January 2020 forecast

2020 Forecasts & Predictions
By Gary O'Toole
Recorded Jan 12, 2020  
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View Recording Here

Welcome 2020!
The chart below is for midnight. Although this is not a chart that is often used for prediction - more weight is given to the Pisces new Moon on Mar 24 - we can have a look to see some patterns. 

There is a gathering of planets in Sagittarius, of course. The Sun has just passed the south node and Saturn is almost exactly conjunct Pluto. This is, no doubt, going to be a transformative year. While I do think there are a lot of changes in 2020 that will be obvious, I think there will be many more changes happening that we will not see. This is reflected in the sign Capricorn and the predominance of transits here. This sign is all about doing what must be done, but there is just as much inner work and change that must take place for a real, long-lasting impact. 
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​January 2020 SIdereal Transits

Calculated for UTC
Mercury conjunct Jupiter Jan 2
Mercury conjunct  South Node (True) Jan 3
Venus enters Aquaiurs Jan 8
Full Moon in Gemini (Punarvasu) Jan 10 Penumbral Lunar Eclipse  
Mercury conjunct Sun Jan 10
Uranus stations direct Jan 11
Saturn conjunct Pluto Jan 12
Mercury enters Capricorn Jan 13
Sun enters Capricorn Jan 14
New Moon in Capricorn (Śravaṇa) Jan 24
Jupiter leaves combustion Jan 24
Saturn enters Capricorn Jan 24
Venus conjunct Neptune Jan 27
Mercury enters Aquarius Jan 31
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Jupiter Conjunct Ketu (South Node) Jan 8
​Jupiter continues in combustion (too close to the Sun to be visible) and then joins the southern eclipse point on Jan 8. Not only is Jupiter not visible, in the glare of the Sun, but now it's also moving over the void, the black hole, that is Ketu.

​There is likely no saviour to bring order in case you were looking for one! When planets are combust, it destroys their outward significations, and strengthens their inner significations. This means, we have access to a depth of understanding and connection that no one in the world can give us. But we must go within to find it.

Jupiter's outer significations of unity and growth are severely challenged, despite Jupiter's strength in its own sign, Sagittarius. It's inner significations, however, are bolstered, including insight and intuition, but we must be aware of extreme reactions to the chaos in the world, just in case we are overcompensating for a sense of lack. 

I see this as a sense that things are amiss at the beginning of 2020 and yet we may also have a sense of what needs to be done. Jupiter's subsequent long conjunction with Pluto, from March to November, will guarantee we are digging deep to find the hope we so crave. 

Mercury is also conjunct Jupiter as the year begins, bringing them into a planetary war on Jan 2, before Mercury also moves over the south node on Jan 3. These planets' conjunctions with the south node represent things being hidden AND revealed, as the south node can do both. Mercury and Jupiter represent information and insight, the intellect and an 'inner intelligence', or intuition. 

As Jupiter comes together with the south node by Jan 8, Saturn and Pluto will be at the same degree. Sometimes, we need to go into the dark, in a way helps us to see the light. I think these conjunctions can only give us a way forward if we are making the necessary inner changes. Yes, there will be lots of outer changes going on in the world, but unless and until we are making these changes personally, it may feel as if they are forced upon us by others and we resist them. 

Venus enters Aquarius Jan 8
Venus enters Aquarius alongside Neptune, exactly conjunct by Jan 27. Venus in Aquarius is a love for humanity, contrasted with a love of our own in the opposite sign Leo. 

Neptune's presence in Aquarius has been vague about what to do about humanity, yet has reflected the aspiration for unity, despite the outward expression of division. The possibility of making real our dreams of a more unified world must be balanced with the possibility of daydreaming our way through the fog. 

Venus' transit here alongside Neptune can increase our sense of the unreal, while we dream a better life. This is contrasted with the other transits insisting on realistic change. 
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Full Moon in Gemini - Penumbral (Partial) Lunar Eclipse Jan 10
The 'eclipse window' closes by Jan 10, and opens up yet more possibility for change. This is because Saturn and Pluto are at the same degree in the opposite sign, Sagittarius, while Mercury meets with the Sun by exact degree (superior conjunction). As with any eclipse and powerful conjunction, there can be both a sense of confusion (to mean 'fused with'), as well as some deeper insights into the dynamics involved, as everything lines up. 

The eclipsed Moon in Gemini and the lunar mansion Punarvasu represents a theme of seeing the repeating patterns, in our lives and the world around us. Punarvasu means 'light again' and is symbolized by an arrow returning to its quiver. Although this sign has a benevolent nature; pure and virtuous, kind and forgiving, whilst having an idealistic pursuit of truth, the eclipse suggest the opposite is also true, i.e. deception. 

Generally, when the Moon transits Punarvasu it's a good time for healing, education, travelling and study, but any of the above should be well-considered during an eclipse, especially as there are powerful and unpredictable conjunctions occuring directly opposite the eclipsed Moon, as the Sun comes into an exact conjunction with Saturn and Pluto. 

This is again a theme of darkness. But as long as we are willing to close our eyes and see, there are insights up for grabs once we turn away from the drama unfolding on the world stage. 

For timing and visibility in your area, click here: 
​https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/lunar/2020-january-10
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Uranus stations Direct Jan 11
Uranus' station direct in January was one of the reasons I predicted that Brexit would go ahead in 2020. That, along with the Saturn-Pluto conjunction. 

Now that the planet of unpredictable change stops moving backwards, in a sign that likes to move forward, we are likely to see things doing the same. It's slow turn around does mean things are going to slowly move forwards. However, slowly doesn't mean that shocking and dramatic events are not possible, as and when a planet does not appear to move, it appears to intensify its significations. 

An intensity of Uranus, the planet of intensity, in an intense sign, is well, intense! Whether this is 'good' or 'bad' is another matter. I like to think that everything is good and bad for something. 
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Pluto-Saturn-Sun-Mercury Conjunction Jan 12/13
Although these dates represent the exact degree of conjunction, Pluto and Saturn have been in close conjunction for the past year. They came within 3 degrees in 2019 and will be close enough together throughout 2020 to give the year this underlying theme. 

That theme is of change. But also resistance to it. It may appear as if nothing is happening sometimes, but there is a lot happening, in the background.

The image of the chrysalis is an obvious one. This time of year and these conjunctions require a lot of patience, with ourselves and the world around us, as we make the necessary internal adjustments to the outer changes. Once we have done so, we can then set out to make real change, as Saturn moves into Capricorn by Jan 25.  

We may be able to look at this exact conjunction, as the deepest part of the sleep cycle, when lots of interesting things happen that we are not obvious. We slowly emerge from our chrysalis in the following months.

What will you do? Who will you become? Where in your life is change being felt?

Look to the signs Sagittarius and Capricorn, as well as what Saturn represents for you. Whatever these signs represent for you will be where you experience this transformation and rebirth. 

Be patient during the first couple of weeks of January especially, as the Sun reaches Saturn and Pluto, exact on Jan 13. This can lead to feelings of powerlessness and a lack of vitality and depression. 

Hold the vision you have for your life and the lives of others, firm in your mind, while doing the work that you can for now. 

And take your time and concentrate on one thing at a time. The Sun-Saturn conjunction requires that we focus our energy, not scatter it. 
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Mercury enters Capricorn Jan 13
Mercury leaves behind the crowded Sagittarius and gets us to intellectualise what Capricorn is all about. As always, the planet of the intellect gets ahead of circumstances, as it breaks away from the Sun by the end of January, and we start to plan ahead. 

If you have some New Year resolutions, they will probably go through a lot of change for the first few weeks of 2020. 

Capricorn is a very matter-of-fact sign, yes, but it is also a very spiritual one - just not in any obvious way. In fact, its symbol of a half goat and half sea-type creature tells us a lot about its nature. The sea represents our mystical and spiritual depths, while the mountain goat represents our being able to apply these impulses in the outer world, to build on something we believe in. 

This is the major theme of 2020 and Mercury is the planet of working it all out in our heads, in our everyday interactions and our business dealings. 

This is just the beginning, a mental picture of the work that we need to do on our journey.
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Sun enters Capricorn Jan 14
The Sun moving signs is always a transitional point, called Sankranti in Vedic astrology. This particular transition is seen as a very important one, as the Sun moves signs for the first time since changing direction in the sky. For most of us on the planet, it changes to its northerly direction at Christmas, and now its change of signs heralds a new dawn. 

This transition is much like when we set out on a hike and is probably the best analogy of our journey through Saturn's sign in the winter months. Capricorn represents our need to get our heads down, before the endorphins kick in, and just get on with it. It's stark and unforgiving and sometimes brutal if we have not prepared ourselves for the exertion, but if we are willing to just get on with it, the rewards are great. 

As the Sun transits Saturn's signs until mid-March, it shows us whatever New Year's resolutions we have are only aspirations until we can say we have done what we said we would. The Sun in Capricorn shows whether we can practice what we preach. 

And sometimes, we fail or must adjust our aspirations, and that's okay too. Because it teaches us about our boundaries, what we can and cannot do, thanks to Saturn. 

New Moon in Capricorn Jan 24
The Moon wanes into a sign that will soon get an inordinate amount of attention in the coming years. So, this new Moon phase in Capricorn is a time to reset our intentions, and our attention, on the goals we have in mind. 

This new Moon occurs at the very beginning of the lunar mansion Śravaṇa, meaning 'listening', a sign that represents the power to connect to knowledge, handed down orally. This means the new Moon phase moves through the previous lunar mansion Uttarāṣāḍhā. Uttarā means 'latter' and āṣāḍhā means 'invincible', a sign that represents using power responsibly - and a key reset point in one of the major themes of the year.

While the new Moon transits Uttarāṣāḍhā it's an auspicious time for treating diseases, defeating enemies and education, and a new beginning for the year in earnest. One of the symbols for the sign are three footsteps, representing the three steps in restoring harmony to the universe, as told in the mythological story of the god of preservation, who upholds and preserves knowledge, the signs ruling deity. Once the Moon enters Śravaṇa as it meets with the Sun, for the exact new Moon at 21.42 UT, the following day is auspicious for rituals, mantra recitation, music, education and travel.

The new Moon also heralds Saturn's return to Capricorn; a major reset point in the year and decade. 

Saturn in Capricorn Jan 24, 2020 - Jan 17, 2023
This is a big shift by the end of January as Saturn returns to its own sign after 30 years. Saturn is very strong at home in its own sign. It's seen as even stronger in the following sign, Aquarius, especially the first 20 degrees of Aquarius. Saturn in Capricorn represents a more productive shift and strength for the planet in charge of the reforms in the years to follow. 

Saturn is even stronger within the first 3 degrees of Capricorn. Saturn is not alone as it makes this transition, however. It is with Pluto, which is challenging the status quo and creating social unrest and a need for real change. Saturn will move on from this and build anew, but we must factor in the dismantling that must occur prior to any new build. 

This is particularly in relation to the area of your own life you experience the sign Capricorn. 

In 1990, Saturn entered Capricorn on 2 occasions, March and December, due to its retrograde back into Sagittarius in June of that year. Can you remember what you were doing (if you were around!) at that time? Look back to see if you can see similar themes in your own life. 

In 1990, the Berlin Wall was torn down. Saturn had just met with Neptune in Sagittarius in the years prior to this. Neptune represents a need for unity and can tear down boundaries, i.e., Saturn. But the wrecking ball didn't come in until Saturn had moved into Capricorn. That will tell you all you need to know about Saturn's ingress into the sign: it's all about doing the work that is necessary.

One of the main differences this time round is Saturn is conjunct Pluto, which sees more of a need for walls, but Saturn will meet with Neptune in Pisces in 2025 and 2026, so whatever walls are put in place now, either literally or figuratively, will probably be dissolved again by the mid-2020's. 

In 1990, there was the beginning of the World Wide Web. This is again another good example of building something in Capricorn which is all about systems. In 2020, Saturn's entry into the sign alongside Pluto will probably show more systems put in place, but this time, through fear, not connectivity.

The 1990's saw the end of the Cold War and the collapse of the Soviet Union, electing its first Russian president. Again, Capricorn is all about systems. And one of the charts I use for Russia has the opposite sign Cancer rising which shows more change for them in how they relate to other countries. The chart I use for China has the sign Capricorn rising itself, which shows big changes in the coming years for the country. Saturn's transit in Capricorn is about building something new, based on a new ideology (Sagittarius). Again, Pluto's inclusion means big changes for China in the coming years. 

In 1990, there was the Hubble Space Telescope launch, the biggest and most ambitious telescope to be launched into space at the time. This is another indication of Saturn in Capricorn's ability to reach a goal, overcoming many challenges along the way. Although the spiritual lesson of Saturn is that of restraint and humility, working for work's sake, it also can show ambition and a hard work ethos. 

In 2020, we're probably going to see more and more new systems, but again, because Pluto is involved, many of these will be built due to a fear of loss, or of losing control, as big corporations and governments put in place more restrictive rules to attempt to keep order. 

In your own life, make sure you are building something important, not just for yourself, but for everyone. Take the ideas from the past few years of Sagittarius' transits that seem to work for you - and put them to work!

And don't beat yourself up if some things don't work very well. There's plenty of time to get it right. Saturn will transit Capricorn for the next 3 years. Pluto will enter here by Feb 25 and transit here until 2040!