So anyways, I’m off to Canberra tomorrow to see family. It’s a flying visit because I’m supposed to be editing…I’ll do some in the car…

While I’m away, the skies are having their own version of New Years fireworks with a couple of transits involving the two big hitters- Pluto and Uranus.

While this weather will be affecting all of us in some way, those with planets and chart points at or around 12-13 degrees of Capricorn, Cancer, Aries and Libra will be most influenced.

And before you clutch your fist to your chest and adopt a pained and fearful expression, these are short-lived transits that can be disruptive, but can also be pretty helpful from a nudging you in the right direction sort of way- especially if you are yet to set your intentions for the year.

In order of occurrence, here they are, with a little re-hashing of some stuff I prepared earlier:

Sun square Uranus
This is a twice a year aspect that, while not life-changing, certainly has the potential to rock your world a little.
Breaking it down, Uranus has one motivation- for you to live your life exactly who you are, with no excuses, no apologies, no questions. Simple really…

The Sun, on the other hand is all about ego. And with ego comes fear. What if I get hurt? What if I don’t fit in? What if they don’t like me? What if it means?… you get the idea.

When Uranus comes into contact with the Sun, he’s going to ask the difficult questions. Why are you doing it that way? Is it just habit? Why are you still in that job? That’s not who you are!

Uranus doesn’t care about your excuses and your reasons for staying put, doing things the way they’ve always been done- even if those reasons are quite logical and rational. If you asked him, he’d say something like, ‘I don’t really give a shit. If you’re not prepared to do something about it- I will. It won’t be much now- I haven’t got the time, but just you wait until I’m the one doing the squaring.’

The thing is, the message is, if you don’t mindfully alter your routine, Uranus will do it for you- in some unexpected way. And trust me, the disruption will be much worse.

This weekend you’ll be feeling the restrictions that others place on you, the ties that bind, the conventions.

You might want to do something wild, express your individuality, colour outside the lines…Do it because you feel inside that you should- not because it’s a rebellion for the sake of having one…and do it safely and mindfully.

The nature of the disruption? Hell, I don’t know…this is Uranus, he does what he likes.

Sun conjunct Pluto
I’ve always worked hard to be accountable to others, but haven’t worried so much about letting myself down. It’s the main reason I think that my track record on the personal goal front isn’t great. It’s a self-respect thing.

Anyways, accountability is also the theme of the weekends Sun-Pluto conjunction. It’s also a timely reminder for the whole resolution and goal-setting fiesta that is New Year.

The thing is, when it comes to resolutions and personal goals, the only person who can set and create my outcomes is me. There’s no one above me setting my goals, there’s no one above me setting deadlines, there’s no one above me patting my head if I’ve been a good girl or threatening my job if I haven’t. It’s all mine. I own it. I own the goals, I own the outcomes. That’s accountability.

It’s not, however, control.

And that’s the fine line that we always must discuss when it comes to matters involving Pluto. Power and control.

You see, we have this temptation to take control, to force action, to accept situations that allow us to feel that we have some sort of power.

The concept that we are not in control, that we alone are not all powerful is a difficult one for the ego to accept. It’s why so many of us want to know the future- as if that will give us some control or power over it.

What can we do?

We can walk our talk, we can be accountable for our actions, we can act with integrity, and we can celebrate our achievements without waiting for someone else to provide the dancing girls and hallelujah chorus.

If you haven’t done so already, set your New Year intentions. Make them achievable, actionable, and schedule them in your calendar. Above all, make yourself accountable for both your actions and your results…while being fully aware that this is in no way about power and control. Instead, it’s about self-respect and personal integrity…and that, surely, is a goal worth aspiring to.