THE MOOD: Turn the Key
January is showered with sparks, as Uranus is especially well-positioned this month to drive catalytic breakdowns and breakthroughs. As one of the only planets not Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces, Uranus offers contrast, creativity, and revolutionary possibility throughout the month. On January 1, the Sun in Capricorn beckons Uranus’ brilliance, offering us opportunities for practical genius. This is the kind of weather to break free of activities that no longer serve us, replacing them with wiser, sturdier, and more inspired alternatives. Seize the moment to set intentions that are both grounded and electric! Venus’ trine to Uranus at the end of January will encourage this rippling energy of pragmatic change to flow through our relationships, too.
We will be asked to be most careful when we hit some astrologically bumpy weather in the second week of the month: Mars in Sagittarius squares Neptune in Pisces on January 11, Mercury squares Uranus on January 13, and to top it off, Mercury stations retrograde on January 14. Our motivation to move towards our visions may dissolve, and our actions might get messy and less focused than we had hoped for; plus, the messages we send about our aspirations might get caught in crossfires of misunderstanding. In these more charged planetary configurations, take a moment to pause and consider how you seek – and speak of – your own intentions.
When Mars enters Capricorn on January 24, we witness an impressive planetary lineup in Capricorn (Venus, Mars, and Pluto) and Aquarius (Sun, Mercury, and Saturn). While Capricorn stands for tradition and Aquarius looks towards innovation, what these two archetypes share is their focus on society – its foundations, maintenance, visions, and future. Complemented by Uranus’ charged position and Mercury and Venus retrogrades, this time sets the stage for experiments and epic redos in how we hold society together and how we collectively organize for something better. It’s a dynamic mix of reflection, revolution, and reform, the forces of the past and the future tenaciously pushing and pulling. We can benefit by aiming for balance between sustaining the structures that work and replacing those that don't with more visionary solutions.
As we work through reformation and revolution, we cannot forget Pluto and Chiron, who also play a substantial role throughout the month. The Sun and Mercury conjunct Pluto and sextile Chiron, and these moments pull us deeper into reckoning on what we – and the world – are channeling and becoming. At its most powerful, the mega-combination of Pluto and Chiron can offer us deep resonance, raw emotion, and urgency to move towards unpacking, suturing, and healing what hurts most. When used in combination with January’s genius, Pluto and Chiron can unlock an underworld portal that sets the stage for immense, beautiful, and true integration and renewal. Welcome the genius, and turn the key.