The new year of 2016 begins Friday. Adding the numbers 2+1+6 equals nine (9). Nine signifies endings, completion, fulfillment and a major initiation (all year) into a new cycle of learning. Mercury enters Aquarius New Year’s Day. We step, for a moment, into Aquarius with its new Laws & Principles. All planets are in direct motion on January 1. Planets-in-direction-motion means we move into the future more easily. This moment of moving forward (planets direct), however, ends Tuesday, January 5, with Mercury turning stationary retrograde. Two days later, Thursday, January 7, Jupiter also stationary retrogrades.
Two major retrogrades in a week at the beginning of the year overshadow the events of new year. Retrogrades are important, surprising, magical times for humanity, offering a rest from usual ways of being. Mercury retrograde influences thinking and communication. Jupiter retro reminds us, “Love more, for Love underlies all happenings in our world.”
Retrogrades (inner assessments) at the beginning of our new year set the tone for 2016, an election year. The retrogrades help us review, re-assess, re-evaluate, re-examine, re-analyze which candidate is best to lead our country and the world. Which candidate is not involved with Monsanto, places humanity’s welfare ahead of business as usual, can we trust, who speaks the Truth?
The planets work primarily in mutable signs (Gemini, Sag, Virgo, Pisces) during 2016. Mutable signs offer specific experiences that build a vital and integrated personality, strong enough to follow the disciplines of the Soul. In 2016, the themes for humanity are building a strong integrated personality, encountering the Soul, reviewing the past, stepping into the future and experiencing a new cycle of learning.
ARIES: You become more and more aware of others as the year progresses. You begin to say, “I see, I understand, I know more now.” This comes from Mercury, helping you develop new thinking, communicate with kindness, and connecting your past, present and future. You interact and move about with speed and a new state of happiness. Breathe rhythmically. Swim. Care for yourself.
TAURUS: It’s important to remain focused upon health and healing. Research what is most nourishing for your body and blood types, what is your “dosha.” Find a “functional doctor,” a new type of doctor that investigates the sources of illness. Find a natural wellness dentist. Do all things needed and necessary to remain healthy. You will need to manage daily affairs with more efficiency. A change comes soon.
GEMINI: You experience new motivations and new actions in the New Year. You may feel fiery, driven to creatively express yourself. At first you experience intuitive revelations as Mercury retrogrades. You remember the past, all relationships, the ways you used money and resources. You will remember deaths, too. From these memories, you will organize your future life. With sunbeams.
CANCER: You begin to learn new things, new ways of communicating and interacting with others. Negotiation becomes a skill you seek to acquire. Notice the ideals flowing through your mind. Record, journal, ponder upon, draw and share them. Use your knowledge. If we don’t use a gift it disappears. Analysis, instinct and intuition are gifts offering you purpose and help to achieve goals. What are your goals?
LEO: You are an artist. Many recognize this. You may or may not. In some lifetime you will be aware that art and creativity are ways you learn about yourself. Daily life remains an in-depth process of regeneration. You will experience new foundations & new beginnings this year. With finances, home, and in the continued shifting of all daily life endeavors. All that you do and encounter will be fruitful.
VIRGO: New self-identity meets with old self-identity and you will have a choice as to which identity you want to be, how you want to identify yourself, and what self you will project into the world. Even though Virgo talks a lot and is out and about in the world, Virgo keeps part of the self hidden from view. Virgo is concerned always with communication, health and well-being. Do not toil or be troubled this year.
LIBRA: Take extra special care of yourself this year. Everything that happens, all that you encounter will have an expansive, larger than usual quality to it. Read T.S. Eliot. Memorize a few lines from his “Love Song.” Follow your intuition to the letter this year, especially in terms of health. If seeing doctors, find the very best ones. Seek meaning and have faith in those who love you.
SCORPIO: Think about truth this New Year. All levels of truth, all dimensions, patterns and relationships to the truth. Then speak the truth. This may not be easy for you and/or for others to hear. The truth sets us free. Truth holds us in its care. The truth has variety in its simplicity. Truth steadies us. Truth has a deep connection to intuition. Truth offers us a foundation to stand upon.
SAGITTARIUS: Venus and Saturn are in Sag as the New Year begins. You may feel resources are no longer available. They seem to have up and walked away. This is partially the situation. It’s the no longer useful that is gone. When we feel nothing’s left, it’s because new realities are pulsating like stars directly toward us, creating new structures and ways of being, new resources, plans and agendas. Have patience, be as routined as possible. A bit more wild is good.
CAPRICORN: Considered practical, you’re also imaginative and a bit unusual. You’re curious, too, and generous with information, sharing all that you know. For some reason I sense it’s time to create a journal of daily life. One that you draw, paint and color in. A deep sense of the creative is permeating your life. It’s from Neptune. There’s wisdom in creating this journal. Take time from your busy schedule for this creative art. It will have meaning later.
AQUARIUS: Neptune will be in your 2nd house of resources for years. Beginning this year, take very special care of finances and resources. Everything may feel changing and fluid. Things will constantly seem to shift. It’s important during this time of change to maintain health and well being in all ways. Do not forego this. Create nourishment in all that you do. Pray for what is needed. Have faith.
PISCES: Everything in your life is in a state of preparation. For what will come forth in the coming times. Pisces talents become more recognized through the years. At first Pisces is hidden by Neptune’s waters. Then Pluto takes over and Pisces becomes potent and powerful. What happened to the confused fish, people ask? Pisces all of a sudden becomes a leader (and savior) in a world in need!
Risa – writer, founder & director, Esoteric & Astrological Studies & Research Institute, a contemporary Wisdom School studying the Ageless Wisdom teachings. The foundations of the Teachings are the study & application of Astrology & the Seven Rays.