Monday 1/8/2024: Sneak Peek at a Productive Week; New Moon in Capricorn; The Year Ahead

Well, it’s about time…

…to get things started. Yea, verily, planetary patterns are primed for action — and for a good, long stretch. All planets — except Uranus — are direct in motion. They are connected together in ways that facilitate Getting Stuff Done. And you? What would you like to accomplish over the next few months? Go for it!

Highlights this week include:

• Mercury squares Neptune (for the third time since November 27), on Monday
• Sun trines Uranus on Tuesday
• Mars sextiles Saturn on Tuesday
• New Moon in Capricorn on Thursday
• Mars trines Jupiter on Friday
• Mercury re-enters Capricorn on Saturday
• Sun sextiles Neptune next Monday

Ready?

• MONDAY: Today and tomorrow are driven by the high-flying enthusiasm of the Moon in Sagittarius. Now is the time to express your righteous opinion, and/or get outside your usual comfort zone. Take a walk in nature. Explore a neighborhood you’ve never visited before. Go for a gamble or a gambol. Moon meets up with Venus at 1:44 PM ET, suggesting an accord in matters of values, aesthetics and money. Creatives and healers may be inspired, suggested by the square between Mercury (how we need to think) and Neptune (ideals), exact at 8:24 PM ET. The downside potential is that in the language of astrology, Neptune also symbolizes deception. Double-checking facts for accuracy is advised. It’s possible that matters that were making news around the 27th of November and December will be back for a final look.
• TUESDAY: More Moon in Sagittarius, with another fact-checking necessity around 1 PM ET, as Moon squares Neptune and then meets up with Mercury. Moon goes void at 1:24 PM ET for seven hours. Now is not the time for impulsive purchases or launching an initiative you hope will function as intended. When the Moon is void we have a higher probability of twists and flakes that disrupt efforts to move forward in a straight line. Roll with these twists, and don’t make a mountain out of a molehill of apparent crisis. Experience proves that these “crises” have an odd way of working themselves out, once the Moon shifts gears into the next sign. Chill — stick to routine tasks — and if you have time to wander a bit, enjoy the potential adventure.
• TUESDAY: Two of the patterns that support Getting Stuff Done are exact. First, a rare harmony (a trine) between the Sun and Uranus helps opposing sides reach across the aisle. How apt that we started the work week with the announcement of a bipartisan spending deal reached among U.S. Congressional leaders, in the hopes of avoiding a governmental shutdown. Caveat: the deal still has to actually be voted on in the House and Senate. The deadline is January 19th, the day before the annual Sun-Pluto conjunction, which is always an alert for power plays and catharses, especially among leaders of business and state. It’s interesting that this year’s conjunction happens at the verrrrrrrry end of Capricorn, a.k.a. the Powers That Be, a.k.a. the Establishment. This may suggest an argument against “fringe” and/or “revolutionary” types prevailing. We shall see. What’s really interesting is that Pluto enters Aquarius (a sign associated with revolution) less than 20 minutes after the Sun-Pluto conjunction.
• TUESDAY: The second pattern supporting Getting Stuff Done is a rare sextile (think: cooperation and communication) between Mars and Saturn, exact at 9:39 PM ET.  Mars is in Capricorn and thus high-functioning; Saturn rules Capricorn, and is thus doubly delighted to authorize a practical initiative. Meanwhile, the Moon enters Capricorn at 8:33 PM ET, adding prominence to the achievement-oriented needs of its playmates in the cosmic sandbox. Watch the news for anyone with planets in contact with 29 Sagittarius and 0 degrees Capricorn; we’re likely to hear from them. Moon’s easy contact with Saturn and Mars at 3:28 AM ET and 3:45 AM ET argues for action.
• WEDNESDAY: Capricorn Moon’s ambitious needs are supported by a trine from Jupiter, planet of expansion and reward, exact at 6:14 AM ET.  Moon travels through the day with no other contact, arguing for a continuing rush of accomplishment. Caveat: what’s being accomplished may not be readily seen, as we are now at the end of the lunar cycle and literally in the dark. Clandestine meetings may produce unconventional alliances, suggested by the Moon’s trine to Uranus, exact at 4:26 AM ET on…
• THURSDAY: Then, at 6:57 AM ET, we have the New Moon in Capricorn, which looks like this:

A pause, while we discuss the New Moon in Capricorn, set in Washington, D.C.

Observations:

• This New Moon activates 2020’s Full Moon in Cancer, which was a lunar eclipse — here’s that chart and forecast. It’s also when the Covid genome was first published, and this story was published yesterday: “Genetic keys to Covid vaccine response unlocked”.  FYI, the JN.1 Covid variant is now making news in the United States, mask mandates in some hospitals are coming back,  and Dr. Anthony Fauci is testifying before Congress today and Tuesday.   It’s interesting that in the New Moon chart, the ruler of the 6th house (health concerns; labor issues) is in the 12th house (of self-undoing and institution of confinement). We’re talking about Mercury in the 12th, ruling the 6th — and not at its best in Sagittarius. For me, that means I’ll continue to wear a mask on the subway and at other public gatherings.
• This is the only New Moon chart we will have with Pluto in Capricorn…until September, during Pluto’s retrograde.
• Jupiter in Taurus is at the root of this chart. Translation: the root of this chart refers to the expansion of material comfort and security, especially in matters of land, home, and family. In this chart, there is a connection between Jupiter and Venus (money, values; who, what and how we need to love), and it is likely to influence court opinions and our foreign policy in ways that some will say are more than we can bear.
• The Sabian Symbol for this New Moon is “a relay race.” Astrologer Blain Bovee notes that a relay race involves the passing of a baton, which conveys power from one person to another. Relay races are run in parallel lines which do not intersect. This feels apt for current political races in the United States. Astrologer James Burgess sees a bigger picture; i.e., of power being passed from one generation to the other…which absolutely apt for Pluto on the edge of Aquarius (the next generation). Burgess stresses the potential of this Symbol for group cooperation, echoing other cooperative, empowering patterns in this New Moon chart.
• There’s much more we could say…but you get the idea. You are more personally affected by this New Moon if you have planets at 20-21 degrees of Aries, Cancer, Libra, and Capricorn. Off the top of my head, that includes Jared Kushner and Queen Elizabeth II.
• Wherever 20-21 Capricorn falls in your chart is where you may plant a new strategy of manifestation. That applies to everyone. Consult your local astrologer for further details.

Back to the day-by-day:

• THURSDAY: Inspiration comes courtesy of a sextile between the Moon and Neptune, exact at 2:19 PM ET. Depth and power are brought into focus around 9:33 PM ET, as Moon meets up with Pluto. Moon goes void for 28 minutes…then enters Aquarius at 10:01 PM ET. Meanwhile, a trine between Mars and Jupiter is exact at 5:41 AM ET on….
• FRIDAY: Translation: we have an easy flow (a trine) between the planets that represent action and assertion (Mars) and expansion (Jupiter). Applied to a sports event, that’s great news. Applied to a weather pattern, and it could be excessive, especially when we consider that Mars and Jupiter are in signs (Capricorn and Taurus) that are not well-received by the other. Capricorn is the sign of Jupiter’s Fall; Taurus is the sign of Mars’ Detriment. Translation: we can appreciate why the energy reflected in this trine could wreak havoc…as in…all 50 states except one — North Dakota — are currently under weather advisories, especially involving high winds. As of TUESDAY, half a million people in the U.S. are without power.
• FRIDAY: Meanwhile, the Aquarius Moon affords opportunities for networking.A square between the Aquarius Moon and Jupiter at 7:28 AM ET suggests exuberance. A downside potential could manifest as a conflict between those who want to upend the system and those who want to preserve the status quo. We have the whole day to work it out, with the initial appearance of harmony in the evening. Venus sextiles Moon at 2:31 AM ET on…
• SATURDAY. And then…a surprise arrives around 4:58 AM ET, as Moon squares Uranus...and then goes void for 17 1/2 hours. Now is not the time to score bargains at yard sales or make major purchases. Chill, chill, chill…but note that Mercury (news and information; transportation) is now at the verrrrry end of Sagittarius, pushing boundaries righteously and prominently. At 9:49 PM ET, a more practical — but no less prominent — mindset weighs in, as Mercury ditches Sagittarius and re-enters Capricorn until February 5th. We’re likely to hear from the Usual Aries Point Suspects, which include Ted Cruz, Liz Cheney, Ronna McDaniel, Elizabeth Warren, Rudy Giuliani, and Alexei Navalny.
• SATURDAY: Moon enters Pisces at 10:32 PM ET, driving the next two days with a need for empathy, impressions, accommodation, and ideals. Word gets out, aided by a sextile between Moon and Mercury at 10:32 PM ET.
• SUNDAY:  A sobering focus starts the day, as Moon meets up with Saturn at 5:50 AM ET. Support from Jupiter (expansion) and Mars (action, assertion), exact at 8:07 AM ET and 10:40 AM ET, advances the narrative. Humming in the background is a sextile between the Sun and Neptune, exact on Monday. Upside: leaders may be more inclined to keep the peace; activities involving music, arts, healing, imagination are supported.

So…that’s the outlook for the week. But what about the year?

Briefly, we can expect the pace to pick up, at least through the end of May, when nearly all the planets will be direct in motion, and at fastest-than-average speeds. Highlights for this period include:

• January 20th: Annual Sun-Pluto conjunction — a focus on power plays involving energy resources and leaders. Suggests matters reflecting the needs of the Establishment at a crisis point, as the conjunction is at the verrrry last degree of Capricorn.
• January 20th: Pluto enters Aquarius for the second time in less than 12 months. It remains there until September 1, when it re-enters Capricorn for a stay until November 20th. Here’s what I wrote about Pluto in Aquarius at the beginning of 2023:

At 0 Aquarius, Pluto will amplify the potential of the 2020 Great Mutation of Jupiter-Saturn at 0 Aquarius. Here’s a lengthy article I wrote about that a couple of years ago. Great gobs of power and resources will be poured into this potential…with efforts to put extremes of control into place. Power grids and all the ways we connect with each other virtually may be affected. Humanitarian values are likely to prevail over values that prioritize stuff over people. Pluto at 0 Aquarius will activate the horoscopes of President Biden, King Charles and Queen Elizabeth. Pay attention to what happens during Pluto’s brief dip into Aquarius, which ends on June 12th (2023). It’s a sneak peek of life on Earth for the next 20 years. Pluto at 0 Aquarius will amplify whatever was going around March 6th, 2022, too.

• Pluto at 0 Aquarius also activates the Office of the U.S. Presidency because U.S. presidents assume power when the Sun is at 0 Aquarius. What do I mean by “activates?” Well, it’s Pluto…so…we consider breakdown, corruption exposed, transformation, empowerment. Is the U.S. President really immune from prosecution, as the former guy is claiming in court today? We’re going to find out…
• Pluto in Aquarius “coincides” with technological advances in the extreme. Tech titans have an awful lot of power and influence, do they not? Three of them blasted into space on the first ingress of Pluto in Aquarius. What’s next? Is it a bot or is it human? Whose jobs will be outsourced to AI?
• Pluto in Aquarius will expose rot in matters ruled by Aquarius. Aviation is one example, and Aquarius is an Air sign. How will airlines cope with episodes of heavier turbulence (thanks to climate change) pilots are likely to encounter? Not to mention the “loose bolts” discovered today in more than one of Boeing’s grounded fleet of 737 Max.
• Uranus turns direct on January 27th…focusing our attention on matters of freedom, revolution, technology, seismic activity, aviation, astrology, etc. — like the sound of a blaring car horn.
• Sun squares Uranus on February 8th…more of the above, with an emphasis on leaders.
• Mars meets up with Pluto on February 14th...adding firepower to Pluto’s Aquarius agenda.
• Venus meets up with Pluto on February 17th…intensifying matters of money, women, art, and social expression.
• Venus and Mars finally meet up on February 22nd...after flirting with each other as far back as last summer.
• Sun-Mercury meet up with Saturn on February 28th…a serious, sobering reality check involving leaders.
• Sun conjunct Neptune on March 17th…scandal, idealism, healing (and all other Neptune themes), likely involving leaders.
• Sun enters Aries on March 19th…the beginning of the astrological new year. Set in Washington, D.C., this chart can be used as a predictive tool for the United States. Stay tuned.
• Lunar eclipse on March 25th
• Solar eclipse on April 8th. This is a total eclipse, and like the Great American Eclipse of 2017, will be seen in many parts of the United States, and its path cuts the country in half. As it were.
• Jupiter conjunct Uranus on April 20th…which hasn’t happened since 2011 (in Aries).  This time, the meet-up is in Taurus, suggesting expansion, innovation, reward, excess, and big disruptions in matters related to Taurus. Such as? Such as…the physical body, the pleasures of the senses, real estate, food, money, banking, possessions, material comfort and security, the status quo, agriculture, for starters. Earth Day is on the 22nd. Maybe this innovative new cycle will spark some revolutionary ideas on how to take better care of our collective home.
• Sun squares Pluto on April 21st...recalling whatever was making news on January 20th.
• Neptune arrives at 29 Pisces on May 3rd…the verrrrry last degree of the sign. All things Neptune are likely to be at a prominent crisis point, and for some, it may feel like the End of the World. And it is likely to be the end of a world — and noticeably so all through the summer, as Neptune lingers on this anaretic (that’s the technical term) degree. “All things Neptune” includes immigration, drugs, victims, faith, spirits of all kind, viruses, water, oceans, floods, toxins, oils, chemicals, scandal, music, film, photography, deception, ideals, visions, intangibles, healers and saviors. Be sure to keep an eye on Rudy Giuliani, Alexei Navalny, and Liz Cheney.

So, like that…at least through May. Obviously this is a pivotal year, and the United States isn’t the only country that has a decision to make about whether it’s going exist as a democracy or a dictatorship. I’m feeling optimistic, even while anticipating one heck of a wild ride.

And now, the news.

Speaking of democracy, Heather Cox Richardson has the highlights of a speech President Biden gave at Valley Forge to launch his re-election campaign. He gave that speech as transiting Mars squared his Neptune in Libra. Translation: faith and vision, energized. Biden vowed to make democracy the focus of his campaign, which he said was still “a sacred cause.”

Because I’m feeling optimistic, here are several stories that might make you feel optimistic, too:

• “Can a village of tiny homes ease homelessness in Austin?”  There’s a questionnaire at the end of this NYT feature, asking for reader opinions.
• “100 tiny changes to transform your life“
• “Mouse secretly filmed tidying man’s shed every night”
• “Brazil thwarted a coup attempt. Here are our lessons for the world” — op-ed by Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, president of Brazil
• “Israel’s supreme court strikes down Netanyahu’s judicial overhaul”
• “Gas prices fall below $3 a gallon across the United States”
• “From a Sydney pub to Denmark’s throne” — about Mary Donaldson, the Australian “commoner” who will become Queen of Denmark next week.
• “The buddy boost: how accountability partners make you healthier, happier and more successful” — and how apt for Pluto’s ingress (empowerment) into Aquarius (buddies!!!)

Finally, Beth Owl’s Daughter presents the Tarot Card for the Year…wait ’til you see the Card for this Week!

Here’s the 411 on personal consultations and written reports. Many of my clients supplement their consultations with the Your Year Ahead…great for keeping track of opportunities and challenges throughout 2024.

Thank you for reading this forecast…and sharing it with friends.

Onward!