SENTIENT TIMES Dec/Jan 2001
Cosmic
Calendar
By Salina Rain
The last month of the year, and in this case the millennium, brings Sun
in Sagittarius, the most forward-looking and uplifting of the signs. Flight
is Sagittarian, whether in the physical, mental/emotional, or spiritual
realm. The sign of the archer calls us to think big, aim high, take risks,
and ultimately, to expect the best. The down side of all this optimism
and large perspective comes when we take it too far, getting ungrounded
in our vision and/or self-righteous about our own version of the truth.
Sun shifts to earthy Capricorn by the 22nd, for Winter Solstice, one of
the four major seasonal/sacred gateways of the year. In Capricorn we can
and must get back down to earth to organize and implement a plan that's
inspired by Sagittarian vision, ideally. The next month, through the 3rd
week of January, the more constrictive energy of cardinal earth influences
the collective consciousness. The Sun has already made the annual journey
to his northernmost point and holds us momentarily in the crystal clear,
cold, darkness, in order that we reconnect with our own inner depths.
As the solar energy increases from this point on we experience the return
of hope that life continues in an ever-renewing cycle.
Jupiter in an air sign, Saturn in earth, are the only two planets in retrograde
motion through December and most of January. Jupiter rules Sagittarius
and Saturn rules Capricorn, giving extra emphasis to these energies as
the year and millennium shift, placing more importance on societal reformations.
Both planets bridge the gap between the personal and the collective, and
are concerned with how we function within society and the lessons we master
in our collective evolution. Where are they positioned in your own horoscope
now? As they both turn direct within a few hours of each other we'll experience
forward movement and more clarity with our larger and long-term projects.
On the societal scale there'll be matters of law, travel industry, education,
and government that will grab major attention, with both need for change
and resistance to change coming on strong.
Chiron's moving further away from Pluto and Juno from Uranus during this
two month period, as we realize the ways these dynamic partners have been
working their radical and profound magic in our lives. Our ideas about
gender and our relationships have been going through shake-ups, break-ups,
overhauls, rejuvenation and other unexpected twists. Old relationship
structures have been shattering in order to bring new life into this area
of human experience. We may be up in the air wondering what's what, but
we're probably not bored! With Chiron and Pluto separating we'll most
likely be astounded at the changes we've gone through in the past couple
of years, with apocalyptic belief systems revealed for what they are,
and the need for each of us to respond to our own inner calling as well
as our true relationship to Spaceship Planet Earth.
Full Moon on Dec. 11th opposes the Sagittarius Sun at 20 degrees Gemini,
a sparkling moment in time for mental pursuits and problem-solving. Chiron
joins the Sun, ensuring promotion of a multi-dimensional perspective,
with Mercury and Ceres joining Pluto. News and other emerging information
will be revealing the dark secrets that are crucial to our collective
and individual healing. Who is in charge may be a major issue while renovations
in the aforementioned educational, legal governmental and travel arenas
are evidently in the works.
Venus joins forgiving Neptune in Aquarius while both trine Jupiter in
the sign of the communicator/humorist, giving us a great opportunity to
connect across vast distances of separation to experience our commonalities.
Perhaps a popular movie (in the sci-fi genre?) will hit the collective
which encourages a shift in consciousness. Compassion rules even as Juno
square and Mars quincunx Saturn make it difficult to form strong alliances
quite yet. We need to make further adjustments, on a collective level,
in our fixed ways to satisfy the requirements of true partnership. Those
in authority who are stuck in the old ways look definitely challenged
by the "wave of the future."
On the 21st at 5:38 AM the Sun enters Capricorn, marking Winter Solstice.
Venus conjoins Uranus and Vesta at this moment, lending her grace and
support to our ever-shifting puzzle of love and sexuality, of individual
and communal desires and needs, as a forecast of things to come for the
winter of 2000-2001. Love and compassion rule in direct proportion to
how much of our hard-edged, old, pain-inducing beliefs we release. Freedom
through forgiveness, allowing all to express who they truly are inside
is an important theme. Capricorn Sun helps us to persist in the more difficult
tasks, accomplishing more through a healthy measure of self-discipline
and willingness to work with others, as it sextiles Mars in Libra and
Juno in Pisces. Jupiter still trines Neptune assuring a winter of global
vision supporting the best of what we want to implement by way of reforms.
A New Moon Solar Eclipse on Christmas at 4 degrees Capricorn releases
some important shifts in related matters, a good degree to pay attention
to in your own chart. Mercury's in conference with Sun and Moon making
it easier to articulate and discuss what's going on, what structures are
the target of new input. Capricorn's the sign most associated with government,
making it appear to be another turning point in our ongoing turn-of-the-millennium
political reform. Business is tied in here, also indicated by the sign
of the goat, and particularly since the two have become entirely inseparable
and must be somehow pried apart. Venus and Uranus continue their unique
coupling, along with Vesta's solitary influence, in a square to Saturn
that implies relationship difficulties, especially from people acting
out extremes of the conservative and the bizarre in their quest for human
companionship. Try not to get locked in to one way of doing things today
and all will go smoother. Capricorn and Christmas are about tradition,
but tradition is also an evolving phenomenon.
New Year's day 2001 arrives blessedly free of the millennial hysteria
of last year, with a soft Pisces Moon and Mars square Neptune, the planet
of action challenging the planet of dreams and spiritual aspirations.
Perhaps we can reflect on how much energy we wasted already on fanatically
religious-based beliefs about who's the chosen and who's the heathens
that god must punish. It's a new world we're creating out of our freedom
from past hatreds and other separative ideas. Use this energy field to
dream a world of dynamic harmonies and peaceful conflicts.
Cancer Lunar Eclipse at 20 degrees on Jan. 9th joins the Moon's North
Node, also forming two intensely dynamic, emotional yods, one with Uranus
and Pluto, the other with Saturn and Chiron. What does family mean to
us and how do we get our true, not imagined, emotional needs met? Add
to this Venus and Juno in Pisces trine Mars in Scorpio and the emotional
power is almost overwhelming-channel it well and avoid the more negative
side of this watery inundation. Turning our passion toward cooperative
efforts and acknowledging the "family of humanity" seems especially
important here. As we re-learn the true nature of human emotional needs
this lunation shows us that joining with others in "sacred"
activities cannot be overlooked. We may now be obliged to change the philosophical
base of our sacred institutions and family structures in order to fulfill
everyone's needs. Both the Moon in its own, nurturing sign and Chiron
in Sagittarius, joined by Ceres, are focal points for re-aligning our
priorities. Certainly the very food we nurture our bodies with may be
part of this lunation's crisis.
New Moon at 5 degrees Aquarius on the 24th joins with all-inclusive Neptune
at the year's annual new beginning in Aquarian matters. Also Uranus and
Mercury occupy the sign of the water bearer, squaring Saturn in value-oriented
Taurus as Saturn is pivoting on this very day to direct motion. There'll
be plentiful opportunities to move ahead on stalled or shelved projects,
especially if we haven't given up on our true desires and have been willing
to wait. The opportunities before us are multiplied and boosted by Jupiter
also turning direct within a few hours of Saturn. Get ready to seriously
rock and roll as these planets signal to move ahead on what's been our
most important work over the last few months. Look at where Saturn and
Jupiter are turning in your chart to get a clearer picture if you're at
all unsure. Saturn's station is around the degree of its May conjunction
with Jupiter, adding power and weight to whatever you committed to at
that time. Being conscious now is crucial in order to take a giant step
in manifesting your dream.
Salina Rain is a resident of Humboldt County California and has been
a student of metaphysics for the last thirty years. Salina can be reached
at (707) 443-1912; serain@htan.org;
or PO Box 571, Arcata, CA 95518.
SENTIENT
TIMES
PO Box 1330 Ashland, OR 97520
PHONE (541) 512-1084 • FAX (541) 512-1085
dmokma@jeffnet.org
