January 8: Shifting Energy

Mercury enters Aquarius at 4:00 a.m.
Before sunrise, messenger-planet Mercury enters Aquarius, the sign of its exaltation. This transit energizes the higher mind, helping us communicate our truth with a rational approach. Aquarian Mercury is ideal for inquiry, study, and outreach to the community. Great ideas seem to pop into our minds out of nowhere and we can quickly implement them in real time. Our social media lives may experience a boom as well, as technology can be harnessed to deliver our messages to the most diverse audience. Because we tend to be less emotional in our communications under this influence, we are also viewed as being more objective and therefore more trustworthy. We’ll have lots of time to get cozy in this inventive headspace, because due to its retrograde cycle, Mercury will transit the sign of the Water-bearer until March 15!
 
Venus enters Capricorn at 7:41 a.m.
Following this, Venus enters Capricorn, making love serious business. During this time, we increasingly make romantic decisions based on what seems practical and will provide us with the most security. Relationships, in general, are viewed in a more mature light, as we look for evidence of our good judgment when selecting our matches, and prize reliability above amusement, willing to put in the work to make love last.
This eye for “quality” and interest in investing extends into the aesthetic and material aspects of our life as well. Money seems better when saved, and if we do spend, we do so in the hope that our purchases will accrue value over time. We should be mindful not to choose partners purely for their “trophy status” appeal, remembering that no match is perfect nor without its unique challenges.
 
The sun is sextile Neptune at 8:53 a.m.
Mid-morning, the sun in Capricorn forms an auspicious sextile to Neptune in Pisces, giving the day a feel-good quality. We are confident in our abilities and have faith in the inevitability of making our dreams a reality. By adopting a self-possessed attitude, we attract similarly inspired individuals who don’t let practicality dampen their creative or spiritual instincts. This influences a perfect marriage of good sense and great expectations.
 
The moon is sextile Pluto at 5:59 p.m., and moon void of course begins
Mercury is square Mars at 6:44 p.m.
Come nightfall, the Scorpio moon sextiles Pluto in Capricorn, facilitating an environment for deep relating. Emotional and sexual energies are heightened, making this an ideal transit for building trust while also clearly establishing your boundaries. Following this, the moon begins its void of course, suggesting this transit is best spent in the company of established relationships rather than using it to launch new intimate connections.
Afterwards, Mercury in Aquarius forms a tense square to Mars in Taurus, amplifying rigid thinking and stubbornness. During this connection, we can forget important details because our attention is trained on the wrong things. We are highly attached to our opinions, and determined to get our way, failing to listen to others. Given our bullheadedness, we might become argumentative with those who fail to immediately see the merit in our point of view, and then further alienate them by improperly rushing through an explanation, omitting crucial facts. We must stop long enough to realize that we are not communicating effectively, or risk perpetuating a cycle of distraction and irritability.
 
All the aspects mentioned are calculated in Standard Pacific Time, for greater accuracy please adjust to your own location.