Astrological Forecast for January & February 2018

   Happy New Year!

   We begin 2018 with a very high level of cosmic energy that is sure to shake, rattle, and roll us down here on Earth.While we will unpack the celestial weather for the first two months of the year below, it helps to see the time in broad strokes of changing patterns.

   The first half of January is extremely energized, and it’s likely that we’ll be uncertain about what’s happening and what it means to us. That’s true on both the personal and collective levels.One hint is that much of what’s going on in early January has its roots in late November of 2017. What’s been in a holding pattern through December finds release – quickly and decisively – in the first half of January. As the month progresses things won’t get much quieter, as we experience aftershocks as we head towards February’s eclipses.

   Those eclipses will mirror the Great American Eclipse of August 2017,especially the February 15th solar eclipse that is in Aquarius, right across the zodiac from the last year’s eclipse in Leo. Although we’ve perhaps become a little jaded in our expectations, it’s clear that the United States in the midst of significant turmoil, from political polarization to environmental changes – including the hurricane that hit Houston right after the August eclipse. The February eclipse will offer a kind of counterpoint, or counterstroke, to the rhythm that’s been set thus far.

JANUARY

   The New Year begins with a pop that may not come from champagne corks alone. A full moon on January 1st will illuminate celebrations – although in the protective sign of Cancer this won’t be the most expansive and playful side of Luna. The need for security could be strong around this time, although with Uranus stationing to go direct on the 2nd,there’s likely to be a powerful drive for independence and innovation, too.Contrasting energies often grate on us, but they also provide motivation to make changes.

   The excitement continues through the first week of 2018, as Mars meets Jupiter in Scorpio on the 6th, while Mercury makes a trine to Uranus. Mars/Jupiter could stoke up security needs, and financial matters could be very much on our minds. Mercury/Uranus tends to speed up communication and offer brilliant insights – in this case perhaps re-working ideas that were originally floated in late November or early December. Expect that whatever comes up now may have to wait about a week, until the 13th or so,to reach its final form.

   There’s no stopping the high-voltage meeting of the Sun, Venus, and Pluto on January 9th. This could signal major turning points in relationships, powerful beginnings and endings. For some of us, i twill be time to make decisions, although many of us may feel that we are being led along by forces that have a feeling of inevitability. We might be drawn to a happy outcome or feel that we are losing something very important to us, but either way it will take a while to really understand the long range importance of this time. Financial matters may also be prominent around this time.

   The 13th and 14th have a stop-and-go type of vibe. Cosmic Messenger Mercury enters Capricorn and meets up with Saturn. There could be deadlines around this time, and do your best to meet them. This is another time when issues that have been up in the air for a month or more are likely to resolve. Possibilities settle down to realities, and there’s a serious tone to things. At the same time, Venus and the Sun elbow Uranus, an impatient and potentially irritable energy that could be the release point for tensions that have been building for the past week. With the new moon just a few days away, on January 16th, this may appear to be more a time of endings than beginnings, although it is also a period when we are seeding potentials for the future.

   Venus enters Aquarius on the 17th. Our socializing will take on a more open, less formal character. Groups, especially those with a common purpose or focus, may be favored over individual meetings, although we’ll be open to new people and ideas about socializing.

   Mercury is very busy in the last week of the month, meeting with Pluto on the 24th and going on to square Uranus on the 28th. Communication is likely to very serious and somewhat tense. A serious talk could lead to significant consequences – and the real message may not be the one that is explicitly stated. Mercury often triggers latent energies that are seeded at earlier times, so we may see a few surprises, as well.

   As the month ends, a lunar eclipse on the 31st is another trigger, as we see the results of past actions manifesting (the eclipse is only barely visible in the Wisdom area). Interestingly, considering recent world events, the eclipse has the greatest visibility (and perhaps effect) in the North Pacific Ocean.

 FEBRUARY

   The first week of the month features a Venus/Jupiter square and Venus/Uranus trine that could reflect the tone for relationship over the past few weeks. There’s a greater drive for freedom and space in our relationships, and with Venus in Aquarius from January 17th to February 10th we’re likely to be ready for this open – but not frivolous –vibe. Socializing in groups and cultivating friendships may take precedence over romance, although there is a sexual vibe, too.  As Venus enters Pisces, we begin to think in even larger terms, moving from the social sphere towards the spiritual.

   Egos could get out of hand around the 10th,as the Sun squares Jupiter. These two planets can sometimes egg each other on and bring large personalities to the point of excess. However, with Jupiter in Scorpio and the Sun in Aquarius, there will be a different flavor to this aspect. Rather than simply overblown egos, we may see a trend towards righteousness – “It’s not what I want, it’s the right thing to do.”

   The solar eclipse on February 15th stands opposite the August 2017 eclipse, and in a sense echoes it. Recall that there were three hurricanes – including one in Houston that was on the eclipse line of longitude – and two earthquakes right after the eclipse. North Korea became a very hot issue at that time, along with a number of other social and political issues. This eclipse in a sense asks us for our response to the themes that have been laid before us.

   This eclipse is also very close to Valentine’s Day, a holiday when we tend to focus on relationships. With Venus sextile to Saturn on the 15th, we’ll be inclined to think of how and where we are building our partnerships – are we on solid ground, or are our heads in the clouds? Perhaps we can have a bit of both with Saturn in Capricorn and Venus in Pisces.

   It’s not all about our thoughts and feelings, though, as Mars squares Neptune on the 17th – an aspect that tends to push us towards action, sometimes going overboard and pushing things to far.Paradoxically, this aspect can also dissipate our energy. With Mars in Sagittarius, we’re likely to see polarizing political and social rhetoric.

   When Venus meets Neptune on the 21st, we’re likely to apply that same overboard attitude towards relationships. In contrast to the more realistic orientation of her sextile to Saturn a week earlier, Venus is now inclined to see too much or too little in a person or relationship. It can be a grand romantic moment,but be aware that we may be seeing things out of proportion. A Venus/Mars square on the 25th could challenge us to integrate sexual desire and feeling.

   It could be hard to know what’s going on, as Mercury and Neptune also meet on the 25th. This aspect can soften the boundaries of communication, which can help with relationship matters. But at the same time, we could say more than we intend, or be misunderstood. Outright deception is possible, but most of us are likely to simply let enthusiasm take precedence over facts. Hold off on practical decisions.

   As February ends, Venus, Mercury, and Mars are all connecting with each other, with Pluto hanging around in the background. We’re approaching the full moon in Virgo on March 1st, and it’s time to see the results of the actions we’ve taken over the past few weeks.Venus is in an easy aspect to her friend Jupiter at this time, fostering an optimistic view of both relationships and finances. With Jupiter deep into Scorpio, we’re not likely to be fooling ourselves if we feel good about things,and will probably have the confidence we need to make changes in our lives.

Armand M. Diaz,Ph.D. uses an intuitive and heart-centered approach to astrology to help his clients. Armand has practiced divination for more than twenty years, working with the I Ching and Tarot in addition to astrology. He has published in various astrological journals, including The Mountain Astrologer.  His most recent book, Separating Aspects: The Astrology of Breakups, Divorce, and Other Partings, is available through Amazon and available on Kindle.  He can be reached through his website at www.integralastrology.net.