2021 - The Beginning Of A New Era

On Monday 21st December 2020 a conjunction between Jupiter and Saturn will take place at zero degrees (0°) Aquarius. This marks the beginning of a major new era which will bring hope and enlightenment. After all the heavy, oppressive Capricorn energy we've been under this year, 2021 promises to lift the load. There will be no overnight miracles, but there will be a gradual easing of restriction, worry and pessimism. We are about to enter a positive new era. Aquarius is about tolerance, philanthropy and humanitarianism It brings people together, celebrates diversity and recognises individuality. The renewal of society is iminent - and we will all be involved in the changes that are due throughout the next few years. 

Jupiter and Saturn meet every 20 years in an aspect known as the Great Conjunction. This time, not only a new 20-year cycle begins, but also one that will shape the world for the next two centuries. The conjunctions of Saturn and Jupiter occur in the same element for approximately 200 years. Now the current cycle in the Earth element is coming to an end, and with the Great Conjunction in Aquarius, we are at the very beginning of a new cycle in the element of Air when knowledge, communication and technology will dominate the next two hundred years.

Jupiter and Saturn have not been in conjunction in the sign of Aquarius since the 15th century. The last time they were together in that sign was in 1962 when they formed part of the 'Age of Aquarius' line-up which comprised a total of seven planets plus the South Node - all in Aquarius. The result was the beginning of a new, radical, forward-looking decade powered by a generation of young people born during, or just after, World War II, who decided to overturn the status quo. Although it would be 1967 before they really came to prominence, leading to the Hippie Movement and the beginning of a phenomenon called The Summer Of Love. The year 1962 and the Aquarius planets that defined it, brought a cultural revolution which would reverberate.throughout the entire decade and beyond.  

There have been other years since 1962 when a line-up of planets has occurred in Aquarius: 1986, 1998, and 2009. However, the year 1962 still remains the most dynamic of all  - so far -because it not only contained the highest number of heavenly bodies but also a Solar Eclipse. On Thursday 11th February 2021 there will be the biggest Aquarian planetary line-up in 59 years! Interestingly, when Jupiter transits Aquarius, mass social gatherings tend to be a theme, often connected to love, compassion, and a spirit of philanthropy and humanitarianism. Live Aid in 1985 is a prime example, and it will be interesting to see if something similar happens in 2021. Will this bring an explosion of creative talents? Another cultural revolution? Watch this space....

In early January 2021 transiting Mars will finally leave Aries after a six-month long stint and this will be when we start to rebuild our society.. During the rest of the year, Mars will be the driving force of positive progress as it freely transits throughout 2021 without any retrograde motion. 

A recurring theme throughout 2021 will be a square aspect between Saturn and Uranus which happens approximately every 21 years. These two planets represent opposing outlooks: Old versus new; the past versus the future; traditional versus unconventional. Under this planetary influence there will be tension as our need for freedom and spontaneity will clash with a need for structure and stability. Rules and limitations will be challenging, but without them there will be chaos. Under this planetary influence, there may be sudden and unexpected twists that will force us to do things differently or free ourselves from our past ways of thinking. Striking a balance between convention and innovation will be the main challenge of 2021. However, there will be a feeling of frustration related to differences in opinion - probably political.

On a more personal note, those of you born with planets or points in Aquarius will feel a surge of power, a new position of responsibility could arise and you'll experience a growing sense of optimism. The other Air signs will also benefit as Jupiter will form a trine aspect to Gemini and Libra Suns, as will Sagittarius and Aries when Jupiter sextiles their natal Suns. There are certain Aquarians who will be particularly affected/influenced. Those born on 11th February. will not only have a six-planet line-up in your sign conjunct your natal Sun on your birthday, but transiting Jupiter will hover over your Sun later in the year as it goes into a phase of retrograde, stationary and direct motion. In fact, everyone born between 11th to 21st February will be intensely influenced by Jupiter from 26th March until the end of the year. 

The sign of Aquarius is associated with progressive thinking and freedom. There used to be a saying "There is only one race, the human race." That is the bottom line - there is no 'them and us', there's just US. The international global community will become more important than ever in the years and decades ahead, and it is starting now! The generation born under this phenomenal planetary influence will come of age at the next Jupiter Saturn conjunction on 31st October 2040. Speaking of babies being born under this influence.... Aquarius is one of the signs of fertility, and with Jupiter, the planet of abundance situated there, will there be a post-pandemic Baby Boom? What will be their role in our destiny? Watch and wait....

The Presidents' Curse

The alleged curse known as 'The 20 Year USA Presidential Curse' (also the 'Curse of Tippecanoe', 'Tecumseh's Curse' or the '20 Year Presidential Curse') is a pattern of death in office of Presidents of the United States elected in years that end in a zero, from William Henry Harrison (elected in 1840) through to John F. Kennedy (1960). There have been no deaths in office since JFK, but then again, only two presidents have been elected in a year ending in zero since that fateful date: Ronald Reagan in 1980 and George W Bush in 2000 but crucially, both of them survived assassination attempts. 

William Henry Harrison was elected president in 1840, but he died in 1841, just a month after being sworn in. This became known as the 'Curse of Tippecanoe', derived from the Battle of Tippecanoe in 1811, when Harrison negotiated the 1809 Treaty of Fort Wayne, in which the Indigenous people ceded large tracts of land to the government. This angered Shawnee leader Tecumseh and brought government soldiers and Indigenous tribes to the brink of war. After Tecumseh was killed, his brother Tenskwatawa allegedly set a curse against Harrison in 1811. He was elected president 29 years later and died from natural causes on 4th April 1891, just over a month into his presidency. The cause of death was Typhoid.

Of all the US presidents elected in a 'zero' year since 1840, three died of natural causes, four were assassinated, and two survived attempted assassination. So, in all cases, death was near and only two escaped alive. Whether or not the curse is real, there is an astrological cycle which occurs every 20 years and has a strong influence over these presidents - the Jupiter Saturn conjunction. There has always been a Jupiter-Saturn conjunction within a year or so of the ‘zero’ Presidents being elected. The next one is due in December 2020.....

The big question is: Why does this only affect American Presidents? There are many intriguing connections to the USA national chart. The other big question is - why did the last two 'zero' year presidents not die as the result of the curse? Some astrologers claim that the previous Jupiter Saturn conjunctions have taken place in Earth signs and that since 1980, this major conjunction has occurred in Air signs. However, my research has proved this to be inaccurate, as the Jupiter Saturn conjunction in 2000 was in an Earth sign. The mystery remains as to why the previous presidents, Reagan and G.W. Bush survived the curse. Has its power weakened and what will happen to the president who is about to be elected on 3rd November 2020? Only time will tell....

Halloween Blue Moon

When the Sun is at the 8th degree of the 8th sign of the zodiac (Scorpio) in what was traditionally the 8th month of the year, we celebrate Halloween. Given that the number eight symbolises death, this seems entirely appropriate as on this date people wear costumes to represent the afterlife and everything associated with the hidden realms of the underworld. 

This year, we will have a Full Moon on Halloween, making the atmosphere even spookier and more highly charged than usual. The Moon has a repeat cycle of 19 years. This is when the Moon is at the same degree of the same sign on the same date. However, because this is not exact, the Moon doesn't always hit the target date of 31st October, either being a few hours too early or a few hours too late. That's why we haven't officially had a Halloween Full Moon since 1974, as the ones in between were either on 30th October or 1st November.

But this is no ordinary Full Moon! It's also a 'Blue Moon'. The Moon doesn't actually turn blue, but the term is used to describe a rare second Full Moon falling in the same month. A Full Moon is always in the opposite sign from the Sun, so the Halloween Moon will take place in Taurus the sign of it's exaltation - and intriguingly, also the sign which symbolises witchcraft and pagan rituals. This means that both the planet and the sign enhance each other, with the Moon becoming more powerful. At the same time, it will be conjunct Uranus, so the feeling on Halloween will be highly strung with erratic, emotional reactions. This will be especially true for those born from 29th October - 2nd November and 27th April - 1st May as the Sun, Moon and Uranus will all be in hard aspect to your natal Sun. Get ready for an electrifying night!

Mercury Retrograde

Mercury goes into retrograde motion three times every year, and it began a new phase on 14th October which will continue until 4th November. It doesn't actually move backwards, of course, but gives the appearance of going in reverse from the perspective of our position in the Solar System. However, this optical illusion frequently brings problems in connection with the affairs ruled by Mercury.

This particular Mercury retro phase takes place in the sign of Scorpio. During this time it will form the second of three opposition aspects to transiting Uranus on 20th October. The final opposition from Mercury to Uranus in mid-November. In world news this could bring a shocking revelation.

Mercury retrograde does seem to affect us all in one way or another. This is because, of all the planets, Mercury is the one which is connected to so many of our everyday routines. Phones, computers, transport, talking, reading, writing, etc. It's the planet of communication and commerce. So, when Mercury changes direction things go haywire! Phones malfunction, computers crash, vehicles break down. Exchanging information becomes dodgy too - letters get lost in the mail, or maybe you send the wrong email or text message to the wrong person. Say something, and it's more likely than usual that other people will misinterpret your words, or the meaning behind them. It's equally likely that you will take other people the wrong way too. Be careful what you say, read and write under this Mercury influence. 

So, how can we 'survive' this period without going mad? After all, in the 21st century, when we rely on electronic gadgets more than ever before, a broken phone or a wonky computer tends to spell disaster for most people. Well, to ease the pressure, it's important to realise that Mercury Retrograde can actually be a good influence. It's all about reviewing your situation. 

Imagine that you're driving along a road. This is symbolic of Mercury moving forwards. Now imagine slowing down, stopping, then doing a u-turn and driving back along the same road in the opposite direction. This is the real effect of Mercury retrograde. It's not about going backwards - it's about retracing your journey and taking another look at where you've been. Then, you can reassess your progress and decide whether or not you're actually on the right road.  

In essence, Mercury - or any retrograde planet - is not about beginning anything. It's important not to start anything new under this influence, and particularly with Mercury, don't sign any important contracts or documents. Mercury retrograde is not about starting anew, it's about re-doing - or at least re-thinking - what has already begun. It gives us the opportunity to stop and consider where we're going and what we're trying to achieve. A second chance to do the right thing. And that's why it can be a very positive influence.

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Ophiuchus - The 13th Sign?

NASA recently announced the existence of a 'new' zodiac constellation - Ophiuchus. This, they declared, meant that the zodiac actually contains 13 signs, not 12, and because of this, all the Sun sign dates would have to change in order to accomodate this revolutionary information.

Astro-sceptics rubbed their hands with glee as they anticipated the demise of astrology and astrologers now that science had discovered the 'truth'. Needless to say, social media went into meltdown and myself and other astrologers were trolled mercilessly by the usual scumbags who always emerge from the shadows at such times, taking it upon themselves to dish out the retribution they think we deserve. There also seemed to be mass hysteria from horoscope fans who were distraught that they were no longer who they thought they were, with cries of, "I'm a Scorpio, I don't want to be an Ophiuchus!" or "Now we have to choose our own star sign?!" I even had friends emailing me about it: "Saw this on Facebook, what are your thoughts?" So, here's the lowdown on Ophiuchus......

Ophiuchus is a constellation associated with the figure of Asclepius, a famous healer in Greek mythology. Its name means Serpent Bearer, and is represented by the symbol of a man, or sometimes, a woman snake handler: It can also be known by its Latin name - Serpentarius. Personality traits include: passion, jealousy, secrecy, and arrogance. With the need to be dominant and a taste for vengeance. Sound familiar? Of course, it does. These are the traits of Scorpio. The 12 signs of the Zodiac were specially chosen to represent human psychology and experience. The traits of Ophiuchus have always been naturally incorporated into, and merged with, the sign of Scorpio. There is no need for it to become a separate entity. Ophiuchus belongs to the Hercules family of constellations, including Aquila, Ara, Centaurus, Corona Australis, Corvus, Crater, Crux, Cygnus, Hercules, Hydra, Lupus, Lyra, Sagitta, Scutum, Sextans, Serpens, Triangulum Australe and Vulpecula. Ophiuchus is not, never has been and never will be a sign of the zodiac.

The 13th sign argument has been going on since the 1970s. The theory didn't stand up then and it still doesn't. Forty years of getting nowhere. You'd think that the people who perpetuate this myth would have got the message by now, but no, it appears regularly every few years. If you included every constellation which happens to touch or overlap the zodiac circle (ecliptic), there would be far more than 13 signs anyway. At the last count, I estimated at least 16. The point is, just because there is a huge choice, it doesn't mean you have to include everything. Being selective is the key to making something work efficiently. For example, when painting a picture, an artist doesn't use every colour on the palette, otherwise the image would be ruined. Similarly, when cooking a meal, you don't use every ingredient in the cupboard, you choose the ones that blend together to create the best result. 

Thousands of years ago, the ancient Babylonians made the decision to align the number of signs on the zodiac circle with the period of time it took the Sun to travel around it. Astrology is a complex mathematical system within a structured pattern whose beauty lies in its balance, symmetry, and synchronicity with the 12 months of the year, the four seasons (each of which lasts for three months and contains three zodiac signs) and the four elements: Fire, Earth, Air and Water. To add other signs into this would, quite frankly, f*ck the whole thing up. Also, if Ophiuchus were to be included and the other signs had to be shifted in order to accommodate it, then sitting as it does between Scorpio and Sagittarius, it would become the 9th sign. The final, and 12th sign of the zodiac is Pisces which would continue to be the final sign, and therefore it would become sign number 13. 

Ophiuchus is a real constellation, but it is not a zodiac sign. The 12-sign system that astrologers have been using for thousands of years works brilliantly. Changing it would be a disaster. How about 25 hours in a day? Or 10 days in a week? Maybe 14 months in a year? No? Didn't think so! As the old saying goes - "If it ain't broke, don't fix it!"

Ryan Molloy: Forecast - Part 2

Ryan's Solar Arc Mars is in a positive sextile aspect to his natal Uranus during 2020 and throughout 2021. This will be the perfect time to make changes in his life due to the extra initiative and inspiration generated by this planetary combination. Motivated by a need for greater freedom and independence, he'll be eager to go against what others expect as the next 18 months will provide an opportunity to do something completely different. He may be keen to reform, upgrade, or implement new techniques to improve the flow of his work. He'll enjoy stimulating conversations and will be open to other people's opinions and ideas. This planetary influence will give Ryan the assertiveness to shake off any inhibitions or doubts that he may have previously had, an he'll be less likely to worry about the consequences of stirring up controversy. He'll speak out more and won't be afraid to offend people.This means he can have exciting new experiences, gain the courage to free himself from certain obstacles, and express his true personality. 

Another fortunate influence for Ryan is Solar Arc Jupiter square his natal Sun. This is a long term aspect which starts in 2020, and continues throughout 2021 and 2022. He will be striving to become more successful during this period. Being in the spotlight over the next three years looks very likely and there could be some kind of award coming his way. This planetary influence can create tests and challenges but these will give him the push he needs to make great progress and to expand his horizons, try new things, and make more money. The trick will be to make sure he is not wasting his energy and talents, so channelling his creativity into fewer projects will be the key to success. Under this planetary influence he'll experience greater confidence and enjoy increased popularity.

In Ryan's Solar Arc chart Uranus will be conjunct his natal Mercury for the next three years. This longterm planetary influence will reshape his life throughout 2020, 2021 and 2022 and his mind will be stimulated like never before, with flashes of inspiration, an openness to radical ideas and a change in outlook. Communicating with the same people in the same way will feel stale and monotonous. His need for independence will increase, as will an irresistible urge to speak his mind about who he is, where he's going, and what he wants. He will be heading out on a new path of discovery and self-awareness.

The energy of Uranus and Mercury is all about communication, so when they combine forces as they are right now in Ryan's chart, messages, ideas and information will seem to come flying in from every angle. These may be surprising or shocking but they will open up new possibilities for progress. Anxiety could be an issue and he may feel mentally hyperactive under this influence. A new interest will captivate his mind and take up his attention during the next couple of years. Innovative technology, computers and broadcasting media such as radio, television and newspapers will play a vital role in Ryan's life. There's a good chance he will feel inspired to write more - and not just songs.

During the next three years, Ryan will encounter circumstances and events that are very different from his normal experiences. As a result, he may decide to make a sudden break from a situation that seemed satisfying in the past but no longer comes up to his expectations..His contact with other people will increase and he will become involved in more group activities. Friendships will also be important and his social circle will widen considerably.

Solar Arc Neptune will be in a square aspect to Ryan's natal Venus from 2021 to 2023. Under this planetary influence, it will important that he doesn't commit himself to agreements without double-checking all the details, as there may be an element of deception involved which could prevent him from being aware of the full facts. Ryan will display greater sensitivity to others over the next few years and is likely to become involved in good causes and charities. Everything that involves creative inspiration takes on more importance under the influence of Neptune and Venus, so therefore, music, art, photography, film-making, drama, fashion, etc will all play a bigger role. Whatever happens during 2020 and beyond, the next few years are about to open up a dynamic new chapter in Ryan's life.