As Saturn ♄ retrogrades on 1/26 thru 6/12, the commitment to work persistently toward goals and the ability to fulfill responsibilities with discipline, in order to lay a strong foundation for one’s life & being, will be up for assessment. Saturn retrograde gives an opportunity to pause and reflect on one’s progress, catch up on missed steps, and redefine ambitions for the purpose of building something more stable.

Personally I am looking forward to the pause, reflection, and catch up time! All planets direct has been intense!! Check to see where you have Libra ♎ in your chart. Saturn will be moving backwards from 17º Libra to 10º Libra, showing which area of life you have been working hard in and where the reflection/reassessment will be taking place.

Since Saturn is about boundaries and responsibilities, one way to harness Saturn Retrograde and the idea of reassessment, is to determine if you need to set better boundaries because you have taken on too much responsibility and feel overwhelmed or overburdened...

The Moon is in Aries ♈, sign of the warrior and pioneer - sign of courageously asserting & exploring. As the Moon waxes to a First Quarter (Jan 12), it is the part of the cycle that suggests continued effort and action to clear a pathway towards manifesting the new vision related to the seed impulse released at the New Moon (Jan 4). All planets being direct support this growth and forward movement.

Today someone mentioned to me that she didn’t resonate with the feeling of all planets being direct as she was experiencing barriers towards moving forward...  A couple things come to mind in response to that - for one, this part of the lunar cycle (Waxing Crescent through First Quarter) does require strength and determination to overcome obstacles in order to grow and build whatever you are working on. The seed was planted at the New Moon, but now it has to germinate, sending shoots out into new territory etc, which can be a difficult process... The other thing to keep in mind is that the general transits in the sky do affect all of us, however the way in which they interact with our own charts are individual and primary.

All planets are direct, so in general this is a great phase for venturing forward on projects, endeavors, and ideas; however today we have a long Void-of-Course Moon from 3:51p-9:57p EST, making this evening a perfect time for just being, and allowing what is to be what it is. Tomorrow is another day for striving...

“No birth-chart is better than any other. One is always better for some one purpose. But as all purposes are equally valuable and necessary in the economy of the greater Whole, each man’s chart is better for the purposes of his life than is anybody else’s.” ~Dane Rudhyar

Along with the Solar Eclipse, Jupiter ♃ is exactly conjunct Uranus ♅ today at 27º Pisces ♓. Jupiter expands and adds benevolence to whatever it touches. Uranus represents sudden change, exciting breakthroughs, and progressive/revolutionary ideas. These two planetary archetypes combining in dreamy, mystical Pisces will manifest uniquely for each of us, but in general connection with the divine is enhanced and highlighted.

There is a New Moon Solar Eclipse ☀ at 14º Capricorn ♑ on 1/04 at 4:03am EST. The New Moon is a time to notice what new impulse is being born within, to honor your inspiration, and take a step forward. A Solar Eclipse greatly enhances the effects of a New Moon - powerfully charging the new beginning, as something new replaces something old, and propelling us into a new cycle.

Mercury went direct at 2:21am EST. 12/30/10 to 1/26/11 all planets are direct! This is somewhat rare and suggests things will be flowing forward freely now (the reflection time is over)! However it is the Solar Eclipse New Moon on 1/04/11 that will jump start a fresh cycle, and the energy will really start moving fast after 1/20/11 when Jupiter enters Aries, the sign of new beginnings!

The Sun is in Capricorn ♑ 12/21/10-1/19/11 (The essence of the sign the Sun is in often characterizes the current spirit in the air). The archetype of Capricorn is about determination and pragmatism - for the purpose of laying the foundations upon which visions can be built. By methodically working to overcome obstacles and achieve goals, dreams materialize and become reality.