O V E R V I E W O F 1 9 9 7
This year, like last year and next year, is a transition year. We are emerging from the exact conjunct of Uranus and Neptune in 1993. Uranus and Neptune have been within eight degrees of each other, and hence, conjunct since 1989. The conjunct goes out of eight degree orb this year. For reference purposes, the Uranus-Pluto conjunct started in 1963, peaked in 1965, and completed in 1969 (as Uranus entered Libra). Much of what we think of as the 60s didnšt happen until a few years after the exact conjunction.
What tends to happen is that the at the time of the exact conjunct everything is in such a state of flux that nobody can actually build something, they can only initiate. The new forms that will come out of the outer-planet conjunction donšt start to crystallize until the conjunct has passed its peak.
Next year (1998) Neptune enters Aquarius completing the transition from the outer planets in Scorpio and Capricorn (water and earth) to Sagittarius and Aquarius (Fire and Air). Saturn is currently in Aries (fire) and Jupiter is entering Aquarius (air) this year. This year continues the transition from a fight to break out of a conservative and rigid world view (transformative outer planets in earth and water) to living in a more energized one (those outer planets in fire and air).
The only outer planet changing signs this year is Jupiter entering Aquarius from Capricorn. This is a prelude to Neptune entering Aquarius in January, 1998 (Neptune actually gets to 29 degrees 57.5 minutes of Capricorn on May 2nd--you can't get much closer to entering Aquarius). Jupiter does poorly in Capricorn, it is more compatible with Aquarius.
With Jupiter entering Aquarius and conjuncting Uranus on Februrary 16th, there should be a burst of change, of the need to break with the old, of the need to be free. New electronics and scientific breakthroughs will be initiated (see the Jupiter and Uranus in Aquarius sections).
However, there will be a temporary dampening when Mars goes retrograde on February 6th and then returns to direct on April 27th. This retrograde movement of Mars happens every 2-1/2 years for about three months. During the stationary retrograde on February 6th, people will feel like they are on a treadmill. They will be putting out energy and trying to drive forward but nothing is happening. Mars stationary retrograde feels like being in a car with the brake on while trying to gun it forward.
During the retrograde, people's drive and energy will be low. This is a good time to look into what drives you, what motivates you, what you desire. This is an excellent time to build your muscles, both actually and figuratively. It is not a good time to repress, to avoid looking at what you desire.
Those people and cultures that repress rather than working on their desire natures, their drive, will find the repressed energies coming up full force during the stationary direct in late April. Hence, even if you don't repress, watch out for angry people at around that time.
During mid February the Sun, Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, and Uranus are all in Aquarius while Jupiter conjuncts Uranus. During this time there will be an influx of oddness and eccentricity, of freedom and revolutionary fervor, of joyful, scientific humanism such as won't be seen for awhile. However, when Neptune is in Aquarius next year there will be a period of even greater emphas is on these qualities. Mid Februrary will be a brief foretaste of what is to come.
With the principle energies of Pluto in Sagittarius and Uranus in Aquarius, even allowing for Neptune in Capricorn, the underlying drive is to move forward into new forms of religion, new philosophies (Pluto in Sagittarius), and new scientific and engineering paradigms (Uranus and Jupiter in Aquarius). Neptune in Capricorn may keep the image and faith of conservatism in front of us, but the underlying forces (Pluto and Uranus) are not that way.
What follows are description of the aspects which will affect us in 1997 from a historical perspective. This historical perspective will give you some insight into the range of possibilities which these outer planet movements encompass in their movements. We will start with Jupiter and work our way out the zodiac through Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto.
copyright 1993 - 1997 by Ed Rose