by Maya del Mar

"AFTER A STORM A BOAT LANDING STANDS IN NEED OF RECONSTRUCTION. The need to keep in operation steady links between the vast Unconscious and the ego-consciousness. Confrontation with broad issues of relationship and currents of energies released by humans’ contacts with archetypal-spiritual realities often results in temporary destruction. Whatever humans build in order to be able to venture away from solidly individualized and conscious bases of operation is likely to be damaged by as yet unfamiliar cosmic forces. The tenuous link between two realms constantly needs REPAIR."

This symbol fits this moment in a number of ways. One is that Pluto now moving into 17 Sagittarius for the first time in 250 years IS opening us to a new "archetypal-spiritual reality." Another is that Mercury is now slowing down, preparing to turn retrograde, and is giving us a special opportunity for repair. It is in the sign of Aquarius, which is especially associated with archetypes.

SUNDAY JANUARY 6. Moon in Libra goes VOC at 11:05 a.m. EST. It remains VOC all day, and then enters Scorpio at 11:41 p.m. This is a good day for just enjoying friends and lovers, going to a museum, or enjoying the arts. Let the beauties and pleasures of life flow. Refresh your soul.

MONDAY JANUARY 7. Moon in penetrating Scorpio sharpens our awareness of the transformative energies now sweeping the world. It’s time for catharsis. What in ourselves needs purifying? What in the world needs purifying? What toxins can we eliminate now from our lives? This is a deeply creative day. Afternoon can be loving and nurturing.

TUESDAY JANUARY 8. Moon continues in Scorpio until it goes VOC at 4:03 p.m. Aspects are harmonious until then, and deep work can be accomplished.

VOC time will be more difficult. We may feel conflicting pressures, but Scorpio Moon does not intend to change course. At 4:30 p.m. Sun in Capricorn joins Pallas Athena for their annual meeting, and Sun passes on his new directives for the next year.

Those directives are Capricornian, concerned with system, order, and structure, and the maintenance of traditional hierarchies. All institutions are strongly Capricornian.

Pallas Athena is a master strategist, and specializes in defense. Old institutions are crumbling and self-destroying, and Capricorn feels very threatened right now. Sun in Capricorn will tell Pallas to use all her savvy to protect them. In Capricorn, Pallas is an expert systems analyst, and we can expect to see some clockwork systems integration this year. "The system" will become tighter and more difficult to penetrate. Military and surveillance technology also receive a major boost as Pallas Athena is now given free reign in the defense department. (I often call her "General Pallas" because of her ability to take charge of a situation.)

Scorpio Moon understands all about conflict, and is quite happy to support Pallas Athena’s new assignment.

Expect all systems to "crack down" during the coming year. Globalization will proceed apace, and in more secrecy than ever.

WEDNESDAY JANUARY 9. Moon travels in visionary Sagittarius today, and we picture and prepare for the future. Perhaps the most important aspect of the month occurs today: Mercury conjoins Neptune. It is important because Mercury will repeat this conjunction twice more, due to its retrograde journey—January 26 and February 25, thus tripling its power. And also because conjunctions are where we plant seeds which will sprout in the future.

Mercury relates to communication, consciousness, and perception. Neptune operates in unconscious and mysterious realms. It is associated with those images which fuel our dreams and ideals. Neptune can carry Mercury into the highest reaches of celestial inspiration, as well as into the blackest bowels of degradation. In a chart, that combination can be an indicator of genius creativity as well as mental aberration.

Neptune has glamour, it plays a siren song, it is hypnotic, and it is hard to resist being drawn into whatever images it may be playing with, whatever music it may be sounding. Neptune rules addiction—irresistible despite its self-destructiveness. Neptune is illusory, like a movie—spellbinding and gripping.

If this all sounds like a warning, it is. We can all be drawn now into a huge drama—which may be very difficult to disentangle ourselves from and step out of. Always with Neptune, the question is, What is the source of the images? Who are the directors of the show? Who is painting the canvasses? Who is playing the music which entices us to dance?

Right now it is the Bush Administration who is leading the orchestra. Neptune was at the top of the Bush Inauguration chart, and has been featured in most of the Solstice and many of the Moon charts throughout the year. Neptune now conjoins the U.S. South Node, where issues from the past emerge. Neptune is now transiting Bush’s descendant, his peak point of relationship. When a planet transits the descendant, it makes its debut into the public arena.

And the U.S. is already in denial and delusion, both Neptune qualities.

Neptune is being emphasized and strengthened with this month’s retrograde Mercury. What can we do?

Right now we can:

1. Question everything.

2. Use and trust our common sense.

3. Avoid destructive images.

4. Turn off the TV.

5. Make an extra effort to follow through on our positive choices, and

6. Remember that we have nothing to fear except losing our integrity.

Ways we can develop constructive Neptunian channels:

1. Work with the positive side of Neptune. Artistic expression, spiritual discipline, and work in which we inspire and help others are excellent ways to actively incorporate and channel Neptunian energies so that they empower self, rather than undermine self.

2. Follow a daily spiritual practice.

3. Maintain a regular connection with nature.

4. Engage in active meditation, in which one works with helpful images.

These are just some suggestions to help us avoid being wholly caught up in destructive Neptunian dreams. Instead, if we use our days well, we can use this retrograde period to manifest some positive dreams of our own.

The key is consciously choosing the images towards which we aspire. Images are Neptune’s major tool. Simply turning off the television for the next month, until the Aquarius New Moon (which is the same day as the Mardi Gras and Chinese New Year), would be enormously helpful for our inner growth, as well as eliminating a direct channel to our thought control masters. (They will be in high gear now, with the Mercury-Neptune combination. It’s their green light.)

Preventive action is needed NOW. Not only are images seen today full of extra impact, but after midnight Saturn goes to work to make those images permanent. Turn off the tube TODAY.

Crystal's Moon Meditation provides a wonderful way of working positively with Neptune's energy.

THURSDAY JANUARY 10. Moon continues in philosophical Sagittarius, and begins its power run, which will culminate in the New Moon on JANUARY 13. Moon is setting up the pins for the big Capricorn strike in three days, which shows a major new start for the powers-that-be. All Capricorn energy will be rejuvenated then, including the U.S. Pluto in Capricorn, its power engine.

Moon began its fateful journey last night, when it opposed Saturn, beginning activation of the historic Pluto-Saturn opposition. This morning it conjoins Pluto to pack a power punch. In short order, over the next three days Moon conjoins South Node, Chiron, Pallas Athena, and Venus, before it winds up joining Sun and starting a new Moon cycle.

Moon carries advice from this team into her new start: Pluto—destroy, South Node—let go, Chiron—try something new, Pallas—do it right and take care of your forces, and Venus—make it attractive.

Very early this morning Saturn trines Mercury to solidify and make enduring yesterday’s images. At 5:00 a.m. Venus joins Pallas Athena in Capricorn to add grace and style to Pallas’ strategic work. This is an excellent artist combination.

Moon squares Mars late tonight. Don’t let over-sensitivity thrust you into an unwanted power struggle. Try for detachment.

FRIDAY JANUARY 11. Moon is VOC in Sag this morning. We’re restless, and eager to be somewhere else. Let spontaneity guide you. At 12:18 p.m. Moon enters Capricorn, and we become more organized. These next two days are dark-of-the-moon time, and we can peer prophetically into the future. What do you see? We’ve been receiving many messages these last few days.

SATURDAY JANUARY 12. Moon continues in Capricorn, still with no aspects. We are winding down and letting go of an old cycle.

SUNDAY JANUARY 13. New Moon at 24 Capricorn occurs at 8:29 a.m. EST. This degree is opposed to the U.S. Mercury.

Capricorn is about getting it together. For the next month we focus on systematizing our lives, developing a structure or framework which will carry us through the year. Now we begin to ground our resolutions, to lay the groundwork for making our intentions a reality. Capricorn is an earth sign, and for Capricorn it’s results that count.

Capricorn is Big Daddy. Capricorn is Law and Order.

Sun and Moon have both just contacted Pallas Athena and Venus, both in Capricorn. Appreciation of the hierarchy, of authority, of chains of command, of the proper order of things is emphasized, along with the strategy to master it. Tradition is important. The way is open for women to assume commanding roles in the establishment during this next year. With Pallas Athena, we can know that Capricorn’s focus will be on defense.

The Capricorn planets trine Vesta in Taurus, a good combination for business and for production. Defense industries will thrive. Capricorn supports isolation, and Vesta is a loner. Cooperation will continue to be difficult.

Saturn is Capricorn’s "ruler," and we look to it to see where Capricorn’s structuring will be most active. Saturn is in Gemini, ordering, defining, and building communication channels as we speak. Saturn trines Neptune, planet of dreams, to add inspiration and images to its channels. Movies, TV, videos, and inspirational messages will be big this year. (See entry for January 9.). Gemini is also about trade, and Saturn there will encourage trade agreements. Neptune will expand them. Saturn also connects with Jupiter in Cancer, indicating U.S. expansion in regard to defense.

The North and South Nodes of the Moon, in the opposite signs of Gemini and Sagittarius, have a strong influence all month. This is the day we get to see their action in plain sight, for stimulating Mars in Pisces squares them both.

The Moon’s Nodes refer to purpose and destiny at an unconscious level. They are operative worldwide, in the same polarity for about one and one-half years. During that time we all reorient ourselves in relation to that polarity. The Gemini-Sagittarius polarity is about combining information and ideas to create beliefs. Based on what we see and experience, what do we make of the world? How do we understand it? Exploration and trade are two ways of widening horizons to help understanding. War is another.

With Saturn now in Gemini, the information side of this equation is featured. With new information, old beliefs are changing, or crumbling. Today we see a signal of this process.

In Washington DC, Mercury and Neptune straddle the ascendant. The Bush Administration will be projecting its images and its technology nonstop.

This New Moon vitalizes the Lunar Eclipse which occurred at this same degree on July 16, 2000. Many significant world events occurred during that time. One of them was the meeting of the G8 in Okinawa, whose members (the major industrial nations) were mainly concerned with U.S. missile defense.

I have a prophetic quote from one of the delegates, "The ground is shaking under the American empire."

I see one manifestation of this Capricorn New Moon as the U.S. moving quickly ahead with its Star Wars project. The Bush Administration has now unilaterally abrogated its obligations under the 1972 ABM treaty, and thus cleared the way for missile building. This is the first time in history that the U.S. has broken an international treaty.

The big Neptunian dream (See January 9 entry). is not really missile defense. It is U.S. command of both space and earth, as stated by the Defense Dept. This program was once clearly outlined on their web site, but I believe that information has now been withdrawn, to avoid criticism.

The Sabian Symbol for 24 Capricorn is:

"A WOMAN ENTERING A CONVENT. Total commitment to a transcendent goal. The final goal is the attainment of TRANSCENDENT SECURITY."

This is exactly the dream of Star Wars, which has been on the drawing boards for decades. It was first publicly introduced by Pres. Reagan in November 1982, at the time of the Saturn-Pluto conjunction which sowed the seeds for the current Saturn-Pluto opposition. (See Archives for details and discussion of this history-making conjunction.)

This New Moon runs through the middle of North America, eastern Europe, and the Middle East.

Difficult Mars-Saturn-Pluto lines cover the entire Far East, Brazil, Hawaii, and eastern Africa.

This morning is a good time to honor the elders, perhaps in enjoying a traditional brunch. Or attend services at a historic church, or go to a museum where the past is honored.

Moon goes VOC at 2:24 p.m. Even so, Capricorn Moon time is a period of seriousness, ambition, and desire to please the establishment. We want to be constructive today.

Moon enters Aquarius at 9:41 p.m.

MONDAY JANUARY 14. Moon is in altruistic Aquarius, with excellent aspects. This is a day for planning to build the New Vision, whatever that might be. This is a perfect day for a group planning meeting. Mercury is slow, thoughts will be deep, and conversation will be serious, inventive, and productive.

Early today Sun joins Venus to begin the year’s new cycle of Venusian affairs, including values. The sign is Capricorn; thus all Capricornian affairs will be highly valued during the coming year. System, order, authority, rules, and clear structures are in.

Venus also carries the Capricorn New Moon vibration, as well as Pallas Athena as mentor, for she has just conferred with Pallas, in Capricorn, on JANUARY 10. All of the action, and seeds planted, since JANUARY 7, will be gathered together now, and planted in Capricorn’s new garden. All of this last week’s entries regarding Capricorn are relevant today.

And who is thrusting this strong Capricorn energy into action?

It’s our quiet, protective Vesta, who turns direct today in late Taurus. Vesta is a profoundly conservative influence. Her job is to protect us—our hearths, our homes, and all that we consider ours—all of our "investments." Vesta is focused and committed, and has a dedication to her work which can turn into fanaticism.

Vesta is very compatible with Capricorn, and will help provide the money and resources for Capricorn’s defense building. When Vesta turned retrograde on October 9, the U.S. began a huge, stepped-up bombing campaign in Afghanistan. Perhaps now a rebuilding will begin (which will undoubtedly include Dick Cheney’s old firm, Halliburton, as a major principal, as well as work on an oil pipeline).

The economy can begin an upswing now. Virgo energy especially can move into full gear.

However, there is, as usual, a challenge upcoming. Vesta begins now a square with Juno, with both in fixed, stubborn signs. Vesta, like Capricorn, works alone. Juno needs partnership. There will be stress as these two needs conflict within the coming days.

Lively conversation is the mode of the evening.

TUESDAY JANUARY 15. Moon continues in friendly Aquarius until it goes VOC at 7:25 p.m. Independence is today’s mode. Watch for brilliant ideas; intuition is finely tuned. You might want to relax with a future-oriented video tonight.

WEDNESDAY JANUARY 16.Moon enters sympathetic Pisces at 9:00 a.m. It makes no aspects today. Let your compassion flow, and follow its lead.

THURSDAY JANUARY 17. Moon in psychic Pisces squares Pluto this afternoon, to make us sensitive about power issues. At 8 p.m. Juno and Vesta meet in the conflict of a square, and a compromise is called for between going it alone and sharing. If there’s no compromise, crisis will occur, and chances are that somebody will get hurt. National—or personal—security could be one of the casualties, for this is Vesta’s major concern. The welfare of the U.S. people in particular is at stake, for the U.S. Moon is caught up in this stress.

At the moment of the challenging square, celestial Vesta is above Washington DC. It is, then, the major influence over the Capitol, and its action will be seen by the public. Its degree corresponds with that of the fixed star, Algol, often associated with destruction. The Saturn of the Bush Inauguration chart is also at this degree. Saturn represents authority, including the U.S. Administration, which has been destructive to peace, justice, the earth, its people, human rights, and civil liberties, among other things.

Late tonight thoughts of aggression permeate the airwaves. Mercury connects with Mars for its last contact before it turns retrograde tomorrow. It will make that turn with fire in its heart.

FRIDAY JANUARY 18. Moon continues in universal, flowing Pisces, and it leads up to a set of very creative aspects tonight. At 9:30 p.m. it goes VOC, and almost immediately enters militant Aries. Suddenly it is time for action.

At 3:50 p.m. Mercury turns retrograde at 15 Aquarius, a power degree. It will turn direct again at 29 Capricorn on February 8. That is exactly the degree energized by today’s Capricorn sun. Issues coming up today can be resolved by then.

Aquarius is an air sign. All of 2002’s Mercury retrogrades begin in air signs and dip back into earth. Air’s ideas need grounding in earth reality, and this is the year we do that. Aquarius’ ideas are of reform. Most of Mercury’s time is spent reviewing those Aquarian ideas about change, but it does move back in Capricorn for a few days to check the parameters of the establishment, and make sure it’s not getting too far out.

Aquarius roams freely through time, and is quite comfortable with Mercury retrograde. Even so, this is not a good time to sign contracts of any kind. Even though all appears fine at the outset, unforeseen glitches are apt to show up later.

These three weeks of Mercury retrograde in Aquarius provide an opportunity for all of us to think more deeply about the future, about greater social needs, about the roles of science and technology, and about what we can do to make ourselves better, our environment better, and our world better.

Essentially, what does it mean to be human?

Turning the tube off can open up our mental-spiritual-psychic space during this thoughtful time.

Crystal's Moon Meditation provides a wonderful way of working positively with Neptune's energy today.

Mars, the happy warrior, enters Aries this evening. Moon conjoins it about 10:00 p.m. to give the universe a jolt of energy. A couple of hours later, Venus enters eccentric Aquarius. Plan an active evening.

SATURDAY JANUARY 19. Moon in lively, enthusiastic Aries wants to accomplish something, and it can. Our work, our social role, is especially featured.

SUNDAY JANUARY 20. Sun enters Aquarius at 1:02 a.m. EST to begin to rouse us to change the status quo, which is Aquarius’ job. Aries Moon is ready to meet all challengers, and this will be a very lively day. New age seminars, brainstorming sessions, and gatherings of protest groups are favored.

MONDAY JANUARY 21. Moon enters determined Taurus at 9:47 a.m., and squares the Sun at 12:46 p.m. for its First Quarter assignation. Reform-minded Aquarius Sun has the advantage here. His easy liaison with Aries Mars gives him the clout to push through his new ideas, even in the face of Taurus’ insecurity.

First quarters are opportunities to make breakthroughs which are necessary for progress in the current month’s Moon mission—in this case Capricorn building, or structuring. We see here that Aquarius is the theme. We are building something new and different, electronic, scientific, or believed to be socially beneficial.

Our last two Aquarian presidents, FDR and Ronald Reagan, threw us deeply into a vortex of change which hastened U.S. hegemony. So, in fact, did Aquarians William McKinley and Abraham Lincoln. Now we have Aquarian Dick Cheney running the show in Washington. What does this mean for the U.S.? The nation is about to embark on new building, and it will be based on what has gone before.

This is, of course, true for each of us.

The Sabian Symbol for 2 degrees of Taurus is:

"AN ELECTRICAL STORM. The cosmic power able to transform all the implications of cosmic existence. The experience of power can both illumine and shatter. "Revelation" is implied. The consciousness may be deeply disturbed by THE VISITATION, but the substance of the individual being can be fecundated by the experience."

Updated every Monday.

TUESDAY JANUARY 22

Aquarius and Capricorn meet today, in the stable home of Taurus Moon. Social change is in the works. This day is productive and creative.

WEDNESDAY JANUARY 23

Early early morning is lively. Then at 7:30 a.m. Moon goes VOC for the next 12 hours. Caring for those things that are important to us, including our finances, may have top priority. With VOC Moon and Mercury retrograde, don’t push the river. At 7:30 p.m. Moon enters Gemini, and tonight our minds want stimulation. It’s a good time to make phone calls, or visit with friends.

THURSDAY JANUARY 24

Moon is traveling through Gemini, making lots of harmonious trines to the six planetary bodies in Aquarius. Ideas will flow like water, and conversation can be scintillating. Let your mind have fun. At 10:37 a.m. EST Moon occults Saturn for the 9th month in a row. These rare monthly eclipses of Saturn add depth and significance to the great Saturn-Pluto opposition which grips the world for nearly a year, realigning our very foundations. This eclipse is visible in central Africa, Saudi Arabia, the Philippines, and the southern tip of Japan. (The September 10 occultation of Saturn was visible over continental United States!)

FRIDAY JANUARY 25

Early this morning, power stirs. Yesterday Moon passed over Saturn in an eclipse, to begin the action. At 2:08 a.m. today, Moon in Gemini opposes Pluto to complete the stirring of the tough Saturn-Pluto opposition. With that power vibration still hanging in the air, Mars in Aries is ready for battle—any battle. At 4:09 a.m. EST Mars makes its move, and directly challenges Chiron in Capricorn.

This is a super-significant action, and will have permanent repercussions.
This is especially so for the United States, for the sky wheel on Washington DC at the time of the square is like that of the U.S. chart wheel. Pluto in Sagittarius is rising over the eastern horizon at this time. Rising sets the tone for the action, and is the most influential place in the chart. Pluto is birth and death, deep transformation, deep power, catharsis.

Moon is setting, and just about to transit the U.S. Mars in Gemini, giving an emotional edge to U.S. aggression.

Aggressive Mars in Aries in the sky is on the bottom, below our feet, which is our base of security. This signifies that the nation’s security lies in challenges, attack, and fighting. Not only does Mars square Chiron at this time, but it makes a horizon-oriented square with Pluto, creating a double whammy.

Explosive power is centered in Washington DC.

This is not momentary. I’ve mentioned that Pluto entered a new degree this month, to open new territory to transformation. This degree is a doorway to two black holes, which Pluto will traverse from now through 2004. Black holes turn our reality inside out. These two are Inanna, who descended to the depths of horror, and Erishkegal, her sister, who guarded that nether region. Inanna, Queen of Heaven, had to surrender every ego attachment in order to survive her ordeal. (Were the Twin Towers a harbinger of this story?)

This is the first square of the Chiron-Mars conjunction. So what about that conjunction, where the seeds were planted for today?

Its effect is multiplied, for it was not just one conjunction. Remember when Mars was retrograde for months in Sagittarius last summer? Red Mars sat next to red Antares low in the summer sky for weeks, and to me those two red eyes looked quite malevolent hanging out together night after night. Well, Mars had three conjunctions with Chiron during that time—May 1, May 29, and August 23.

Here are concurrent events which planted the ground for today’s attack.

May 1
On Apr. 30 Dick Cheney announces the new U.S. energy strategy—to tap more oil, gas and coal. On May 1, in a major speech at McNair Air Force Base, Bush calls the ABM treaty a "relic." It "enshrines the past." He proposes a "missile shield" instead.

Mars turned retrograde in May, and it sat close to Chiron during the entire month. The missile shield and the energy crisis were the two major topics.

May 29
A statement from NATO does not approve missile defense, and in Budapest, Europe rebuffs the U.S. stand to increase carbon pollution. (Mars is retrograde now, and the U.S. receives reactions to its shockingly destructive policies. This is an opportunity to rethink and revise. Do we? No.)

Previews of coming attractions were also shown on this day. The Hollywood film, "Pearl Harbor," opened on an aircraft carrier.

August 23
Bush, from his Texas ranch, announces, "We will withdraw from the ABM Treaty on our timetable and at a time convenient to America."

In the meantime, we have the big UN Conference on Race in Durban, South Africa, from which the U.S. and Israel withdraw, disappointing the entire world as they pull the rug out from under the meeting. The conference ends on September 7, Mars enters Capricorn on September 8, Moon eclipses Saturn over the U.S. on September 10, and on September 11 the U.S. is attacked.

On December 11, Chiron enters Capricorn, and that day the U.S. abrogates the ABM Treaty. Mars travels much faster than does Chiron.

Now, in five months since the last conjunction in August, Mars has moved to square Chiron. And by January 28, it will square Jupiter. These four days are extremely volatile.

This square with Chiron is the first square, like the First Quarter Moon, and it is time for the seeds which were planted at conjunction to break through the ground. A first quarter square always means ACTION, and often conflict.

What is the action about? We have the historical record as clues. We also know that Mars in Aries is impulsive, and eager to meet challengers. The fixed star Antares, near which Mars hung out for so long, was named after Ares because of its association with aggressive behavior. Mars in Aries is the quintessential warrior.

With Mars below in Washington, the U.S. is coming from a warrior base, to either attack or be attacked.

Chiron heals. He helps us realign our energies, as does a chiropractor. Chiron does this by throwing us into a new situation where we experience new dimensions. In order to cope, we have to call of new parts of ourselves. Healing is another world for "making whole." This is why Chiron is called The Wounded Healer.

Chiron in Capricorn is concerned with order and authority. Business, government, and all hierarchies are under Capricorn’s purview. Chiron now will catalyze imbalance, or woundedness, in these areas. And then we can go about our healing work, much the wiser.

GW Bush himself is at the very heart of this action. Transiting Chiron is now exactly on GW’s natal Pallas Athena in Capricorn. Pallas there is charged with protecting order, with making sure that systems run smoothly. Pallas is a defender, and here she defends the establishment. Chiron hitting that Pallas will throw its operation awry. Chiron throws a monkey wrench in situations, like in wrenching your back—and you go to the chiropractor to heal it. Mr. Bush’s urge to defend authority will receive a blow from transiting Chiron.

As well as an attack from transiting Mars.

And a Lunar Eclipse next June 24.

AND … Mr. Bush’s Vesta is in early Aries in his ninth house of foreign lands. Vesta shows focus, security, and dedication. With his Vesta in Aries, Mr. Bush needs to work alone, with total involvement of self in what he’s doing. Competition feeds him, and he thrives on challenges. This is his modus operandi in the ninth house of foreign policy.

NOW … Mr. Bush’s progressed Vesta is at the exact degree of transiting Mars. He is keenly feeling his security being attacked, at the same time as his Capricornian foundations are being upended.

The U.S. Jupiter and Venus are also brought into this action. Among other things, they speak to our heavily consumerist culture.

Juno and Transpluto also join in the sky today, for the second of three conjunctions. I see this combination as mass victimization. The first conjunction was November 24-26. During those days, at Mazar-E-Sharif, hundreds of Taliban loyalists were massacred by the Northern Alliance and U.S. bombs, besides many being killed (by whom?) in a huge prison uprising. (The third—and last—conjunction occurs during the volatile end-of-May period. The Transpluto-Juno period, in fact, roughly corresponds to the 9-month Pluto-Saturn opposition period.)

All of this is happening today, January 25. And yet there is a set of really harmonious aspects beginning today and continuing for the next four days. They can be very loving and compassionate, and perhaps show a coming together in love and resolution after tragedy.

Moon goes VOC at 2:22 p.m. Spontaneous Gemini sets the mood for the remainder of the day.

SATURDAY JANUARY 26

Moon is in protective Cancer today, and home and family call to us. This morning we are extra-sensitive, and perhaps irritable. Moon goes VOC at 2:03 p.m., just after it eclipses Jupiter. Jupiter is the ruling planet of the U.S., as well as being associated with religion generally.

Tomorrow the Moon is VOC all day. This great amount of VOC time during January 25-27 may seem like a dream time. Moon is not, as usual, directing our affairs and helping us stay focused.

However, we have four planetary conjunctions during this time, plus another one at Full Moon. This number of conjunctions in a few days is most unusual. Conjunctions are like new moons. They are seed-planting times. We will be planting a lot of seeds during this strange, unfocused time. Without Moon’s guidance, their growth path is unpredictable. Not to mention that Mercury is retrograde.

The conjunctions mix and match Sun, Neptune, Venus, and Mercury, all traveling very close together now in Aquarius. They all trine Saturn, and this shows that the building of the new project (Star Wars?) is happening. We will see it more clearly at the coming Full Moon.

The most important of these conjunctions is Mercury in its second meeting with Neptune. Please reread January 9 for information about the first meeting. Mercury makes conscious Neptune’s dreams and images, which may or may not bear any relation to normal reality. It is a very mentally creative combination.

This conjunction occurs near midnight, with our very own Pallas Athena at 26 Capricorn conjunct the base of the chart, which is also at 26 Capricorn. Reread both Pallas-Sun on January 8, and the New Moon in Capricorn on January 13, conjunct this same degree. All of those dynamics make up the foundation of this present moment.

Moon now on the U.S. Sun and on GW’s Sun makes the nation and GW emotional about security.

The third Mercury-Neptune conjunction occurs on February 24.

SUNDAY JANUARY 27

Moon is VOC in Cancer for the entire day. During this strange day, Sun and Mercury have their retrograde conjunction. Events and perceptions today set the tone of Mercury, our thinking and communicating, for the next 45 days. An assertive Mars in Aries, about to challenge Jupiter, King of the Gods, takes center stage now. Martial thoughts will dominate the world for the next Mercury cycle.

The Sabian Symbol for Sun’s instructions to Mercury is:

"A FLAG IS SEEN TURNING INTO AN EAGLE. The Image has become a Power. ACTING OUT of the vision."

Boy.

MONDAY JANUARY 28

Full Moon at 9 Leo occurs at 5:50 p.m. EST. A Capricorn New Moon culminating in a Leo Full Moon is strong and bold. Capricorn builds a good foundation, and Leo gives it a magnetic center and shines it on in the world. There is not only responsibility here, but pride, vitality and enthusiasm as well.

This is all about Neptune, the dream, but Neptune given form and life. The dream becomes manifest.

Sun just passed over Neptune a few hours before, and is still fresh with Neptune’s glamour. Moon opposed Neptune only minutes before, and is overflowing with the irresistible Neptune vibe. Saturn still trines Sun-Neptune to give shape to those images which have a grip on us, and they are becoming very real.

The air signs rule here, and these manifestations are in the air and of the air. Aquarius is associated with the stars of the night sky, and Leo with the Sun of the day sky. Backed by the fuel of air, this fire Leo Moon burns brightly. Warrior Mars and Sky God Jupiter are also part of this impassioned Full Moon action.

The New Moon on January 13, which began this cycle, was at the degree of a Lunar Eclipse on July 16, 2000. This Full Moon is at the degree of the Solar Eclipse on July 30, 2000. Those eclipses circumscribed the nomination of George W. Bush (which I failed to note in my records!) and his choice of Dick Cheney for his running mate. There was also a failed testing of the missile system then.

Neptune pulls us into the collective, especially through the media, and it may be difficult now to focus on personal issues.

Mr. Bush, Mr. Cheney, and the nation are an intimate part of today’s energy. This Full Moon sits across the Moon’s Nodes of the U.S. chart, which are destiny points. Leo North Node says that the U.S. is to shine, to be in charge, and this Moon adds emotion to that process. Sun-Neptune on the Aquarius South Node is dissolving the democratic idea that the U.S. is one among many nations, all of whom have rights. We are, instead, King of the Mountain.

This Leo Full Moon illuminates GW’s Ascendant and his Mercury. It is a vehicle for him to shine as ruler.

The Aquarius Sun, totally enveloped in Neptunian clouds, conjoins Mr. Cheney’s Sun to surround him with fog. That veiled Sun also conjoins Mr. Bush’s Descendant, which is where he meets the world. One could say that this is the debut of his Neptunian self.

Neptune is singled out in many ways as the major energy of these times in the United States, and it is featured now. Does the Full Moon allow some illumination? Or, are we blinded by Neptune’s thrall?

Leo is the great dramatist, and Neptune provides it with plenty of images to work with. What stories do we create now? Perhaps a special film will dramatize the times, as "Pearl Harbor" did last summer.

Today is the culmination of the great assertive action which began on January 25, when Mars in Aries squared Chiron in Capricorn. Today Mars squares Jupiter in Cancer. This completes a warlike T-square in the sky, whose outlet is right on Mr. Bush’s progressed Neptune. Again, through his Neptunian imagination, he is the vehicle for this very aggressive square-off in the heavens.

Jupiter and Mars together are often engaged in battle. Jupiter is the general, and Mars is the soldier. Also part of the picture is Chiron, the maverick, who throws something new into the mix. Chiron also connects with technology, and with space ventures. (My computer, at this moment, has ceased to spell "Chiron" correctly. It insists on "Churn." Perhaps Chiron sees himself as a "churner.")

Reread January 9. Today’s energy is much like that, but with a lot more vitality, punch, and drama added. In addition, today’s vibe is strongly aggressive. We have two big challenges now: to go for our highest and holiest aspirations—and to see through the murk of illusions. Just this is enough work for many lifetimes.

With Neptune, the ultimate call is for total compassion and selfless love.

The Sabian Symbol for 9 Leo is:

"GLASS BLOWERS SHAPE BEAUTIFUL VASES WITH THEIR CONTROLLED BREATHING. The need to involve one’s most spiritual and vital energies in the creative act if it is to produce significant and beautiful new forms. The breath represents the power of the spirit, animator of all living manifestations. The glass blower is also using the fire of the spirit—transpersonal inspiration. Any creative activity which does not involve both the breath and the fire cannot transform into beautiful artworks—or indeed, into any new form of order. CREATIVE INTENSITY."

Alaska is the most targeted place in the world now. Much testing has been going on up there for years. Full Moon with its Aquarian gang—which includes five of the ten major planets—runs through Alaska, Canada, eastern U.S., and western South America. Full Moon with its retinue is also on display in Europe, Africa, and the Far East.

Areas which are relatively free of Neptune lines are central Asia, Russia, and the Middle East. Perhaps their strong dose of reality takes precedence. Other Neptune-light areas include the west coasts of Canada and the U.S., and all of Australia.

We are busy today. Aspects continue nonstop until midnight. Connecting with people is the big draw.

TUESDAY JANUARY 29. Moon is making an interesting journey in Leo today, connecting the Saturn-Pluto opposition, and incorporating the independent Aquarius planets into that restructuring energy. We continue our creative building process as we head into a new world. This historic Full Moon in Leo may mark that threshold. We do, however, have Mercury, Saturn and Jupiter retrograde. By the February 12 New Moon, two weeks from now, Mercury and Saturn will be direct, and we can move ahead.

WEDNESDAY JANUARY 30 and THURSDAY JANUARY 31. Moon traveling in Virgo makes a grand trine in earth, and we can ground our exciting Full Moon work. These are excellent days for important work. Focus on the essentials. Sleep may be difficult Wednesday night. Moon stimulates Saturn and Pluto, and often that connection is stressful. It’s a connection, however, which we feel once each week. We are learning to adjust to that multi-faceted Pluto-Saturn structural realignment in our lives.