Our minds circle inward, to re-evaluate and review the last three month’s beliefs, plans and ideas

As January 1, 2009 dawns, the Sun in Capricorn, full of focused ambition, joins Mars, planet of action, desire and unquenchable risk-taking. It should be a rather loud New Year’s Eve, while New Year’s Day will have the gentleness of Pisces (quiet, confused, watery, religious) Moon.

This will be a year of testing, change, transformation and sacrifice due to Pluto’s entrance into Capricorn. All structures and endeavors of humanity will be transformed and thus reoriented so our focus will be less on matter and materialism, and more on spirit. It’s the beginning of a redistribution of the world’s resources, an equalization and sharing that will take many years. This is the far-reaching purpose of the United Nations’ Millennium Goals.

Mercury retrogrades (turns back) from January 11-31. Our minds circle inward, to re-evaluate and review the last three month’s beliefs, plans and ideas. January 26 is Aquarius New Moon solar eclipse. Eclipses dissolve what is no longer needed.

January 22 is Inauguration Day for US president-elect Barack Obama who has Sun in Leo (regal king, leader), Moon in Gemini (excellent speaker, gatherer and disperser of information at lightning speeds) and Aquarius (cares deeply for humanity, a world server) Rising. Aquarius gives Obama the ability to change (his favorite word) quickly, be independent and navigate the United States people and the world toward the future. We pray for his protection.

Pluto entered Capricorn November 26, 2008 at 5:03 pm Pacific time. Its effects initially were the destabilization of the world’s financial systems. This destabilizing will continue into all other areas of our lives and, for humanity and the Earth, the process along with the results will be profound, in depth, life-changing and long-lasting. We will eventually realize we must begin to build communities (a major task in the Aquarian Age) in order to sustain our lives, tend to our basic needs, and as we do so, will discover that “love underlies the happenings of the times.” Let each of us “be” that love in the coming New Year.

ARIES (Mar. 21-Apr. 20) Deep, lasting changes affect your work in the world. Focus on serving others. Your ambitions are so large and deep only a powerful will can handle them. This includes yourself and all those encountering your energies. Draw upon your inner strength. New realities within your profession unfold. Center your intentions upon serving others, then your success is profound.

TAURUS (Apr. 21-May 20) Push yourself into the sphere of work life has planned for you. It’s rigorous, and calls you to a depth and height of knowledge, preparation, planning and manifestation like never before. You’ll need others to assist you. Be a bit cautious. Apply everything practically and with a focus on serving the whole. Stand up straight. Use cayenne on all foods. Rest when you can.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) You’ll meet with power, within yourself and in others. Step aside if this is directed incorrectly at you. Great strength and endurance grow. All that you’ve done and/or hoped for gathers itself and is the foundation for future world work. Think about what you truly want to accomplish. Maintain an attitude of love and goodwill. This protects you.

CANCER (June 21-July 20) You’ll want to leave whatever feels like home and go in search of adventure, perhaps travel or a new level of education. Archetypal projects call you. Be careful with knees and thighs. Relationships teach you many things – like how to speak and act with more Goodwill, which creates Right Speech and Right Relations.

LEO (July 21-Aug. 20) This year and for many more, work increases, becomes more in-depth and often profound. Keep your shoulders up and back as you carry the heavy load of serving others. Both you and Obama, who is Leo Sun, experience the same complexities, though on different levels of responsibility. Use the fire within your heart to guide you and your high intelligence to discern what’s real and what’s not. Ask others you trust for help.

VIRGO (Aug. 21-Sept. 20) Should relationships become more complex, know the true warrior’s stance is not anger but communication that’s heartfelt, intelligent and compassionate. Read Thich Nat Hahn when confused. New levels of creativity emerge, and their expression provides new self-identity, strength and courage. Maintain a seasonal garden, study, and thus create your community.

LIBRA (Sept. 21-Oct. 20) Deep emotional barriers and beliefs held since childhood need to fall away so your life can move forward. The level of your security is in relation to the truth you seek to uncover, about what family means. Push beyond your limitations to understand this. Your psychology of self is being restructured so you can see what truly kind and good things came from your childhood. Tend to your health.

SCORPIO (Oct. 21-Nov. 20) The way you think and are taught changes over these next years. A journal tracking this would be good. Ponder new impressions and ideas deeply, as they’re needed for new thinking to occur. Allow no self-criticism to exist, nor criticism toward others. Everyone’s in their own developmental stage and yours grows in leaps and bounds. The past disappears.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 21-Dec. 20) This year and for many years thereafter the way you use your finances and resources is restructured. You’ll study and build new ways with your money. Google “Financial Permaculture” and read about it. Find local groups whose main goal is keeping money and resources local. Get to know about the new currencies of bartering and sharing. Grow a garden even if it’s in pots. Whatever challenges you will eventually be of benefit.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 21-Jan. 20) Your whole life may change. Much that you have built goes through a metamorphosis so new things in your life can take hold. If you feel you must head back down the mountain - don’t. Hold on and keep moving forward. Others will walk with you as your life shifts and rebalances. Keep your love intact, your intentions for helping others continually on your mind, and you’ll be safe.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 21-Feb. 20) You’re powerful and building toward great success, but sometimes others cannot see this. Pay them no mind. A new sense of authority, power and strength are subtly yet profoundly coming to be. Allow challenges with others to be times wherein you’re strengthened in self-awareness that you’re good, successful and deserving of recognition, applause, praise, acknowledgment, appreciation and gratitude. When appropriate, offer the same.

PISCES (Feb. 21-Mar. 20) Through your work in the world, a new network is being created. You’ve had to begin anew recently and you’ve done it courageously with stamina and bravery. Soon, what you envisioned will build until it’s no longer simply an idea within your heart, but real in time and space, form and matter. You’ll assume leadership within your envisioned environment and form a magnetic core around which others will be attracted. It’s been long in coming.

Risa D’Angeles is the founder and director of the Esoteric & Astrological Studies & Research Institute in Santa Cruz, California. Read more at www.nightlightnews.com. Questions, comments? Contact Risa at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .