December 31, 2023- January 7, 2024

Happy New Year! And yet….I want to acknowledge that for many this holiday season has been especially poignant. Whether it’s been health-related issues for yourself or others, the toll it’s taking on yourself and loved ones, missing loved ones, rearranged plans, or the state of the world, we all seem to be aware of the fragility of life. If you know your Moon sign, do something to nurture and care for yourself. If it’s a fire Moon, maybe go exert yourself or channel that energy into some constructive task. If it’s a water Moon, watch a movie that you can unleash some of that emotion, and have a good cry/purge, If it’s an air Moon, call or zoom with a friend taking turns talking and listening to one another. If it’s an earth Moon, go for a walk in nature or try out a new recipe. 

We’ve got a lot of planetary movement happening this month and I think that’s worth sharing right off the bat, as almost every planet will be changing a sign or direction. 

• December 31st Jupiter station direct at 5 degrees of Taurus

• January 4th  Mars moves into Capricorn

• January 14th Mercury moves back into Capricorn

• January 20th Sun moves into Aquarius

• January 21st Pluto moves into Aquarius

• January 23rd Venus moves into Capricorn 

• January 27th Uranus stations direct at 19 degrees Taurus

Saturn and Neptune remain in Pisces, but they recently finished their retrogrades in November and December respectively. 

The Sun and Pluto meet up one last time in Capricorn before moving into Aquarius on January 20-21. Pluto will come back into Capricorn in early September, but the Sun will not be there. So this feels like a very pivotal shift to take note of. Mark your calendars. It feels as if Pluto wants to add an exclamation point as a review of its journey in Cap. How has it affected your life? What’s in your power to change? 

As I look ahead, I also can’t help but notice the planets bunching back up and causing a “bottleneck” feeling over the first few months, specifically in Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces. So, look to those houses for clues on the themes you may experience that feeling of extra energy, confinement, or fullness. Mars makes some pretty big conjunctions with the outer planets early on this year which feels significant, and something to keep an eye on. 

On January 1st Venus in Sagittarius squares Saturn in Pisces at 3 degrees. We are dealing with mutable energy here so making an easy decision could be a challenge. Venus, our planet that represents relating, connecting, worth, artistry, and value finds herself in a grating situation with Saturn. Saturn’s energy reminds us of responsibility, the passing of time, the need for discipline, and the patience that’s needed to persevere. It might be a good reminder that the day before the Moon opposed Saturn (add Venus coming to square Saturn and you have what’s called a T-square. A T-square makes me think of being triangulated….tension abounds). Was there something you can’t quite digest when it comes to a certain relationship or topic? Do you feel hemmed in? Perhaps a certain behavior or attitude has played itself for the last time. Every planet that comes through Sag immediately meets Saturn, so there could be consequences in some way. Venus has been following behind the Sun, Mars, and Mercury, and she’s been left a bit of a mess. Has the “clean up in Aisle 5” request been on repeat? Venus might feel like everyone can piss off while she goes off and plays some. Conversely, maybe Venus is the one that needs to be reined in? 

January 1- 2nd, Mercury goes direct at 22 degrees.  Mercury may need some time to get up to speed. Think of when you go on vacation, when you get back to the office, you may have many requests for your time and energy, but you’re going to have to prioritize to get a handle on things. If you’re making resolutions do so with stalwart focus, as in two days Mars will come into Capricorn and can offer some extra oomph.

January 3rd, Venus in Sag has an inconjunct with Jupiter in Taurus at 5 degrees. An inconjunct (also called quincunx) is like a pinched nerve, you’re aware that something is “off” and you find yourself constantly trying to adjust or tolerate something annoying. Jupiter has just recently gone direct after being in retrograde for some time, so in some way, we feel like we know where we want to go but there’s some shifting that needs to happen. Venus and Jupiter are also in a relationship called mutual reception. That’s when each planet involved is in the other planet’s sign it rules. So, Venus rules Taurus, which Jupiter is in, and Jupiter rules Sag, which is what Venus is in. We can find some support or assistance with this annoyance that may not have been available at another time. It seems as if we are trying to access a sense of freedom, optimism, hope, and joie de vivre (lightheartedness). It might take some accommodations or we may need to adjust our expectations some, but it seems possible. 

January 4th, Mars moves into Capricorn. Mars is said to do very well in Capricorn. After spending the last six weeks in Sag, Mars may have felt his energy taxed from being scattered willy-nilly. You may have felt as if you were being pulled in many directions and never getting a project done before starting another. Mars in Capricorn could help corral that Mars and direct its energy more practically. Our plan of action has just gotten a little more strategic or tactical. We will have about 6 weeks of purposeful, resolute assertiveness.

January 5th, The Sun in Capricorn squares Chiron in Aries at 15 degrees. Perhaps with Mars newly in Capricorn and joining the Sun, we get a nudge to work on some issues we may have been avoiding or finding too overwhelming. We may find the impetus to make some NYE resolutions today that have a better chance of sticking. Remember that pattern we’ve been taking note of: as each planet makes its way through Sagittarius it gets a square from Saturn, and then when the planet gets into Capricorn it gets a square from Chiron. If a “no” hurts, what do you want to do about it? How can you soothe the pain? What needs healing?

January 7th two aspects are starting to form that involve Mars and Saturn and Mercury and Neptune. More on that next week, but Sunday Scaries are a possibility. 

**My intention with these weekly astrology reports is something like looking at a weather app. If you know it will rain, you’ll bring an umbrella. Awareness can help us navigate the Astro “weather” too. I  hope to share this information in an easily digestible way (not too much jargon).  Please read this information knowing that these energies can appear in higher or lower forms. Even though I may give specific dates for the exact aspects, you could feel the energies a few days before or after as the aspects form and separate. These are all based on EST times.