The beginning of every new century, and especially every new millennium (i.e. 2000) gives birth to growing pains that ultimately define a new—and higher—chapter of human history. Like a plant that has outgrown its pot, our collective world has outgrown its present patterns and structures, and is breaking the old form to create a new one. A period of struggle typically ensues at the start of every new century, such as we are in now. In our case, old power structures (government, corporate, economic) are trying to hold on to their forms, just as the pot struggles to retain its shape as the roots and branches break through. This tension between the old and and new can cause struggle, which we see abundantly in our world today. Yet, like a plant that always grows toward the light, we too are growing toward the light, despite temporary appearances to the contrary.
The expansion of consciousness we are currently undergoing will be rippling out in even greater ways in 2016 as the powerful effects of the alignment between innovative and rebellious Uranus in Aries and transformative Pluto in Capricorn continue to accelerate. You will feel an increasing urge to individuate and self-actualize in 2016. As others around you do the same, you will find that people may bump into each other or rub against each other in an exponentially larger number of ways. The good news is that by rubbing against each other, each person is smoothing out the rough edges in the other. Even if it doesn't feel good at the time it is happening, the result will be positive. Still, the impact of the changes each individual is going through will send shock waves into the field of human consciousness and potentially cause exponentially greater adjustments on a global scale. The energy for change will be "on steroids," meaning that everything will feel as if it is moving at a higher and faster pitch, and will feel like "a lot."
Even the weather and natural phenomenon will swing between extremes. So, if it feels warm or cold, it will feel very warm or very cold. Or if the air is stagnant or it is windy, it will be very stagnant or very windy. Similarly in the political sphere, if someone has power, they will exert too much power. If others feel like victims, they will feel ultra-powerless. Kindness will be the only antidote. Loving support for each other will a prized quality amidst the potential turbulence, and there will be many random acts of kindness and valor in the coming year. This will be especially important to balance what will also be random acts of terror and violence, and over-exertion of governmental authority.
Ultimately, the only soul-ution will be a return to core spiritual values to balance the imbalances that will rise to the surface. Love, compassion, faith, prayer, and spiritual practices will ameliorate your state of consciousness. This even could mean sitting quietly with your journal and affirming the positive qualities you would like to create in yourself and the world around you. Change comes one human being at a time. You also will derive great benefits from sitting quietly in meditation, stepping out of the fray to gain greater perspective. 2016 will be a year when the ancient traditional techniques of prayer and spiritual practice may at times seem like the only soul-utions that work! As your thoughts become more powerful with the frequency of energy on the planet on the rise, you will see how much more quickly and easily your thoughts manifest results—both for good or ill—either according to your habitual thought patterns or according to your concerted efforts to express your higher thoughts. Thus, it will be more important to think about what you want rather than what you don't want (ie. the bad things that have happened to you, are happening to you, or might happen to you in the future). This is because the negative thoughts, if repeated, will create according to the energy they send out. Keep your mind on what you are grateful for, positive outcomes, and what you would like more of, now and in the future.
Without doubt, we are in a time of accelerating evolution similar to the period of advancement initiated in the 1960s by planetary patterns. Just as results of planetary changes in the 1960s manifested their greatest results the 1970s, so too will the planetary patterns of 2015 manifest greater peace and harmony in the 2020's. The changes we will see will involve greater equality between genders, socio-economic classes, and nations. This will be facilitated by rapid advances in technology, communications, and breakdowns and breakthroughs in present governmental, economic, corporate, and social structures. Many relationships, institutions, and once-dependable events or patterns, will seem to mystically dissolve in the coming year as past structures melt away to make way for a higher age of flowing, spontaneous—and ultimately more loving, energies. We will experience the connectedness of all human beings, creatures, and the environment through a shared energetic heartbeat.
Planetarily, this year will be about serving each other, and lovingly letting the past dissolve to openly receive the future. Fortunate energies will enter the earth's atmosphere when Jupiter, planet of luck, aligns with karmic Saturn, change-oriented Uranus, spiritual Neptune, and deeply transformational Pluto in March, May, June, September, and December 2016. These will be the most active months of the year. With the karmic Nodes of the Moon in Virgo and Pisces and spiritual Neptune in Pisces, along with Saturn in Sagittarius, you will do best when you adhere to strong core values of love, peace, harmony, forgiveness, and compassion, and spiritual techniques of positive thinking, affirmations, and hopefully ubiquitous random acts of kindness.
As the tests become stronger, the soul-utions also will become stronger too, making everyone stronger on the path they choose. With this commitment to giving your best, your divine soul qualities will more easily emerge, and together we will make this earth a better place.
All my heartfelt wishes for love & light,
Laurie
Written December 13, 2015
***
DATES to REMEMBER in 2016
January 5, 2016 — Mercury Retrograde in Aquarius — Slow down, review the past, make course corrections.
January 25, 2016 — Mercury Direct in Aquarius — The normal flow of commerce and communication resumes. Logic prevails over emotions.
February 8, 2016 — Chinese New Year of the Monkey — Honest, sincere, clear expression has greatest value; a good sense of humor and flexibility also ease your journey.
February 29, 2016 — LEAP YEAR
March 8/9, 2016 — Solar Eclipse in Pisces — Confusing situations rise to the surface; spiritual "soul-utions" prevail. This total eclipse of the Sun will be visible in southeast Asia, northwest Australia, and the Pacific and Indian Oceans.
March 16, 2016 — Jupiter Trine Pluto — You will progress through perseverance and determination.
March 19, 2016 — SPRING EQUINOX
March 23, 2016 — Jupiter Square Saturn — Karmic situations rise to the surface for resolution.
March 23, 2016 — Lunar Eclipse in Libra — Stand up diplomatically for what you believe in. This penumbral eclipse will be visible in North America, South America, Asia, Australia, the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian Oceans, Arctic and Antarctica.
April 17, 2016 — Mars Retrograde in Sagittarius — Complete projects that you initiated in the past. Wait until Mars turns direct onJune 29, 2016before initiating risky ventures.
April 28, 2016 — Mercury Retrograde in Taurus — Practice flexibility when others remain stubborn. They will see the wisdom of your position.
May 22, 2016 — Mercury Direct in Taurus — Initiate your big ideas with strategic thinking and patience.
May 26, 2016 — Jupiter Square Saturn — Re-build shaky foundations and work within organizations and traditional structures.
June 17, 2016— Saturn Square Neptune — Practice rituals, pray, meditate, or give form to spiritual feelings for the greatest benefits.
June 20, 2016 — SUMMER SOLSTICE
June 29, 2016 — Mars Direct in Scorpio — Move forward on projects that have been delayed. Straight-forward action produces positive results.
August 18, 2016 — Lunar Eclipse in Aquarius — You may have out-grown an organization of which you are a part. It is time to seek a group of like-minded people who fit this stage of your evolution. This penumbral eclipse will be visible in North and South America, and Australia.
August 30, 2016 — Mercury Retrograde in Virgo — Try not to over-focus on details.
September 1, 2016 — Solar Eclipse in Virgo — You step back, see the big picture, and give up pursuing perfection in favor of seeing the big picture. This annular eclipse will be visible in Africa.
September 10, 2016 — Saturn Square Neptune — Commit to spiritual principles.
September 16, 2016 — Lunar Eclipse in Pisces (Harvest Moon) — It's time to face reality. It will be easier to deal with the truth than fantasy at this point. This penumbral eclipse will be visible in Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia, the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans, Arctic and Antarctica.
September 21, 2016 — Mercury Direct in Virgo — The normal flow of commerce and communication resumes. Situations resume their normal rhythm.
September 22, 2016 — AUTUMN EQUINOX
December 19, 2016 — Mercury Retrograde in Capricorn — Re-check the details on investments and business arrangements.
December 21, 2016 — WINTER SOLSTICE
December 24, 2016 — Saturn Trine Uranus — It's time to give physical manifestation to your unconventional ideas.
December 26, 2016 — Jupiter Opposite Uranus — Radical ideas are accepted. New visions for the future predominate.
January 8, 2017 — Mercury Direct in Sagittarius — High ideals prevail!
Please read on for your personalized predictions for every sign:
(March 21 – April 19)
The continued journey of innovative Uranus through Aries in 2016 will give you plenty of energy for creative change, provided the changes are aligned with the highest good of your soul. Plan ahead, think carefully before you take action, and then proceed with your high-minded ideas. The transit of Mars, your planetary ruler, through the intense and powerful sign of Scorpio from January 3 to March 5, 2016, and again from May 27 to August 2, 2016, will help you sharpen your focus to a laser-like beam. Pick your target well. You may take two steps forward and one backward under the influence of Mars retrograde from April 17 to June 29, 2016, but you may also use this refining energy to make course corrections. Mars, the planet of raw energy, ambition, and aggression, goes retrograde (moves in reverse) from the perspective of the earth once every two years, for two months. Because the constellation of Aries is ruled by the planet Mars, you are asked to review and rectify actions you have initiated for the previous two years. This is a time to ensure you have considered the viewpoints of all relevant people. It also is time to make sure that you are moving in a direction that is for the highest good of all concerned. You will benefit from the passage of Mars through the compatible fire sign of Sagittarius from August 2 to September 27, 2016. Mars in Capricorn from September 27 to November 8, 2016 may provide temporary challenges. But you will become stronger and clearer in the process.
(April 20 – May 20)
Loving Venus will magnetize charismatic people to you in December 2015. With regard to financial affairs, make sure to get all the facts before you sign on the dotted line. Hidden information is lurking in the background that you need to discover. Planetary patterns in January and February 2016 will attract you to even more new people with their strong magnetic energy. You normally don't have trouble maintaining your center and your point of view. But under this influence early in 2016, people will be able to convince you of their ideas. Do your homework and research the "facts" they would like you to believe. It's good to be open to new ideas, but also ensure that these new concepts are credible. You will be at a peak of your power when your planetary ruler, loving Venus, passes through Taurus from April 29 to May 24, 2016. Mercury, the communications planet, will also be in Taurus from April 5 to June 12, 2016. These planetary patterns will fortify you and help you meet your goals. People will easily understand your ideas when you articulate them clearly and concisely. While Mercury retrogrades in Taurus from April 28 to May 22, 2016, you may have to resort to using visual images to get your point across. Repeating the same message with words will not get you where you want to go. When Mars is in Scorpio from May 27 to August 2, 2016, you will have a chance to re-visit an old decision. You will reach a new conclusion by the late summer. The supportive energy of fortunate Jupiter in the compatible earth sign of Virgo throughout the first 8 months of 2016 will help you to comfortably express your creative ideas and to make changes where they are necessary.
(May 21 – June 21)
The new year of 2016 begins with a challenging retrograde of your planetary ruler, Mercury, from January 5 to 25, 2016. Use this time to complete projects that went unfinished in 2015. Then be ready to hit the ground running on January 25, 2016, with the support of fortunate Jupiter in Mercury-ruled Virgo until September 9, 2016. This is a powerful year for you to express your ideas in ways that will have the greatest impact. You are highly sensitive to the movement of Mercury, the communications planet, in relation to the earth. Remain aware of Mercury's retrograde periods: Mercury also retrogrades from April 28 to May 22, 2016; August 30 to September 21, 2016; and December 19, 2016 to January 8, 2017. The Chinese Year of the Monkey begins on February 8, 2016 and lasts until January 28, 2017. The "Year of the Monkey" energy will reward a quick wit, which you possess abundantly. But make sure to that you don't "monkey" around too much and distort the facts. Stay in reality and in integrity rather than go over the top with a clever idea. Trickery and deception can abound in the Year of the Monkey. So, be careful of schemes that may be presented to you, and try to remain sincere and honest in your dealings so you attract the same to yourself.
(June 22 – July 22)
You will be most sensitive to the ebb and flow of planetary energies under the influence of 5 eclipses in 2016. They fall on: March 8 and 23; August 18; and September 1 and 16, 2016. (see above table for visibility in your location) The 2016 eclipses will highlight areas of your life in need of refinement and fine-tuning. A most beneficial avenue of healing for you in 2016 is through spiritual practice or charitable giving. An alignment of fortunate Jupiter and disciplined Saturn on March 23 and May 26, 2016 will reward your altruistic decisions. These are times to make conventional decisions for your home and family amidst an otherwise free-wheeling year. The retrograde of energetic Mars from April 17 to June 29, 2016 will highlight your creativity and your health. A detoxifying diet and creative cooking could be the perfect elixir for the late spring and early summer. An alignment of Jupiter with unconventional Uranus on December 26, 2016 will reward risky ventures at the end of the year. Play it safe until then and then take your chances at the end of the year. You will be surprised when trying something new brings you something good you didn't expect!
(July 23 – August 22)
You will creatively approach a complex relationship and create peace and harmony by practicing spiritual principles under the influence of transcendent Neptune in Pisces. A financial matter will also come to conclusion in a way that is for your highest good under the karmic influence of Saturn in the compatible fire sign of Sagittarius in 2016. The month of March puts the focus on your finances — money that is owed to you and money that you owe — under the influence of solar and lunar eclipses and alignments of fortunate Jupiter with karmic Saturn and transformative Pluto. The Chinese Year of the Monkey, which arrives on February 8, 2016, will help you gracefully navigate necessary changes in intimate relationships. By focusing your thoughts and prayers on the highest outcome in advance, you will graciously reconfigure relationships that have gone out of balance. This is a time to focus on what you value and let go of the rest. Clear communications will bring you the greatest benefits. A lunar eclipse on August 18, 2016 will help you see how you have outgrown a group of friends or an organization. You will attract new relationships that will help you move to your next stage of evolution throughout the rest of 2016.
(August 23 – September 22)
You will experience growth and expansion in an area of your life for which you have previously prayed for increased activity, under the lucky influence Jupiter in Virgo from August 11, 2015 to September 9, 2016. This will be a year of fulfillment of your cherished dreams and desires. Please practice gratitude for the positive blessings that come into your life, even if everything does not appear "perfect." As you see there is much to be grateful for, more that you appreciate can come to you. While you may briefly experience a karmic challenge due to an alignment of Jupiter in Virgo with karmic Saturn combined with a lunar eclipse on March 23, 2016, the first part of 2016 will be blessed with many open doors and new opportunities. A solar eclipse on March 8, 2016 also will bring new and interesting people into your sphere of influence. Exercise caution but remain open-minded. New directions will work to your advantage. Another solar eclipse in Virgo on September 1, 2016 will heighten your awareness of situations that feel slightly out-of-alignment. You will then have an opportunity to make course corrections. A lunar eclipse on September 16, 2016 will give you an insight that will help you effectively put new plans into action. The fateful Node of the Moon remains in Virgo throughout all of 2016. The world will focus more vigorously on the qualities you represent: healing, purity, integrity, refinement, improvement, and higher ideals.
(September 23 – October 23)
The new year of 2016 opens with energetic Mars in Libra. This will give you a chance to complete outstanding plans from the year past and to initiate new actions that will define your new year. A lunar eclipse in Libra on March 23, 2016 will then give you an opportunity to put the finishing touches on a project that began six months earlier. Fortunate Jupiter in Libra from September 9, 2016 to October 10, 2017 will fortify your ability to reach diplomatic solutions. Peace and harmony will be more valued than ever under this influence, and will be more available to you. An alignment of fortunate Jupiter in cooperative Libra and unconventional Uranus in individualistic Aries on December 26, 2016, will open the way for an even greater divergence between the need to cooperate and the need for each person to express his/her unique individuality. As a Libran, you will be the voice of reason in polarized situations. You will be the fulcrum upon which opposing views will rest, so that ultimately a balancing point that works for all will be found in the wisdom you possess.
(October 24 – November 21)
Energetic Mars in Scorpio from January 3 to March 5, 2016, and again from May 27 to August 2, 2016, will empower you and help you refine the way you exert your energy. While Mars is moving in direct motion in Scorpio from January 3 to March 5, 2016, you will feel on top of the world, as if your ideas are aligned and everyone is following in step with your lead. Yet, when energizing Mars turns retrograde in Scorpio from May 27 to June 29, 2016, you will feel as if you need to refine the ways you deploy your intense power—you may either re-direct your life force or decide to spread your energies around rather than spiral too deeply into one area only. Try to step back during these retrograde periods and introspect about what is in the highest good of all concerned. Then, proceed. Loving Venus in Scorpio from September 23 to October 8, 2016, will heighten your magnetism and attract warm, supportive people to you. Try to reciprocate the loving support you receive so these relationships will continue in a balanced way in the future. Mercury in Scorpio from October 24 to November 12, 2016 will help you think clearly so you can see both sides of a situation. You tend to fixate on a goal and proceed directly to the finish line. Try to see the activity on the sidelines this year. There is much going on that will benefit you.
(November 22 – December 21)
You will have an dynamic year as a host of powerful planetary patterns in the heavens activate your potent energies. Mars in Sagittarius from March 5 to May 27, 2016, and again from August 2 to September 27, 2016, will excite your passion and give you increased energy to put your constructive ideas into motion. While you may face temporary karmic challenges in 2016 due to the passage of karmic Saturn through Sagittarius, you also will have plenty of support from universal energies when you implement positive, productive plans and follow through with right actions. If you are getting away from your connection to your soul, the energy of Saturn in Sagittarius will let you know through delays or detours to your plans. The most busy periods of your year will be in March, May, October and December. This is because expansive Jupiter aligns with the solar eclipse Sun and Moon on March 8, 2016 and then forms a powerful angle to transformational Pluto on March 16, 2016. This will cause you to look deeply into the patterns of your life so you can work toward positive change. Alignments of Jupiter and disciplined Saturn on March 23 and May 26, 2016 will help you take concrete steps to manifest your new goals, especially when it involves interaction with governmental or corporate institutions or other organizations. Expansive Jupiter aligns with energizing Mars on October 5 and December 1, 2016, giving you abundant energy to achieve your mission. When Jupiter lines up with with communicative Mercury on October 11, 2016, you will easily articulate your ideas and bring others to your way of thinking. When Jupiter aligns with Venus on November 25 and December 25, 2016, your strong magnetism will bring you luck in love. Finally, on December 26, 2016, when Jupiter is opposite change-oriented Uranus, you will get ready to embrace a new direction in 2017.
(December 22 – January 19)
Karmic Saturn, your planetary ruler, is in the spiritual sign of Sagittarius in 2016, making this an auspicious year for spiritual practice, philosophical study, historical research, and foreign travel. Even if you do not leave your home or community, allow your mind to wander to exotic locations, cultures, and historical periods. This experience will expand your sense of self and inspire you to seek broader horizons and greater opportunities for yourself. You are a hard-working soul who deserves relaxing and inspiring interludes despite your ability to endure greater hardships than most other people. An alignment of lucky Jupiter in the compatible earth sign of Virgo, Saturn in Sagittarius, and a lunar eclipse on March 23, 2016 will open a positive opportunity that you karmically deserve. Keep an open mind and an open heart to unexpected opportunities that come your way. A second alignment of Jupiter and Saturn on May 26, 2016 will help you make the most of your circumstances. Mars in Capricorn from September 27 to November 8, 2016 will give you extra energy to achieve your goals.
(January 20 – February 18)
The new year of 2016 opens with communicative Mercury in Aquarius on New Year's Day. This planetary placement will help you express your high-minded ideas to people who are receptive to your innovative message. Mercury retrograde in Aquarius from January 5 to January 25, 2016 will temporarily delay forward movement but progress will resume soon after January 25, 2016. The communications planet, Mercury, traverses Aquarius again from February 13 to March 5, 2016, giving you greater opportunities to make your influence felt. With Venus in Aquarius from February 16 to March 12, 2016, you will magnetically attract supportive people who will understand your altruistic goals. The New Moon in Aquarius on February 8, 2016 ushers in the Chinese New Year of the Monkey. This stellar influence will emphasize the optimistic side of your nature. Be careful to be realistic in communications under this influence so that you hear what is said rather than what you want or expect. A series of solar and lunar eclipses in March and September 2016 will focus your attention on financial matters, both money that you earn and money that may be gifted to you in the form of an inheritance, insurance settlement, or tax refund. Invest funds you receive conservatively in 2016. An alignment of expansive Jupiter and Uranus, your planetary ruler, on December 26, 2016, will focus your mind on risky pursuits. Establish a firm foundation for your life in 2016. You will appreciate the security you have created when 2017 comes around.
(February 19 – March 20)
A series of eclipses will punctuate your year and help you to bring completion to a chapter of your life that began as long as 19 years ago. A solar eclipse in Pisces on March 8, 2016 coincides with a fortunate alignment between the life-breathing Sun in Pisces and fortunate Jupiter in Virgo. This celestial alignment will allow you to let go of an old pattern so you may expand in new directions. A lunar eclipse on March 23, 2016 features an alignment between lucky Jupiter in Virgo and karmic Saturn in Sagittarius. This planetary pattern will enable you to re-evaluate your plans and realign so your plans reflect the highest desires of your soul. Another planetary alignment of Jupiter and transformative Pluto on March 16, 2016, during the week between the two eclipses, will help you think about situations from a more profound perspective. It is likely you will perceive the shadow side as strongly as the light. Take both sides into account and proceed accordingly. This is not a time to imagine away one side or the other. Both are relevant and compose the elements of the dualistic reality with which you will be dealing in 2016. Then, two more eclipses in September will help you bring plans initiated in the busy month of March to resolution. A solar eclipse in Virgo on September 1, 2016, opposite your Pisces Sun, will challenge an old relationship and bring new contacts to you. A lunar eclipse in Pisces on September 16, 2016 may force you to scale back expectations. Lucky Jupiter in Virgo until September 9, 2016, will highlight the importance of healthy relationships. You will benefit under this celestial influence from connections that are reciprocal and based on mutual respect and ideals. You are seeking to master lessons that contribute to your soul's evolution. Jupiter in Libra from September 9, 2016 to October 10, 2017 will further support you to create equal, balanced, and loving relationships.
