Jupiter New Year

You’re watching your favorite sitcom when you notice something onscreen seems slightly different. The characters are the same, but their living room’s green velvet couch has been replaced by a black leather loveseat. And their floral-print curtains are now lace! These are the sorts of subtle background changes that define this week, because Jupiter just entered Scorpio on the 10th, and it’s going to stay there for a whole year. Last week was about tying up loose ends and seeing cool developments in love or money matters. Well, this week is about riding the wave of Jupiter’s fresh-sign energy. Initiate new projects, form new patterns, and join forces with new people. Jupiter isn’t the only planet making moves, either. Venus and Mercury are also sliding into different signs. Exhale with relief on Saturday as Venus enters Libra. While in Virgo, the love planet was cranky and critical, constantly pointing out flaws. But Venus is pleased to be in Libra, a sign it rules. Then on Tuesday, Mercury tiptoes into Scorpio: Communication will get more direct and less sweet. Keep in mind there’s a difference between telling the truth and making biting remarks that sting. You can be honest without being cruel.

SET CHANGE

Smaller planets that orbit relatively close to the Sun—like Mercury, Venus, and Mars—change signs about once a month. These “personal planets” influence our one-on-one interactions. However, the farther away from the Sun a planet is, the less often it shifts signs. Jupiter hunkers down in one sign and sets a year-long agenda for our collective attention. See, Jupiter (along with Saturn) is a “social planet” that mostly affects society and general trends. (Of course, the political is personal too.) Size-wise, Jupiter is the Texas of our solar system. Such a huge planet magnifies the themes of the sign that it’s in. While Jupiter resided in Libra, it emphasized Libra themes of relationships, partnerships, and justice. But now Jupiter calls Scorpio home.

Happy new year! This one’s gonna be intense, yet transformative. While Jupiter-in-Libra identified relationship problems, Jupiter-in-Scorpio zooms in on the true root of those problems. Get ready to change from the inside out, because this Jupiter prompts psychological breakthroughs, emotional healing, and brave truth-telling. Surely we’ll see even more public revelations about abuses of power and secrets that can’t be contained. Sexuality, death, and shared financial resources (taxes and insurance, for instance) will be big issues. Jupiter-in-Scorpio even highlights the intangible things people inherit, such as privilege, oppression, and trauma. Serious stuff. Important stuff.

SEASONS OF THE WITCH

Speaking of a new year, Thursday marks this column’s first anniversary! Together we’ve witnessed wild eclipses, survived a nasty Venus retrograde, and tracked Mercury’s retrograde trickery—all while trying damn hard to control our own actions, even when outside events seemed scary and overwhelming. I don’t know why astrology works. I only know that studying the sky’s cycles reminds me that planets shift and moods pass. The Moon is always changing. Tarot, astrology, and poetry make me feel connected to the Universe and less alone. Thanks to Seattle Weekly for letting me use fun puns and quote Thin Lizzy in an astrology column! And thank you, dear readers, for making Space Witch a reality on Earth.

YOU CAN PLANET

A frustrating clash between Mars and Saturn on Wednesday the 11th might express itself as fightin’ words or hard limits. Mars wants to speed ahead but Saturn says stop. There’s even a risk of physical accidents. However, a Cancer Moon works with Neptune to encourage creativity, so channel that anger into art if you can. Thursday the 12th requires self-reflection yet also allows you to make progress on ongoing projects. Team up with new people today. Verbal scuffles and crabby moods might pepper the air on Friday the 13th. (Reminder: Superstition and astrology are not the same, so relax about the date.) You could also hear shocking news that requires you to make an adjustment. Creativity flows easily on Saturday the 14th, the day Venus arrives in Libra until Nov. 7. Phew! Exchanging words (or even reading them) can lead to a light-bulb moment of sudden clarity on Sunday the 15th. Your attention will also turn to old wounds and new ways of partnering. Make small improvements to your living space too. Monday the 16th looks positive until the late evening, when pessimism looms. Chin up! On Tuesday the 17th Mercury moves into Scorpio until Nov. 5. The evening has great romantic potential.