Well, it looks like a better year, doesn't it??? No heavy duty Saturn, Pluto, Uranus transits. ....Saturn opposite Uranus at the end of the year seems to be the only fly in the ointment. Yet there are planets that are close. Uranus has had the asteroid, Pallas, close, most of 2007. It's still there til March. Uranus is the higher octave of Mercury, indicating a genius mentality when aspected positively, and Pallas is all mental - the goddess was born of Zeus' head, so she's not in touch with emotion - this conjunction will see children born at this time genius in the field of computers and math.....Uranus rules computers and Pallas rules the ability to think in patterns and put things together others wouldn't see.

At the same time, Chiron is keeping close on the heels of Neptune....in fact it will do so til 2014! Chiron is the wounding and Neptune is illusion/delusion....even sabotage sometimes. How are these two going to work? They are in Aquarius - and will move to Pisces before they split up an opportunity to move beyond our limitations. The last time Chiron and Neptune met up, it was 1945. I've heard from people who were children in that time that they were fed some propaganda of sorts from their parents, which, since they were their parents, they believed, and built their life on. It behooves nurturing parents of children born in these years to watch for negative programming by someone. It would depend on which house it's in, who the probably culprit might be.

When Saturn opposes Uranus in November, it will also oppose Pallas, of course, as well. Those who think within the box are not going to cottoon to people who think outside the box....and so far outside the box most of us can't comprehend the genius (sort of like "Charlie (David Krumholtz) " on "Numb3rs").

During the first few months of the year, Mars flits back and forth opposing Pluto before it moves on. Mars is the god of war, and the previous ruler of Scorpio before Pluto was discovered. It's usually a time of dark forces. Mars also represents cars, and Pluto is anything with an RE before it, so REpair works here. Keep your car repaired. ...there are 3 types of policemen. #1 is the Virgo type who wants to serve and protect, #2 is the Saturn type where they want you to follow the rules and stay within the box, and #3 are the Pluto types that want dominion and control.....the latter is more likely to be behind the bush just waiting for you to make a mistake.....so watch your p's and q's (literally! that's shorthand for pints and quarts!!) and don't give them anything they can complain about.

Pluto enters Capricorn in January, with Jupiter nearby, and then Jupiter takes off, staying in Cap for the year, to make the ingress a bit more easy. Saturn starts off the year aspectinig a number of planets, and close to opposing Uranus, so we can feel a little of its non-appreciation of Uranus' hippie qualities at that time. In June, Saturn gets close to trining Pluto again, as it did in August of 2007. In July, Saturn and Pluto are still in a pretty close trine, but Mars joins them, conjuncting Saturn. As we saw with the bridge collapse, even a trine isn't good with Mars in the picture.

As we start into the summer months, Uranus is starting to move in to square Pluto, which it won't do til June of 2012, but it'll be hanging in close proximity the whole time. When Uranus conjuncted Pluto in 1966, it started the whole hippie, free love, uncommitted relationships, and being more open in sexual expression.....which brought in Roe v. wade, in 1973. In the coming years, culminating in 2012, we'll probably see more individualism again, and the people standing up to power.

For you Scorpio:

Jupiter trines Saturn from the 3rd house of siblings/education to the 11th house of career/dad's money and friends. Lots of get togethers, people around....just what you love! ha! If Saturn sits on your career money, maybe going back to school will help you down the road.

Jupiter sextiles Uranus from the 3rd house to the 5th of kids/love affairs. Maybe a sibling will take care of your kids so you can get away with your lover.

Jupiter sesquiquadrates Saturn from the 3rd house to the 11th. As the faster planet moves away from the trine at 120 degrees, it creates a sesqui at 135 degrees....a little blip on the radar screen to see if you handled the positive energy right.

Saturn Opposes Uranus/Pallas, from the 11th of career & Dad money/friends to the 5th of kids/love affairs/avocations. Sudden opportunities are happening for your kids, or a new potential mate comes in to your life....and then Saturn moves in opposite from the 11th, and maybe dad doesn't come thru with the money he promised....or your employer doesn't. Don't worry, Uranus is in your house of Kids a lot longer than Saturn in the 11th.

Jupiter inconjuncts Neptune from the 3rd to the 4th....Neptune's dissolve in the 4th of home and mother can get a boost from a sibling or teacher or neighbor.

THE OUTLYING PLANETS

Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto are called the 'major' planets because they move slowly. They are the 'directors' of our play of life, and dictate the set and the scenery and outline the major direction of the play.....they would be the ones who write the 'bible' for soap operas - the long range direction of the stories. Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus and Mars, on the other hand, are the "personal" planets: they are the actors who trigger the events, and can also be looked at as the 'daily writers' of our individual soap opera who write the daily events. So, in astrology, we look to the outlying planets and see what they are doing to get a sense where the action is going to take place.

For you, Scorpio, Pluto spent 12 years going thru your 2nd house of money in Sag. You might have lost a job at the outset, around 1996-98, or in some way your finances were crimped. As the time went along, however, you undoubtedly build up your nest egg. You find yourself, coming out of this period, probably more financially settled than when you went in to it.

Now, Pluto moves into your 3rd house of communication, siblings, local government, neighborhood, lower education. There can be a power figure in the school system, throwing his weight around, forcing you to confront him/her to protect your child. You might get more interested in politics on all levels. You might want to go back to school to give yourself power thru education, or you might find a sibling is throwing his/her weight around and you may have to confront the situation. The 3rd house is a cadent house, a mental house, so it's not as charged as when Pluto goes thru other houses.

Pluto goes retrograde on April 2nd and goes direct on September 8th.

Neptune is now in Aquarius. Combined with Uranus, it's been a bumpy ride the last 8-15 years. There have been upsets and jobs lost, as you've been encouraged to get out of the rat race and pursue more personal goals. The nebulousness of Neptune, has found carving a niche for yourself rather difficult. Now that it has followed Uranus into Aquarius (as Uranus moves into Pisces), the ride should be a little easier, as the energy is more to Nep's liking....Aquarius is a transcendant sign of higher vision much as its own sign, Pisces.

Scorpio, Neptune is in your 4th house of home, mom and real estate, as well as the foundation and roots of your chart. Real estate deals could hold a measure of deception, so look over contracts carefully. There is an element of illusion here; you might think your home is in better shape than it is. You desire the ideal now, though. You want the house with the white picket fence and the dog on the doorstep welcoming you home each night.

Neptune goes retrograde on May 26th, and goes direct on November 2nd.

Uranus- On March 11, 2003, Uranus moved into Pisces after 8 years in Aquarius. It then retro'ed back to Aquarius on Sept. 16th,2003, and then back to Pisces by Dec. 31st to continue on it's way thru Pisces for the next 7+ years. Uranus rules Aquarius, which is an air sign, and Pisces, of course, is water. Water and air don't work too well together. Just as Uranus got 'stuck' in Capricorn, it dives into the unknown areas of emotion, and gets confused....that objective, logical air quality doesn't understand emotion, ala "Mr. Spock" and "Data" of Star Trek. Triggering emotional buttons can have Uranus moving into uncharted areas, and acting inappropriately, even for itself. As a friend of mine, the late actress June Ellis (herself an Aquarian) once said, "How can you predict Uranus, when it is unpredictable?" When Uranus enters a new house (new room, more specifically) it throws on the lights, and exposes all that is in that 'room' to be be cleaned out, pulling the rug out from under as it goes, forcing you to move forward in new directions.

Scorpions will find Uranus shaking up the 5th house of children, love affairs, recreation, talents and abilities. You could see a new love come into your life. It may be for the duration, to move you into new areas of life; or it might be for a short time just to change your direction and then be on it's way without malice. You can find your children and the first one in particular, is being somewhat rebellious and challenging you more. They are just looking to march to their own drummer. As much as you can say "yes" to requests, the times you need to say "no" won't be so inflammatory.

Uranus goes retrograde on June 26th and goes direct on November 27th.

After a rough 2 1/2 years in Leo, Saturn left the lofty sign and moved into Virgo on September 6, 2007. Leos in particular, breathed a sigh of relief. It wasn't a good time for Leos. Michael Richards (Kramer on Seinfeld) had his meltdown, Isaiah Washington of "Grey's Anatomy" had a long drawn out meltdown (just quit while you're ahead, Isaiah! He must have Snake energy in his chart somewhere - has to be right, can't be wrong and has to have the last word! - Let it go, for heaven's sakes!). Barry Bonds proceeded towards the home run title under spurious circumstances....if Saturn hadn't been in Leo, the last two and a half years would have gone better, but as Saturn made travel plans to move on to the state of Virgo, the energy lightened up and he got his tying home runs and went on to add to the total. For others, like Steve Carell, his career took off. For Leos, who like to live large, found Saturn more onerous than most planets traversing it. They started to part-eeeeeeeeeee when it left. they felt a sense of relief and 'let out of jail'. That ponderous cloud over their head moved on and the sun came out to shine a bit...yet it went into their money house, so hope you didn't part-eeeeeeee too much, Leo, the bills will come due at some point, and Saturn will wonder why you didn't put something aside in the savings account.

The Baby Boomers of the 40's found that Saturn was going over the same territory (Leo) it did in 1946-48. The problem there being that Saturn caught up with Pluto in 1947, and in 1948, Chiron squared them as they broke up. There was lots of angst during those years, and now, as Saturn moved thru it again - their second Saturn return, and revisiting the S/P conjunct, those in and around their 60's were feeling the aches and pains and emotional blocks of the traumas of those days.

Saturn went thru Leo again from 1976-78, so Baby Boomers had a fresh look at the wound again, and those born later, experienced it for the first time. Those born in the late 60s and early 70's experienced the recycling of the energy as they went thru their first Saturn return, and found the body manifesting the emotional blocks which occurred in their early years. In the 70's, Saturn was squaring Uranus - the 'cop' knocking heads with the "hippie" of the zodiac, but at least not causing the angst of the Pluto connection. For all signs born after the late 70's, this was the first time they felt it going thru Leo, the sign of ego and self worth, so they all felt some ego denying in relation to the house position it was in. Leos particuarly, those born in the early 80's are now in their mid 20's and they had never experienced Saturn riding rough shod on their need to shine.

Now, Saturn is in Virgo. In modern times, it went thru Virgo from 1948-51, and 1978-81. Virgo energy works better with Saturn, for it rules Capricorn and is part of the earth trine. Doesn't mean there aren't lessons to learn and karma to address, but it's a cadent sign and thus, lighter energy. Those who are recycling the energies from the late 40's and late 70's, will find issues coming up again to heal. Emotional blocks which were created during those times can manifest as illness. This is where we can thank Saturn instead of cursing him, because it brings into manifestation what we have been harboring in our souls for all this time, in a tangible expression which, if we detect it right, leads us to the answer.

Taurus and Capricorn will benefit most from this transit, as it will trine their sun sign during this juncture, and they'll find that the 'gods' are approving and bringing rewards for work well done. Virgos will be tested, but they are such workaholics that they probably won't know the difference. Sagittarians, Pisces and Geminis will feel the square energy, and find they have to stand up to authority figures who would like to mold them to their will. Leos, Aquarians, Aries and Libra will find themselves making 'adjustments' as Saturn quincunx (30 degrees) and inconjuncts (150 degrees), their signs. That leaves Cancer, Scorpio in a sextile position to Virgo, which will create a YOD pointing to Aquarius and Aries, respectively; when Saturn tests, your "answers" are in those houses, Moon baby and Scorp....it's up to you to figure it out. *

For you, Scorpio, Saturn finished up in your 10th house in 2007. Time to breathe a sigh of relief. The 10th is a karmic house, full of energy of the ancestors, and Saturn's trek dredged up some long forgotten memories, perhaps. You may have had run ins with dad or your boss, and had to work longer hours to keep afloat. Even tho you're secretive, Scorpio, you do like to shine in your career, so it was doubly confining to have people in that area of your life raining on your parade.

Now, Saturn has moved into Virgo, which is an easier house for you. It is a sextile, and as such, provides an opportunity....to grow. These 'easy sextiles' are actually Yods (Fingers of God aspects, whereby the sextile forms a power point 150 degrees from each one and meets on the other side of the chart). When Saturn sextiles your sun sign or other Scorpio planets during this trek, it will present an opportunity and the 'answer' will be in Aries...look to your job for the answer. The 11th house is also the money house of the career/dad.....so don't look to either for much largesse or grandiosity during this time. Any notoriety which would put you on the front page is going to be of a critical nature. Mind your Ps & Qs!

Chinese astrology - Saturn just finished up moving thru the area of the Rat in your Chinese chart. Authority figures sat on your ego at times, causing you to feel angry, yet not able to express it most times. You may have felt abandoned by those above you, in the pecking order.

Now Saturn traverses the area of the Ox. You can be frustrated at the way people seem to keep holding you back not allowing you to move up the ladder of success as you want. At the same time, someone can be providing for you, and keeping your boat afloat....yet there is the vague feeling that it's too comfortable and they have their own agenda, which is keeping you from moving on with life. You have to decide what is good for yourself at times, and not live other people's lives.

Saturn is retrograde at 8 degrees of Virgo at the beginning of the year, and goes direct on May 3rd, goes retro on December 31, 08, goes direct on May 17, 2009, moves into Libra on Oct 30, 2009, retrogrades on January 10, 2010, rx back into Virgo on April 8, 2010, goes direct on May 30, 2010 at 27 degrees of Virgo, and then goes back into Libra on July 22, 2010.

JUPITER in Capricorn - December 19, 2007 - January 6, 2009

For you, Scorpio, Jupiter is in your 3rd house of siblings, communication, lower education and writing, as well as short travels. You had a nice two year stint with Jupiter in your first and 2nd houses, focusing largesse on yourself and your money, now it quiets down a bit, as you can see some good fortune come for a sibling in general, or the one after you in particular, or you have a chance to write or in some way communicate and get your word out to the world.

Jupiter goes retrograde on May 9th at 22 degrees and goes direct on September 8th at 12 degrees.

---

Baby Boomers - You have an extra aspect going on in your chart that is affecting you most dramatically Click Here

---

HEALTH ISSUES

(if one or more of these health areas don't seem to be right on, go to the next sign following yours. Because some houses are longer or shorter than others, it could move the planet into the next Chinese animals' emotions/organ of the body. Also, if you're born in the last half of the sign, look at the next sign following yours; that will probably be more specifically for you.) This is for sun signs only; it doesn't work for rising sign as well, as other systems do. This interpretation is for education only. If you are having symptoms, consult your medical professional.

Pluto now moves into Capricorn,it's in the Snake/Spleen area of your Chinese overlay. You tend to be sharp in your communication anyway....because Capricorn rules your 3rd house of communication!...and now Pluto is there....your planet....in Scorpio....in the 3rd house.....in the Snake overlay......this is an extended period to think before you speak. Do not insert foot in mouth until you have projected, edited and rehearsed what you are going to say. The Snake has to be right, can't be wrong, and has to have the last word....and with Pluto here, the last word can be more intense than it usually is.....work on this to keep relationships harmonious. The Snake also seeks perfection and is mostly wanting.....learn to flow with life....Your spleen will thank you.

With Neptune in Aquarius, it's in the Horse/Heart area of your Chinese overlay, and calls you to take care of yourself. Do aerobics and in other ways eat your veggies and fruits and stay healthy. Neptune can give you the illusion that all is well, but just check to make sure; it probably is, but it's good to know. You and your mom could get an exercise program going that would be good for both of you.

With Uranus in Pisces,it's in the Sheep/Sm. Intestine part of your Chinese overlay. If you've been victimized in the past, Uranus comes in to kick you in the pants and start thinking for yourself, and not getting mesmerized by other people who would lead you astray. Uranus is on your side, opening your eyes to what's going on around you. If you don't, you may see your small intestines physically manifesting a blocked emotional issue.

With Saturn in Virgo now, the energy shifts to the Ox/Liver area of your Chinese overlay. That person who seems to have your well being as their primary concern, can start coming on too strong, and show the real need to control and keep you close. The Ox paws the ground and snorts as being held back becomes very frustrating. Saturn recycles events of 30 and 60 years ago....what was going on then? the late 40's and late 70's? Problems with your Liver could be cropping up from things that happened then. What didn't you do then, that you wished you had???

This information is based on my "Chinese Power Animals" book. This interprertation is for the sun sign and not for the rising sign.

By Pamela Leigh Powers, © 1999-2008 all rights reserved

---