You Are A Message to the Future
Dates and times are given for U.S. Pacific Time zone. Click them to see the date and time where you are.
Finding our spark
The Sun ushers in the Aquarius season this week (Jan. 20, 6:54 am PST). As the recent nut cluster of planets in tooth-shattering Capricorn slowly begins to disburse into Aquarius, a spirit of rebellion is emerging.
We’re seeing that spirit in our geriatric cat, who’s been kept strictly indoors since 2004. In the past week or two, however, he’s been allowed outside for awhile each day, under constant supervision. He’s so old and arthritic that running away is beyond him; mostly, we keep an eye out against neighboring cats who have laid claim to our backyard as part of their territory and who would target the weak old man who can’t run away.
It’s part of the changing landscape of Spike’s life in the two months or so since our other cat has been gone. After she died, he immediately began to reclaim whole parts of the house which, apparently, had been her territory. He’s enjoying a wider variety of food, since we no longer have to carefully regulate for his diabetic sister. And he’s found his voice again, yelling for what he wants, loudly and often.
He’s a slow old man. His joints hurt, his teeth hurt, and he’s got a bum ticker. But these days, he’s like a man released from a lifetime in prison; he’s found his spark again.
And that, my friends, is how many of us will feel during this Aquarius season – released and reinvigorated. We may be tired, a bit bruised, and a little broken down after that ferocious Capricorn season – but as the Sun in Aquarius reminds us, we’ve still got a little spark left in us, too.
That thing you do
In astrology, the Sun symbolizes sanity. It symbolizes the sense of self and sovereignty that comes with an intact, healthy ego. It’s the self we take for granted, our default settings, our governing principles. A healthy Sun gives us a strong platform from which to launch out into the challenging business of building and maintaining a life.
The Sun tells us that there are Things We Do and Things We Do Not Do, by virtue of being who we are. “As an introvert, I hate going to parties,” might be one of these rules, or, “I’m not someone who will take a vacation by myself.” But on occasion, a fleeting transit opens up the idea of Self for a very brief, spontaneous rumspringa. This week offers such an occasion, as the transiting Sun in Aquarius squares Uranus (Jan. 22, 10:54 pm PST). Even if your life is pretty stable these days, allow this quick transit to throw you off course slightly, just enough to wake you up. It’s time to adjust your settings a little bit. Let the unexpected thing become a Thing That You Do.
Council of Ancestors
The Sabian symbol for this week’s Aquarius New Moon (Jan. 24, 1:42 pm PST, 4.21 Aquarius) degree, A council of ancestors, reminds me of a story from my youth.
I was 17 years old, touring with my high school jazz choir and staying at a farmhouse somewhere in rural Oregon. I’d come down with a truly heinous cold and, after a long, difficult day, had fallen into a hard slumber. Sometime in the night, from the depths of my sickly sleep, I swear I saw a cluster of ghostly figures in farmers’ clothing standing around my bed. But sleep quickly overtook me. When I described the apparition to my roommate the next morning, she looked at me a little strangely; she, of course, had seen nothing.
Logic tells me it was a dream. But my Celtic side whispers that, just maybe, it was a visitation from my own council of ancestors.
Falling in the independent sign of Aquarius, this Sabian symbol might seem incongruous symbol. Only Sagittarius seems less apt than Aquarius to appeal for guidance to a council of the learned. But then, Aquarius is ruled, traditionally, by Saturn, the planet of rules and boundaries; it’s only those who feel the ties of tradition most strongly who feel so compelled to break them.
At this New Moon, you may be offered advice from people who are in a position to know you well. Even if your natural reaction is to reject it, think hard before you do. Because Aquarius is the sign that sends messages into a future we may never see. Your ancestors sent you. Listen to what they have to say, and help deliver their message.
When Venus Met Mars…
In my early 20s, I went on a ski trip with some friends, traveling by bus to a nearby mountain community. Along for the trip was a new addition to the gang, a raucous, profane, white-haired hellion who immediately targeted me for teasing and irritation. I didn’t find him charming in the least. He struck me as the kind of uncivilized, frat-boy jock who would have made my life miserable in high school. He settled for irritating me throughout the entire weekend. And then, on the ride home, he asked me out. I was mystified, but decided to give it a try. We went out a few times, and as it turned out, he was a perfectly lovely person.
In a classic romantic comedy, the two leads meet and take an instant dislike to each other. That’s a sure sign they’re going to end up together by the end of the movie. We know it the minute we see those sparks fly. And that’s what it looks like when Venus squares Mars (Jan. 26, 5:37 pm PST).
There’s something equal parts compelling and aggravating when these two collide in a hard-edged aspect. And as Jen and I discuss on this week’s podcast episode, Venus and Mars work their magic even in platonic relationships. That person who irritated you in the staff meeting, who engaged you in an argument on social media, or seemed like a jerk when you met at a party, could end up eventually becoming a close friend. There are a lot of people in the world, and only a few of them are going to be important to you – but first, they have to get your attention.
Jen and I explore all the week’s planetary highlights – plus Tinkertoys, notable Aquarians, and Charlie Brown’s shirt – in Episode 9 of our podcast: It’s Aquarius Season, Charlie Brown!
Need some help plotting your strategies for 2020? Book a personal reading with me!
© 2020 by April Elliott Kent
