Welcome to 2020.
It will be a remarkable year of immense change and growth that will impact your life for years to come. Whether you feel it or not, this is the decade you’ve been waiting for.
Below I present the top 5 astrological events of 2020 and the opportunities each event offers to support your long-term happiness and personal development.
No. 1: Jupiter in Capricorn
Jupiter, the planet of luck, expansion, and faith, entered Capricorn on December 2, 2019. During this year-long transit, Jupiter’s expansive nature comes down to earth. Boundless optimism is replaced by calculated risk-taking and a measured approach.
While in Capricorn, Jupiter will meet-up with Pluto three times. This is an energy of magnetic power that can be harnessed for making significant progress on whatever you desire. It can also help rally others to support your cause. The shadow side of this energy is control, unhealthy obsession, and fanaticism. Jupiter and Pluto will meet on April 4 (or 5th, depending on your location) at 24° of Capricorn.
Opportunity: Place consistent effort into a big dream and see that dream manifest in a real way. Reward will come through a conservative and practical approach. Find the house in your chart with Capricorn, that area of life is where this energy will likely play-out.
Dates: January 1— December 18
No. 2: Saturn Pluto conjunction at 22° Capricorn
Saturn entered Capricorn at the end of 2017, moving us closer to its exact conjunction with Pluto, who has been in Capricorn since 2008. This year will bring a culmination to the Saturn Pluto energy we’ve all been wrestling with over these last few years.
Pluto in Capricorn has been about transforming institutions and personal structures. Saturn’s transit through Capricorn has challenged responsibility, integrity, traditions, and our role in society. These transits have left many of us feeling insecure, loss, and grief-stricken.
Together, the energies of Saturn and Pluto in Capricorn will combine to place extreme pressure on you to reclaim your personal power and produce a life more aligned with who you truly are.
Opportunity: Let go of what no longer serves you and allow yourself to fully grieve what needs to end. Seek ways to build anew. Rebuilding what you’ve lost, will not work out well. Some out of the box thinking is what your future will require. Finally, use discernment to practically create a sense of inner security.
Date: January 12
No. 3: Venus Retrograde in Gemini (21°- 5°)
Venus, the planet of love, beauty, money, and value, will retrograde in 2020. Unlike Mercury, which retrogrades every 3 months, Venus only retrogrades every 18 months.
In Gemini, Venus values learning, communicating, and being social. It’s typically a lively energy that supports making connections and drawing others in with beautiful easy words. When Venus goes retrograde in Gemini, this energy will move inward.
Venus’ retrograde period in Gemini will call for more substantive exchange and will find us re-evaluating whether we are being fulfilled intellectually by those we surround ourselves with.
Consult an astrologer or your birth chart for additional clues to what aspect of your Venusian story is up for review.
Opportunity: Pay attention to the intentions behind what people say and do. Words do have power, and you get to choose those connections that genuinely honor and nourish you. It’s also an excellent time to take a break from social activities to re-evaluate how you want to show up in your relationships, once Venus goes direct.
Dates: May 13 — June 25
No. 4: Mars Retrograde in Aries (28°- 15°)
In 2020 we will experience a Mars retrograde in its home sign of Aries. Mars goes retrograde every two years, which is why this event makes the top 5 list.
Mars represents our will. It describes how we get things done and seeks situations that develop our courage. When transiting through the sign of Aries, Mars can be most effectively deployed. There is a willingness to interact with the world with minimal hesitation and self-consciousness.
The retrograde cycle is much different. Progress slows down, and strategy is required. Enthusiasm may also wane as this energy calls for sustained effort, rather than quick wins. During the Mars retrograde period, Mars will be challenged by all the planets currently transiting through Capricorn. With challenge comes mastery.
Opportunity: Review, revise, or renegotiate how you use your will out in the world. Is there a better way to achieve your goals? Do you need to slow down or rest? Going slow is recommended to avoid feeling frustrated about a lack of forward momentum. This is also a brilliant opportunity to look at how you express and process anger.
Date: September 9 — November 14
No. 5: The Great Conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn at 0° Aquarius
With this final major astrological event of 2020, we enter a brand new cycle.
The meeting of Jupiter and Saturn occurs every 20 years, making this a rare event. This year they will also meet for the first time (in 200 years) in an air sign, kicking off a cycle of Jupiter and Saturn conjunctions in air.
Jupiter in Aquarius wants to expand your mind to bring innovative ideas to your world. Saturn in Aquarius wants to build the structures that will ensure pragmatic forward progress. Together, these two social planets are simultaneously pulling you up towards the sky and down towards earth. In this cauldron, rules get broken, and new ones are created.
Opportunity: Embrace a fresh new perspective. You’ve unburdened yourself from the past and are now ready to embody something radically different. Optimism and innovation will greet you, and boundaries and limits will help keep you safe. Remember, we are all in this together, and there is work to do in creating our new future.
Date: December 21
For 2020 Plan with the Moon in Mind
Now that we’ve covered the major astrological events, use the New and Full Moons and eclipses to plan out your year. I’ve created a downloadable 2020 Lunation Tracker that you can personalize to support your progress throughout the year. Access it here.