AstroCast: February 2 - 8, 2017

As Mercury in Capricorn triggered the radical restructuring energies of Uranus in Aries and Pluto in Capricorn last week, it also moved into alignment with Jupiter in Libra, creating a fractious cardinal T-square formation with the outer planets. The square between the planet of communication and perception (Mercury) and faith and philosophy (Jupiter), exact on February 2nd, puts the power plays (Mercury/Pluto) and radical departures (Mercury/Uranus) to a test of faith. Jupiter rules expansion and our yearning to grow. As such, it rules all things foreign, which expand our awareness to include the rich and diverse experiences available around the globe. Jupiter in Libra is particularly potent at this time, as it will station retrograde on February 5th, and thus move only one degree between January 11th and March 2nd, and as it retreats in Libra the T-square alignment tightens, peaking to within 3° orb in March and remaining in effect well into April. It is quite clear that U.S. relations with foreign countries is shaken to the core due to actions by the new U.S. president and additional related issues will likely come to the forefront with each new development.

Finding hot button political correlations to the faster moving planets’ transit of the cardinal T-square would be like shooting fish in a barrel these days, so rather than draw a “rational” explanation for the latest developments related to U.S. foreign relations, national security and refugees using the symbols provided by the cosmos, I’ll let my contemplations on Jupiter take me to other realms. With Jupiter’s participation in the T-square we could look for the introduction of something new, a paradigm shift in our philosophy of life, says Jim Sher. “Over and over again I see that the last place changes are made is in politics,” he wrote in an article published when Jupiter was in Cancer. “Almost always, change happens from the bottom up, not the other way around. This is why we must work on ourselves if we want the world to get better. So, when Jupiter meets Uranus (radical change) and Pluto (intense need for inner transformation) many new opportunities for growth can occur.” Chief among them is that one might begin to feel a sense of ‘Soul purpose.’ That feeling may be vague and uncertain but it begins with a knowing that one must make an effort to work toward evolving in some way.  One way to become aware of that evolutionary process is to observe our thoughts and how they shape our experience of life. I personally am becoming more cognizant of when the thoughts I’m having are disconnected with the material reality before me, such as having anxiety about a meeting that has not yet happened. We do this all the time. It is human nature and yet, that which we are tasked with evolving from is conditioned, habituated thinking that limits the way we experience life. In a true paradigm shift, both science and metaphysics are converging on this notion of how thoughts dictate our perception of reality. As the cardinal T-square increases in strength over the next couple of months, may we look for the introduction of something new in our awareness and take the next step on our own personal evolutionary path.

Astrologically, when planets change signs, the vibrational shift to a new sign can be perceived as the evolutionary answer to the immediately preceding sign. Their movements become our map to navigate the path to fundamental change. Venus and Mercury change signs on February 3rd and 7th respectively, archetypally evolving in the areas of relating and communicating. Venus moving from Pisces to Aries starts a new zodiacal cycle, taking the relationship game to the starting point of the next level. From dwelling in the all of existence with its pull of the past (Pisces) to focusing on the act of creation (Aries), the characteristics of Venus here tend to be more assertive and autonomous. Under this influence, the freshness of all things new keeps us engaged and stimulates us to express through action. Tuning into this vibration may make it easier to initiate relationships in a fun and adventurous way but it will take effort to adapt a naturally reckless nature to play the long game with them.

Mercury’s shift from traditional Capricorn to non-traditional Aquarius represents the evolutionary shift from developing personal integrity to developing a mature use of power and putting it in the service of all humankind. Aquarius is perhaps best known archetypally as the guardian of the future and Mercury here represents progressive, forward thinking. Because of this communications may appear unconventional and the rules of society may be perceived with less regard if they are seen to restrict an individual’s freedom and ability to express without judgement. Thinking as an outlier may bring much needed neutral perspective to the current political climate.

Here’s the data (using Pacific Time and planetary positions rounded to the nearest whole degree, unless otherwise noted):

February 2 – Mercury square Jupiter at 23° Capricorn/Libra at 7:16 a.m.

February 3 – Venus at 0° Aries at 7:52 a.m.

February 5 – Jupiter station retrograde at 23° Libra at 10:52 p.m.

February 7 – Mercury at 0° Aquarius at 1:36 a.m.