Energy Patterns for January 2004

Major Waveform Patterns:

Jan 1st to the 3rd
Jan 4th to the 12th
Jan 13th to the 17th
Jan 18th to the 23rd
Jan 24th to the end of the month

An online ephemeris for the month is available.

It appears that most of the month is generally weak and disorganized, even the storm patterns. The waveforms in January appear very noisy and misshapen, often without a clearcut harmonic pattern. This is typical of times when the planets seem to scatter their energies in all sorts of directions, without an underlying pattern to pull them all together. The changes from one waveform to another are usually subtle, such as a change in harmonics, so it's likely you may not notice much of a tangible difference in your life. If that's the case, expect the month to be "one long thing" that drags on. I noticed about 5 separate waveforms this month.


Jan 1st to the 3rd

The 1st to the 3rd is the end of the big storm at the end of December. It has one last big hurrah late on the 1st, reaching up to 511 units of strength (a low Koz Alert) before fading out to the 384 levels. The harmonics are a complex mixture of H12, H24, H48, possibly some H5 and lots of miscellaneous noise -- strong, but somewhat stressful and difficult. Areas of the zodiac that are emphasized by this waveform include 9 to 11 degrees, 28 to 30 and around 20 degrees of each zodiac sign -- check to see if these areas affect any important positions in your own birthchart. The energies now are a complicated assortment of influences. First of all, there's that Sun-Mars-Saturn T-square that promises some hard times ahead. This is softened a bit by a conjunction of Venus and Neptune (squared by a Taurus Moon on the 1st), which takes some of the sting out of this pattern. However, Jupiter is also standing still on the 3rd. While this emphasizes the easy-going Jupiter tendencies for awhile, it also hints that some of our external support in the world is going to dry up. Remember that Uranus is now in Pisces for good. Rather than exert yourself, I'd take some time off to stand back and assess the new landscape. We're in new territory now.

Jan 4th to the 12th

The 4th to the 12th shows the big storm turning into a noisy, drifting pattern without much direction. The waveform cools off in intensity somewhat, downshifting to the 317 to 470 unit range. The harmonics consist of H12, H48 and lots of noise. There's some focus on the 25 to 30, 18 to 20 and 10 to 13 degree areas of each sign. My first impression of this period is to just carry on with the basics in life, without trying to accomplish much out of the ordinary. Mercury's direct station on the 6th (fuzzy thinking), tangled up with Neptune (extra fuzzy), doesn't bode well for any mental work. There's also a fair amount of outer planet activity, making for a lot of "under the surface" influences that tend to derail us. If you lie low, this time should go OK.

Jan 13th to the 17th

The 13th to the 17th is a messy, chaotic time, although it does have a burst of action now and then. The waveform varies in strength from 368 to 472 units -- pretty moderate activity. The harmonics include H36, H48, H6 and the usual noise -- somewhat positive, though tending to the lazy and unmotivated side. The energies are mostly focused at 0 to 3, 18 to 20 and 12 degrees. We're starting to see a persistent sextile between Mercury and Venus that triggers most of the storm activity the rest of the month. For now, the recipient of their attention is Uranus, so expect a rather wild and whacky atmosphere to prevail. With Venus conjunct Uranus, relationships may be in playful turmoil, but don't count on any changes being long lasting. Enjoy the break from the usual.

On the 14th, Mercury slips into Capricorn and Venus moves into Pisces with Uranus. This Mercury-Venus sextile is active the entire rest of the month, producing all the little blips of energy that are seen from time to time. As Venus conjuncts Uranus on the 15th, this little group of planets springs into action with help from the Moon. Venus-Uranus literally means "lovely surprise", something out of the ordinary that strikes a pleasing emotional response. It could be something on the aesthetic level or it could be a treat in a close relationship. Either way, enjoy the pleasing diversion from the everyday routine.

Jan 18th to the 23rd

The 18th to the 23rd is a mild, but stressful storm. There's not much "oomph" to this pattern, since it hangs out in the 334 to 439 unit area. However, the harmonics are more clearcut and organized than any time all month, with H24, H6 and H12 dominating. The taller peaks are generally around 19 to 24 or 28 to 30 degrees. Some of the most critical influences now fall around the 20th, just before the new moon on the 21st. This includes Mercury-Venus picking up Saturn and a tricky trine between Mars and Pluto. This is perhaps a good time to focus your efforts on some solitary work that needs to get done, as your energy is high and more easily disciplined, while external distractions are few. Things get trickier if you need to interact with others, since egos and tempers can get out of control. Just be mindful of the need for harmony and take the high road. It gets easier after the new moon.

Jan 24th to the end of the month

Finally, the 24th to the end of the month is another noisy and disorganized period. Paradoxically, the energies strengthen considerably, to the 334 to 493 range. The harmonics are mostly H48, H12 and H4 -- distracting and stressful for the most part. Points of emphasis include 10 to 13, 18 to 20 and 6 degrees. The big picture is described mostly by Jupiter and Neptune these days -- generally upbeat and positive, though not always the most grounded and practical. However, Jupiter is both retrograde and harshly square Pluto, so he may not be feeling his usual jovial self. Keep a positive outlook on life, but don't just sweep the negative stuff under the rug. This pattern continues into early February.