A significant shift away from the archetypal dominance of Capricorn occurs when the Sun enters Aquarius on January 20. The slower moving planets Jupiter, Saturn and Pluto still remain in this cardinal practical earth sign carrying considerable weight. However, the Sun represents our heart and our will conjoined in creative self-expression, and when it changes signs the effects can be palpable. The emphasis in this fixed idea-oriented air sign is less on the nuts and bolts of building and managing a life and more on the futuristic envisioning of a life in which everyone thrives as unique contributors to the shared network of existence. By this stage in the archetypal development of the individual as represented in the progression of the 12 astrological signs, we should have achieved some level of psychological and spiritual maturity that in turn guides us to a mature use of the power of earthly manifestation we achieved in Capricorn. The challenge of Aquarius is to put that power in the service of humanity.
The degree of 0 Aquarius is an important one in 2020. In addition to the Sun, Saturn crosses this degree 3 times (on March 21, July 1 and December 16), Mars does so on March 31 and Jupiter on December 17, with the latter two forming conjunctions to Saturn while still at 0∞ Aquarius, thus initiating significant new cycles with a humanitarian bent. In other words, our inner activist will be activated and put to work agitating for the change needed to move humanity towards unity. Furthermore, as these planets cross this threshold to the future, they enter into a challenging third quarter “crisis of consciousness” square with the ruler of Aquarius, Uranus, currently transiting the fixed earth sign of Taurus. The Sun’s square to Uranus, exact and separating on January 22, is only the opening salvo of the cry to freedom. Uranus represents sometimes shocking change, the purpose of which is to shake us out of the slumber (Uranus would say imprisonment) of uninspired, unchanging patterns of behavior. The second to the last sign of the Zodiac and its ruler are archetypally tasked with waking us up to who we are as unique, creative beings playing an important part in the greater whole of cosmic existence. Evolution of consciousness is the game and ideas that take us into new territory are our ‘get out of jail free’ cards.
On January 24, the Moon enters Aquarius, squares Uranus and conjuncts the Sun. The New Moon in tense alignment to Uranus thus galvanizes the new lunar cycle with a propensity for disruptions of our comfort zones. Yet any break in our patterns has the potential to liberate us from dysfunctional habits and make us feel more alive. For as much as we may resist acknowledging this, change is normal. It implies growth and evolution. The paradox of being able to rely on change is that you can prepare yourself for whatever comes simply by being open and ready to embrace something new. There is an inherent optimism in this state of being that requires working through our various fears, almost all of which are about a future that has not yet happened. These fears only delay the inevitable as the forces of change ultimately gather the power needed to shatter walls of resistance. But if we consciously work through our fears and integrate the new information, it could feel as if we are being led by the grace into paradigm shift territory. As we move through this new lunar cycle, the emphasis therefore is on innovation – the leading edge of change – to address whatever is not working in our lives. The emphasis will also be on leaders who disrupt in the name of humanity rather than for a self-serving purpose. The Iowa caucuses, which occur during this lunar cycle, could advance the U.S. presidential candidate who embodies the clearest voice to represent the collective. Yet change always starts within. We don’t have to be among society’s leaders to make it happen. The beauty of ‘critical mass’ is that it only takes a small percentage of individuals to change for the rest of humanity to go along.
Another other significant archetypal theme unfolds during this period when three planetary cycles converge January 26 to January 28. First off, Venus makes a first quarter “crisis of action” square to Mars in adventurous Sagittarius. This is the point in the current cycle that began with their conjunction in August 2019 where we begin to see clearly the action that must be taken to manifest the seed ideas generated at the conjunction, in this case with respect to relationships and values (Venus) and the creative impulse of self-determination and getting what one wants (Mars). In other words, what do you want in relationships and what are you doing about it? Venus then forms a conjunction with the formidable outer planet Neptune, which is archetypally amplified in its home sign of Pisces. This represents the commencement of a new 14 month cycle wherein the seed ideas planted will relate to the sacredness of all our relationships and what value they add to our lives. Lastly, Mars moves into a square to Neptune. This is the third quarter “crisis of consciousness” phase of the Mars/Neptune cycle that began in December 2018 wherein our manner of taking action becomes attuned to the current of the cosmos. We can become spiritual warriors if we heed the call to elevate our desires to divine purpose.
The Venus/Neptune conjunction in square to Mars generates tension that will seek an outlet for resolution. We may not be clear about how to move forward as Mars’ drive for self-determination in freedom loving Sagittarius may be confused by the Venus/Neptune Piscean call to just be and bask in a state of love. Although today’s world is clearly not ready for another summer of love, the quiet march towards a future ruled by compassionate connectedness continues forward as slowly more individuals join its ranks. The 12-stage zodiacal cycle of individual development ends with Pisces. It is where we ultimately learn we are all connected through the omnipresent force of divine love. But before we can truly experience that state, we have to learn the previous 11 archetypal lessons. How paradoxical it is that the lesson of Aquarius – to develop and express our own clearly defined uniqueness – must be learned before we enter the formless realm of Pisces where all boundaries between us dissolve. No matter where we are in our level of consciousness, Pisces tells us we’re all in this together. Perhaps while Uranus is in Taurus, the sign of the environmentalist, we will begin wake us up to this as the effects of climate change escalate and force us to collectively deal with it on a global scale.
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