Astrological Forecast January 2013

LIVING YOUR LIFE SENSIBLY WITH JYOTISH HELP

Rahu – Ketu Axis Continues Transition to New Signs

The Rahu-Ketu axis is the nodal axis. They are abstract points along the path that the planets travel through the zodiac that denote where eclipses will occur when the Sun and Moon align with these pointsLast month, I talked about this shift and will continue the discussion here. I'm looking at this transition period as lasting from mid-December to mid-January based on the difference between the mean and true node. 

Depending on where this axis falls in our birth chart, we are all exercising through the lessons of Rahu and Ketu in different ways and domains of life. The commonality lies in what is expressed above. The shift to new signs will be an interesting inversion. Ketu will move to Aries and Rahu will move to Libra. The inverted sense of things involves Venus and Mars and their rulership of the signs that Rahu and Ketu occupy both before and after the shift. Our new paradigm, for the next 1.5 years will see Ketu operating in Mars' fire sign, Aries, and Rahu operating in Venus' air sign, Libra.

Mars Exalted in Capricorn Jan 1-24

Mars actually moved into Capricorn on December 18, and continues through his sign of exaltation through January 24. Planets can function to their highest capacity when they are in an exalted state. Mars as our planet of power, drive and forward motion can skillfully get things done when located in Saturn's earth sign, Capricorn. One of our common symbols of Capricorn is the mountain goat atop a peak, showing the determination, courage, skill and fortitude that it takes to reach a goal. Mars has excellent structure in Capricorn to channel the fire and energy that he embodies. Here, we can get things done. We can give form to our energy and reach goals.

The exact degree of exaltation for Mars comes at 28º Capricorn. Mars reaches that peak on January 22-23. We should be feeling the sense of reaching our goals after weeks of dedicated work at that time. The simple message of this transit of Mars in Capricorn is: get to work! This position of Mars should be powerfully driven in a disciplined way. A good use of the energy may be to formulate a goal and really point your nose in that direction. Write it down. Make a plan and stick to it. Take advantage of the planetary backing and enjoy the feeling of accomplishment when you make it to the top of that hill.

Venus Transits Sagittarius January 4 – 27

Venus moves from Scorpio to Sagittarius on January 4, following her friend Mercury who moved into Sagittarius on December 27. The exodus of planets from Scorpio may provide a warmer, brighter outlook in general. The deep, dark arena of Mars' icy water sign can be "intense" in many ways, so with both Mercury and Venus moving into the warmer, fiery sign of Sagittarius there could be a sense of surfacing into the sunlight, of moving forward, of looking ahead and long-range planning.

Venus represents the human capacity for love, connection and compassion. Through Venus we experience the oneness and togetherness that leads us toward feelings of happiness and appreciation of beauty. With Venus transiting through Sagittarius, we put that capacity for love and relationship to work in an environment of positive, adventurous expansion. With Mercury and the Sun also in occupation of Sagittarius, we have a few weeks to put our hearts forward and expand into love and relationship through compassionate communication.

New Moon in Sagittarius January 11

2013 begins as the Moon is waning after the full Moon of December 28. Traveling alone as she becomes concave, the Moon eventually encounters Saturn on January 6 and Rahu on January 7. Because the Moon's energy becomes weaker as it wanes toward the monthly conjunction with the Sun (new Moon), these encounters with Saturn and Rahu could create a bit of depression and turbulence at the end of the first week of January.

Between January 7 and January 11, the Moon continues to wane, but moves into calmer territory in the company of Venus and Mercury in Sagittarius. The moment of the new Moon comes at around noon on Friday, January 11. The day preceding that moment is amavasya, running from the late afternoon of January 10 to mid-day on January 11. This is a good time to limit activity and to set intentions for the upcoming lunar cycle.

Sun Enters Capricorn January 14

Sagittarius is generally a positive, outgoing sign where action is free and easy. However Saturn's position in Libra during the next couple of years will throw the brakes on the activities born of the Sagittarius spirit due to his aspect from Libra. While this could feel somewhat irritating based on our desire to expand, learn and live large, we can welcome the caution that Saturn brings to our adventures. Deliberation and slow movement often make things turn out to be more safe and secure in the long run.

The Sun moves from Saturn's aspect and into Capricorn on Monday, January 14 to spend his annual month in Saturn's earth sign. This year, the Sun, friend to Mars, gets a boost by sharing this transit with exalted Mars. This amplifies and focuses that energy of exaltation so that we can concentrate our efforts on our goals. If your eyes are on the prize and your heart is in the game, you should find progress to be steady this month.

Saturn-Rahu Share Libra January 14, 2012 – July 12, 2014

With the true nodes finally settling into place on January 14, the nodal axis transition will have completed and we can look ahead to the next 1.5 years as Rahu-Ketu transit the signs of Libra and Aries, respectively.

One of the main features of this transit is that Rahu and Saturn will be sharing occupation of Libra for the next 1.5 years. This is a significant conjunction of two slower-moving planetary forces that will likely manifest for each of us individually based on where this transits the birth chart and collectively as well.

Because this is a "slow" conjunction, the period of time when these two bodies get close within five degrees may be the most notable. Starting in August 2013, Saturn and Rahu will move to within five degrees. Saturn will be moving forward through Libra and Rahu will maintain its usual retrograde motion. Exact conjunction occurs September 11-22, 2013, and separation begins at the end of October 2013. Rahu moves into Virgo July, 2014 and Saturn moves into Scorpio November, 2014.

The combination of these two strong planets should be quite active. The general theme may be one of revolution. Discontent with present conditions, desire for a more beautiful world, attraction to underlying truth and destruction of illusion: these feelings may come to a head under the conjunction of these two planets, urging us forward to a creation of a new world wherein the humanitarian basis of Saturn is amplified and spread through the pervasive channel of Rahu.

Mercury Transits Capricorn January 15 - February 1

Mercury speeds through Capricorn during the last two weeks of January, bearing his message of positivity gained from his transit through Sagittarius. Mercury gains speed, moving quickly past the Sun and out of combustion with the Sun by January 22

Full Moon in Cancer January 26

The Moon becomes full during the evening of Saturday, January 26 in the sign of Cancer, the Moon's own sign. This is the culmination of the cycle begun on January 11. This occurs in the lunar mansion (nakshatra) called Pushya, considered one of the most auspicious nakshatras.

Pushya is located entirely within the sign of Cancer, so it carries the energy of the Moon itself; its planetary ruler specifically is Saturn, so there is a combination of structure, restraint and nurture that makes this asterism a place of good fortune and purification. The power of Pushya is brahmavarchasa shakti, the power to create spiritual energy.

Saturn, currently exalted in Libra, will aspect the Moon at this time, further solidifying the auspicious influence of Saturn to create lasting spiritual forms and practices. The full Moon also falls on Saturday, the day of the week associated with the planet Saturn. Planning a ceremony (not wedding, though) for this day would be quite a good idea.

Jupiter Resumes Direct Motion January 30

Jupiter began its current retrograde cycle on October 4, 2012, moving back through the portion of the sign Taurus that is covered by the lunar mansion called Rohini. The power of Rohini is growth; with the expansive nature of Jupiter in reverse motion, we have had a period where growth and expansion seem to be difficult to grasp. Jupiter regains direct motion on January 30 at 12° Taurus.

Jupiter is an opposite to Saturn in the sense that Jupiter represents expansion where Saturn gives limitation. Jupiter is positive to Saturn's negative. Jupiter gives us hope and faith where Saturn arms us with caution and practicality. It is Jupiter at work when we seek guidance and wisdom or when we expand our consciousness through higher education and spiritual practices.

Jupiter's direct motion could signal new steps forward. Access to growth and expansion should become available where we were met with sluggishness during the autumn season.

Jupiter and Saturn are both currently placed in signs owned by Venus. Venus rules our human capacity for love, connection and devotion and is expressed through relationship and creative artistic pursuits.

OM TAT SAT