Planet Moves for January 2016 – Mercury Retrograde 1/05-25/16; RAHU & Ketu Move 1/08

HAPPY NEW YEAR GREETINGS TO ALL!

Let’s see what the Vedic stars hold in store for us in this new year.  As always, you can contact me at 928-284-4060 if you would like to set up a personal reading to see what secrets your own chart reveals for the year ahead.

January begins with a fairly peaceful line up of planets.  Mercury is in Capricorn (a friend’s sign); Jupiter is in Leo (a friend’s sign); Mars is in Libra, and it was a big improvement when it moved there on December 15, getting out of that conjunction with Rahu in Virgo.  Yes, Virgos still have to contend with Rahu (north node of the Moon, and a tricky malefic) but only until January 8th!  Likewise, Pisces has the other half of this “cosmic serpent” crossing this compassionate water sign until that same date. More on this big move, below.  Venus joined its friend Saturn in Scorpio on December 25, bringing some ease to the Scorpios who have been weighed down by hard work taskmaster Saturn for some time.  This is an easier line up than we’ve had for a while, for most signs. However….here come the changes, for these planets are always moving!

1/05/2016 MERCURY GOES RETROGRADE.  We all get affected by this condition of the planet that governs communication, diplomacy, tactfulness and commerce, but those with Gemini or Virgo Rising or Moon signs always feel it the most. Mercury will go Direct motion again on 1/25/2016.

Be cautious about the usual snags in communication, misunderstandings and the like now, and the frustrations they cause.

Thus during this time things may appear to be “going backwards” in your life, or feelings of being misunderstood or miscommunications may occur. ANYTHING that deals with communication may be affected, from my experience.

From some error on your bank statement, to telecommunications equipment, faxes, computers not working right, one must be prepared for glitches. Be very vigilant if you plan to prepare your income tax returns during this time. “Avert the danger before it arises” can be an apt phrase here for laying low through this time of frustration. It’s not YOUR fault, and in many cases there’s not much you can do about it, so determine to ride the storm out, resorting to your clever sense of humor to make it through those big waves.

1/06/2016 – Speaking of retrogrades! Tonight the great benefic planet Jupiter goes retrograde motion.  This “appearance of going backwards” as seen from our vantage point on Earth, actually means that Jupiter’s influence gets stronger. That is what happens with the benefic planets. Their benefic qualities actually get stronger in such a period. The two signs ruled by Jupiter, though, will feel different results.  Sagittarius Rising and Moon sign people get the best of the deal, since Jupiter is crossing their 9th (best) house of good luck, good fortune, remedies, pilgrimage, dharma, natural law, higher education, religion and philosophy. As with all retrograde periods, they get an opportunity to revisit some previous issue, not totally resolved in the past.  The planets make sure that we cannot run and hide from working out situations that our soul wishes to learn and grow from. Pisces Ascendant and Moon sign people have the lord of their chart crossing the 6th house.  That house deals with health problems, mental stress, anxiety, delays, enemies, rivals and competitors. Some of the opportunities for growth that life presents to these compassionate individuals is to transcend the need to be a “rescuer” and not let people lean on them and constantly drain them. That ends up helping no one, in the end. Thus Pisceans can sometimes end up being “their own worst enemy” especially with a transit like this.  This retrograde period for Jupiter lasts until May 9th.

1/08/2016  Mercury goes Combust the Sun.  It remains in this condition until 1/19/16.

By now, you may know how this goes: watch your temper and tendency for impatience or irritability, which may get imbalanced now. This cycle in which a planet travels too close to the Sun makes it feel grouchy, angry, more reactive than normal.  Combustion occurs more frequently for Mercury than any other planet, because it habitually travels closer to the Sun. Nonetheless, you may feel the effects of just being more sensitive or reactive to things you normally would let pass. Employ meditation practice to maintain your equilibrium and peace of mind during these cycles. Mercury rules the skin and  nerves, so being combust the Sun may cause imbalances in either of these areas now.

1/08/2016 – RAHU AND KETU CHANGE SIGNS ONLY EVERY 18 MONTHS. This is the day that Rahu moves backwards (the only direction the Nodes ever move) into Leo and Ketu moves backwards into Aquarius.

This brings big relief to the Virgo and Pisces Ascendants and Moon Sign people in the Sidereal Zodiac upon which Vedic Astrology is based. Congratulations. You survived the last year and a half of some ups and downs, tricky, unexpected events, even chaos, or in the case of the Pisceans, hindrance, embarrassment or just not feeling “seen.”  All that gets alleviated for you now.

For LEOS, since you already have benefic Jupiter crossing your sign, this should not be so bad.  Because the nodes of the Moon, Rahu and Ketu, are “upagrahas” i.e. “planets with no body,” they absorb the energies of any planets with which they may be conjunct during a transit.  In other words, Rahu will be soaking up some of the benefic qualities of Jupiter! Nice.  Leo Rising and Moon sign people will thus feel more passion and intuition, a greater need for excitement and transformation, but that can be a good thing. Keep in mind, please, that Jupiter does move out of Leo and into Virgo on 8/11/16. Then you will have to deal with Rahu alone in your sign.

Aquarians must utilize the energy of Ketu now for going within, doing work behind the scenes, and having a more spiritual focus for the next 18 months.  That should be right up your alley.  There may be sudden “aha” moments, epiphanies of cosmic insights, if you cultivate an openness to receiving that type of guidance.

1/14/2016  The SUN moves into Capricorn for its one month voyage in this movable Earth sign.  The Sun typically is not so happy in this sign ruled by its enemy, Saturn.  It cannot feel as expansive as its nature would like here. Leo Rising and Moon sign people will find this time of year somewhat of a challenge as the ruler of their charts crosses their 6th house of delays, enemies, rivals, competitors, stress and health issues. So take care of yourself and have patience, as “this, too, shall change.”

1/14/2016 MERCURY backs up into Sagittarius, during its retrograde motion. You may get the opportunity to finish something important that you started in that earlier transit, but didn’t get to finish at that time, or get to the root of a problem that you had to put off dealing with before.  This represents “good houses” for both signs ruled by Mercury. For Virgos, it is the 4th house and for Geminis, it is the 7th, so that should help some, even though you are still dealing with the retrograde status of the lord of your charts.

1/18/2016 Benefic VENUS joins its friend Mercury in the fire sign Sagittarius.  The “Sags” get to feel all happy, playful and attractive for this period. Communication and social events will be the hallmark of this transit for you.

All the best, from the Sunshine Corner, here in Sedona, AZ.  Tel. No. 928-284-4060.  Thank you for any referrals you may send me.  I offer many services such as: natal chart readings, yearly updates, couples compatibility or astrocartography (location) readings.  If you would like to book an appointment for yourself, or as a gift for a family member or dear one, please call me, and we can schedule a 90 minutes, taped session.  Thank you, Mary Stevenson, Vedic Astrologer, healingevents@yahoo.com. vedicstarcharts.com