The Astrology Company: January 2024 by Bob Mulligan

January 2024

By Bob Mulligan

(a personal note is at the end of the newsletter)

 

2024 Highlights

Five noteworthy astronomical events in 2024: 

1) January 20th the Sun Conjuncts Pluto, then crosses into Aquarius; 10 hours later Pluto enters Aquarius, where it remains until September 1st.  November 19th Pluto re-enters Aquarius, remaining until 2043/44.  We cross the Rubicon, there is no going back.  Pluto’s back and forth and final grand entrance into Aquarius will seal the fate of long worn out ideas as we enter a new collective reality. 

2) Uranus is Sextile both Neptune and Pluto much of the year, but these aspects do not become exact until 2025-6. The three higher functioning attributes of our nature (infinite power, knowledge, and bliss) are aligned with each other.  Transformation of human consciousness is shown and guaranteed. However, only Pluto (infinite power) has changed signs.  Power without wisdom can be very destructive.  All year we are called upon to self-monitor so our actions don’t move beyond our understanding. 

3) April 20th Jupiter Conjuncts Uranus in Taurus– Changes in financial markets will signal massive growth for some.  Uranus is in its fall while Jupiter is happy in Taurus; this brings explosive capital growth and upset.  There could be talk of a national basic income guaranty. Climate change can make itself known through a series of upheavals.  Innovative and creative flashes of insight are released in unexpected areas.  The energy of Uranus is unleashed by this aspect from approximately March 20th to May 20th.

4)  May 25th – Jupiter enters Gemini – Media is scheduled for a huge overhaul in 2024.  Some parts of this industry will dissolve, opening new and different channels of growth.  Neptune is in Pisces and rules the film industry.  Big changes in the way we receive and transmit visual images are coming.

5) August 19th and December 4th – Jupiter Squares Saturn –These Squares are between Gemini and Pisces.  This is a golden moment for testing the viability of the beliefs we embraced at the time of the Jupiter Saturn Conjunction at zero Aquarius on December 21st 2020.  Traditional structures and financial markets suffer. We will each find events testing the soundness of our own foundations.

January Highlights 

In stages, the month of January this year allows us the privilege of making change that is favored by the astrological weather.  This is like planting in spring, or going on a family vacation when we have two weeks off from work. Here is the timed weather map. Mercury turns Direct on the 1st making it easier to plan and take action, but also to see more clearly what our new year is going to look like.  On the 4th, Mars enters Capricorn (sign of his exaltation). We will have more effective energy moving forward.

On the 19th, Mercury makes the final Trine to Jupiter.  This series started the 7th of December 2023.  For each of us it has been a period of trying to get at the truth in our lives and in our understanding of the world.  This last Trine favors a breakthrough.

Sun Conjunct Pluto then the Sun and Pluto cross into Aquarius on the 20thWe are finally putting problematic circumstances behind us.  Not everything is resolved because some important issues are just buried for a time. Venus enters Capricorn on the 23rdPerfection comes by fulfilling our duties.   Uranus turns Direct on the 27thThis stokes the fires of rebellion for good or ill.  There are times to wait and see, and then there are times to act.  This is the latter. 

The New Moon 

The New Moon is on the 11th at 6:57 AM EST on 20 Capricorn 44 Minute.  For better or worse, we act. Capricorn is methodical, but with Saturn playing a pivotal role through placement in Pisces, through rulership of the New Moon, and through a pattern of aspects; the way forward may not be so clear. Saturn is Sextile Mars and Jupiter, which are moving into Trine with each other.  We suffer from hesitation, but also from impulsive action.  Timing is everything and determines the success or failure of all activities.  Because the New Moon is Trine Uranus, we might have big dreams.  However, the New Moon is exactly Square the North/South Nodes.  The Nodes show our dharma, and the Square can indicate aiming at the wrong target, or “shooting ourselves in the foot”.  With no air signs in the chart, we can’t reason our way through the options in front of us, but we can trust the intuitions of our heart. Even with Mars in Sextile to Saturn (which slows things down), Jupiter’s Trine to Mars is apt to force action. Six planets in earth signs favor basic and useable outcomes to all projects. 

The Sun enters Aquarius 

The Sun enters Aquarius on the 20th at 9:08 AM EST. This chart set for Washington, D.C. has all planets in the eastern hemisphere, and half in earth signs. This solar month promises accomplishments at the material level.  However, the Winter Solstice chart in December has nine planets in the western hemisphere, so progress is limited to the things set in motion before the year ended.  In Washington, D.C., Saturn in Pisces is Conjunct the Ascendant.  This shows strong headwinds.  Even though the Sun Trines the Moon and they are both in air signs, the Sun is only 1 minute of arc beyond the Conjunction to Pluto in Capricorn. Mercury separating from a Trine to Jupiter shows deals have already been struck and will unroll slowly over the coming 30 days.  With five planets in earth and Mercury Conjunct Mars, we all need to choose our fights carefully.  What is worth the struggle? 

The Full Moon 

The Full Moon is on the 25th at 12:55 PM EST at 5 degrees of Aquarius/Leo.  With Jupiter Square both Sun and Moon, we have a chance to take a great stride forward if we lighten our load.  A real change of heart requires letting go of the past. The Moon rules the public and stands alone in the lower hemisphere of the chart set for Washington.  In our personal lives, we may stumble on new information that changes our attitude toward big issues we face collectively.  With Mercury Conjunct Mars and Trine Uranus, we are anxious and act on our own; we will wish to share our thoughts with others in our personal lives, but also on social media.  Venus Sextiles Saturn and both Quincunx the Moon; a sense of urgency and duty powers our sharing.  We have an opportunity to embrace something more important than our personal lives. Dedication to a cause or general will to serve is cleansing. 

The Weeks 

From the 1st to the 7th a little bit of conflict is necessary to shake off the cobwebs.  Our first thoughts are not the most productive; but what the heck, at least we are thinking.  With consistent effort, we get our wheels on the ground and start moving forward. New enthusiasm makes up for past inaction.

From the 8th to the 14th new options are upon us.  “A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush”.  Material results are better than wishful dreaming.  If we don’t build beyond our foundation, we are perfectly situated for a promotion.  If it doesn’t come, we can easily switch companies. We are growing, but we don’t want to eat every favorite food at one meal.  Time and timing matter. 

From the 15th to the 21st dream images can seem frightening.  We are getting a glimpse of things to come, but the whole picture has yet to be revealed. Both intuition and logic are pointing in the same direction; so what are we waiting for?  We must step forward, our actions speak for themselves.  We must have a voice. 

From the 22nd to the 31st we all must ask, what motivates us?  We can have what we want, but we must pay the price.  Sacrifice is necessary, but can be most joyful. To act “correctly”, without love, is a short-lived folly.  We each have a golden opportunity to enter a new path.  The Truth calls out; do we have the courage to answer?

The Days 

1st – Monday – Venus Square Saturn, Sun Parallel Pluto, Mercury turns Direct –  Fears of isolation can encourage us to work against our own intuitions.  Letting go of people, situations, and goals of the past is the way forward.  Our values are mounted on the rack for a tire rotation.  Has our behavior reflected what we say we believe? It is a new year but also a new world.  It’s time for a new us. 

2nd – Tuesday –  A process of discrimination can have us waiting on important decisions.  Good ideas abound, but what seems genuinely useful?  A new solution to an old problem emerges as we examine the possibilities. Common sense, coupled with ever expanding channels of information, is a good guide. 

3rd – Wednesday –  Venus Quincunx Jupiter, Mars Semi-sextile Pluto –  The obvious focus of the moment is taking care of basic necessities. In the process, we can see what has lasting value and what will be with us for the long haul.  There is real luck in the moment if we choose wisely and take some obvious, yet bold, steps. 

4th – Thursday –  Mars enters Capricorn – Grim determination powers us, and we still have time to take care of others.  Duty first; but then we can paint the day with meaningful, playful, and beautiful interaction.  Partnerships are like flowers, they need occasional watering and sunlight.

5th – Friday –  The appearance of permanence has its place, even though it is an illusion.  We may have strong opinions on current events; others do as well.  Detachment and tolerance does not mean lack of commitment, or that we are certain of what we are doing.  It is always helpful to remember why we act in the first place. 

6th – Saturday – Dreams of faraway places, while seeming to be just an escape, can set the stage for acquiring new skills and empowering a direction toward things unseen. We have breathing room and should take it. External and unexpected circumstances require us to discard ideas and materials we don’t need. 

7th – Sunday – Lifting ourselves out of the doldrums is second nature when we reach out to cheer up others.  It is not a big surprise, but not everyone shares their true feelings.  However, an interjection of a positive mood can make any gathering joyful.  We can find a bigger canvas for our picture of life, and invite others to join in on the construction of a world for all. 

8th – Monday –  Mercury Square Neptune –  Big is a relative term.  To order a super large pizza is totally appropriate when we have a house full of family and friends.  It’s probably a stupid waste when we are home alone.  To have what we wish for match something real.  Difficult judgments are not substantive but are a matter of quantity.  

9th – Tuesday –  Sun Semi-square Saturn, Sun Trine Uranus, Mars Sextile Saturn – Acknowledgement of difficulties and facing them head on is tough, but cleansing.  When we are doing what we are supposed to do, help shows up, via friends or insight.  Minor corrections make a big difference.  Work brings satisfaction when we do it in the right spirit. 

10th – Wednesday –  Mars Sesquiquadrate Uranus, Venus Semi-square Pluto –  Finding harmony can be elusive.  We can do things our own way, alone.  To be together means to let trivial disagreements go unrecognized, and to focus on seeing the world though someone else’s eyes. 

11th – Thursday – The New Moon is on the 11th at 6:57 AM EST on 20 Capricorn 44 Minute, Sun Parallel Mercury –  The road ahead is familiar.  Time to plan is well spent.  Patience is a gift that pays dividends over the next few days.  Honesty clears the way for our next move.  We will rein in our thought process without suppression if we want to expand our lives.  Knowing what to ask of life is a virtue.  

12th – Friday – Mars Trine Jupiter – The brakes are off; we take a few tentative steps forward, then more to come.  There is a feeling of rightness when we are in the pocket of the moment.  We can ride the wave and accomplish much in what seems like effortless action. And yet, this is just the beginning, the momentum can carry us to new heights.

13th – Saturday –  Sun Parallel Venus, Mercury Semi-sextile Pluto, Mercury enters Capricorn –  Doubling down on our efforts brings us into new territory.  After a whirlwind adventure, we land with our feet on the ground.  But, we aren’t home yet.  It is a significant step when we realize that what we think, say, and do has an effect on everyone else. 

14th – Sunday – Venus Quincunx Uranus –  Are we so sure of ourselves that we can take in new insights and change?  Our heart may be in the right place, and yet we can be oblivious to the significant changes in the environment.  We have a direction, but the universe has a different one.  It is not a matter of right or wrong, we must start with what is. 

15th – Monday – Sun Sextile Neptune, Venus Sesquiquadrate Jupiter – As we go through our daily routines, it may occur to us  the world is different than it used to be.  Are we the frog dying because we didn’t jump out of the water as it heats to a boil?  This is the perfect moment to tune into the real direction of Mother Nature, to society, and to our own conscience.

16th – Tuesday –  Waking up and taking action are not the same. Knowing what to do and doing it are not the same.  We are translating theory into action.  Little interruptions are good for reminding us what is important and what our responsibilities are about. 

17th – Wednesday –  Mercury Sesquiquadrate Uranus –  We have a taste for instantaneous action.  After a period of swimming in sludge, some things move incredibly easy.  All systems are go.  Travel is favored, as is exploring new territories.  Study can be deep and beneficial if we don’t wander far from our core direction. 

18th – Thursday –  Mercury Sextile Saturn –  When we concentrate on the most practical details of our daily life, ideas occur.  Certain things have always been present; we looked right at them but didn’t see them.  The guard rails of our mind protects and keeps us on track, but once they are established we need to examine beyond the obvious if we are to do more than survive.  

19th – Friday –  Mercury Trine Jupiter, Venus Square Neptune –  Something Divine is revealed.  However, “when a pickpocket meets a saint, all he sees is his pockets.”  The sun is shining; all we have to do is go stand in the light.  It is extremely productive to have an open heart when our feet are on the ground. 

20th – Saturday – Sun Conjunct Pluto, Sun enters Aquarius on the 20th at 9:08 AM EST, Pluto enters Aquarius – We have crossed the river and there is no going back.  It may not be evident for a few days, but much of what we have worked on is now in the past.   There is no need to be forceful; the energy of the moment will carry us across the finish line. 

21st – Sunday –  Mercury Parallel Pluto –  Dark thoughts lighten up when they are explored.  We can know ourselves better, if we look around and see what we have created.  Feelings of victimization impede our progress.  The environment is a thermometer.  Our temperature is the bottom line for self-assessment.  

22nd – Monday –  We may be steadfast, but so much is changing all around us.  Where we are may be stable, but the world is not.  What can we do to help others?  The desire to run away may come. Doing nothing is better than doing the wrong thing; stability comes by embracing nervous impulses without acting.

23rd – Tuesday –  Venus enters Capricorn, Venus Semi-sextile Pluto –  Positive feelings need tangible expression.  Stumbling blocks are stepping stones when we have the courage to approach others without expectations, armed only with simple truths.  Balance comes when we know our place and stick to it. 

24th – Wednesday –  Rituals connected with family life are disrupted.  Change is necessary, but doesn’t have to be unpleasant.  Shared responsibility, good conversation, and asking for the right help guides us on the river’s every fluctuating current.  Home is not just safety for us, but for the whole family. 

25th – Thursday – The Full Moon is on the 25th at 12:55 PM EST on 5 degrees of Aquarius/Leo – Tremendous energy for good or ill powers even the smallest actions.  We need to assess the terrain.  Trying to change anyone’s mind about anything is apt to be as effective as throwing a jasmine flower against a stone wall. On the other hand, much can be accomplished alone with short bursts of specifically placed energy. 

26th – Friday – Sun Semi-sextile Saturn, Venus Sesquiquadrate Uranus –  Do we live with the separation between our dream life and our physical reality?  This is ok, but it is possible to fashion our fantasy to a clearly conceived vision, and then take the first steps toward materializing our heart’s desire.  We can live the life of “pipe dreams” as an alternate reality; or we can believe in the inherent goodness of our inner world and bring it closer to the collective world we share with others. 

27th – Saturday –  Sun Square Jupiter, Uranus turns Direct, Mercury Conjunct Mars, Mercury Parallel Pluto –  We know what is right.  If we avoid arguments, and turn our attention to the immediate activities, our energy finds a good and productive outlet.  Drilling down to the bottom of what other people think is important can help illuminate the road ahead. 

28th – Sunday –  Venus Sextile Saturn, Mercury Trine Uranus, Venus Trine Jupiter –  Luck takes material form.  We profit by following our intuitions and aligning them with the given facts of life.  Lots of money has been changing hands, we can join in the fray if we are so inclined.  Mother Nature is looking to replenish her foundations in creation.  We can help.

29th – Monday –  Mars Trine Uranus –  Decisions made by others affect our lives.  Forces, greater than our own, are a significant factor.  We can ride the current events without much effort, if we successfully read the omens.  Details that have eluded us come to light.  Keeping an eye on the long-term needs keeps us on the right path.

30th – Tuesday – Mercury Semi-square Saturn, Mars Parallel Pluto, Sun Semi-square Neptune – There is an easier path through.  Natural limitations actually guide us in the right direction so our energy isn’t wasted.  Certain difficulties we have watched have changed.  We don’t need to solve problems that are now history.  They unfreeze and dissolve. 

31st – Wednesday –  This is the moment for relationships and group activities.  Happiness is in serving others; it is even better when many people are involved in the same tasks.  Love in friendships can be more fulfilling than other forms of intimacy. 

Bob Mulligan is available for personal appointments, astrology classes, and astrological material.  Call him at 239-261-2840 or e-mail bobmulliga@aol.com. Visit our website, www.theastrologycompany.com.

 

My Personal Note 

I’m been living in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina for more than 4 months.  My health has improved.  I see four of my five children with some frequency and I visit the Meher Center once or twice a week.  Christmas with friends and family was indeed joyous. 

Dallisa Hocking asked me to give a talk on the coming events in 2024.   I gave the talk with her on December 18th.   January 1st at 10 AM EST this talk will go live on YouTube.  Here is the link:

https://youtu.be/EnkaKURG4xQ 

Just as Neptune was crossing into Capricorn in 1984, I turned on the TV, this music video appeared.   Rock musicians (traditionally a self-centered lot) acted collectively to raise awareness and do something for others.  This unselfish act revealed a higher side to Neptune in Capricorn: Band Aid – Do They Know It’s Christmas (Music Video) (youtube.com)   All the musicians, technicians, as well as studio time were donated.  The recording itself took place Sunday, November 25th, was edited, and went on the air the 28th, 1984.   Neptune went into Capricorn on the 21st. 

A short time after, rock musicians in America produced this blockbusting fundraiser to help people in Africa: U.S.A. For Africa – We Are the World (youtube.com) 

Gail Southwell, long time friend and newsletter reader, sent me the link for this movie.  It is lighthearted, well conceived and produced.  Here is some Christmas cheer and worth watching.  Watch This Is Christmas | Prime Video (amazon.com)

Many years ago I stopped watching political commentators that expressed hateful, angry, or belligerent thoughts.  Hard news, factual information, without commentary is easy enough to gather, once you have the will and go through the learning curve.  Still, it has always been nice to also get news digested and distilled opinions if they are thoughtful and honest. The NYT, WSJ, as well as various magazines and a few local papers often make informative and interesting reading.   I always look for some new insight without languishing in prejudice.  A local paper here in Myrtle Beach had an editorial that caught my eye.  I can share it with you because I found it online.   Trump’s dictator comment sad symptom of populist politics | Commentary | postandcourier.com

This short video has remarkable instructions for being happy, as an individual, as a family, as a nation.  If you haven’t seen it, take a look.  It may change your outlook on life.  Why Finland And Denmark Are Happier Than The U.S. – YouTube 

Traditionally, the first of the year is a time of making resolutions.  In other words, we make promises to ourselves, meant to guide our behavior in a more productive direction.  For me, I like to inventory my life and count the things for which I’m most grateful for.  This acknowledgement sets the tone, the direction, for a more productive and fulfilling life.  I’m most grateful for the people in my life, this includes you.  I appreciate the time it takes for you to share your thoughts with me.  It helps complete the circle. 

“Real happiness lies in making others happy.” – Meher Baba 

If you want personal information on your own life, email me at bobmulliga@aol.com or call 239-261-2840.  My website – Astrologycompany.com