January 2015 Forecast

Venus in Capricorn 29 Dec. 2014 - 22 Jan. 2015

Venus is placed in a friendly environment as the New Year begins. Friendly, though perhaps a little curt! Venus moves into Capricorn on the 29th and the awareness begins to shift from hopeful Sagittarius to sober Capricorn. Venus in Capricorn is a more practical approach to finances and relationships. These are brought into the cold light of our New Year due to Saturn's influence. The inclusion of Mars at the end other end of the sign leads to a more abrupt relating style for the first few days of 2015, but then Venus settles down to the task at hand -  taking a practical look at what we hold dear moving into 2015. 
 

Mercury in Capricorn 1 Jan. - 8 Mar. (Retrograde from 21 Jan. - 11 Feb)

Mercury enters Capricorn on New Year's Day and begins its first retrograde period of 2015 on January 21st - moving back from 23 degrees to 7 degrees of the sign by February 11th. It passes the degree it will move back to on January 5th - entering its shadow phase - before it stations retrograde on January 21st. This shows that we have gone as far with our plans as possible and need to take steps back in order to see how we can move forward again. 

As usual, be prepared for some practical issues to run into delays, as the outward focus runs headlong into a need to review. The New Year begins with a sense of anticipation but slowly leads to a sense of retreat as Mercury's retrograde period approaches by the end of January. 

Both Mercury and Jupiter are retrograde at the same time and in opposite signs of the zodiac, intensifying a need to reflect and reassess that which brings hope and meaning to our lives. One sure fire way of re-setting ourselves is to experience delays or reversals of our wishes, as we go back to the drawing board to retrace our steps. The two areas are Cancer and Capricorn, our inner and outer lives, where our domestic concerns need to be balanced with our professional drives.
 
All of Mercury's retrograde periods in 2015 occur in earth-dominant signs. Mercury is up to the task at hand which corresponds to more practical concerns. 

Mars in Aquarius 4 Jan. - 11 Feb. 

Mars and Jupiter come head-to-head on New Year's Day, leading to a more dynamic view of ourselves and what we hope for in 2015. Both are in their signs of exaltation; Mars coming to its exact exaltation degree; Jupiter moving backwards and asking us to reassess what brings meaning to our lives.  This may lead to a courageous reassessment of long-held beliefs and relationships with those who have guided us. 

Mars then leaves its sign of exaltation and enters Saturn's air-dominant sign Aquarius. In its previous position, Mars was well-placed and in a friendly relationship to Saturn and, even though these planets are not friendly to one another, they were more able to play. Now, however, Mars is placed in a tense relationship to Saturn, the planet of restrictions and limitations - and in a sense, playtime is over and its time to get serious. This is a much more volatile mix. 

We feel the awkwardness of this position in our lives as new plans are laid but the tracks must be slowly traversed in case of tripping. It may feel like walking on a railway track. We must watch our step.

Full Moon in Gemini 5 Jan. 

The Moon reaches exact opposition to the Sun at 04.54 UT - 20 degrees of Gemini and within the lunar constellation of Punarvasu. This lunar sign is ruled by Jupiter and this lunar phase represents the culmination of the lunar month. It's a fun, interactive and hopeful phase. 

This culmination point also represents a shift. After this, the Moon begins its waning cycle, moving into Capricorn for the new Moon in a couple of weeks; joining the Sun, Mercury and Venus in Saturn's domain by January 20th. This then, marks a alignment with a need to detach in order to point our awareness to our true purpose in the world. 

There is also confusion and tension arising from this full Moon as the Sun and Moon are in a challenging relationship to the nodes of the Moon. Overall, however, there is fun to be had for the beginning of the New Year. 

Sun in Capricorn 14 Jan. - 13 Feb. 

Traditionally, the Sun's entry into the sign Capricorn - known as Makara Sankranti - marked an important transit, as the Sun's change of signs represented the Sun's change to a northerly path for those on the northern hemisphere.  

Two thousand years ago the transit of the Sun coincided with the solstice; when the Sun actually changes to a northerly path for those on the northern hemisphere. It is a time to acknowledge the increasing light on our northern hemisphere. We come out of the darkness with an added sense of purpose and this year Jupiter's influence offers hope, while Saturn offers realism moving forward. 
 

New Moon in Capricorn 20 Jan.

The 'dark Moon' occurs at 13.14 UT at 6 degrees of Capricorn in the lunar sign Uttarashadha. This is the Sun's lunar sign in Saturn's earth sign. As the saying goes, it's always darkest before the dawn. This new Moon marks a shift to a more sober and detached view of our lives as we begin again in earnest in 2015.

With both Jupiter and Saturn strongly influencing how we feel at this time, we are offered a balance between how big we can dream versus how real can it be. 

Venus in Aquarius 22 Jan. - 16 Feb. 

Venus moves sign once again in January, just as we experience the new Moon, and Mercury has just begun its retrograde period. Venus leaves Mercury behind in Capricorn to review the situation and we are given more time to reflect on our duties and responsibilities. Venus, on the other hand, is in Aquarius and in a better mood and willing to shake things up if needs be. It is set alight by Mars' presence in a sign which likes to keep us on our toes and continues to move alongside Mars and into its exaltation sign by February. 

These transits keeps things passionate and interesting. Aquarius represents a new way of looking at what we hold dear moving forward in 2015. 


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