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Capricorn is the sign of the efforts put forth to master envisioned goals. The measure of such achievements and their nature are signified by the sign on the Midheaven (10th house cusp). My articles in this month’s newsletter speak about such principles in greater detail. We do get rather down on ourselves for not achieving what we have resolved to do during the past year and continue making renewed efforts through our new “New Year’s Resolutions.” I should add that some of us rejoice at having achieved what we set out to do, especially if we have been reasonable and modest, like being successful at losing 15 pounds instead of feeling miserable because the 15 were not 30. This “weight thing” is a very American goal, by the way, not nearly so much fuss and bother about it in Europe; while in Asia, people celebrate and honor having a few extra kilos aboard the physical vehicle! (P.S. This is one reason why the hefty Mr. Oken finds an amazing boost to his chubby ego when he resides in Bali!)

I suggest making goals on four levels: physical/material, emotional, mental, and spiritual. You achieve something very special just by the creation of such objectives: you get to define and consolidate your life orientation. These are very positive traits of Saturn, the planetary ruler of the celestial Mountain Goat. If we are objective and positively will-focused, our struggles to a better life on all levels have achieved their first goal. So even on January 1st we have attained at least one victory along the Way.

This New Year’s Day Saturn is in Libra where it is said to be “exalted.” It is also in a perfect trine to Neptune in Aquarius (see “Constants” below). Thus some of our New Year’s Resolutions should involve how we can foster the dynamics of Right Human Relationships both on personal and collective social levels.

Here are my views on the month ahead:

Constants for the month of Capricorn, 2011-12

Please note: The entire horoscope must be studied in order to make any one planetary transit or position an integrated dynamic within the whole of one’s life. What follows only pertains to a person’s solar position at birth but what is said will be a definite theme at the current time.

Pluto at 7 to 8 degrees of Capricorn.
Affecting people born within a day of: December 28-30, March 26-28, June 27-29, and September 29-October 1 or any important position at 7-8 degrees of the cardinal signs. This position entails an intense effort to release, transform, and transmute what no longer works to bring forth the reality of our creative potential. Aries: Be thy true self. Cancer: Domestic area and personal sense of security to be examined. Libra: “Me vs. Us” is the area under the microscope, what else? Capricorn: How do personal goals and motivations free and not bind?

Neptune at 28 to 29 Aquarius.
Affecting people born: February 17-18, May 19-20, August 21-22, and November 20-21 or anyone with strong natal positions at these degrees in the fixed signs. The veil must be stripped away to reveal the true reality of oneself in relationship to the world around us. Taurus: The real vs. the ideal in terms of the right use of my resources. Leo: My ego is challenged by the society or group in which I am a part. How do I remain me and yet be accepted by that larger group of which I am a part? Scorpio: I’m melting! I’m melting! My desires are either being transformed into an orientation to aid humanity or getting me into a lot of hot water! Aquarius: How valid are my aspirations for a better world? Am I losing or finding myself within my group or social life?

Uranus at 0 to 2 Aries.
Affecting people born: March 20-22, June 22-24, September 23-25, December 22-24 or these degrees in the cardinal signs. The new enters my life bringing with it certain distinct disruptions to the old, but through these challenges I emerge. Aries: I am more myself than ever before no matter what the cost. Cancer: This is a bit scary as I have to leave the familiar and comfortable to achieve the new. Libra: Do my relationships allow me to be myself? If not, I must try life on my own terms and build a new relationship with myself. Capricorn: What a struggle! I have to abandon what I have built and commit myself to a new blueprint.

Saturn at 27 to 29 Libra trine Neptune at 28 to 29 Aquarius.
This is a very beautiful aspect as it aligns the idealized urge for Right Human Relations (Neptune in Aquarius) with concrete efforts at achieving balance and justice in these interpersonal contacts (Saturn in Libra). What makes this trine particularly powerful is the fact that Saturn is the co-ruler of Aquarius thus tightening the energetic bond between these two planets. The world’s governing bodies will make many positive efforts to achieve certain envisioned goals in the world’s current trouble spots (which seem to be almost everywhere)—although in the States, Europe, and Asia, we seem to know nearly nothing about what is going on in South America. So my question to any of my South American readers is: “Qué pasa en sus paises relativamente a este tema?” “O que está a acontecer no Brasil relativeamente a este assunto?” Translation: “What is going on in your countries (Brazil) relative to this topic?” On a personal level, please go to the third paragraph above in my opening comments.

Jupiter’s last passage through the first 10 degrees of Taurus.
Those of you with important natal positions in the first 10 degrees of the earthy signs (especially Taurus) have the opportunity to be blessed with expansion of financial resources or at the very least with the expanded wisdom to use your resources for a better life. This has been a constant transit since June of 2011 and continues to be favorable through the middle of March of 2012. 0 to 1 degrees of the earthy signs (especially Taurus) are especially favored.

Here are the transits in greater detail for the month of Capricorn. Please note that I only indicate the most important ones and that all times and dates are given in GMT. ***

December 22: Sun trine Jupiter at 0 Capricorn/Taurus; Sun square Uranus at 0 Capricorn/Aries.

What a way to enter the solstice! The Sun/Jupiter trine can give a boost to the world economic system. It will certainly do this to you personally if you have any planets at 0 degrees of the earthy signs (0 Virgo will be especially happy) or 0 of Scorpio or Pisces. But the square between the Sun and a volatile Uranus in Aries can indicate some form of social terrorism (unfortunately nothing new in this these days, and thus it will come as no surprise). The symbolic interpretation as I see it for the year is: abundance can happen for lots of people if a resolution takes place between established economic and governmental systems (Sun and Pluto in Capricorn) and the incoming new social archetypes (Uranus in Aries). Such harmony will be very hard to come by in 2012 (Pluto and Uranus in square all year, especially from May through October).

December 24: New Moon at 2.34 at 6:06pm GMT in Capricorn square Uranus at nearly 1 degree of Aries.

This does not appear to be a gentle Holiday Season on the horizon. What can I say? More social unrest and violence is upon us. Our choice is to act as Light Bearers in the world, serve in the best way we know how wherever we are and at whatever social level is available to us.

December 25: Jupiter turns direct at 0 Taurus.

Please see my comments under the “Constants” section above.

December 28-29: Sun conjunct Pluto at 7 Capricorn.

These are incredibly intense days for the world. Dark shadows come up to the surface through deeply potent struggles in terms of the world’s political and economic power structures. Areas where such conflicts exist will be open to an increase of these tensions. Please look at this aspect under “Constants” to see how this may affect certain individuals. I must repeat here that the entire horoscope must be viewed in order for the astrologer to give a true portrait of such celestial implications in terms of one’s personal life. I make no pretense to popular “sun sign astrology” where a “one sentence fits all” is at all possible in this respect. I am however trying to do the best in terms of the limitations of the structure at hand for the dissemination of such information.

December 31-January 1: Mercury square to Mars and 19 Sagittarius/Virgo on the 31st and 20 Sagittarius/Virgo on the 1st of January.

This aspect gives rise to arguments, loss of patience and difficulty in aligning thought with action especially in terms of bringing the ideal into the practical world. Take especial note if this square falls into an important part of your chart. If so, it is not a particularly good time for New Year’s resolutions or for driving about on New Year’s Eve with all sorts of drunken and unconscious people about. My sense is that we will see more than the usual travel accidents over these days.

January 7: Mercury sextile Saturn at 28 Sagittarius/Libra and Mercury sextile Neptune at 29 Sagittarius/Aquarius.

Well after the two paragraphs above, I am happy to be able to change the tone of my writing and say: “What a nice and positive day this can be!” The above two aspects are intimately related to the Saturn/Neptune trine (see “Constants” above). This combination gives impetus to calm and considered reasoning for the implementation of solutions that may aid the common good. This will be certainly well needed after the harsher events and energies from the 28th of December to the beginning of the New Year.

January 8: Mercury trine Jupiter at 0 Capricorn/Taurus and Mercury square Uranus at 1 Capricorn/Aries.

The Mercury/Jupiter trine is great especially for people with important positions at the very beginning of the earthy signs; early Pisces may also benefit. This positivity is in the area of career and finances. At the same time the Mercury/Uranus brings a rush to judgment for all people with major natal positions in the first few degrees of the cardinal signs. While some get richer, others may get rather irritated and confused! Well my turn today, your turn tomorrow—the planets (coming from the Greek word for “wander”) are always moving about in their orbits!

January 9: Full Moon at 18.26 Cancer at 7:31am GMT.

Depending on which house in your natal chart this will fall, the effects will animate the people and circumstances connected with that house position. Such a Full Moon coming as it does in the Moon’s own sign, will tend to increase instinctive emotional patterns of behavior. There is apt to be therefore, a very strong influence in our need for emotional safety and support as well as the urge to give same to others. Domestic issues may dominate many people’s thoughts and feelings.

January 12: Sun trine Mars at 22 Capricorn/Virgo; Venus conjunct Neptune and trine Saturn at 28 Aquarius/Libra.

This is a day when a lot of good can be done in the world as minds and hearts can be open to those forms of social interchange that affect the common good. This is also a very potent and positive force for group interactions especially when as is frequently the case these days, the orientation of such group activity is for justice and equality. The Sun/Mars aspect adds potency to these efforts.

January 13: Sun trine Mars at 22-23 Capricorn/Virgo: Mercury conjunct Pluto at 7 Capricorn: Venus conjunct Neptune and trine Saturn at 29 Aquarius/Libra.

The comments mentioned above remain constant today. There is the addition of the Mercury/Pluto conjunction which can add intensity to these purposes. It can also be a lens to uncover secrets of a financial nature.

January 19: Sun square to Saturn at 29 Capricorn/Libra.

Not the most favorable of contacts as the Sun is making a contact of tension to its dispositor (i.e., Saturn rules the sign of Capricorn in which the Sun is placed). This can indicate power struggles and challenges to accepting mutual levels of responsibility within relationships either on personal or collective levels. Naturally, such possibilities exist with much greater potency should the last few degrees of the cardinal signs be prominent in one’s natal chart.

January 20: Venus sextile Pluto at 7 Pisces/Capricorn.

The month of Capricorn ends on a nice note with possibilities of increases in finances within the context of relationship should 6 to 8 degrees of Pisces, Capricorn, Scorpio, or Taurus hold important positions in your natal chart. In a general sense, this combination of planets and signs is very good for finding deeper truths within the structure of our relationships.

My love and blessings to one and all, Alan

Alan is available for individual consultations and mentoring. Please go to here for details or contact him personally via email.

***To calculate the correct hour for your local time in the USA, Canada, and Mexico, please note that for EDST subtract 4 hours; CDST minus 5 hours; MDST minus 6 hours; PDST minus 7 hours. In Britain add one hour, CEDT add two hours, and for EEDT add three hours. For my friends in Australia, NZ, and other points south of the equator, I know that the time adjustment that you need to make to GMT is already familiar to you.

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