Your Tarot-Inspired Guide to the Astrology of 2020 By Liz Worth

To encapsulate the energy of 2020 with just one word would be unfair.

This year holds so much capacity for change, acceleration, transformation, and courage.

And on the other side of those experiences, there can be a lot of intensity. As well as excitement.

The astrology of 2020 will have us all riding some interesting waves.

One chapter ends, and another starts to unfold with this year’s eclipses. The Cancer – Capricorn eclipse series that started in 2018 concludes in July, 2020, and we’ll begin to experience a different story with eclipses in Gemini and Sagittarius.

Mars and Venus are also ones to watch this year, as both go retrograde in 2020 in fire and air signs, respectively.

And Saturn leaves Capricorn and enters Aquarius.

There will be a lot of opportunity for new ideas, innovations, and creative inspiration in your life – but one of the reminders through it all will be that you can’t do everything at once.

Read on to learn more about these energies, and how tarot can help guide you throughout the year.

The Gemini – Sagittarius eclipse series

Since 2018, we’ve experienced an eclipse series in the cardinal signs of Cancer and Capricorn. In the elements of water and earth, respectively, these events have encouraged you to learn how to fill your own cup.

Work-life balance, emotional labour, and the cost of living an unfulfilled life are all themes that may have emerged as a result.

In 2020, a new eclipse series begins, this time in the mutable signs of Gemini and Sagittarius. We are moving into air and fire with this eclipse series, and the mutable energy of these signs highlights adaptability and flexibility.

Gemini and Sagittarius both honour knowledge and information. They are curious and love to learn.

This eclipse series will encourage you to open your mind to new perspectives, opinions, or schools of thought. Paradigms and mindsets are set to change here, individually and collectively.

Eclipse dates to watch are:

June 5, 2020: Full Moon and Lunar Eclipse in Sagittarius
November 3, 2020: Full Moon and Lunar Eclipse in Gemini
December 14, 2020: New Moon and Solar Eclipse in Sagittarius

Solar eclipses always occur during a new moon, and lunar eclipses occur during a full moon. A solar eclipse can create outer change, while a lunar eclipse promotes inner growth.

Here’s a tarot spread to help you connect to these eclipses:

1. What is it time for me to learn?
2. What mindset am I growing out of?
3. What can I do to shift my perspective moving forward?
4. What will I be able to teach others as a result?

Saturn in Aquarius: 2020 and beyond

On March 21, 2020, Saturn leaves Capricorn and enters Aquarius for the first time since 1994.

Taskmaster Saturn helps you to learn commitment, boundaries, and responsibility. It can slow things down if you’re rushing and cutting corners, but it can also speed things up if you’re dragging your feet on an important task or process.

Saturn helps you to become disciplined, which is a tall order in today’s age of instant gratification and (supposed) overnight success stories.

In the sign of innovative Aquarius, Saturn can inspire new work in the realm of technology, community, and connectedness.

But 2020 may be too early to make a call on what will transpire with Saturn in Aquarius. Saturn goes retrograde every year; this year it will be retrograde from May 10 until September 29.

On July 1, Saturn will slip back into Capricorn where it will remain until December 17. That’s when it re-enters Aquarius and stays in this eccentric air sign until 2023.

Here’s a tarot spread to help you work with Saturn in 2020:

1. What lesson is wrapping for me this year?
2. How is my foundation becoming stronger as a result?
3. What new lesson will emerge when Saturn enters Aquarius?
4. How can I begin to honor this work now?

Venus retrograde: May 13 – June 25, 2020

Venus, the planet of love, art and beauty, goes retrograde once every 18 months.

Venus retrogrades are times where you may feel a bit more tender than usual. She’s a personal planet that can influence your self-esteem and self-worth, love life, and your creative drive.

Do you need to worry? Not necessarily. Just be aware that Venus retrogrades can bring up periods of self-evaluation and may help you to see where your needs, standards, or desires have changed.

Which is important, because you are growing all the time, and what you liked, wanted or craved before might need an upgrade now.

Venus retrogrades are also times to check in with yourself, and your loved ones, to make sure you’re still understanding each other.

This year, Venus goes retrograde through the sign of Gemini.

Here’s a tarot spread to help you navigate this year’s Venus retrograde:

1. What desire is waiting to come to the surface?
2. How can I redefine pleasure?
3. What definition of happiness no longer serves me?
4. How can I develop more closeness in my relationships?

Mars retrograde: September 9 – November 13, 2020

Mars goes retrograde every two years, which says a lot about this planet! Mars rules action, ambition, and drive, after all, so it’s fitting that it doesn’t take much time off.

But Mars is due to go retrograde this year, from September 9 to November 13, which means that your ambition may need to take a backseat for a bit.

Retrogrades remind us that we can’t push forward all the time. It’s not always easy to ease up in this 24/7 world, though. This Mars retrograde may be particularly challenging for all of you go-getters out there, as it’s taking place in Mars’ home sign of Aries, a sign that doesn’t know how to stop.

Burnout and stress-related issues may come to a head if you’re not careful here. Watch how much you’re taking on at this time of year, and if life seems to be slowing down a bit, don’t fight it: This may be the universe’s way of telling you to tune into this natural pause.

Here’s a tarot spread to help you connect with this year’s Mars retrograde:

1. Where do I need to slow down?
2. How am I spreading myself too thin?
3. What can I do to recharge during this time?
4. How can I practice more patience with myself overall?

Use this astrological insight along with these Tarot spreads to really help you tune into the energies and make the most of them.

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