January 2018 ~ Once in a Blue Moon
I can remember many January’s in recent years when the energies of
having a clean slate and moving forward were not in the astrological forecast, but this January is astrologically a very true ‘New Year’ as we know it. January is actually my favorite month of the whole year for launches, starting new things, making big decisions,
revolutionizing new ways of experience, busting through old, limiting patterns, and claiming a brand new and better life.
Of course as is so typical on a planet of duality, even the brightest times often come with darker edges. At the same time as we enter this wonderful, open time of blasting forward, we also enter the height of the next eclipse season. Eclipses often bring dramatic closures and radical new openings, all at or close to the same time.
This eclipse series continues the cycle of major shifts in the areas of Leo and Aquarius which started at the beginning of 2017 and continue well into 2019. Many will be asked to say goodbye to someone, something, a perspective, or a way of being. Sometimes these partings or endings are hoped for and a normal part of moving into desired expansion or a new direction, but even when this is the case, there is often a bittersweetness at the end of something that was beautiful and important. Sometimes the new things start to roll in at the same time the previous things transition away but sometimes there is a space of emptiness as one thing closes out and the space is not yet filled. The counterpart to the Full Moon (SuperMoon) Total Lunar Eclipse on January 31 is not until February 15 when we have a New Moon Partial Solar Eclipse at 27° of Aquarius. We can often receive important news or eclipse-related events even 6 weeks before the actual eclipse so information about the new directions could have come in as soon as mid-December. This eclipse is also
a Blue Moon (the second Full Moon in a calendar month which only happens once every couple of years) so some extra special or significant occurrences could roll in from this.
Since Capricorn energies dominate most of the month, there will be strong currents of desire to get back to business, get things done, get ahead, be practical and efficient, and find or expand ones place in the outside world. Also strengthening Saturnian forces is Saturn himself having very recently (late December) changed signs and moved into his own sign.
The window that
is officially free from personal planets being retrograde or their shadow periods doesn’t officially begin until January 12 (and runs through March 8) but there are some awesome and very usable aspects lining up between January 3 and 12 (I especially love between January 6 and 9) so follow your gut and the flow to see where to place your big decisions and bursts out
into the world of your creative expression. There are also many great aspects throughout the rest of the month to launch the ship of your dreams.
There are a couple of great aspects in February if you can’t pull things together in January but there is much more mischief in February than
earlier in the year and once this window for major pushes forward closes after the first week of March we will be rolled backwards in a very long flow of successive personal planet retrogrades and their shadow periods for the rest of 2018
with only one week in May and one week at the very end of December that is clear from backwards motion. I also like the launch points in January because that gives some time for solidification and momentum before the long trek inward
and backwards.
Sweet moments will likely roll in during the days around: January 2, 3, 6, 8, 9, 12, 13, 15, 16, 18, 24, 25, 31. Look for opportunities to keep your Zen around: January 6, 12, 13, 14, 16, 24, 27, 28, 31.
Check out more January Highlights:
** Note: often the effects of planetary transits are felt before or after the actual day the transit occurs.
January 1-2 — Full Moon (Supermoon) at 11° of Cancer —
Fullness, completion, fruition comes to the areas of mothers, mothering, family, home, houses, housing, real estate, childhood psychology (things that happened as children still affecting us as adults), and our emotional inner world. This is the first Supermoon of the year. A Supermoon occurs when the Moon is closer to Earth and appears bigger in the sky. Often these occurrences bring extra emotion to the
transit.
January 2 — Sun in Capricorn Sextile Neptune in Pisces — This transit heightens intuitive sensitivities. Dreamtime insights can also be increased notably at this time.
January 2 — Uranus Direct
at 24° of Aries — The bringer of swift and radical change has been working more internally and now brings focus back into the external realms. This month is full of great opportunities to bring internal change into the outer world.
January 3 — Venus in Capricorn Sextile Neptune in Pisces —
This transit brings sweet romantic possibilities. Idealism blends beautifully now with realism blending the worlds with great coherence.
January 6 — Mercury in Sagittarius Trine Uranus in Aries — This combination often
brings exciting news or innovative ideas. The post-shadow period from Mercury’s recent retrograde is still affecting the scene but this could still be a good time to start preliminary steps of moving forward.
January 6 — Mars in Scorpio Conjunct Jupiter in Scorpio — Jupiter energizes Mars’
initiative at this time. Actions taken now can go further and longer than otherwise. Mercury is still sleepy but this is definitely a time to get some important things in the works. Collaborations and connections of all kinds are super-charged now.
January 8 — Sun in and Venus Conjunct in Capricorn both Sextile Jupiter in Scorpio —
These aspects are full of opportunities to shine creative brilliance, make money doing it, and maybe even some romantic potentials rolled into the mix.
January 8 — Mars in Scorpio Sextile Pluto in Capricorn — This transit
expands powers of penetrating focus and productivity. Coming together to share or collaborate at this time helps to increase the potentials. Alternatively, the merging could come from joining forces with the lesser seen world through meditation or other esoteric focus.
January 9 — Sun in Capricorn Conjunct Venus and Pluto (both in Capricorn) and Sun/Venus
Sextile Mars in Scorpio — Creativity, money, and action blend together beautifully now on this powerhouse of astrological line-up. Female and male energies blend harmoniously with expression in the signs of profound connection and ambition. If any challenges come from the power of this combination, solutions will also be nearby, especially when you focus on the way out instead of the
issue.
January 12-13 — Mercury in Capricorn Conjunct Saturn in Capricorn — This transit could bring sobering news or be an epic combination for establishing long-term efforts. Do note the next transit and only push forward if your personal flow is
on.
January 13 — Venus in Capricorn Square Uranus in Aries — This line-up increases the probability for rough money news or love stressors. Unexpected expenses are common at this time so knowing this now, put aside some extra money or leave some open on a credit card so you are
prepared.
January 13 — Venus in Capricorn Sextile Chiron in Pisces — Blending intuition with tangible reality works best at this time. Look for how softness or beauty can be added to concrete reality for great outcomes.
January 14 — Sun in Capricorn Square Uranus in Aries — Jostling to creative flow or sense of identity could come now. Tests could also come to something important you are working on.
January 15 — Sun in
Capricorn Sextile Chiron in Pisces — This transit often comes with being seen in a favorable light by someone who could be helpful to you.
January 15 — Jupiter in Scorpio Sextile Pluto in Capricorn — This transit brings
the tendency for success as a natural by-product of self-development. Any work put towards making positive life changes until this point will help the potentials to burn brighter.
January 16 — New Moon at Almost 27° of Capricorn — This is a powerhouse a New Moon. It is: Conjunct Pluto
and Venus bringing powerful transformation potentials especially as it relates to self-esteem, money, or love; Sextile Jupiter expanding awesome potentials much further; Sextile Mars bringing power to action; and Sextile Chiron bringing great potentials to be seen in a positive light by those who can promote your work; it is also Square Uranus, bringing an uncomfortable wild card into the otherwise perfect mix.
January 18 — Mars in Scorpio Trine Chiron in Pisces — This aspect brings major power to looking deep for meaning and solutions and the chance for powerful and permanent healing of a fractured reality.
January 24 — Mercury and Pluto Conjunct in
Capricorn — Powerful news and expression is very likely at this time. This is fantastic energy for important business and other moves and is supportive of rightly-placed ambition.
January 25 — Mercury in Capricorn Sextile Jupiter in Scorpio — This combination brings greatly expanded reverberation of your voice (whether written, spoken, or through other mediums). It is magical for really being heard, especially by someone in a powerful position to assist or collaborate.
January 27-28 — Mercury in Capricorn Square Uranus in Aries —
This transit increases the likelihood for surprising and stressful new but some softness or ultimate healing outcomes are also increased as Mercury also makes a great aspect with Chiron.
January 31 — Full Moon (Supermoon) in Leo at 11°/Lunar Eclipse — Notable completion, culmination, fruition, or drama comes now especially in areas related to children, romance, creative projects or addictions. This is the second and last Supermoon of the year.
