NEW YEAR, 2002
Over time, various cultures have chosen different beginnings for the new year. Winter Solstice is a popular choice. This is the turn-around day of the Sun on December 21- 22, which marks its northernmost point in the year and the first day of the sign Capricorn. For a few days, the Sun seems to "stand still," which is what solstice means. Things sure do slow down around the holidays, don't they! Then the Sun starts moving southward toward the equator again, a perception caused by the wobble of Earth's motion. Our modern New Year's day is ten days after solstice, and by then the Sun is moving right along. Though a bit artificial, like electricity and time zones, January 1 marks the new year in this modern day and age. This day falls in the zodiac sign of Capricorn, which is appropriate for our business oriented world. Capricorn is practical and down to earth. It's a "get the job done" sign.
NEW MOON IN CAPRICORN
The first New Moon of the New Year is on January 13, with Sun and Moon joining in Capricorn. Now is the time to get back-to-work! Capricorn is the Sea-Goat, climbing from the coast up the mountain. Capricorn is an earth sign, practical, pragmatic and disciplined for accomplishment. Self-sufficient Capricorn learns by experience, sometimes the hard way, testing and tested by life to see how much it can accomplish on its own. Capricorns organize and build the world.
SATURN
Capricorn is ruled by the planet Saturn, seen as Father Time wielding his sickle to cut away the old year. A task-master pushing us on to further accomplishments, the ringed planet represents concentration, discipline, and maturity. Learning by experience, Capricorns tend to mellow with age like fine wine. Capricorn is a good sign for making New Year's resolutions. Do you know what your life lessons for this year are? If not, Saturn will let you know. Continuing along from last year, Saturn is in Gemini, concentrating on the theme of information, communication, learning, and perception. It suggests that we use words carefully and listen to different points of view.
VENUS
The goddess of love adds a special tone to this New Moon. Almost exactly conjunct the Sun/Moon, she reigns invisibly. Like goddesses in many myths, the radiant queen of heaven and earth has descended below the horizon, where she is renewed in the light of the Sun. Venus will not appear in the night sky until sometime in late February or March, when she will once again reign as Lady of the Evening. Venus is more serious in Capricorn than in most signs. She reminds us that love is a responsibility. She asks us to consider long-term values. Some traditions are worth holding on to; some are no longer effective or growth oriented.
PALLAS ATHENA
One of the asteroids is also aligned with this New Moon. There are more than 6000 named asteroids. These little pieces of rock that were once a planet still orbit mainly between Mars and Jupiter. Last year a spacecraft landed on Eros, an oddly shaped asteroid named for the god of passion. Pallas Athena is the goddess of wisdom – a good companion to passion. She developed the arts of civilization and knows what it takes to keep a good thing going. Conservative and experienced in Capricorn, she represents the wisdom of age. We can learn much from our elders.
CHIRON
This little planetoid adds another spicy note to the New Moon. Chiron entered Capricorn in mid-December for a three-year stay. As it crossed the line from Sagittarius into Capricorn, it turned into a Unicorn. This white mythical beast has a single shining horn that sparkles with magic like a crystal. Capricorn has an odd whimsy; its Earth energy brings out the little people: elves, leprechauns, fairies, and trolls. Make time to hike the trails–Ram's Head and Reef Bay hold special energy on St. John. The Earth is vibrating to a faster heartbeat, say scientists. Subatomic particles, including those in our bodies, are now spinning at increased vibrational rates. Are you feeling it? With Chiron in Capricorn, this energy will become more obvious in our reality. Outmoded forms will crack and become increasingly dysfunctional, as chaos rearranges itself into new patterns. Chiron movie recommendation: Lord of the Rings.
MERCURY
Mercury turns retrograde right after the New Moon, from January 18-February 8. A good time to slow down, watch some of the old arrangements and social alignments unravel (i.e., this is not a good time for new legislature business) and get together with friends.
Mother Earth has made New Year's resolutions of her own. Let's tune in and get with the cosmic program.
Editor's note: Internationally-known astrologer Kelley Hunter, M.A., is a resident of St. John, where she leads star-gazing nights and offers consultations and classes. Contact her at 340-693-5839 or kellhunter@earthlink.net. Her new web site will be on-line soon: www.heliastar.com.
M. Kelley Hunter, Astro-consultant and mythologist
PO Box 37, St. John, USVI 00831
1-888-7ALTAIR.
