Year: 2024

“You have not grown old, and it is not too late
to dive into your increasing depths
where life calmly gives out its own secret.” Rilke

“You can wander into the wrong classroom,
And hear great poems lovingly spoken
By the wrong professor. And you find your soul.
And greatness has a defender , and even in death you’re safe.” Robert Bly

The week starts off as Mercury – the winged god of communication and travel moves from Capricorn into Aquarius joining Pluto, recently entered into Aquarius as well. Mercury conjunct Pluto favors deep and transformative thinking and conversation. This duo is often found in the charts of private detectives and people involved with research.

There are significant Chiron aspects at the beginning of the week also as Venus in Capricorn squares Chiron, the asteroid of the Wounded Healer. This alignment can bring up issues related to self esteem, self worth as well as issues related to love and abundance. With Mercury and Pluto together it is possible to have a new level of understanding and healing of issues like this.

Venus in Capricorn likes the old, traditional ways of thinking and can generate fears about changing or changing too much. But Mercury in Aquarius is an innovative change maker and can find new approaches and solutions beyond the fear and doubt.  Chiron is in Aries now so there is more courage for the process.

Venus continues to be busy through the week – squaring the Lunar Nodes and trining Uranus. It’s a good opportunity to evolve relationships and to bring innovative ideas into the realm of work and finances.

Mars in Capricorn will be making a favorable alignment with Neptune – the planet of dreams and creative visions. This is a good week to work on creative projects.

The Sun will form a Sextile to the North Node this week. This bodes well for collaboration and cooperation with like minded people  or groups. Taking action is key.

The week may have its sudden and surprising events as the Sun moves up to a square to Uranus. It’s a good week to stay grounded and provide extra downtime for the integration of events.

The New Moon at 20 Aquarius is on Friday. The Moon will be squaring Uranus at this time. There’s an old expression in astrology to “expect the unexpected” when Uranus is strong in the sky. It’s a good week in general to nourish the nervous system.

Mercury will be moving up to a square with Jupiter this week – making it a good week to strive for equilibrium as this duo is known for excess.

One of the Sabian symbols for this time is , ” a large white dove bearing a message.”

Sabian symbol from Lynda Hill

 

Based on numerology, there is a Tarot Card for each year which speaks of the tone and tenor of the year – what kind of challenges we are likely to encounter and how best to meet them.

Determining the Year Card is a simple process – for  example for 2024, it’s 2+2+4 = 8.

The number 8 in the Tarot deck is the Strength Card.  In A.E.Waite’s deck there is a painting of a maiden in a white dress. She holds a lion’s leash with one hand and with her other, is  gently  closing  the lion’s mouth. She wears a white robe with a sash of red roses, the symbolizing that she has balanced the masculine and feminine forces within her. She has befriended and tamed the instincts within her which when not properly tamed, could get out of control.

It is a card that speaks of  equilibrium, taming forces and courage in the face of fear. There is a lemniscate, (the number eight turned sideways) over the maiden’s head. The lemniscate is a symbol for eternity and for the interconnectedness of all things.

Every year a good friend gives me the gift of a Many Moons Lunar Planner for the upcoming year. It has many talented  astrologers, Tarot Card readers, herbalists and others who contribute their writing.

In the calendar there is always a section on the Year Card.  This year there was a paragraph that particularly caught my attention.

“The Strength Card usually shows up when we need it most :it is a reminder of our own reserves and capabilities in times of upheaval as well as shiny new endeavors. It is a reminder that hard, impossible times are the ones that show us what we are truly made of. To be able to stay open-hearted and open-minded -full of grace and generosity -through betrayals, cruelty and impossible moments.It is a reminder that play, pleasure and creativity or part of a well lived life. This card asks you to stop turning away from that which you desire.

This is the year to do things that will develop your strength and stretch outside your comfort zone.” The Many Moons Lunar Planner