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This year has no major changes since only Jupiter is changing signs. Jupiter changes signs every year -- it spends most of the year in Virgo (see Jupiter in Virgo) but enters Libra in late September (see Jupiter in Libra). More on this later.

Uranus is in Pisces this year, the start of a seven-year run. With Uranus ruling Aquarius where Neptune transits, and with Neptune ruling Pisces, where Uranus transits we have a mutual dispositorship. This is like a merging of Neptune and Uranus. People will be more compassionate and more aware of social disparities. They will be less fearful of people who are different (and less fearful in general) than when both Uranus and Neptune were in Aquarius. However, Neptune is still in Aquarius, so there will remain an irrational fear of people who are radical or different. This mutual dispositorship will stay in effect until 2011, when both planets change signs.

The last time we had Uranus in Pisces and Neptune in Aquarius was February 11, 1836 to April 20, 1843. The book Christian Mysticism was started in 1836 and finished in 1842 -- the exact period of the mutual dispositorship. Since this was a detailed investigation (very Aquarian) into mysticism (Pisces), this is a real fit. There was much work done on star light: first measure of a star's distance using parallax and the doppler effect discovered. Innovations (Uranus) in child rearing (Pisces) occurred: the first kindergarten and the work of Horace Mann in educational reform. There was also work in probability (uncertain situations are Piscean) and a mathematical look at wealth (Jupiter, wealth, subrules Pisces). The first bicycle was created.

Winslow Homer, Rodin, Renoir, and Thomas Nast were born during this period. All are dramatic and profound in their art and craft.

Of course, Pluto is still in Sagittarius. Pluto in Sagittarius, among other things, is the reality T.V. we are seeing, where "reality" (Pluto) means "gritty truth in a foreign land" (Sagittarius). It also means, as they say on KPFA (a local radio station), "speak truth (Sagittarius) to power (Pluto)". Also, power is becoming global, rapidly.

Saturn has its problems in Cancer as does Jupiter in Virgo. Both are out of their element. Saturn rules the opposite sign, Capricorn. The cool, serious, slow, conservative quality of Saturn doesn't do well in emotional, caring Cancer (for more detail, see Saturn in Cancer). Expansive Jupiter has difficulties in detail-oriented, worrying Virgo. Small details become overwhelming - the forest is forgotten in all the trees (see Jupiter in Virgo). People are easily overwhelmed by trivial details, Jupiter makes mountains out of Virgoan molehills. This hits the Pluto in Virgo crowd (born 1956 to 1972, roughly) especially hard since their reality/power is based on hard work (or, the opposite, no work) and details.

Fortunately, many aspects of life improve when Jupiter enters Libra. The economy should improve, women will gain more rights, the arts will beocme more important, and some artistic expression will become central to the news.

From mid June to mid July there is a Yod pattern forming with Jupiter and Saturn sextiling and both quincunxing Neptune. However, the Jupiter- Saturn sextile itself lasts from March to early October. This Jupiter Saturn sextile creates a bond between the forces of depressed worrying (sometimes masquerading as serious caring) and the energies that make any minor problem into a major catastrophe. On the flip side, Saturn in Cancer is very afraid of dependency. Saturn in Cancer wants nobody dependent on you and you dependent on nobody. During this period, try to keep your Jupiterian sense of humor and really, really, look at the physical and psychological facts of the situation rather than the worries or fear of weakness. These worries will prevent people from caring, and may wall them off from caring.

The wall (Saturn) for security reasons (Cancer) in Israel is an example of this type of situation. Expect some difficulties at this time in Israel/Palestine.

The more positive side of this conjunction is when reason (Jupiter) based on hard facts (VIrgo) combines with grounded and practical (Saturn) caring (Cancer). When this side of the sextile is operating, people will think about others, and will want to serve them.

When this sextile forms the Yod with Neptune in Aquarius in mid June to mid July, the fears will become so absurd that they will become clear as stupidity, or, worst case the fears themselves will be the thing to cause problems ("We have nothing to fear but fear itself" -- Franklin Delano Roosevelt). Because, all three planets have to do with fear -- Neptune has to do with fear since it is in Aquarius.

If you have a real sense of destiny, expect everyone to point out a myriad of reasons things could break or go wrong (and if other don't, you'll find your own) when Jupiter in Virgo squares Pluto in Sagittarius in early August. Follow your inner guide but plan out the practical details.

When Jupiter enters Libra, the situation improves. Even the minor setback when Jupiter in Libra quincunxes Uranus in Pisces won't derail things. Should you retreat to get insight or join the social whirl? They seem incompatible but everything in good time.

The year ends with Jupiter in Libra trining Neptune in Aquarius in late November. There will be some inspired mystical art at this time (with Uranus also in Pisces). Also, this is definitely a more "liberal" view of the world. The fear of Neptune in Aquarius will be lessened by a sense of social interaction and fun. Whether that means everyone feels good and reelects the president or becomes more positive and wants a president more in keeping with that feeling, we'll see.

Overall, this should be a more positive year than 2003 with Uranus in Pisces and Jupiter entering Libra. I think the "fear factor" will start to wear thin with the positivity of those two planets in their new signs.

Planets Changing Signs
Sept 25  Jupiter enters Libra

Major Aspects
Feb 16  Jupiter (13 Virgo 59) quincunx Neptune (13 Aquarius 59) 
May 01  Jupiter (08 Virgo 05) sextile  Saturn (08 Cancer 05) 
Jun 24  Saturn (15 Cancer 01) quincunx Neptune (15 Aquarius 01) 
Jul 09  Jupiter (14 Virgo 42) quincunx Neptune (14 Aquarius 42) 
Jul 31  Saturn (19 Cancer 47) quincunx Pluto (19 Sagittarius 47) 
Aug 06  Jupiter (19 Virgo 41) square   Pluto (19 Sagittarius 41) 
Aug 17  Jupiter (21 Virgo 46) sextile  Saturn (21 Cancer 46) 
Oct 10  Jupiter (03 Libra 17) quincunx Uranus (03 Pisces 17)  
Nov 29  Jupiter (12 Libra 58) trine    Neptune (12 Aquarius 58) 

Total Eclipses
May 04 Lunar 15 Scorpio 16
Oct 27 Lunar 05 Taurus 32

Mercury Retrogrades
Direct on Jan 6 (26 Sagittarius 18)
Apr 06 (01 Taurus 53) - Apr 30 (21 Aries 08)
Aug 09 (08 Virgo 47) - Sep 02 (25 Leo 45)
Nov 30 (26 Sagittarius 43) - Dec 19 (12 Sagittarus 27)

Venus Retrograde
May 17 (26 Geminin 07) - Jun 29 (09 Geminini 38)

Mars Retrogrades
NONE

Jupiter Retrograde
Jan 03 retrograde (18 Virgo 54)
May 04 direct (08 Virgo 55)

Saturn Retrograde
Mar 07 direct (06 Cancer 17)
Nov 08 retrograde (27 Cancer 20)

Uranus Retrograde
Jun 10 (06 Pisces 48) - Nov 11 (02 Pisces 52)

Neptune Retrograde
May 17 (15 Aquarius 24) - Oct 24 (11 Aquarius 36)

Pluto Retrograde
Mar 24 (22 Sagittarius 14) - Aug 30 (19 Sagittarius 33)

If you need professional help to sort this out, don't forget, we do offer astrological consultations both in person and over the telephone (see Astrology Consultations or Wendy's qualifications).

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