As the planets of our solar system orbit around the Sun, they move into mathematical relationships with one another. These relationships are called "transits." Transits operate like a pen highlighting words on a page - they draw our attention to a particular area. By understanding the meaning behind a specific transit we can understand the deeper meaning of events - both on a global scale as well as within our own lives.

Some transits move very quickly and are in effect for only a few days while others are in effect over months or even years. Shorter transiting events should always be viewed against the larger picture.

Jump to this month's Current Transits

Important Transits for 2012 -

We enter 2012 with two of the outer planets - Uranus and Neptune - making their transition into new signs. Uranus is now firmly in Aries, after a 7 1/2 year sojourn through Pisces, and Neptune is completing its transition from Aquarius into Pisces. Uranus and Neptune are two of the three generational planets (Pluto is the third). These planets are so far out in the solar system they stay in a sign of a zodiac for a very long time. Their transit through a particular sign describes the generational backdrop of the times. The movement of these two into new sign expressions, along with the transition of Pluto into Capricorn in 2008, represents the entry of our planet into a new and very different era.

Neptune transitions into Pisces. Neptune, lord of the sea and associated with the Egyptian lunar goddess of mystery, Nephthys, began its transition into the water sign Pisces on April 4, 2011. Neptune retrograded back into Aquarius on August 4, 2011 and moves firmly back into Pisces on February 3, 2012. We can expect a gradual breakdown of the boundaries that divide us during Neptune's 14 year transit through Pisces. Neptune will remain in Pisces until 2025.

Uranus squares Pluto. This powerful square will be the dominating transit of the next several years. On July 9, 2011, Uranus turned retrograde within a degree and a half of a square to Pluto. These two stayed within two degrees of a square through mid-September, 2011. The first exact square between Uranus and Pluto takes place on June 24, 2012. They come back into exact squares again on September 19, 2012, May 21 and November 1 of 2013, April 21 and December 2 of 2014 and finally on March 17, 2015. Seven exact squares in all.

The effect of Uranus is to shatter old outworn forms so as to allow new life to be born. Pluto is the Lord of the Underworld in the Roman archetypal pantheon. In traditional astrology Pluto represents the eternal cycle of death and rebirth. In the Egyptian pantheon Pluto is Osiris, the God of Regeneration; Uranus is Wadjet, the Great Awakener. The long lasting square between these two astrological giants suggests that we have only just begun our journey of incredible transformation and change.

Saturn opposite Jupiter. Jupiter (Horus), the principle of expansion, opposes Saturn (Sobek), the principle of consolidation. Jupiter and Saturn formed three exact oppositions in 2010 and 2011. Late in December, 2011 through late January, 2012, Jupiter will be stationary within a two degree opposition of Saturn.

Saturn trine Neptune. Saturn, the principle of contraction, comes into relationship with Neptune, representing illusion, delusion, cosmic consciousness and imagination. These two will be trine by degree from late December, 2011 through late February, 2012. They come into exact trine with one another on October 10, 2012 and then again on June 12 and July 20, 2013. The process of dissolution is given form.

Saturn enters Scorpio. Saturn enters a new sign every 2/12 years. On October 5, 2012, Saturn will enter the water sign Scorpio. Scorpio rules death and rebirth. This is another indication that the time has come for old forms to die.

Jupiter enters Gemini. Jupiter stays in a sign of the zodiac for about a year and will enter the air sign Gemini on June 11, 2012. It is a fertile time for new ideas, a welcome prospect during a time of deep transition and change.

Jupiter squares Neptune. Our access to the mysteries hidden behind the veils is expanded. June 24, 2012.

Mars Retrograde. Mars turns retrograde every two years for approximately three months at a time. Mars, the warrior king, is turning his energy inward. Mars turns retrograde in Virgo on January 23 and direct, also in Virgo, on April 13, 2012. A good time to analyze, organize, and establish our priorities around right action.

Venus Retrograde. Venus turns retrograde in Gemini on May 15 and will turn direct on June 27. Gemini is a sign of the intellect and thinking processes. Venus retrograde will support us in giving thought to that which we most value and wish to nurture in our lives.

Mercury Retrograde. Mercury turns retrograde three times in 2012, for approximately three weeks at a time. Mercury is the planet of communication and governs transportation and communication systems. Mercury retrograde periods are times when we need to collectively retreat - to take stock of that which needs to be re-thought or re-done since the last Mercury retrograde period. It is difficult to move forward in the way society expects and wants. Transportation and communication systems sometimes literally break down during Mercury retrograde periods, forcing upon us a collective respite from forward motion.

Mercury is the Egyptian god Thoth, the sacred scribe, who assists us in receiving downloads from divine source. Mercury retrograde periods are excellent times to open to our inner guidance - to re-think, re-process, re-do, and release our preconceptions of how things are to be. These times provide the opportunity to open to our soul's guidance as to our next right step.

Mercury turns retrograde on March 12 at Aries 7 degrees and will turn direct on April 4 at Pisces 24 degrees. Mercury's second retrograde period will begin on July 14 at Leo 13 degrees and end on August 8 at Leo 2. The third and last 2012 retrograde period of Mercury will start on November 6 at Sagittarius 5 degrees and end on November 26 at Scorpio 19 degrees.

Current Transits - Astrological Month of Aquarius, 2012.

- January 20 - Sun enters Aquarius -

- January 23 - New Moon on Aquarius 2 degrees;
--------------------- Mars turns retrograde on Virgo 23 degrees -

- January 27 - Mercury enters Aquarius -

- February 3 - Neptune enters Pisces -

- February 7 - Full Moon on Leo 18 degrees;
--------------------- Saturn turns retrograde on Libra 29 degrees -

- February 8 - Venus enters Aries -

- February 13 - Mercury enters Pisces -

- February 19 - Sun enters Pisces -

The month of Aquarius opens with the long lasting opposition of Jupiter and Saturn diminishing as Jupiter picks up speed and Saturn slows down in preparation for its station on February 7. Our planet has been caught in the tension of the opposites - the forces of expansion and contraction - for the last six weeks.

There are two powerful astrological events taking place this month. First, we have a station of Mars on January 23. Mars is Set in the Egyptian archetypal pantheon - the Warrior King of ancient Egypt. In Set we see the complicated nature of the archetype of the warrior. Set is both a violent perpetrator - the murderer of his brother Osiris - and the Sacred Warrior who accompanies Amun-Ra on his nightly journey through the underworld. Each night a multi-headed monster, Apophis, attacks Amun-Ra and each night Set uses his strength, focus and warrior energy to kill the monster. Set's action in killing Apophis is as much an act of violence as his killing of his brother. This violence has a sacred purpose, however. If Apophis is successful in killing Amun-Ra, the sun will not rise and the Earth and all of its creatures will die. While the murder of Osiris is senseless and unexplainable, the killing of Apophis is part of Set's sacred duty as a warrior - to protect that which he loves.

In our modern psyche, Mars holds the energy of the shadow. Many of us turn away from our warrior, afraid that we will not be able to handle this powerful energy with integrity. We fear that we will lose control of him, that he will run amok - much as when Set kills Osiris - and that we will unleash his deadly power upon those we love. When we deny our warrior a place in our psyche, however, we are also denying ourselves access to our creativity and our ability to manifest ideas into action. We need our warrior to bring our dreams into fruition. If we turn away from him in fear of his power we deny ourselves access to our own strength.

When Mars is retrograde, we have the opportunity to communicate with our Sacred Warrior and explore what right action is for us. Mars turns retrograde on January 23 and will turn direct on April 13. During this retrograde period Mars will be in the earth sign Virgo. The energy of Virgo can help us discern what actions are in the highest good for ourselves and others.

The second powerful transit of this month is the movement of Neptune back into the water sign Pisces. Neptune has been transitioning out of the Aquarius and into Pisces for the last nine months. Neptune, the Keeper of the Mysteries, first transitioned into Pisces last April; it retrograded back into Aquarius in August, 2011. Neptune moves firmly back into Pisces on February 3 where it will remain until 2025. This is a major planetary transition and will be discussed in depth next month.

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