Into the Rapids

Mars and the Sun travel together in Capricorn through mid January

2026 builds on the reactions to 2025  last year shakes things up and begins as the full force of the last part of the Dragon year roars in. And like a large high tide wave, that comes thundering in, it also has a pull that draws the wave back, through February. We feel the push forward and the draw back as situations are activated, evaluated, then reflected upon. And yet the year will be fast moving and so it is named, “Into the Rapids”. We start the year with Mars still retrograde, a time where events slow the quick moving intentions, to bring deeper contemplations, a time of revising, reviewing our actions and intentions. A time of reversals of plans. We begin the new year on the first with Mars completing its second opposition to Pluto, next to the waxing crescent moon in Aquarius. This aspect brings out what needs transforming. It exposes what was hidden, or repressed. It intensifies actions and choices in dramatic ways. It brings up issues of power and how it is used, positively or negatively.

As is our tradition on the new Year, but especially this year with Mars retrograde at the turn of the year, it is a powerful time to review and deepen our connection to our intentions for the year. Discover what feels right. Situations or projects left incomplete may be completed and cleared by February 23rd when Mars goes direct. 

Key themes for this year are working with change, trusting your inner voice and guidance. Allow alertness, breath, and being centered, guide your listening and support navigating this year’s journey.

Shifting themes and powerful changes in 2025

The transpersonal planets, Pluto, Neptune, Uranus (and Sedna), are archetypes of great change and expansion of consciousness, if we can sustain their vibration in grounded and centered ways. These transformative planets, all change signs and form a flowing alignment with each other 2025-2028. This alignment is like the movement of water being poured from one container to another, or like unobstructed winds. The transpersonal planets are harbingers of evolution, of disruption to breakthrough, (Uranus) of living in the collective swell of unconscious reactions or to the powers we each have to create, (Neptune) and of repression to eruption of what must be dealt with, (Pluto). 

Saturn and Jupiter, the social planets join the transition to sign change as well, making a total of 5 outer planets changing signs this year. This hasn’t happened for 500 years! We are in times of transformation, change and renewal, of letting go and reassessing, (see below on Pluto changing signs). Based on decisions made and values clarified, 2025 leads us into to new places.  Find what inspires you. The alignment of the planets encourage you to grow in your ability to hold your sense of purpose, connect with a vaster vision of interconnectedness, and seek conscious sustainable living.

Last year I wrote, “Humanity is in an alchemical vessel of being cooked into transformation. The intensity between the old and the new ways increases, as we are polarized between the past and future, in this change of the ages. Aquarius is the fertile field in which we now find ourselves. What will our ideas and perspectives create for us? We struggle, like a huge serpent shedding its skin, for which values will lead us forward, being dominated by old world views, or will the positive visions for needed change and transformation gain momentum to create the new era? How do we create change, with the disruption of large systems without destroying the evolutionary intent to come to understand the interrelatedness and equality of all? The next few years will form the answer”. 

2025, the Year of the fire Horse in Chinese astrology

Begins February 17, 4:01 am PST, at the 2^nd New Moon after the Winter Solstice.  This is a lunar eclipse. We feel its energy entering in the beginning of the year 

On February 17th we move into the year of the fire Horse from the year of the Serpent, leaving the Wood Serpent (Snake) year of transformation, power, eagerness, and zeal, an exuberance of mission and daring. In the year of the Serpent we move from a dynamic year of yang energy to dynamic yin energy, turning inward to bring forth wisdom, seeking answers to deeper underlying causes which can bring forth wisdom. This is a year to wisely plan and to seek answers. The serpent is determined to achieve goals, but in a yin way, through thoughtful foresight and strategy. Expect political extremes and the exposing of secrets. We can imagination the Serpent to coil then spring into quick movement. Think of the Serpent shedding its skin to be birthed anew. 2025 carries this energy.

The image of the Serpent on the Tree of life (paired with the planetary symbols) reminds us of the mystical, ancient wisdom teachings, the kundalini energy. A year to deepen your practices, wisdom and mindfulness.

The element of Fire is the element of the Serpent in 2025. The wood element supports formulating and implementing ideas while working cooperatively with others. (Combine this with Pluto in Aquarius and Uranus entering Gemini, centering through Saturn and you have an excellent year for implementing your ideas, community efforts and projects). Wood is the element of Spring and implies quick growth, sudden breakthroughs. 

Review intentions and use of will, life direction

 

Mars is retrograde from December 6th to February 23rd. Mars goes retrograde once every two years. This time is known for slowing our forward movement. We can think of Mars retrograde as slowing us to take a deeper dive into the motivations that drive us. What has been propelling our will, driving our intentions and energy? This is the time to review and reevaluate our directions. How have we been embodying our boldness to go after what we want? What do we want? What kind of actions will lead us to accomplish what we are desiring? At the turn of the year with Mars retrograde, we take time to gather our intentions, our desires for the future, with consciousness.

We can review Mars preshadow period from October 5th to Dec 6. What was revealed? In the post shadow phase, from Feb 23rd – May 2nd, after Mars goes direct, our clarity and integration of our intentions take place.

Venus will also go retrograde this year, (Mar 1- April 12), 10 Aries to 24 Pisces, stationary retrograde as Mars is stationary direct at 17 Cancer, in wide square to each other, (March 1). Afterwards, Venus and Mars move into a prolonged trine, beginning March 23, (exact trine, May 21st), and within orb through June 8th. Interestingly, in this combination there is a review in our actions and intentions, balanced with our receptivity and values, or we can say the opportunity to balance assertion and independence with listening and harmonizing, aggression with peace. (See more on Venus retrograde below)

Collective and Personal Turning Points

Jupiter at 13 Gemini waxing squares Saturn in Pisces, 2nd square

From August 2024  to December and through June 2025, we are poised at a crucial turning point in what we are creating and putting into place to lead us into the future. During this period we may be slowed (Saturn) in our growth, expansion, (Jupiter) with the need to review and reassess projects, so they can come to completion. This aspect has been called ‘crisis in action.’ It creates pressure for important decision making which will give form to what evolves over the next 5 years. 

The Jupiter Saturn square is followed by a harmonizing trine in November through 2027.  Decisions that come out of this tensional square, (requiring time for deeper reflections) set the stage for what we want to manifest or embody, has the potential to be supported into successful form. The first half of the year we benefit from reflection and deepening our relationship to the value we hold. (see more description below)

The Aries Vortex – an alignment never before manifested 

Navigating the Rapids into and through the Passageway

The Aries Vortex is the name given to this planetary formation by Ray Merriman, ( www.mmacycles.com) It is a unique planetary formation that is not known to have ever happened before.

 

Astrologers are speaking of this alignment (2024-2027) as a “rare opportunity to make a collective transformation into a “New Era”. This is a unique opportunity for humanity” Ray Merriman, in his Forecast 2024

Now we are challenged to perceive our reality in new and innovative ways, aligning with new collective purpose, or cling to old ways, and power-over leaders.

Minor Grand trine to Aries Vortex

 

Imagine the trine (a flowing stream of energy) that connects Uranus and Pluto as the base of the formation. Imagine Uranus, the disruptor, the energy of breakthrough, originality and change, as it receives the powerfully compelling and driving energy of Pluto, the god of the underworld, the archetypal energy of death & rebirth. Imagine the power of deep earth, of that which has been repressed or hidden, erupting, (Pluto), then driving its energy into the planet of change, Uranus, intensifying the process breaking down to break through.

Then imagine this energy funneling through the Saturn Neptune conjunction.

Because Saturn and Neptune are at the midpoint of the Pluto Uranus trine, it serves as the release point of the two outer planets, as if the energy of Pluto and Uranus are funneling through the combined qualities of Saturn and Neptune and the zero Aries point. So named the Aries Vortex. The definition of vortex is “a whirling motion, like the spiraling movement of water around a whirlpool. Any activity, situation, or way of life regarded as irresistibly engulfing.

The powerful transformative energies of Pluto and Uranus must go through the gates of the “Threshold Guardian”, the tester, Saturn, which now dances with the one who dreams up the world, Neptune.

Saturn is the planet of confrontation, revealing truth or deception. It limits, contracts, even obstructs through its quest for reality, groundedness, and truth. It is structure, law, and discipline. Neptune is the opposite, fluid, no boundaries, illusive, the artist, the musician, a poet’s rhythms and imaginative perception.  Neptune embodies our ideals, our imagination, our empathy, or it represents propaganda, spin, illusion deception, delusion.

You can imagine this energy of 2025 to be this intense compelling drive for transformation, to liberate, with disruptive qualities funneling through idealism and/or spin, and then to be checked for its reality in the physical world, confronting what’s real, what’s true, or not.

This combination also has the quality of being masterful in the giving of form and bringing manifestation to what we imagination. 

The conjunction and midpoint, is taking place at 0 Aries, marking a new beginning, a birth, taking on a new round of being. This Zero Aries is known as a “super-charged” degree, because of this midpoint with the two planets. Aries is known as a ‘World Degree’, because 0 degrees Aries represents the Vernal Equinox, which applies to the world. It is a new birth of the Solar Earth round of seasons. This 0 Aries midpoint, being activated becomes a potent degree, and potentially a new dawn for humanity.

“This is a combustible situation. But it is also opportunity for a rebirth, a new reality once we come out on the other side. And history says we will. As we leave the Aries Vortex, Uranus will be in a favorable trine aspect to Pluto, which also suggests the human family will emerge stronger and with greater hope about the future than before. Both Uranus and Pluto in a favorable sextile to Saturn/Neptune conjunction at 0° Aries also supports this outlook.

“If we are going to survive and get there, we need this vortex to open up an opportunity to enter a new world. The cosmos is giving us that opportunity right in the midsection of the “New Aira.” Ray Merriman

On a personal level, look to your chart for planets from 0-3 degrees of a sign, even 28-29 degrees. Perhaps you can imagine breaking through or stepping into change, transforming old patterns into new ways of being. Imagine this time as being one where many individuals tune into their intuitions and guidance, and each find purpose, images and gifts that contribute to this evolution. This is especially so if you have those degrees activated in your chart.

We will also being seeing disruptive energies shaking things up to new beginnings but to be tested and challenged by confrontation and obstacles in confronting what is true or false.

Planetary alignments for 2026

Three Main Alignments shaping 2025

(see below for the chronological listing of the movement of the planets for 2025)

The changing of signs of all the outer planets, Pluto, Neptune, Uranus, Saturn, Jupiter – finally settling into the new signs

The Aries  Vortex

The Jupiter and Saturn trine August 31 

On November 19, 2024, Pluto entered Aquarius fully, after two years of dipping back into Capricorn and touching the first degrees of Aquarius. Neptune enters Aries, January 26th, leaving Pisces after 13 years. Saturn enters Aries on Feb 13th. Jupiter enters Leo on June 29th. and Uranus enters Gemini on April 25th. 5 planets leaving signs and entering new signs dramatically shift themes and focus. This is the first time this has happened in over 500 years. Suddenly, in rather jolting back and forth ways, between old and new directions, we are faced with new crisis and themes to adjust to, to navigate, to stand for our values, as we move into the new Era of 200 years that the great Mutation, described by Jupiter and Saturn conjunctions defined with the beginning of the cycle in December 2020.

This shifting creates what Ray Merriman calls the Aries vortex, a unique alignment channeling through the first degree of Aries which is know as a world degree, a power point of new beginnings and action. (see Aries Vortex above)

Jupiter Saturn turning points in what we choose to manifest

Through June 2025, Jupiter will square Saturn,  (exact December 24th 2024 and on June 15) slowing us down to take stock, make corrections, and face realities. All in service of bringing forth a fulfillment to what was deeply seeded at the end of 202o. This aspect asks us, “What are we wanting to manifest for our and the planet’s future?” (see below) The apex and fulfillment time of this 1st Jupiter Saturn cycle takes place 4 – 6 years later, between November 2029 – 2031 (As Saturn conjuncts Uranus, 28 Gemini). (1st opposition at 18 Scorpio/Taurus, then 25 Scorpio/Taurus, then 6, 19, 23 Sagittarius/Gemini.

Check your chart for these degrees. What decisions have you been making in 2024-2025 that can lead to manifestation and greater fulfillment growing in the years ahead. (What reflections and considerations might you take time to pause and contemplate to set the stage 5 years forward?

Jupiter trine Saturn

In October, November, December 2025, Jupiter and Saturn come near to exact trine, 25 Cancer to 25 Pisces. The decisions we make during the Jupiter Saturn square (from August 2024 to July 2025) have the ability to flow into forms and to manifest as they grow to greater fulfillment in 2029-2031. Jupiter and Saturn are some of the biggest players in the creation of our life journey. Jupiter helps us to expand our view of what’s possible or meaningful, while Saturn gives it shape and form and grounding of those ideas into the world.

Below is a a chronological listing of the notable planetary events

• Pluto, Uranus begin trine, both sextiling Neptune – beginning in 2024, as they change signs

• January 1 – The year begins with retrograde Mars at 1 Leo opposing Pluto in Leo, AND Jupiter squaring Saturn 
• February 23rd – Mars goes direct at 6:00 pm PST, 17 Cancer
• March 1st – Venus goes retrograde at 10 Aries
• April 12th – Venus direct at 24 Pisces
• April 18th – Venus rises as Morning Star after being Evening Star since July 17th 2024
• March 30th – Neptune enters Aries, 
• April 4th – Saturn at 24 Pisces sextiles Uranus in Taurus 
• Jupiter sesquisquare Pluto
• April 26 – Mars at 3 Leo opposes Pluto in Aquarius for the last of 3 times
• May 18th – Jupiter at 25 Gemini sextiles Chiron in Aries,
• May 24th – Saturn enters Aries, last time entered Aries April 1996
• June 15th – Jupiter enters Cancer
• June 15th – Jupiter at 1 Cancer squares Saturn in Aries

• June 18th – Jupiter at 2 Cancer squares Neptune at 2 Aries
• June 23rd – Jupiter at 3 Cancer quincunx Pluto in Aquarius
• July 6 – Uranus enters Gemini – the ongoing Aries Vortex

• August 11 – Saturn at 1 Aries sextiles Uranus in Gemini
• August 28 – Uranus at 1 Gemini sextiles Neptune in Aries
• September 1 – Saturn returns to last degree of Pisces,
• October 23rd – Jupiter at 24 Cancer squares Chiron in Aries
• November 10 – Jupiter at 25 Cancer trines Saturn in Pisces
• November 20 – Uranus at 29 Taurus sextiles Neptune in Pisces
• December 21 – Jupiter at 24 Cancer squares Chiron in Aries

Planetary movement during the 2025

check your natal chart to see where these planets activate themes in your chart

• Jupiter – 13 Gemini to 25 Cancer – Direct at 11 Gemini, Feb 4 2025, retrograde at 25 Cancer, Nov 11
• Saturn – 14 Pisces to 1 Aries – Retrograde at 1 Aries, July 12 – direct at 25 Pisces, Nov 27
• Chiron – 18 Aries to 27 Aries – Retrograde at 27 Aries, August – direct at 22 Aries, January 2026
• Uranus – 23 Taurus to 1 Gemini – Direct at 23 Taurus, Jan 20, retrograde at 1 Gemini, September 5 
• Neptune – 27 Pisces to 2 Aries – Retrograde at 2 Aries, Jul 4 – direct at 29 Pisces, Dec 10
• Pluto – 1 Aquarius to 3 Aquarius – Retrograde at 3 Aquarius, May 4 – direct at 1 Aquarius, Oct 13
• Eris – 25 Aries
• Sedna – 0 -1 Gemini
• 
• Lunar Nodes – North – 0 Aries to 11 Pisces, South – 0 Libra – 11 Virgo (the Nodes retrograde through the zodiac)
• Eclipses – March 13 – Lunar Eclipse, 23 Virgo/Pisces, – March 29 – Partial Solar Eclipse, 9 Aries
• Sept 7 – Total Lunar Eclipse, 15 Pisces/Virgo, Sept 21 – Solar Eclipse, 29 Virgo,
• Mars – begins retrograde at 1 Leo, goes direct at 17 Cancer, Feb 23, then continues to the end of the year at 12 Capricorn.
• Venus – 28 Aquarius to 10 Aries, March 1st, when it goes retrograde, going direct at 24 Pisces, April 12, finishing the year at 8 Capricorn
• Mercury – retrograde in the Fire – Water signs – see below
• 
• Mercury retrograde dates
• March 14 – Apr 7, 9 Aries – 26 Pisces
• July 17 – Aug 10, 15 Leo – 4 Leo
• Nov 9 – Nov 29, 6 Sagittarius – 20 Scorpio
• Important Mars trigger points in 2025
• January 1-3 – (Mars at 1 Leo opposes Pluto in Aquarius)
• Apr 26 – (Mars at 3 Leo opposes Pluto in Aquarius)
• Jun 14 – (Mars at 28 Leo squares Uranus in Taurus)
• Aug 9 – (Mars at 1 Libra opposes Neptune in Aries)
• Sept 24 – (Mars at 1 Scorpio squares Pluto in Aquarius)
• Nov 4 – (Mars at 0 Sagittarius opposes Uranus in Gemini)
• Dec 8 – (Mars at 25 Sagittarius squares Saturn in Pisces)
• Dec 13 – ( Mars at 29 Sagittarius squares Neptune in Pisces)
• These dates amplify the challenge of the intensity of heat and transformation, (Pluto), overwhelm or confusion (Neptune), and the challenge of unsettling situations and shifts, also excitement and inspiration to break free of old limitations, (Uranus), and constriction or obstacle to movement in order to slow down and reassess the reality of the situation, Saturn.

More detailed information on the Planetary Aspects for 2025

Highlighting major shifts of focus and energy

Pluto now fully in Aquarius, November 19 2024 – 2043

In 2025 – Pluto moves from 0 Aquarius to 3 Aquarius 

On January 20, 2024, Pluto enters Aquarius once again, after almost 2 years of touching into Aquarius then dropping back into Capricorn.

We experience Pluto’s sign change as being involved in powerful endings, while we feel the pull of new beginnings.

As you think about the house that Pluto will be transiting (the house in your chart with Aquarius, focusing on the 1st 3 degrees of Aquarius) you can imagine that Pluto disrupts the normalcy of routines and taken for granted perspectives. Suddenly we experience the need to let go, to release, and allow something new to emerge. Since Pluto has been moving between signs we may have had to return to something of the old to complete and resolve an issue, pattern, or routine that no longer works, oris healthy or satisfying. We can choose to align ourselves with the process of change, knowing we are in a dynamic initiation into new states of being and awareness.

In the sign Aquarius, Pluto begins the process of revealing, de-structuring and transforming how we connect with each other and create community. Pluto will focus our attention on equality of community members, highlighting the disenfranchised. Aquarius rules technology, social media and the digital world. Here, Pluto exposes what’s working, what’s not working in social media, exposing the underlying structures that motivate the companies and individuals involved. Its forces will expose and enact transformation around social media, the technology in the digital plane, including digital money, and issues around AI, etc. (It’s interesting that Elon Musk is now a main player and influencer in the upcoming Trump administra tion). Pluto in Aquarius brings up the creativity and transformative qualities of AI as well as the dangers and complications of AI use. Aquarius is the sign of revolution and AI activates revolutionary possibilities on many levels in our culture and society. Pluto in Aquarius will bring out the hidden agenda of the Surveillance Capitalism in which we live, to be evaluated for and by the community. As Pluto begins its journey in Aquarius agendas will be set for the themes over the next 2 decades, until 2043, when Pluto enters Pisces. We will see the redesigning of both the architecture and building of communities, and the nature of community. It’s a time for community involvement, planning, and action. We will feel motived to think in terms of improving our networks, our communities, especially with themes of equality, and future visions of a renewed government.

Pluto disrupts, de-structures, and exposes what has been hidden or not fully seen. It represents the underbelly of situations that suddenly erupt with intensity to overthrow what is old, and what is no longer life supporting. As the God of the Underworld, Pluto represents the mysterious dark, the unspoken, both toxic influence of held resentments, unfinished business that has fermented to explosion, and also the healthy process of life, which goes through the process of letting go, release, death, ending and beginnings, so rebirth or renewal can take place. Pluto also embodies condensed power held under or within, therefore representing power we embody, or power we give away, so powerlessness.  Pluto is the force that intensifies, to cathartic ends. It bursts into one’s life. It can dominate and violate. Pluto’s process unfolds over time, it exposes, and reveals, what needs to be seen for evolutionary growth. It moves slowly through a few degrees, often taking about two years, and anywhere from 13 to 20 years through one sign.

Since Pluto in Capricorn has been finishing its Pluto return in the USA chart, our collective values become the issue. What kind of government and governing structures shall we have? A transformation is at hand. Are we conscious of what we are creating? We are at a potent crossroads.

Personally, when touched by Pluto in Aquarius by transit in our charts, we make a descent into the deep inner realm of the psyche. Here we experience what has been exiled from our consciousness yet is in our body’s cellular memory. It brings catharsis and rebirth, potentially healing trauma, and illuminating the unconscious preexisting identity patterns and stories. This brings about reclaiming a vital part of the self that had been loss and is now reunited. Pluto transits also bring to our attention endings, death, and rebirth. It can plunge us into questions of what is of the essence and to be treasured in this life. Personally, Pluto in Aquarius, transforms the ways we feel connected to each other, can expose issues of separation and belonging, can transform how we are linked to friends and community.

The Aries Vortex

(see above)

Astrologers are speaking of this alignment (2024-2027) as a “rare opportunity to make a collective transformation into a “New Era”. This is a unique opportunity for humanity” Ray Merriman, Forecast 2024

The minor grand trine, midpoint at 0 Aries, with Saturn and Neptune

(see above)

The Jupiter Saturn cycle and placement

August 2024 – June 2025 – Jupiter and Saturn reach the waxing square,

A crucial turning point in what we are creating and putting into place to lead us into the future. During this period we may be slowed (Saturn) in our growth, expansion, and into new projects (Jupiter). This aspect has been called ‘crisis in action.’ It creates pressure for important decision making which will give form to what evolves over the next 5 years. 

• August 2024 – Jupiter at 17 Gemini to Saturn at 17 Pisces
• December 24th and taking us into the New Year – Jupiter at 14 Gemini, Saturn at 14 Pisces 
• June 2025 – Jupiter 1 Cancer to Saturn 1 Aries.

The last square in June of 2025, in the cardinal signs of Cancer and Aries, are a check to what is trying to take on new beginnings and form, a tensional space to reflect on the decisions being made on what we are creating. (USA Chart, close to the USA natal Venus, checking our relationship with others, and the growth in the economy)

Jupiter trine Saturn, 4 times over the next 1 1/2 years 

November 2025 – Jupiter at 25 Cancer to Saturn at 25 Pisces 

August 2026 – Jupiter at 13 Leo to Saturn at 13 Aries

 April 2027 – Jupiter at 17 Leo to Saturn at 17 Aries

July 2027 – Jupiter at 27 Leo to Saturn at 27 Aries

When Jupiter forms a waxing trine to Saturn (see chart above) what we would like to grow or expands finds a plan or structure that assists it into form and manifestation. The Philosopher meets the Skillful Master of Manifestation and meaning is given substance to be a foundation, and or excess is curbed be restraint. 

This square between Jupiter and Saturn pose an important turning point within the larger cycle that will build over the next 16 years and continue to build upon that over the next 195 years. This larger cycle began in December 2020 with the Great Mutation.

The Great Mutation – Jupiter Saturn conjunction into the Air element

A New Era (The Great Mutation) began December 21^st, 2020. The Jupiter Saturn cycle then builds on its themes, in 20 year cycles, through 2199. Jupiter and Saturn alignments correlate with changing, transforming, and revising structure and shape in society and civilization.

The first stage begins in the dark, (December 2020) like a seed planted in dark soil. We experience inner stirrings, new experiences, and respond in spontaneous, impulsive and instinctive ways. In the second stage (July 2022) light begins to dawn as we pull away from the past. Here we struggle with inertia and dependency of past conditions that hold us back, so to mobilize resources to move us in a forward direction.

July 2022 – Jupiter (8 Aries) and Saturn (23 Aquarius) reach semi square – We begin to see new structures, technology, and social values evolve, with focus on community, social justice, equality, a restructuring of the meaning of healthcare and democracy over the next 20 and 180 years. But still the pull from the past can cause inertia and be a struggle to overcome.

June 2023 and again from January through March 2024 – Jupiter (5-12 Taurus) and Saturn (3-12 Pisces) reach sextile –planning, studying, learning and teaching comes more easily. It marks a good time to expand a business, or start a new endeavor. The expansiveness of Jupiter is in harmony with the structuring, stability and enduring powers of Saturn. (What was taking place for you during this time?)

June 2024 – June 2025 – Jupiter square Saturn (Jupiter at 14 Gemini-1 Cancer, Saturn at 14 Pisces to 1 Aries) – turning point, tensional relationship that calls for new decisions in order to build structures that will organize the next number of years.

November 2025 to July 2027 – Jupiter trine Saturn – momentum accelerates to give form to decisions made, new laws formed.

The meaning of the Great Mutation

Since 1870 these two giant planets, Jupiter and Saturn, have conjuncted every 20 years in Earth signs. In the Earth signs the focus was on the mundane world, on the organization of it, and practical implementation through economic development, the development of humanity’s use of the earth as a source of wealth, and the development of capitalism and industry.

With the Great Mutation of 2020 we refocus our priorities, moving into a New Era of Air Signs. The Air signs highlight the mind, ideas and communication, valuing creative and intellectual endeavors, original and innovative ideas, and the free exchange of information, technology, social media, and scientific innovation. The development of humanity will move toward a new understanding of community, the interrelatedness of everyone and everything, and the development of a consciousness of social justice. There is now support for group purpose to create new infrastructures and governing possibilities, new moral and philosophical codes of living for humanity, and the profoundly interrelated systems of life here on and around planet Earth. 2025, Jupiter moves from Gemini to Cancer while Saturn moves from Pisces to Aries.

With the 2^nd phase of this cycle, beginning July 2022, topics begin to clarify, vision of where we are going find more definition. We continue the struggle to overcome the conditioning and programming of the past, but with more clarity of the road ahead. In June of 2023 we reach a time of visionary possibilities being supported, especially if we can hold the vision steady and be open to timing. In August 19 2024 through the summer of 2025 –  when we enter the 3^rd stage, taking direct action, clearing away old structures, actively building new ones in order to embody the new purpose. (Interestingly President Biden withdrew from his campaign bid for re-election during this time).

Shadow qualities of the Aquarius.

We can see that we are already dealing with these ‘shadow’ issues, the challenges of sharing information and our different interpretations of “truth”, what is true, what is fact. We see the growth of new industry that has developed away from earth as resource for profit, to a data economy that fuels great profits. We also see the repercussions of the conjuncts of Jupiter and Saturn since 1870 in the Earth signs, in the overuse of the Earth resources and the disregard for our living Earth and the interrelatedness of Earth, water, sky and heat. We see it in the growth of genetic engineering and innovation without the consciousness of its repercussions.

The sign, Aquarius, carries an interesting polarity of desiring more freedom, freedom of expression in all areas, including gender expression, artistic expression, and individual expression. And yet, it is also the sign of the community, of something that is greater that the individual, about collaboration and visionary possibilities. Here is the challenge and struggle between free speech and censorship, the power of the social media, freedom of expression versus values and parameters of the social media industries. What are we creating? How is it affecting the collective culture and how is it shaping our youth? It sets the stage for a growth of collective awareness and consciousness to move into a more evolved state of being. We see the growth of movements and teachings around mindfulness, meditation, and the healing of trauma. We see the younger generations more open to differences and more aware of our interrelatedness with each other, the Earth, and all living beings. But there is also a driving ebb back into the past, in order to reach clearer and more reflective distinctions of collective values.

More Jupiter aspects

Jupiter squares Neptune and Saturn as they form the midpoint of the minor grand trine with Uranus and Pluto, the Aries Vortex (This square can’t be separated from Jupiter squaring Saturn as Saturn and Neptune conjunct, see below). Jupiter enlarges and expands the planetary archetype it touches. It elevates and increases the qualities in the other planet. Jupiter brings optimism, exuberance, confidence and abundance. It embodies higher learning, philosophy and the search for meaning. As it squares Neptune, Jupiter can inflate the idealism. The square brings excess and inflation of qualities that becomes lack of realism. The question to pose at the square, What vision or dream do we want to grow?

As Jupiter can inflate and go to extremes of arrogance and pride, it can interact with Neptune in heightening deception, difficulty in defining truth from illusion. With Jupiter squaring Saturn at the same time it squares Neptune, can limit some of the excess or idealismassociated with the aspect between Neptune and Jupiter.

Jupiter in Gemini, moves into Cancer in June

Jupiter in Gemini through June 9th, enters Cancer June 9th, 2025

Jupiter goes direct at 11 Gemini – February 4th, 2025

Jupiter goes retrograde at 25 Cancer – November 11th, 2025

• Check your chart to see where 11 Gemini to  25 degrees Cancer is. This area is activated with Jupiter’s expansive qualities

Jupiter in Gemini until June 9th

Jupiter enlarges the airy qualities when in Gemini. As it moves through Gemini, communications, news, and the media are highlighted. Jupiter in Gemini promotes intellectual curiosity, inventiveness and supports being open to new ideas. Gemini is a social sign and with Jupiter enlarging its traits, the importance of connecting with others, exchanging ideas, and listening to a diversity of information becomes emphasized. Issues around the media and the internet will be in the forefront. Jupiter trines Pluto as it moves into Gemini in May, empowering us in writing and research projects, investigative journalism increases.

• Heightens the mutable qualities, sharing information, being curious, love of learning, can get overwhelmed with ideas, information with the challenge of organizing or getting to the point.
• Heightens air energy – social connection, ideas, communication, writing, optimistic, idealistic
• Check your chart to see where Gemini is, (o-21 Gemini). This area of your chart will be activated with expansion, learning, connection with others.

Saturn in Pisces (March 2023 through Feb 13 2026 (touches into Aries – May 24 -Dec 31 2025)

In 2025 Saturn moves from 14 Pisces to 1 Aries, Saturn retrogrades 1 Aries to 25 Pisces, July 12th to Nov 27th

Saturn in Pisces focuses us into our feelings and imagination. The work Saturn demands when in Pisces is to recognize our feelings and how to skillfully navigate feeling states in grounded ways. It can help us channel powerful feelings into creative projects. Saturn in Pisces wants to give form to empathy and compassion in the collective. It can be a powerful time to release trauma and learn more about the effects of trauma. Saturn in Pisces highlights spiritual movements and cultivates our spiritual development. Saturn in Pisces creates pressure to bring limits to immigration.

Shadow side of Saturn in Pisces is inability to have empathy. It can manifest as a time of controlling religious dogma and doctrine. Personally, we experience the shadow side when we feel unable to feel our emotions, and lack of self compassion. Saturn’s wisdom is challenging us to become more conscious of behaviors that shape us.

Saturn in Pisces can bring formalization to using altered states through mushrooms and other hallucinogenics for healing purposes. It is an opportune time to redefine the health industry, update hospitals.

• Look to see where Pisces is in your chart to know what is being activated by Saturn this year. If you find yourself struggling, slow down, and take time to thoughtfully organize and plan your forward movement.
• Saturn limits, focuses, and concentrates one’s experience in the sign it occupies. It builds boundaries to help us know our clear definitions.
• Saturn teaches us through our experience. Saturn builds stability and creates focus for our intention.
• It cultivates what we align with as the “voice of authority”. The ideal being our maturity, experience, and inner intuitive wisdom that guides us

Saturn touches into Aries – May 24 2025-Dec 31 2025, 0 Aries to 2 Aries

Saturn enters Aries briefly on May 24^th, 2025. It was last in Aries from April 1996 – November 1998.

Saturn solidifies, stabilizes, slows, constricts and constrains, structures and necessitates discipline and focus. Saturn is the master teacher, the authority that enables structure to build form. It confronts in order to unveil what is real. Saturn enters Aries in May. Aries is the thrust of energy creating new beginnings, birth and drive, impulsive, instinctual and intuitive. Aries is competitive and conflictual, striving. This sign of spring is the momentum that even breaks through cement to create the green sprout of life. Aries can be warlike, impatient, and assertive. Saturn in Aries creates an awkward tension, and so it is known that Saturn is in its fall in this sign, a difficult placement. With Saturn in Aries, it slows new beginnings, testing what they are made of. It asks us to take time to contemplate and reflect on what we are beginning. Can it be sustained? Where do we need to balance intuition and quick boldness with deliberation, maturity, and wisdom?

On the down side, Saturn in a sign can freeze or crystallize the more negative qualities, because the need of Saturn is to deepen. When deepening isn’t accomplished, it will crystallize the superficial qualities. In Aries, it can intensify assertive masculine qualities, conflictual and competitive energies, individualism, separation, self centeredness, and lack of care.

Saturn conjuncts Neptune, 0-1 Aries, May 24- August 30, within orb – April – December 2025

Neptune enters Aries in March and conjuncts Saturn. The conjunction of Saturn and Neptune takes place every 36 years, last time was in 1989. When the two planets conjoin they refer to dissolution (Neptune) of whatever structures, systems, have become outdated and negatively crystallized. (the fall of the Berlin wall in November 1989) Saturn seeks to give form to Neptune’s vision, empathy, idealism, imagination or spiritual development. This new form in the “world degree” of 0 Aries, can potentially structure the ideals for a new cycle, a birth for humanity.

The challenge of this conjunction is authoritarian governments (Saturn) merge with propaganda (Neptune) to promote aggressively (Aries) its agenda. (The driving force of change, Pluto sextile to Uranus, is channeling through Aries Vortex, midpoint where Saturn and Neptune conjunct at 0-2 Aries.)

On a personal level take note where 0-3 Aries takes place in your chart. What house themes are activated by this pair? Lean into bringing clear distinction to ideals and longings you have. How might you organize, give structure, to what you are imagining and dreaming up for your future?

Eclipses, Mercury Retrograde, Venus retrograde and Mars Retrograde times

 Mercury retrogrades in Fire to Water signs – Time to review what gives us inspiration, how we connect with our intuition, how we look at taking risks and allowing for new ways of thinking (fire). When in water signs, this is time to review the quality of our relationships, to bring introspection to our inner world and feelings, out of which springs our motivations within our actions.

Mercury retrograde dates in 2025

• Mar 14 – Apr 7, 9 Aries – 26 Pisces
• Jul 17 – Aug 10, 15 Leo – 4 Leo
• Nov 9 – Nov 29, 6 Sagittarius – 20 Scorpio

Mercury is the planet of the mind; how we form our thoughts and perceptions, how we communicate and connect mentally with others.

• Every year Mercury retrogrades 3 times, representing the need we all have to periodically retreat, go inward, and reconnect at deeper levels.
• It is a time for review, for fine-tuning our projects, for slowing down.
• We can expect delays, schedules or technology to stall, all with a drive to attain a natural rhythm that periodically calls us inward to reflect and review.
• Each year Mercury retrogrades in a different element. Some years it straddles two elements. In 2025 it retrogrades in fire to water signs, exhibiting a shift in focus, except in August, just in the fire sign Leo.
• Mercury retrograde marks a time to reflect on how clear our communication is, how we take in information and process it, how we bring it into practical form, and how to simplify more abstract thoughts. During the retrograde we can refine our responses to life and to others by cultivating greater insights into our habitual reactions.
• Mercury retrograde in fire signs – emphasizes reflection upon how we tune into our intuition, how we are connected to inspiration and revelation. It supports our review of reactive communication or how we deal with our heated emotions in communication. Mercury retrograde in Water sign calls us to attend to our inner world and to be aware of the quality of our interactions.
• Check where the fire/water houses are in your chart. These mark the life area of mentally, thoughtful review.

Eclipses and the Nodes in 2025

Eclipses take place in pairs when the Earth, Moon and Sun are in exact alignment. A Solar Eclipse takes place at New Moon. A Lunar Eclipse takes place at the Full Moon. 6 Months later another pair of eclipses takes place. The Eclipses take place close to the “Nodes”. Nodes simply represent that point in space where total eclipses will take place, the perfect alignment of Sun, Moon, Earth. The nodes retrograde through the signs, Aries to Pisces to Aquarius etc.

Eclipses intensify the energy of the times, often exposing issues that has been hidden as it aligns with a person’s or country’s chart. They are like super full and new moons.

In January, the North Node is in Aries and the South Node is in Libra. By January 12th, they shift into Pisces and Virgo. The Nodes take 18 months to transit through a pair of opposing signs. Last time the nodes were in Pisces/Virgo was June 2006 – December 2007.

The North Node defines where our growth lies, and in Pisces it encourages us to cultivate empathy and inclusiveness, to imagine and dream up deeper visions of what is possible, cultivating faith and idealism. The South Node defines what needs to be released and in Virgo we may be releasing overly critical and judgmental biases. We may be letting go of perfectionism and control in order to have more trust in the moment to moment opportunities, the flow of the universe. With Pisces North Node, recording and finding wisdom in our dreams can help us integrate and navigate. With the South Node in Virgo this could bring us to more health and integration in body mind and soul. These Pisces Virgo themes define what supports personal and collective growth during 2025, and during the next 18 month time period. The negative manifestation of this nodal energy can bring delusion, disinformation, paranoid theories, and lack of deeper understanding. It’s more conscious embodiment encourages us to stretch ourselves into feeling and contemplating the larger view of things, to experience this intelligent cosmos in which we live. It asks us to define that which we place our faith in. 

March 13 -14 – Total Lunar Eclipse, 23 Virgo/Pisces, March 29 – Solar Eclipse 9 Aries, partial eclipse 

September 7 – Total Lunar Eclipse, 15 Pisces/Virgo, September 21 – Partial Solar Eclipse, 29 Virgo

Mars retrograde in Leo

December 6 2024 to February 23 2025 – 6 Leo – 17 Cancer

Mars retrogrades once every two years, therefore spending a prolonged time in one sign, instead of 2 months, it stays in the sign for 6 months, heating and activating that sign, that area of your chart. This year the Mars retrograde straddles 2 signs, Leo and Cancer Check out where 6 degrees Leo – 17 Cancer is in your chart. This area is stimulated from October 5th, through May 3rd 2025. 

• Mars retrograde a time to review our action, our intentions, our desires, needs and driving forces
• Mars retrograde in Leo calls for reviewing how we how we express ourselves, how we exhibit leadership, and how we act from our hearts.
• When Mars retrogrades back into Cancer, on January 6, 2025, it brings us back into our more subjective self. Issues of parenting and how we nurture ourselves and others for the next 2 years is deepened and being reviewed.
• Not a good time to initiate new projects, take bold actions or have electional surgery
• Good time to review what projects have been started and plans and intentions for the future

Venus retrograde

Venus in Aries – February 3rd

Venus retrograde – March 1 – April 12, 10 Aries – 24 Pisces

We begin the year with Venus passing through the last degrees of Aquarius, then entering its sign of exaltation (Pisces) on January 2nd, where it functions best. Pisces brings more ease in being receptive and harmonizing. It enters Aries on February 3rd, the sign of its detriment, the challenge of harmonizing through an assertive, independent and conflictual sign, Aries.

When Venus first goes retrograde, it is an evening star, then Venus disappears to reappear 6 days later as a morning star. As a Morning Star, freshly risen and still retrograde, Venus is fierce and takes a stand for herself, know as Venus Lucifer. Her energy in meeting relationship is spontaneous, eager, and responds through an impulsive emotional nature. This Venus carries an emotional resilience. With Venus retrograde, the quality of our relationships are meant to be reviewed, and refreshed to set the stage for a new cycle, as well as a review and deepening of our values. Venus Lucifer expresses itself also through being emotionally fresh, spontaneous, and open to new experiences.

We might imagine ourselves reviewing our own reactive and confrontive nature when Venus is in Aries. We might experience ourselves rushing to judgment and projecting on to others our vision of their intentions. During this time we can cultivate patience, when to speak up and when to be introspective, and bring inquiry and clarity to our deepest values. 

Venus direct (April 12th) culminates in a powerful expressive aspect formation. Conjunct the North Node and Saturn in Pisces, suggests that growth comes from giving form to more empathetic and inclusive attitudes toward relationship, creating emotional bonds and having healthy boundaries. Take note that when it goes direct it trines Mars in Cancer, reaffirming these values.

 

The placement of Venus retrograde in a particular sign returns every 8 years. Check what house themes and planetary aspects are activated for you during this time.

You can look back to March to April 2017, for information to how you responded, or learned from this particular Venus retrograde.

Placement of outer planets in 2025

Uranus in Taurus, 2018 through 2026, into Gemini – 2025-2033

In 2025 Uranus travels between 23 Taurus – 1 Gemini.                                                                                                             Check your chart to see where 23 Taurus – 1 Gemini is. (last time Uranus was in Gemini was 1941-1949)

Uranus jolts us into sudden and unexpected new realities/situations. In this way, it wakes us up to broaden our perspectives and promote more creative engagement with life. Uranus’s energy can be experienced as disruptive, and even rebellious without deeper cause, stirring chaos

• Uranus disengages us from secure points of view, and causes sudden separations from what we have relied on and valued.
• It brings us to the Present as it is, open, spacious, full of uncertainty, yet also full of potential gifts.
• It promotes radical change in our lives, attuning to new ways of being that are more creative, freer, and life sustaining.
• With Uranus in Taurus, the focus of awakening us to our values and our relationship with nature and the environment, is activated.
• Its potential is to bring idealism into reality, originality into tangible forms, to transform monetary systems and radically transform our relation with the environment and our Earth. It has the potential to bring about greater understanding of ecology.
• It activates the Earth signs and the fixed signs to change, wake up to new levels of perception, and go for it.
• In Gemini, Uranus flashes brilliance, bringing inspiration and inventiveness, quickening the use of ideas, writing and communications (use of AI). It makes connection lightening fast, and stimulates and quickly brings information., activating the beginning of the the other air signs, Libra and Aquarius.

 Neptune in Pisces, (2011 to 2025), in 2025 – 27 Pisces to 2 Aries

Neptune in Pisces can bring more attunement to the many dimensions in which we live, moving beyond identifying only with the physical into the spiritual and imaginative dimensions. People are able to break out of roles that have for so long held us in place and dictated how we could be with each other. (i.e. gay marriage, gender identity) The oceans, music, the arts, spirituality, imagination, and meditation will all increase in concern and focus. (Note, the mindfulness meditation movement) The arts, music, and sound, and their role in healing will be accentuated. Prison and hospital reform and healthcare reform will be up for us. Issues with refugees and large movements of people across borders will come to the forefront.

Neptune in Pisces assists in dissolving the old paradigm. It can activate the powers of our imagination so to support breaking out of old paradigms and belief systems that limit us. What we can imagine we can create. The shadow side of Neptune in Pisces is an increase in verbal spin, manipulation through deception and propaganda, increase in denial and escapism through drugs and alcohol. The challenge: we can feel overwhelmed as the increase in emotional sensitivity takes place as open as we are to the collective emotional field. It can be very disorientating and confusing, stimulating emotional responses of victimization. So when Neptune travels through Pisces, meditation, contemplation, coming to inner stillness and utilizing our poetic imagination all promote connection to more inclusive dimensions of consciousness.

Neptune in Aries – Neptune is the archetypal energy of the transpersonal unity and oneness of the universe. It is spiritual as it affirms this universal energy runs through all life. It’s the universal heart and the experience of love, a uniting force. It is the imaginative powers of the cosmos which creates the world. The sign Aries is the opposite, fierce with drive, individualistic, going its own independent way, assertive, courageous in its bold actions, competitive and conflictual, going to the edge and testing itself, “Dare I be!” It is also the birth of spring, the force that drives life into new rounds of being.

Any planet entering Aries, marks a new round and birth of its expression. Could this sign planet combination embody in bold ways new ideals and imagination, more assertive empathy? Could it bring out the polarity between compassion  and separation?

Could it name a new round of collective values toward each other or idealize aggression, the masculine and conflict? The level of our collective consciousness defines how Neptune will manifest in Aries.

Chiron in Aries (April 2018 – April 2027) in 2025 – 18 to 27 Aries

Chiron in Aries brings to the surface for healing and acknowledgment aggressive, reactive, even violent tendencies with the potential for deepening attunement to our intuitive and courageous self. Here we are healing the orientation to blame that develops from polarizing, and with Aries’ need to win and dominate. We are learning to listen, healing and supporting our spirit, our courage, and the power to stand and act with faith, not knowing future outcomes. We accomplish new levels of integration by intentions in alignment with the higher good, courage to act and be our authentic selves. The USA has Chiron in Aries. As Chiron moves through Aries it triggers the USA’s buried wounds from our very beginning, and formation of our country. It brings these to the surface for healing and new levels of integration. Chiron in the USA chart has been triggered since 2015, with transiting Uranus conjunct Chiron, then transiting Pluto squared Chiron through 2018, with Saturn joining the square in 2019. Jupiter transiting Chiron through 2020. This is in lead up to the USA Pluto return, where the USA must redefine our values for our country, the meaning of democracy, and who we shall be going forward, through 2025.

Pluto in Aquarius – see above

Sedna in Gemini

Sedna, a new planetoid in the farthest reaches of solar system. Her story carries the myth of abandonment and abuse by the male, and especially the father energy, where a betrayal leads to her fall to the bottom of the sea. The spirits of the Moon and Air witnessed the betrayal and fall, and because of her bravery and hardship named her the Goddess of the oceans and all the sea creatures.

Her elliptical orbit around the Sun is 11,400 years, and now she is closest to our earth in her revolution, (our ability, then, to discover her). She is the farthest out planet, falling to the deepest seas (symbolizing an expansion of collective consciousness). She is the first planet named from indigenous peoples’ (Intuit) mythology, rather than Greek or Roman, which brings a new kind of consciousness to humanity. In astrology when a planet is discovered and named, the timing is ripe for it’s themes to be coming into the collective consciousness. It is amazing that she is, also, in the Aries Vortex, conjunct Uranus as well. These themes of balance of male and female, of resolving and healing trauma, attending to the deepest issues, return to nature, and stretching our consciousness in the most far reaching ways, are just some of the themes of Sedna. Sedna in Gemini, may heighten the telling of the goddess story and the honoring of the feminine. Whatever planets you have near 1 Gemini, are being touched by her themes.