by Lara Owen

So here we are at last: the much vaunted 2012 begins! It’s a watershed year in collective symbolic terms: whether or not it proves to be so in reality is yet to be seen, but there can be no doubt that we are living through a watershed passage of history. Much of what I wrote about in my annual predictions for 2011 still holds for this year, especially in terms of civil conflicts and the struggle to end longstanding tyrannical governments. This year, the era of deep economic and political change initiated by Pluto’s entry in Capricorn in 2008 ramps up to another level, and enters a phase of intensified and coordinated revolution and transformation. Neptune enters Pisces, heightening idealism, and Uranus moves through the early degrees of Aries to square Pluto, heightening rebellion and tension with authority. Despite attempts by governments to crack down on dissidence, this summer and fall are likely to see renewed attempts in many countries to achieve greater liberty for all, and more equality of power. Global finance will continue to be a preoccupation with no easy answers, although there is a window in mid-March that offers an opportunity for useful interventions.

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The year is complicated by two retrograde passages of Venus and Mars, each spending unusually long periods in a single sign: Venus spends April 4 to August 8 in Gemini, and Mars is in Virgo from 11/11/11 until July 4 2012. Venus is retrograde from May 15 to June 27, (from 24 to 7 Gemini), and Mars is retrograde between Jan 24 and April 14 (from 23 to 3 Virgo). Gemini and Virgo are mutable, changeable signs that are square to each other, so this is likely to be a period of ongoing tension and irritability between the genders at both the personal and collective levels. Long retrogrades of these planets can affect relationships, slowing things down and sometimes muddying the waters. Venusian relationships are more to do with romance, marriage, and shared assets, Mars more with sexuality and politics/war. It is not recommended to make major decisions about luxury purchases or about marriage under Venus retrograde, (unless you are marrying someone you were married to before!) or about aggression and conflict under Mars retrograde. Incomplete conflicts will simmer along frustratingly under Mars retro, although there is the opportunity to reorganize and heal ongoing conflict if enough awareness is brought to bear. Retrograde periods are good for understanding and reconciling to the past.

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In the first half of the year there is the potential for wealth creation and for some practical solutions to improve the global financial situation, with several trines in earth signs involving Mars, Jupiter and Pluto, and a spectacular grand trine between the three planets on March 14 at 9 degrees (lucky and opportunity-rich especially for those born around April 29/30, September 2/3 and December 30/31). The shadow side of the amplified earth energy involving these particular planets is an overweening and arrogant greed. It highlights desires to dominate property or land and to ensure ownership and control (the conflict about Scotland’s potential independence from the UK is coming to center stage, for example).

Jupiter turned direct on December 25 at 0 Taurus and moves speedily through the whole sign of Taurus until June 12 when the planet of expansion and luck enters Gemini, where it will stay for a year. So the first half of the year is good for Taureans/Taurus rising, and should encourage practical solutions and bring wealth especially when it trines Pluto and Mars mid-March (while conjunct Venus also). The second half of the year the luck moves to Gemini.

Saturn moves this year through the tail end of Libra and then into Scorpio on October 6. Saturn in Scorpio, the sign ruled by Mars and Pluto, can deepen conflict. While it has been in Libra many law-abiding people have kept their grumbles relatively private and their usual niceness to the fore. Once Saturn comes into Scorpio the gloves come off, and we may be surprised by the types of people we see coming out onto the streets in rebellious and outraged complaint. Any remaining patience with duplicitous governments and mendacious banks and corporations will evaporate towards the end of the year.

Neptune  was briefly in Pisces last year and reenters on February 3 to stay until 2025, giving us nearly 14 years of the planet of inspiration, spirituality, and illusion in its own sign, and thus strongest. Spirituality becomes more mainstream, compassion and the sense of at-one-ness with all beings is easier for all of us now, but then so is the Neptunian shadow of delusional thinking and the archetypes of victim and scapegoat. Pisceans are especially affected and while this is a great time for spiritual development, it is also advisable to watch out for self-delusion and to double check facts, figures and first impressions. If in doubt, get professional advice!

I’ve written about the Uranus Pluto square elsewhere, and will just add a few thoughts and details here. This year we see the first exact square on June 24 at 8 degrees 23 minutes: Pluto is retrograde while Uranus is slowing down and preparing to station retrograde on July 13. So both planets are moving slowly, prolonging the period in which the square is potent, and the retrograde motion suggests that the early summer upsets are more to do with past issues than current ones, maybe a repeat of last summer. The square occurs for the second out of its seven passes on September 19, this time at 6 degrees 57, with Uranus retrograde and Pluto stationed at this degree and about to move forward, suggesting that now new impulses are seeded, and with the caution that if Pluto is more powerful than Uranus we may see draconian legislation or action to curb riots and rebellion. The clash between authority and the disaffected grows more tense.

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Dates to Watch For: I’ve already mentioned March 14 for the earth grand trine and its potential for wealth creation. In terms of trouble-prone times, while the specific moments of the Uranus Pluto square are notable, experience shows us that long term aspects between slow-moving planets affect an era rather than days, and that major clashes and events are more likely to be triggered by faster-moving bodies especially the Moon and Mars. So watch out for the days around the March 22 New Moon at 2 Aries, July 3 Full Moon at 12 Capricorn, the September 30 Full Moon at 7 Aries, and most notably, the November 27/28 Full Moon at 6 Gemini. Especially at the Full Moons, heightened tensions and passions are likely and caution is advisable!

The March 22 New Moon signals an opportunity for radical new beginnings that commence with a certain rawness, with Sun, Moon and Mercury conjunct Uranus and squaring Pluto.

The July 3 Full Moon occurs just as Mars has entered Libra and is moving to square Pluto and oppose Uranus, and the Moon is conjunct Pluto just before it is Full.

The September 30 Full Moon comes just days after the exact Uranus Pluto square and is in bellicose Aries, very closely conjunct Uranus.

The November 28 Full Moon occurs with a rare and intense line-up of planetary aspects that signal extreme violence and deep discord: this Full Moon is also a Lunar Eclipse that is square Neptune and Chiron, and of most concern are two other planetary line-ups exact at the same time: Mars conjunct Pluto (at 8 Capricorn) signifying violence, and Venus conjunct Saturn (at 6 Scorpio) signifying harshness and lack of empathy.

Eclipses: Now that the eclipse cycle has moved out of Cancer/Capricorn, the eclipses are not as stressful as they have been, apart from the November 28 doozy! There are four eclipses this year, an annular Solar Eclipse on 20 May 2012 at 0 Gemini, (not a difficult eclipse and a new start for those born May 21-23), a partial Lunar Eclipse on 4 June 2012 at 14 Sagittarius (not so nice, square Mars and opposite Venus), a Total Solar Eclipse on 13 November at 21 Scorpio (no major aspects, a new start for those born mid-November) and a partial (penumbral) Lunar Eclipse on 28 November at 6 Gemini.

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United Kingdom: The UK and other countries with a January 1 birthday are strongly affected this year, as their natal Suns are at 10 Capricorn: not only is Pluto around this degree this year, continuing to emphasize deep change and accompanying uncertainty, but the earth grand trine of Mars, Jupiter and Pluto brings additional attention to these places in the first half of the year, hence London being host of the 2012 Olympics, for example. Areas of London are experiencing deep Plutonian renewal and there will at times be an optimistic mood in the city and country despite economic woes, and a renewed sense of national cohesion and pride from the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. Just before the Olympics there is an intense Full Moon on July 3 that adversely aspects the UK chart and may blight preparations. Given the intensity of the aspects, there may be some awesome results at the Games.

United States: The election on Nov 6 occurs uncomfortably close to the quite horrible Full Moon of November 28. The election date itself has a Leo Moon and Sun, Saturn and North Node in Scorpio, suggesting that the existing “king” continues to rule, despite his own misgivings. This will not be a sufficiently popular outcome to ensure smooth governance and there will continue to be deep acrimony and for a while yet, the debilitating sense of a hopelessly divided nation. Note that Mercury stations to go retrograde that day, so as with the 2000 election, results may be contentious and muddled.

Europe: Oh dear. What a mess. The EU chart is still under great stress this year. I’m going to write more about this at some point but for now I’ll just say that Pluto delivers in the end, after it has stripped away that which no longer works. Things will get better eventually, but only when the dominant national identities manage to mature into something more functional and based in the current moment, rather than still running on an agenda that mattered in the postwar era and is no longer so relevant. Sarkozy looks likely to be out of office this year which will probably help. The Euro should benefit from the earth grand trine of March 14, but this is unlikely to be enough to fully resolve the deep issues behind its flimsiness.

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So that’s 2012 in an astrological bag. I’ll update the blog here when interesting things are happening, celestially and otherwise (sign up to the email list for notifications of new posts).

Stay well, keep cheerful, and enjoy this once-in-many-generations chance to reshape our collective reality!