This is an energetic, astrological perspective on what 2021 has in store for us. This piece is a 7-minute read.
Hey, you. Welcome to the new year. 2020 was quite the rollercoaster ride, so let’s just take a deep breath to begin with. Ready? Inhale … hold at the top … and let it all go.
This new year will be one of revolution. The energy of 2021 rides the angulating blue waves of an ocean, ebbing and flowing with the tides. The blues are constantly fluctuating in response to the elements, a reflection of the sky, the wind, the shoreline and the heat all around. Each element of Earth is a microcosm of the world at large, and this year is a microcosm of our collective transformation, a step along the journey of what is to come. We can always, always choose how we walk that path, and we have great influence over the direction we are heading – whether we believe it or not.
These words are here simply to guide you on your path, to give you a glimpse into what you might encounter in the journey of 2021. If you are tired, I hear you. Take time to rest. Allow this to be a space for reflection and remember, you are so much stronger than you think.
Let’s begin.
The beginning of the Age of Aquarius, a year of revolution
On December 21, 2020, we experienced a Solstice unlike any other in recent memory. This day had been foretold of by ancient cultures for a long time, and what we experienced may have gone unseen, but it hardly went unnoticed. Change is often felt first.
Jupiter + Saturn come conjunct in the same sign every 20 years or so, and for the past 200 years, this has been occurring in earth signs. We were in a cycle of stability and institution, of physical manifestation, material possession and hard work. This particular conjunction, however, occurred in Aquarius, the air sign of revolutionaries, making this the beginning of a 200-year cycle where these conjunctions will occur in air signs and effectively an 800-year cycle, as well.
Jupiter is the planet of luck + expansion, and Saturn is the planet of life lessons. The coming together of these two planets in the sign of Aquarius marks a new age, the beginning of the Age of Aquarius. For the past 2000 years of so, we’ve been in the Piscean age, an age of tradition, restriction, following rules, and developing our spirituality within the confines of the human mind. This new era will be all about collaboration, creativity and new ways of thinking, of allowing space for our individuality within the collective and learning to be leaders of the self. Aquarius is the humanitarian of the zodiac, striving for equality for all.
This year will be marked by change and revolution, of learning to speak up for one’s truth but doing so with kindness and compassion rather than judgement of ‘right’ and ‘wrong.’
In air, there are a few different archetypes we could choose to follow – air that dares to have heart becomes the poet, the sage, the student and the teacher, one who is curious and believes he has something to learn from each person he encounters in life. This is the high expression of this year. On the low road, we could see revolutionaries resorting to desperate measures in order to incite the change they wish to see because they believe the end justifies the means.
The energy is Aquarius is a stubborn one – as individuals and governments clash, they are likely to hold firm to their opinions, so we may be reminded that in order for real change to occur, there must first be listening.
The fight for expansion + freedom
This year, we enter into a yearlong period that happens about every twenty-two years where Saturn, ruling tradition, squares off with Uranus, the planet of revolution and change. This square represents the clash between restriction and freedom, institutions and the individual; it highlights the tension between where we’re going, and the way things have always been done.
It is the energy of expansion that comes when you are outgrowing the container you’ve been living in for a long time – it’s uncomfortable, and as you push, the old ways push back, trying to keep you stuck. It’s in this space of resistance that we take action and grow, where we learn of our strength + resilience and see new possibilities. Even if it’s not the most fun when we’re going through it, it is worth it in the end, so just be patient with yourself in the day-to-day moments of living.
Unlike the fiery energy that dominated 2020, this conflict is more like a cold standoff between dignitaries of opposing nations; Taurus (where Uranus is residing) and Aquarius (Saturn) are both fixed signs, making them stubborn as all hell and often unwilling to back down or admit when they’ve been wrong.
This year will be about learned cooperation, between individuals and larger institutions as well as countries around the world. Although we may struggle to get there, this skill will be very important for our future on earth – learning to cooperate among ourselves and beyond our separate cultures is needed in order for us to solve the issues we are facing. Challenges as large as climate change can only be handled effectively when we learn to work together to meet a greater goal.
On a more physical level, we may see an increase in seismic activity in the form of earthquakes, tsunamis and volcanic eruptions. The Earth herself will grow more vocal, and as she speaks up and asks that we work in harmony with one another, we are being given the sacred opportunity to begin the healing process with her. The choice is up to us.
Marathon, not a sprint
We are in a tumultuous time on the planet as we are undergoing a massive upheaval of the Old, a rebirth of sorts. Pluto, the planet of transformation, is making its way through Capricorn until 2024. This transit represents a transformation in our governing systems and the way we think about or relate to larger institutions and work itself. The old ways are crumbling to make way for the New, and transitions are messy, as we are seeing right now.
It’s important that we take a long view of what is happening on the planet so that we don’t burn out – knowing we are in the midst of a particularly intense four-year cycle, there will be ebbs and flows in the intensity of what is happening in our individual lives but overall, this time will be marked by the chaos of breakdown.
The places we looked to in order to find some sense of security before are no longer available to ground us (as they once were.) We are being asked to turn inward and learn how to invite in a new kind of support, one that is subtle + unseen. We will find this support in our connection to all beings on earth, in our communities, in ourselves, and the greater energy of the universe at large. It may appear to be more unpredictable at first but in the long run, this kind of support never runs out.
The way we move through these four years will largely define how we will move into the rest of the decade and beyond. Where are you choosing to place your focus? It does in fact, make a difference, what each of us decides to do.
As the Dalai Lama says, “If you think you are too small to make a difference, try sleeping in a room with a mosquito.”
Chaos on the 3D level, underlying peace
Following the Solstice on December 21, there was a massive shift in the energy on the planet – we are vibrating at a much higher frequency as a whole.
The Solstice initiated this new layer of energy that floats above and beyond the chaos of the physical world, an energy of unity, peace + renewal. It looks like this thin layer of white, sparkling light angulating above the dark swirling masses of chaos as the Old breaks down.
These energies represent the two timelines that are currently playing out on the planet, and they are more definitively divided than they were before. You may find yourself flipping between them, like channels on the television. This is completely natural – the denser consciousness of the old can feel like a vortex at times, pulling you into the chaos and demanding that you pay attention. Remember that however convincing they may be, the dark swirling masses are more like smoke + mirrors than anything else. They don’t have enough substance to maintain their grip on you for long any longer.
Both timelines are completely valid, and we need to see + honour our experiences of both. This is where the work lies, where we will see the most growth. How can you hold your experiences in an open palm and examine them with curiosity? With love?
If you have people in your life who are caught up in the drama and insist on the chaos of it all, that is okay – just know that you don’t have to agree with them or subscribe to their stories. This is sovereignty: we are all free to choose our own perspectives, and multiple perspectives are allowed to exist at the same time. It’s less about ‘right and wrong,’ and more about what is true for you in the moment.
Reconnect back to what is true for you on a daily basis. There are so many tools you can use to help you do this but know that it doesn’t have to be a complicated process at all. Sometimes the simplest things are best.
Beyond all else, remember that this peaceful energy is there for us to tap into at any moment we choose, not to bypass our human experiences but rather as a support and a gentle reminder of what is to come.
An antidote: the energy of water
Water is such a beautiful, nurturing element. I always think of the ocean and how when you are standing on her shores, there can be this sense of peace even as you wonder at the magnitude of her presence. Water is incredibly adaptable and yet, when we interact with water, it is still enough to hold space for all we are experiencing in the moment.
The water and the moon – these two elements, these two beings are tightly linked to the emotional body, and they provide an antidote to some of the harsher energies of this year. We are learning to be soft while maintaining our strength and power, and this is something water knows well, something water can teach us.
This year, we will find the most peace when we cultivate and practice the qualities of water: stillness, meditation, silence, willing transformation, and allowing space for ourselves to process our emotions as they come up.
We will be invited to allow space for flow and sacred spontaneity, for the fluidity that comes when we are able to get quiet enough to hear what our innermost being has to say.
Let us flow, flow like water towards the future we dream to create.
Ultimately, we are moving towards a more heart-centered world. In order to do so, we must first drop out of our mind and connect back to the body. The chaos of this time serves to bring us to a place where we can no longer hold space for all we are experiencing by staying purely in our minds. When we are brought to the knees, we are brought back to our heart. We begin to see that our heart has so much more space to hold everything we are living through.
The journey begins
As we embark on this journey of 2021, remember that you’re not alone. We are walking side by side towards a new world, one of our own choosing.
We will get there in good time xx
If you’re looking for a little more guidance as we step into this new year, I work with people to help them reconnect to their sense of purpose and gain clarity on their path moving forwards. You can find out more about my work here or send me a message to book a session today.