I think we’re all excited to be entering a new year. Afterall, 2020 was quite a show. From a worldwide pandemic to a reckoning with racial injustice, our nation has been through a lot over the past 12 months, and many people are looking forward to 2021 because of the hope it brings. The distribution of the COVID vaccine and the dawn of a new president have already lifted many people’s spirits.

This feeling of new opportunities associated with the start of 2021 is not coincidental. Experts in astrology say that the alignment of the planets and stars confirm a positive, hopeful outlook for the new year. According to them, the new year will be almost as eventful as 2020 — this time in a positive way.

For starters, the planets Jupiter and Saturn aligned in Aquarius (the astrological sign ruled by Uranus) on Dec. 21, 2020. Knowing that Uranus is associated with surprises, innovation and technology, astrologists say you can expect a plethora of shocking events and new technological developments in 2021. This gives hope for an exciting new year, as Jupiter and Saturn will stay in aquarius for most of 2021. 

This alignment of Jupiter and Saturn in Aquarius will not only affect this year, but it will have a huge impact on the next several hundred years. This is because Aquarius is an air sign, and Jupiter and Saturn have not aligned in an air sign in over 800 years. Prior to that, they have aligned in signs of the other three elements: water, earth and fire. Due to this rare alignment, there will be many changes throughout the next several hundred years. These changes are again linked to surprises, innovation and technology.

Another positive way astrology will affect 2021 can be seen in the Venus retrograde. This astrological event occurs when the planet Venus changes its orbit and appears to travel in the opposite direction around the sun. This will happen at the end of 2021 (from Dec. 19 to 29) which is during Capricorn season. Astrologists say that the Venus retrograde will help with closure, as it will put an end to past events and open the door for new opportunities. I wonder: could this be an end to our worries about Covid-19? Maybe the Venus retrograde will help our lives return to normal.

Whether you believe in astrology or not, the promise of positivity and new innovations give some hope about the events of 2021. I think we should indulge in these predictions and make the most out of the upcoming year. After all the troubles we faced in 2020, the only direction we can go is forward.