My Formula: How To Set Your Intentions for 2021 by Astrologer Alice Bell
Astrologer Alice Bell guest edits our Journal to offer her cosmic guidance on ditching the ‘new year, new you’ mentality, and reaching your goals through a shift of perspective instead.
Astrologer Alice Bell guest edits our Journal to offer her cosmic guidance on ditching the ‘new year, new you’ mentality, and reaching your goals through a shift of perspective instead.
As many of us see the turn of the year as an opportunity to reflect and plan ahead, it just so happens that the start of a new calendar year also aligns with major planetary shifts. Based on where the planets are currently in the sky, they will be giving meaning to your specific zodiac sign, and will show how the next year is going to go for you.
For everyone though, the astrology of 2020 was challenging, thanks to Saturn and Pluto meeting in Capricorn. Typically when these two planets meet in the sky, which only happens about every 40 years, it marks a period of restriction and feeling very limited in what we can do. All of this Capricorn energy also showed us what structures in our personal lives, as well in society at large are no longer working. On top of that, the Venus and Mars retrogrades (a retrograde is when a planet slows down in its orbit around the sun and appears to be moving backwards) also had many of us feeling low energy, facing delays in some area of our lives, and experiencing a lot of pent up frustration.
Fortunately, the astrology of 2021 is a breath of fresh air. Both Saturn and Jupiter have left Capricorn behind and are now sailing through Aquarius, welcoming in a new age of air sign energy, which will last for the next 200 years. Aquarius is a sign associated with abrupt change, forming communities, fighting for causes that you care about, and making technological and scientific advances. Having both Jupiter and Saturn in this sign will jumpstart all of those things.
In addition, Jupiter and Saturn will be clashing with Uranus in Taurus, so expect creative innovations in all industries, as well as adapting to doing business mainly online. Aquarius is also the rebel and the individual of the zodiac, so you may find yourself becoming way more comfortable accepting the ways in which you stand out from the crowd. In an ideal Aquarian world, everyone is free to be different and everyone is treated equally. We will be striving to have this type of equality over the coming years, and 2021 is just the beginning.
With the new year comes the opportunity to adopt new goals and visions for yourself. You don’t necessarily need to turn into a whole new you though, and it might be that a shift in perspective is all it takes. As you enter into 2021 your priorities will be changing, so keep reading to see what intentions you may want to set based on your star sign.
ARIES
March 21 – April 19
This is a year to get more group involved, Aries. Try branching out from your usual circle of friends, and challenge yourself to form new connections. Within a community, you may want to take on greater responsibilities. You could be stepping into a leadership role or using your naturally assertive personality to lead others in a different direction. You may also realize what friendships are good for you, versus what people are taking away from your energy. You will be figuring out who you really want in your life, and you will want to surround yourself with like minded people who support you.
TAURUS
April 20 – May 20
You will be advancing in your career this year, Taurus. You might be thinking a lot about where you want to end up in the long term with your job, and you could feel urged to put in more effort at work. In addition, you might be stepping into a bigger role or be receiving attention because of your job. If you’ve recently picked up new personal interests, you may want to see how you can build a career out of them. This is the year for asking what you want at work, and finding a job that feels more in line with who you are.
GEMINI
May 21 – June 20
You will be thinking in bigger picture terms this year, Gemini. You’re already a natural at having everyday conversations with people and sharing your ideas and opinions, but you may want to go deeper in your studies and explore subjects related to spirituality or foreign cultures. You’ll be pushing yourself to keep an open mind and think differently. It could also be that you want to set intentions to write more, sign up for a course, or make a dent in your reading list. If you feel like you’ve studied enough though, you may want to explore ways in which you can teach and share all of your knowledge with others.
CANCER
June 21 – July 21
You may want to turn your attention inwards this year, Cancer. You might realize that there are some relationships, situations or habits in your life that you have been holding on to for way too long, and you’ll feel urged to let go of anyone or anything that is preventing you from reaching your full potential. You could also be getting more out of therapy, or you might buy a lot of self help books and want to challenge yourself to develop healthier behavior. In your close relationships, you will want to go deeper with a partner, either by sharing money or by being more open about your emotions.
LEO
July 22 – August 22
You will be growing your relationships this year, Leo. You will have to learn how to better compromise and consider someone else, as you realize what role that you play as a partner. This can apply to both business and love, so you might be building upon a romantic connection or closely collaborating with someone at work. If you’re single you might be setting intentions for what type of partner you want to attract. If you’re already coupled up, you could feel urged to take your relationship to the next level and have more commitment with someone, or you may want to move on and look for a different type of relationship.
VIRGO
August 23 – September 22
You’re treating your physical body with love and care this year, Virgo. You will want to make sure you’re extra healthy, and you could be more conscious of what you’re eating and drinking. You may want to start making meals for yourself instead of reaching for takeout, or you could want to cut back on drinking alcohol. It could also be that you start exercising more regularly in order to keep your energy levels up. You will also have a lot going on at work, so it will be important to stay organized. You may want to figure out a way to go about your daily tasks more efficiently.
LIBRA
September 23 – October 22
You will be building greater confidence in yourself this year, Libra. You may usually find yourself through your relationships or close friendships, but this year you’ll be going out on your own, and you won’t be afraid to show off the ways in which you are unique. You will be practicing self love, and you may also want some sort of creative outlet to express yourself. You could be picking up a hobby such as journaling, painting, photography, or performing. You won’t be comparing yourself to others so much, and you’ll be working on turning your natural talents into something concrete and productive.
SCORPIO
October 23 – November 21
You will want a stable home you can return to this year, Scorpio. You might be setting intentions to move, and you’ll want to set down roots and feel like you have a place of your own. You could also be seeing more of your family and strengthening the relationship you have with them. In addition, you may want to revisit any childhood trauma or experiences from the past that have been at the back of your mind. You might be learning how to reparent yourself, and as a result you will feel more comfortable coping with your emotions and sharing your feelings with others.
SAGITTARIUS
November 22 – December 20
You will be taking the time to learn a practical skill or two this year, Sagittarius. You may want to invest your energy into communication based projects, such as writing a blog, making Youtube videos, recording a podcast, or sharing more on social media. Especially if you feel anxious or like you can’t mentally relax, put your energy towards these areas. You will be using all of your worldly knowledge, but breaking it down in a way that’s easy for others to understand. In addition, you might be networking a lot more and reaching out to new groups of people, so you may want to improve upon your communication skills.
CAPRICORN
December 21 – January 19
You are thinking like an entrepreneur this year, Capricorn. You may want to quit your job in order to start your own company, or if you already work for yourself you may see exponential growth to your business. On the other hand, you may just want to establish projects that you have complete control over at your current job. You’re realizing that you have valuable skills that you bring to the table, and you will want to feel appreciated for your hard efforts. It could also be that you’re becoming conscious of how you spend your money. You may want to budget better and start saving for your future.
AQUARIUS
January 20 – February 19
You are taking on more responsibility in all areas of your life this year, Aquarius. You may have a lot of commitments on your plate, so you will only want to agree to projects or relationships that are contributing to your personal growth. You’re also stepping into who you are as an individual, and you’re learning to build happiness and confidence from within. In addition, you may be working a lot harder than you’re used to, and you might need to have some project at work or on the side that is pushing you to learn and grow. This is not the year for you to coast along and just go with the flow.
PISCES
February 20 – March 20
You’re becoming more comfortable spending time alone this year, Pisces. You might be doing a lot of self reflection, and you’re learning better ways to cope with your own emotions. You may become conscious of certain self sabotaging behaviors that you have and want to work on overcoming these. You could also become interested in calming, spiritual activities such as meditating regularly, paying attention to your dreams, or freestyle journaling your thoughts. In addition, you might be getting involved with community service projects, or you could be playing therapist to all of your friends by listening and giving helpful advice.