Astro-Atlas*
12:55 am: Venus (Sagittarius) trine Uranus (Aries)
6:59 am: Mercury (Sagittarius) trine Uranus (Aries)
10:06 am: Moon (Aquarius) trine Saturn (Libra)
5:05 pm: Moon (Aquarius) opposite Mars (Leo)
8:41 pm: Moon (Aquarius) conjunct Neptune (Aquarius)
8:41 pm: Moon void-of-course

* all times are PDT

On the heels of a creative Leo Moon and with Venus trining innovative Uranus today, be open to being touched by expressions of beauty that you may not attracted you in the past.  See what it is throughout the day that allures you, enchants you, charms you…be open to it even being something that surprises you. Reflecting the sentiments of the philosopher G.W.F. Hegel–”Beauty is merely the Spiritual making itself known sensuously.”–consider that what is attracting you can give you keen insights into the unfolding landscape that is the inner you.

It’s a day to live from your heart, a day to give thanks to the people who have graced your life in some way.

It’s the day of the Solar Eclipse.
It’s the day of the conjunction between make-it-larger Jupiter and revolutionary Uranus.
It’s the day of relationship-oriented Venus aligning with Jupiter, Uranus, and poetic Neptune.

It’s a magical day to plant seeds for what you want to manifest in the next six months.

Many more details about this day–including wellness suggestions–can be found here.

Wishing you a blessed day.

January 4, 2011: Capricorn New Moon Solar Eclipse (exact at 1:03 am PST)

New Moons are auspicious monthly celestial events that usher in fresh cycles of creation and becoming. When they are also a Solar Eclipse–as today’s is–they hold additional power for manifestation.

This Capricorn New Moon Solar Eclipse provides a great opportunity to inventory how we spend our resources. It’s a great time to balance a checkbook, survey investments, or consider an aspect of financial planning we’ve yet to fully explore. Remember, though, our personal economy of resources is not just limited to our money but also includes our time, energy, and skills/talents, all of which comprise the capital that we can use to create a richer life. Whether we are allocating these efficiently–and whether they are generating additional assets or incurring liabilities for us–can be very prudent topics to survey during this eclipse. The answers can help us to create a stronger foundation upon which we can build our future.

Loyalty and commitment may also be important themes during this eclipse. What we may find ourselves looking at isn’t so much the concept of being dutiful but rather whether the people and institutions to which we have granted our allegiance are those that are worthy of it. Readjustments in relationships—involving how much we give and how much we allow ourselves to expect in return—may occur.

A New Moon Solar Eclipse signifies a time for beginnings. While something may inherently be coming to a close, there is great focus on the initiation of the new that it brings. Given that Capricorn is connected to the creation of structures of lasting value, we can use this auspicious time to consider what it is that we may want to build or accomplish in the coming year, especially in the next six months.

When there is heightened Capricorn energy circulating—as there is these days—it’s important to watch the tendency to become too rigid in our thinking or expectations. Maintaining a sense of flexibility while focusing on achieving practical outcomes can be a great path to follow during this time.

And we have some celestial assistance in this area today. That’s because in addition to it being a Solar Eclipse there are many other powerful alignments that can inspire fluidity and expansion.

Venus—the planet of beauty and grace—is very active today. She connects in with Neptune, Uranus, and Jupiter. These alignments offer us the ability to feel into a deep sense of love, expressing it boldly and in ways that we may not usually do.

Also today is the third and final conjunction of Jupiter and Uranus. This planetary pair greatly encourages the expansion of courage and innovative approaches to finding the wisdom center that resides within us. For more on the Jupiter/Uranus conjunction, see below.

Remember that eclipses are often accompanied by identifiable life-changing events that manifest around the time of these celestial happenings. Even if we can’t see an eclipse in the sky where we live, these events are renowned for being very powerful in the way in which they can impact our lives.

This month’s New Moon Solar Eclipse falls at 14 degrees of Capricorn (Sun and Moon). While everyone experiences the energies of a New Moon, if you have planets or pivotal points (i.e., Ascendant/Descendant or Nadir/Midheaven) around this degree in Capricorn or the other cardinal signs—Aries, Cancer, Libra—it may impact you more intensely.

New Moon Solar Eclipse Apothecary Suggestions

Capricorn is associated with the skeletal system, joints, and skin. Pay attention to these parts of the body and areas of health around the time of this New Moon.

Moisturize: This Capricorn New Moon Solar Eclipse provides a great opportunity to pay special attention to the skin. As Capricorn has a relatively drying energetic, taking the time to do a moisturizing treatment is a worthwhile wellness activity. If you rarely moisturize your skin, consider even just making an intention to apply body lotion or oil two times today (given that it’s a New Moon, doing so may help to plant the seeds for incorporating body moisturizing as a daily routine). If you already have a good moisturizing ritual, consider applying a nourishing mask; you can either find them in apothecaries or beauty stores, or consider making your own from ingredients such as avocados, honey, aloe vera, yogurt, and other nurturing food-based ingredients.

Turmeric: Capricorn is associated with the joints, body parts that often express inflammation, which can lead to pain and reduced mobility. One of the best anti-inflammatory compounds, and therefore a great item to promote rheumatic health, is the spice turmeric. While turmeric supplements are available, you can readily include this healing spice into your lifestyle by adding it to your recipes. Traditionally used as a foundation ingredient in curries and other Indian dishes, its earthy flavor can complement many dishes. You can purchase powdered turmeric in the spice section of the grocery store; fresh turmeric rhizome is available in Asian food markets.

January 4, 2011: Jupiter Conjunct Uranus

Today the planet of expansion, Jupiter, intermingles its energy with the planet of invention, Uranus, as these two celestial bodies align in the sky.

This is the third and final of this cycle’s three alignments. The first occurred on June 8, 2010 at 0 degrees of Aries while the second one took place on September 18, 2010 at 29 degrees of Pisces. Today these planets swim together at 27 degrees of Pisces. It is throughout this whole span of time that we have connected into the energy of this planetary alliance; yet, their influence may be felt more strongly around the times when they are in exact alignment.

Jupiter highlights all that it touches and when it is Uranus that it meets and greets what may become seemingly larger than life is our desire to express our individuality and uniqueness in ways that allow us to proclaim a sense of personal freedom. As Uranus is electrical, we may also feel we are in the current of the currents. We’re propelled into the new of the new-fangled and the space of the “I didn’t see it coming.”

Given that this planetary pairing takes place in Pisces, it has a similar tone to the conjunction in September and a different hue than the June conjunction in Aries. In Aries, we find ourselves connecting to our will and our internal flame of courage. In Pisces, we connect to our inherent knowingness and the mystic within. With Uranus and Jupiter in Pisces we can find new ways to access inner wisdom, discovering how a sense of liberation can come through finding a peaceful sense of refuge within ourselves. We can also have experiences that show us how, though different than we may have perceived, we are all essentially connected with everything else.

It’s helpful to remember that being fluid and flexible is a great tact to take when there is strong Uranian energy floating about. Going with the flow, being open to the new, and embracing the out-of-the-blue can yield great peace and wisdom when Uranian energy runs high. (And if the energy starts to feel too much, or too electric, you can always try using some flower essences, such as the all-purpose stress reducer, Rescue Remedy.)

Even if we know it’s necessary, change—one of Uranus’ siren songs—is often hard. But if we welcome it for the meaning it can give us, for its ability to inspire us to align more clearly with our essential core, we may see change as something not to fear but rather something to cherish.

January 19, 2011: Capricorn/Cancer Full Moon (exact at 1:21 pm PST)

On this Full Moon, what may manifest are situations that allow us to reflect upon how we contribute to the world. For example, we may gain insight into the role with which are mainly identified (both by ourselves and others). Is it the work we do, the family we nurture, the relationships that we tend, and/or other things that carve out our identity and bring us nurturance? During this Full Moon, we may gain a greater sense of how we feel about the legacy we are creating and whether it truly aligns with our deepest needs and desires.

We may feel extra sensitive today and experience a heightened need to feel safe, secure, and taken care of. At the same time, we may perceive that this may conflict with a desire to be a bedrock of strength for others. As such, it’s important to remember to own and express our feelings and that stating our needs is not a reflection of weakness but of internal strength.

The Full Moon connects in nicely with Jupiter. Known as the planet of luck and expansion, Jupiter enlarges anything that it touches. Therefore, more may be at our disposal today. This “more” may be more opportunities, more emotions, more tension, or more understanding. Whatever is arising, Jupiter will expand.

As this is yet another Full Moon at the 29th degree, even if it feels really powerful, the energy may pass soon. That’s because a little over an hour later as the Moon shifts from sensitive Cancer to ebullient Leo, the mood will shift as well.

This month’s Full Moon falls at 29 degrees of Capricorn (Sun) and Cancer (Moon). While everyone experiences the energies of a Full Moon, if you have planets or pivotal points (i.e., Ascendant/Descendant or Nadir/Midheaven) around this degree in Capricorn, Cancer, or the other cardinal signs—Aries and Libra—it may impact you more intensely.

Full Moon Apothecary Suggestions

Capricorn is associated with the skeletal system, joints, and skin while Cancer is associated with the stomach, sinuses, and breasts. Pay extra attention to these parts of the body and areas of health around the time of this Full Moon.

Frankincense: Frankincense is one of the most sacred of scents. Used in temple ceremonies for ages, it can help us to open to the mysteries of life as well as the cycles of creation and manifestation. Using it in a diffuser, adding some to a mister bottle of water to scent a room, or mixing it with a few drops of plain body oil and applying it as a perfume are some great ways to enjoy it.

Skin scrubs: Skin scrubs can be a wonderful ritual for this Full Moon. They inspire renewal of the Capricorn-ruled skin, shedding dead skin cells, which allows the skin to be nurtured and better receive moisture. To do so, scrub your body with a sisal or nylon mitt or brush when in the shower. Some people prefer to use a little soap while others like to just use water; see which works better for you. If you’re rather, you could also try using natural sugar- or salt-based exfoliating scrubs, available in natural food stores and holistic pharmacies.

January 26 – June 12, 2011: Saturn Retrograde

Retrograde periods are times for reflection and heightened inner awareness. Since Saturn symbolizes limits, aging, and karma, this period can yield understandings in related areas of your life. Saturn retrogrades last for about four and one-half months and occur about every year; the last one took place January 13 – May 30, 2010.

This retrograde cycle begins on January 26 and lasts through June 12. During this time, Saturn travels from 17 degrees of Libra through 10 degrees of Libra. While everyone experiences the energies of Saturn Retrograde, if you have planets or pivotal points (i.e., Ascendant/Descendant or Nadir/Midheaven) in this degree range in Libra or the other cardinal signs—Aries, Cancer, Capricorn—it may impact you more intensely.

Saturn retrograde periods can allow us insights into our idea(l)s of authority, what it is and what our relationship is to it. Some good questions to meditate upon during Saturn retrograde include:

• Is authority something we readily give over to other people or institutions?
• Do we maintain a healthy level of authority within, being confident that we have the resources to be able to make efficient choices for our long-term well-being?
• Do we have adequate systems in place to filter the counsel we may get from others to see how it fits within our own knowingness of what is best?
• Are we the authors of our lives (or at least integrally contributing co-authors, since not everything is under our control) or have we ceded the role of writing the novel of our live to others?

We can also efficiently use the energies of this planetary cycle to reflect upon what we have built and what we are building. Considering whether projects and relationships that we are putting our hard work and resources into are good investments can be a very worthwhile activity.

As Saturn is related to foundations and protection, it also represents our defense mechanisms. These are the psychological structures that we may have unconsciously put in place to help us deal with the fear of feeling vulnerable. As Saturn goes retrograde, we can look within to see if we can understand more about our defense mechanisms, seeing those that may be supportive and those that may inhibit our ability to more freely connect and express the fullness of who we are. (For more on Saturn’s link to our defenses, see Barriers and Boundaries by Liz Greene.)

While we can gain insights on our relationship to Saturnian principles if we focus and reflect inward during this retrograde period, it’s often more powerful to wait, if possible, to take major related action until after Saturn has gone direct (on June 12).

January 4, 2011: Capricorn New Moon Solar Eclipse (exact at 1:03 am PST)

New Moons are auspicious monthly celestial events that usher in fresh cycles of creation and becoming. When they are also a Solar Eclipse–as today’s is–they hold additional power for manifestation.

This Capricorn New Moon Solar Eclipse provides a great opportunity to inventory how we spend our resources. It’s a great time to balance a checkbook, survey investments, or consider an aspect of financial planning we’ve yet to fully explore. Remember, though, our personal economy of resources is not just limited to our money but also includes our time, energy, and skills/talents, all of which comprise the capital that we can use to create a richer life. Whether we are allocating these efficiently–and whether they are generating additional assets or incurring liabilities for us–can be very prudent topics to survey during this eclipse. The answers can help us to create a stronger foundation upon which we can build our future.

Loyalty and commitment may also be important themes during this eclipse. What we may find ourselves looking at isn’t so much the concept of being dutiful but rather whether the people and institutions to which we have granted our allegiance are those that are worthy of it. Readjustments in relationships—involving how much we give and how much we allow ourselves to expect in return—may occur.

A New Moon Solar Eclipse signifies a time for beginnings. While something may inherently be coming to a close, there is great focus on the initiation of the new that it brings. Given that Capricorn is connected to the creation of structures of lasting value, we can use this auspicious time to consider what it is that we may want to build or accomplish in the coming year, especially in the next six months.

When there is heightened Capricorn energy circulating—as there is these days—it’s important to watch the tendency to become too rigid in our thinking or expectations. Maintaining a sense of flexibility while focusing on achieving practical outcomes can be a great path to follow during this time.

And we have some celestial assistance in this area today. That’s because in addition to it being a Solar Eclipse there are many other powerful alignments that can inspire fluidity and expansion.

Venus—the planet of beauty and grace—is very active today. She connects in with Neptune, Uranus, and Jupiter. These alignments offer us the ability to feel into a deep sense of love, expressing it boldly and in ways that we may not usually do.

Also today is the third and final conjunction of Jupiter and Uranus. This planetary pair greatly encourages the expansion of courage and innovative approaches to finding the wisdom center that resides within us. For more on the Jupiter/Uranus conjunction, see this article.

Remember that eclipses are often accompanied by identifiable life-changing events that manifest around the time of these celestial happenings. Even if we can’t see an eclipse in the sky where we live, these events are renowned for being very powerful in the way in which they can impact our lives.

This month’s New Moon Solar Eclipse falls at 14 degrees of Capricorn (Sun and Moon). While everyone experiences the energies of a New Moon, if you have planets or pivotal points (i.e., Ascendant/Descendant or Nadir/Midheaven) around this degree in Capricorn or the other cardinal signs—Aries, Cancer, Libra—it may impact you more intensely.

New Moon Solar Eclipse Apothecary Suggestions

Capricorn is associated with the skeletal system, joints, and skin. Pay attention to these parts of the body and areas of health around the time of this New Moon.

Moisturize: This Capricorn New Moon Solar Eclipse provides a great opportunity to pay special attention to the skin. As Capricorn has a relatively drying energetic, taking the time to do a moisturizing treatment is a worthwhile wellness activity. If you rarely moisturize your skin, consider even just making an intention to apply body lotion or oil two times today (given that it’s a New Moon, doing so may help to plant the seeds for incorporating body moisturizing as a daily routine). If you already have a good moisturizing ritual, consider applying a nourishing mask; you can either find them in apothecaries or beauty stores, or consider making your own from ingredients such as avocados, honey, aloe vera, yogurt, and other nurturing food-based ingredients.

Turmeric: Capricorn is associated with the joints, body parts that often express inflammation, which can lead to pain and reduced mobility. One of the best anti-inflammatory compounds, and therefore a great item to promote rheumatic health, is the spice turmeric. While turmeric supplements are available, you can readily include this healing spice into your lifestyle by adding it to your recipes. Traditionally used as a foundation ingredient in curries and other Indian dishes, its earthy flavor can complement many dishes. You can purchase powdered turmeric in the spice section of the grocery store; fresh turmeric rhizome is available in Asian food markets.

With Venus in Leo harmoniously aligning with Uranus, the do-it-differently planet, we may feel attracted to taking a calculated risk in our relationships, one that may be a bit out of the ordinary for us but that nonetheless allows us to maintain a sense of dignity.

If you notice today that someone—notably a woman that you know—takes a tact that seems out of the ordinary, instead of dismissing it as a flight of fancy or an aberration, it’s a good idea to try to see how it may fit into the bigger picture of who they are. Not only may you get to learn more about them, but you may also glean insights that can be fruitful to your own growth and happiness.