Welcome to 2021!
It's the dawn of a new year and a new chapter in human history.
It's a time for hopes and dreams, wishes and light.
Are you ready?
Last year, we experienced so much darkness, but December brought us through the tunnel, out into new light.
I'm happy to tell you that, as of this new year, we've finished some of the heaviest, hardest work we've ever done. (For astrology insights on why last year felt so hard, see my post, Why Was 2020 A 'Bad' Year?)
2021 will be so different - in a good way.
The biggest news for 2021 is that we've moved out of the Pisces Age and into the promised land of the new age movement: the Age Of Aquarius.
This is the biggest story of our lifetime.
In fact, it'll be the big story for many lifetimes to come, as every great age lasts more than 2,000 years.
The Jupiter-Saturn conjunction on the December 21, 2020, Solstice sealed the deal for moving into the Age Of Aquarius.
The 2020 grand conjunction occurred just after both Jupiter and Saturn entered the zodiac sign Aquarius.
Their coming together signals the start of a new era, when society will change to reflect Aquarian ideals. It's the "missing piece" we've been waiting for, ever since the first salvo in the shift to the Age Of Aquarius happened in 1962.
That year, in early February, both the Moon and Sun and all the other planets up through Saturn joined together in Aquarius, forming an extraordinary stellium emphasizing this sign and indicating the new age was dawning.
Those on the leading edge of change helped inaugurate the "new age," and many Aquarian impulses (such as the drive toward freedom) inspired change and improvements across the globe.
For the new age to take hold fully, though, we also needed a grand conjunction in Aquarius. Without that conjunction, new ideas and progressive ideals have faced challenges, as prevailing energies held us all back in the status quo of an outworn, materialistic way of operating. That's one of the major reasons it has been difficult to move society, structures, and culture forward into the new energies and opportunities.
Now, after all these decades, the "missing piece" of a grand conjunction in Aquarius has just happened.
A grand conjunction plus the Solstice equals more light.
The Solstice - whether it's winter Solstice or summer Solstice - is a powerful day, when we reach a turning point in the annual story of light. That indicates how auspicious this new year will be.
As the outer light changes, our inner, spiritual light can grow and shine even brighter through friendship, kindness, and good ideas - all hallmarks of Aquarius.
We can use this symbolic story of light to guide our way in these early days of the Age Of Aquarius. The light is growing, and we can harness that momentum individually and as a world to create a society that mirrors our highest aspirations.
With our move into the Age Of Aquarius, we're moving out of the mud and into the clouds.
Grand conjunctions happen in the same element for about 200 years, and two centuries ago they began occurring in earth signs. As we neared the close of this earth period in late 2020, it felt like we were stuck in the mud. Outer circumstances (health and economic challenges) held us in place, while inner necessity (having to close out old soul business and balance karma) kept us hard at work all year.
To make sure we did all our cosmic homework, three of the most powerful planets stacked up in the earth sign Capricorn: Pluto arrived in 2008, Saturn in 2018, and Jupiter at the end of 2019. Together, they made us work hard (especially on the job), stay focused on essentials, and finish every duty we had to complete.
It's been a heavy burden, especially in 2020.
But now it's time to lighten up.
The grand conjunction in Aquarius is starting two centuries of these alignments in the air element , which literally will lighten our burdens. It also will lift our spirits and help us soar into the clouds on the wings of new ideas, more communication, and innovative relationships.
Even better, 2021 will be "super airy."
The planet Mercury, which retrogrades three times each year, will reverse course in the three air signs during 2021. This airy pattern will start with, you guessed it: Aquarius.
The messenger planet is sounding the trumpet, urging us to pay attention to both Aquarius and the air element. It's one of the perfect synchronicities this year speeding us into the new age.
We may feel more inclined to laugh over the usual mishaps and miscommunications that come during a Mercury retrograde (or at least take them in stride) because Mercury will feel so much more at home during the retrogrades. Mercury rules the mind, commerce, communication, and many other features associated with the mental and intellectual realm, and this planet is most comfortable in the air signs (Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius).
So expect to experience Mercury retrograde differently and use this year to turn it into a playful, enlightening time.
Speaking of synchronicities, we'll have another "pay attention to Aquarius!" signal in the second half of 2021.
Every now and then, we see two full Moons in a row occurring in the same zodiac sign.
In 2021, we'll experience two full Moons in Aquarius on July 23 and August 22. They'll be our first "aha!" moments about how we're doing with the new Age Of Aquarius. Full Moons bring situations to a head and shine a light so we can see the truth and make decisions or changes based on the full story.
Remember how hard you had to work in 2020?
That was thanks to having both Jupiter and Saturn in Capricorn, making us do a hefty amount of heavy lifting.
With both these powerful planets now in Aquarius, they'll reinforce the mandate to lighten up and think Aquarian. Genius ideas can strike at any time, helping us "work smarter" rather than simply harder or longer.
Jupiter will remain in Aquarius until May 13, then dip into Pisces until July 28, when it retrogrades to Aquarius, where it will stay until December 28. So we'll have Jupiter's expanding presence in Aquarius most of the year. As for Saturn, it will stay in Aquarius until March 2023.
With these two major planets creating a focal point in Aquarius, many may seek greater meaning and satisfaction from their jobs and careers by shifting to work that aligns with humanitarian ideals and allows ample personal time for volunteering or enjoying professional clubs and networking.
With Aquarius's ruling planet, Uranus, in Taurus, you may feel inspired to volunteer for eco causes (especially animal rights or plant diversity), start a green business, or shrink your carbon footprint at home by shopping differently or adopting new habits. New ideas about beauty (both personal and planetary) may spark inventions or new technology, and you could find yourself in a job in a field so new and futuristic it's considered "way out" - until its time comes. Which it will much faster, if it's in line with the new Aquarian vibration of helping others and making the world a better place.
There's even more good news in 2021: we'll have much more forward momentum for all the exciting ideas that will arrive.
Last year, both Venus and Mars went retrograde. These two planets reverse course the least often, so when they do retrograde we feel the effects keenly.
With Venus retrograde, it feels as if love and pleasure disappear. With Mars retrograde, our "get up and go" gets up and goes - away. No wonder 2020 felt so sad at times, leaving us unable or unwilling to do much about it.
In 2021, both these planets will stay in forward motion until the very end of December, when Venus starts her next retrograde.
With the new emphasis on Aquarius, the fixed signs (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, and Aquarius) will take center stage for action and evolution.
People born under fixed signs like to "fix" things, and they tend to be, well, fixed - meaning they want things to stay the same. (And can be pretty stubborn about it.) This year, they'll feel the push to change and may feel more than a little uncomfortable until they overcome some inner resistance or outer obstacle that's keeping them from accepting necessary change.
Here's why this will happen.
Jupiter will occupy Aquarius almost all year (except for May 13 through July 28), with Saturn staying on through March, 2023. At the same time, Uranus (the planet that rules Aquarius) remains in Taurus through 2025.
That means all three planets are related not only by the signs they're in but through the type of angle they will form in the sky. The Aquarius planets will sit 90 degrees away from Uranus in Taurus, which means they'll form a square (a challenging alignment).
This situation may cause a dustup or two throughout the year, and all the fixed sign people (and those with planetary emphasis on these signs) will feel it especially. In addition, all of us will see this playing out on the world stage through disagreements that must be resolved.
The good news: doing the work to overcome what's holding us back will allow us to turn a corner on on some mighty big troubles.
Watch for these turning points and leverage them to turn a corner (and cheer on others who have to do the same):
Although the fixed sign situation may test us, 2021's demands likely will feel lighter (or at least fewer). It's as if school's about to get easier, with lighter homework.
Last year, we had a whopping six eclipses, which are one of the main factors associated with change. That's 50% more eclipses than we usually experience in a year.
Also, the 2020 eclipses happened across four different zodiac signs, pushing us to clean up, close out, and carry on in four major areas of our lives.
In 2021, we'll see only the usual four eclipses. So automatically, it's going to feel as if we have less homework. (Hooray!)
Also, they'll happen in the same two signs - Gemini and Sagittarius - until the end of the year, when we start to see the cyclic shift into a new set of signs.
That means it will be easier to focus on just a couple of areas of significant change.
Also, keep in mind that not every eclipse affects every person every time; the effects depend on the sign and degree of the eclipse. If you don't see major changes, the people around you may be affected, which will give you a chance to practice Aquarian principles by being of service as a friend or benefactor.
It's time to embrace your hopes and dreams, your fondest wishes and inner light.
All the 2021 Aquarius energy will remind us of this sign's association with "hopes, dreams, and wishes" about the future and making a better world.
What do you hope for? Do you remember those dreams you've had, the ones that surface now and again to whisper "get started - make me real!"?
If you could have wishes fulfilled, what would you wish for?
After closing out so many old cycles and letting go of outworn ideas, belongings, relationships, and beliefs, it's time to open our hearts and lives to what's fresh and new. Open the windows where you live (even for a moment or two, if it's really cold where you live), and then extend that metaphor inwardly to open the windows of your mind, heart, and soul.
Let the fresh air of this Age Of Aquarius blow in and fill your actual and metaphorical lungs with oxygen. You'll feel invigorated, and you'll know it's time to start your contribution to the new age.
What will it be?
How will YOU live up to Aquarius ideals?
It will be so exciting to find out - and to know we're all going to be doing it together.
So let's go!
Happy new year!
Get even more good news about the new year with your 2021 Horoscope. You'll find so many reasons why this year will be (much!) better than 2020 - plus inspiration for going after your dreams as you move into your new "cosmic mission" as part of the new Age Of Aquarius.
See your 2021 Horoscope now.
Hi Anne, great relatable summary that I can respond to in the context of daily life.
Thank you.
Bonnie, thank you so much! I’m happy to read your message and know that you picked up on what I wanted to communicate. I wish you all good things in this new year.
what is the cost of a reading over the phone? How long does the reading last?
Hello, Frances. Happy new year! We offer 4 different types of readings, and you can learn all about them and how to sign up here:
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