Astrology of 2021
Read your 2021 Horoscope Here
How many of you are counting the days to 2021? 2020 has been such a challenging year; it will be a relief when it's over. Looking at the astrology of 2021, I can offer you a little hope. It gets better. It's a year of healing, repairing, rebuilding, digging your heels into the ground, and staying focused. It's also a year of a renaissance - with innovations and inventions in the arts, technology, and media. We will see how important and necessary the events of 2020 have been for the future we're creating.
Pluto has been prominent in 2020 as it started two new cycles with Saturn and Jupiter. Pluto transits can be challenging when you're in the thick of them because Pluto wants to break down what's not working so that you can build something new. It raises into the light some of the worst shadow aspects of ourselves and the world, so we know the truth and can make life changes accordingly. Pluto's influence helps us transform, but these spiritual processes aren't easy. Imagine what a caterpillar goes through on its way to becoming a butterfly-- stuck in a cocoon, dissolving into something entirely other than itself. During a Pluto transit, we have to surrender to the divine forces working in our lives and be willing to let go of what we most hold dear. On the other side of a challenging Pluto transit, we have more clarity, awareness, and knowledge about what aspects of our lives we're recreating. We've been going through this as a collective, and 2021 will be emerging from that cocoon transformed.
2021 is a year for embodying strength, regaining a sense of power in your life, exploring your beliefs, and brainstorming new ideas. You'll want to build more of a community and have genuine connections with others.
Highlights of 2021
Jupiter and Saturn met in the Great Conjunction on December 21, 2020, in one of the year's most significant transits. Jupiter and Saturn conjoin every 20 years, and this transit happens in the same element (fire, earth, water, or air) for 200 years. In 2020, they started a new 200-year cycle of conjunctions in air signs. (We saw a preview of this air influence in 1980 when Jupiter and Saturn met in Libra.) The last time we saw these two planets conjoin in Aquarius was in the 1400s-- the Renaissance period. (Read more about the significance of this transit here.)
In addition to these two planets transiting through air signs, we have the North Node in the air sign, Gemini, and our three Mercury retrograde cycles are happening in air signs. That's a lot of emphasis on the element of air this year.
Air is the element of life-giving breath. It symbolizes our intellect, thinking patterns, ideas, and ways of sharing ideas. It's information transferred over soundwaves and through Bluetooth or wifi devices. Because air is the element associated with the east, where the sun rises, it relates to new beginnings and creativity. Air also carries things (spoken words or, well, viruses) from one person to the next.
We can expect to be focusing on all things air this year, but especially:
1. How to stop the transmission of Covid and move out of this pandemic
2. New ways of using technology to facilitate connection
3. Technological advancements to address environmental issues
4. Advancements in media and journalism
5. Emphasis on communities
6. Innovation in the arts
7. Individual expression
8. Rise of cryptocurrency and blockchain technology
9. Tension between past and future
Many of us are wondering what's going to happen with COVID. We're seeing that the virus has mutated, leading to more restrictions as we close out 2020. I expect we'll see this pattern until the springtime, but we'll also see vaccinations slowing the spread. We'll have new developments to reduce the virus's severity, and I anticipate some restrictions lifting after February 17 and continuing to improve in March. When Jupiter dips into Pisces in May, I could see travel options opening up again.
Aquarian Ideals:
Social Reform, Recognizing our Oneness
Saturn and Jupiter will both be moving through Aquarius. When outer planets move through a sign, they highlight those themes for us. We have to pay attention, learn lessons, and get more familiar with that sign and the aspect of ourselves that sign represents.
Aquarius is the sign of communities and social networks. It's a humanitarian sign that focuses on doing what we can to help others-- seeing ourselves as one global community in participation with the natural world. We could see advancements in technology that help us foster that sense of oneness and bridge divides.
Saturn's influence suggests we'll be creating new power structures. We'll see perhaps a rise in dictators followed by a quick fall as individuals realize their power to affect change in their lives and the world. I think we could even be looking beyond democracy as we know it and coming up with new ideologies and systems that will develop over the next three decades. Jupiter's influence shows us a tension between our individual interests - what's good for me- versus the common good- what's good for everyone and the planet. This tension could lead to interpersonal, social, and political conflicts. It could also lead to a revolution.
These two planets coming together also show the possibility of manifesting what you dream, especially if you're working in collaboration with others. It's a time of grounding your ideas in practical action steps. It's discipline and effort on behalf of the next big idea. As a result, you could be going into a highly productive period of your life, especially if you're an air sign (Gemini, Libra, Aquarius). Fixed signs might have to apply a little more effort (especially Leo and Scorpio), but it will pay off.
We'll likely see more things like crowdsourcing and technology in financial systems, and we could even see the rise of some new media that helps us connect faster and better. Financial and economic shifts will allow people to rely on one another for resources rather than corporations.
The shift into air signs, and Aquarius in particular, brings a dimensional transition from 3-D into 4-D and 5-D. Our virtual lives will be as important as our physical ones. Your dreams and imagination really will create your reality. You could have better telepathic communication, and if this seems far-fetched now, just wait! You'll see more people reaching out to you and saying, "I was just thinking of you…" right when you were thinking of them! Our minds are working in new ways, giving us access to different parts of our brains and heightening our intuition. (I wouldn't be surprised if, someday, we're teaching telepathy in schools along with empathy.)
We'll also see technological advancements that solve environmental concerns, as well as advancements in renewable energy, like wind and solar. Technology and AI will be a big theme throughout the 2020s. It wouldn't surprise me if we had more revelations about extraterrestrials and significant space discoveries this year. We could read news leaked from sources in the know about these matters, especially in the fall.
End of Cults and Conspiracy Theories
North Node in Gemini, South Node in Sagittarius
This year, the South Node in Sagittarius shows us what we're here to rethink, correct, and heal. We're aiming our sights toward the North Node in Gemini, with more conscious ways of accessing information and communicating with one another.
The transiting North Node and South Node are always in opposite signs, and at the beginning of the transit, the South Node brings up societal problems to fix. The South Node entered Sagittarius, and we saw misinformation and conspiracy theories that escalated in conjunction with social and political unrest. We also saw people looking for the truth and calling out dishonest or skewed individuals and media outlets.
It's a time for all who have abused and misused their power to face repercussions for their actions. We're in the process of realizing our individual and communal power to affect change. We're becoming our own experts, teachers, and gurus. We also better understand the influence of information and how it's spread. This shift takes place as Facebook announces it will ban hate speech, changing some of the tactics that spark division in the world.
In addition to this theme, the North Node in Gemini also stresses the importance of being curious, learning the facts, and gathering information. It's not a time to be fixed on your opinions or fanatical in your beliefs. Instead, it's a year for being willing to admit you may have been wrong, challenging the status quo, and learning new ideas. Take classes or workshops for inspiration, and read new authors. I want to see your nightstands stacked with books! If you are a writer, you could have a prolific year. Share your knowledge and insights with others. Start publishing your work or seek a writing coach to help you refine your ideas.
The eclipses on May 26, June 10, and December 4 will punctuate all of these Gemini North Node themes.
Past and Future Pull Us into Present
Saturn and Jupiter square Uranus
Throughout the year, Jupiter and Saturn will both square (and thus challenge) Uranus. Jupiter squares Uranus on January 17. Saturn squares Uranus on February 17, June 14, and December 24.
These squares take place in fixed signs, which means we could feel stuck at those times of the year. We'll feel pulled between the future and the past. If you feel frustrated, you might have to let go of something to move forward.
These squares represent an overarching theme this year of conflict between conservative and progressive ideologies. We have been in a societal growth spurt, and we've outgrown systems that have shaped our societies and institutions. For some, letting go will be hard. Others will welcome the changes represented by this year's transits.
These square aspects could signify things like earthquakes or accidents as well. The last time Saturn and Uranus were square was 1999-2000 (Saturn was in Taurus, and Uranus was in Aquarius- opposite of where they are now), and there were notable earthquakes around that time.
There could be more severe weather incidents, too. Aquarius is an air sign, and Uranus in Taurus is earth. When these two elements clash, we could see that play out in terms of erratic weather patterns. I recommend taking precautions around the time those transits are exact-- February 17, June 14, and December 24.
In addition to those challenges, we could also see technological challenges with satellite systems, the internet, or phone networks. Challenges will lead to solutions, though. Any issues that arise will help us develop improvements for the long-term.
Because of this tension, you'll likely be hearing more about mindfulness practices that bring us into the present moment.
Aquarius is the sign of revolutions and revolutionaries, and Uranus is the modern-day ruler of that sign. So, the events that coincide with these squares will lead to social changes.
Mercury Retrograde Cycles
January 30 – February 20
May 29 – June 22
September 26 – October 18
Our three Mercury retrogrades happen in air signs. Last year, we had water sign Mercury retrogrades, and you likely felt them emotionally as they brought up challenges in your personal life and relationships. Now, communication will be an important theme, as well as technology and communication devices. It's going to be even more important to back up your computers and phones during these Mercury retrogrades.
Jupiter in Pisces --
Restoring our Faith
Jupiter moves into Pisces from May 13 - July 28 before going retrograde back into Aquarius. I would imagine that many of the Covid restrictions will be lifted at that time, as more people have access to vaccines and treatments are more readily available. Jupiter's happy in the sign of Pisces, the sign it traditionally rules. So, we could feel optimistic and ready to welcome positive changes in our lives.
If you want to travel, tentatively plan for a trip this summer. There could still be restrictions, but things will be more open than they will be at the start of the year.
Venus Retrograde
We close out the year with a Venus retrograde cycle that starts on December 19, 2020, and lasts until January 29, 2022. Venus, the planet of relationships and finances, will be in the practical sign of Capricorn. You could question your relationships and especially whether or not there's a future for them. It's also a time to focus on your budget, and you could make some financial changes at the end of the year. You'll be more conservative with your resources and more aware of whether your relationships energize or deplete you. You could find yourself scaling back, but this won't feel restrictive as you have a clearer idea of your priorities. Any energy or money you save will support whatever you're building for the future.
What to Prioritize
Friendships
Build community
Get to know your neighbors
Explore your local community
Creative projects
Learning/education
Teach or mentor
Volunteer work or philanthropy
Upgrade your technology
Building an online presence
Hobbies
Reading
Communication
What to Let Go
The need to be right
Old resentments
Fear of progress
Fear of scientific innovations
Self-judgment
Busy work that doesn’t relate to your purpose
Petty disagreements
Isolation
Fear of judgment from others