O V E R V I E W O F 1 9 9 9
This year has no major changes like last year (when Neptune entered Aquarius) or next year (when Jupiter conjuncts Saturn). However, there are some changes with Jupiter going through the THREE signs Pisces, Aries, and Taurus. Every 2-1/2 years Saturn changes signs -- this year it enters Taurus for good on March 1st after a brief fling there in '98. There are also Mars and Venus retrogrades, which only happen once every two years.
Jupiter represents abundance, growth, expansion, and humor. Jupiter averages a year in each sign -- therefore it takes 12 years to circle the zodiac.
This year it starts another cycle of the zodiac as it enters the first sign, Aries. There will be a new burst of enthusiasm and religion when Jupiter enters Aries.
The cycle that started in 1987 is completed in the beginning of the year. It might interest you to know that 1987 was the year Oral Roberts had to earn $4.5 million dollars or the Lord would take him back, that Jim Bakker was caught being adulterous, and that Pat Robertson tried to become the Republican presidential candidate. As Jupiter transits Pisces, the cycle of evangelicals in Washington is completed with the Presidential Impeachment for trying to cover up an adulterous relationship.
Speaking of religion, the underlying reality is represented by Pluto in Sagittarius. Pluto demands realism, intensity, and power. Pluto is all or nothing, now or never, black and white, life and death. With Pluto in Sagittarius, you MUST be truthful (Mr. President...), you MUST follow ethics, you MUST follow MY religious beliefs (the down side of Sagittarius is proselytization and crusades). More positively, Pluto here insists on openness, liberalism, enthusiasm, and cultural diversity. Philosophy and ethics are not just pleasant to do, they are REALITY.
The image overlaying this reality is represented by Neptune, now in Aquarius. People are moving away from the image of the driven corporate climber and entrepreneur (Neptune in Capricorn) to the image of the friend, the eccentric. Most of us are waking up from the dream of workaholism and asking, "why aren't I making more time for friends? Why am I so restricted, so alone?"
Sagittarius and Aquarius are the two freest signs in the zodiac. With the two power planets here, people are demanding more freedom (for more information on Pluto in Sagittarius or Neptune in Aquarius, see the detailed sections -- look at the historical sections for Pluto in Scorpio and Neptune in Capricorn).
Uranus is also in Aquarius. People perceive that they need more freedom. They rebel against limitations of any form. The avant garde are into spontaneous, aloof, scientific imagery and freedom. The computer revolution and the world wide web form the focus of people's view of life (ruled by Uranus).
Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto are driving the current changes and transformations in people's lives. What keeps them "grounded" and "normal" are Jupiter and Saturn. Jupiter is completing a cycle of the zodiac, as I said. Broadly speaking, Jupiter in Pisces is compassionate for those less fortunate and open to spiritual teachings. Opportunities flow into existence.
When Jupiter enters Aries (Feb 13, 99 - June 28, 99, Oct 23, 99 - Feb 14, 00), it will become more aggressive about making opportunities. If a way isn't there, Jupiter in Aries forces there to be a way. Towards the middle of the year (June 28 - Oct 23) this gives way to the more relaxed Jupiter in Taurus.
Since Jupiter is the planet of economics on the shorter term (Neptune on the longer term), economic fluctuations will be "whatever", drifting, with Jupiter in Pisces at the start of the year, race and, perhaps become overheated, with Jupiter in Aries, then relax and become more grounded with Jupiter in Taurus.
Although the year starts with Saturn in Aries, it ends with Saturn in Taurus (Mar 1, 99 - Aug 10, 00). We have already had a taste of Saturn in Taurus during June 9 to October 25 of 1998. This was a more sedate time. The impeachment with the demands for morality didn't really get fired up until Saturn entered Aries, for example, and is now scheduled to end before Saturn enters Taurus again. This year is like last year -- it starts with Saturn in Aries but changes to Saturn in Taurus in the middle.
The major aspects of the outer planets, listed below, add dashes of color to the year. Jupiter transits typically last for only a week and a half while Saturn transits tend to last for three weeks. The buildup is the most noticeable part of a transit, which is the five days preceding the time listed for Jupiter and ten days for Saturn.
Late February sees Jupiter in Aries sextiling Neptune in Aquarius. During this time, people will want to strike out into new territory to follow a dream. "Try something new, go for it" will be the motto.
By late March (Jupiter in Aries trining Pluto in Sagittarius) this becomes "you MUST do something new, NOW". If there are underlying aggressive needs to push a particular religion or philosophy, those needs will surface then. However, now is a wonderful time learn to be completely open and to speak the truth. You can be more open about your intensity at this time.
However, this is tempered by Mars retrograde which extends from March 18 to June 4th. This retrograde movement of Mars happens every 2-1/2 years for about three months. During the stationary retrograde on March 18th, 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 early June. Hence, even if you don't repress, watch out for angry people at around that time.
The beginning of April (and end of March, too) sees people torn between solid practicality (Saturn in Taurus) and the even stronger need to dream of being different (square Neptune in Aquarius). The dreams of science meet the practicality of bankers. This is a good time to ground your dreams with solid proofs and hard cash. But also a time to break out of your Saturnian ruts and follow your wilder dreams which lead to freedom.
In late April, Jupiter in Aries sextiles Uranus in Aquarius. People don't just rattle their cages, they shred them. A strong desire to break out of all limitations, to allow yourself the freedom to enter new territory, wells up. People want to assert their inalienable rights and ideals, and fight for them.
When Jupiter enters Taurus on June 28th people will find their needs (Taurus) increasing -- they will demand their rights for a better economic situation, but also for all other needs. Jupiter in Taurus tends to a certain neediness in some people. But with Saturn also in Taurus, these same people will feel their needs being blocked. Together with the Saturn - Uranus aspect described in the next paragraph, there will be a lot of people demanding, in no uncertain terms, that they are frustrated in their needs and demanding something better!
During July we have one of the more difficult aspects -- Saturn in Taurus squares Uranus in Aquarius (which happens again in November). You can't be more practical, hard-headed, and solid than Saturn in Taurus (envision a patriarchal Victorian father who runs a farmer's bank) while you can't be more impractical, airy, theoretical, and wierd than Uranus in Aquarius! The square shuttles between the two trying to make it happen, but this is a real HARD one. Each person will battle this one out inside themselves. There will be a polarization with the more earthy types finding themselves surrounded by air-heads with crazy ideas trying to throw them off course (do listen, there is something there!) and the scientific, friendly, aloof air-heads surrounded by stern people demanding that you show them in black and white what they are envisioning (duh, if I'm envisioning it, I can't SHOW IT TO YOU YET you, you block-headed (fill in imprecations of your own choice here)!!)
My image for Saturn and Uranus aspects are the relationships of a banker and a revolutionary forced to deal with each other (or the stern authority of the parent dealing with the march to a different drummer of the teenager).
Finally, in late July and mid October, Jupiter in Taurus squares Neptune in Aquarius. This is a milder form of the same sort
of difficulty we just described. The attitudes (signs and aspect) are the same. It is simply that the characters have changed.
Now it is a feel good gardener (Jupiter in Taurus), or an bull on Wall Street dealing with some impractical dreamer who has
faith in some scientific breakthrough. "That may be all well and good, but it sure isn't practical." drawls Jupiter in Taurus.
However, this square is between two planets that live and let live a lot more easily than Saturn and Uranus.
Major Aspects Feb 27 Jupiter (03 Aries 08) sextile Neptune (03 Aquarius 08) Mar 29 Jupiter (10 Aries 26) trine Pluto (10 Sagitarius 26) Apr 06 Saturn (04 Taurus 07) square Neptune (04 Aquarius 07) Apr 23 Jupiter (16 Aries 27) sextile Uranus (16 Aquarius 27) Jul 18 Saturn (15 Taurus 37) square Uranus (15 Aquarius 37) Jul 21 Jupiter (03 Taurus 06) square Neptune (03 Aquarius 06) Oct 11 Jupiter (01 Taurus 35) square Neptune (01 Aquarius 35) Nov 14 Saturn (13 Taurus 04) square Uranus (13 Aquarius 04) Mercury Retrogrades Mar 10 - Apr 2 Jul 12 - Aug 6 Nov 5 - Nov 25 Venus Retrograde (in Virgo and Leo) Jul 30 - Sep 11 Mars Retrograde (in Scorpio and Libra) Mar 18 - Jun 4 Jupiter Retrograde Aug 25 - Dec 20 Saturn Retrograde Aug 30 - Jan 12, 2000 Uranus Retrograde May 21 - Oct 23 Neptune Retrograde May 6 - Oct 13 Pluto Retrograde Mar 13 - Aug 18
copyright 1993 - 1999 by Ed Rose