Even as 2020 begins to recede in our rear-view mirrors, we have to admit we’re bogged-down, carrying a trunk-load of baggage into the New Year along with us. January and February appear the most fraught of all the months of 2021 while we continue to deal with the legacy of the past four years. Of course, it isn’t all bad news, as there are a number of positive changes right out of the gate, one of these is Mars leaving its overheated analog sign of Aries after pacing back and forth in this sign through the second half of 2020.
Although most of the astrological signatures this week would be considered rather pedestrian in any other year, placing them in the context of what we’re seeing unfold in the news lends more gravity to their potential expression. I’m primarily speaking of Tuesday’s run-off Senate race in Georgia which will determine the balance of power in the U.S. Senate as well as the Electoral College votes being counted during a joint session of Congress on Wednesday. The latter is typically a mere formality, yet with the promise of Retrumplican Theater and idiots in the streets, we should expect to see an increase in noise as we navigate the first week of 2021.
Slow Burn
One of the more significant astrological developments with long-term consequences involves Mars entering Taurus on Wednesday after having spent way too much time in its fiery domain in Aries since June 27, 2020 - the second half of the year. The symbolic expression of Mars involves outwardly-directed actions, assertion, aggression, anger, violence, heat, firearms, accidents, fevers and conflicts. In Aries, the sign of Mars’ rulership, such qualities find fast, impulsive expressions with overheated states, selfish attitudes, knee-jerk reactions and vented frustrations.
Typically, Mars spends roughly six weeks in each of the twelve signs of the zodiac, yet due to its last retrograde in Aries (Sept. 9 - Nov. 11), it spent just over six months pacing back and forth over the second half of Aries (15 Aries - 28 Aries). Mars in Aries found its most obvious expressions through the exponential spread of Covid-19, burning through the population, largely due to careless, selfish actions; wide-scale protests and riots breaking out across America in the face of systemic racism as well as anger and anxiety surrounding the Election.
On Sunday, Mars exits its retrograde shadow before crossing the final, overheated degree of Aries, suggesting some kind of a shift that may or may not be noticeable to us just yet. In fact, it will be during Wednesday’s joint session of Congress to acknowledge the Electoral College votes that Mars reaches the bitter end of its struggle in Aries before crossing the cusp of Taurus at 5:27 pm (Eastern). The timing of the Taurus ingress is interesting and I’ll come back to that in a minute, but first let’s look at what Mars in Taurus might represent.
The general, universal sign of Taurus (not to be confused with Taurus sun-sign personality traits) is considered a fixed earth sign and perhaps the slowest, most deliberate sign in the zodiac that locks-down the Aries fire impulse, channeling action (Aries) into concrete substance (Taurus). When planets move through Taurus (or any of the signs for that matter), they take on the coloring of that sign which modifies the characteristics of the planet in question. Whereas Mars is quick and impulsive in Aries, it tends to be slow and deliberate in Taurus.
After experiencing Mars in Aries these past six months, its occupation of Taurus for the next two months may feel rather slow, if not tedious, with stubborn, change-resistant actions making it feel like a slow train through Spain. Many of us are eager for a regime change to begin expressing itself here at the start of the year, but Mars in Taurus demands considerable patience. What changes that come about between now and March will tend to be grounded in reality as well as long lasting in their scope. The same may be true with how anger is expressed which may become more frustrated, blocked and potentially more explosive - Mars in Aries is like an uncontained fire while Mars in Taurus resembles a pipe bomb.
Speaking of which, Mars’ transit of Taurus could be rocky as it forms potentially explosive transits, particularly its square aspect with Saturn at the New Moon on Jan. 12-13 where an irresistible force (Mars) encounters (squares) an immovable force (Saturn). Of even greater concern is Mars’ conjunction with disruptive Uranus on Jan. 20 - Inauguration Day! We’ll take a closer look at that one soon.
Finally, Mars’ entrance into Taurus late afternoon Wednesday is likely to find expression through tedious, drawn-out debates in the face of any Retrumplicans putting a seditious show of overturning the will of the American people by insisting, against any and all evidence, that the election was rigged against Trump. All this is likely to leave a bad taste in the mouths of many Americans, particularly those who feel as though their free-dumbs are being threatened. The slow-motion train wreck that is the Republican party will be on full display for all the world to see.
The Week Ahead
Closer to home, this first full week of 2020 hosts the Moon in its Last Quarter Phase which would suggest that despite the desire to put something new into motion, we’ve still got some clean-up and finalizations to contend with ahead of next week’s New Moon in Capricorn (Jan. 12-13). That will be when new plans, projects and resolutions are more likely to take hold. Even so, between now and the New Moon is an excellent time to quit, release or eliminate anything we want to leave behind
Mercury is the standout planet this week, impacting communication, travel and long-term goals, particularly at the beginning and end of the forecast period. Mercury joins Pluto on Monday, suggesting obsessive thinking or deep dives into the data, favoring research and problem solving. Mercury then enters Aquarius on Friday, signaling an extended period of clear, fact-based thinking and speaking between now and mid-March due to Mercury stationing retrograde in Aquarius on January 30.
Just as Mercury moves over the cusp of Aquarius on Friday, it will also cross the location of the Jupiter-Saturn conjunction of Dec. 21. It’s here that we might see some kind of development regarding the new cycle in the element of Air we just entered into. Later, the same night, Mercury will square Mars with a potential exchange of angry words or heated headlines while the following day will see Mercury join Saturn, the first visitor to the planet of resistance and limitation since Saturn entered Aquarius late last month. This would suggest the consequences of words spoken while also pointing to the potential for accidents for those not paying attention to natural limitations. Take care out there, dear reader as we tip-toe over the buried land-mines on our path into the New Year.
Lunar Gardening Report
Aside from Tuesday, the remainder of the week is inauspicious for planting or feeding with the Moon closing its monthly cycle as it opens its Last Quarter Phase on Wednesday. Taking all lunar factors into account, the next best dates for planting and fertilizing won’t roll around until a few days after the New Moon opens a new cycle - Jan. 16 to be precise.
Daily Forecast (For all signs)
(Times are Eastern Standard/-0500UTC)
Sunday, Jan. 3: The Virgo Moon places an emphasis on the details today and tomorrow with added insights during the morning hours. Mars finally exits the retrograde zone it’s inhabited for the past four months, perhaps breaking with the agitated redundancy we’ve been experiencing all this time although it might not be clearly noticeable until Wednesday. Also of note, Venus in Sagittarius crosses the hot Eclipse Point, activated back on Dec. 14 at the New Moon Total Solar Eclipse. This would suggest a development surrounding the Electoral College votes certified on that date in advance of Wednesday’s official reading of the results by VP Mike Pence to Congress, presumably accompanied by seditious, Trumpian circus stunts.
Monday, Jan. 4: Now that the Holidays are behind us, today marks the beginning of the first workweek of 2021, and with the Virgo Moon presiding, the business of sorting, organizing and scheduling are highly favored, particularly during the early afternoon hours. Deep dives into the information zone are indicated with penetrating insights, obsessive thinking and disinformation manipulations in some quarters (Mercury conjunct Pluto). Toss-in another contact suggesting delusional fears and an overabundance of opinion severed from reality (Jupiter semisquare Neptune) and one can’t help but think this is somehow tied to tomorrow’s Georgia run-off races for two critical Senate seats and whatever skullduggery can be applied before the final blow to Trump’s election fraud canard on Wednesday. Differences in tastes and values may arise late afternoon before the Moon goes VOC at 4:30 pm (when such differences will no longer matter) for the remainder of the day.
Tuesday, Jan. 5: With the Moon now in Libra, there’s likely to be a sense of cooperation and diplomacy on local levels of expression along with a touch of indecision or ambiguity. A sense of expansiveness and a can-do attitude is likely first thing in the morning while we also find ourselves grappling with more difficult news regarding Covid-19 just before noon. With any luck, the waning Libra Moon also points to the notion of balance eventually being brought into the political sphere.
Wednesday, Jan. 6: The Libra Moon enters its Last Quarter Phase in the predawn hours, suggesting a day to begin reeling-in whatever was set into motion three weeks ago. This then makes today a fitting day for the U.S. Congress to formally count the Electoral College votes, putting a final wrap on the votes cast at the New Moon Solar Eclipse of Dec. 14. Also significant is that while this takes place, Mars makes its way across the final degree of Aries, the sign of its rulership, before crossing the cusp of Taurus at 5:30 pm. Considering Mars has been making trouble in Aries for the last six months, we should watch for a crescendo of craziness and epic anger that has been building since last summer. Mars’ two-month journey through Taurus promises to be productive yet rather rocky, but that’s another story told elsewhere.
Thursday, Jan. 7: With the Moon waning in Scorpio, we look to a time of endings and finalizations ahead of next week’s New Moon with a dose of emotional intensity to go along with it. Lunar aspects throughout the day appear agitated if not violent in the wake of Biden’s final certification in the face of anger and stupidity. Delays and blockages are possible with some kind of exaggeration or overreach just before noon. Unexpected and potentially explosive developments are indicated during the afternoon that could be indicative of things yet to come.
Friday, Jan. 8: Mercury leads the charge today with news and information coming to the foreground as this planet of communication crosses the cusp into Aquarius, tripping over the location of the Jupiter-Saturn conjunction at the Solstice. Mercury in Aquarius suggests a time when the higher-mind is active while a more democratic and socially-diverse orientation to news finds expression. With Mercury set to turn retrograde in Aquarius at the end of the month, it will occupy Aquarius until mid-March which I believe is a good thing given the onset of Biden’s term in office. Venus also changes signs as it crosses the cusp into Capricorn where values find expression through established traditions for the remainder of the month. Watch for deluded conduct from on-high late morning (Sun sextile Neptune) while a blast of angry words or news of violent developments reach us later in the day (Mercury square Mars). This contact also can find expression through accidents or transportation breakdowns. Whatever we see unfold at this time is likely to echo again in the weeks to come. Be safe out there.
Saturday, Jan. 9: Just over a week into the New Year and we’re already breathless in the face of multiple and stressful geocosmic signatures with today being no exception. With the Moon, now in Sagittarius, beginning to wind-down its monthly cycle, we’re in some kind of clearance phase with an overabundance of opinions and political gridlock. Relationship matters come to the surface, particularly with regard to finances and resources with the potential for more cooperation and solutions than conflict (Venus trine Mars). This can also indicate a more sensuous, if not erotic component between partners with Venus and Mars communicating via physical earth signs. The fly in the K-Y involves Mercury forming a conjunction with Saturn, often associated with difficult news, car problems, a blockage or impasse of some kind. I have my guesses as to where this lies in the big picture but will wait to see if any of them are correct. For what it’s worth, the skies appear rather quiet tomorrow for a change.
Copyright 2021 Gary Paul Glynn
It’s going to be interesting. To say the least.
Posted by: Glory | 01/02/2021 at 01:50 PM