Welcome to the New Year of 2024 and it looks like it’s going to be a good one. I’ll examine the exciting planetary alignments, retrogrades, ingresses, eclipses and the visible planets. It’s the Chinese year of the Wood Dragon, so let’s hope the Dragon brings a magnificent year.
Print this as a reference sheet for the year.
Here is the chart of January 1, 2024. T
Planetary Alignments
The planets to watch this year are Pluto, Jupiter, Uranus and Mars. Pluto is doing a very rare ingress into Aquarius. Jupiter will conjunct Uranus. Mars and Jupiter are making most of the aspects this year. Many of the planets are in the path of Mars this year. But let’s start with Jupiter and Uranus, which is the most important planetary alignment of the year.
Jupiter Conjunct Uranus on April 20th at 22 degrees Taurus
Usually there is one main planetary configuration per year and 2024 will experience a thrilling pair of planets that are meeting in the sky. On April 20th, expansive Jupiter and unpredictable Uranus will join each other. The conjunction occurs at almost 22 degrees of Taurus. Jupiter’s orbit is 12 years and Uranus has a long 84 year orbit, so they are only conjunct every 13 years.
All the planets have a job. Venus’s job is to bring love. Mars is here to move things forward. Jupiter’s job is to expand into new horizons. He makes everything bigger, and of course his challenge is excess. He’ll do his excessive behavior with unbridled enthusiasm.
Uranus is the rebel of the Zodiac and his job is to bring the future to the world. Associated with the independent sign of Aquarius, Uranus is passionate about breaking down the old and replacing it with the shiny and new. Uranus is radical and relentless in his pursuit to renovate humanity.
When grand Jupiter and rebellious Uranus hold hands, it can be incredibly exciting or a bit over the top. It will probably be both of those at the same time. Luckily, the earth sign of Taurus will bring a needed stability. Uranus is all about technology, so this would be a perfect time to upgrade your computer, to purchase new devices and generally become more tech savvy. If you want to start a business, this is a great aspect to move forward. Social media will shine at this time, and so will the expansion of AI or Artificial Intelligence. People will be speaking their minds. These two planets are definitely triggering off all these strikes and focus on unionization. We can expect unrest concerning personal freedom. Groups of people will come together around common goals. I call Jupiter conjunct Uranus – We the People.
Jupiter Trine Pluto on June 2nd at 2 degrees Gemini and Aquarius
Jupiter only enters Gemini on May 26th and the Pluto trines Jupiter on June 2nd. Both Pluto and Jupiter have just entered new signs and now connect with each other in the most positive way possible. Jupiter just entered Gemini and Pluto just entered Aquarius. Gemini and Aquarius are both air signs, which will bring a new sense of understanding to the world. Air signs are all about intelligence, education and creative imagination. People will be seeing things in a totally different way. Speak your voice. Be authentic. Stand tall.
Jupiter Squares Saturn on August 19th at 17 degrees Gemini and Pisces.
Jupiter will square Saturn three times. The first square will be in August, the retrograde will be in December. The last square won’t happen until June 2025.er. Jupiter wants to move forward, while Saturn protects the status quo and holds tightly onto the past. Jupiter in Gemini is adventurous and inventive and wants Saturn to help with those new projects. Saturn is in Pisces, which can be fearful to do anything very bold. This is like a tug of war. Should you move forward or stay in place? Often the new beginnings happen on the first square. The retrograde square is for editing. The last square is to move forward now that everything has been properly adjusted. Planned, safe expansion is best.
Mars conjuncts Saturn on April 10th at 15 degrees Pisces
Mars joins Saturn in April to help Saturn do his job. Mars will break through any obstacles that Saturn has had in moving forward. Focus on business plans. Be physical. Maybe this is a good time for a spring house cleaning. If you are a gardener, prepare for planting.
Mars conjuncts Neptune on April 29th at 28 degrees Pisces
Mars joining Neptune is what I call the spiritual warrior. This is a great time to ramp up your meditation practices. If you are in the mood for a spiritual retreat, this is your best time. Art and music are also highlighted during this phase. Let your creativity flow.
Mars conjuncts Uranus on July 15th at 26 degrees Taurus
This is an explosive pairing of planets. Uranus is unpredictable and Mars will trigger it off. Do something unusual and maybe a bit scary. Be safe as you let yourself get a little wild.
Mars conjuncts Jupiter on August 14th at 16 degrees Gemini
Jupiter loves to travel. Mars will push Jupiter to the limits of excitement in Gemini. This time screams for a road trip. Go somewhere new that you have never experienced before. If you are brave enough for extreme sports, this is your chance. Bungie jumping or hot air ballooning might be calling you.
Chart of the US Presidential election
November 5th will be the Presidential Election, which is of course a main event of 2024. I’ve done the chart for 10 pm in Washington, DC. This is a complex chart with many of the planets in aspect to each other. The Sun is in intense Scorpio, the Moon is in Capricorn with a grand Leo rising. Let’s look at the red lines first. Mars is rising in Leo and is opposing Pluto, which is a contentious moment, at best. Tempers could flare with this angle. Neptune squares Venus, bringing sensitive emotions and likely cause confusion.
Luckily, there is a Grand Trine of blue lines to hopefully balance out the difficult challenges. Mars will trine Mercury, Neptune and the North Node. Mars trine Mercury is making a definite decision. Mars trine Neptune and the North Node paves the way for healing and moving forward for society. The other main blue line is Uranus trine Pluto, which also wants to transform the world in a new way.
Overall, even though the day will be fraught with emotions and delays, the outcome will open the doors of the future.
Ingresses
Pluto enters Aquarius on January 21. Pluto retrogrades back into Capricorn on September 2nd and then finally enters Aquarius for good on November 19th. From that day on, Pluto will be in Aquarius all the way until 2044!
I’ve been writing about Pluto entering Aquarius and now here it is! You might want to refresh yourself with this momentous transits. https://www.susiecox.com/blog/pluto-enters-aquarius
Pluto’s orbit is 248 years, so the last time Pluto was in Aquarius was 1777, which was the forming of the US against the British Monarchy. This was also when the French Revolution occurred. The time before that when Pluto was in Aquarius was 1532, which was the Protestant Reformation against the Catholic Church. Pluto is in repressive Capricorn before he moves into Aquarius, which is the reason for the pushback and the resulting rebellion and rebirth. The same thing is happening now in the world with authoritarian regimes trying to control people.
Guess what? It’s not going to work. If the Catholic Church and Monarchs lost, controlling regimes will too. We are definitely in for a few years of agitation and upheaval with numerous strikes, uprisings and rebellions. The Aquarian Age isn’t going to begin with the ringing of a bell and everyone shaking hands. It will begin with worldwide revolution for personal rights.
Jupiter enters Gemini on May 26, 2024, and will remain there until June 10th, 2025
Jupiter will enter the sign of Gemini in May 2026 and will remain there until June 2025. Anything Jupiter touches, he makes bigger. Jupiter will be making sure that Gemini excitement will light up the world. Gemini is about learning, developing new mental paradigms, traveling, writing and being curious about everything. Technology will take huge steps forward as well at AI. There is also pretty strong restlessness with this combo. Plan for exciting experiences and maybe several short trips during this time.
Chinese New Year
Welcome to the year of the Wood Dragon. The Chinese New Year starts on February 10th and will remain in that sign until January 28th, 2025. It always starts on the second New Moon after the Winter Solstice. Both Western and Chinese astrology use 12 animals. But while western astrology uses four elements of Fire, Earth, Air and Water; Chinese astrology uses five elements of Metal, Water, Wood, Fire and Earth.
The Chinese system changes the animal every year, but only changes the elements every other year. For example, last year was the Water Rabbit and the year before was the Water Tiger. This year the element changed to Wood with the Wood Dragon. Each animal has a personality, which is influenced by the element. Fire will bring more heat or aggression, where Earth will bring calm. Let’s get to know the Dragon first.
The magnificent and mighty Dragon represents the Emperor. It is the sign of power. A Dragon year is exhilarating, colossal, expansive and grandiose. The positive side of the Dragon will be good for business, new ventures and upgrading current projects. The Dragon will not take no for an answer in his unbridled ambition. Everything will be larger than life. A Dragon year is marked with surprises and often shows up in acts of nature. Bigger is the main keyword here. “Tempers will flare the world over and everyone will be staging some real or imaginary revolt against constrictions.” (A quote from The Handbook of Chinese Horoscopes).
Let’s add the element of wood to this grand Dragon. Luckily, wood calms down the egotistical, dogmatic and eccentric Dragon. The wood element gives some grounding and will help in developing logical steps to new revolutionary concepts. This will encourage research and development for many new ideas.
Mercury Retrogrades
Mercury turns retrograde three or four times a year for three weeks each time. Poor Mercury Retrograde gets a bad rap. It’s not a bad thing but is a time to rethink old patterns and release whatever no longer works. It’s a healthy time to let go. Clean out your house or closets and reorganize everything. That’s a good Mercury retrograde in Virgo thing to do. What are good things to do during these retrogrades?
December 13th, 2023 – January 1st, 2024, in Capricorn/Sag
The year of 2023 ends and the new year begins with a Mercury retrograde. What a great way to end the year by letting go of the old. This might be the New Year’s Eve to do a releasing ceremony.
April 2nd – 25th in Aries
This Mercury retrograde occurs during the Solar Eclipse of April 8th. The Eclipse will give this retrograde more power. This is a good spring housecleaning of your entire life. Be thorough and ruthless with throwing things away.
August 5th – 28th in Virgo/Leo
This is the Autumn preparation Mercury retrograde. If you were a squirrel, now would be the time to store nuts for the winter. What do you need to prepare for the winter?
November 25th - December 15th in Sag
Mercury turns retrograde right after Thanksgiving and will be going backwards during much of the holiday season. Do your holiday shopping way early this year to avoid any unnecessary hassles. Pay extra attention to details.
Retrogrades
Mars turns retrograde on December 8th, 2024, until February 23rd, 2025
Mars only turns retrograde approximately every two years and lasts for about 2 1/2 months. So, it’s a longer and slower retrograde and therefore more powerful. Mars starts his retrograde in grand Leo and ends in the more sensitive sign of Cancer. The Leo will work for the holiday parties and then Cancer will bring in friends and family after the first of the new year. What a great way to end the year with Mars releasing the old year.
Eclipses
There are two Eclipse seasons during the year that happen six months apart from each other. An Eclipse occurs when the Sun, Moon and Earth align with each other. A Lunar Eclipse happens during a Full Moon and a Solar Eclipse always happens on the New Moon. In addition, the Sun and Moon need to be close to the Moon’s Nodes, which is where the Sun and Moon’s orbits cross each other to form an Eclipse. Everyone can feel an Eclipse, even if you can’t see it. Each Eclipse season is the time to look at your life in a new way and release what no longer is needed. The Nodes are in Aries and Libra now, so it might be a good time to rearrange your relationships.
March 25th Penumbral Lunar Eclipse at 5 degrees Libra
This is the first Eclipse of 2024 will not be a total Eclipse. It will be mostly be visible in North and South America.
April 8th Total Solar Eclipse at 19 degrees Aries
This is a Total Solar Eclipse and will be visible in the US from Texas through Maine. If you have never seen a Total Eclipse of the Sun, this might be your time to experience it. You will need protective eye wear to see it. The chart is very unusual, as you can see. The astrology will make this Solar Eclipse even more powerful.
September 18th Partial Lunar Eclipse at 25 degrees Pisces
This is a Lunar Eclipse in Pisces and will be visible in North and South America, Africa and Europe. This will be an emotional time since the Moon is right between Neptune and Saturn, all in Pisces. Be kind to yourself and to others.
October 2nd Annular Solar Eclipse at 10 degrees Libra
This is the last Eclipse of the year and will be an Annular Solar Eclipse visible in the Pacific Ocean. It will be the New Moon in Libra for this Eclipse of the Sun.
Visible Planets
How to you find the visible planets in the sky? You must first know where the Ecliptic is located. That’s an easy one, folks. Pay attention to where the Sun rises, the noon day Sun and then where the Sun sets. The path of the Sun during the day is called the Ecliptic and is always where the planets are at night. The planets travel along the same arc in the sky as the Sun, only at night. This is of course due to the rotation of the Earth.
Venus will be either the “Morning Star” or “Evening Star” and will never be more than 47 degrees away from the Sun. The outer planets, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn will move across the entire sky all night. Mercury is so close to the Sun and tricky to see, so I didn’t list Mercury.
Venus is in the eastern predawn sky from January until July.
Venus is in the western evening sky from July until December.
Mars will be in the predawn sky all year.
Jupiter is in the evening sky from January until June.
Jupiter is in the morning sky from June until December.
Saturn is in the evening sky from January until March.
Saturn is in the predawn sky from March until September.
Saturn is in the evening sky from September until December.
Summary of the year
There is a definite theme for 2024. I would call it revolutionary. Pluto finally enters Aquarius on November 19th and will remain there until 2044! Everyone will find their individual Aquarian voices and will join as collectives with like-minded people. This is a huge turning point in history. To enhance the need for moving forward, Jupiter will join Uranus on April 21st. The Wood Dragon is dramatic too.
They all say the same thing! Freedom will be the main focus of the year. We will see more strikes and attempts at unionization as the Aquarian Age starts its birthing process.