The Astrology of 2013

Overview

2013 is another extraordinary year astrologically with an unusual amount of planets at the same degrees, meaning lots of activity all year, with some periods that are particularly potent.

In a nutshell this is a year of yet more profound change, now accompanied by a greater level of emotion. We can reasonably hope for a more mature response to change, for some emotional integration of the changes wrought so far, and for a developing capacity for compassion, especially for those suffering directly from the seismic shifts and political turmoil occurring in so many areas of the planet.

We still have the ongoing Uranus Pluto square creating stress and transformation in all kinds of ways, this year occurring at 9 – 11 degrees of Aries/Capricorn.

In addition, Saturn and Chiron, and on occasion Jupiter and Mars, also arrive at 9 – 11 degrees of their respective signs. This combination forms various patterns throughout the year, most affecting charts with 8 – 12 degrees prominently featured, which includes those people, businesses and countries with birthdays around the first of the month.

With many countries and institutions inaugurated on January 1, this indicates a high level of global upheaval. In addition, this change is further stimulated by the New Moons of October through December, which all happen at 10 – 12 degrees of the relevant signs, including the Total Solar Eclipse of November 3.

2013 is characterized by an unusual amount of activity in the water signs, indicating yet more watery natural disasters, a higher level of emotion and a need to focus on our capacities for compassion, empathy and intuition.

The Main Astrological Patterns of 2013

The Uranus Pluto Square

This year our cosmic friend the Uranus Pluto square makes the third and fourth passes (of a total of seven between 2012 and 2015). The aspect is in effect all year but strongest around the periods of exactitude: May 20 2013 at 11 degrees 14 (UR direct, PL retro) and November 1 2013 at 9 degrees 26 (UR retro, PL direct).

In brief, the Uranus Pluto aspect signifies profound social change, and out of this arises great creativity (think the Renaissance, 1930’s and 1960’s). Here’s the link to a previous piece I wrote about this aspect.

The Yod

A Yod is an aspect that forms when one planet is inconjunct (150 degrees of separation) two others who are sextile to each other (30 degrees). In March 2013 we get a rare yod involving Saturn in Scorpio, Pluto in Capricorn and Jupiter in Gemini all at 10/11 degrees (this also occurred December 2012 at 8 degrees). This is not easy to interpret but with these planets involved the pattern gives a sense of a cosmic reordering that allows some kind of long overdue justice to take place, maybe as an apparent result of a terrible suffering. Astrologically the yod is a symbol of fated opportunity, so if you are offered a lifeline or even just a lucky break, take it. If you saw the first glimpse of this in December 2012, it may well become stabilized and actualized in late March or April.

Intensified Yod

In April 2013 Uranus arrives at 9 degrees Aries to join the Yod group, turning it now into a rectangle with one side shorter than the opposite side. Apparently this is called an isosceles trapezoid (thanks to astrologer Bill Herbst for this mathematical nugget). Jupiter is fast moving out of the picture, speeding along in the mid degrees of Gemini, so the moment is fleeting, but potentially of interest in terms of the spiritual changes and openings possible when the pressure cooker heats up. Watch March 30 when Jupiter and Pluto are exactly inconjunct at 11:31 Gemini and Capricorn. On April 13, Saturn and Uranus are exactly inconjunct at 9:20 degrees, both in the Mars ruled signs of Scorpio and Aries respectively. Any tension that weekend will benefit from creative direction, generosity, dancing/exercise, and thinking on one’s feet, favored by an energetic and sexy Sun Venus Mars conjunction in late Aries.

Water Grand Trine

On June 27 Jupiter enters Cancer (where it will stay until July 17 2014) and almost immediately forms a Water Grand Trine with Neptune in Pisces and Saturn in Scorpio at 5 degrees, exact July 18 and in effect the whole month of July. If you have any planets or angles at 3-7 degrees of water you may well experience a deepening of your emotional life and possibly an increased flow of funds and resources.

Karmic planetary combination in Scorpio

The North Node entered Scorpio in September 2012 followed by Saturn in October (where it stays until December 2014). These are the two big teacher/life lesson points of the natal chart. The Node of course moves mostly backwards, so begins the year at 25 degrees, while Saturn is at 9: the two meet at 8 Scorpio in mid September 2013. Since Saturn entered Scorpio, combined with the North Node, several long-simmering scandals that had somehow evaded full attention have been exposed (e.g. Lance Armstrong, Jimmy Savile, Catholic orphanages in Australia) and this theme is likely to continue with a peak intensification at the Scorpio New Moon/Total Solar Eclipse at 11 degrees on November 3.

Cardinal T square

This time our friend the Cardinal T-square is created by the movement of Jupiter into Cancer (begins June 27), thus opposing Pluto in Capricorn while squaring Uranus in Aries. This activation of the Uranus Pluto square by ebullient, expansive Jupiter is in effect July to September. It brings to the forefront our current collective dilemma and argument about the right use of resources. For some, it will bring lucky breakthroughs, especially in real estate.

Eclipses in 2013

Take special note if any of these dates fall on or near your birthday. If so, you are in for a time of change and illumination.

April 25: Lunar Eclipse (Full Moon) at 6 Scorpio

May 9: Solar Eclipse (New Moon) at 20 Taurus

May 25: Lunar Eclipse (Full Moon) at 4 Sagittarius

October 18: Lunar Eclipse (Full Moon) at 25 Aries

November 3: Total Solar Eclipse (New Moon) at 11 Scorpio

Mercury Retrograde in 2013

The three periods of Mercury retrograde this year all fall in water signs, so Mercury spends much longer than usual in water. The three periods are Feb 24 – March 18 (Pisces), June 27 to July 21 (Cancer) and Oct 22 to Nov 11 (Scorpio).

Check back in on Tuesday for the next section, on the Astrology of Nations and Politics in 2013. 

Lara gives individual astrology sessions via Skype. Email lara@laraowen.com to book an appointment, and visit http://laraowen.com/consultations/astrology-consultations for more information.