Ready to free your mind and make some mental breakthroughs in the second half of January? Mercury’s repeated alignments with Uranus and Pluto are just the ticket! Mercury also wraps up its retrograde.
You’ll also want to learn about a distinctive Leo Full Moon, the Sun entering Aquarius, and several magical, creative quintiles!
Click astrology graphics to see larger images.
1/16 (Sat)
T-square: Venus-Jupiter-Chiron
January’s only aspect pattern is a T-square featuring Venus, Jupiter and Chiron. It began on 1/9, peaks today on 1/16 and ends on 1/22. Its main job is to spotlight any dysfunctional relationship patterns so they can be healed.
Venus’ placement in Sagittarius emphasizes the need for individual freedom within partnership. It also invites you to be adventurous in exploring how your relationship can expand and transform. This will allow it to accommodate the ever-changing individual energies of you and your partner.
Venus is also the planet of the artist. So this T-square strongly supports creative expression. It also energizes creative mentoring and the final polishing of your creative babies as you launch them into the world!
1/17 (Sun)
New inspiration, especially in practical matters, may pop in for you with Mercury quintile Mars (19°41′ Capricorn-7°41′ Scorpio).
1/18 (Mon)
Unusually deep insight into your important relationships — and perhaps an urge to be adventurous in your relating! – is available with Venus square Jupiter (23°4′ Sagittarius-Virgo). This aspect, part of the Venus-Jupiter-Chiron T-square described on 1/16, can also energize creativity and money-making.
You can more easily let your actions be guided by a constant flow of intuitive guidance with Mars trine Neptune (8°1′ Scorpio-Pisces). This aspect also supports sacred sexuality and energy-conscious practices such as tai chi, chi gung, yoga and ecstatic dance.
1/19 (Tue)
Mentoring or healing might be on your mind with Mercury sextile Chiron (18°9′ Capricorn-Pisces). With Mercury in Capricorn, you can focus on these areas with enhanced discipline.
1/20 (Wed)
Mercury Square Uranus & Conjunct Pluto – Twice!
Here’s something you don’t see every day: Mercury squaring Uranus and conjoining Pluto – then conjoining Pluto and squaring Uranus – all within 12 days! This makes the second half of January and early February an excellent time to catch intuitive flashes and stay open to mental transformation.
How can Mercury make so many Uranus squares and Pluto conjunctions in such a short time? Easy: it makes the first two aspects while retrograde, turns direct on 1/25, then knocks out the other two aspects in reverse order. Here’s the breakdown:
- 1/20: Mercury square Uranus (16°50′ Capricorn-Aries)
- 1/22: Mercury conjunct Pluto (15°47′ Capricorn)
- 1/25: Mercury turns direct (14°54′ Capricorn)
- 1/30: Mercury conjunct Pluto (16°2′ Capricorn)
- 1/31: Mercury square Uranus (17°8′ Capricorn-Aries)
Mercury’s placement in Capricorn, the sign of “plan the work and work the plan,” could create some resistance to Uranus and Pluto. As a team, the message of these two outer planets is “Revolutionary transformation!” But everyone can get along if you embrace the appropriate changes and let the Capricornian energy manage the details.
Under these aspects, stay open to the possibility that anything you believe to be true … might not be! Even if it is, realize that there’s always a larger truth that paints the smaller relative truth in an entirely new light. Personally, I try not to believe anything I think!
The Sun enters Aquarius at 10:27 am EST. Take this to the high side by:
- “flying your freak flag,”
- following your intuitive flashes, and
- serving the collective with your greatest gifts.
If you’re the least bit creative, please set aside some quality time with your Muse today. It doesn’t get much more inspiring than a Venus-Neptune quintile! (26°5′ Sagittarius-8°5′ Pisces).
1/21 (Thu)
No major astrology events.
1/22 (Fri)
The Mercury-Pluto conjunction discussed on 1/20 is exact today.
1/23 (Sat)
Leo Full Moon
January’s Full Moon shines forth at 8:46 PM EST (3°29′ Leo). Any Leo Full Moon is great for examining and adjusting how much you’re in the spotlight or taking leadership roles. Also consider these other Leo themes. Are you…
- making time for play and creativity?
- taking enough downtime for rest and relaxation?
- hanging out with kids or nurturing your inner child?
- taking too many risks, or perhaps playing it too safe?
Aspects
The Full Moon opposes Aquarian Pallas Athena. The warrior goddess stands ready to amplify your feminine assertiveness and strategic planning as you tweak your one-of-a-kind Leonine expressions!
This lunation’s tightest aspect is a sesquare from Chiron, who isn’t the least bit shy about stirring up challenging emotions inside you when they’re ready to be cleared. (My free healing invocation might help you with that.) Chiron can also inspire you to step more fully into your own role as a mentor or healer.
Squares from Mars and Juno and a quincunx from Venus suggest possible relationship challenges. (Perhaps that’s how those challenging emotions will get stirred up!) Remember that you wouldn’t get upset in the first place if you didn’t already have an unhealed wound within you. Every time you clear or transmute dense energy, you’re rewarded with a fresh influx of high-vibration spiritual energy. Bring on the bliss!
Sabian Symbol
This Full Moon’s Sabian Symbol is, “A man formally dressed stands near trophies he brought back from a hunting expedition.” While many people now consider sport hunting repugnant, most people had no problem with it when the Sabian Symbols were channeled back in 1925.
This image can now inspire us to ask: what means have you used to gain what you prize? What does your conscience say about whether those means justify the ends?
Venus transits Capricorn today (1/23) through 2/16. This can help you view relationships through a “strictly business” filter. If you spend time and energy interacting with someone, what’s in it for you? What’s the return on your investment? How does it move you toward your goals?
This attitude may seem cold and self-serving to some, but it has its uses. I’m not suggesting that this should be the only attitude you take toward relationships. But it can give you a helpful reality check if your judgment’s clouded by emotional entanglements.
1/24 (Sun)
No major astrology events.
1/25 (Mon)
Mercury Direct
Mercury, retrograde since 1/5, turns direct at 4:50 PM EST (14°54′ Capricorn). But don’t jump right in to sign an important contract or make a major purchase.
The Moon is another critical astrological factor to consider when starting important new ventures. We just had a Full Moon two days ago, and its waning light is better suited for release and adjustment. Ideally you should wait until after the next New Moon on 2/8 to kick off any major new initiatives.
Your intuitive flashes could be firing thick and fast under a Sun-Uranus quintile (4°57′ Aquarius-16°57′ Aries). Trust them! This aspect can also inspire you to express your true individuality and serve others in a way that really lights you up.
1/26 (Tue)
No major astrology events.
1/27 (Wed)
No major astrology events.
1/28 (Thu)
No major astrology events.
1/29 (Fri)
Revelations about relationship healing may be in the air with Venus quintile Chiron (6°37′ Capricorn-18°37′ Pisces). This aspect also supports creative mentoring.
1/30 (Sat)
Creative productivity gets a lovely boost with Venus sextile Neptune (8°5′ Capricorn-Pisces). You can also open to fresh inspiration about relationships and finances.
The Mercury-Pluto conjunction discussed on 1/20 is exact again today.
1/31 (Sun)
The Mercury-Uranus square discussed on 1/20 is exact again today.
Void-of-Course Moons
It’s best to avoid starting important new projects or making major purchases during void-of-course Moons. “Business as usual” is the optimal strategy. Void-of-course Moons occur when the Moon has made her last major Ptolemaic aspect, but has not yet moved into her next sign.
- 1/16, 6:26 pm – 1/17, 12:48 am (Taurus)
- 1/19, 1:50 am – 4:13 am (Gemini)
- 1/21, 3:01 am – 8:28 am (Cancer)
- 1/23, 1:21 am – 2:21 pm (Leo)
- 1/24, 9:51 pm – 1/25, 10:46 pm (Virgo)
- 1/27, 7:11 pm – 1/28, 9:59 am (Libra)
- 1/29, 8:34 pm – 1/30, 10:50 pm (Scorpio)
Whatever your Sun Sign, Benjamin’s forecasts can help you make the best use of the current astrological energies.
All dates and times are in the U.S. eastern time zone. Events are most powerful on the dates listed, but their influence will be active for at least several days before and after.
Everyone is affected by these global transits. However, you will be most powerfully impacted when moving planets activate sensitive points in your natal chart.
Lea says
Wow…I can not tell you how the information about last week pertained to my THIS WEEK! It’s uncanny, really. It gives me hope for positive change, since it was so spot on!
Bravo!
Lea says
I should have clarified, but there is no edit button!
The repetitive planetary alignment info made how the weeks bled together make sense. Really a great read! I enjoyed it thoroughly!
Cheers!