and everything else in-between. The archetype of Aquarian energy is to break free from conditioning on all levels: physical, emotional, mental and spiritual.

This then allows us to be free to be, to creatively actualize ourselves (Leo, the polarity of Aquarius). What do you perceive to be conditioned within you? Can you break free? Can you be Aquarian different? Can you be a group of one?

With both Neptune and Uranus, the ruler of Aquarius, in Aquarius at this time, this energy archetype is emphasized. We see this in the world conflicts of those oppressed trying to break free. We see this in those who try to stop the oppressed from being free. The scenarios are endless. This is the time of year when Sun in Aquarius heightens the intent to decondition and condition.

Evolved Aquarius wants unity in diversity. Unevolved Aquarius wants unity in sameness, control. This is happening for all of us individually and collectively. The dawning of the Aquarian Age is really happening. Can we break free from the patriarchal conditioning that has repeated itself and grown so distorted over the last 4 great Ages? If enough of us believe we can we will. Here is a new millennium toast to that belief!!!

The next day Mercury in Aquarius starts the 1st of 3 dances with Mars, Uranus and Saturn over the next 3 months. Mental energy is very strong all year long and especially these first few months. This is the buildup energy, nervous system energy that must be released into action somehow.

Mercury makes a waxing square to Mars at 16/17 degrees Aquarius-Scorpio. There is an emotional push to our thoughts, asking us to move forward. Can we realize how our emotions condition our thoughts? Can we break free? Where are you being asked to detach and think and do differently and your emotions keep pulling you back to the same thoughts and behaviors?

These Mercury triple interactions with Mars, Uranus and Saturn over the next few months are conjunctions and squares. Pressure keeps building that needs to be released. Change is necessary. This is argument energy. This is "I'll show them energy as some souls prepare to hurt others." Again, can you listen as much as you want to speak? Can you find resolutions without conflict?

This is the time of year (the Sun's passage through the last 6 signs of the zodiac, Fall Equinox to Spring Equinox) when energy goes toward the others in our lives, personally and collectively. There is possibility that others could try to do world harm again. And our country is easily a target for a lot of mentally unbalanced souls who are tired of us trying to impose our beliefs and ideas on to them. Pray for peace.

Also on January 20 Sun makes a waning trine to retrograde Jupiter at 1/2 degrees Aquarius-Gemini. There is an ability to understand another's personal beliefs as well as our own, and see what we can learn from both belief systems. There is also a possibility for lesser-evolved souls to feel guided to enforce their beliefs onto others.

Jupiter and Saturn are slowing down now, their retrograde cycles will end and each will go direct in a few days within hours of each other. In Jupiter's case there is energy building to really realize new beliefs and truths that work for us. The Sun's waning trine is shining the light of day to help this happen.

On January 22 Mercury makes the 1st of 3 conjunctions to Uranus at 19/20 degrees Aquarius. Mercury wants to make sure we really wake up. Here Mercury, the conscious mind, meets Uranus, the individuated unconscious mind in Uranus' territory, Aquarius. The 10,000 watts trying to come through a 100 watt light bulb story. We can blow a fuse and blow up. We can realize enlightenment. It is our individual choice. What do you want to realize at this time? You get 3 chances.

These 1st 3 months of the year will bring the repeated messages up from the unconsciousness again and again of where it is we are needing to evolve next. Again, can you listen within? Where is this happening in your chart, your life?

These next few days are quite active. The New Moon in Aquarius happens January 24 at 4/5 degrees Aquarius. The annual time of the year for questing to break free in any way you desire and need to. The time of year to be who you truly are. The time to search for unconscious answers and make them conscious. The time shock and trauma may enter our lives if we do not want to be conscious, and force us into greater consciousness.

Also on January 24 Saturn turns stationary direct at 24/25 degrees Taurus. Reality is now upon us. This is the last Saturn retrograde in Taurus for the next 28/29 years. By now the knowledge of what resources are necessary in our lives is with us, and the excess of materialism to be released. Saturn in Taurus has taught us the ultimate reality that we are each responsible for taking care of our own essential needs. Or, having our material goods taken away from us to realize what we really do need to survive.

Eight hours later on January 25 Jupiter turns stationary direct at 1/2 degrees Gemini. Our own personal truths have been revealed to us and we now move forward from those new truths. Jupiter is in the opposite sign of its rulership (Sagittarius) so exposure to the relativity of truth (Gemini) has been the theme and now we are making the choices of the next level of truth for us. The goal is to find the ultimate truth, universal timeless truths.

Jupiter still has another opposition to Pluto this spring (May) and another waxing trine to Neptune (April), so our complete new personal truths are not fully here yet. However, the review and release of old personal belief is finishing and our new beliefs will continue to unfold for us into this spring.

This latter part of January is full of bursting out, moving forward energy. Personally, those who have been trying to break free and evolve into new growth may find this energy really moves them forward. Those who have been procrastinating or avoiding making the necessary changes may find themselves forced into new things. Be aware, you have choice to make those changes you know you require to change. Move before you are forced to.

Collectively, this is energy that could bring lots of violence and a few destroying things for many. These Mercury aspects with Mars, Uranus and Saturn are not fluffy, feel-good aspects. They are shake things up aspects, with unexpected curves thrown in. These really are dangerous times on the planet. The outer 3 planets are in fire and air. Unevolved Sag and Aquarius want to impose their beliefs and thoughts upon others. To think we are removed from it here in the United States is foolish. Nuclear threats are real. The world needs active pacifists.

There are also those who have waited for these times to help bring about changes. The internet today, Aquarian energy, lets mass numbers of us pray for peace at opportune times all around the planet. Participate. Remember the real message of the last presidential election: each person counts and can make a difference, the difference. This is the mental message of the new millennium. Lets do it, think it, believe it.

Also on January 25 Mercury makes the 1st of 3 waning squares to Saturn at 24/25 degrees Aquarius-Taurus. Here we can let go of old thoughts and realities that no longer work for us. For example: the belief and thought that you can't make a difference. What narrow-minded opinions are you still clinging to? Can you let them go? Another example: that money is the root of all evil; a patriarchal conditioning to keep us poor. Money is an inanimate object we energize "good" or "bad". Can you release the old thought that your resources cannot be sacred?

Mercury aspecting Saturn is part of the trio with Mars and Uranus that just keeps mentally pushing us the next few months. How can we resolve our conflicts without conflict? How can we make leaps ahead?

Sun makes its annual conjunction to Neptune on January 25 as well at 6/7 degrees Aquarius. The annual quest to search for spiritual meaning in our lives, in this case spiritual truths. Many of us no longer belong to any formalized religions, yet we still believe ourselves to be very spiritual. This aspect is a time to renew that belief, to push for the transfer from religion to spirituality. This is the time to set intent to make our every day lives a spiritual walk, and with the matriarchy through the path of the householder.

Venus makes a waning sextile to Saturn on January 26/27 at 24/25 degrees Pisces-Taurus. This brings upon the releasing of old patterns of victimization and victorization that prevent us from being responsible for our own essential needs. The realization that no one but ourselves is responsible for whatever our needs are.

On January 27 Mars makes a waning square to Uranus at 20/21 degrees Scorpio-Aquarius. The opportunity to release old emotional behaviors that do not allow us to move forward. Realizations of old desires that do not fit in anymore. Mars and Uranus almost always stress each other out, sometimes it is necessary for change to happen. These 2 planets are both maxing out our communications via Mercury the next 3 months.

Finally on January 31/February 1 Mercury moves into Pisces where it remains for a week while it turns retrograde at 0/1 degrees on February 3. Mercury has really shook things up this month. Now it gives us the message that we really are all one, the Piscean collective all. Can we remember this as Mercury retrogrades back through Aquarius and we each think we are right and want our way? Mercury has to learn how to become intuitive in Pisces. It is not comfortable there, yet it is necessary to help ego come from soul.

The new year, new century and new millennium start off quite active this month. No one sits still. May peace prevail through these Mercurial times. May our collective love for each other be stronger than our hatred.

Here is a quote from someone named John-David: "With all that there is to be accomplished in the coming months ahead, it would be greatly appreciated if those who are saying it cannot be done, would stay out of the way and not distract those who are doing it. Thank you."

This is the response you need to those who say we cannot change the world. There is also another response. It is what bulls do in the field after eating lots of grass..... Here is a new year's toast to changing the world to a better place in the new millennium and the Aquarian Age!!! May you be a part of it!

May God/Goddess bless you in January!

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If this is your first time reading my forecast.........I suggest reading the entire forecast to receive an overall impression of the energy for the month, and then refer back to it as things arise. My intent and desire is to help you understand the opportunities for personal changes on emotional, mental and spiritual levels which manifest the physical reality of your world. I send you blessings for a growing, evolving month!

P.O. Box 552, Rapid City, SD, 57709 605-348-5111, 877-348-5111 Email: kimmarie@astrologybykimmarie.com