The Year 2002 Astrology by John Sandbach The year 2002 begins on a Tuesday, which is the day of the week ruled by Mars. The Hindu astrologers believe the day on which a year begins sets the energy tone for the whole year. So 2002 will be a year of action -- at worst, a time of conflict, but at best a time when assertiveness can change negative patterns into positive ones. In contrast, 2001 began on a Monday, so it was a year colored by Moon energy, meaning that security issues were of prime importance. Also, the Moon is the most vulnerable of the planets, so 2001 was a year of feeling our vulnerability, and a time when we all needed to work on clearing negative emotional energies and old subconscious patterns, which were restricting us. The planet Chiron has just gone into Capricorn and will be there until December 2005. It is time now for a deep and profound healing of Capricorn energy. Capricorn signifies those in power -- the status quo, the authorities. And in so many ways, the authorities have let us down. So now it is time to intensify the questioning of authority, and to take the power away from those who have betrayed us. It also is time to deeply question our own inner authorities, that is, those biases about right and wrong under which we operate. Capricorn is the sign of manipulation, and manipulation can be good, as long as it is done for the right reasons. Capricorn is the ultimate economist and ecologist, and so it is time to ask ourselves how we are using our inner -- as well as outer -- resources, how we are spending our time, as well as our money. Capricorn loves to find the shortest distance between two points, and it has a knack for being able to get what it wants, one way or another. But the problem is, when we don't even know where we're going, or are misguided, then what does finding the shortest distance between two points matter? Capricorn has been one of the most problematic energies of the last 100 years, for Capricorn is a sign on a quest for what works, and what has worked in the past often no longer works now. In fact, what works is tending to change from day to day, and what works for one person may not work for another. We are all needing to find our own inner authority -- and to find what works in terms of helping our evolution, rather than hanging on to what works in terms of anesthetizing ourselves and preventing our growth. Mercury will be retrograde from January 18 to February 8. The retrograde begins in the 15th degree of Aquarius, which is one of the most rocklike, unchanging degrees of the zodiac. The negative side of this retrograde period can manifest as an intensification of all dogmatic thinking and communicating, and a deep-set compulsion to continue doing the same things in the same way, no matter how much one needs to change. This is not a good time for negotiating, and if communication goes awry, it is because people are so entrenched in their old mental patterns that they fail to hear the other person, or to see options that could solve the problem at hand. The retrograde period ends in the 29th degree of Aquarius, one of the most psychic degrees of the zodiac. The message here is clear: The easiest way through the labyrinth of miscommunications and misunderstandings is through the intuition -- to focus on one's inner knowing and allow oneself to perceive the inner meaning of experience, rather than taking the logical, rational and linear approach. Mercury and Saturn are in each other's ruling sign for most of the month, so this is a time of working on communication problems by: (1) being more patient when communicating -- slowing down so that you make sure you are hearing clearly what is being said to you, and (2) not avoiding talking about difficult or painful subjects, as well as (3) realizing when someone is shutting down communication by seemingly misunderstanding you when in fact they just don't want to hear what you're saying, because they don't like it. Mars starts out the year in Pisces and stays there until January 19. This often is not such a good place for Mars, a planet that loves focus and direction and that can become to dispersed and diffused in the foggy and iffy sign of Pisces. If you feel as if you are going on circles, wait until the 19th when Mars goes into Aries, for this will create a lot of thrust and direction. Mars in Aries is refreshingly impulsive and will get on with things without having to take the time for such things as preparation. John Sandbach has been a full-time astrologer for 33 years. He's written six books on astrology and related fields. He also teaches energy therapy and shiatsu at a massage school in Kansas City. If you are interested in making an appointment with him, please call (816) 561-6199, or you can e-mail him at planetjohn@planetkc.com. Copyright © 2002 John Sandbach |
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