Monthly Astro Forecast: New Moon in Capricorn
The early hours (2.17am GMT, to be precise) of January 17th bring a new Moon in Capricorn, a burst of fertile new earth energy to help us bring our dreams into reality. Where I am there are already green shoots rising up, hints of the spring goddess on her way. The energy of the earth signs is all about resources, about what is available to us. Materially, mentally, spiritually, externally and internally. The shift from Sagittarius season to Capricorn season has asked us to connect our intent, our highest goal, with function, with the resources available to us and what we can use to make our dreams happen. On January 26, Mars moves into Sagittarius, encouraging us to assert our own truth and act on our beliefs. Just like those green shoots peeking out of the earth, we need the right conditions to grow. Capricorn asks us to work it out - what do we need to nourish our plans? What are the right conditions for their growth? And then Capricorn asks us to get on with it, to act with integrity, responsibility and commitment, and to use all of the resources we have.
Venus is snuggled in close too, just past the Sun and Moon as they make their conjunction, reminding us that whilst Capricorn can be serious, responsible and focused, there is also creativity in this sign of cardinal earth. Venus in the earth signs asks us what do we value? And are we living by those values? There's that Capricorn sense of responsibility again - what are we doing to live our values, to ground them in reality? Venus reminds us of our talents, the things we value in ourselves, the skills we have developed - all these are resources available to us as well.
The day after the new Moon, Venus moves into Aquarius, followed a couple of days later by the Sun. The structures and traditions of Saturn-ruled Capricorn can help us climb the mountain, then along comes Aquarius to show us the rest of the mountain range which lies that first peak. The sign of fixed air shifts our perception of reality, reminds us that for all Capricorn's love of consensus reality, there is a different way of living in the world. Aquarius expands our consciousness, into a realm where radical change is not only possible but necessary. Structures stagnate, power corrupts. Mercury meets Pluto in Capricorn on January 24th, helping us to articulate all the different ways that is happening right now. On January 28th Mercury squares rebellious Uranus in Aries, spurring us to action based on the deeper understanding demanded by Pluto. Change can't be imposed from the outside, so we have to release that Capricorn control a little and allow change to happen within us, to open us to the wide skies of Aquarius, as Mercury moves into that sign on January 31st.
The Aquarius Leo dynamic is strongly emphasised in the next few weeks, with the inner planets squaring the nodal axis, currently transiting Aquarius (South Node) and Leo (North Node), and a lunar eclipse at 11° of Leo. This is the axis of individual and collective consciousness, and this beginning of Aquarius season is the perfect time to work on how to align our own self expression with our work for the collective. The ideal balance of this axis is doing the work that allows us to shine, in a spirit of unconditional service. The first eclipse of 2018, on January 31st, may bring a peak moment of those energies for us, an event or realisation which brings us into greater alignment with our shining inner self, with our purpose for living this beautiful crazy life. Venus conjunct the South Node (and of course opposite the North Node) may bring this lesson through our relationships, or the wealth that we hold and our relationship to it. The Sun passes the South Node on February 3rd, highlighting the deep resources available to us from our past, illuminating how they can serve us in the present. And finally on February 9th, Mercury conjuncts the South Node, allowing us to articulate those gifts, to share them with others.
This time of year can feel like hard work. The days are still short and grey, and the planets bring us messages of responsibility, of inner truth, of acting with integrity. We go deep, we draw on our inner power, we align with our highest truth. On February 10th, Venus completes her flying trip through Aquarian skies and sinks deep into the sea of Pisces, adding some much needed empathy and compassion to the pursuit of our ideals, and setting the scene for the new Moon in Pisces on February 15th.
Venus is snuggled in close too, just past the Sun and Moon as they make their conjunction, reminding us that whilst Capricorn can be serious, responsible and focused, there is also creativity in this sign of cardinal earth. Venus in the earth signs asks us what do we value? And are we living by those values? There's that Capricorn sense of responsibility again - what are we doing to live our values, to ground them in reality? Venus reminds us of our talents, the things we value in ourselves, the skills we have developed - all these are resources available to us as well.
The day after the new Moon, Venus moves into Aquarius, followed a couple of days later by the Sun. The structures and traditions of Saturn-ruled Capricorn can help us climb the mountain, then along comes Aquarius to show us the rest of the mountain range which lies that first peak. The sign of fixed air shifts our perception of reality, reminds us that for all Capricorn's love of consensus reality, there is a different way of living in the world. Aquarius expands our consciousness, into a realm where radical change is not only possible but necessary. Structures stagnate, power corrupts. Mercury meets Pluto in Capricorn on January 24th, helping us to articulate all the different ways that is happening right now. On January 28th Mercury squares rebellious Uranus in Aries, spurring us to action based on the deeper understanding demanded by Pluto. Change can't be imposed from the outside, so we have to release that Capricorn control a little and allow change to happen within us, to open us to the wide skies of Aquarius, as Mercury moves into that sign on January 31st.
The Aquarius Leo dynamic is strongly emphasised in the next few weeks, with the inner planets squaring the nodal axis, currently transiting Aquarius (South Node) and Leo (North Node), and a lunar eclipse at 11° of Leo. This is the axis of individual and collective consciousness, and this beginning of Aquarius season is the perfect time to work on how to align our own self expression with our work for the collective. The ideal balance of this axis is doing the work that allows us to shine, in a spirit of unconditional service. The first eclipse of 2018, on January 31st, may bring a peak moment of those energies for us, an event or realisation which brings us into greater alignment with our shining inner self, with our purpose for living this beautiful crazy life. Venus conjunct the South Node (and of course opposite the North Node) may bring this lesson through our relationships, or the wealth that we hold and our relationship to it. The Sun passes the South Node on February 3rd, highlighting the deep resources available to us from our past, illuminating how they can serve us in the present. And finally on February 9th, Mercury conjuncts the South Node, allowing us to articulate those gifts, to share them with others.
This time of year can feel like hard work. The days are still short and grey, and the planets bring us messages of responsibility, of inner truth, of acting with integrity. We go deep, we draw on our inner power, we align with our highest truth. On February 10th, Venus completes her flying trip through Aquarian skies and sinks deep into the sea of Pisces, adding some much needed empathy and compassion to the pursuit of our ideals, and setting the scene for the new Moon in Pisces on February 15th.