by Lady Deane
Jan 28th is the New Moon in Aquarius. An excellent time to get together in groups (which Aquarius rules). So whether meeting with your book club or marching on Washington, let your voice be heard. Aquarius is all about the power of committed gatherings and there’s nothing people can’t accomplish when they join together.
As it happens, Jan 28th also marks the beginning of the Chinese New Year. The Chinese follow a lunar/solar calendar, and their New Year usually falls on the New Moon occurring between January 21st and February 21st, so it is not the same date each year. 2017 is the Year of the Rooster.
Roosters are known to be hardworking, determined and fiercely protective (of their families, homes, turf, etc.). But, while not exactly playful, they have been known to enjoy the spotlight from time to time. So, you know, might be a good year for a make-over.
In a Rooster year, it is said that those who stay vigilant and mind their responsibilities will do well. Apply yourself in all you take on now. Planning, strategizing, and brainstorming will help. This is a good time for “putting things to rights” so getting organized in all areas of life is favorable and will assist you in accomplishing that much more. Last year (2016), was a Monkey year, a time of pranks and tricksters and generally just “monkeying around.” Rooster years are a bit more somber however, and tend to favor the serious-minded. But that doesn’t mean you won’t have any fun. Just get the work done first, then party. And don’t forget the “vigilance” part! Lock your doors at night to keep the foxes out.
From a historical perspective, Rooster years tend to produce larger than normal earthquakes (as Oklahoma has recently discovered), as well as influenza-type outbreaks.
In Cosmic Dance News (the celestial dance going on just over your head), February features two powerful Eclipses.
FEB 10-11, 2017
Full Moon Lunar Eclipse at 22 degrees Leo
Sabian Symbol: “A carrier pigeon fulfilling its mission.”
I’m tempted to just call this one: WORDS HAVE POWER.
This degree carries within it the fulfillment of some task, mission, job, purpose or message. We are completing something that took some time, effort and creative energy to accomplish. And we should be proud of what we’ve done, but don’t celebrate prematurely. And for heaven’s sake, don’t poop out before you get there! You’re on the last leg of the journey, but you’ve got to cross that finish line before your job is done.
Also included in this image is delivering (or receiving) a message, or some urgent news. Whether by computer, post, or bird–“you’ve got mail” may take on an important new meaning now. The negative side of this symbol would be outright gossip or insensitive tweets. This would take you away from meaningful communication and into the land of useless information. So use your compass and fly straight. Your True North is out there.
FEB 26, 2017
New Moon Solar Eclipse at 8 degrees Pisces
Sabian Symbol: “A girl blowing a bugle.”
This one kind of reminds me of the cock crowing (it is the Year of the Rooster, after all). Or, perhaps it’s the whistle blower? The bugle can be used to alert or awaken (like in the military, as in “time to rise and shine”), or for hunting purposes (yet another way to keep the fox at bay), or to send up a call. Some of us will experience this as a call to action, and it can certainly empower us to get up and get going. Ask yourself this: are you the one being awoken or are you awakening others? Either way, it’s a summons of some sort. Someone is sounding the call….who will answer? Spiritually and creatively, we are waking up to ourselves. This may have to do with whatever creative projects we want to be involved with, or it may even go much deeper and reveal our true purpose to us.
The negative side of this image is meaningless noisemakers. You know who I mean—every crowd, group or gathering has at least one—people who crow just to hear the sound of their own voices. Avoid them, their message is all hot air. But ask yourself: “What exactly is my ‘wake-up’ calling me to do?” At the end of the day, you don’t want to be all talk and no action. Energy is available to get moving, but you have to select a direction, a cause, a project, a purpose. And, of course, it helps to get out of bed! So get going….you have people to wake and places to be.
You know, when I look at the totality of what’s been going on celestially (and that would encompass more than just the eclipses), I see that people have had a bit of a delayed reaction to starting the year. It’s as if our year had been “called on account of rain” or something. Or perhaps, it might be more accurate to say that people have felt somewhat shell-shocked and not quite ready for what comes next! But believe me when I say that that is about to change. February’s energies will have things moving forward, perhaps at an uncomfortably fast pace at times, as we endeavor to hit the ground running and catch up to a year “already in progress.” And there’s a lot of progress to be had now, so don’t give up!
These celestial and eclipse themes can be made even more personal by seeing where the planetary action will impact your own natal chart. And if you are even the teensiest bit puzzled by your chart, guess who would be just delighted to explain it to you? : 0 ) And I will, too. For hours even. Trust me, on the subject of your chart, I have a lot to say.
Remember, yes it’s a brand new year and it requires a brand new dance, but we can all stand to learn a few new steps every now and again. Keep on dancing and it will all work itself out just fine.