New Years 2003
The New Years Chart for 2003 reveals a year of contradictions. There are some very different energies at work here. Jupiter's oppositions to Neptune (2/10-22 & 5/27-6/09) and Uranus (8/25-9/02) in Aquarius represent an idealistic, independent, humanitarian spirit. On the other hand the Moon in the New Years chart is conjunct Pluto in Sag opposition Saturn in the 9th house. This indicates a repressive intellectual atmosphere, the suppression of dissent and an ever increasing stranglehold on the media. There's a real polarization going on in society. Mid February through March is a key period of 2003. This is the real climax of the Saturn/Pluto opposition that started in August of 2001. The planet Saturn has been in retrograde since 10/11/02 and this has brought it back to within 3 degrees of Pluto. Starting in the beginning of February and lingering for almost 2 months, the Saturn/Pluto opposition will be activated by Venus' and Mars' transiting conjunctions to Pluto. Venus conjuncts Pluto on Jan 25th. Mars conjuncts Pluto on Feb 16th at the next Full Moon. The period between the Venus/Pluto conjunction and the Mars/Pluto conjunction will be the final build up to war. The Full Moon in February (2/16) is volatile and this is likely to be the point at which the US begins its attack on Iraq. There is some hope that the lack of consensus among nations or popular support at home may hinder efforts to begin a war at this time. In the US chart Mars is at 21 degrees of Gemini and as transiting Saturn slows down and goes direct on Feb 22nd it spends a month sitting right on top of the USA's Mars. Saturn on Mars is a time when aggressive, action-oriented energies are held in check or frustrated. The sign of Gemini indicates public opinion, so it may be very hard for the US government to gain any ground in the public opinion polls now. Interestingly the New Years chart points to this period in February being more about inflation and the huge cost being incurred now. This gargantuan spending spree will put America in debt for a long time. Saturn will be moving into Cancer this summer (6/03/03) and it won't be long before the bill comes due. But this inflation is not specific to the US, inflation and the devaluation of the dollar, a mainstay of international economics, will be effecting everyone. In mid March personal freedoms are being curtailed in an increasingly repressive atmosphere as the Full Moon (3/18) highlights Saturn and Pluto. Americans will begin to see what the Patriot Act looks like in practice. On April 27th Uranus moves into the sign of Pisces for the first time in approximately 80 years. This will be revolutionary for individual Pisces as well as for that particularly Piscean institution, the Christian Church. In May the Jupiter/Neptune opposition is activated and the peace movement gains momentum across the country and the world. An idealistic spirit will be galvanizing people to act on their beliefs. There'll probably be many protests and peace marches. The New Moon in Taurus on May 1st makes this an especially powerful May Day, whether you're celebrating the druidic holyday of Beltane or marching for peace. There's lots of emphasis on Neptune this month and Mars in Aquarius conjuncts Neptune on the day before the Full Moon (5/15). On an individual level this can be an incredibly creative and inspirational time when you can reach for the moon and make a dream come true. Also Neptune usually makes for lots of precipitation, so hopefully this will be wet month for the drought stricken SW. Saturn moves into Cancer on June 3rd. At least the Saturn/Pluto opposition is over now. That this transit altered the face of American democracy so drastically really gives credence to Dane Rudhyar's Sagittarius rising chart for the USA. Pluto on the ascendant for the first time in US history would account for the dramatic change in our society in the last 2 years. As Saturn enters Cancer it conjuncts the USA's Venus at 3 degrees of Cancer, Jupiter at 5 degrees of Cancer and the Sun at 13 degrees. In an individual's chart this would indicate a general lack of funds, fun and energy. For a nation this translates into tight times, consumers with no cash to spend and an energy crisis. Looking back to Saturn's last pass through Cancer (August of 1973 to September of 1975), the headlines of that time show that in 1973 there was a petroleum shortage, compounded by an Arab oil embargo precipitated by US support for Israel, and the dollar was devalued. In 1974 the gasoline shortage had drivers waiting in lines at gas stations, worldwide inflation caused major price increases and the Dow Jones index fell dramatically while the net profits of the top 30 oil companies increased almost 93%, President Nixon was impeached and resigned. In 1975 unemployment was at it's highest point since 1941, oil prices were raised by OPEC, violence escalated in Beirut and the USA evacuated it's troops from Viet Nam, ending the war. History does have a tendency to repeat itself. It's a good bet that as Saturn enters Cancer this summer we will be dealing with many of these same issues; inflation, higher unemployment numbers, an even lower Dow Jones average, the possible devaluation of the dollar and fuel shortages. As the summer progresses Uranus in Pisces moves to the forefront, activated by a series of Mars conjunctions (6/23 & 9/10-10/03). This is a hot tempered, impatient energy, ready to take chances and act on impulse. Mars/Uranus is the ultimate adrenaline junkie, risking all for a dare or a dream. Discovered around the time of the French and American revolutions, Uranus represents the struggle for independence and human rights and the freedom fighters willing to risk their lives to make their dreams of freedom a reality. From the left wing to the right, everyone seems to be in a fighting mood this fall. Since these Mars/Uranus conjunctions are happening in Pisces, a sign connected with religion, spirituality and, most especially, the Christian Church, it's a good bet that the religious right will be on the rampage in this country and there could be quite a storm brewing within the Catholic Church. Also with this hot blooded pair aligning in watery Pisces it's likely that temperatures will be rising worldwide and there will be a more rapid rate of glacial and polar melting. Though the line up this fall looks warlike, there is a revolutionary spirit afoot. With Mars and Uranus opposing Jupiter, the freedom fighter aspect of this alignment is emphasized. If we are at war, it will develop a guerilla warfare aspect that could be very difficult to defeat, as in Viet Nam. Certainly the growing antigovernment protests in this country will be reminiscent of that era. So, interesting times are upon us. Despite the magnitude of what is taking place, many of the major aspects this year emphasize personal power and vision. We all have more power to create our own realities now and with that comes more individual responsibility to use that power to make a difference in the world around us. This does not necessarily mean joining the fight, holding the light and praying for peace can have a much greater effect than many imagine. Look around and see how you can make a difference.

New Years 2003

The New Years Chart for 2003 reveals a year of contradictions. There are some very different energies at work here. Jupiter's oppositions to Neptune (2/10-22 & 5/27-6/09) and Uranus (8/25-9/02) in Aquarius represent an idealistic, independent, humanitarian spirit. On the other hand the Moon in the New Years chart is conjunct Pluto in Sag opposition Saturn in the 9th house. This indicates a repressive intellectual atmosphere, the suppression of dissent and an ever increasing stranglehold on the media. There's a real polarization going on in society.

Mid February through March is a key period of 2003. This is the real climax of the Saturn/Pluto opposition that started in August of 2001. The planet Saturn has been in retrograde since 10/11/02 and this has brought it back to within 3 degrees of Pluto. Starting in the beginning of February and lingering for almost 2 months, the Saturn/Pluto opposition will be activated by Venus' and Mars' transiting conjunctions to Pluto. Venus conjuncts Pluto on Jan 25th. Mars conjuncts Pluto on Feb 16th at the next Full Moon. The period between the Venus/Pluto conjunction and the Mars/Pluto conjunction will be the final build up to war. The Full Moon in February (2/16) is volatile and this is likely to be the point at which the US begins its attack on Iraq.

There is some hope that the lack of consensus among nations or popular support at home may hinder efforts to begin a war at this time. In the US chart Mars is at 21 degrees of Gemini and as transiting Saturn slows down and goes direct on Feb 22nd it spends a month sitting right on top of the USA's Mars. Saturn on Mars is a time when aggressive, action-oriented energies are held in check or frustrated. The sign of Gemini indicates public opinion, so it may be very hard for the US government to gain any ground in the public opinion polls now.

Interestingly the New Years chart points to this period in February being more about inflation and the huge cost being incurred now. This gargantuan spending spree will put America in debt for a long time. Saturn will be moving into Cancer this summer (6/03/03) and it won't be long before the bill comes due. But this inflation is not specific to the US, inflation and the devaluation of the dollar, a mainstay of international economics, will be effecting everyone.

In mid March personal freedoms are being curtailed in an increasingly repressive atmosphere as the Full Moon (3/18) highlights Saturn and Pluto. Americans will begin to see what the Patriot Act looks like in practice.

On April 27th Uranus moves into the sign of Pisces for the first time in approximately 80 years. This will be revolutionary for individual Pisces as well as for that particularly Piscean institution, the Christian Church.

In May the Jupiter/Neptune opposition is activated and the peace movement gains momentum across the country and the world. An idealistic spirit will be galvanizing people to act on their beliefs. There'll probably be many protests and peace marches. The New Moon in Taurus on May 1st makes this an especially powerful May Day, whether you're celebrating the druidic holyday of Beltane or marching for peace. There's lots of emphasis on Neptune this month and Mars in Aquarius conjuncts Neptune on the day before the Full Moon (5/15). On an individual level this can be an incredibly creative and inspirational time when you can reach for the moon and make a dream come true. Also Neptune usually makes for lots of precipitation, so hopefully this will be wet month for the drought stricken SW.

Saturn moves into Cancer on June 3rd. At least the Saturn/Pluto opposition is over now. That this transit altered the face of American democracy so drastically really gives credence to Dane Rudhyar's Sagittarius rising chart for the USA. Pluto on the ascendant for the first time in US history would account for the dramatic change in our society in the last 2 years.

As Saturn enters Cancer it conjuncts the USA's Venus at 3 degrees of Cancer, Jupiter at 5 degrees of Cancer and the Sun at 13 degrees. In an individual's chart this would indicate a general lack of funds, fun and energy. For a nation this translates into tight times, consumers with no cash to spend and an energy crisis.

Looking back to Saturn's last pass through Cancer (August of 1973 to September of 1975), the headlines of that time show that in 1973 there was a petroleum shortage, compounded by an Arab oil embargo precipitated by US support for Israel, and the dollar was devalued. In 1974 the gasoline shortage had drivers waiting in lines at gas stations, worldwide inflation caused major price increases and the Dow Jones index fell dramatically while the net profits of the top 30 oil companies increased almost 93%, President Nixon was impeached and resigned. In 1975 unemployment was at it's highest point since 1941, oil prices were raised by OPEC, violence escalated in Beirut and the USA evacuated it's troops from Viet Nam, ending the war.

History does have a tendency to repeat itself. It's a good bet that as Saturn enters Cancer this summer we will be dealing with many of these same issues; inflation, higher unemployment numbers, an even lower Dow Jones average, the possible devaluation of the dollar and fuel shortages.

As the summer progresses Uranus in Pisces moves to the forefront, activated by a series of Mars conjunctions (6/23 & 9/10-10/03). This is a hot tempered, impatient energy, ready to take chances and act on impulse. Mars/Uranus is the ultimate adrenaline junkie, risking all for a dare or a dream. Discovered around the time of the French and American revolutions, Uranus represents the struggle for independence and human rights and the freedom fighters willing to risk their lives to make their dreams of freedom a reality. From the left wing to the right, everyone seems to be in a fighting mood this fall.

Since these Mars/Uranus conjunctions are happening in Pisces, a sign connected with religion, spirituality and, most especially, the Christian Church, it's a good bet that the religious right will be on the rampage in this country and there could be quite a storm brewing within the Catholic Church. Also with this hot blooded pair aligning in watery Pisces it's likely that temperatures will be rising worldwide and there will be a more rapid rate of glacial and polar melting.

Though the line up this fall looks warlike, there is a revolutionary spirit afoot. With Mars and Uranus opposing Jupiter, the freedom fighter aspect of this alignment is emphasized. If we are at war, it will develop a guerilla warfare aspect that could be very difficult to defeat, as in Viet Nam. Certainly the growing antigovernment protests in this country will be reminiscent of that era.

So, interesting times are upon us. Despite the magnitude of what is taking place, many of the major aspects this year emphasize personal power and vision. We all have more power to create our own realities now and with that comes more individual responsibility to use that power to make a difference in the world around us. This does not necessarily mean joining the fight, holding the light and praying for peace can have a much greater effect than many imagine. Look around and see how you can make a difference.

New Years 2003

astrologess@astrologess.com