With holiday leftovers dwindling, bowl games nearly over, it’s time to welcome 2017 with two notable days: Earth at Perihelion Day January 4th and Magi Day, January 6th.
Arguably, Earth at perihelion should be a holiday. This is the annual closest approach of the Earth to the Sun within its orbital path. While those shivering in the Northern Hemisphere may find the veracity of the proximity difficult to imagine, it’s true. We are enduring solar essence, light, heat and radiation via the shortest distance, and given that the inverse square law remains true, we’re getting a heap more from the Sun right now than any other time of year.
“Perk up, pick it up,” says the Sun. It was only a calendar turnover and a series of hangovers for those inclined to mark the passage of time with exuberant celebration. "Let’s go!" says the Sun, "this is a far more interesting day, don’t you agree?" Hint: The correct answer is yes. Hands on the wheel, eyes on the road, aspirations reset for the next six months, subject to review when the Earth pauses at aphelion. This is a “get it together day.” No matter that Mercury is retrograde for a while longer, “daylight’s burning” as the metaphoric saying goes.
Let us not forget, the Epiphany is but two days away. The Magi Day should be celebrated as Astrologers’ Day. January 6th symbolizes the day the magi arrived at the manger bearing gifts for Jesus. The magi were Zoroastrian priests, after all, and because of their knowledge of astrology were able to follow the star - actually planet cluster - to Bethlehem.
Every year the Earth comes closest to the Sun on more or less the same day and every year Magi Day is January 6th. Who better than those watching the stars - albeit planets - to awaken humankind and remind them to bask in solar goodness and get things going in every new year than us?
There are a lot of cool (misnomer intended) terms to describe solar influence. “May the Sun always be at your back” is an affirming declaration of earthlings relationship with the center of our solar system. Bask in the solar glory. Warm your bones. Energize your dna and get going.
Looking ahead, two personal planet transits summon every earthling into action to make something great out of the first month of the year.
Before you know it, Venus will cross Neptune in Pisces (12 Jan) and but a week later (Jan 19), Mars squares Saturn.
As Venus crosses Neptune, the question is: What do you want? What do you really, really want? Make it big. Conjure up the most fantastical thing you can imagine. Dare to believe that dreams do come true and life can be better than a Disney movie. When you’ve envisioned that which feels beyond the beyond, savor it in every cell of your being. Feel it. Radiate it. Ensure your emanations purely indicate your highest intents.
Ready yourself to engage Mars as he comes up to square Saturn. A classical interpretation of Mars - Saturn hard aspects states that nothing good happens. Actually, that delineation lacks the dignity that Saturn demands. Suffice it to say, Saturn and Mars do well together, and in a “hard” aspect typically reap more reward than in an easier aspect. Dynamic tension, the urge to excel and a protocol for accomplishment and fulfillment of objectives match in energetic intention.
Prepare to ramp up. As we enter the third week of the year, plans need to be complete. Action agendas require assignment. Sleeves need to be rolled up. Saturn says, “If you’re not sweating, you may not be working hard enough. What? Aren’t the Venus-Neptune images rolling around in your head like unused holiday sugar plums? What are you waiting for? Those goals aren’t going to manifest on their own. Show me what you’ve got. If you’ve got good gumption, I’ll start dishing out appropriate awards for action taken.”
So welcome to 2017. Realizing it does feel funky and unnecessarily unpredictable, do your best to apply the planetary patterns at hand.