Astrological Year 2014 Part 2: Venus Through Pluto

This article is the second in a three-part series. Part 1 was published December 31, 2013, and Part 3 was published January 15, 2014.

Part 1 of this series provided the major Sun, Moon, and Mercury dates you will need for 2014. It also included tables for the equinoxes and solstices and dates for U.S. daylight saving time. To see that article, visit the blog post Astrological Year Ahead Part 1: Sun, Moon, and Mercury.

Part 2 of this series, Astrological Year 2014 Part 2, provides information about the rest of the major planets during 2014:

• Venus
• Mars
• Jupiter
• Saturn
• Uranus
• Neptune
• Pluto

How to Use This Guide to the Planets Venus through Pluto

As you review this article about the astrological year 2014 part 2, think about each planet and how well you expressed its energies in 2013. How can you express its highest potential in 2014?

If a particular planet is associated with your Sun sign, pay special attention to it and track its movement through the various signs. (To find out which planet rules your Sun sign, see your copy of Follow the Sun: A Simple Way to Use Astrology for Living in Harmony and read the chapter for your sign. 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. 

Mark your calendar with the dates provided in this article and do your best to express the planet’s noblest energies along with the highest potential of each zodiac sign as your planet makes its way through the various signs.

As a planet enters a new sign, 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.

Also, take note of each planet’s retrograde times. These periods slow down progress on the outer plane but give us powerful opportunities for introspection and reflection on how well we’re expressing a given planet’s potentials. When the planet moves forward again, you can begin applying what you learned during your retrograde reflections.

Venus: Love, Values, Relationships

Venus is named for the ancient Roman goddess of love and beauty. This beautiful planet appears in our sky either just before sunrise as “the morning star” or just after sunset as “the evening star.” When in her evening star phase, Venus is the second brightest object in the night sky, after the Moon. She also is our closest planetary neighbor and the planet most like ours in size and composition, making her a sister planet to Earth.

Pay special attention to love, values, and relationships as well as beauty, pleasure, and pampering whenever Venus moves through your Sun sign. Also, if you are a Taurus or Libra (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 Venus’s movement through all the signs throughout each year. In that case, use this chart to mark your calendar with this year’s Venus dates:

As Venus enters a new sign, take note of the new sign’s energies and strengths. Consider how you will respond to the current sign and how you might experience and express it. Wherever Venus is, keep in mind that this beautiful planet helps us attract and be attracted by others and that she sweetens all that she touches. How can you use her loving energies in each sign to bring beauty to the world through that sign and to sweeten your life (and the lives of others) in some way?

See the Taurus and Libra chapters of Follow the Sun for more about Venus and the two signs she rules.

Mars: Drive and Passion, Action and Adventure

Mars is named for the ancient Roman god of war. Also known as “the red planet,” Mars takes its color from deposits of iron oxide on the planet’s surface; these facts remind us of Aries’s association with the color red and the metal iron.

Pay special attention to drive, energy, and passion as well as action, adventure, and leadership whenever Mars moves through your Sun sign. Also, if you are an Aries (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 Mars’s movement through all the signs throughout each year. In that case, use this chart to mark your calendar with this year’s Mars dates:

As Mars enters a new sign, take note of the new sign’s energies and strengths. Consider how you will respond to the current sign and how you might experience and express it. Wherever Mars is, keep in mind that this brash planet helps us take action and succeed in life’s many battles. How can you use its courageous energies in each sign to bring strength and will power to that sign and to empower and bring boldness to your life (and the lives of others) in some way? How can you live up to the ancient ideal of the knight, who fought when needed but otherwise behaved wisely and gently with others?

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

Jupiter: Optimism, Expansion, and Benevolence

Jupiter is the great giant of our solar system, named for the Roman king of the gods. This planet infuses us with dreams of greatness, an urge to expand everything, and a benevolent spirit ready to share whatever it has with others. Jupiter also brings a jovial, optimistic feeling and the desire for complete freedom to discover new places, people, and experiences; often, this energy beckons us to wide open spaces.

If you are a Sagittarius (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 Jupiter’s movement through the signs. In that case, use this chart to mark your calendar with this year’s Jupiter dates:

Also, if you are a Cancer or a Leo, you can benefit from paying special attention to Jupiter this year, as this giant, generous planet is moving through your sign. Jupiter has been in Cancer since late June 2013 and remains there until July 16, when it enters Leo and stays in the sign of the Lion for a full year.

Whatever your Sun sign, while Jupiter occupies Cancer, pay special attention to Cancer themes such as mothers and family, home and nurturing, and emotional and material security.

During Jupiter’s retrograde period in Cancer, take time to reflect on how well you’re taking care of yourself. What do you truly need to feel safe, nurtured, and cared for? If you live in a household with other people, think about how you and your loved ones interact and care for each other. Do all in the household feel safe expressing their needs, and are daily routines organized to ensure everyone has what’s needed to make the most of each day?

When Jupiter moves into Leo on July 16, begin to pay special attention to Leo themes such as fathers and authority, courage and creativity, and your need to care for your inner child and to shine your inner light. Take note of Leo’s energies and strengths and consider how you will respond to this fiery, generous energy.

Wherever Jupiter is, keep in mind that this exuberant planet is named for the mythological Jupiter who rules the realm of the gods and is associated with benevolence, abundance, and good fortune. Through good will and loving faith, this planet helps us expand and reach beyond what we thought was possible to create something bigger, brighter, and better. How can you use Jupiter’s energies to expand not only your material world and prosperity but your spiritual world and consciousness? How can you bring generosity and optimism to your life (and the lives of others) in some way? How can you live up to Jupiter’s promise as the noble leader who wields authority with grace and goodness?

When Jupiter goes retrograde again at the end of this year, on December 8, 2014, take time to reflect on Leo themes, especially how well you’re expressing your creativity. What do you truly need to feel confident enough to share your special gifts with others? If your self-expression depends on interacting with others, think about how well you cooperate within groups. Do you honor others’ gifts as much as you do your own? Do you allow others to shine their light in their special ways? Do you applaud others’ accomplishments and cheer them on? Do you encourage them when they face obstacles to living up to their greatest potential?

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

Saturn: Still Firming Things up in Scorpio

Saturn is the grown-up of the zodiac, the stern taskmaster who pushes us to rise above our current circumstances by working hard and with integrity. This planet is famous for its rings, which are made mostly of ice along with some dust and other debris. The rings’ formations are both beautiful and symbolic of this planet’s preoccupation with material structure and tendency toward emotional coldness; their location surrounding the planet also indicates this planet’s focus on boundaries, limitations, and order as well as the tendency for people with Saturn prominent in their charts to seek solitude and build emotional walls to protect their surprisingly sensitive inner selves.

If you are a Capricorn (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 Saturn’s movement through the signs. In that case, use this chart to mark your calendar with this year’s Saturn dates:

Also, if you are a Scorpio, you can benefit from paying special attention to Saturn this year, as this stern, demanding planet is moving through your sign. Saturn has been in Scorpio since October 2012 and remains there until December 2014, when it enters Sagittarius for six months. Saturn returns to Scorpio on June 14, 2015, where it remains until September 17, 2015, when it re-enters Sagittarius and then stays in the sign of the Archer until December 2017.

Whatever your Sun sign, while Saturn occupies Scorpio, pay special attention to Scorpio themes such as desire and power, deep change and transformation, and passion and sexuality. Are you able to apply appropriate discipline and limits in these areas of your life? Have you taken full responsibility for your actions and their consequences?

During Saturn’s retrograde period, take time to reflect on how well you’re living up to your responsibilities. Also consider how well you are concentrating on your own duties and whether you have taken on work that rightly belongs to someone else. Whatever your duty may be, think about what you need to fulfill it well. Do you have effective routines in place to enable you to perform whatever work you must do? Do the material structures of your life, such as your home and work space, make it easy for you to handle life’s demands and get down to work when necessary? Do you have a place for prayer and meditation? Time for solitude? Do you balance work with play and meaningful relationships? Do you make time for humor and enjoyment? How can you live up to Saturn’s dual identity: the stern authority who enforces discipline and limits as well as the smiling, wise elder who bestows just rewards when we rise well to the task that lies before us?

See the Capricorn chapter of Follow the Sun for more about Saturn and the sign it rules. Also see the article Uranus Square Pluto Part Four: How Are You Feeling? for much more about Scorpio.

Uranus: Liberating Your True Self

Uranus is the great awakener of the zodiac, the quirky and powerful planet that brings sudden lightning strikes of wisdom that flash upon our consciousness and free us from old patterns. Named for the ancient god of the sky, Uranus is famous for its beautiful sky blue and turquoise color. In addition, Uranus has a tipped rotational axis, which causes the planet to spin on its side. (Imagine how things would appear if you looked at them sideways.) This fact corresponds to our need to take a new look at the world sometimes and to march to the beat of our own drummer.

If you are an Aquarius (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 Uranus’s movement through the signs. In that case, use this chart to mark your calendar with this year’s Uranus dates:

Also, if you are an Aries, you can benefit from paying special attention to Uranus this year, as this wild card planet is moving through your sign. Uranus has been in Aries since the end of May 2010 (except for a return to Pisces from mid-August 2010 through mid-March 2011). It remains in Aries until May 2018, when it enters Taurus for about six months. Uranus returns to Aries in November 2018, where it remains until March 2019, when it re-enters Taurus and then stays in the sign of the Bull for several years.

Whatever your Sun sign, while Uranus occupies Aries, pay special attention to Aries themes such as energy and impulsiveness, confidence and courage, and decisiveness and leadership. Are you able to tap into spiritual insight to help you make good decisions? Do you lead by example? Are you able to overcome mistakes and even outright failure by learning from your experience and having the confidence to begin again, over and over if necessary?

During Uranus’s retrograde period, take time to reflect on how well you’re living up to your inherent gifts and genius. Also consider how well you are expressing your true identity. Who are you, really? Do you allow your authentic self to shine through, or have you created a personality or life based on other people’s ideas or expectations? Are you comfortable with who you are? Have you made contact with your inner self, and do you allow that higher self to help govern your decisions and your day-to-day actions? How can you live up to Uranus’s demand to be utterly yourself yet still remain part of various groups such as your extended family, your work colleagues, and all humanity?

See the Aquarius chapter of Follow the Sun for more about Saturn and the sign it rules. Also see our series of articles about the Uranus-Pluto square for more about Uranus.

Neptune: Dissolving What No Longer Works

Neptune is the great dissolver and healer of the zodiac, the mysterious and beautiful planet that reminds us we are part of the great ocean of spiritual consciousness. Named for the ancient god of the sea, Neptune is a bright blue planet associated with water, a substance that long has symbolized emotions as well as consciousness, psychic power, and the need for rest and retreat to restore health and balance. Neptune also hints at hidden realms and spirituality: just as an ocean’s surface hides most of what goes on in the sea, our physical bodies hide our true, spiritual selves.

If you are a Pisces (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 Neptune’s movement through the signs. In that case, use this chart to mark your calendar with this year’s Neptune dates:

Whatever your Sun sign, you can benefit from paying special attention to Neptune this year, as this dreamy planet is moving through Pisces, the sign it rules, and therefore carries extra strength and potential. Neptune has been in Pisces since early April 2011 (except for a return to Aquarius from early August 2011 through early February 2012). It remains in Pisces until the end of March 2025, when it enters Aries for nearly six months. Neptune returns to Pisces in late October 2025, where it remains until late January 2026, when it re-enters Aries and then stays in the sign of the Ram for several years.

No matter what your Sun sign is, while Neptune occupies Pisces, pay special attention to Pisces themes such as empathy and compassion, dreams and imagination, and sensitivity and service. Are you able to trust your higher self to lead your life? Do you pay attention to your intuition, hunches, and emotional impressions? Are you able to live your spirituality in every aspect of life?

During Neptune’s retrograde period, take time to reflect on how well you’re living up to your spiritual nature. Do you honor your higher self, or do you allow your baser instincts to rule your choices? Do you cherish your sensitivity and take care of yourself to protect this gift, or have you become so overwhelmed with feeling and others’ suffering that you use escapism or addiction to cope? Do you apply your gifts to serve others in appropriate ways, or do you make yourself a martyr to feel powerful or waste time trying to rescue others rather than fixing your own life? What have you allowed into your life that no longer serves you? What must you allow Neptune to dissolve so that you can heal and regain your strength to serve on both the material and spiritual planes? How can you live up to Neptune’s demand to be utterly sensitive to all creation yet remain detached enough to be able to serve others effectively?

NOTE: The centaur object Chiron also is traveling through Pisces until April 2018. Chiron has an irregular orbit that crosses paths with both Saturn and Uranus, and it carries energies associated with wounding and healing as well as teaching from experience and serving humanity after overcoming illness or related obstacles. In Pisces, Chiron offers us opportunities to address any negative aspects of Pisces such as escapism, addiction, deceit, unreliability, martyrdom, and illusion. If you are experiencing challenges in these areas or if you have lost your trust in the divine or in creation’s benevolent potential, Chiron’s energies can help you gain clarity and find ways to help yourself. As you heal, you also will gain opportunities to serve the greater good by sharing your experience with others and serving as a beacon of hope for those continuing to struggle with what you have overcome.

See the Pisces chapter of Follow the Sun for more about Neptune, the sign it rules, and how to work with Neptune in the sign of the Fish.

Pluto: Pressure to Change

Pluto is the great transformer of the zodiac, the tiny but mighty planet that forces us to let go of all that we have outgrown and must be eliminated in our lives. Named for the mythological Pluto who rules over the underworld, this planet also is associated with hidden depths, the mysteries, and making our way through spiritual darkness. If we persevere and surrender to the higher, more powerful force of our soul, we find that vast riches await us in Pluto’s underground realm.

If you are a Scorpio (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 Pluto’s movement through the signs. In that case, use this chart to mark your calendar with this year’s Pluto dates:

Also, if you are a Capricorn, you can benefit from paying special attention to Pluto this year, as this intense planet is moving through your sign. Pluto has been in Capricorn since late January 2008 (except for a return to Sagittarius from mid-June through late November 2008). It remains in Capricorn until late March 2023, when it enters Aquarius for about two and a half months. Pluto returns to Capricorn in mid-June 2023, where it remains until late January 2024, when it re-enters Aquarius. It returns once more to Capricorn in early September 2024, where it remains until late November that year, when it once again enters Aquarius and then stays in the sign of the Water Bearer for several years.

Whatever your Sun sign, while Pluto occupies Capricorn, pay special attention to Capricorn themes such as discipline and duty, order and structure, and ambition and career. Are you able to work hard and patiently for results that may not appear for quite some time? Do you make good use of resources? Are you building your life and career on a firm foundation?

During Pluto’s retrograde period, take time to reflect on how well you’re living up to your spiritual power and potential. Also consider your goals and ambitions on all planes: are they worthy of you and your gifts? Are they true to your inner self? Do you pursue them with integrity and deep understanding of power and how it works? When you have opportunities to lead, do you do so by example and with appreciation for everyone involved in what you’re trying to accomplish? Do you allow time for rest? Do you allow yourself a balanced life? Do you give yourself the gift of devotion to life’s true pleasures and enjoyment of good relationships? How can you live up to Pluto’s intense demand to evolve continually yet remain centered in the midst of change and even turmoil?

See the Scorpio chapter of Follow the Sun for more about Pluto and the sign it rules. Also see our series of articles about the Uranus-Pluto square for more about Pluto.