As 2013 drew to a close, many people were saying, “Good riddance.” I was sorry to have to respond with, “Careful what you wish for,” and a warning that 2014 wasn’t going to be a picnic.

I don’t know that I’d advise breaking out the wicker and gingham just yet.
There’s still plenty of drama on the horizon, along with continuing chaos on many fronts. Overall, though, we’re going to see a shift in the year ahead. We’ve identified undeniable patterns, we know what needs to change, and we know what hasn’t been effective in bringing about those changes. A collective wakeup call is on the way that hopefully will restore some sanity to the world.

However, first things first. We still have one more exact square of Uranus and Pluto, the last in a series of seven that started in June 2012. The final pass takes place on March 16, at 15 degrees Aries and Capricorn, with Mars conjunct Uranus. A critical difference is that Saturn is no longer in Scorpio, which means that the authoritarian tendencies represented by Pluto won’t be backed by unrestrained military and police powers. That’s a big deal, because brutal police response has been a pattern in every protest around the world since the Arab Spring rebellions began in late December 2010.

In Sagittarius, Saturn has the potential for rigidity and dogmatic beliefs, especially when it comes to religion. But there also is an openness and regard for truth that has been lacking with Saturn in secretive Scorpio, as well as a genuine concern for moral integrity.

There’s a fine article on CounterPunch by Andrew Levine, who perfectly sums up events under the Uranus-Pluto square, including the unfortunate lack of organization and direction by protestors since Arab Spring began. I’ve noted this trend in previous forecasts, associating it with Uranus, the planet of revolution, in impulsive Aries. Ironically, Prof. Levine sees a flicker of hope in the restoration of diplomatic ties with Cuba, which he sees as a victory for revolution and a loss for the empire. His article is long but well worth the effort, especially if you’re into mundane astrology. If you’ve been following my blog, you’ll instantly recognize the astrological signatures at work in the circumstances he describes:

“If we have learned anything over the past three years it is that there is a sleeping giant out there, yearning for a constructive purpose, that, if properly organized and directed, has the power to remake the world. What better purpose is there, for a starter, than forcing the United States to play a less destructive role in the world? First, though, the idea must take hold, based on lived experience, that a better world really is possible; that there really are alternatives.”

Although Saturn in Scorpio has reinforced the repressive tendencies of Pluto in Capricorn, Saturn represents karmic lessons, and Scorpio is associated with tests and challenges, especially those that require us to confront our shadow side. How could we not have learned anything in the past three years? As we move past the last Uranus-Pluto square, with Saturn in the mind-expanding sign of Sagittarius, we will be able to find answers to the seemingly insurmountable challenges we face. Typically, solutions are found by expanding terms and definitions and by looking at the bigger picture.

As it so happens, Saturn turns retrograde on March 14, two days before the Uranus-Pluto square, so his energy will be particularly strong throughout March. Among other things, protesters will have cosmic support to take a different approach, having learned from past mistakes. Given the association of Sagittarius with the untamed, riotous centaurs, one might think that demonstrations would be even more violent. That’s always a possibility. But we’re talking about Saturn here. Saturn tempers the fire and zeal of Sagittarius so that, rather than storming the police lines in uncontrollable rage, rightful anger can be channeled in a way that’s far more effective. It’s interesting to note that both Gandhi and Martin Luther King had Saturn in Sagittarius. When you think about it, civil disobedience is such a Saturn-in-Sagittarius concept.

Cold Anger in Restless Times: The Growing Movement for Racial and Social Justice

There will be a learning curve, and the police state could win a few more points as Saturn returns to Scorpio from June 14 to September 17. We can learn new strategies and tactics with Saturn in Sagittarius, and then we’ll have to put them to the test. Think of it as the stage in the Hollywood film formula where the hero is getting his butt whipped by the villain. Then, with just seconds to go before he’s finished, he suddenly finds his strength, and the tables are turned. He’s able to find that strength largely because he confronted the enemy and found the holes in its defenses. Usually, he has to learn hard lessons about himself, too. The foregoing applies not just to protests against abuse of police powers, but to other social issues and to some personal circumstances, too.

As he slows to retrograde in March, Saturn is within range of a square with Neptune. This is the wakeup call I mentioned above. Neptune in Pisces is visionary. He (some say “she”) may end up being the key to finding the higher ground where humans will come together in cooperation. However, for that to happen, there needs to be some organization and direction. Neptune in Pisces is like water poured on a table. Without a container, you can’t do much with it, and it can make a very big mess. Saturn provides the structure, but first he’s got to snap Neptune out of a fog of iPhone, YouTube, Angry Birds, Mad Men, Walking Dead, legal pot, microbrew, 3DS, Xbox, Internet porn, Big Gulp, and Little Debbie. He’s got all summer to do it, since the square isn’t exact until late fall – Thanksgiving Day, to be exact.

Events in March and September are likely to be even more surprising and potentially game-changing given a series of heavily charged eclipses. Just a few hours before the Sun enters Aries on March 20 – the equinox – there’s a total eclipse of the Sun at 29 degrees Pisces. That’s the final degree of the zodiac, a powerful symbol of endings and new beginnings. Jupiter is slowing down to station direct in April, and he’s in a supportive trine with Mars and Uranus. There’s a sense of optimism, which I think is going to expand on Prof. Levine’s “flicker of hope.” It further confirms in my mind that there’s going to be a win for the revolution around this time – which, in turn, makes it more likely that there will be a severe backlash in the months that follow.

On April 4, with Uranus and Pluto still in close contact, there’s a total lunar eclipse at 14 degrees Libra, with the Sun conjunct Uranus in Aries. As I’ve noted many times, incidents related to outer planetary aspects like the Uranus-Pluto square typically don’t occur the day the aspect is exact or even in the same week. However, the period from mid-March to mid-April is so wild and crazy that it’s hard to imagine that we won’t witness some extraordinary events. Remember, we’re still in a breakdown phase, so some of what occurs is going to destructive, at least from a human perspective. But that doesn’t mean we also won’t see hints of new construction. Already, if you dig hard enough beyond the mainstream news headlines, you can find stories about the innovative ways that some communities are addressing their problems.

Everything’s Coming Together While Everything Falls Apart

The lunar eclipse in April is the third in a tetrad – a rare series of four total lunar eclipses in a row. The first two occurred in 2014. The final one falls on September 27 and coincides with the Moon’s closest distance to the Earth in 2015. That makes it the “super moon” of the year and, according to some sources, the only one. According to the astrologer who coined the term, there will be six super moons in 2015. I’ll write more about this in a future post.

Otherwise, the September 27 eclipse is tense, but the conflicting aspects are predominantly in the mutable signs, suggesting that the main challenge is to adapt to major shifts that occurred earlier in the year and in 2014. There also are some terrific aspects involving “lucky” planets Jupiter and Venus.

On November 11, the lunar North Node moves into Virgo, where it will remain until May 2017. Uranus and Pluto come within a degree of a square at the end of 2015, so there is still a lot of breaking down and rebuilding, but by then, we’ll know what we have to do and can turn our attention toward working through the details. Others who are still digging their way out will need our help. The way things seem to be shaping up, much of the work we do will be within our communities.

With that, let’s turn to the week ahead. It’s fitting that the new year starts out with a tumultuous Full Moon reflecting the most intense period of 2014. As you can see, there’s a very pronounced cardinal T-square, with the Sun conjunct Pluto. The Sun and Moon are in a near-exact square with the lunar nodes at 14 degrees Libra and Aries, with Uranus 2 degrees from the South Node. Pluto is at the exact degree he occupied in April 2014, when we experienced the daunting cardinal grand cross. Astrologically, that was the peak of the Uranus-Pluto square, the point at which we were most severely challenged but when sudden opportunities also began to open up for many people.

On the world stage, the West – the United States in particular – ramped up confrontation with Russian President Vladimir Putin over control of Ukraine. The Russian economy is now in crisis, and hardliners in Washington seem to think they can provoke another regime change. After all, Ukraine was a piece of cake, so why stop there? You may recall from the discussion of the cardinal grand cross that Putin’s Sun and the U.S. Saturn are conjunct at 14 degrees Libra, square the U.S. Sun at 13 degrees Cancer.

Incidentally, the other big event in March was the disappearance of Malaysia Air Flight 370, which vanished without a trace. It’s more than a little creepy that it happened again, in the same general part of the world, with some similar planetary positions. Neptune is at the same degree and minute in the charts for Flight 370 and the upcoming Full Moon. I spent several hours today searching for accurate information about the coordinates and the exact local time the AirAsia flight went down. If I have it right, Pluto was on the Ascendant, and the lunar North Node was on the Midheaven. If anyone has information, please e-mail me or leave a comment so that I can either confirm or modify the chart.

The Full Moon occurs just before midnight, East Coast time, on January 4, making it the last aspect of the week in the United States. If you’re in the Eastern Hemisphere, it will be Monday.

On New Year’s Day, Mars in Aquarius directly opposes Jupiter in Leo. Oppositions often are difficult, but this one can be useful if you work with it. It’s great for dancing until dawn, as long as you’re physically capable of it. The thing with this pair is that you can forget your limitations and end up hurting yourself. Note that Mars is still in a rare mutual reception with Uranus, which turned direct at the Solstice New Moon. The energies represented by Uranus are especially powerful for the next couple of weeks, which means that Mars packs an extra punch, too. Uranus is associated with rebellion and revolution and rules electrical storms, air travel, and technological innovation. Mars is the planet of action and also represents war and aggression. In world affairs, military actions that aim to do too much could end up in spectacular defeat.

Most of this week’s action takes place on the weekend and can be seen in the Full Moon chart. The Sun officially squares Uranus and conjoins Pluto on Saturday, although we’ll feel a day or two before and after. Also on Saturday, Venus enters Aquarius, where she’s intelligent, social, and original. This is a great placement for post-New Year’s parties. Just remember that if you’re going to drink and use mind-altering substances, don’t even think about driving. With the Sun and Pluto teaming up, you don’t want to risk any run-ins with authorities. On the bright side, Venus forms a happy sextile with Saturn on Sunday morning. Aquarius and Sagittarius are the two signs of the zodiac least likely to want to commit to anything that restricts their freedom, but these two might just succeed in coming up with a novel arrangement that maintains a long-term bond while preserving their independence. It could work for groups, too, or even countries. Cooperation among equals beats domination and control.

Mercury follows Venus into Aquarius on Sunday. Aquarius is one of the signs where Mercury is at his best. He thinks out of the box and has a touch of genius. Mercury will be in Aquarius when he turns retrograde on January 21, so keep that in mind as you make business plans, work on writing projects, and schedule meetings. By planning ahead, you can make the best use of Mercury retrograde periods – and there are benefits. Revising and editing can be positively brilliant while the Messenger is going back over old ground.

Right before Sunday’s Full Moon, the Sun makes an easy sextile with Chiron in Pisces. As has been the case throughout the Uranus-Pluto square to date, the positive connection between Pluto and Chiron has supported deep healing in the collective unconscious. On Sunday, both the Sun and Moon form a healing bond with Chiron. There are many ways to heal and more ways than one to interrupt destructive cycles. The Full Moon offers the fortitude and emotional courage to take the first difficult steps. Maybe that should be our collective New Year’s resolution.

Wishing everyone a joyful and prosperous New Year,
Pat

© Pat Paquette, RealAstrologers.com, 2014.