The astrology of 2014 makes me think of Clash of the Titans, Alien versus Predator, the Daleks versus the Cybermen – ok well, the latter wasn’t a movie but you get the picture. There are some powerful energies at work during this year with the first half of the year proving to be the most active. There are some monstrous chart patterns forming but we do get some helping hands. As ever, it’s how we use the energy that counts but it’s prudent to expect some challenges along the way!

January

The year begins with Venus retrograde in Capricorn which may see the new year beginning with some significant cost cutting. If the seasonal celebrations have tested your bank balance, now is the time to implement your own austerity measures in order to feel more stable on rocky ground.

In relationships, less is more. It may feel like it’s all work and no play. There may be issues with trying to find the time to be with those you love. Work and other responsibilities can get in the way of quality time together. The overall sense of delayed gratification with Venus in Capricorn is intensified. Be patient, it’s worth the wait. Venus gives us a clue of things to come by stationing direct on 13 Capricorn on the 31st January. This degree is going to play a starring role in the Cardinal Grand Cross in April. The Sabian symbol for this degree is An Ancient Bas-Relief Carved In Granite Remains A Witness To A Long-Forgotten Culture. We are witnessing history in the making.

February

February sees the first Mercury retrograde of the year with the trickster turning tail in Pisces on the 6th February. Once again, the retrogrades are in water signs this year but each time they back up into the preceding sign. So there is still an emphasis on our emotional life and how we relate to others. Mercury is looking for a profound connection, something to unite us all.

This is intensified as the North Node moves into Libra on the 23rd February which shifts into gear the year’s theme of relating and relationships. Mars will spend nearly 8 months in Libra due to retrograde action. The North Node transiting Libra pulls us towards evolving, learning, growing within the realm of relating. It’s not just love and partnerships, this is relating on all levels, one to one. Mars fuels a debate on how and why we love. He forces us to focus on the art of harmony. The Nodal axis says this is no longer about the ‘I‘, it’s about the ‘we‘. Libra is about harmony, balance and compromise. It’s an active sign so it inspires us to get involved, to make amends, to find peace.

But Mars is in detriment in this sign. He’s out of his comfort zone and that may well be one of the manifestations – feeling uncomfortable. With Libra we tend to project those things we don’t like about ourselves – or we don’t see. Anger, rage and how we defend ourselves are all called into question. It’s a fight for peace which sounds like a paradox.

March

This sense of confusion and possible indecision intensifies when Mars stations retrograde on the 1st March.

Saturn follows suit by stationing retrograde on the 2nd March. Be prepared for everything moving into slow motion. Saturn will remain in Scorpio until the end of the year so there is still the big focus on re-establishing trust and boundaries. If we can’t trust each other then how can we relate? How can we have meaningful relationships? In the meantime though, Jupiter turns direct on the 6th March in Cancer, which kind of softens the blow a little – or makes us want to run home to Mum…

Meanwhile Psyche enters Aquarius where she will remain for the year on the 15th March, probing the group mind, psyching us out. Here she has the ability to raise the group consciousness. We are prompted to see each other with our hearts and transcend our differences.

April

And then we get to April and it’s either breakdown or breakthrough. The much talked about Cardinal Grand Cross of 2014 kicks into gear. It begins building on the 10th April as Mars backs into position. The configuration builds in intensity until we hit the peak dates 22nd – 25th April with all the players on their respective 13th degree of the signs involved. Thirteen, the number of death, change, transformation, magic. On the 23rd April Juno, asteroid of commitment and marriage conjuncts the South Node. Within all of this, there may be something about letting go of old promises in order to make future commitments. I have a very strong sense of old karma as I study this. This may be a time when certain karmic ties are released, fulfilled or bonds broken. It’s like open book day at the akashic records.

Note – My birthday is on the 20th April. It’s gonna be a hell of a solar return chart!

The Grand Cross in itself brings up issues of power and control, revolution and awakening, will and desire and faith. It may seem as though everything is at cross purposes. There is division and strife or there is an urgent call for action to change. Anything that feels like a stalemate, isn’t. When Mars starts moving forwards again and re-crosses this 13th degree of Libra in June, the consequences or results of this square may be plain to see. Oh and not to forget, we also have a Lunar Eclipse in Libra just as this is all coming into play on the 15th April followed by a Solar Eclipse at the end of the month in Taurus on the 29th April. It feels ground shaking with a trine to Pluto but there is a healing element at play with a sextile to Neptune being the closest aspect. It could be the balm to soothe sore wounds.





So we see the Cardinal Grand Cross, Jupiter square Uranus, Jupiter opposite Pluto and Uranus square Pluto – the 5th square. The number 5’s in the tarot are associated with trouble and strife, but five is also an active, creative number. Once the squabbling is done with, there may well be something very productive coming out of all this enormous tension. I will be writing a lot more about this Cardinal Square and how you can use its energy at a later date.

Thankfully it is not all doom and gloom because in the background we do have a nice Grand Water Trine with Jupiter, Saturn and Chiron. There’s a possibility that some of this powerful, conflicting energy of the Grand Cross could be siphoned off into the Grand Trine and put to good use. But trines tend to work best when they are used consciously. On their own, the energy can simply trickle away under the raft of other more powerful aspects.

May

The Grand Cross begins breaking up on the 4th May so we get some reprieve and time to ponder the implications of the preceding month’s happenings. Events pick up between the 19th – 20th May with a yod forming between Venus in Aries, Mercury in Gemini and Saturn in Scorpio, with the latter at the apex. With Saturn retrograde, it could be a good time to strike up a conversation with your alter ego, your evil twin, your shadow self. Question, what is the reality? Who am I when it’s just me and the mirror?

Mars also turns direct on the 20th May which releases the stranglehold, freeing energy to flow again. The Sabian symbol of the station degree is Having Passed Through Narrow Rapids, A Canoe Reaches Calm Waters and that ladies and gentleman is one very descriptive Sabian!

June

However, there is little sense of real movement as Mercury stations retrograde in Cancer on the 7th June. It feels all Six of Swords- transition, passage by water, drifting with the tide. In fact, June is a rather watery affair altogether as Neptune and Chiron follow suit by turning retrograde on the 9th and 20th June respectively both of whom are travelling in Pisces. Mercury however will back up into Gemini on the 17th June granting some thinking space. Watch for Grand Cross manifestations however between the 14th – 18th June when Mars re-ignites the 13th degree of Libra as mentioned above.

July

Mercury stations direct on the 1st July in Gemini. Aside from this, the first part of the month is quiet. Then Saturn too stations direct on the 20th July, still trine to Chiron and in a wide applying trine to Mercury. With a quincunx to feisty Uranus however, it doesn’t necessarily feel comfortable but at least the mind is clear and you know what you need to work on.

A conjunction between Mars, Ceres and the South Node in Libra on the 13th July sesquiquadrate to Neptune and trine to Venus may bring up some feast or famine issues. This aspect makes me think of a Mother Bear protecting her cubs! Here the divine feminine is fighting back from the brink, insisting upon making a stand and redressing the balance.

Jupiter moves into Leo on the 16th July so all you lucky lions get a boost. For all of us though, this ingress provides some much needed relief. Opportunities and growth come from showing your colours, acting with confidence and getting in touch with your inner child. Approach life with a playful attitude!

Mars enters Scorpio on the 26th July. As Co-ruler of Scorpio, Mars is strong and powerful in this sign with a ‘don’t mess with me’ attitude. Scorpio sun signs now have a little more energy to play with. Mars isn’t afraid to dig through the dirt now so for everyone it’s time to shovel the proverbial out of the way to get a glimpse of the gold beneath. It’s a time to reclaim your power and drive.

Uranus stations retrograde on the 22nd July, withdrawing its potent energy inwards. He probably could do with a rest after all the action this year! It’s a time for seeing inventive solutions and contemplating your freedom. Sometimes there can be an enormous drive to change something, anything! However, the focus is on change from within before changing outside circumstances.

August

August sees some powerful action as Mars once again moves in to square Jupiter on the 1st which bleeds into a Thor’s Hammer pattern with Chiron at the apex – ouch! Also known as God’s Fist, this aspect pattern packs a punch and can either be used for great protection or great destruction. With Mars square to Jupiter, there’s something here about ‘righteous anger’ being the trigger. The problem is that Chiron suggests that this energy may be channelled towards a scapegoat rather than the real perpetrator.

September

Mars enters Sagittarius on the 13th September which leads into a fabulous grand trine which will perfect in October. The fun starts as Mars moves into the grand trine orb on the 24th September and on the 25th September Jupiter perfects a trine to Uranus. It’s all glitz with a bit of sparkle thrown in for good measure. New information may change your beliefs about what is really possible. This is a learn by experimenting aspect and Mars in the mix gives you the courage to give it a try. The pattern holds sway right through to the 13th October so there’s plenty of time to discover how this can work for you. Fire trines are creative. This is the perfect time to embrace the playful Leo Mars energy. Amidst this inspirational pattern, Pluto turns direct on the 22nd September which gives even more impetuous to the ‘out with the old, in with the new’ feel.

October

October becomes a little more bumpy however as it sees a Mercury retrograde in Scorpio beginning on the 4th October. This retrograde will back up into Libra, bringing to mind the Libra action earlier in the year. It’s a time of summing up what you have learned so far since the Grand Cross. The retrograde period is enveloped between a Lunar Eclipse on the 8th October and a Solar Eclipse on the 23rd October. Out of the two, it’s the Lunar Eclipse that catches my eye as it’s conjunct Uranus triggering the Grand Fire trine but something feels unsettled as it’s also square to Pluto. It makes me feel like wheels have been set in motion and something that was once hidden away now comes glaring into the limelight. It’s a new piece of the puzzle that must be incorporated during the Mercury retrograde and in fact, it may be that this single piece changes the whole picture.

The Solar Eclipse on the 23rd October is conjunct Venus and trine Neptune which is strange because just as I was looking this up I got distracted by a visionary art picture posted on Facebook which lead to a wander into visionary painting techniques online (dreaming of being an artist!). So this eclipse awakens the inner artist in us all, perhaps making us look at our own creations differently and with more intensity. The Sabian symbol A Crowded Sightseeing Bus On A City Street evokes the wonders of different places and faces. Something stirs within. Unconditional love may be a source of inspiration. In Scorpio, we feel passionately and deeply.

November

November is a much quieter month with both Neptune and the Chiron turning direct in Pisces, once more continuing their journey of magic and healing of our deepest bonds.

December

December sees Jupiter station retrograde on the 8th December once more promoting inner growth. In Leo it may be a time of exploring fixed beliefs and opinions to see if they still hold true.

Then we are into the sixth Uranus-Pluto square on the 15th December. Pluto is on the Sabian A Fire Worshipper Meditates On The Ultimate Realities Of Existence and Uranus is on An Unexploded Bomb Reveals An Unsuccessful Social Protest. The configurations of the chart aren’t as volatile as the April square but there is something here about recognising a situation that has been diffused, perhaps due to a better understanding of reality.

Lastly Saturn finally shifts out of Scorpio and into Sagittarius on the 23rd December. In one way this is about bring the visionary side of Sagittarius down to earth – making it a reality. The world focus may shift towards examining belief systems, possibly conservative ideas may come to the foreground. There may be some kinds of restrictions set in place on certain practices and belief systems – possibly even more stringent methods of controlling movement between countries. Higher education and publishing may too see some changes. There may be a push for more control on the internet to stop information being so freely shared. On a mass level, this ingress promotes bettering our understanding of each other’s beliefs, finding new meaning in the world. Unfortunately Saturn in this sign can also breed moral superiority and lack of tolerance so we shall have to see how this plays out through 2015.

It’s possible with the combination of the Uranus-Pluto square and Saturn in Sagittarius that we will end the year realising we are in a better place than we once were. It hasn’t been easy and hindsight is a wonderful thing. But now that we know, we can take that knowledge forwards into the new year and make ready for the final clash of the titans with the final Uranus-Pluto square in 2015.

Painting – ‘Cosmos N°2’ by Martha Boto