A Plant Perspective: Winter 2021 Astrology

From today on we enter astrological weather that becomes pivotal as setting the tone for this year:

Sunday Jan 17 - Jupiter Uranus square 

Wednesday Jan 20 - First Quarter Moon, Mars Uranus conjunction 

Saturday Jan 30 - Mercury retrograde 26° Aquarius (goes direct Feb 20th at 11° Aquarius)

Wednesday Feb 17 - Saturn Uranus square

January 17, 2021 we have one of the first major transits that I'll be watching out for in terms of the larger story of this year - the Jupiter Uranus square. Jupiter in the sign of Aquarius is has faith in humanity and strives to expands the potential of the greatest good of the collective. The power of foresight and being in tune with the whole is part of what this year's Jovian journey through Aquarius might invite us into embodying personally. Uranus in Taurus however, invites us into restoring new forms of security, especially food, shelter, and financial security. It will be revolutionizing, progressing, and perhaps even digitizing the material world. It's the fertility of sustainable visions expressed through the vehicle of the physical world. 

Jupiter and Uranus are squaring off at 6° Aquarius and Taurus respectively, and the bottom line for Jupiter is inclusion, while the bottom line of Uranus is freedom. Squares create tension in order to break from stagnancy, creatively problem solve, and progress forward. So whatever comes up on the world stage or in your personal life this week is most likely an invitation of emancipation from limiting structures, that will in the long run, create greater forms of security moving forward. In the moment it could look dramatic (because of Jupiter's propensity to blow things out of proportion) or be a bigger change then you were ready for. New breakthroughs in science and medicine, assistance programs, environmental acts, and the breaking down of institutions and establishments that ultimately aren't sustainable. After all, Jupiter Uranus squares do have a history of protests and revolution, and in fixed signs change may not happen overnight.

A few days later, Mars will meet up with Uranus on January 20th and form a conjunction at 6° Taurus during the First Quarter Moon. The last time these two radical planets met in February of 2019 at 29° Aries, there was a lot of revealing of old secrets and acknowledgements of crimes by people in power and being held accountable for it. Of course this year, it happens to occur on the U.S. Presidential Inauguration Day. The difference this time is that it is occurring in a slowed down, grounded, and gentler sign of Taurus. But there's still a potential for people getting even more explosively fixed in their ways right now. I see a larger pattern of impatience overlapping in this story in the first quarter of 2021.

Speaking of time, we enter our first Mercury retrograde of the year. This is this first time since 2015 when Mercury's retrograde cycles will all be in the air signs, meaning that the undertone is very different this year shifting from personal meaning and emotional wellness (Mercury rx in water signs from 2019-2020), towards relational understanding, belonging, and mental wellness (2021 - 2022). The goal of this year's air sign Mercury retrograde will require us to explore the messages we are sharing with the world, more intentional connection, and refining the language we use to express ourselves with depth and intention.

Perhaps the biggest story of 2021 are the Saturn Uranus squares, and our first one of three is on February 17th. This first one occurs at 7° Aquarius/Taurus and offers us a glimpse into what actually is breaking down in our lives that isn't meant to move forward with us. With this comes a lot of complex feelings over the course of the next few weeks.

• The uncertainty of change and/or the excitement of change
• The restlessness of being in process and not seeing results immediately, which brings in self doubt, discouragement, fear, depression, lack of motivation, impatience, confusion etc
• Attaching to a larger image that removes us from the embodied moment of the present
• Time not feeling "real" as we all collectively shift away from quantitative time to non-linear, qualitative time
• Moments of expansion and freedom coupled with frustration of roadblocks and barriers
• Grief for what we are letting go of, no matter how big or small

Plant Guides For Winter 2021

Navigating these times are becoming increasingly difficult. When it all feels too overwhelming, know that you don't need to extend beyond your means or environment in order to find healing. Explore the genius (and genus...pun intended) of whats available and around you. Is there a plant that your eye lands on outside your window during a moment of stress or a place that feels safe? Feel free to check out this post for other suggestions for plant communication in your environment. 

The male flowers of the Black Walnut tree

Walnut will be incredibly helpful for most people during this winter (and for most times) as it helps one move through transition with resilience. Since Saturn is doing some major movement through new territory this year, we're all going to experience change whether we like it or not. Walnut helps one to safely release emotional attachments to what it is we are letting go of during times of change. There are a ton of plants that can help with transition and change (Yew is a personal favorite), but with the astrology occurring this winter, we're most likely continuing the work of moving through past conditioning and systemic breakdown (on both collective and personal levels) while we are going through change. That's a key part of the process, and a great tree like Walnut can help liberate us from systemic and long term conditionings that may have created patterns more harmful rather than helpful. Walnut offers us the ability to make choices centered around self harm reduction. So it helps us see what is relevant in our lives, and what needs to be cleared out, offering us the reminder of our agency, choice, and authorship of our own lives. The "Great Protector," Walnut is multidimensional as it's magic can work through us in many different directions, including standing in our power and authenticity. As our ideas of "security" are shifting this year, Walnut will help us redefine security in our personal lives without feeling like we are in constant survival mode. 

Hyoscyamus niger, or Black Henbane

Henbane is a poisonous plant that I work with energetically to do a deep cleanse to witness and release toxic behavior, so you could potentially combine Walnut and Henbane for a powerful approach to making space in your life before calling in something new. Together, these two powerhouses actually helps us to strip away old, harmful, and inauthentic layers of ourselves to compost, allowing our core Self become more visible and radiant.

Rosa multiflora, White Wild Rose

Rose might be another obvious choice, but perhaps that's because it's sincerely a plant the humans have a deep relational and archetypal connection to in most cultures. With so much pain and crises happening in these times, I think of the constant shock and heartbreak that we all go through on a daily basis. With change often comes grief, and Rose (in any variety that you connect to) helps us to pick up the pieces of our hearts off the floor, and hold them in our hands. We don't loose ourselves with rose, but rather we learn to hold ourselves with it. Not in the sense of holding onto the past, but rather hold onto the parts of ourselves that have been longing to be held. 

Cosmos bipinnatus, Cosmos

Lastly, relationships and communication are important this year and with the build of almost all planets in Aquarius in February relation-ability will be essential. Coming back to the importance of quality of our relationships and the language we use in defining ourselves, needs to be clear. Cosmos is a plant that can be called into our lives like a daily prayer or invocation, or employing the flower essence in our daily routine, for more structured and intentional articulation in our speech. Cutting to the point, while remaining receptive, fluid, and perhaps even a little poetic, this common flower can help us master our voices. If you feel ungrounded in your speech, have trouble communicating, or are overwhelmed by what or how much to say, Cosmos can help us during this intense astro weather to refine our Mercury.

Of course, you can work with any plant you have a relationship to or one that speaks to you personally that isn't listed here. Notice how you feel during the months of January, February, and March and what plants you think about most often. Remember you don't have to purchase something in order to work with these plants, even the simplest little prayer of inviting them into your space to just get to know them, and then seeing how their wisdom comes through in small moments throughout the day is honestly the best way of integrating plant healing.