The astrology of January 2023!

 

Welcome to 2023! 

As we begin the New Year on December 31^st, Venus is conjunct Pluto. Venus deals with love and money and it’s conjunction with Pluto creates an emotional intensity for better or worse. On an emotional level we may delve deeply into our relationships and question many things.  Thoughts of past experiences may emerge along with past loves in some cases. This aspect is prone toward over thinking, obsession and jealousy. If things are good, this can come across as a time to focus on personal expression on a deep level. Change is possible with this as Pluto is the planet of regeneration.  Anyone prone to obsessive thinking or jealousy may not react very well to this aspect, so this energy is important to be aware of. This can also relate to control, sex, and you may be operating under the influence of powerful subconscious drives that are neither helpful or in most cases, reality based. The best way to counter these energies is to ‘lighten up’ and don’t take things too seriously, at least not today.

The first several weeks of January are not the time to start new projects, or begin new ventures as both Mars and Mercury are still retrograde and things may be delayed, confused and a little screwy the first half of the month.

Mars turns direct January 12^th, at 8 degrees of Gemini. When the ‘God of War’ stations to move forward we can expect an energy shift and things may change direction once again before it’s all over, depending on what Mars is doing in your personal chart. When a planet ‘stations’ to retrograde or move forward the energy is powerful and intense, especially if it aspects something in your personal chart. In this case Mars will affect anyone with mutable planets (Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius or Pisces at 6-9 degrees.

When Mercury moves forward on the 12^th at 8 degrees of Capricorn, it will affect anyone to a greater degree that has Cardinal planets (Aries, Cancer, Libra or Capricorn) at 6-9 degrees. We are not really out of the woods when Mercury turns direct; sometimes things change direction once again at that point, so give it a few days. After these planets turn direct, expect things to pick up full steam ahead, so we are just off to a slow start in January which is not too unusual.

2022 was a rough year due to Saturn’s square with Uranus that affected the entire globe as evidenced by the daily news. Many people had upheaval personally as well as in the collective, but this transit will not have any influence after January as the planets separate beyond what the orb of influence would be and the good news is it’s practically gone in January!

January full moon in Cancer

Our full moon this month falls at 16 degrees of Cancer, January 6^th with the lunar peak around 3:08PM; EST. Events connected to the full moon typically begin to occur in the days before the full moon.

Cancer is the most emotional sign of the zodiac and the retrograde energy will definitely affect it. Don’t get upset over something you really don’t have all the facts on! Misunderstandings are a possibility as well.

This Moon trines Neptune which is connected to compassion and kindness. We can expect to see acts of compassion around us and perhaps even in the news. Dreams and creativity may be vivid at this time.

But, the Sun and Mercury are opposing the Moon as well Sun-Moon oppositions occur on every full moon which amps up our emotions. Mercury-Moon can coincide with communication, irritation and we may see events connected with young people in addition to a lot of bickering. Use caution if you are on the road.

In the US, we can expect unexpected events and potential volatility that could occur on or around the full moon and throughout the month.

January 2^nd Venus enters Aquarius

While Venus was in Capricorn the energies was focused on practical responsibilities concerning love, work and money, and Capricorn is not a light hearted sign. Venus in Aquarius is unpredictable if not changeable as Aquarius is ruled by both Saturn and Uranus, the planet of unexpected change. Aquarius is a fixed Air sign so energy moves more slowly and can be resistant to change. Air signs bring a logical and detached approach to matters and operate from this basis rather than an emotional one. Aquarius is steadfast in terms of protecting individuality and does not change to follow trends, fads or the latest rage unless it is convinced this presents a better opportunity for all.

Words that describe Aquarius include humanitarian, quirky, freedom loving and eccentric. During this transit of Venus we can expect to operate from a more idealistic point of view and put friendships first before romance or love. Communication may not be especially romantic and could seem much more detached.

Freedom is all important to Venus Aquarius. You may not want to be confined or feel too tied down and may be more open to unusual friendships and hanging out with people who are different from your usual social circle. You will be interested in ideas outside the box, forming your own opinions, and more interested in making new friendships with unusual people.

With Venus in this sign we desire new experiences and the heart often desires more space to roam. The drive for more freedom can take many different forms including the right to be exactly who we are as tolerance is one of Aquarius’s greatest gifts. It’s all up to you how far you take this energy. This Venus placement can be highly social with a bent toward new experiences. You may find that you gravitate toward unusual individuals who are different from the norm and unorthodox experiences.

We will experience a month of moving away from what is tried and true to make room for the new, the unusual and the experimental.  Unusual relationships may seem the norm for this time.

Venus in Aquarius can’t stand to be bored. Aquarius is a highly social sign that likes to experiment with and experience the untried, unusual and different types of friendships, relationships and social experiences. Venus Aquarius is the time to get out, mingle and exchange conversation and ideas with others and stretch your thinking.

We don’t have to go solo with the Venus in this sign and are typically happy to be a part of a group as long as we don’t have to conform to group norms or lose our own identities in the process.  So go ahead, be yourself and have some fun. Aquarians make great, albeit at times quirky friends.

January 20^th, the Sun enters Aquarius

Aquarius is the 2^nd sign of winter when it seems like the season will never end.  When we leave the Capricorn season and enter Aquarius it is time to relax, and chill out. The Sun in Capricorn is all about getting things done, work and pushing forward. But, we can’t operate like this all the time, and Aquarius should provide a much needed relief!

Aquarius belongs to the Air element and is ruled by Saturn and Uranus. Aquarians are often considered unpredictable, freaky and a bit weird as a result of the Uranus’s erratic influence. During the Sun’s time in Aquarius we will all experience, and perhaps come across a bit like this ourselves.

Aquarius can seem detached, intellectual, practical and laid back.  Feelings are not something easily expressed at this time, as a more aloof and analytical approach will be the key. There is a time for everything and deep feelings will become important again when the Sun enters its next sign-Pisces. This month is about analyzing our life, and even our relationships to determine where we really are.

It’s time to lighten up and relax. Intensity and high emotional drama will not fare well at this time and could be a real turn off as a matter of fact. You may feel more changeable, intellectual, open to new possibilities, and you probably won’t want to be pinned down with a lot of obligations. Better to go with the flow during this time and it may not be easy to pin others down either.

This is the best time to recharge from the holidays and the yearly rush to get everything done after the holidays. This can re-boot your emotional and mental health in a big way.

Aquarius likes to make up his or her own mind about things and is not likely to be influenced, or care for that matter, what other people think. Being a fixed sign, once a decision is reached there is a good chance it will be permanent. Aquarius can live largely in their own head dreaming big dreams and analyzing facts, new and old. Thinking outside the box is the norm, and now is the time to innovate, be unique and find alternative ways of doing and achieving.

You could try out daring and weird clothes, new hairstyles, makeup or new approaches to just about anything. Aquarius cares about the planet, justice, liberalism, politics and charity toward others. Don’t be surprised to see and hear more about these topics over the next month. We could see or hear about new technologies, avante garde art or films, spacecraft or aircraft, space, aliens, astrology, computers, and unexpected events often crop up.

The New Moon in Aquarius

January’s New Moon falls at 1 degree of Aquarius on the 21^st. The moon conjuncts the Sun and sextiles Jupiter. This is a powerful, expansive and hopeful energy. Now is the time to look outside of the box for new answers to old problems.

Aquarius ruled the 11^th house of groups, friends and the collective so in most cases we can expect a lot of friendly interaction. Aquarius is co-ruled by Uranus, the planet of unexpected events, so we can expect much changeability at this time.

The only fly in the ointment, so to speak is Venus is conjunct Saturn and it is exact the next day, so we will feel the influence. This can drag us down, but the sextile to Jupiter should balance things out in most cases. Venus-Saturn can lean toward coldness in relationships, loneliness and in rare cases coincide with a breakup but other things would have to exist in the chart to cause this.

Uranus turns direct January 22^nd

The direct motion of Uranus generally brings about major events in the world and the collective. This change will affect you to a greater degree if you have mutable planets from 12-16 degrees. The hard Uranus aspects may bring about sudden and unpredictable events.

Uranus is an erratic and unpredictable planet in astrology that rules many things including electricity, aircraft, technology, revolutions, innovations, inventions and freedom which can take many forms. Each year Uranus retrogrades for about 5 months. When Uranus is retrograde energies are more bottled up, and the individual becomes aware of the need for change in whatever area of the chart Uranus is transiting.  When Uranus turns direct those energies are often acted on either by design or at times it could seem the changes are coming at you. Events involving Uranus often seem shocking, but they are usually the inevitable result of a situation that is no longer working and Uranus wakes us up to what is really occurring in our lives for better or worse. While retrograde Uranus may seem ‘asleep,’ but as it turns direct we can experience brilliant ideas and epiphanies or in some cases shocking change.

Now is the time to try new and innovative ideas and look for new solutions to the same old problems. We can approach things from a more innovative angle and sometimes ideas and concepts come out of the blue like a bolt of lightning.

Uranus is known as the Great Awakener because it has a tendency to ‘wake up,’ latent possibilities, bring unexpected and unusual events and at times complete and radical change. It is the planet involved in divorce and separation in many cases that propels us in new directions when relationships, jobs and other areas of life have outlived their purpose and it is time for a new approach.

If Uranus is aspecting a personal planet in your chart during this time, it may seem the energy has been dormant over the past 5 months.  Over the next few weeks as Uranus begins its forward motion you may see events start to occur as described by the transit in your natal chart. Uranus is known to act quickly and does not drag things out. If it is in an easy angle-a trine or sextile, change you perceive as positive will occur.  If it is in a hard angle-a conjunction, square or opposition, the change can seem more difficult or disruptive.

If Uranus is not aspecting anything in your chart you may barely notice the change but feel a desire to try different approaches and look at new concepts or take a sudden and different direction.

Venus enters Pisces January 27 thru February 20th

Venus is ‘exalted’ in astrological terms meaning it is well placed in Pisces which is gentle, perceptive, artistic and emotional creating a great ambiance for love. Pisces is Venus’s favorite sign and love has no barriers here.

Now is the time to embrace romance, love, fantasy, creativity and dreams and Pisces is all about all of these things. Pisces is ruled by Jupiter, the planet of expansion as well as Neptune the planet that rules the imagination, our dreams and fantasies. Giving to others comes much easier at this time as Pisces is known as the most compassionate of signs, and our desires turn to focus on meaningful and deep bonds. Neptune frequently brings about a desire to merge with others on a very deep level. Venus is operating at its highest octave in this sign.

Now is the time to feel romantic thoughts and experience love at its fullest but we must also remember that since Pisces is co-ruled by Neptune, Venus in Pisces can also mean putting on rose colored glasses and failing to judge a situation for what it really is. Love can be grand, but we must also pay attention to warning signs that tell us the person we are interested in is not perfect or all in the relationship. This can be a fine line to walk; feeling the romance of Pisces and yet maintaining boundaries and a clear perspective. In other words, because Venus is in Pisces does not mean throwing caution to the wind. The desire to merge with others will be significant and complex but we must be careful just who and what we choose to merge with.

In the collective Pisces rules theatre, music, art and compassion and with Venus in this sign we often see or hear about new movies or art. We will be able to see compassion play out in the world at different times over the next month. Pisces/ Neptune can also relate to religion and when planets enter this sign we frequently hear some type of news about the Vatican or other religious organizations.

Other aspects in January of significance;

January 4^th, Venus sextiles Jupiter. This is a positive and pleasant transit, especially good for our social lives, friendships, love and in some cases money.

January 9^th Venus trines Mars-Great for romantic opportunities, social events, important meetings and the like.

January 14^th, Venus squares Uranus-Today can be an erratic but not difficult day, if you are aware of the energies. Now is the time to try something new, socialize, and seek out pleasant times if possible. If you meet someone new under this transit, it is important to remember no matter how good things seem, relationships that begin on a Uranus transit are not always permanent.

January 18^th, the Sun conjuncts Pluto-With any Pluto aspect change is possible. You may delve deeply into things today, and on some level you may try and set something in your life straight. All will not be smooth however, as Pluto is associated with breakdowns, control, and bullies so be aware of this in your interactions with others. Some things could end under this aspect.

Happy New Year to you and yours! I believe in many respects 2023 will be more positive than 2022. Best wishes to all.

Welcome to 2023!

As we begin the New Year on December 31^st, Venus is conjunct Pluto. Venus deals with love and money and it’s conjunction with Pluto creates an emotional intensity for better or worse. On an emotional level we may delve deeply into our relationships and question many things.  Thoughts of past experiences may emerge along with past loves in some cases. This aspect is prone toward over thinking, obsession and jealousy. If things are good, this can come across as a time to focus on personal expression on a deep level. Change is possible with this as Pluto is the planet of regeneration.  Anyone prone to obsessive thinking or jealousy may not react very well to this aspect, so this energy is important to be aware of. This can also relate to control, sex, and you may be operating under the influence of powerful subconscious drives that are neither helpful or in most cases, reality based. The best way to counter these energies is to ‘lighten up’ and don’t take things too seriously, at least not today.

The first several weeks of January are not the time to start new projects, or begin new ventures as both Mars and Mercury are still retrograde and things may be delayed, confused and a little screwy the first half of the month.

Mars turns direct January 12^th, at 8 degrees of Gemini. When the ‘God of War’ stations to move forward we can expect an energy shift and things may change direction once again before it’s all over, depending on what Mars is doing in your personal chart. When a planet ‘stations’ to retrograde or move forward the energy is powerful and intense, especially if it aspects something in your personal chart. In this case Mars will affect anyone with mutable planets (Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius or Pisces at 6-9 degrees.

When Mercury moves forward on the 12^th at 8 degrees of Capricorn, it will affect anyone to a greater degree that has Cardinal planets (Aries, Cancer, Libra or Capricorn) at 6-9 degrees. We are not really out of the woods when Mercury turns direct; sometimes things change direction once again at that point, so give it a few days. After these planets turn direct, expect things to pick up full steam ahead, so we are just off to a slow start in January which is not too unusual.

2022 was a rough year due to Saturn’s square with Uranus that affected the entire globe as evidenced by the daily news. Many people had upheaval personally as well as in the collective, but this transit will not have any influence after January as the planets separate beyond what the orb of influence would be and the good news is it’s practically gone in January!

January full moon in Cancer

Our full moon this month falls at 16 degrees of Cancer, January 6^th with the lunar peak around 3:08PM; EST. Events connected to the full moon typically begin to occur in the days before the full moon.

Cancer is the most emotional sign of the zodiac and the retrograde energy will definitely affect it. Don’t get upset over something you really don’t have all the facts on! Misunderstandings are a possibility as well.

This Moon trines Neptune which is connected to compassion and kindness. We can expect to see acts of compassion around us and perhaps even in the news. Dreams and creativity may be vivid at this time.

But, the Sun and Mercury are opposing the Moon as well Sun-Moon oppositions occur on every full moon which amps up our emotions. Mercury-Moon can coincide with communication, irritation and we may see events connected with young people in addition to a lot of bickering. Use caution if you are on the road.

In the US, we can expect unexpected events and potential volatility that could occur on or around the full moon and throughout the month.

January 2^nd Venus enters Aquarius

While Venus was in Capricorn the energies was focused on practical responsibilities concerning love, work and money, and Capricorn is not a light hearted sign. Venus in Aquarius is unpredictable if not changeable as Aquarius is ruled by both Saturn and Uranus, the planet of unexpected change. Aquarius is a fixed Air sign so energy moves more slowly and can be resistant to change. Air signs bring a logical and detached approach to matters and operate from this basis rather than an emotional one. Aquarius is steadfast in terms of protecting individuality and does not change to follow trends, fads or the latest rage unless it is convinced this presents a better opportunity for all.

Words that describe Aquarius include humanitarian, quirky, freedom loving and eccentric. During this transit of Venus we can expect to operate from a more idealistic point of view and put friendships first before romance or love. Communication may not be especially romantic and could seem much more detached.

Freedom is all important to Venus Aquarius. You may not want to be confined or feel too tied down and may be more open to unusual friendships and hanging out with people who are different from your usual social circle. You will be interested in ideas outside the box, forming your own opinions, and more interested in making new friendships with unusual people.

With Venus in this sign we desire new experiences and the heart often desires more space to roam. The drive for more freedom can take many different forms including the right to be exactly who we are as tolerance is one of Aquarius’s greatest gifts. It’s all up to you how far you take this energy. This Venus placement can be highly social with a bent toward new experiences. You may find that you gravitate toward unusual individuals who are different from the norm and unorthodox experiences.

We will experience a month of moving away from what is tried and true to make room for the new, the unusual and the experimental.  Unusual relationships may seem the norm for this time.

Venus in Aquarius can’t stand to be bored. Aquarius is a highly social sign that likes to experiment with and experience the untried, unusual and different types of friendships, relationships and social experiences. Venus Aquarius is the time to get out, mingle and exchange conversation and ideas with others and stretch your thinking.

We don’t have to go solo with the Venus in this sign and are typically happy to be a part of a group as long as we don’t have to conform to group norms or lose our own identities in the process.  So go ahead, be yourself and have some fun. Aquarians make great, albeit at times quirky friends.

January 20^th, the Sun enters Aquarius

Aquarius is the 2^nd sign of winter when it seems like the season will never end.  When we leave the Capricorn season and enter Aquarius it is time to relax, and chill out. The Sun in Capricorn is all about getting things done, work and pushing forward. But, we can’t operate like this all the time, and Aquarius should provide a much needed relief!

Aquarius belongs to the Air element and is ruled by Saturn and Uranus. Aquarians are often considered unpredictable, freaky and a bit weird as a result of the Uranus’s erratic influence. During the Sun’s time in Aquarius we will all experience, and perhaps come across a bit like this ourselves.

Aquarius can seem detached, intellectual, practical and laid back.  Feelings are not something easily expressed at this time, as a more aloof and analytical approach will be the key. There is a time for everything and deep feelings will become important again when the Sun enters its next sign-Pisces. This month is about analyzing our life, and even our relationships to determine where we really are.

It’s time to lighten up and relax. Intensity and high emotional drama will not fare well at this time and could be a real turn off as a matter of fact. You may feel more changeable, intellectual, open to new possibilities, and you probably won’t want to be pinned down with a lot of obligations. Better to go with the flow during this time and it may not be easy to pin others down either.

This is the best time to recharge from the holidays and the yearly rush to get everything done after the holidays. This can re-boot your emotional and mental health in a big way.

Aquarius likes to make up his or her own mind about things and is not likely to be influenced, or care for that matter, what other people think. Being a fixed sign, once a decision is reached there is a good chance it will be permanent. Aquarius can live largely in their own head dreaming big dreams and analyzing facts, new and old. Thinking outside the box is the norm, and now is the time to innovate, be unique and find alternative ways of doing and achieving.

You could try out daring and weird clothes, new hairstyles, makeup or new approaches to just about anything. Aquarius cares about the planet, justice, liberalism, politics and charity toward others. Don’t be surprised to see and hear more about these topics over the next month. We could see or hear about new technologies, avante garde art or films, spacecraft or aircraft, space, aliens, astrology, computers, and unexpected events often crop up.

The New Moon in Aquarius

January’s New Moon falls at 1 degree of Aquarius on the 21^st. The moon conjuncts the Sun and sextiles Jupiter. This is a powerful, expansive and hopeful energy. Now is the time to look outside of the box for new answers to old problems.

Aquarius ruled the 11^th house of groups, friends and the collective so in most cases we can expect a lot of friendly interaction. Aquarius is co-ruled by Uranus, the planet of unexpected events, so we can expect much changeability at this time.

The only fly in the ointment, so to speak is Venus is conjunct Saturn and it is exact the next day, so we will feel the influence. This can drag us down, but the sextile to Jupiter should balance things out in most cases. Venus-Saturn can lean toward coldness in relationships, loneliness and in rare cases coincide with a breakup but other things would have to exist in the chart to cause this.

Uranus turns direct January 22^nd

The direct motion of Uranus generally brings about major events in the world and the collective. This change will affect you to a greater degree if you have mutable planets from 12-16 degrees. The hard Uranus aspects may bring about sudden and unpredictable events.

Uranus is an erratic and unpredictable planet in astrology that rules many things including electricity, aircraft, technology, revolutions, innovations, inventions and freedom which can take many forms. Each year Uranus retrogrades for about 5 months. When Uranus is retrograde energies are more bottled up, and the individual becomes aware of the need for change in whatever area of the chart Uranus is transiting.  When Uranus turns direct those energies are often acted on either by design or at times it could seem the changes are coming at you. Events involving Uranus often seem shocking, but they are usually the inevitable result of a situation that is no longer working and Uranus wakes us up to what is really occurring in our lives for better or worse. While retrograde Uranus may seem ‘asleep,’ but as it turns direct we can experience brilliant ideas and epiphanies or in some cases shocking change.

Now is the time to try new and innovative ideas and look for new solutions to the same old problems. We can approach things from a more innovative angle and sometimes ideas and concepts come out of the blue like a bolt of lightning.

Uranus is known as the Great Awakener because it has a tendency to ‘wake up,’ latent possibilities, bring unexpected and unusual events and at times complete and radical change. It is the planet involved in divorce and separation in many cases that propels us in new directions when relationships, jobs and other areas of life have outlived their purpose and it is time for a new approach.

If Uranus is aspecting a personal planet in your chart during this time, it may seem the energy has been dormant over the past 5 months.  Over the next few weeks as Uranus begins its forward motion you may see events start to occur as described by the transit in your natal chart. Uranus is known to act quickly and does not drag things out. If it is in an easy angle-a trine or sextile, change you perceive as positive will occur.  If it is in a hard angle-a conjunction, square or opposition, the change can seem more difficult or disruptive.

If Uranus is not aspecting anything in your chart you may barely notice the change but feel a desire to try different approaches and look at new concepts or take a sudden and different direction.

Venus enters Pisces January 27 thru February 20th

Venus is ‘exalted’ in astrological terms meaning it is well placed in Pisces which is gentle, perceptive, artistic and emotional creating a great ambiance for love. Pisces is Venus’s favorite sign and love has no barriers here.

Now is the time to embrace romance, love, fantasy, creativity and dreams and Pisces is all about all of these things. Pisces is ruled by Jupiter, the planet of expansion as well as Neptune the planet that rules the imagination, our dreams and fantasies. Giving to others comes much easier at this time as Pisces is known as the most compassionate of signs, and our desires turn to focus on meaningful and deep bonds. Neptune frequently brings about a desire to merge with others on a very deep level. Venus is operating at its highest octave in this sign.

Now is the time to feel romantic thoughts and experience love at its fullest but we must also remember that since Pisces is co-ruled by Neptune, Venus in Pisces can also mean putting on rose colored glasses and failing to judge a situation for what it really is. Love can be grand, but we must also pay attention to warning signs that tell us the person we are interested in is not perfect or all in the relationship. This can be a fine line to walk; feeling the romance of Pisces and yet maintaining boundaries and a clear perspective. In other words, because Venus is in Pisces does not mean throwing caution to the wind. The desire to merge with others will be significant and complex but we must be careful just who and what we choose to merge with.

In the collective Pisces rules theatre, music, art and compassion and with Venus in this sign we often see or hear about new movies or art. We will be able to see compassion play out in the world at different times over the next month. Pisces/ Neptune can also relate to religion and when planets enter this sign we frequently hear some type of news about the Vatican or other religious organizations.

Other aspects in January of significance;

January 4^th, Venus sextiles Jupiter. This is a positive and pleasant transit, especially good for our social lives, friendships, love and in some cases money.

January 9^th Venus trines Mars-Great for romantic opportunities, social events, important meetings and the like.

January 14^th, Venus squares Uranus-Today can be an erratic but not difficult day, if you are aware of the energies. Now is the time to try something new, socialize, and seek out pleasant times if possible. If you meet someone new under this transit, it is important to remember no matter how good things seem, relationships that begin on a Uranus transit are not always permanent.

January 18^th, the Sun conjuncts Pluto-With any Pluto aspect change is possible. You may delve deeply into things today, and on some level you may try and set something in your life straight. All will not be smooth however, as Pluto is associated with breakdowns, control, and bullies so be aware of this in your interactions with others. Some things could end under this aspect.

Happy New Year to you and yours! I believe in many respects 2023 will be more positive than 2022. Best wishes to all.