by Leo Knighton Tallarico
The tides shift this Monday January 23, as there is a New Moon in Aquarius and Mars goes Retrograde. Additionally many will be celebrating that day the Chinese New Year of the Dragon.
This will feel like a turning point, one where you will sense on the one hand new beginnings, and on the other hand a pause in time.
The New Moon in Aquarius is a welcome new moon for many as it breaks us out of the flat seriousness of Capricorn. Capricorn is ruled by Saturn and much of January is Capricorn time. During that time we get more in touch with what we need to do, what we are obligated to do, and what we need to discipline ourselves to do. Capricorn also tends to push us into acceptance of what must be.
On Friday January 20 the Sun moved into Aquarius, and on Monday when the Moon joins the Sun there in Aquarius there is the New Moon in Aquarius. It is at 2:39 AM on the east coast of the USA. Aquarius is ruled by Uranus, and Uranus is about breaking out of boxes and doing things differently.
So if you felt confined or restricted during Capricorn time of year, you will appreciate the relative freedom that Aquarius brings. Capricorn is not bad, as every sign has its purpose. Many people like Capricorn because it helps them to feel grounded and anchored and getting down to business.
But many others feel their creativity and freedom suffer at that time. Now at Aquarius time of year you can open up more, especially your free mind. Aquarius facillitates an open and inventive mind, social networking, and socially conscious causes. Aquarius also shows us the way to the value of the true individual and individual freedom and liberty.
Aquarius believes in equality and seeks to limit the importance of egos and privilege and dominance. It believes in the strength of individuality and individual responsibility for the well being of the community and world.
Aquarius is very mental and detached, however, and so can sometimes be without much feeling. It does of course have strong mental principles it seeks to live by, but sometimes lacks the emotional expression. Aquarius also can sometimes, as a fixed sign, be rather rigid about its beliefs.
So this week begins to bring us out of the doldrums and wake us up to get going. But Monday also brings us Mars Retrograde.
Mars is a planet of will and desire, of forcefulness and action. When it goes retrograde, we pause to decide what we truly want or desire. We may also pause to reflect on what we are doing and where we are going. Have we been truly picking what we really want in life? Have we been moving in the right direction? Are we doing what we really want and what is truly aligned for us, or are we doing what we should do or what we have been programmed to do?
While Mars is retrograde, from January 23 to Friday April 13, we may need to reevaluate what we have chosen for our lives. Others may be reflecting on power and competition issues, or on anger issues, all issues associated with Mars.
Perhaps you have anger issues or issues about getting your way all the time. Or conversely perhaps you have drawn to yourself people who seek to dominate or have bad tempers or are rather selfish.
During the retrograde time period events may motivate you to look more deeply at these issues and make changes. Mars Retrograde may be a good time to either share your power, or to learn to empower your self more.
Those on a spiritual path often believe that for the seek of peace one must repress one’s personal needs or suppress one’s personal power.
In reality, it is impossible for you to truly bring your best wishes for the world without your power. And if you want to be empowered you need to be in touch with your personal needs.
Nature gave you personal needs for a reason. To satisfy those needs is essential to surviving and thriving. If you disempower your self you lose your ability to self actualize and contribute to your world. Unselfishness and self sacrifice taken to a self defeating place is UNNATURAL.
Use this Mars retrograde time to empower your self. I do not mean to use or dominate others, but to get in touch with your natural wants and desires and your ability to use your will to manifest.
Of course it is essential to use your will in alignment with the Universe. If you are truly selfish or greedy or power hungry, you are out of alignment. But if you feel you want to live comfortably and happy in this world, you will need to fulfill your needs.
So Mars goes back direct on April 13 and returns to where it began at 23 degrees of Virgo on June 19. After April 13 you can move more fully forward, and after June 19 you will have come full circle with whatever issues came up for you at the Mars Retrograde.
Since Mars in is Virgo for the whole retrograde period, it will also be a time to get in touch with bringing more order to your life, fixing and healing what needs to fixed and healed. Also, with Mars being in Virgo be careful not to get too obsessed or worried about any of the issues that come up for you during Mars Retrograde.
In the greater world the republicans are in the process of selecting who will be their nominee for President to run against President Obama. Also do not be too surprised to see a viable third party candidate running for President. Ron Paul is a likely third party candidate, and would throw the election up for grabs.
As I wrote about in our last forecast, the coming eclipse season could bring the Perfect Storm of explosive events in the world. Watch the Mars Retrograde movement early this coming week for potential clues of what may be coming soon.
See you next week,
Leo
Please feel free to find more writings and my services on mywebsite.You can get an astrological session with me during these changing times to help you on your path and with your life. Please write soulus@aol.com for more info.
Leo Knighton Tallarico is a full time professional astrologer, spiritual guide, counselor, and writer for over 25 years.
He predicted the Iraq War of 2003- in early 2001 when Bush first took office; predicted the 9-11 attacks with an article “The Tower”, written in June 2001. He predicted Obama and McCain would get the presidential nominations in november 2007, when both were low in the polls; and correctly predicted the current economic downturn before it occurred.