We often think of the Moon’s influence on Earth as primarily the gravitational affect like it exerts on the Oceans, but the Moon also emits magnetic fields and pulses as shown above from the Lunar Prospector electron reflectometer experiment.

Friday is an interesting day, since Mercury (Communication) works with (Trines) both Neptune (Ideals), and Saturn (Practicality) today. You can think clearly about what must be done on your projects, and in your relationships. And, it’s a good day for a meeting to talk things over. Saturn’s influence can feel restrictive at time, so communicating about big picture goals and plans can be a welcome break.

“Sun in Taurus (the “lovers sign” — ruled by Venus) on Saturday, with a Scorpio Full Moon on Sunday makes for a very love prone weekend.”

The week has been interesting, with the Moon is squaring off with Neptune Thursday leaving a feeling of unease about possible deception. That’s OK. The world is a tricky place at times, and discernment is always a vital skill. How do you learn what to believe, and of what to remain skeptical? Trust your gut. Study in the school of hard knocks. Pray and ask for spiritual guidance. You are after the truth, in business, in relationships, and life. That’s how you find freedom. The weekend continues an undercurrent of possible mistakes and misperceptions even as it looks like a wonderful time for romance.

At play, as ever, is our Moon, ruler of emotions, ruler of Cancer, and associated forever with Water — the ruler of Tides, as well. It circles our planet about once every 28 days, spending 2.3 days in each of the signs of the Zodiac. How it is positioned — in struggle or cooperation — relative to the other planets tells a lot about the energy tides on our earth. The Moon is also said to guide and influence one’s unconscious rythyms, habits, moods and memories. And this weekend, we encounter a Full Moon.

Sun in Taurus (the “lovers sign” — ruled by Venus) on Saturday, with a Scorpio Full Moon on Sunday makes for a very love prone weekend. Full moons bring much potency to your emotional life, and there is much erotic passion in Scorpio — so get ready for a weekend designed for hot romance. Remember that the Moon, when Full, is a time of power, and that you will have energy to work on projects that you have been wanting to finish (if you take time out from the romantic fun). Be aware that powerful emotional tides can set up deception — on the part of others, and even self-deception. You can avoid this by thinking things through, and taking time out to meditate and get in touch with higher sources of truth. The trick is to balance out passion with logic and principles in your life… and enjoy the ride.

Consider how this clock, in Prague, tracks time, and Astrology — a mechanism which reveals and links the passing of the hours with celestial influences.

A lot of what Astrologers look at has to do with how two or more planets are positioned to each other, and how the tension between them — in the heavens — can exert an effect on us on Earth. Remember, the Moon can cause the tides. So other planets, some many times the size of the Moon, though at great distance, have their influence on us as well. Right now, one thing that is going on in the Zodiac, is that Venus is positioned to “square” (at a 90 degree angle) Uranus. This can create a tension in your relationships and with people close to you where you may have some different ideas about how to proceed, then they do.

“This is a time for emotional intelligence. Trust what your feelings are telling you.”

On Tuesday (01/15) of this week, the Moon “squares” the Sun in the heavens. Then, later in the week, Venus enters Aquarius. Again, a “square” creates a kind of celestial tug of war. And, when the Moon — ruler of emotions — has tension with the Sun — the light of your personality — you may see some emotions affecting your behavior. Deal with them. Remember: feel, deal, heal. That will get you ready for the planet of Love (Venus) entering the somewhat unpredictable sign of Aquarius. Deal with your emotions up front, then you can deal, much better, with any unexpected things that come up in your relationships later in the week.

On Thursday (01/17), a couple of interesting planetary configurations include the Moon squaring Neptune, and then we have a Moon trine Sun configuration this evening. This is nice for the emotional side of things where your gut instincts may be important in what you create today. Your emotions may again play a key role in how you are perceived tonight and tomorrow, as you can be sympathetic with friends and sweethearts. This is a time for emotional intelligence. Trust what your feelings are telling you.

On Friday (1/18) the Moon creates a little tension with the Sun, based on its position celestially. They are at an angle known in Astrology as a “sesquiquadrate.” This can result with your feelings being at odds with what your “head” is telling you. Logic versus emotions. Each have their value. Put it down on paper, and sleep on it overnight, before making a decision. Again, the Moons role in providing signals for our “emotional intelligence” comes into play. Trust your gut instinct once again, but make sure you don’t act irrationally. Of course there are other factors involved like your own individual personality, your horoscope, and the influences of other planets.

So, just like there’s a mechanism to the universe, with orbits and gravities affecting planet sized bodies… so there are gears of influence that encircle and work their wills on our lives.

Planets and Zodiac influence the World.

When you are interested in the “influence” of the Planets, Sun, Moon — the celestial bodies, just how do you believe they may influence you as an individual? Well, one way is the way the Moon influences the tides — with gravity. Gravity moves water, and our bodies are 90% water. But don’t the heavens influence your emotional and spiritual “bodies” too? I think so. Just as those parts of yourself are all integrated in your own personality, so too are the mechanics of the universe intrinsic to our emotional and spiritual selves. And understanding how that works, and what is happening with people close to you is what Astrology is all about.

“…the Moon enters Pisces this weekend (12th & 13th), and that means it’s a good time to move a little dream or two into a reality.”

How is your love life doing as the year starts its course? Venus, the planet of Love, is being tugged a bit by both Uranus and Saturn, themselves in a tense aspect to each other. This can bring about a good time for you to examine things. What has been on your nerves regarding your relationships? What is at the source of any tension? You may not want to “go there,” but facing it will help you clean your house and make for a good healthy Springtime.

Do you enjoy a good fantasy… in your real life? Well, the Moon enters Pisces this weekend (12th & 13th), and that means it’s a good time to move a little dream or two into a reality. And with Venus (the love planet) in Sagittarius, this potent combination makes for some intense romantic possibilities. Costume party, anyone? Saturday is better than Sunday for this, since Venus comes under the influence of Saturn on Sunday which can mean pulling back in your relationships. That’s alright — have fun Saturday, then enjoy some reflection time on Sunday.

Twelve constellations of the Zodiac in this Vienese work of art circa 1354.

It’s New Moon time, perfect for those new beginnings that are also called New Years Resolutions. Or, if you like, just take some time to think about what you need to make new, and renew in your relationships, in you career, and in your spiritual life. The energy is perfect for that right now.

“The Sun is in Capricorn, and so is Jupiter — something that occurs once every twelve years (there’s that number 12 again).”

Twelve months, twelve Zodiac signs, twelve houses in Astrology. Now we embark on the first month of the new year in a calendar aligned and synchronized with the heavens and celestial bodies. It is about cycles. It is about numbers. In numerology, twelve is reduced to three (one plus two — adding its digits together), which stands for communication and interaction. It is also a divine “trinity” and sacred number. But we are in the first month. And number one is about the individual — no wonder it’s a good time for affirmations, goal setting, and new year’s resolutions. How are those coming?

And so, we start the turning of the year again — the cycle of seasons. For things to cycle, you need a wheel — just look at the circle of the twelve constellations in astrology, and the 12 houses in a horoscope that together form the spokes of a great circle. The twelve months of our calendar, spinning season into season. That’s what do wheels do. They turn, as the planets turn in rotation around the Sun. Full circle. And the wheel of your own life revolves around your spheres of influence — family, career, romance, finance, spiritual. If you don’t find a still place of peace to meditate, it can seem like the blur of a carnival sometimes. How do you sort it all out?

The heavens are in an interesting configuration with a number of planets at unusual angles, called “septiles”, to one another… and this makes for a period of changes afoot. The Sun is in Capricorn, and so is Jupiter — something that occurs once every twelve years (there’s that number 12 again). Jupiter can “keep things real”, and so you can commit to your dreams for the year and see them manifest for you. New Moon this week is Tuesday Jan 8th… It’s a Sweet Saturn trend, and structure, stability and everything you’ve felt chaotic suddenly begins to smooth out and become more balanced and routine toward weeks end. So take change and run with it — do some planning, and try some new things. This month can bring you more than one opportunity for growth.

Jupiter photo shot from NASA’s “Cassini” space probe.

This is a Virgo-Moon weekend. This serves to organize our thoughts and allows us to speak clearly about important things — now is the right time for communication. We are also in the Sagittarius time of the Zodiac now, and it is governed by the giant planet Jupiter. It is a season of good fortune and prosperity. If you are seeking justice in your worldly dealings, the influence of Jupiter is also good for that pursuit. Also, in astrology, we look to Jupiter as ruler of your 9th House (religion, law, and higher education), and 12th House (psychic matters). So, there’s quite a lot going on with Jupiter which also is headed toward an interesting conjunction with Pluto on December 11th.

“Because no two people share the exact same configuration (even “identical” twins come into the world at different time intervals) in their horoscope, so are relationships between two people unique.”

How are your growth plans coming along? Jupiter, the largest Planet in our Solar System, is active right now, as it moves toward a conjunction with Pluto on Dec. 11th. In Roman Mythology, Jupiter ruled over the Gods themselves… a very powerful influence. It was the Babylonians who used the approximately 12 year voyage of Jupiter along the Ecliptic to delineate the twelve constellations in the Zodiac. Astrologically speaking, Jupiter stands for prosperity, growth, and expanding fortune. Not a bad thing during these festive days.

Is your Holiday Season going well? During this busy time it is normal to come in contact with a lot of people — some new, some old friends, colleagues and acquaintances. Auld Lang Syne. What would the world be without friendships — without people? A bit like the sky without planets and stars, I think. How will you celebrate among all of these celestial bodies this year?

You are unique, and your time and place of birth is equally unique. It is on this — the precise location and time you were born — that Astrology bases your Horoscope with particular attention to the positions of the planets in the Zodiac at the moment of your birth. Because no two people share the exact same configuration (even “identical” twins come into the world at different time intervals) in their horoscope, so are relationships between two people unique. We can look at compatibilities between signs in general, but each partner you team up with represents a unique combination of personalities and combined traits.

That good old Moon of ours was full last weekend. What can be its influence on our lives? Most know of the Moon’s affect on the tides of the ocean, and that it also stabilizes the orbit of the Earth. So if the Earth can feel it, and be changed by it — then it can reach into us, can it not? In Astrology, the Moon has been said to represent feelings, emotions, and the subconscious. So now that the Moon is Waning (in it’s fourth quarter), watch for insights in the week ahead.

“This is the first week of the Sun in Sagittarius, and the energy of that sign is both fun-loving and truth-loving…”

Are you focused on what you need to do? Sometimes, all that energy from the full moon can “get you going” a little too fast. As you head into your work week… take a look around you, and pause to gather your breath. Think more in terms of “quality time” both on the job and in your relationships to stay with what is important this week. This is the first week of the Sun in Sagittarius, and the energy of that sign is both fun-loving and truth-loving — that seems like an excellent mix for the kick-off of the holiday season.

What tools do you use to resolve conflict? We’re in the Zodiac time of Sagittarius (Happy Birthday Sagittarians), and Astrologers agree that this sign has a certain tug & pull associated with it. Generally speaking this is the struggle and tension between the higher and lower self that so many of us face, no matter the sign to which we are born. Just remember this need not spell crisis, but rather opportunity in your life, since this is part of becoming an adult and growing into a good citizen in your culture. How can you tame the beast within? Look to the Spirit, and call upon God to help.