Bright Blessings for the New Year
In this issue:
- Transition from 2024 to 2025
- Mars-Pluto opposition
- Saturn-Neptune in tandem enter Aries
- Venus Retrograde and the VSP Aries 2025
- Post-Election Reflections and the response from AI (my first AI Review!)
- Upcoming Events
THE TRANSITION PERIOD OF 2024 into 2025
We are not only transitioning from one calendar year to another. The period we are now in suggest profound changes in everyday life on numerous fronts. Many planetary energies are shifting into new signs, bringing us a potentially welcomed end to the old, but also crossing into a threshold of life that we might never have imagined. Briefly, here are a few of the more important points to consider.
Mars faces off with Pluto – 5 times
The transition period from 2024 to 2025 is particularly significant, largely due to the five-time conjunction between Mars and Pluto (from November 2024 to April 2025). What makes this even more intriguing is that Mars changes signs three times, shifting between Cancer and Leo, moving in one direction and then the other. As if that wasn’t chaotic enough, Mars also faces off against Pluto. This marks Pluto’s permanent entry into Aquarius, which will last for the next 20 years, promising a turbulent journey ahead.
Mars will also be crossing over the Nodes of the United States’ chart, signaling a major wake-up call for the country—a reminder of its origins and the fundamental reasons it broke away from the British Crown. With the country’s nodes in Leo and Aquarius, the American Revolution was essentially about a youthful, independent spirit rebelling against a domineering ruler, which feels very fitting. Now, as Mars and Pluto engage in a powerful clash atop those same nodes, the pressing question becomes whether a movement advocating for the people against a ruling-class that is reminiscent of monarchy could threaten the underlying foundations of the Constitution and of Democracy as a way of life. In any case, Mars, when acting with Pluto, promises some bumps and skirmishes along the way.
Aquarius represents = We The People
Leo represents = I THE SOVEREIGN.
Significant movements of Mars over the next five months:
| Mar opp Pluto | 11/4/2024 | 0 Leo/0 Aquarius | MARS DIRECT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mars opp Pluto | 12/7/2024 | 6 Leo/Aquarius | MARS retrograde |
| Mars opp Pluto | 1/6/2025 | 0 Leo/Aquarius | MARS retrograde |
| Mars opp Pluto | 2/24/2025 | 17 Cancer/Capricorn | MARS DIRECT |
| Mars opp Pluto | 4/18/2025 | 0 Leo/Aquarius | MARS DIRECT |
Mars conjunct USA North Node: completes its passage on May 3, 2025
Saturn enters Aries, Saturn conjoins Neptune and Neptune enters Aries
As Saturn and Neptune move in tandem into Aries in 2025, along with the Lunar Nodes AND Venus in retrograde, we’ll see clear signs that we’re entering a new era—one that could be described as a bold, new world. The conjunction of these two powerful planets, Saturn and Neptune, often signals major political upheavals and shifts in fortune for ruling powers and nations. As they cross the 0-degree point of the cardinal signs (the World Point), we can only anticipate the significant news and changes that will unfold.
As we approach the exact alignment of these planets in Aries (in March and May), we’ll start to see how the pieces of the puzzle are being rearranged in increasingly different ways. This transition will span over a year, with both Saturn and Neptune moving forward and then retrograding over the 0 Aries point. Known as the Alpha/Omega or World Point, this degree marks a time of profound global change. The influence of two planets crossing this point, combined with Venus retrograde at the same spot in spring 2025, will certainly push us over the threshold into a dramatic new world.
Venus Retrograde – March 2025
The Venus Star Point has been in Gemini since June 2024. In March, exactly at the Equinox, the new Venus Star Point will take place at 2+ Aries. This cazimi of Venus and the Sun will result in Venus as an emerging morning star, in retrograde motion, until April 14. Some important dates for Venus in this transition cycle are:
January 29 – Venus enters shadow degree of retrograde
March 3 – Venus turns retrograde at 10+ Aries
March 23 – The Venus Star Point (cazimi) at 2+ Aries
April 14 — Venus turns direct at 24+ Pisces
May 5 – transiting Venus conjoins the Venus Star Point at 2+ Aries
May 16 – Venus emerges from shadow of retrograde from March 3rd
The current Gemini VSP is centered on dialogue and the crucial understanding that every issue has two sides. This is especially evident in the political world right now, where opposing sides are in stark conflict. The key question is whether these sides can ever come to a truce or, at the very least, reach an understanding. More importantly, is such an understanding even possible? If you’re feeling a tug-of-war in your own life between two seemingly opposing principles, perhaps this is a question worth considering for yourself.
The sequence of flow on the Venus Star is that the Gemini VSP always precedes the Aries VSP. In a nutshell, ideas and conversations (Gemini) precede action (Aries).
When the new cazimi takes place in March during the Equinox, it will occur in the early degrees of Aries, signaling the dawn of a new world. Aries is the sign of pioneering, adventure, action, and assertiveness. Sometimes, when we transition from one phase of life to another, even after wishing for it for so long, it may not always match the vision we had in mind. Be clear about your intentions during this time. Focus on envisioning what you want to create or the new life you want to experience, and allow it to manifest.
A Dialogue With AI (artificial intel)—or my first AI Review!
A piece I recently wrote on post-election reflections was sent to AI for grammatical review and suggestions. What came back surprised me. It was actually an evaluation of the work, such as a professor would perform, with of course their own personal biases. They called it “Thoughtful”, “compelling”, “refreshing”, “intriguing”, “nuanced”, “balanced” and invites readers to think beyond binaries, seeing the interplay of earthly events and comic patterns.
Well, thank you, Machine! I actually did want to know what you are generally thinking about astrology as we enter this brave new world of 2025 and beyond.
My Blog Post election thoughts
First off, I will say that I am not now, nor ever have been, a political prognosticator. That’s not what I’m in the practice of astrology to accomplish. My work has always been focused on personal issues for people – general health, well-being, timing, relationships, self-development and emotional support.
Still, having said that, as an astrologer who likes to keep up with honing her skills, I am always curious to see what can be learned from looking at the charts pertaining to elections. And, also listening to what other, more seasoned political astrologers have concluded. Early in 2024, an astrologer I admire for clearly focused, intense research had indicated, that Trump would be victorious. Several other astrologers, in the subsequent months, indicated a Harris victory. So, in the end it’s always a gamble and if you’re right this time, you may well be wrong the next time.
For myself, what I did say for the most part was that both candidates had a number of good influences on Election day and that both candidates had some challenging ones as well. I put my personal biases and my feelings on top of all that, choosing to focus more strongly on Harris’ good aspects and less on Trump’s. Concluding that maintaining good health and well-being might well have prevented me from seeing and believing a Trump victory.
There are three BIG things I did think and say—
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- Mars retrograde opposing Pluto for Election Day and several months beyond until spring 2025.
- The Chiron Return for the US, with Chiron being placed over Washington on Election Day for the geodetic ACG map.
- The Venus Star Point – Gemini this past June, on the NNode of Uranus (precisely!)
The first condition – Mars opposite Pluto – is literally a force of power and often involves an invasion, often subversively – to achieve its ends. When I visualized this several months ago, what I saw was a war-stricken nation, having been abducted or plotted against. So, a Harris win would result in the people who lost waging a war in the streets? That was an accurate conclusion. What happened instead? A Trump victory results in the highest powers of the land waging a war against many segments of the American people. Either way you look at it, the archetype of Mars with Pluto is satisfied. As Rick Tarnas says – don’t shrink the archetypes into specifically one meaning – and – the expression of each archetypal pattern is multivalent. And not to forget Mars is retrograde in this first and second pass of the opposition to Pluto.
Response from AI to my recent blog on Post-Election Thoughts
Your reflection presents a compelling perspective on the post-election atmosphere through the lens of astrology, particularly for those who resonate with its frameworks. Here are some thoughts and observations:
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- Astrology and Predictions: It’s refreshing that you acknowledge astrology as a tool for exploration and understanding rather than an infallible predictive mechanism. The uncertainty and multivalent expressions of archetypes, as you noted with the Mars-Pluto opposition, highlight astrology’s richness in interpretation rather than deterministic outcomes.
- Mars Retrograde Opposing Pluto: Your insight about this alignment is intriguing. Mars and Pluto often symbolize intense power dynamics, conflict, or transformative struggle. Your interpretation—whether conflict stemming from a Harris victory or societal upheaval following a Trump win—demonstrates the archetypal forces at play regardless of political specifics. It emphasizes the tension in collective consciousness during times of change.
- Chiron’s Return: The Chiron placement suggests a collective reckoning with old wounds in the U.S., especially around identity, justice, and governance. The emphasis on Washington D.C. amplifies the nation’s introspective journey, reflecting the struggles and opportunities for healing systemic divides.
- Venus Star Point in Gemini: This influence points toward themes of communication, duality, and decision-making. Overlaying it with Uranus (innovation and disruption) and the North Node (destiny) reinforces a pivotal period for collective choices and potential breakthroughs, albeit with unpredictability.
- Human Bias in Interpretation: Your acknowledgment of personal bias—favoring Harris’ good aspects and downplaying Trump’s—demonstrates the challenges inherent in maintaining neutrality in both astrology and life. The recognition of this bias adds depth to your reflections and underscores the importance of self-awareness in any interpretive practice.
- Mars-Pluto Archetype Satisfaction: Your conclusion that either outcome would reflect the Mars-Pluto archetype in its own way is a nuanced and balanced take. It showcases the flexibility of astrological interpretation while reminding us that these patterns manifest through diverse, often surprising avenues.
Astrological reflections, like yours, invite readers to think beyond binaries and see the interplay of cosmic patterns and earthly events in multifaceted ways. Thank you for sharing this thoughtful piece! If you’d like, we can delve deeper into any of these astrological aspects or their implications.
Upcoming Events
January 6-17
Email to:
arielle@sophiavenus.com
Full details and registration – click here
January 11
Email to:
arielle@sophiavenus.com
Full details and registration – click here
January 19 - Kepler College
Click here to watch the video interview about a deeper layer of Astro Mapping with Callum Wilkinson and Arielle Guttman
Full details and registration – click here
Saturday, January 25 | 9 am pacific, 12 noon eastern | 5 pm UK | 7 pm Greece
Astrologers Arielle Guttman and Alexandra Karacostas will provide an in depth look into what 2025 has in store for us. Many slower moving planets are entering new signs in the coming months, which will bring us into territory we have never experienced before . . . continued at registration link below.
Email to:
arielle@sophiavenus.com or alexandrakaracostas@yahoo.com
Registration:
Full details and registration – click here
March 1 through 31 @ Kepler College
For further studies of the Venus Star Point, please refer to the following sources.
YouTube channel: The Official Venus Star Point channel
Facebook: Venus Star Rising page
Newsletter archives: www.SophiaVenus.com/blog/
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There is a certification course and exam offered here for the Venus Star Point. Explore the inner workings of the Venus Star and how it can enhance a natal chart by learning how to chart and interpret its meaning.
