Happy New Year! I hope this newsletter finds you warm, safe, and well.
An intense new lunar cycle started on December 30th, leading to the exact Mars-Pluto opposition on Friday, Jan 3. I wrote last month, “This isn’t likely a year when the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day is a peaceful lull.” And it was not. Aspects between Mars and Pluto are powerful and volatile, and you’ve seen corresponding events in the news this week. You might recall this transit is #2 in a 3-part series because of the Mars retrograde, so there will be a final one in April.
January Overview
We started the year with a 2024 Hangover. Mars, planet of will and drive, is retrograde until late February. We’re also still dealing with the Jupiter-Saturn square from August (#1) and December (#2). Its third and final occurrence is in June. The most active period for change this year will be March through August.
January is sluggish, not the best time for sparkling new goals and resolutions. It might be better to use this time to dig into old projects, clean up, and purge. Focusing on matters under your control, without needing approval or cooperation from others, might allow you to make better progress and find greater satisfaction.
Between now and the Full Moon on January 13, there are two major astrological moves to note.
- On January 6, Mars regresses to Cancer and will stay until April 17. The part of your birth chart where Cancer lies will get an extra dose of martial heat for four months. Before Mars turned retrograde in Leo (Dec 5), it was in Cancer for two months, from Sept 5 to Nov 5. You may notice a resurgence of issues from that period. If your Ascendant, Midheaven, or personal planets are located at 17-29 degrees of the Cardinal signs (Cancer, Aries, Libra, Capricorn), this transit will probably be important for you.
- On January 11, the Moon’s True Nodes move from Aries/Libra to Pisces/Virgo. The Lunar Nodes are important points in the sky that demarcate the path of the Sun and Moon, and their position determines when and where eclipses occur. The North Node will be in Pisces and the South Node in Virgo for 18 months. I’ll write more about this when we get to Eclipse Season in March.
Full Moons are always times of heightened emotion and climactic affairs, and this one will be dramatic. On Jan 13, the Moon will be near Mars (still retrograde) and the Sun near Pluto, aggravating the Mars-Pluto opposition that formed Jan 3. The Sun’s movement drags this out. The Sun opposes Mars on Jan 15 and is conjunct Pluto on Jan 20 for the U.S. Presidential Inauguration, not an auspicious beginning.
On a recent episode of The Astrology Podcast, Austin Coppock reported reviewing all past inaugurations to see if and when the Sun was conjunct Pluto. The only incident he found was March 4, 1809, when James Madison was inaugurated as President. During Madison’s term, the U.S. declared war on Britain and its allies and attempted to seize Canada. This resulted in a British invasion of Washington, D.C., which burned down the White House. The War of 1812 was resolved in December 1814 with the Treaty of Ghent, but not without substantial human costs and property damage.
It’s a weird coincidence that incoming President Donald Trump has made comments about U.S. expansion, including Canada, Greenland, and Panama.
After Inauguration Day, Mercury will follow the Sun’s path, opposing Mars on Jan 23 and conjoining Pluto for the New Moon on Jan 29.
During the last week of the month, which includes the Jan 29 New Moon, the planet Uranus is stationing directly in the sky. Uranus is associated with revolutions, revelations, breakdowns, and breakthroughs. When Uranus changes directions, there can be surprising news and disruptive events. Expect the unexpected.
There are some bright spots in the month. Venus is now exalted in Pisces, which can bring lovely moments of pleasure, ease, connection, and creative/artistic inspiration. Saturn and Neptune, also in Pisces, may hamper Venus a bit. Still, they can also help bring attention to women’s issues and encourage people to step up and take responsibility, doing the hard work of turning dreams into reality.
Golden Hours
All times are CST.
Friday, Jan 3
After a stormy opposition between Mars and Pluto, The Moon joins Venus mid-morning in early Pisces. Plan an escape! Can you schedule a leisurely lunch or take the afternoon off? See a movie, get a massage, do something kind for yourself.
Friday, Jan 10
Today, the Moon is in Gemini with Jupiter. It’s a great day for conversations, learning, or exploring around town. Use the daylight hours. You may want to call it an early evening when Saturn’s influence takes over after 4 pm.
Jan 29-30
The New Moon occurs early Wednesday morning (6:35 a.m.), supported by Jupiter in Gemini. Please set aside time for WISHCRAFT, where you write down your intentions and commit to your goals. Uranus is standing still in the sky in Taurus, so let yourself “think different.” Brainstorm, experiment, and open your mind to insights and revelations.