Astrological Year 2014 Part 1: Sun, Moon, Mercury

This article is the first in a three-part series. Part 2 was published January 7, 2014, and Part 3 was published January 15, 2014.

Welcome to January 2014. This month takes its name from the ancient Roman god Janus, who had one head with two faces, one that looked back to the past and the other that looked forward to the future. This image gives us a perfect metaphor to inspire the early days of January, when we often feel drawn to review the past as we set plans for the future. It also reminds us this is a perfect time to begin thinking about the astrological year ahead.

This potent period of transition from one calendar year to the next always arrives while the Sun occupies Capricorn, giving this period a sober, realistic, and practical energy. After weeks of Sagittarian celebrations and socializing, we are ready to return to routine and to begin building a stronger foundation for a better life.

How Astrology Can Help You Transition from 2013 to 2014

Astrology can assist us in this process by helping us experience life in a fully conscious, holistic way. For example, paying attention to the Sun’s location as it changes signs each month empowers us by aligning our lives with the astrological signs and nature’s seasons so that our efforts remain in harmony with cyclical rhythms.

Also, knowing a bit about the other planets and their movements through the signs (especially their retrograde motion) helps us understand both fluctuating energies and the special adjustments they may require us to make throughout the year. As a result, we become empowered to apply astrology’s knowledge and practical tools regularly⎯and effectively⎯ in our daily lives.

In this way, through astrology’s timeless wisdom, you can recognize abundant opportunities to understand your true power⎯especially your spiritual power⎯and wield it well. If you will take up this responsibility, you will experience a new confidence and authority in helping to shape the coming year as you express the noblest aspects of your character.

About This Article

The rest of this article, Astrological Year 2014 Part 1, provides some of the major dates and details you will need to begin using astrology to create harmony in your life. Here, for the astrological year 2014, you will find dates for:

• The Sun’s movement into each sign
• The equinoxes and solstices
• Daylight saving time
• The Moon’s monthly full phase
• Mercury’s retrograde periods
• Mercury’s movement into each sign

Also, Part 2 of this series of articles will give you the dates and details you will need for the planets Venus through Pluto. Part 3 of this series will give you an astrological overview of the entire year, explain how it’s likely to feel as you experience it, and provide ideas on how to work effectively with its many complex, constantly shifting energies.

How To Use This Guide To The Astrological Year 2014 Part 1

With the Sun now in Capricorn, and New Year’s Day upon us, we have just begun a new calendar year. That makes this a good time to review the past year and look toward the astrological year 2014. Here are some ideas for making the most of Capricorn’s hardworking, organized energies this month to begin your personal astrological planning for the coming calendar year.

Look Back

• Look over your 2013 calendar, diary, or journal to see how you have spent your time this year.
• Set aside time to meditate about the past year. Consider how you have grown, what you have learned, and how your life is different now than it was one year ago. Also consider how well you expressed your highest nature and when you fell short of your ideals.
• Think about each zodiac sign and month and how well you expressed its energies. Check your copy of Follow the Sun: A Simple Way to Use Astrology for Living in Harmony if you want details on any of the signs. NOTE: You can get a copy of Follow the Sun online at amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, the publisher, or via numerous other websites and stores worldwide. For a detailed list, see “Where to Buy the Follow the Sun astrology book.” You also may order the book through your local bookseller.

Look Ahead

• Now think about 2014, especially your hopes and dreams for yourself and your loved ones. Write down your heart’s desires for the coming year. Also consider the larger world of your friends, colleagues, and community as well as your country, all humanity, and our planet. With good will in your heart, write down your highest ideals for all these areas as well as ideas on how you can help your ideals come to pass.
• Mark your calendar for the astrological year 2014: note all the important Sun, Moon, and Mercury dates listed in the later sections of this article.
• Set aside time each month to meditate on that month’s astrological energies. For example, what sign will the Sun occupy? When is the Moon full? Will Mercury be retrograde? Think about how you can make the most of these energies.

Make The Most Of Each Month

• As the Sun enters a new sign each month, check your copy of Follow the Sun: A Simple Way to Use Astrology for Living in Harmony . Pay special attention to the background on the sign, its symbolism, and the special artwork included for it.
• At some point each month, review the section in Follow the Sun about the famous person born during the current astrological sign to remind yourself of the month’s best traits.
• Also each month, visit our online art and gift store to view the artwork that harmonizes with that month’s sign. Over time, you will find that these pieces speak to your emotions and your spiritual nature, and you will begin developing the ability to see life’s symbolic, artistic, and cyclical side.

Follow The Sun: Respond When The Sun Changes Signs

As the Sun enters a new sign each month, take note of the new sign’s energies and strengths in your copy of Follow the Sun: A Simple Way to Use Astrology for Living in Harmony . Consider how you will respond to the current sign and how you might experience and express it.

Pay special attention to your identity and how you “shine your light” when the Sun moves through your sign. Also, if you are a Leo (or if you have the Moon, ascendant, or midheaven in this sign or have any other planets in this sign), it can be especially powerful for you to track the Sun’s movement through all the signs throughout each year.

Here are the dates for the Sun’s entry into each sign through the end of 2014. NOTE: All times appear in U.S. Central Time and Greenwich Time; times given for March through October reflect U.S. daylight saving time (CDT), which is in effect in 2014 from 9 March through 2 November.

This year also will bring us two solar eclipses:

Take note of these dates and see what you experience regarding your identity, life purpose, and self-expression. Also notice any new opportunities that enter your life, particularly in areas governed by Taurus and Scorpio. In addition, what hidden information breaks through on these dates? What sudden changes occur? What must you release so you can evolve? How are you being called to exceed yourself in some way? Be sure to give yourself extra time for meditation and prayer around these dates so you can make the best use of any insights you receive.

See the Leo chapter of Follow the Sun for more about the Sun and the sign it rules.

Power Up: Observe The Equinoxes And Solstices

Four days a year, whenever the Sun enters one of the cardinal signs—Aries, Cancer, Libra, and Capricorn—we experience a special power time. Each of these cardinal points of the year ushers in a new season and inspires us to take action as we begin a new astrological quarter. In addition, the Sun’s entry into Aries brings a new astrological year, with powerful opportunities for new beginnings of all kinds, on all planes.

At the start of Aries and Libra, we experience the equinoxes, when day and night are of equal duration. At the start of Cancer and Capricorn, we experience the solstices, nature’s extreme points when either the day or the night is the year’s longest.

These dates offer particularly effective opportunities for prayer and meditation. Mark your calendar with the dates listed in this table so you can set aside time for spirituality and reflection as you enter each new season:

Adjust Your Clocks: Daylight Saving Time

U.S. daylight saving time (CDT in the central time zone) is in effect in 2014 from 9 March through 2 November. Mark your calendar now so you’ll know when to change the time on your clocks and other timepieces.

For daylight saving time data for other areas of the world, use an online search engine such a Google or Bing. Enter a country or area and the term “daylight saving time” in the search engine’s search box and press return.

Tune In To The Moon: Enjoy The Full Moon

Each month, we experience a full Moon. During these powerful times, emotions may run higher, and we may have especially meaningful experiences and insights that can help us resolve issues or harness new inspirations.

You can benefit from the Moon’s beauty by going outdoors to gaze at this satellite of Earth whenever the Moon is full and the skies are clear in your area. Also, take time to notice how you feel in the days around each full Moon and jot down whatever insights and inspirations you receive so you can act on them later. The day of a full Moon as well as the day before and the day after offer especially powerful opportunities for spiritual efforts, so be sure to make time for prayer and meditation at this time each month.

Pay special attention to your feelings, memories, and nurturing as well as mothers, children, and emotional security whenever the Moon moves through your Sun sign and especially when it is full in your Sun sign. (See the “Current Planets Position” chart page any time you want to check the Moon’s current sign.)

This year also will bring us two lunar eclipses:

When we experience a lunar eclipse, take particular note of your emotions, which may run quite high. Also notice what situations come to a head or reach closure: what must you release in order to evolve? How is your emotional life changing? What can you draw on from the past in order to create a new future that better reflects your heart’s desire and your soul’s true path?

Also, if you are a Cancer (or if you have the Moon, ascendant, or midheaven in this sign or have any other planets in this sign), you can benefit from tracking the Moon’s movement through all the signs throughout each month as well as her phases, from new Moon to crescent, from first quarter to gibbous, from full Moon to disseminating Moon, and from last quarter to balsamic.

The Moon moves quickly, spending only about 2.5 days in each sign before she changes to the next sign. You can track her progress through the signs and all her phases with the “Current Planets Position” chart on our website. NOTE: the chart updates in real time whenever you refresh the page.

NOTE: If you want to calculate your birth chart to discover your Moon sign, you can do so instantly from the Astrological Birth Chart Calculator page. You will need the exact date, time, and place of your birth. The calculator is designed to work in all browsers and on all mobile devices; if you get an error message at any time, be sure to clear your cache or check with your device’s manufacturer.

See the Cancer chapter of Follow the Sun for more about the Moon and the sign she rules.

Watch Mercury: Notice When The Messenger Planet Goes Retrograde

When Mercury is retrograde, we often experience slowdowns, obstacles, errors, and other challenges. Typically, these issues affect areas ruled by Mercury, such as communication, travel, commerce, contracts, computers, electronics, and gadgets. Retrograde periods offer an excellent time for all tasks involving “re” such as reviewing, redoing, rewriting, and reworking.

Rather than starting anything new or launching a new project or product, you can make the most of Mercury’s retrograde by slowing down, noticing your thoughts, and observing how you and others communicate. Also notice what new information comes to light, both during and at the end of the retrograde period; often, helpful data surfaces that makes it much easier to make better decisions and move forward more effectively after the retrograde ends. In addition, retrograde times are excellent for starting to meditate, making time for inner reflection, and enjoying solitude.

Here are the dates for Mercury’s retrograde periods in 2014:

See the our video section for the Astrology for Time Management and the More Astrology for Time Management videos to get more details on Mercury retrograde.

In addition, pay special attention to communication, travel, and commerce as well as siblings, neighbors, and learning whenever Mercury moves through your Sun sign. Also, if you are a Gemini or a Virgo (or if you have the Moon, ascendant, or midheaven in these signs or have any other planets in these signs), you can benefit from tracking Mercury’s movement through all the signs throughout each year. Use this chart to mark your calendar with this year’s Mercury dates:

Wishing you a life ever lived in harmony,