Key Collective Astrological Transits for 2022
In December 2021, Jupiter, the planet symbolising expansion and growth, moved into the sign of Pisces. In Astrology, Pisces can symbolise illness and viruses (biological and digital), so Jupiter moving into the sign has seen a corresponding increase in infections with the flare up of the Omicron Covid-19 variant, all over the world. Luckily, whilst the infectiousness of the virus has increased, the overall severity and lethal potential of the virus appears to have declined. This fits with the key 2020-21 transits of Uranus square Pluto, Pluto square Eris, and Saturn square Uranus, all receding. These transits were associated with the collective chaos, fear and destruction created by the Covid-19 pandemic, and experienced worldwide. With the difficult transits moving off, and with Jupiter moving into the sign of Aries from May 11, and the 2023 collective key transits looking to be less challenging, this will hopefully symbolize the reduced potential for more serious mutations of Covid-19, and a waning of the virus and its impact globally this year. Jupiter does retrograde back into Pisces in the last few months of 2022, so we may see a slight flare up once again, but generally I hope to see a downward trend in numbers this year and a waning of the effects of the pandemic.
The Jupiter (symbolizing expansion and growth) conjunction to Neptune (planetary ruler of Pisces and associated with viruses (biological and digital) and the immune system) in the sign of Pisces in April, may signify the peak of Covid-19, in terms of infection numbers globally, and then a gradual waning. This conjunction may also signify breakthroughs and good fortune (Jupiter) in regards to the virus, medicine and healing (Neptune), so new advancements and developments in the effectiveness of vaccines, treatment methods and medicines, may also help us to better deal with the pandemic. Jupiter conjunct Neptune in Pisces, can also represent the rise of inflation (Jupiter) around the world and the uncertainty and delusion (shadow of Neptune/Pisces) around money, assets and resources. Economists have been predicting consumer price inflation, and a move in that direction has already begun as the conjunction approaches. We are experiencing this currently with the increase in petrol prices, soaring property prices (both buying and renting), the high levels of individual debt, increased cost of materials in construction, to name a few. Issues around oil, fossil fuels, the health of water/Oceans, as well as weather events such as floods/droughts, rising sea levels and storms, are all ruled by the Neptune/Pisces archetype. The awareness of climate change and its impact on the environment and weather patterns has been growing and expanding (Jupiter). Increased extreme weather events like drought, bushfires, floods, and severe storms experienced globally, and which Eastern Australia is currently facing with the La Nina weather patterns and devastating floods, is making it frighteningly real. The growing awareness and increased extreme weather events, has galvanised governments around the world to implement policies and take action around the use of fossil fuels, and the impact of general industry waste and by-products. It is my hope, that this Jupiter/Neptune conjunction in Pisces, may signify further breakthroughs, and an improved global vision (Jupiter) and advances in terms of tackling climate change.
The opportunity the Jupiter conjunction to Neptune may offer us as global citizens, is the expansion and growth (Jupiter) of spirituality, creativity, compassion and connectedness (Neptune), to others and the planet. The conjunction provides an image of enlightenment. Neptune, the planet of divine love, and Jupiter, the planet of growth and vision, provides the potential for all of us to work with the energy in a productive way, and hopefully take steps towards greater understanding, insight and compassion for ourselves and others. The potential is for healing some of the great division, ‘otherness’, and disconnection that is so prevalent in society, perhaps providing the opportunity to soften attitudes or engage with more sensitivity and respect in our relationships, towards groups of people, and the planet. In any case it can heighten our sensitivity on all levels – body, mind and spirit – and can be a potent time to engage in quiet reflection, spiritual practices, commune with nature; anything that can help us to slow down and connect with ourselves, thereby providing an opportunity for a peak experience of insight into our lives. Due to the expansive nature of the transit, it’s important to temper any awareness or vision by grounding it in reality and not get too carried away. It may help to see any insights as a dream or vision to work towards, along with plenty of practical evaluation, discernment and patience regarding the steps needed to get there.
The shadow side of the Jupiter conjunction to Neptune can be mass delusion, confusion and a flaring up of ideas and issues, perhaps propagated by social media, ‘fake news’, and disinformation. It may be a good idea to check yourself, to ask what’s real, and try and find a balanced view by looking at all the different sides, or at least do your best to look at things through the positive lens of Jupiter/Neptune - respect and empathy. Escapism, addictions of all kinds, mental health, can be another shadow side of Neptune, so with Jupiter, the planet of expansion, we may see these issues running rampant. This may be personally or collectively, particularly with the heavy energy of the past few years and presently. A lot of us may be feeling like we just need a break, some time out from the rollercoaster of life. So, a reality check to assess any addictions or coping behaviours may be necessary, and to re-focus on positive forms of escapes. This could be, spiritual or creative practices, being in nature, music, reading, watching movies, cooking, exercise, switching off the phone/news/social media, basically anything that allows you to have time out from your worries, fears, or challenges in life. Giving yourself permission to do this may be of benefit, and also the antidote to over doing unsupportive behaviours at this time.
The Lunar nodal shift into the signs of Taurus and Scorpio over the next 18 months could help up us be more grounded, and also willing to turn inward and work with any buried or repressed emotions. With the North Node in the Earth sign of Taurus, it symbolizes a need to challenge and stretch ourselves towards becoming more grounded, secure, pragmatic, and to connect with and attend to our bodies and the earth in practical ways. An image of getting back to basics, simplifying and slowing down, comes to mind. The South Node in the water sign of Scorpio, signifies the collective challenge to connect with our shadows and take a look at what’s going on for us, to see where we may be stuck in fear, anger, a need for control, or any negative emotions or behaviours. Turning inward to support the process of inner work, could help us to release and heal emotions, thoughts and behaviours that are destructive, thus empowering us to transform our relationships and lives. The Solar and Lunar eclipses occurring in the Taurus/Scorpio polarity in May, and then October/November, reinforces the opportunity for all of us to put a spotlight on these related themes. The eclipses are an invitation to gain greater clarity around these issues, and let go of what no longer serves us, and/or start to tackle them in new ways. The challenge of this polarity is to find a balance between paying attention to the practical and physical aspects of our lives and planet, and attend to our inner psychological world which unconsciously dictates or commands our reactions, thoughts, behaviours and choices.
Mercury turns retrograde 3 times in Air signs this year. The first has already occurred in the sign of Aquarius during January/February, the second is in Gemini in the months of May/June, and the final time this year in Libra during September/October. The Mercury retrograde energy, challenges us around our thinking, listening, understanding, self-expression and communication. It’s an ideal time to reflect and review on how we are going in this area of life, to assess our habitual thought patterns and beliefs, and perhaps make adjustments to better serve us and our continued growth. It can be a great time to meditate, reflect, study/research, and attend to administrative tasks and paper work that we’ve perhaps neglected. Mercury Retrograde in the Air signs of Gemini, Libra and Aquarius, all of which are traditionally associated with ideas, learning, communication and relating to others, adds an even greater emphasis on the need to reflect on how we are going in this area of life. The positive potential of the Mercury retrograde in Air signs, is the ability to become more objective, to look at issues, events, people etc, from a less fixed position, to perhaps see something from a different perspective(s), see the grey, rather than in black and white. It may allow us to open to new concepts and ideas, perhaps reflect on where we may be too stuck or rigid in our thinking, or be willing to research or question beliefs we hold. This could help us to be less emotional and perhaps temper how we respond or relate to issues and others, to see the similarities rather than all the differences, and at the very least, perhaps be accepting of the ‘need to agree to disagree’, and be ok with that.
The theme of being challenged around our thinking and to see different points of view, is further emphasised by Mars turning retrograde in the Air sign of Gemini during the latter part of the year, October – January. Mars turns retrograde every 2 years, and is a potent time to reflect, work on, harness our courage, and attend to challenges we may have around our ambition or direction. It may provide an opportunity for greater awareness, and the initiative to take action on issues or key areas of life that need to be attended to. It could also challenge us around our communication styles, thoughts or beliefs, that could impact on our ability to relate, learn, and understand, or simply where we may sabotage our confidence in going after what we want, due to our habitual beliefs and thought patterns. Mars, the planet of action, initiation, assertion and independence, turning retrograde, can be an ideal time for us to pay attention to where we may be stuck, lack courage, or are even plain lazy. It could potentially provide us with a new perspective(s) and the chance to problem solve or think laterally. On a global scale, I believe the positive potential of Mars and Mercury being retrograde in Air signs, could usher in a time to reflect on what rigid ideology and dogma is doing to the world, a societal opportunity to be more objective, open to new perspectives, have greater understanding of others, reflect on the effects of social media and disinformation, and hopefully heal a lot of the division and ‘othering’ or tribalism that has been occurring. Let’s hope!
The last transit I want to touch on is Saturn square to Uranus. This was a key transit of last year and its energy is felt for a short time during September/October this year, suggesting an opportunity to revisit and work on similar issues that arose in 2021 – individual rights and autonomy (Uranus) versus responsibility and restrictions (Saturn). The lockdowns, masks, vaccination and other public health orders that have caused great angst and discord around the world, fit with the Saturn square Uranus archetypal themes. The flavour of this transit also plays out in the growing political division being felt all over the world, a movement away from the centre, and with more radical views becoming common and prevalent in society. The many large protests from both sides, all over the world in the past few years is evidence of this. The experience of the pandemic, climate change, global financial concerns, and a lot of disinformation thrown in for good measure, has seen a rise in our collective fear and uncertainty, and it’s generally during these times that political division and instability occur, resulting in conflict, such as the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and mounting tension between China and the West. The revisiting of the transit affirms there is still work to be done personally and collectively, around how to find a balanced or moderate view in regards to personal freedom and choice vs responsibility and societal restrictions. Personally, the challenge is to find a way to come back to the heart and have some compassion or understanding of where another is coming from, to make space for another’s view or feelings, and resist the urge to demonize and create more division. Awareness of falling into either the Saturn shadow of being overly authoritarian, repressive, controlling or judgemental, or the Uranus shadow of personal freedom/choice at any cost and not respecting other people’s rights, could be helpful on a personal level and an opportunity to come back to the centre. Perhaps, if enough of us can do this, then on a collective level we may see constructive change and innovation (healthy expression of Uranus), occurring in a structured and well thought out manner (healthy expression of Saturn), when it comes to institutions such as government, law and order, health and banking. The ideal being, democracy and choice, whilst also supporting and respecting others, and narrowing the great divisions in society around gender, race, sexuality, disability, class and economic status.