CAPRICORN (December 22 - January 19):

January begins with the love and creative planet, Venus retrograding in Capricorn until February 3, 2006, during which time the lessons of Venus will need to be confronted.  You will be feeling the effects very personally by falling in love or resolving a strained relationship. After Venus goes direct Feb. 3^rd it continues in the sign of Capricorn through March 5^th, 2006, a continuing period of adjusting or resolving your Venus challenges.

Venus in Retrograde is a period that occurs about every 18 months when the shadow side or the irrational part of Venus tends to take over at the most inappropriate times.  Venus represents all that is feminine, artistic, romantic and peaceful. When retrograde, the immature or uncomfortable side of these issues will come up for you. Relationships are often tested during this cycle. The good ones will last and the weak ones won’t. But just as often old loves and friendships can reappear from your past.

Venus in Capricorn will be transiting your 1^st house sector, the domain ruling your self-image, as well as your physical appearance. When Venus is direct in your sign you often look and feel great about yourself. It’s also a time when you are in a mood to make whatever personal compromises necessary. When Venus goes retrograde your social activities slow down but this could be your private time for self-reflection so that when Venus goes direct again you will be back in the limelight with more self-confidence.  The retrograde period can definitely be a time when many of you will be examining your personality or personal appearance.

The major influence of 2006 will be the planet Saturn in opposition to Neptune with Jupiter at the center point that can be the solution to the opposition or it will expand the problems until you do something about it. The silver lining, so to speak, is that our lives will be forced into changing and if you avoid or fear the process you will be the one making it more difficult. With awareness and foresight the Jupiter influence can indicate the area where you will find protection and positive growth.

Saturn was very close to an exact opposition to Neptune before turning retrograde November 23, 2005.  This was also when Mars was retrograde, which was part of the ‘grand cross’ configuration from October 25, 2005 through February 17, 2006 and what happens during this period is a hint of things to come during most of 2006, both in personal lives and the life of the nation. The next Saturn Neptune opposition will be exact August 31, 2006.

Saturn is your ruling planet indicating that you will feel the struggle of Saturn in a very direct or personal way. Neptune in Aquarius opposing Saturn in Leo is a time when both planetary energies are trying to take control in your life until it comes to a compromise by balancing the needs of both or a stalemate.  Saturn is transiting Leo in your 8^th house ruling finances with others until September 2, 2007 with Neptune sitting in your 2^nd house sector ruling your own finances.  Saturn in the 8^th house will put the spotlight on your debts, credit, joint ventures, taxes, and insurance. Neptune moving through your 2^nd indicates that your belief system about making and earning money has been in a confusing and uncertain transition.  The key is to look at what you are avoiding regarding finances.  With the opposition it will be important to take a hard look at the way you relate to others over finances, power, control, sex or abandonment. The 2^nd also rules your self-worth and sense of values and if you don’t take responsibilities for your agreements with others you are only undermining your own self-confidence.

The 8^th house that Saturn is transiting rules the matters of shared resources and joint ventures of both an intimate and physical kind and the keyword in both cases is power.  When you feel powerless what do you fear; loss of possessions, loneliness, or simply not being in control of your own power?  During this cycle you are about to find out.  It’s best not to confront those who may confront you.  Simply learn to release and let go of anything, which no longer serves you.  You may need to admit to vulnerable feelings, or simply take your power back from someone you gave it to.  The result will be a deeper relationship with yourself, the people in your life, and with your own inner resources.

Saturn, in myth, is the father of the gods and represents authority and the laws and regulations of the land.  Here is when we confront our limitations and our sense of duties and responsibilities.  Often the Saturn transit feels like a burden but that is usually a perspective coming from not wanting to take responsibility for that which is in your own best interest. This is a maturing transit and it’s only the immature that will resist it and make it worse than it needs to be experienced.

Neptune, in myth, represents the collective unconscious because of its designation as the god of the seas.  The seas are symbolic of the embryonic fluids we all come from and in Jungian terms this is called our shadow.  The best way to navigate through the waters of our shadows is to have faith and trust that all will work out to keep from feeling disoriented or lost. Often the issues associated with Neptune’s cycle are that of transition and the uncertainty of the changes.

Neptune has been transiting your 2^nd house sector of personal income and self-worth issues from 1998 through 2012 and not again for 168 years.   During this cycle how you make and handle money will be go through uncertain stages of change.  Since Capricorns have a strong need for security this period of transition with income can trigger a great deal of anxiety at some point during this cycle. A new way of making money is trying to come into your consciousness but until the new structures are reliable Capricorn won’t trust it or themselves. The Saturn Neptune opposition creates a great deal of insecurity as your business and finances are being forced to change and take risks. Holding onto the past patterns will bring disappointment but venturing into unknown territories will open new horizons for you and your future security.

One of the clues for resolution of the Saturn Neptune challenge is the transit of Jupiter moving through the sign of Scorpio through 2006.  Jupiter represents expansion, optimism and protection. When Jupiter activates your chart it expands the opportunities or the problems until you resolve the issues.  Jupiter’s transit is an indicator of where some of the answers to your Saturn Neptune questions are located.

Jupiter is transiting Scorpio in your 11^th house sector of one’s hopes, dreams and goals until November 23, 2006.  One answer to your financial woes could be with new goals, or networking with different organizations, or remaining open to the generosity of a friend.

The 11^th traditionally rules our hope, dreams and wishes but is also associated with our friendships and group associations.  Astrology teaches that the future is also determined by the quality of friends we choose and associate.  Jupiter always brings opportunity, optimism and enthusiasm and during its transit of the 11^th these gifts could come through your friendships and social affiliations.  It is also a time when we are more confident than usual about our future.

And finally, Mercury in Retrograde is when everything seems to go crazy and lasts about 3 weeks. Those who know about the effects of the retrograde often cringe when they hear that Mercury is at it again.  What is going on is that everything that is related to Mercury, the messenger god, seems to go awry.  This is the time not to sign legal documents or make promises and travel plans are often interrupted. But what is really happening is that retrograde periods stimulate our unconscious patterns more than usual. Since Mercury represents our decision-making facilities the retrograde period is a time to make sure that your rational mind hasn’t been too overly influenced by your unconscious desires.

The dates of Mercury in Retrograde 2006

March 2^nd - 25^th

July 4^th - 28^th

October 28^th - November 17^th

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