Welcome, 2024

Why have there been so many extreme events in a short time? This article gives an overview of the month of Jan and some of the themes for the year. There will be a little series of updates, so stay tuned.

It has been a turbulent end to 2023, with many challenging transits catalysing multiple difficult situations which have been abrupt, sudden and unexpected. 

Earlier in December I predicted that this holiday season would be one of the worst for driver fatalities, unfortunately it was, also there were multiple reports of drownings, not to mention the wild floods in Queensland, earthquake in Japan as well as the continued attacks on Palestine. This is a direct manifestation of the multiple, highly turbulent gandanta crossings of Moon/Mars/Mercury/Rahu, with Saturn’s aspects adding fuel to the fire. 

Things DO settle down, especially once Mars moves into exaltation Capricorn in Feb. However, as we know, the changing nature of life always throws things to front, astrology gives us the ability to predict and plan for the changes which are inherent and constant.

Mercury moved direct on the 1st/2nd in scorpio, its enemy sign. Scorpio is about transformation, crisis, rebirth and change. It is now in gandanta zone – which means out of control situations that can feel like drowning, which will continue for the next few days. Stormy weather is on the cards, In particular with relationships as venus is in scorpio as well, and the rahu/saturn aspect to this (already) turbulent sign. Mercury is the planet for our intellect and rational capacity. When afflicted, our ability to think and organise is compromised. Travel and planning gets disrupted.

Retrograde Mercury gifts us the opportunity to re-think, re do and revisit things, how we think, speak and communicate. How we listen, what is heard, or dismissed. Truths, insights and realisations come, sometimes as a quiet awareness, other times as a profound transformation. This year Mercury has an erratic transit as it retrogrades over the other gandanta zones in Pisces/Aries & Cancer/Leo

Make sure to plan ahead with my Vedic Astrology Calender

Mars is still combust and is in the star Mula, ruled by separatist Ketu. Nirriti, goddess of destruction and calamity presides over this star. Mars is an aggressive and explosive planet amplified by its current position, especially over the xmas and nyrs period, as it passed through the chaotic and karmic jyestha/mula gandanta zone. Mars will settle as the month continues but sudden, abrupt and shocking endings are part of this transit.

Mercury will soon move to Mula as well, so these harsh and abrupt themes continue throughout the month. Jupiter, Mars and Mercury will all be in Ketu nakshatras. Ketu is about moksha, liberation, and connection/cutting off from the past and getting to the roots of dysfunction.

Ketu is in Virgo, the natural 6th sign of the zodiac which deals with health, purification and disease. With this Ketu cycle we will be seeing more public health pandemics arise and fear around germs, bacteria and viral outbreaks. It is important to focus on living a lifestyle that facilitates health and wellbeing, and to be aware of the many ways we compromise ourselves, leaving us vulnerable to dis-ease – this begins in our mind.

Stress, lack of sleep and regular drinking are the key factors that inhibit our resilience. 

Venus is now in Scorpio, so relationships may be hot, passionate and exciting, however they are going through another push/pull cycle which will reach a crescendo as Venus herself moves through the karmic scorpio/mula gandanta toward the end of Jan. This will be another cycle of endings/new beginnings, which can be sharp, painful and shocking. It can also reflect financial turbulence and sudden losses, so guard your investments. 

Scorpio, Aries & Leo are under the gaze of Saturn until March 2025, so they have to deal with restrictions, limitations and frustrations more than others and any planet that transits through these signs will get impacted by the harsh reality of Saturn’s influence as well. 2024 is an 8 year, so reaping our karmic rewards is the theme, accepting responsibility and working hard

Saturn in Satabhisha is governed by Varuna, keeper of celestial knowledge and wisdom, of breaking down limitations to evolution and growth. This process is inherently destructive and turbulent. There is often little happiness found in this asterism, as it is about duty and responsibility.

The Rahu/Saturn influence shows the dichotomy and struggle between material and spiritual values, which is what we are seeing in the world around us, especially with the rise of AI and the deeper integration of technology in our everyday lives. 

Rahu is now in Pisces, ruled by Jupiter who has just gone direct in Aries. We can move forward now, things that were stuck can become unstuck, and many issues that have been dammed up since Sept 4th can move forward again, however Jupiter is under the Saturn’s gaze, so his blessings, while still there are still limited and restricted until he moves out of Aries and into Taurus in April this year. 

Pisces is the 12th sign of the zodiac, it is the alpha and omega, the end and the beginning. It is also the place of dreams, illusion, delusion and deception. Escapism and addiction can be found here. The issue is coming back to reality; with Rahu, those lines can feel blurred. Obsession, paranoia and fantasy can be seductive and illusory. Rahu’s placement here can however, foster a genuine and deep interest in spirituality, of awakening and seeking the highest truths.

I know it may all seem like doom and gloom, but it isnt really. The power is all in how we deal with the situation – what you give attention to and how willing you are to look at yourself, what is not working, and your own part in your suffering. Blessings are always there, like the sun, we just need to turn our face toward them.

Have a blessed 2024. Thank you for reading and being a part of my life – you are appreciated 

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