January Eclipses

Venus spends the Month (Jan 1 until Jan 29) in Scorpio. This is an intense energy which can make it difficult to follow-through on your New Year’s Resolutions. Venus represents our material and sensual desires and Scorpio is a fixed internalizing energy which brings up past issues related to Venus (relationships, addictions, poor coping mechanisms, etc.) So, it might be best to use January to observe your thoughts and feelings that arise and take time to explore which area you would like to focus on once Venus moves into Sagittarius on 30 January.

January also brings two eclipses which stir the energy. First we have a Partial Solar Eclipse on 5 January at 21 degrees of Sagittarius and then the Total Lunar Eclipse on January 21 which occurs at 6 degrees of Cancer.  The Partial Solar Eclipse will be visible in Eastern Asia primarily in Eastern Russia. The effects will manifest over the next 6 months and may indicate regional unrest and invigoration to anti- government forces.  The Total Lunar Eclipse will be visible in North and South America, Greenland, Iceland, and far Northern countries in Europe.  The eclipse occurs at a point in the lunar zodiac where spiritual energy is created.  This energy will promote ideas of unity and the interconnectedness of all life.  The energy is available for 30 days and is a great time to consciously connect to a higher vibration through meditation, yoga, journaling and/or daily quiet reflection.

This year the theme for the monthly posts will be to explore the movement of the Sun through each sign. The Sun has a different name each month which gives us clues about the essential characteristic of the sign. On January 14, the Sun enters Capricorn and remains there until February 12, 2019.  Sun entering Capricorn is celebrated as a Holiday in India because it indicates that the Sun has begun to climb in the sky and each day the Northern hemisphere will gain light until he enters Cancer when we will begin to notice that the days grow shorter. In the sign of Capricorn, the Sun is called Pushan. Pushan is said to be “all seeing”. Astronomically this refers to the natural position of Capricorn in the 10^th house which is always directly overhead. From that vantage point the Sun sees everything everywhere. The Sun sees all our actions and yet he treats us all the same. The Sun shines on saints and sinners just the same. This indicates that Capricorn has the ability to treat everyone equally and does not play favorites. It also means that Capricorn sees deeply into all situations and can see hidden or subconscious motivation. Capricorn is a good sign for detectives, judges and therapists. Pushan’s ability to maintain equanimity is also a characteristic which allows Mars, who tends to be volatile, to put his best foot forward which is one reason why Mars is exalted in Capricorn.

Pushan is the guardian of flocks, crops, heards and property in general. He is also said to make the grains grow which indicates the Sun’s role in bringing life to all forms of creation. Perhaps this is why Capricorn is the cardinal Earth sign and represents those who produce all the things we need to live. All life comes through the blessings of the Pushan Sun.

Pushan is the companion of all travelers and guides souls to the next world. This indicates a central theme of Capricorn which is the transformation from the material world to the spiritual world. Capricorn urges each of us to progress on the path toward enlightenment. While he creates the material goods that we need to survive on this planet, his all-seeing nature gives the opportunity to realize that the journey does not end on Earth. Wisdom arises when we recognize that this life is only a stop on the way to the next level of awakening.