YEARLY
HOROSCOPES 2009
OVERVIEW
Big-picture astrology, predicting world events, inevitably involves politics, so apologies if I have sermonized here and there (just a little!). I’ve never had any specific party affiliation, so by all means take my views as the fulminations of a starry-eyed innocent...
2009 is a revolutionary year in prospect when many of our old assumptions are overthrown. The big Saturn-Uranus opposition lingers from last year, staying tight first in January and then coming to a head again in September. Saturn-Uranus is a planetary trade-off between the old and new, freedom versus duty, vanilla versus tutti-frutti. It’s the Ministry of Silly Walks writ large, and the image of the sober-suited city gent will never be the same. This pattern is a prompt for people to get onside with new technology (Uranus), and to challenge protocol (Saturn) at work and at home.
Not all the new ideas are good, not all the old attitudes are bad. As the financial meltdown hogs the headlines, for sure traditional Saturnian strategies (thrift, saving, not spending more than you earn), are in for a revival. Saturn in Virgo in particular represents purest meritocracy, whether it is the end of the X-Factor hype, or the renaissance of quality craftsmanship over shoddy mass production. Hubris did for the banking brethren in 2008, but After The Flood, people with genuine talent should still be able to make it.
Still, Uranus throws down a challenge to the old work-oriented ways. Asking what we do with our leisure is a serious point, because constant work and acquisition isn’t cutting it. We are brought up to believe in the so-called work ethic, but what happens once the work is all done? ‘Create more work’, by the sounds of things, but this has to be necessary stuff, not pointless boondoggling. Astrology points us to what’s important. With Pluto, planet of the underworld, in earthy Capricorn, we should get underneath the surface and deal radically with building infrastructure. Any public works programme should tackle the drainage system – sewers and flood defences! New fibre-optic cabling would be good too, delivering us the broadband graphics promised by visionary Neptune in Aquarius. The billions that this will cost is as nothing compared to the ignominious occupation of Iraq, which ends mercifully in 2009.
Saturn changes signs on the 30 th October, by which time we will see the effect of the new culture on our relationships. People cling to each other in times of recession, but good old-fashioned marriage may be in for a revival.
When Uranus first went into Pisces (March 2003), I went on record predicting that there would be a debate about the disestablishment of the Church of England. Uranus is the planet of dissent and Pisces represents Christianity.
In December 2008, Archbishop Rowan Williams said that there was a ‘certain integrity’ in a disestablished church, and, for once, his remarks have been uncontroversial. Nobody is jumping up and down screaming at the prospect.
As the Uranus-Saturn opposition repeats through the coming year, perhaps
this debate will grow.
Between Saturn-Uranus, and Pluto now lodged in aspirational Capricorn, our notions of what makes a successful person will change. Presently, success equates roughly to net worth. But the question ‘Yes, but are you happy?’ won’t be just ironic consolation for those of us not sheikhs or oligarchs. Government hierarchies and plutocracies will melt away and the class system itself will be seriously restructured. Not all of this will happen in the coming twelve months, but the zeitgeist is for a more equitable way of living. Leisure and above all personal fulfilment will be the top lifestyle accessory.
It won’t come without resistance. Pluto in Capricorn means big government feels threatened, as its lack of power to control the economy and environment
is laid bare. Pluto tears down to build back up, it’s cutting the branch to spare
the tree. The alternative to casino capitalism is not communism, but administrative systems on a smaller and more localised scale. Over time, power will devolve more to regional levels and people will come to depend more on their families and local communities. The shadow side of Pluto is the surveillance culture, through identity cards, ever greater CCTV monitoring,
and yet undreamt-of
data bases. Smile, you’re on camera.
The UPSIDE of all this is that there’s Jupiter in Aquarius to look forward from
6 th January onwards, a transit that will be in effect for the whole of 2009. Jupiter is your friend, and he sits more happily in Aquarius than in his earthbound domain last year. Jupiter is also the planet of prosperity, so while The Great Crash of 2008 will go down alongside 1929, this is the first omen of the recovery. Between May and July especially, the Jupiter-Neptune conjunction rewards faith, optimism and ‘the audacity of hope’, as somebody said.
Hallelujah, indeed.
HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYBODY!
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CAPRICORN
A major year for you, especially if your birthday is at the start of Capricorn, between the 22 nd to the 25 th December. With Pluto, planet of willpower in your sign, the big international issues revolve around native Capricorn themes. You are focused and working hard on the things that matter, and issues come to the surface that you never realised were there before. Stuff out of the past, a new combative streak, or the overwhelming desire to control your environment are all Pluto hallmarks. Your level of ambition surprises even you and there are no limits to your personal obsessions.
Around the time of your birthday, between January 11 th – 31 st, you rethink some decisions. You are full-on and energetic, but don’t dig your heels in too hard, as your Plan B option may prove more fruitful.
July 22 nd’s Solar Eclipse is important for your relationships, and you turn a big corner.
August is a good month for company, setting things up romantically, while September sees you actively pursuing new contacts. A competitive atmosphere surrounds you and you rush into a relationship more quickly than at other times.
2008 cleared the decks and even if no outstanding breakthroughs happened, by now you feel readier and more squared away. More positive and forward looking. As Saturn, your ruling planet, carries on in a harmonious place this year, you work steadily and positively, and your innate Capricorn air of competence and authority is enhanced. Bosses sense that you know what you are doing.
Saturn ascends to the top of your solar chart by late October, an important point for an aspiring Capricorn. Start thinking your ambitions through now and decide what you need to focus on.
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AQUARIUS
2009 is a glittering year in prospect, the time to get it all done. You have come out of a long character-building period, years long, and now you power forwards with all your deep-down knowledge. Jupiter, planet of belief and excess, pushes through your sign all the way until 14 th June and then comes back for an encore until the end of the year. The feeling may be fleeting, but a buoyant sense surrounds you and anything is possible. You don’t need wild, improbable nights out (though it’s great for partying), Jupiter is all about feeling good just being yourself. Concentrate. It’s easy to chase your tail in all directions, but one top-priority gig should win out above all others.
Mars, planet of impatience, goes through your sign from 5 th February to 14 th March – this is a dynamic and action-filled period. where again, you should work to a script. Almost more important is when Mars travels through your opposite sign from 17 th October onwards – expect pushy people in your love affairs until the end of the year.
The Lunar Eclipses on February 9 th and August 6 th are big for your relationships. Your favourite fantasies come into focus and either your projections are true after all, or you are forced to see someone in a new light.
Your finances are as important as ever and your investments are ultra-Aquarian. Freedom is your goal and you can get in on the ground floor with a business scheme, despite – or because of - the changing times.
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PISCESYou are in the thick of the action in 2009, and major changes are more-or-less inevitable - especially if they are on the ‘inner’ level. Uranus, planet of freedom and rebellion, carries on through your sign and you demand to do everything your own way with no interference. You are a maverick and want a reaction - kicking against the pricks is a pure pleasure.
Key points are 30 th January to February 11 th, and 10 th to 17 th September, where Uranus faces off with
Saturn, planet of fate. The old and new challenge each other and you balance your need to be an individual with the desire to be free. You don’t have to expand in all directions, and in fact, judicious downsizing is a smart move. Instead of working hard for The Man, consider starting out on a new enterprise, paddling your own canoe in a direction that really suits. It’s okay conforming, if you believe in what you are doing and feel you are making a difference.
Mars, planet of passion, goes through your sign 15 th March – 23 rd April. Aim high, but stick to your plans at this point and realise that not everyone is in such a furious rush. In the same time window, you find lovers and friends acting strangely, out of character, forcing you to find different ways of relating. You may encounter someone out of your past who spices things up a bit, or you return to old haunts. Likewise mid-September sees a reunion, though it’s wise to wait until into October before making definitive decisions.
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ARIES
The emphasis on grounding your plans carries on from last year, though you have a more idealistic outlook in 2009. Your relationships take an interesting turn around the time of your birthday, as Venus, planet of love goes backwards through early March and mid-April. Expect the unexpected at this point, and a romantic reunion is in the cards. The approach you have taken to those closest to you doesn’t work anymore and you have to try a different tack.
Mars, your dynamic ruler, is in your sign from late April all through May. This full-on energy suits you well, and your courage and initiative attract a following. Make sure you have a set goal – keeping fit, a romantic chase, or compound career advancement – Mars gives you the zip to carry it through.
Pluto, planet of power, gives you career incentives and you want a role that lets you get under the surface of the obvious. Research and investigation are highlighted, so pick a subject that satisfies. Build on career advancement from last year and move into more individual territory.
The landscape changes in late October, as Saturn, planet of fate, opposes your sign from the 30 th onwards. This is a major bend in the road and you re-evaluate everything that you have worked towards up to now. You feel physically tired and are acutely aware of time passing in the last section of 2009. Some goals don’t seem so important anymore, so don’t be afraid to wind down and simplify your life. This is as much about what you don’t do as what you do.
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TAURUS
You stay in a good space through 2009, getting the benefits of the earthy signature that still pervades the sky. Last year took you to strange places, but twelve months on, you may start to appreciate the liberation. Saturn, planet of fate, and Pluto, planet of transformation, sit well and you stick to focused, achievable goals. You have a good work ethic as ever and people in charge sense that you will deliver. Keep doing what you are doing and the results will come.
You are generally averse to change, but steering a middle course between the old and new is a headline challenge. Saturn opposing Uranus, planet of rebellion, means the conventional wisdom doesn’t always apply, but this doesn’t mean throwing yourself headlong into the avant-garde.
Venus, your ruler, travels backwards from 6 th March to 15 th April, so try a new approach in your affairs, or get ready to hang out with someone different. The ‘ex-files’ are opened at this point and someone from your past stages a return.
The idealistic quality of your aims is enhanced by Jupiter, planet of faith, hitting the public image section of your chart all year. You gotta have a dream. Make big birthday wishes in May and a blend of Jupiter and Neptune, star of faith, sees fantasies come to life. Your ambitions expand and you demand to do everything in a big way. Fame and fortune can be yours, just watch for the dreaded hubris - you could end up on TV for all the wrong reasons.
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GEMINI
Jupiter, planet of abundance broadens your horizons in 2009 and you demand to do everything in on a grand scale. A sense of all possibilities surrounds you. Keep a focus on your major goals, there is a danger of dissipating your energies and letting your legendary versatility run away with you. Uranus and Saturn pull you between the demands of work and home, with your desire to put down roots straining against your need to innovate in your professional life. Career freedom is restricted by your domestic duties, so as ever, your mission is to find the middle way.
The intensity of your love affairs quietens down since Pluto, planet of transformation, has shifted from your relationship zone. Blessed relief! The power struggles and subterfuge that singled out your one-to-ones gives way to more plain dealing.
Around the time of your birthday, from May 7 th to 31 st, Mercury, your ruler dips backwards, so be careful with decision-making. People return from the past at this point and present you with new choices to make.
From July 12 th to August 25 th, Mars, planet of energy, hits your sign and this is the time to do all the things you have been promising yourself. Make sure you have plenty to do, and realise that not everyone is in the same rush as you! As Saturn, planet of ambition, shifts signs at the end of October, your chance to impress bosses arrives at last. Any goal you have your sights on can be reeled in slowly.
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CANCER
An important year in prospect, with major eclipses happening in and around your sign. Lunar activity is important for Crabs, as the Moon rules your sign, and this is a year of moving on and cutting emotional cords. In particular the pair of eclipses on the 7 th and then the 22 nd of July are pivotal, in terms of embracing the future and making decisions about the past.
Pluto, planet of inner mastery, goes opposite to you and emphasizes the message of standing on your own two feet. Powerful people come into your life, possibly with their own agendas, and you may feel they are trying to control you. Especially if your birthday is between the 22 nd and 26 th June, you must uncover the real meaning of what people are asking of you.
As Venus, planet of love, backtracks between March 6 th and April 16 th, you are again asked to decode messages from your nearest and dearest. Someone is acting strangely and you must find ways to accommodate them. Pre-empt the moment and look around for a different crowd, or a new social backdrop. Anyway, don’t make hard-and-fast decisions until after this 6-week window is closed.
Jupiter, planet of joy, lifts your sights and could bring good fortune in the shape of a legacy or access to outside funds. It could just be getting to use your work’s facilities after hours, but spell your message out clearly and 2009 is potentially a great year for business.
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LEO
Lots to look forward to in 2009, mostly through the other people in your life. If you have built friends and lovers up over the last few years, only to be let down by human failings, then your honey finally start to deliver. Jupiter, planet of protection, hits your relationship zone from 6 th January. This in itself doesn’t guarantee The Love, but Jupiter’s greatest gift is to raise your sights and expectations, and for you to make your own luck. Keep your expectations realistic, but Jupiter’s fusion with escapist Neptune from May through to July, is the stuff dreams are made of.
The Solar eclipse on January 26 th highlights your romantic affairs, ditto the eclipses on February 9 th and August 6 th. Expect the unexpected and give yourself a good cooling off period before making any major calls at these points.
Venus, planet of relating, also makes things interesting from 6 th March to 16 th April. Maybe it takes someone close to you to throw you a curveball before you really to ask what you want. This time window could be exactly what you need to realise your potential, but wait until it’s over before offering undying commitment.
Saturn-Uranus still keeps you busy with your finances, though the promise of freedom AND security is on offer. Changing conditions mean you can get in on the ground floor with a new business scheme and start all over again.
October 17 th onwards is the start of a marathon Mars transit of your sign. The planet of oomph gives you energy and initiative, so decide what you want and take charge. Wearing the trousers suits your bold Leo style and you will look back on awesome achievements.
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VIRGO
You arrive in 2009 with a mixture of pride and exhaustion, like someone who’s shot Niagara in a barrel. Great achievements stand behind you already, but you have absolutely earned every single one of them. Saturn, planet of ambition, hovers in the second half of your sign until late October, especially affecting Virgos birthdays between 8 th – 21 st September. The weight of expectation sits heavily, but handled properly, spurs you to even greater heights. Take it easy and don’t beat yourself up if you feel physically tired. Time itself is precious and you must prioritize your biggest desires and kick those that don’t work into touch. Face your fears - bogeymen never look half so scary in the daylight.
Set against your empire-building exploits are the people closest to you who offer an escape hatch. The desire to jump off your carefully-constructed career carousel and do something wild and improbable is strong early in the year, and again around the time of your birthday. Especially if your birthday is one with a nought on. The Saturn-Uranus tug of war dares you to balance old and new, radical and conservative, duty versus freedom.
Pluto, planet of power, sits purposefully and sparks a creative renaissance. Family matters come to the fore and broodiness bubbles under the surface. Find a goal that immerses you completely and your magnificent obsession takes you to new artistic territory.
Saturn leaves your sign on October 30 th, only to return and tie up loose ends in 2010. One door closes, another opens, but make definitive decisions and never leave anything hanging over.
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LIBRA
Awesome prospects open up this year, as visionary Jupiter lets you see more of the sky. A helicopter view that makes you wonder why you’ve stayed in your own small corner of the cosmos for so long. Your solar Fifth house is set alight in 2009, featuring fun, art, and infatuation, and this is make-it-happen time. The very presence of Jupiter, the chief planetary good guy, in your home element finds you looking up and seeing the stars.
March and April see lovers and friends backtrack and prove slippery. You love having someone to share the experience, but you must look for a new entourage, or the 'ex-factor' has an element of fate. April 23 rd all the way through to the end of May sees a continuation of diplomacy by other means. You are up-front and competitive and that shadowy Libran belligerence has its way. Sure, your billing is all about charm and manners, but just wait until someone pokes you in the snout. Take your time in love, if a romantic scene is meant for you, then fate takes care of the details.
The big stuff happens at the end of the year, soon after your birthday, so you are given a big run-in. Saturn, planet of grit and ambition, enters your sign for the first time since it left in 1982 - imagine that. Your biggest goals return to the front burner and this is a life-defining period in prospect. Start making big choices now. Prioritize. Career avenues that promise much but haven’t delivered are thrown into sharp relief under Saturn’s influence. Strip down and simplify if you must, this is no time for time-wasting. Don’t look down.
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SCORPIO
If you’ve harboured secret nest-building dreams or finding a palace somewhere super-extravagant, then this is your year. Jupiter, planet of abundance, descends to the bottom of your chart and builds up your roots and domestic security. Vague notions of escape that you’ve held on to for years solidify and you realise that you CAN have what you want. The blend of Jupiter and Neptune is about believing, keeping the faith and making miracles on demand. Between this and the Solar Eclipse on 26 th January, this is a year for moving on.
You are still doing well out of new technology and confounding everyone’s expectations. Uranus, lord of misrule, sits sweetly all year and it pays to embrace freedom and insist on your own way of doing things. This means going against the flow and bidding sayonara to old fittings and fixtures. This revolution happens anyway, so you might as well dictate the terms.
June is your month for lurve. Venus and Mars join forces to bring you courage and energy in the mating game, and you enjoy being around people. Mars especially creates a competitive atmosphere and the thrill of the chase is what turns you on.
August is good too, as velvety Venus slots into line. Seductive moves work well, but you are so not thinking your strategy through in advance. Venus trines in general favour spontaneity, so do what comes naturally – a small heads-up, however: looking after people and showing a maternal side works wonders.
As Saturn, planet of endeavour, shifts signs around your birthday on 30 th October, the scene shifts to finding comfort in your own company. Dive into your own imagination, with an exciting programme of making you more you.
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SAGITTARIUS
Chin up, you feel more in tune with the times this year. Lift your sights. The whole atmosphere changes as your ruling star Jupiter moves to a more conducive place and rewards you for believing the best. Communication of all kinds is favoured, writing, speaking and putting your message across. This could be the year that you step out as a guru in your own right – Sagittarians all have latent Jedi Master moves, so go with the flow. Use February to steal a march on your rivals, as between jovial Jupiter and manic Mars, you are a centaur on a mission.
The push-me-pull-you between Saturn and Uranus affects you as much as anyone and more than most. Finding a balance between your work and home is an archetypal struggle, and you are pushed along with the times. Being solid and reliable at the office, you are still aiming for Mount Olympus, while feeling footloose around your home. Maybe a caravan or camper would suit you and honour your latent Sagittarian gypsy.
Love and rivalry kicks in through July as Venus and Mars act in tandem. You love having people around you and have the desire to go out and find somebody new. Mars favours action, so make sure you have plenty to do – sitting around only sees the energy back up on you. A romantic conquest suits you well and 18 th July is especially promising.
Sober Saturn moving signs on 30 th October is probably good news – no more testing and stretching and having to fit in with others' expecations. Adversity shifts to an easier way of being and you start thinking seriously about your romantic prospects.
