Hi Everyone

Happy New Year! This year is off to an intense start, astrologically speaking, so set your New Year’s intentions carefully! This January has two new super moons, the first on January 1^st at 10⁰ Capricorn and the second on January 30^th at 10⁰ Aquarius.  A super moon occurs when the moon is closest to the earth, which can mean higher and stronger tides.

The new moon on January 1^st is part of one of the most challenging astrological line-ups, called a Cardinal Grand Cross. Essentially it’s a big X in the heavens involving planets all the cardinal signs (Aries, Libra, Cancer, Capricorn). Cardinal energy, you will remember, is essentially male in its feel, initiates, rarely finishes, bores easily and is constantly moving.  It has an “in-your-face” quality about it. The relationships between the planets on the ends of the X are all challenging, providing opportunities for growth, adjustment and integration.

On one arm of the X we have the sun (our essence, how we shine, our gift), the moon (emotions, our mother, how we nurture and are nurtured), Mercury (how we process information and think, the concrete mind, communication) and Pluto (power, secrets, underground, transformation), all at around 11⁰ Capricorn. On the opposite end of this arm of the X we have Jupiter (expansion, optimism, higher ideals) at 16⁰ Cancer. The other arm of the X has Uranus (rebellion, higher mind, destroyer of old forms) at 8⁰ Aries. Opposite Uranus is Mars (war, male energy, initiative, force) at 11⁰ Libra.  Phew!  Those with any planets or sensitive points in your chart at any degree Aries, Libra, Cancer and/or Capricorn will feel the impact of this Grand Cross more strongly.  However, everyone will feel its intensity because all the elements are involved (earth/Capricorn, air/Libra, fire/Aries, and water/Cancer) and the other signs of the zodiac will relate to those elements.  For example, Cancer is a water sign.  Even if you don’t have anything in Cancer, you may have planet(s) in the other water signs, Scorpio and Pisces, that will be impacted by this configuration. The energy flow will be easier because the elements are the same.

Since the X is closed, it may feel like you have a lot of energy but can’t completely express it – like it’s tied up in a balloon that keeps expanding.  You will tend to identify with one (or two) arms of the X and draw people to you who reflect the energy of the opposite arm.  Actually these energies are part of you that you don’t recognize (or don’t want to). The Grand Cross will be in effect until Mars leaves Libra at the end of the month.

Lest those with planets in fixed signs (Leo, Aquarius, Scorpio or Taurus) think you are off the hook — Saturn continues its transit through Scorpio and is at 20⁰.  Those with planets from 10 to 30⁰ of fixed signs may feel restricted, blocked, delayed, or may be more aware of fearful thoughts and/or attitudes this month.

The Grand Cross will also impact the chart of the United States. (I’m using the Sibley chart for the US.  There are many different charts due to the challenge of determining the exact time the Declaration of Independence was signed. Most astrologers have agreed that the so-called Sibley chart is the closest to the actual time.) Many astrologers have been attempting to describe the impact of this important time for quite a while, but now the challenging relationship between Pluto (power) and Uranus (rebellion) are strongly impacting the sun of the US, which is in Cancer and Saturn, representing authority, patriarchy and the president.  (Basically, the closer a planet is to another planet by degree the stronger the impact.)  Jupiter is at the same degrees of Cancer as the US natal sun and Mars is at the same degree as natal Saturn in Libra.  Without going into a detailed explanation of the chart of the US, these transits will have an impact how we feel about ourselves, how we relate to the world and how we feel about our government.  Uranus brings the energy of change not always with discernment; Pluto is about exposing misuse of power and secrets; Mars brings energy but also disagreement and potential strife; and Jupiter can bring optimism but also a return to our isolationist tendencies.  It will be essential that light bearers hold the US in the light as we go through these transitions.  And our friendly neighbor to the north, which has sun in Cancer, is also dealing with Pluto and a Saturn return.  We can anticipate positive changes there as well.

The sun moves into Aquarius on January 19^th at 10:51 p.m. and the full moon occurs on January 15^th at 11:52 p.m.  She’ll be at 25⁰ Cancer.

I hope you have a most wondrous 2014 and wish you all peace and abundant blessings.

Margaret