There are three major aspects this week, all of them involving the Sun, which is still in Aquarius. So the theme of the developing individuality and its relationship to the group is continuing on from last week. The first aspect evolving and reaching its peak on Monday (11th) is Sun conjunct Neptune: mystery building up and being highlighted on that day, for decoding. This may involve health issues or investigations in our personal lives (x-rays), scandals in public life (oily and slick politicians) or pollution in the environment (more literal oil slicks). For those who are limbering up for St. Valentine’s Day however it’s perfect for bringing out your poetic side. Write that poem now with Neptune as your muse, don’t wait until Thursday, when a different mood will prevail. For the Sun is trine Mars on Thursday (14th), Valentine’s Day, which unleashes passion and impatience. Girls, if you’re tempted to pop the question this leap year, you may not be able to wait until February 29th be warned. Be bold in presenting your poem to the object of your affections! If however you don’t receive a Valentine’s card, then write yourself a poem, or failing that read Walt Whitman’s “Song of Myself”. Authentic self-love is the order of the day, and Walt really knew how to express it: “I celebrate myself, and sing myself, And what I assume you shall assume, For every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you.” Don’t hold back, for Sun trine Mars is expression itself. The third aspect which comes at the end of the week on Saurday (16th) involves karma in the shape of Sun conjunct the North Node. O.K. maybe you should have held back, though it’s too late now, you do have to consider your karma – sorry to have misled you…It’s a great day, joking apart, for taking stock of your karma, perhaps meeting up with an old friend and visiting nostalgic places, tuning into your individual karmic mission, and keeping tabs on your Soul group as this conjunction takes place in Aquarius. Why not invite them all round for a reunion?

On Sunday morning Mercury is conjunct Neptune and journeys will still be complicated, communications fuzzy and weather unhelpful, so be prepared with your Sat Nav (or on second thoughts maybe not), flasks of hot tea, credit on your mobile phone and an extra jumper. Over the next couple of days, conversations could be cloudy and inconclusive, in an effort to achieve clarity. By Tuesday (5th) Chiron will be conjunct the Sun and bring you to the point of decision, something pressing for resolution, and the answer to the problem could lie right under your nose. It may be a healing or health issue, such as a weak ankle which stops you from going into work and facing yet another day of rail travel, or enables you to understand the underlying cause of the problem. The Sun conjoins Mercury on Wednesday (6th) and hopefully clears the fog, enables you to travel more smoothly, and brings light where there was confusion. These events all take place in the sign of Aquarius, so there’ll be an underlying “for the good of all” purpose behind any angst, and a Dunkirk spirit. Together and separately we are all working on our Aquarian issues, so if you run out of steam, have a look and see what your nearest Aquarian is up to as he or she may be at the centre of all the action, and may embody the group effort. Thursday (7th) brings a change of sign and scene: Venus from the sign of Capricorn woos Uranus in the sign of Pisces, and Uranus wows Venus in return. There could be a few raised eyebrows, here and there. Of course, the ubiquitous Aquarian will be claiming the right to be in on the act by virtue of having Uranus as their ruling planet. But a good time should be had by all. Right on top of that is an eclipsed New Moon in Aquarius, so O.K. Aquarians never really did go off stage, they just hid for a moment. It is totally their show, and totally a time for everyone to interact as if the Age of Aquarian has dawned. The eclipse factor could still hold a few fears for some, but with Pluto in Capricorn you might have noticed an intensification of effort to dissolve karma and deal with our shadows more courageously, and at this time we can allow the Universe to help us in this process. Mercury is also conjunct Chiron on that day, which will enable you to analyse things on the mental level and also apply insights to health matters – generally to join up the dots. And you can rest easy knowing that I won’t be doing another astro-quiz next week.

I don’t intend to make this a regular feature, but just check your score against last week’s to see if you are consistent…Did you experience excruciating disruption on the trains on Monday, re-affirm a relationship on Wednesday, make some great social contacts on Friday, and get down to those nitty-gritty chores at the end of the week such as sorting out your kitchen cupboards? Again, two points for every yes and one for every no. More than 4 points and you are in tune with the planetary movements. Less than 4 and you may be creating your own reality entirely, your memory is poor, or you don’t notice much that goes on. Alternatively there may be no truth in Astrology. So it’s either congratulations, take ginkgo biloba plus ginseng, cut down on navel-gazing or read Richard Dawkins.

Did you have a defining Pluto-entering-Capricorn event over the last few days? Today’s a good day to turn the symbolism over in your mind. Maybe your dreams are trying to bring through a special message related to this event. This week the meaning of the event will start to play out, perhaps in more practical terms, in your life. The first hurdle of the week will be travelling and communications tomorrow (Monday 28th), for Mercury is going retrograde, and skywatchers have got used to seeing its trickster hand in the realms of communication. The retrograde motion of Mercury happens early evening (UK time), so you may get to your destination fine, then have a more complicated journey back. It might be worth asking the question though: why does Mercury do this to us? The answer from me, is I don’t know, but I have observed that under the retrograde people are lax about their verbal communications, are unconscious about that, and misunderstandings arise. So be aware of your communications, and make sure the other person hears you clearly. Mercury is retrograde until 19 February, so you have plenty of time to figure out what you need to work on in your communications. If any skywatchers are working in public transport, they may evolve some understanding of how the transport systems need to change. Venus trines Saturn on Wednesday (30th), and this can encourage commitment and loyalty in relationships, engagements or renewals of mutual vows. Later that day Mars goes stationary prior to turning direct. Some of you may have felt that retrograde motion of Mars over the last few weeks in different ways, such as a pressure to get things done, jobs piling up, but an inability yet to do so. Therefore, it will be a welcome relief to start to catch up on those tasks in early February (Mars skids for a few days before actually turning round). Friday 1st February is a great day to be getting married with Venus conjunct Jupiter. Well if the engagement was only on Wednesday, that’s fast going. So rapid developments will take place in relationships this week. Elopements to Gretna Green are usually chilly at this time of year, but we are having milder temperatures than usual here in the UK. It’s also a good day for social celebrations generally, and Cinderella may get to the ball. And by Friday, Mars is starting to move forward again so it’s a good time to release the passion for house and garden work, get those rubber gloves, oven gloves or gardening gloves on.

Did you feel balanced on Monday (despite the economic slump), emotional on Tuesday (missing a loved one), spiritual on Wednesday (in a holy communion), profound on Thursday (insight into deep issues) and different on Saturday (feeling a change in perception about the world)? Score 2 points for every yes, and 1 point for every no. More than 5 points and you are in tune with the planetary forces and movements. Less than 5 and either you create your own reality entirely, your memory is poor, you don’t notice much that goes on, or there may be no basis in truth for Astrology. To find out more, tune in to next week’s Astro-quiz.

Much has been promised for this week, but will it deliver its brief? Sunday morning (20th) kicks off with an opposition between Venus and Mars. We all go back to the drawing board on the battle between the sexes. Are you polarized on one side or the other, or are you a balanced blend? The Sun also enters Aquarius on that day, so we are geared to the new but not quite sure what to expect. Monday (21st) brings the first of three main events this week, a trine between Jupiter and Saturn. Here’s a different opportunity for balance, this time between hope and caution. Don’t be tempted to dismiss this aspect, it’s important, and doesn’t come round very often. In the heady mix of this week with a need to juggle various forces, don’t underestimate the helping hand it is offering. Tuesday (22nd) delivers the next Full Moon, which steps up the sense of anticipation. The Moon itself is in the sign of Leo, with the Sun opposing it from Aquarius, calling for another balancing act: this time between the needs of the individual (Leo) and the team (Aquarius). Can Kevin Keegan, with his Aquarian ability for team-building, deliver his promise and brief? In the early hours of Wednesday (23rd) Mercury is conjunct Neptune, which can bring about mystical meetings of minds on the spiritual plane, but as much of it goes on silently there may be many different experiences and interpretations. Venus takes centre stage the following day (Thursday 24th) in the final dress rehearsal for Pluto’s entry into Capricorn. Venus conjoins Pluto (favouring in-depth psychology and awareness, especially as applied to intimate relationships) and then enters Capricorn, softening the way for the lead character. For in the early hours of Saturday (26th) the main event takes place of Pluto’s entry into Capricorn (see the blog I made earlier). Will we see it immediately for what it is? Of course it will have a cumulative effect over the next few years, but there may be an event which encapsulates the meaning in the moment. If so, take note. Just to recap the week so that you get everything in proportion: event No. 1 – Pluto enters Capricorn, the most important and far-reaching event. At No. 2 – it’s Jupiter trine Saturn, those planetary giants on their best behaviour. And at No. 3 – the Full Moon in Leo, theatrical but not to be over-dramatized. The essay question set for this module is: how do you balance the three polarities of this week – male and female, optimism and pessimism, and individuality and collectivity? Answers next week.

At 2.37 a.m. (UK time) on Saturday 26 January we will be entering the era of Pluto in Capricorn. This era will last 15 years, a little longer than the era of Pluto in Sagittarius which began in 1995, so it’s almost a generational thing. Pluto in Sagittarius saw extremism and excess in religion, society and in personal lives. The principles of Pluto in Capricorn are subterranean activity (both emotional and geographical: “Nothing is concealed that will not be revealed, nor secret that will not be known”) and also the breakdown (Pluto) of outworn structures and even traditional institutions (Capricorn) to make way for future rebuilding when Pluto enters Aquarius. Some of these effects are already in evidence, such as the possibility of economic recession. Looking at the previous time Pluto entered Capricorn we find the rise of the theory and spirit of revolutionary ideas in the 18th Century. These rumblings of the human desire for freedom occurred during Pluto in Capricorn and included the American Revolution, but by the time of the French Revolution Pluto had entered Aquarius, the sign of a new world order, assisted by the discovery of Uranus in 1781, planet of the new. Looking to the future, the next 15 years encompasses 2012, the end of the Mayan Calendar and the London Olympics. There are some powerful collective thoughtforms building in this connection. The Ascension movement has given rise to many channellings about how the earth may evolve at that time, hinting at new dimensions. Meanwhile, other sections of the population have mentally booked their seats for the Olympics. The Millennium was a similar exercise or focus which showed how powerfully influential mass thoughtforms can be (in inducing panic for example) when driven by fear. So be mindful of what you are putting into the collective consciousness for 2012. What I would like to throw into the ring is worldwide religious understanding, mutual tolerance and unity – that’s my pennyworth. Allied to past-life regression but going in the opposite direction is “future progression”, literature on the subject including books by Chet Snow, Bruce Goldberg, Brian Weiss and Anne Jirsch. They offer glimpses into our projected future(s), where their clients have seen us working towards rural communities and high-tech societies, with more contact with our space brothers. Timing is variable, sometimes nebulous and indeed changes according to different choices made and depending on what is accomplished in the meantime. The question we need to ask ourselves as Pluto enters Capricorn could be: what are we being asked to let go of that we don’t need and doesn’t serve ourselves or the planet? This in order to make way for a better future, it’s a detox for the planet.

What could be a more delightful prospect than re-visiting your inner child and your inner Buddhist at the same time? Cambridge Buddhist Centre are performing Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs on Friday January 25th and Saturday January 26th at their Theatre. It promises to be both hilarious and spiritual, and stars our own Flick (well known to the readers of this website) who will be exercising her Wicked Queen and maybe other Archetypes – who knows? Entry to the panto is free, but donations would be welcomed. So it’s tickets on the door at 7.30 p.m. both days.

Bit of a hair-raising week last week, and I’m glad to have my usual font back. Today’s a good day to extract all the possibilities from the healing vibes of Venus sextile Chiron which are still available to us. If you are a practitioner, then it’s time to heal thyself. Tomorrow (Monday 14th) Pluto sextiles the North Node, and pay attention to the karmic signs strewn upon your path, which may help you understand the meaning and import of the forthcoming event of Pluto’s entry into Capricorn next week. There are huge changes coming, both personally and on the wider scale, and the Pluto-North Node connection will help you start to understand what these are about. A little light relief from navel-gazing comes on Wednesday (16th) with the interlude of Venus sextile Neptune: sublime art, romance, idealistic love. Put on a Chopin nocturne and get into the old world charm of this aspect. You might re-live one of your old lifetimes in the Age of Chivalry and courtly love. In fact, you could treat this whole week as an interlude, because next week is an important week astrologically and you’ll be busy. Keeping this brief, because I’ll be doing double time next week!

Sunday lunch is the focus of today (UK time) with two very different aspects jostling for expression. Perhaps you are catering for meat-eaters and rawfoodists at one meal, but the first aspect, Sun sextile Uranus, could bring the unexpected, such as a surprise birthday party. It introduces new elements, new ways of eating and new ways of expressing creativity. The lunchtime conversation could bring new ideas about how to prolong your resolutions, how to look further than what is in front of you, and how to inject more life into your lives. Perhaps you are dining with new friends or old friends with a new outlook. The other aspect, Venus square Saturn, could also bring some sad reflections to the table, nostalgia for instance about the past or people who have passed on to other dimensions. It’s not an aspect to entrust a fledgeling romance to, so make an excuse that you are washing your hair until there’s a more favourable vibe to nurture a blossoming relationship. Mercury enters Aquarius on Tuesday (8th) and if there’s been any sluggishness about your communications lately, they should perk up. Make that call and let him or her know that your hair is now washed and you are ready to make a new date, or at least discuss making a new date. For you still need to take things slowly, there’s another tricky aspect to negotiate coming up, and you need to stay centred. Tuesday however offers another opportunity for a fresh start with the New Moon in Capricorn, and for those who have made New Year’s resolutions, you can renew your vows. For those who haven’t you can re-affirm your right not to. The New Moon in Capricorn is about assessing your overall direction in life from one year to another. Perhaps you remember what your position was this time last year, and can review past, present and future in this moment. If your memory isn’t playing along, just ask yourself if this is where you want to be in your life direction, and whether you need to take a step or two in a different direction. On Thursday (10th) Venus sextiles Chiron, good for any therapies undertaken now, and you could see some healing possibilities in that new relationship but you still need to stay centred. For the tricky Venus square Uranus aspect on Saturday (12th) could throw a spanner in the works, relationship-wise. You may find out that there is a distance between you that can’t at the moment be bridged, and need to be glad that you’re still you. You can still make yourself laugh, you can still dream, and there’s always an alternative.