The Astrology of 2016: A Change of Frequencies

We do not grow absolutely, chronologically. We grow sometimes in one dimension, and not in another; unevenly. We grow partially. We are relative. We are mature in one realm, childish in another. The past, present, and future mingle and pull us backward, forward, or fix us in the present. We are made up of layers, cells, constellations. ~ Anais Nin

The next four years between 2016-2020 are the fading Dementor-like wisps, or death throes, of a long cycle of dissolution and disruption which began in 2008, leading to a fresh new beginning at the Saturn/Pluto conjunction in Capricorn in 2020. Before you ask “Does that mean nothing will change or progress in 2016?”, read on…

2016 is not simply another year in a linear timeline. It is not a passing trend. It will infuse and enmesh itself into consciousness, rather than seem to pass us by.  It is an energy threshold; a turn in the story; or as the current astrology describes, an entirely new evolution of both consciousness and world events—at the same time. It marks a permanent shift of frequency as planets on the Mutable Cross of Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius and Pisces, encounter the tuning forks of the Galactic Center, the Great Attractor, along with black holes, pulsars and masers.

The Mutable signs start with Gemini, move to Virgo, Sagittarius, and finally end with Pisces. These signs all mediate between the Cardinal action signs and the Fixed power signs. How do they do this? By arranging and re-arranging mentally, physically, intuitively and emotionally the connections that will ultimately harmonize spiral patterns of energy that encourage growth and evolution.

2016 will be a year of reckoning and reclamation, of practicality, inventiveness and resourcefulness—once we learn to surf the waves of Neptunian dissolution and transformation. Neptune/Chiron in Pisces square Saturn in Sagittarius opposite the Node of Fate in Virgo are time-bending, paradigm-dissolving altered states of being, inside which we need to build visionary structures (Saturn) as the old ways and certainties dissolve inside the spacious, infinite timeless flow that is Neptune/Chiron in Pisces, Saturn in Sagittarius, Jupiter and the Node of Fate in Virgo. The challenge is to build radical visionary structures to support our evolving intentions as the old ways and certainties dissolve.

A Yang Fire Monkey Year of constant change, instability and flux will push to the max the Yin receptive qualities of Virgo and Pisces where the fate-changing eclipses will fall. The elemental shift is from Fixed/Cardinal to Mutable/Cardinal—unstable, dynamic, seeking.Every one of us will be feeling our way towards sheltering, sustaining and stabilising humanity in crisis—through daily work and collaboration.

It is no longer a viable option to hide our heads in the sand—the world has arrived at our front door. Now the personal really is the political and vice-versa. The Saturn/Neptune refugee crisis is one of the challenges of this time, as the flood of humanity breaches the borders of Europe. Saturn in Sagittarius strengthens religious terrorism and fundamentalism, on every side of the debate.

A new era of social revolution begins in June 2016 when outer planet Uranus the Awakener conjuncts Eris in Aries. Known as the two Lords of Chaos, this radically new and powerful transpersonal energy will be wild, edgy, unsettling and explosive. Astrologically, Eris can be thought of as the Great Disrupter, but with a purpose, shaking up what is stagnant in consciousness.

More than ever, in 2016, we must choose our ideals and values to impact the reality in which we live. Do you hide, quivering behind doors, with streets patrolled by armed police? Or do you accept that 21^st century life on this planet is disruptive and dangerous, that the Western illusion of order and protection has been washed away? Outer planets Pluto, Uranus, Neptune and Saturn aligned with the new planets, centaurs, black holes and quasars are bringing wild energy into our lives. In 2016, we will be crossing the inflection point where the world is being forcibly unified yet made existentially anxious about what this means.

Jupiter plays a crucial role in 2016, pushing us to step away from our reliance upon and acceptance of manipulative information and disinformation, to arrive at our own truths, first through understanding, then through hard-won wisdom. Until September 2016, the Hierophant is refracting Ray 2 of Love and Wisdom through earthy, focused Virgo meeting the North Node of Fate in late July.

In September as Jupiter crosses the World Axis into Libra, the planet steps onto the razor-edged path whose esoteric mantra is: “We choose the way which leads between the two great lines of force”. From then on, Jupiter is refracting the Third Ray of Active Intelligence demonstrating the art of spiritual compromise—willingness to yield on all non-essentials, all the while persuading and inspiring. We begin to understand the need for single steps along the path; serving wisely, offering just the correct amount of assistance.

2016 Astrology Timeline

• Waning Uranus/Pluto Square, January–April 2016
• Uranus Conjunct Eris, June 2016 onwards
• Saturn square Neptune, June and September 2016
• Jupiter conjunct North Node, July 30, 2016
• Jupiter opposite Chiron, August 2016
• Jupiter enters Libra, Sept 10, 2016
• Jupiter sextile Saturn, November and December 2016
• Jupiter square Pluto, November and December 2016
• Jupiter opposite Uranus, December 2016
• Saturn trine Uranus, December 2016
• Saturn square Chiron, December 2016

Eclipse Dates for Your Diary

• 8 March, Solar eclipse at 18 degrees Pisces
• 23 March, Lunar eclipse at 3 degrees Aries/Libra
• 1 September, Solar eclipse at 9 degrees Virgo
• 16 September, Lunar eclipse at 23 degrees Pisces/Virgo

What Does 2016 Mean for You?

Until 28 April 2017, our mission statements will play out along the Virgo/Pisces axis. Whichever part of your life Virgo/Pisces represent in your chart and psyche will become receiving stations and antennae for earthing the new frequencies. Eclipses are cosmic wild cards, bringing unexpected change through circumstances outside our control, pausing then re-booting the part of our life where they fall. People leave, people arrive. Doors open, doors close. Situations, relationships, careers end, new ones begin.

To collaborate with this, go within through various methods of introspection. Use discernment, discretion, sensitivity. Be empathetic, offer your services, but not without using good judgement about who you help and why. Separate the useful from impractical or nonsensical. Use helicopter vison, seeing both the forest and the trees. Pay attention to the small things. Things will need to be tested for their effectiveness in the real world and discarded without fanfare or emotion if they do not live up to their promise. In everything you do, on every level, things must work, plain and simple. They must be healthy and produce results.

In so many ways we are setting off on the ultimate Vision Quest: searching for our own answers instead of looking outside; moving from being an effect to being a cause.

• When you consult with your Self as Oracle, what do you say?
• What do you know that surprises you?
• What big question don’t you want to ask yourself?
• How will you recognize the answers?

Visionary Activist Principles For 2016

1. Believe nothing, entertain possibilities.

2. Imagination lays the train tracks for reality to follow.

3. Better to create prophecy than live prediction.

4. Help is always available; operators are standing by.

5. If something is a problem, make it bigger. Do more of it. The symptom will disappear.

6. You only possess the power of an insight when you give it expression.

7. Creativity comes from paradox. We aspire to be disciplined wild people who are radical traditionalists.

~ Caroline Casey