2022: The Year Ahead

Are you holding your breath as you read this forecast?

After 2020 and 2021, looking ahead with hope to another New Year when we’re still knee deep in a global disaster can almost feel foolish. But, I think we can partially exhale in a bit… I think hope is actually called for this year. It will just get off to a slower start than we would like thanks to a couple of lingering influences from 2021. Is a miracle coming this year? Likely not. But there are signs (quite literally!) pointing to some renewed sense of optimism and freedom. For those of us who have been in lockdowns for the better part of two years now, this sense of renewed hope is crucial.

You know, when I wrote the 2021 forecast, I talked about the year being easier for those who follow the herd and way more difficult for those who choose to question what we’re being told. My sense is that with the planet of hope, expansion and growth moving away from the planet of restrictions, as a global population, we will be shifting in the right direction. How long it takes to get there is another story.

The big astrological themes this year are Venus and Mars retrogrades, Jupiter’s sign changes, the Jupiter-Neptune conjunction, a fourth square-off between Saturn and Uranus, Pluto’s final full year in Capricorn, and a new set of eclipses for our Taurus-Scorpio friends.

Read ahead for the full lowdown… and happy-ish New Year!

Jupiter – the big story of the year

If you’re tuned into astrology circles, you’ve likely been hearing about Jupiter’s entrance into Pisces. We got a taste of it May 14 – July 28, 2021. The fascinating thing that happened down to the exact days during this time was that, in the United States, the CDC announced masks were no longer required on May 14. On July 29 when Jupiter re-entered Aquarius, the CDC issued another statement saying that they advised Americans to return to mask-wearing. You can’t make this stuff up!

Why is Jupiter in Pisces so nice?

Jupiter’s domicile (i.e. home) placement is in the signs of Pisces and Sagittarius. So, whenever Jupiter is in one of these signs, it’s as if the planet is functioning at its highest levels. Known for being the great benefic, Jupiter naturally rules international travel and affairs, the law, education, religion and spirituality. Archetypically, the planet is associated with freedom, expansion, optimism and growth.

We’ve been dealing with Jupiter in Aquarius for the majority of 2021. Jupiter doesn’t have any essential dignity in Aquarius, but truthfully, it usually isn’t as difficult as it has been this past year. The reason why this Jupiter in Aquarius has felt so restrained is that it has also been co-present with the planet Saturn in the sign of Aquarius. Any time Jupiter has wanted to stretch its legs, it has had to ask Saturn. And while Saturn in Aquarius is more open-minded than Saturn in Capricorn, Saturn’s never been a yes-man; Saturn’s first instincts are to work within boundaries, to conserve and not look outward for possibilities. So, Jupiter has really been fairly trapped.

Jupiter’s entrance into Pisces, to me, marks a step towards possibilities. It’s more outward-looking and hopeful. You know the definition of insanity, right? Doing the same thing over and over again expecting to get a different result. That’s where I feel most of the world has been trapped over the past two years. At first we had no idea what was going on and what we should be doing, but nearly two years later, that excuse isn’t cutting it. Let’s just put it out there: it’s not feasible or reasonable to expect the world’s population to get vaccinated every four to six months in order to avoid COVID. To me, Jupiter in Pisces means – let’s explore other options… Like, I don’t know – actually developing an at-home early treatment protocol for those people who become sick with COVID. (The current policy is no policy. It’s stay at home, do nothing, see no one, and in too many cases, become more and more ill every day. When you can no longer breathe, call the hospital and be put on a respirator. I’m simplifying matters a bit, yes, but am I seriously alone in thinking this is absolute absurdity?) How about we start listening to some doctors around the world who have developed safe and effective early treatment protocols for people to take at home which significantly reduce the risk of them ever having to be admitted to the hospital. This could be done in conjunction with vaccines for those high-risk people who want a vaccine multiple times a year. Wouldn’t this make sense?

Eek. I digress. This wasn’t supposed to be another COVID rant. This was supposed to be about opening our minds, about changing directions, about looking outside of the narrow constraints that have been set in 2021 and reaching for more, for better, for freedom. So let me get back to that.

So, what does Jupiter in Pisces mean in practical terms?

Jupiter in Pisces won’t have the same tunnel vision that we had in 2021. When it comes to solutions, it will cast its net further and wider. I currently have a bet with my husband on how effective Jupiter in Pisces will actually be—in how much hope it can provide. (Spoiler alert: I’m the optimistic one.) Now, with our other benefic Venus currently retrograde, I feel like Jupiter’s hopeful lift will be delayed until at least Venus resumes its forward motion in early February. We are also operating under a Saturn-Uranus square which is pushing lots of tension our way. But – I still feel that Jupiter in Pisces could correlate with some good news on a global scale. Jupiter in Pisces is about spiritual and philosophical freedom. As Jupiter also rules travel, I’m hoping there could be some opening up as well heading into February in this regard, that some restrictions will be loosening and we will be working more towards regaining some of our personal freedoms.

The bad news is that Jupiter is only in Pisces until May 10, 2022. Then it heads into Aries from May 11 to October 28. It re-enters just the last two degrees of Pisces from October 29 to December 20, 2022. So Jupiter will be spending a good five months in the sign of Aries. Would I take Jupiter in Aries over Jupiter in Aquarius right now? Yes! As long as fearful, authoritative Saturn is in Aquarius, let’s keep Jupiter in a different sign. Jupiter in Aries will bring some fresh enterprising, cardinal energy to all Jupiter-ruled things. The optimist in me might even think “a fresh start” of sorts. I will write more about Jupiter in Aries next spring. There’s just too much else to talk about in 2022.

The Jupiter-Neptune conjunction

One final hallmark of Jupiter in Pisces is its dreamy conjunction with Neptune in March-April of 2022. The influence will be felt as soon as mid-to-late March and the conjunction is exact April 9 – 17, 2022. Why is this special? Well, first of all, it hasn’t happened since 1856. Yes, Jupiter connects with Neptune once every twelve years but because Neptune takes 164 years to do one full circle of the zodiac, the connection of these two planets in their favourite positions of Pisces is a rare one and a beautiful one at that.

Jupiter, the planet of abundance, connecting with Neptune, the planet of dreams and fantasies, can mean an idealistic awakening of sorts. I’m picturing art and music created at this time as being particularly mystical, imaginative and intuitive.

I so hope that this ends up being a hopeful, healing time for the world, if even for what feels like a fleeting moment. I think it will be interesting to watch individuals born with this placement grow up. How will this abundant hope yet gentle sensitivity show in their lives? (I will have a front row seat as our second daughter is due in late March. Being a Pisces Sun and Moon myself and my husband a Pisces Sun – it’s going to be quite something isn’t it?)

Interestingly, Mercury will join Jupiter and Neptune in Pisces from March 10 until March 27 and then Venus will enter its exalted placement in Pisces from April 6 to May 2. Mark these dates on your calendars: April 6 to May 2 will be such a gift! Jupiter, Neptune and Venus all in the sign of Pisces. Wow. Truly the best Pisces has to offer.

The Saturn-Uranus square part four?

The tension we felt between Saturn and Uranus three times in 2021 (February, June and then December) comes back for one final square-off in September and October 2022 with the final parting of ways occurring mid-November. So, there could be some echoes of 2021 returning in some capacity in the fall of 2022. However, with the knowledge and experiences we’ve gained from these tough times in 2021, I don’t sense that this aspect will be as arresting as it was previously. Plus, technically, the square doesn’t go exact; it hovers a few minutes off. So, there’s a sense of returning to some of these themes but only for a short time and not as intensely as before. It’s almost like a final test to ensure we’ve truly learned all the lessons we needed to learn from these two planets.

Pluto’s final full year in Capricorn

Remarkably, 2022 marks Pluto’s final full year spent in Capricorn. In 2023, it dips its toes into Aquarius. It goes a little further into Aquarius in 2024, and by 2025, it leaves Capricorn for good.

In 2022, Pluto will not retrograde back past 26 degrees of Capricorn. So, if you have significant planets or angles 23 degrees (or lower) of a cardinal sign, the heat is finally coming off of you. Those of us with 26 – 29 degree cardinal placements (ugh!) are still in for some bigger changes as Pluto finishes up its business in Capricorn.

Significant retrogrades

This year sees all three inner planets station retrograde at some point.

Venus:

Venus, currently retrograde in the sign of Capricorn, goes direct on January 29, 2022.

Mercury:

Mercury—the Messenger God—squeezes out four retrograde periods this year:

• January 14 – February 3, 2022
• May 10 – June 3, 2022
• Sept 9 – Oct 2, 2022
• December 29, 2022 – January 18, 2023

Mars:

Mars, the planet of physical vitality and assertion goes retrograde from October 30, 2022 – January 12, 2023.

Eclipses

Those with strong Gemini-Sagittarius placements, rejoice! You experienced the last eclipse on this axis in 2021. Next up? Those with Taurus-Scorpio placements. The next couple of years, the eclipses will be focused on these signs. Here are the main eclipses for 2022:

• April 30 – Solar Eclipse 10 degrees Taurus
• May 16 – Lunar Eclipse at 25 degrees Scorpio
• October 25 – Solar Eclipse at 2 degrees Scorpio
• November 8 – Lunar Eclipse at 16 degrees Taurus

2022’s Important Dates Timeline

Mark these dates on your calendar!

• January 14 – Mercury stations retrograde
• January 29 – Venus stations direct
• February 4 – Mercury stations direct
• April 9 – 17 – Jupiter-Neptune conjunction (will be a few weeks on either side of these dates)
• April 30 – Solar Eclipse 10 degrees Taurus
• May 10 – Mercury stations retrograde
• May 11 – Jupiter enters Aries
• May 16 – Lunar Eclipse at 25 degrees Scorpio
• June 3 – Mercury stations direct
• Sept 9 – Mercury stations retrograde
• October 1 – Saturn and Uranus square off (getting as close as they can without going exact)
• October 2 – Mercury stations direct
• October 25 – Solar Eclipse at 2 degrees Scorpio
• October 29 – Jupiter re-enters Pisces
• October 30 – Mars stations retrograde
• November 8 – Lunar Eclipse at 16 degrees Taurus
• November 15 – Saturn and Uranus separating by three degrees
• December 21 – Jupiter re-enters Aries
• December 29 – Mercury stations retrograde

Oh, you need a calendar?

This is my legit favourite astrological planner: Llewellyn’s Daily Planetary Guide

I have been using this calendar every single year since I started studying astrology in 2004. I would be lost without it. I don’t consult the forecast at the front anymore, but I certainly did for years as I was learning astrology. I love the simplicity and layout of this calendar—the amount of space given to write in my reminders/events and the detailed listing of planetary aspects made each day which includes quincunxes and void of course Moon timings which I appreciate. From a practical perspective, I’m a fan of spiral notebooks that can lay flat on my desk without my having to constantly hold them open. This fits that bill! Without naming other brands, I have tried a handful of other way more expensive planners that look sleeker and with more bells and whistles, but I come back to this one time and time again while the other planners just sit in my cupboard.

Okay, that about wraps up this forecast.

Take care everyone.

xo
Melanie