Astrological Forecast for January & February 2014

The year 2014 sits at the epicenter of the Uranus-Pluto square that is active from 2012 through 2015. This aspect between two powerful outer planets that come into alignment about every 40 years is seen by astrologers as coinciding with radical, revolutionary changes at all levels of society and in all areas of our lives. This year, Jupiter joins the two outer planets, amplifying their already intense energies. Although it may be hard to see on a daily basis, we are in the midst of great transformations. Look back four or five years and see how the landscape of your personal life and our collective lives have changed and you’ll see what I mean. It isn’t easy to assess where we are going or even how fast we are moving, and value judgments appear to be contradictory at best. As Tom Atlee said, "Things are getting better and better and worse and worse, faster and faster."

As we start the year, we can feel the intensity growing. The last two weeks of December were packed with hot aspects, and these will continue through the first week of January. Towards the end of the month, things pick up again, and we have a very busy February. Venus is retrograde through the end of January, encouraging us to go back and process unfinished relationship issues—of which there may be many at this unsettled time. Mercury once again pedals backwards through the zodiac through most of February, slowing communication even as events speed up.

New Year’s Day is always the year’s Great Sunday, no matter what day it falls. This year, we have a New Moon in the sign of Capricorn and the Sun meets with Pluto as the year begins, suggesting an inward, introspective start to 2014 that could turn to an implosion if we have no outlet for simmering tensions. This New Moon is a time of beginnings and ends, but it isn’t necessarily quiet. On a New Moon, we usually do better to meditate and set intentions for the coming month than to be active, yet this energy is not easily contained. We won’t have to wait long for things to get moving outward as the Sun, Mars, and Jupiter fire up the first week of the year with edgy aspects.

After the eighth, we get a bit of a breather following three weeks of intense cosmic configurations. Relationships are likely to come into focus in mid-month, although Venus’ retrograde suggests that we will be engaging this area of life throughout January. Resolutions to partnership issues may be possible around the 11th, although any solutions will be tested at the Full Moon on the 15th, as Mars squares Venus the next day. We may feel caught between personal needs and relationship expectations, and there is very likely a strong element of security needs pervading romantic discussions. We want to hold on to something firm, but may not be able to feel secure.

The Full Moon will highlight all kinds of security issues, from international to personal. Financial worries may be prominent around this lunation, so keep in mind that a protective mindset is likely to prevail.

Hard words may need to be spoken around the 25th, as Mercury squares Saturn. David-and-Goliath situations could emerge at work, and David has a good chance of winning this round—but be sure which role you are playing in the drama!

As January draws to a close, the cosmic energy begins to heat up once again. The New Moon on the 30th is in the sign of Aquarius, bringing our attention to collective concerns. The following day, Jupiter opposes Pluto, an aspect that frequently coincides with struggles among power brokers. The rest of us may feel that we are sitting on the sidelines of an epic battle, but we are also living with the consequences of whatever the powers that be decide.

After forty days of retrograding, Venus moves forward on the 31st. In the coming weeks we will get a sense that we can also move forward with new relationships, having (hopefully) processed the lessons of our past partnerships. It should also be easier to accurately assess the value of things, and that should help both our personal and collective economic decisions.

No sooner does Venus begin moving forward than Mercury stations to retrograde, on February 6th. The Cosmic Messenger will be helping us to slow down until the 28th. The usual Mercury retrograde rules apply: it may be best to wait on major purchases, especially cars and electronics; contracts and agreements may need to be reworked at a later time; and communication problems can arise.

The Sun squares Saturn on the 11th. We may want to move forward with a progressive project that serves the public interest, but have concerns over who is going to finance it. There could be resistance to new or existing taxes and fees, or we could find large corporations blocking moves that they find threatening in some ways.

As we reach the Full Moon on Valentine’s Day, the 14th, we have some very fiery energy. The Moon is full in the sign of Leo, and that is the romantic, party Moon of the year. The Sun is also in a hot aspect to Mars that day, suggesting that passion will be running high. With Mercury retrograde, it’s more an opportunity to do than to talk, so act accordingly. This year, even the calendar aligns with the sky—it’s a Friday, Venus’ day, and the start of what could be a very pleasant weekend.

Retrograde Mercury squares Saturn again on the 19th. Issues that emerged in late January, particularly those having to do with work and finances, could re-emerge around this time. It’s likely that a final resolution will have to wait until Mercury moves direct and elbows Saturn one last time on March 11th. Still, it’s a good time to state your case, even if the results are not spectacular right away.

On the 23rd, the Sun meets up with foggy Neptune in the sign of Pisces. We are drawn forward, towards a spiritual perspective on life. This energy isn’t great for making practical decisions, but it can serve as an excellent time for brainstorming the possibilities. Creative and artistic endeavors could certainly get a boost.

A Jupiter-Uranus square on the 26th may highlight technological innovations, but really look for movement in progressive social causes. There will be high expectations for change, but also deep resistance to it. Don’t expect immediate resolution, but do look for significant movement.

As the month ends, we head into a New Moon in the sign of Pisces in the early hours of March 1st. The New Moon in Pisces is a great time to set your intentions for spiritual growth in the coming year. It is also the last quiet moment before the beginning of the astrological New Year at the Spring Equinox. Like the quiet of the wee hours of the morning, the Pisces New Moon is an opportunity to go deeply within and connect with our source. This new moon is far more inwardly directed than the two earlier ones this year. Mars, the planet of action and motivation, is stationing to retrograde on the 1st, further pulling our energy inward.

With all the retrogrades early this year, it helps to remember that each retrograde period only relates to what the planet signifies. Mercury is about communication and commerce, Venus signifies love and values, Mars is action and motivation. We shouldn’t use astrology to place a big Stop sign in front of our lives and hold off until the cosmic weather is perfect. Retrograde periods are times of slowing down the relevant activities, but also times when we can go deeper and have more profound experiences. New things may not take hold or work out as planned, but there’s no reason that we can’t continue with things that have already manifested. If it should happen that a new experience offers itself—say a new relationship while Venus is retrograding—don’t shy away from it. There’s learning to be done in any experience, and we cannot know in advance how the symbolic energies of the planets will manifest in our lives at a given moment. Astrology should help us to be more aware and thus more flexible—not more rigid and fearful.

Enjoy the beginning of the New Year!