Over the next two weeks, Mars will enter ambitious Capricorn and Mercury and Venus will conclude their retrogrades in the industrious earth sign. Mars will enter Capricorn on January 24th, and begin making its way to March 3rd conjunctions with Venus and Pluto. On January 25th, Mercury will backtrack into Cap, from where it will conjoin Pluto on January 28th. The Messenger will remain in the Saturn ruled sign until February 14th, and Venus and Mars will stay until March 6th. Under these austere skies, we can make sober assessments about where we are, where we aspire to go and the work it will take to get there. Signaling a path forward, Venus will emerge from review mode on the 29th, as the Moon enters Capricorn. The planet that identifies what we value has been in reverse gear since December 19th. Its slowdown, coinciding with Mercury’s retrograde, has likely exposed obstacles and impediments. But as the reality checks arrived from Capricorn, so did important insights about career, money and relationships.
Shortly after Venus went retrograde, astrology’s other planet of plenty, Jupiter, headed into spiritual, holistic Pisces. In the mutable water sign, Jupiter forms a supportive angle to the planets in Capricorn. The buoyant and bountiful planet is on its way to an extraordinary conjunction with Neptune on April 12th. The fluidity and flexibility this combo offers is a significant counterweight to any limitations being imposed by the Capricorn cadre. As often stated here, Jupiter can be overly exuberant and Neptune can be downright deceptive. To help us distinguish fantasy from fact, the Sun and Saturn are traveling through detached, intelligent Aquarius.
Scientific, rebellious and visionary, Aquarius presents alternative points of view. Its outlying perspective, keen observations and uninhibited antics can inform key decision-making. On January 30th the Aquarius Sun will face a square from equally unorthodox Uranus in Taurus. Their titanic battle is bound to expose fault lines and false narratives. The shoddy plans they shatter can, and should, be swept out with the dark Moon. February 1st’s new Moon, at 12 Aquarius 20, offers the opportunity to regroup and recalculate the way forward. On the 3rd Mercury will station direct, followed by an encouraging Mars sextile to Jupiter on the 4th. Later that day, the Sun and measured Saturn will collaborate under an enthusiastic Aries Moon. The outlandishness of Aquarius synced with the audacity of Aries should prove exhilarating and impactful. With newfound clarify from the retrogrades, Capricorn stamina and some prodding from the martian forces afoot, the hero’s journey is ready to resume.