We are starting the new year with a bang, a partial solar eclipse takes place in Sagittarius on January 6 and a total lunar eclipse in Cancer on January 21. This will be a year of dramatic changes, particularly for the dual signs, Gemini, Sagittarius, Virgo, and Pisces. As the clock turns to 2019, we see the two energetic (rajasic) planets, Mercury and Venus, changing signs, helping us to usher in the new calendar year with a wave of enthusiasm and passion.
Venus Enters Scorpio January 1, 2019
Venus moves into Scorpio on January 1 at approx. 3 pm UTC and remains till January 30. Venus is the planet of connection, creative juice and relationships and will be moving from a comfortable position in her own sign of Libra to a new, more challenging spot in Scorpio, joining Jupiter. Venus spends January in Scorpio with Jupiter, giving us one month of “dwi guru yoga,” which translates as “joining of two teachers.” We see this in the depths of Scorpio, which can encourage some deep self-reflection.
Venus signifies comfort and happiness and is going into a situation that is less comfortable. Scorpio is lorded by Mars and Ketu and can be quite deep, intense and challenging, which is disturbing to the often diplomatic Venus. We are all pushed to face the intense situations that often lurk beneath the surface.
This month, therefore, would be a great time to actively dive deeply into the subconscious realms. Exploring the depths of relationships, breaking through the ice that may be blocking deeper connections, mining for the good materials to fuel creative projects. There are great teachings awaiting us all month as the two gurus, Venus and Jupiter, are leading us into realms of deeper understanding.
Mercury enters Sagittarius January 1, 2019
Mercury reaches gandanta point on New Year’s Day in the sign of Sagittarius. It enters Mula nakshatra at approx. 4 am UTC, having passed through the Scorpio gandanta zone in Scorpio.
Gandanta are points in the zodiac: between Pisces and Aries (1st gandanta), between Cancer and Leo (2nd gandanta) and between Scorpio and Sagittarius (3rd gandanta). As expected, the two elements of water and fire tend to work in different directions. Water can destroy fire by overwhelming it with moisture and fire can destroy water by evaporating it with its heat.
These transitions from water to fire signs have been given the name “gandanta” which translates to “knot” or “joint.” There is a transition between ending and beginning at these joints, between dissipation and initiation. Each of the three gandanta in the zodiac has a different nature based on other factors. The third gandanta between Scorpio and Sagittarius is between a fixed sign and a dual sign. We see this spot in the zodiac as a battlefield where it is difficult to let go of the established order (fixed sign Scorpio) in favour of moving to a seemingly unstable, unfamiliar environment (dual sign Sagittarius), and this is the reason that the third gandanta point is the most painful and challenging.
This will affect Gemini and Virgo directly as their ruler Mercury is transiting this point. This hints toward a turning point this year – a crossroads – something integral in their lives they will have to let go of and will have to push toward a new image, status, and private life. This will not be easy as Scorpio is very difficult energy, particularly the gandanta zone.
New Moon Partial Solar Eclipse in Purva Ashada, Venus’ nakshatra, on January 6
On January 6, at approx. 2 am UTC, we have a new moon solar eclipse at 21 degrees Sagittarius, in the nakshatra of Purva Ashada, whose ruling planet is Venus. Ketu will be causing the eclipse and the reason for its “partial” status is due to Ketu’s considerable distance from the Sun/Moon combination. Both the ruler of Sagittarius, Jupiter, as well as ruler of Purva Ashada, Venus, are traversing through the deep waters of Scorpio at this time. We also have a close conjunction of Saturn, joining in Purva Ashada.
The deity associated with Purva Ashada is Apas, the lord of the waters. Venus being a watery planet and a watery deity managing this portion of a fiery sign, Sagittarius, we see the water and fire theme arising again. Apas is associated with Varuna, so we can associate both of these lords of the waters with Purva Ashada.
Purva Ashada will become a very important scene as the year goes on. After this eclipse opens the activity within Purva Ashada, the Sun will be moving into Capricorn, and into closer proximity to the shadow of Ketu. Slow-paced Saturn will linger in Purva Ashada throughout 2019, moving into Uttarashada on December 26, 2019.
This eclipse impacts Sagittarius Sun, Moon or Ascendant directly and also those who have their birthdays close to the eclipse day – expect some changes in your life. If you have planets in Purva Ashada, you will also be impacted depending on where it falls in your chart and what lordships are affected. Eclipses are times of transformation; hidden information may be revealed, and they are omens of events to come.
The themes that arise strongly for 2019 involve taking physical responsibility for the creation of corruption in our natural environment. This involves resisting the temptation to turn a blind eye toward our own faults. We will return to this theme of responsibility, purification and cleansing again and again throughout the year, as we unearth the mystery of how to exist in physical form in a world that insists on continual transformation and eventual decay.
Sun Transits Capricorn January 14 – February 13
The Sun’s ingress into the sign of Capricorn is celebrated annually as Makara Sankranti. Makara is the Sanskrit name for Capricorn that translates as “crocodile.” Makara is an earth sign that is ruled by the planet Saturn.
The Sun here immediately runs into Ketu, the south node of the Moon, that is associated with the blocking of worldly activities in favour of pursuing liberation. Ketu’s nature is fiery, akin to that of Mars, with whom he shares rulership of the sign of Scorpio, Mars’ water sign. The Sun in Capricorn is considered a bit compromised due to his rocky relationship with Saturn and proximity to the nodal axis tends to destabilize the steady light of the Sun. This can result in self-doubt, hesitation, mistakes in judgement, and reduced discernment. If you have planets in Capricorn or you are Leo Lagna, you may feel this transit the most.
Here again, we have another omen of the influence of Saturn and Ketu holding strong throughout this calendar year. The Sun, who guides us to right action and inspires our sense of leadership, will be starting the year with Saturn and then moving into Saturn’s sign to encounter Ketu. This gives us all an opportunity to learn how to tap into our intuition and look inward for guidance, finding a still, humble stance which becomes a necessity when the outer environment is dark, foggy, and confusing.
Full Moon Total Lunar Eclipse in Cancer, in the nakshatra of Pushya, on January 21
At approximately 5 am UTC on January 21, the Moon and Rahu join in Cancer at nearly 7 degrees. Pushya nakshatra is considered to be one of the most auspicious, ruled by the planet Saturn. The Moon is the ruler of the sign of Cancer and in its full state is extremely potent positioned here. The Moon is the queen of the night, the ruler of emotions, the one who reflects the light of the Sun. Like our fluctuating minds and mood, the Moon changes guise each day, waxing and waning, gliding through the zodiac, visiting with all of the other planets once per month as it makes its rounds. The feminine principle is embodied in the Moon, difficult to control, extremely attractive, and naturally comforting.
Lunar eclipses are always emotional times as the Moon, symbolic of the mind, is being eclipsed. Usually, a lunar eclipse can trigger situations quite suddenly, bringing that which is hidden to the surface, delivering instant results. The idea of an eclipse is that a shadow is swallowing the light, throwing us into a temporary state of blindness. We can feel lost and directionless, which is why it is not advisable to act around the time of an eclipse. At these times of obvious instability, it is a good idea to schedule some blank spaces into the calendar. Any form of spiritual practice is potent during eclipse times.
Mercury is also involved in this eclipse as it is close to Ketu. So we need to be particularly careful regarding the choices we make. Our thinking is confused, and we may not be clear headed. This is the last eclipse in Cancer directly affecting those who have planets in early degrees of Cancer.
Mars Transits Pisces till February 5
Mars made his move into Pisces on December 23. Here, Mars will gain the support of Jupiter in two ways. Jupiter is the lord of Pisces and from Scorpio is also aspecting Pisces. Jupiter and Mars are considered natural friends, so this gives Mars a nice platform from which to launch his next mission.
This transit will be powerful for both Jupiter and Mars additionally because of the parivartana (exchange of signs) that will occur. Mars rules Scorpio where Jupiter is currently placed and Jupiter rules Pisces, where Mars will be. Both planets become elevated and empowered as if they were occupying their own sign.
The best news is that the watery environment of Pisces is a safe place to handle the fiery power of Mars. This is a fertile time for wrapping up and finishing work projects, journeys and courses of study while at the same time pivoting toward new horizons. Mars gives us courage to build or destroy, depending on the objective. Of course, we also must factor in the influence of Rahu, who also aspects all of the water signs during this time. Mars likes clear cut thinking and set plans while Rahu injects chaos and instability, so this could be a bit of a challenge as we move forward.
If what we are being offered this month and in fact, during the coming year, is to contend with the gandanta energy, the puzzle of how to work with water and fire without everything getting destroyed, then we could use some help, most likely. The two planets who naturally have dominion over both fire and water are Jupiter and Mars, who each rule both a fire and a water sign in the zodiac. This month especially, both of these planets will be in great dignity. So look toward what Mars and Jupiter rule in your birthchart for dealing with the challenging energies of the month.
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