Unless otherwise specified, time zone used is west coast time (PST)
January is host for one square, one conjunction, two oppositions, two stations, one retrograde and one direct, three ingresses, one full Moon and one new Moon. Enter into January with an attitude of hope. A true sense of helpfulness and reciprocal help/assistance on many different levels pervades the entire month for those open to it. Accomplishment is a goal that will hold many people spellbound. Some will find the need to achieve a dominant theme in their lives.
1/1 Mars squares Saturn Rx, 12:21 PM, 9:41 Aries/Cancer. Lest we forget December’s cardinal lesson (Dancing T Cross), encompassing remedial challenges and reorganized perspectives (Saturn & Mercury retrograde), January offers some reminders in the form of a challenge/call to action (1/1) and a chance to clear the mind (1/21). Evaluate responsibilities with possible new ways to fulfill them. Keep your core values at the foundation of all decisions.
1/2 A note of interest: NASA’s Stardust probe will be the first Earth vehicle to fly through a comet (Wild 2) to capture a sample of its tail (dust) and bring it back to Earth by January 2006 for inspection.
1/3 Jupiter turns retrograde 3:57 PM, 18:54 Virgo. Be aware of loyalties born of past thoughtful interactions. A balanced awareness between shared ideals and future possibilities can uncover missed clues that can help you eliminate unnecessary steps in your process. Mars is the foot of a T-Cross, and is a focal point of attention: NASA’s Mars Rover, Spirit is scheduled to land on Mars in Gusev Crater, which is thought to be an ancient lakebed.
1/6 Mercury turns direct, 5:44 AM, 26:16 Sagittarius. New optimism surrounding imaginative ideas can create foundations for those with resources to invest. Look for others with keys that fit your locks or locks that fit your keys.
1/7 Full Moon, 16:40 Cancer, west coast 7:40 AM; east coast 10:40 AM. Many paths to prosperity can be achieved by being open to opportunities and resources currently at hand. West coast focus deals with personal involvement with peers or partners and shared values and resources. East coast issues deal with groups of like-minded individuals and their objectives. Human resources are valuable and operational to those who can organize and motivate them.
1/14 Mercury enters Capricorn, 3:02 AM. Practical common sense approach to projects will help them to succeed. Opportunities to institute unusual or artistic ideas are available.
Venus enters Pisces, 9:16 AM. Imagination joined with intuition can be made to manifest in your life. Sensitivity to the needs of others can guide you to anticipate difficulties before they occur. Unselfish acts for others can raise your self-esteem and your reputation with others.
Venus conjoins Uranus, 11:22 PM. 0:43 Pisces. Serendipity contributes to exciting opportunities. New paths may be opening now, but your awareness may not yet be developed enough to recognize them. Follow your heart and your intuition, and enrich your conscious awareness.
1/20 Sun enters Aquarius, 9:43 AM. An innovative spirit reveals the need to dig out from paths perceived as dull and boring, or out of fashion. It is too soon to choose a new path just now, as all of the opportunities are as yet not fully formed. A good time to develop your inner perception and to investigate the power of the will.
1/21 New Moon, 1:10 Aquarius, west coast 1:05 PM; east coast 4:05 PM. To begin new projects, look to past resources and your own current path of growth and development. Expect transformation to be a part of the process. West coast processes begin with targeted education or foreign travel, relying on someone in authority to lend strength or credibility to your mission. East coast issues reside with partners or others who have respect for you. A former teacher or mentor can extend a great deal of influence.
Mercury opposes Saturn Rx, 8:59 PM, 8:05 Capricorn/Cancer. An opportunity surfaces that allows you to begin to move forward with new perspectives. Strive for stability in relationships by honestly reevaluating current situations. Newly discovered abilities to organize and concentrate on principles help to prepare for logical planning.
1/25 Mercury ESP (Ending Shadow Point) 12:34 Capricorn. Gather all you have learned about structures and logic over the past two months. Communications or business projects that didn’t work before may suddenly fall into place.
1/29 Venus opposes Jupiter Rx, 4:01 AM, 17:52 Pisces/Virgo. The December 10th Sun/Jupiter challenge at this degree is revisited. Simple support from colleagues or loved ones may help open a new point of view. A tactful, caring approach to those with contrasting ideas may lead to understanding and cooperation, bringing about a win-win solution.
JANUARY 2004 SYMBOLISM
Happy New Year to all!
Since the turn of this century, through the power of technology and communication, we are able to see New Years' celebrations around the world, as they occur. We are treated to the rituals of many cultures, and the energy of the collective unconscious becomes visible through each presence. It is a powerful joining of all people, and links us to each other as no other time is able to do.
When we say Happy New Year, we happily invoke the energy of the ancient Roman god of passage. He has two faces -- one for endings and one for beginnings. Janus, for whom January was named, was the guardian of the gateway between the past and the future. Janus (from the Latin root janua, meaning door) was honored as the guardian of the door, with a key in one hand and a club in the other. Janus' festival, called the Kalendae is from January 1st to 3rd. Sacrifices were also made in January to the goddess Fortuna for favors in the coming year. Nowadays, we make resolutions to sacrifice destructive or useless habits to make room for worthwhile and constructive activities and behaviors that will lead us to good fortune.
January 1st, New Years’ Day, also known as Hogamany, is a Scottish celebration that includes a walkabout around the boundaries of ones’ property. Also called “first footing”, folklore tells us that the first foot inside your door after midnight, December 31 will foretell the flavor of the coming year’s fortune.
January 6th marks the Christian celebration of Epiphany after the 12th night of Christmas, the device that shows Christian beliefs and recounts them each year. Epiphany comes from the Greek and Latin root meaning appearance, manifestation, or revealment, and to show forth or to manifest. An epiphany today means a meaningful experience wherein a numinous moment occurs that changes the significance of everything in the life. The celebration of Epiphany is taken from the story of the three Wise Men from the east, who traveled 12 days and nights to see the newborn savior. It was “revealed” to them in a dream, that if they follow the “appearance” of a special star or light in the heavens, they would find a child in whom The Christ was “manifested”. The Wise Men or Magi brought special gifts from their homelands, fit to offer a king.
The gifts consisted of gold (ruled by the Sun), the precious metal of Kings, because of its beauty and rarity. Of all the metals, it is nearly inert - doesn’t easily mix with other elements, and doesn’t break down, but maintains its elemental form. The second gift, frankincense (also Sun ruled), was an aromatic hardened gum resin of the Boswellia Carterii Thurifera tree, used as an incense in religious rituals, and represents pure prayer. Boswellia is an anti-inflammatory, now used to treat arthritis. The third was myrrh (Saturn ruled), a resin from the Commiphora myrrha tree - used in incense, as a holy oil for anointing the dead, as a mouthwash, as a vermifuge, and as a painkiller. It is a fragrant but bitter-tasting gum resin used to make incense, perfumes, medicines, and holy ointments for consecration. Known today as guggul herb, it used to control cholesterol and arteriosclerosis. Both resins are found in Arabia and Somalia, and are used in protection rites. Epiphany is celebrated as a time of consecration - a time of dedication to a better future.
The Capricorn Sun on this January 6th opposes the Saturn in Cancer, the ruler of Capricorn, and before Uranus was discovered, ruler of Aquarius. Saturn was the Roman equivalent of the Greek god Kronos, son of Uranus and Gaia. There is also an association here with Janus. Saturn ruled the past and backward motion of Capricorn, and the future and forward motion of Aquarius. When Saturn is retrograde, as it is now, it takes on the mantle of Capricorn and focuses on past traditions. When Saturn turns direct on March 8, we can look for it embracing the future and dealing in a more practical way with setting up new structures. One way to support the Aquarius mode is to have a potted ivy plant in your home. The curious leaves and tendrils of the Saturn-ruled ivy are said to drive evil and negativity from the home. Saturn is associated with chronic fear. "The world would have a smoother ride if only it would let some fear out of its tires." -Anonymous
January’s gemstones are the garnet and the agate -- the word garnet is derived from the Latin, granatum, which means pomegranate. Garnet crystals are granular, shaped like the fruits of the pomegranate. The most prized color of the gemstone is the deep clear poppy red of the fruit, although garnets also come in many hues (even to red orange and yellow). These gems were reported to bring sleep to their wearers, and to calm a restless brain. Garnets were also associated with constancy and fidelity, and were said to fortify the heart of the owner. The agate is a type of chalcedony, made up of layers of color. Its history suggests it be worn to clear emotional blockages by piercing the veil of inner levels of consciousness, and allowing remembrance of past lives. Moss agate was worn to balance emotions and as a blood cleanser; lace agate was worn to release muscle spasms and tension.
The power of the breath is ultimate in the healing process, as there is no life without breath. On January 20 when the Sun changes signs from earth to air (Capricorn to Aquarius), we can consciously release the last outbreath of Solar earth and take in the first breath of Solar air. Integrating the breath with the physical expression can provide a powerful ceremonial tool. The healing power of the breath is developed through duration and volume. Standing facing the east, and gently breathe in and out through the mouth – deeply and rhythmically. With the first few outbreaths, release all pain, frustration, anger and imbalance from the past, seeing those energies dispersed on the wind. With each inbreath, picture each cell, each pore being embraced by the current of healing consciousness, driven by divine wind. Feel the healing breath as it enriches and supports your life. After the first eight breath cycles, outbreaths may be used to send healing energies to others.
The Chinese New Year falls on January 22, the day after the new Moon. It is the Year of the Monkey. The Monkey is a yin metal animal, and is associated with independence, enthusiasm, generosity, optimism, inventiveness and sensitivity.
January 25 in the runic calendar is Disting, the feast of the Disir, the Norse guardian goddesses. In the Druidic form of this ritual, the Fire Maiden lights the fire of wisdom and love and power, and makes an offering so that the sacred fire burns within us. Then the Keeper of the Well pours water of wisdom and life, and makes an offering so that the sacred waters flow within us. Then the Tender of the Tree dresses the Cosmic Tree, Yggdrasill, symbolic of Life and our connection with the Earth, and asks that the sacred tree grow within us. Symbols of land and sea and sky within and without honor the adage “as above, so below”.
January 26 is Vasant Panchami, the festival of Kites, devoted to Saraswati, goddess of learning and wife to Brahma. She is asked to bestow the wealth of Knowledge to all humanity. Celebrants wear yellow clothing in honor of the mustard fields, symbolic of spring coming to the land.
January 31 is Waqf al Arafa, an Islamic observance day during the festival of Hajj, wherein Muslim pilgrims pray to Allah for forgiveness and mercy. Hajj is celebrated from January 30 through February 2, the annual pilgrimage to Mecca.
January is the month of Saturn, embracing both of Saturn’s signs, Capricorn and Aquarius when time often weighs heavily. Time is most certainly an enigma.
“…You would measure time the measureless and the immeasurable.
You would adjust your conduct and even direct the course of your spirit according to hours and seasons.
Of time you would make a stream upon whose bank you would sit and watch its flowing.
Yet the timeless in you is aware of life’s timelessness, and knows that yesterday is but today’s memory and tomorrow is today’s dream.
And that which sings and contemplates in you is still dwelling within the bounds of that first moment which scattered the stars into space…
…But if in your thought you must measure time into seasons, let each season encircle all the other seasons,
And let today embrace the past with remembrance and the future with longing.”
On Time, from The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran
Roxana Muise, PO Box 3948, Lacey, WA 98509-3948 USA
Phone: 360/456-7836 - Email: [email protected]
http://www.roxanamuise.com
