Mars sets off the Saturn-Neptune square and powerful New Moon in Aquarius

Mars entered Pisces January 12, where it will remain until February 20.  Pisces is the ruler of the 12th house of the subconscious mind and ruled by Neptune.

Mars in this sign will "set off" the Saturn-Neptune square this month.  This will mark the start of about a year this transit will cause confusion and frustration that will play out in the world and in your personal chart if you have a mutable planet-Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, or Pisces at about 4-7 degrees.

By mid-February Saturn reaches 4 degrees, and Neptune is at 6 degrees Pisces giving it a close 2 degree orb. Both this month (with Mars) and next we will start to see this transit play out in the world and our lives.

Neptune aspecting a personal planet dissolves situations and relationships, and can confuse the matter. I often see hard Neptune transits in very confusing relationships, or relationships that cannot succeed or get off the ground, such as an infatuation or affair with someone who is married or unavailable in some way.

Saturn, on the other hand can delay, destroy, end the situation or cause it to be viewed with reality-which isn't all bad. This is quite a transit, and the end result can be looking at many situations involved with totally new eyes. One thing is for sure-some situations we have know as personal realities in our lives, as well as in the world will dissolve into something else. Certain things will fade to make room for the new and it could be an uncomfortable process leaving one confused, depressed and without a vision for the future, for a time.

We will see events and situations in the world both now and throughout the year that can include the following:

-Clashes over practical issues versus ideologies that can include health care (especially in the US)

-A rise/changes in religion, especially fundamentalist types of religion, and a rise in those who oppose them, along with fear and increased awareness of personal security

-changes in governments and laws

- -depression, a rise in alcoholic behaviors or drugs, changes in laws affecting drugs such as pot laws

-changes in the medical and educational arenas

-problems with water and the oceans

disenfranchised, homeless, desperate people in hot spots around the world

-changes in disease such as Ebola and potential cures/other diseases can emerge

-changes-news about oil/gas, nuclear and chemical weapons and governments that use them

-changes in basic societal thinking that will affect the collective

By November 2015, Neptune is exact in its square to Saturn at 7 degrees Sagittarius/Pisces.

January 19, and the few days before Mars conjuncts Neptune and confusion will be the theme of the day as will lack of clarity, discouragement and discontent which is a general manifestation of this transit. We could see water related weather conditions.

Mars-Neptune energy is indicative of personal and collective revelations. Many of us may find something out. It goes hand and hand with scandals, lies, deception and self deception, issues surrounding sex, pictures, photographs, sexual scandals, gay relationships, depression, drugs, alcohol, and confusing circumstances.

On the other hand, Neptune has a dual nature. One side of Poseidon (Neptune) can confuse, delude and drive to near insanity, and the other is of the highest spiritual principals and compassion. We could see great acts of charity and compassion during this period, or of self sacrifice. Neptune can increase spirituality, compassion, understanding of others and creativity as well as psychic attunement.

Mars is not the only planet that will set off this powerful square. It will be set off by Venus in Pisces when it squares Saturn January 30, and Neptune on February 1. It will later be set off by the Sun February 23, and (Sun square) Neptune on February 25.

The Saturn-Neptune square will affect us all to an extent if we live on planet Earth. It will aspect your chart somewhere, but will be much more intense if it aspects your personal planets.

If this transit is aspecting your chart, understand that Neptune can cloud the issue. On the other hand, Saturn can bring reality to the forefront. My advice is to go with the reality of the situation and move forward. Old situations, even people may fade from our life at this time. But, when one door closes somewhere, another door will open.

The mutable signs are Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, and Pisces and if your personal planet is being aspected it will be at 3-7 degrees.

On January 20, a new moon occurs at 0 degrees Aquarius and this is a Supermoon. Astrologer-author Richard Nolle wrote about the impact of a supermoon, "SuperMoons are noteworthy for their close association with extreme tidal forces working in what astrologers of old used to call the sublunary world: the atmosphere, crust and oceans of our home planet - including ourselves, of course. From extreme coastal tides to severe storms to powerful earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, the entire natural world surges and spasms under the sway of the SuperMoon alignment - within three days either way of the exact syzygy, as a general rule. SuperMoon solar eclipses tend to have a wider sphere of impact, extending roughly a week before and after the actual event. And other lunar extremes (of declination, for example) can extend the geocosmic stress window by a day or two here and there in any case. "

Aquarius is ruled by Uranus and Saturn and Uranus and is in a square to Pluto, so I expect more events to occur relating to the Uranus-Pluto square.

Uranus is the planet of extremes, revolutions and shock, both in our personal lives and in the world.

Perhaps you can harness some of this energy and take a new approach to things, or try something new! Now is the perfect time. Be flexible and you will experience this energy in the most positive manner. Uranus breaks up patterns that have become staid and crystallized into patterns that can be outdated, or boring.

0 degree Aquarius is considered a degree of homicide. Expect to see more or increased turmoil in the world. Uranus rules the internet, airplanes, weather and earthquakes, revolutions and coups, and explosive situations to name a few.

Mercury and Venus oppose Jupiter, and this can cause things, and situations to be blown out of proportion, especially relating to or among women. Calm, rational thought is the key.

January 21, Mercury retrogrades at 17 degrees of Aquarius. This will further confuse matters and the period both before and after the new moon will be a critical juncture for many.