Happy New Moon in Capricorn!
With this short holiday week it’s hard to believe the weekend is upon us again. And practically gone, as I write this on Sunday.
Moon has been in Capricorn, since 1:55 PM ET on Friday. Until 8:28 PM ET on Saturday (last night), it was a dead Moon, i.e., the end of the lunar cycle. That would explain a feeling of listlessness or restlessness you may have had until today, as you sensed something new was just about the corner, but you weren’t sure what. Now that the new cycle has begun, take a few minutes to focus your intentions and make a list to carry you through until the next New Moon on February 4th.
Capricorn is an earthy, enterprising, social-climbing energy which means business like no other sign in the zodiac. Capricorn knows how to use resources (including people) to get what it needs, which is to make things happen and move things forward. This New Moon chart has three other planets in Capricorn. Mercury, having just entered Capricorn on Friday, is at the Aries Point, demanding an end to pie-in-the-sky theories in favor of practical, “show me” deals. Saturn has been in Capricorn since December 2016, and in this chart we see the Sun and Moon moving away from Saturn’s focused ambition and/or squeeze. Where are they heading? On to Pluto, marching relentlessly through the back third of Capricorn, galvanizing and/or exposing all who are striving to die with the most power, resources and other toys.
This New Moon is at 15 degrees of Capricorn. If you have a planet or angle around 15 Capricorn, Cancer, Aries or Libra, your horoscope is activated more than most. The Sabian Symbol for the New Moon is “Boys and girls in gymnasium suits.” Sabian Sage Blain Bovee suggests we apply this symbol with a mind to “a naked approach to life as a wholesome training for future potentials; flexibility and fitting attire for what one wishes to master.” Let the games begin — and let’s see how this Sabian Symbol plays in the headlines. Did you know that “gymnasium” literally means to train naked? Me, neither!
Meanwhile, this New Moon activates two noteworthy midpoints. A midpoint is the halfway point between any two planets in a horoscope. These midpoints respond to planetary transits, just as planets do. Here we have the Sun and Moon in touch with the Mars/Uranus midpoint, and the Saturn/Pluto midpoint. An activated Mars/Uranus midpoint suggests potentially daring or reckless willpower/action; Saturn/Pluto suggests a ruthless application of ambition against the threat of great loss.
As you can see from the chart, Saturn and Pluto are just beginning to make contact with each other. They will not make an exact connection until January 12, 2020, but the agenda this impending meet-up symbolizes is one of the dominant patterns of 2019. Saturn refers to structure, control, authority, patriarchy, limitations. Pluto refers to breakdown, power, transformation. Together in Capricorn, they suggest a focused ambitious authoritarian initiative in government and/or corporate affairs, launched under likely duress or threat of loss. The last Saturn-Pluto conjunction was in 1982, in Libra; the one before that was in 1947 in Leo. Upside potential: perhaps the world finally makes a serious effort to tackle the climate crisis. Or else.
Another dominant pattern for 2019 in this New Moon is the first of three squares between Jupiter and Neptune (exact on January 13th, June 9th and September 21st). Pushing the limits of faith? In Sagittarius, Jupiter refers to expansion and/or excess in matters including, but not limited to: opinion, dogma, horses, liver, pancreas, optimism, bombast, foreigners, media, law. In Pisces, Neptune refers to fish, oceans, drugs, spirits, lies, fog, refugees, victims, gurus, viruses, chemicals, toxins, suicide, etc. Here’s one of many headlines reflecting this pattern: “Japan’s Sushi King Pays $3 Million for Giant BlueFin Tuna.” That’s one BIG (Jupiter) FISH (Neptune), and it wouldn’t command such a high price if it weren’t so SCARCE (Saturn-Sun-Pluto conjunct in Capricorn)
In other news, we see the potential of shake-ups and/or revelations in the New Moon chart with rebel Uranus at a standstill. Uranus turns direct TODAY at 3:26 PM ET, less than 24 hours after the New Moon. Watch the headlines for more stories than we’ve already seen involving technological advances, aviation, accidents, seismic action and cosmic revelation. Example: U.S. airline pilots write letter to P45, urging an end to the government shutdown, as TSA employees without paychecks call in sick. In your own personal world, you’ll feel the need for a break more personally if you have a planet or angle around 28 degrees of Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn.
Set in Washington D.C., note the angles of the New Moon chart: 22 Taurus (Midheaven) and 28 Leo (Ascendant). close to the angles of P45’s horoscope. Right. Him again. So what else is new? Challenging a regal projection of willpower is Venus at 28 Scorpio, suggesting ruthlessness, honor and tenacity in matters involving women, aesthetics, money and social expression. Mars in Aries adds a need for crusading assertion or action, in harmony with that ruthlessness. Hmm.
This New Moon has extra potency for planting seeds, as it is also a partial solar eclipse.
A Solar Eclipse can act like a “bottleneck” of energy. Light flowing from the Sun is temporarily interrupted, focusing attention on that interrupted point, allowing something new and possibly fragile to enter the picture and grow. And here I would be thinking of Michael, the kindhearted policeman in the storybook Make Way for Ducklings, who stopped the flow of traffic on Beacon Street so Mr. and Mrs. Mallard and their brood of eight could safely make their way to the Boston Public Garden. Got that?
Depending on what degree of the zodiac an eclipse falls, it will later be activated when another planet makes contact with that same degree. Saturday’s New Moon/Eclipse happens at 15 degrees of Capricorn. It will be triggered this month by Mercury (on January 15th) and by Mars (on January 23rd). Saturn will trigger the eclipse on February 4th. Those are dates to watch for a potential surge of action — especially the 23rd.
And now, the news, starting with some thoughts on the horoscope for the 116th Congress. Here is the chart:
What drives this Congress? A Moon in Sagittarius, seeking to be respected for its righteous opinion. About what? Probably shared resources and values, suggested by the Moon’s placement in the 8th House (of “other people’s money/values and other stuff”). Exhibit A: House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy made sure to let everyone know (as he introduced Nancy Pelosi as new Speaker of the House) that “Republicans will always choose personal freedom over government control.” Exhibit B: Congresswoman and Dancing Queen Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s modest proposal of at 70% tax on the super-rich.
This Sag Moon is an almost-dead Moon, more apt for cleaning up old messes than starting new construction. Hmmm. Sag is a Fire Sign, relying on improvisation for direction. This particular Sag Moon is fearfully focused, tempering its expression. Focused on what? Matters involving homeland/home/family security. Put those items at the top of its agenda — and add another megadose of optimism, faith and belief in its own press. We saw that focus right away when Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi was sworn in, surrounded by children.
Mars in Aries is the ruler of 116th Congress chart, demanding attention and seeking bold action. This Mars is more effective than the passive-aggressive/steamy Mars in Pisces that ruled the chart of the 115th Congress. Still, its action potential may limited by its placement in the 12th house. How so? Mars also refers to anger, and the 12th is the house of the self-undoing and hidden enemies. On the other hand, a 12th house Mars is apt for a surgeon or a quarterback — i.e., one who is seeking to apply its ego drives for the benefit of a team. Which will it be?
Meanwhile, it should not surprise anyone to see Mercury (communication, mindset) in pie-in-the-sky Sagittarius in a challenging square to Mars. We can only imagine the bickering to come, as the Dems control the House — but not the Senate…and even among themselves, we expect heated arguments between the incoming rebel forces and the old standard-bearers. Same among the Republicans, too. Already some are going bonkers over newbie Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), who was heard at an event outside of business hours declaring that the Democrats would “impeach the (expletive ),” to demonstrate to her son that “bullies don’t win.”
Note that Mercury is close to the end of Sagittarius — at 27 degrees, near the Aries Point, and also conjunct the Galactic Center. Did that make your head spin? Good, because the Galactic Center is the ginormous center of our galaxy around which everything in it revolves. With Mercury at the Galactic Center in the 116th Congress chart, we see the potential for its mindset/communication to express reeeeeeeeeally BIG PICTURE ideas; i.e., ideas that consider their effect on the whole world; stakeholders, as opposed to shareholders.
Another note about how the 116th Congress needs to think: Mercury is trine (in harmony) to Uranus, suggesting an easy flow of ideas that are innovative, humanitarian, tech-savvy and potentially revolutionary. It is the closest aspect, giving it added punch. Uranus is also quite strong in the 116th Congress chart — in the 1st House, where everyone can clearly see it. It is at a standstill, not quite ready to move forward. But y’know what? In the horoscope for the 117th Congress — in 2021 — the chart ruler is once again Mars in high-functioning Aries — 28 degrees, to be precise — which is where Uranus is right now. Revolutionary initiatives that can’t get off the ground in the 116th, may have their day in 2021. Plus, Mars will be in the 1st House — a much stronger position. I find this hopeful.
In the 10th House we see the Capricorn Sun, sandwiched between Saturn and Pluto, a.k.a. a rock and a hard place. But the limiting squeeze and “resistance is futile” potential of that placement is softened by a harmony with Neptune, planet of empathy, compassion, healing, drugs, dreams, oil, fog, oceans, etc. A kinder, gentler corporate/government institution? One that is more inclined to separate fact from fiction, and toss the latter in the dumpster? One can only hope. When Saturn (fact/real) and Neptune (fiction/surreal) are in harmony, it suggests a balance between ideals and practicality. When Saturn and Neptune are in conflict, we get a bubble of baloney, waiting to burst. Cue the 2015-2016 Saturn-Neptune square now, please. What happened back then. Anyone remember?
For all its focus on ideas and debate, the chart for the 116th Congress has no planets in Air Signs (Gemini, Libra or Aquarius) — and neither did the 115th Congress, frankly. Astrologer Noel Tyl describes this imbalance as a difficulty in “seeing the self as others do” and/or a “awkwardness” in understanding society’s norms of intellectual expression. Horoscopes with no Air are often not big talkers; writing is a studied and strategic form of expression. To be continued…and let’s note the potential for significant action/combat on January 14th, 15th, 25th, 26th and 27th. For starters.
In other news, fun stuff reflecting the “far out!” potential of Uranus turning direct, with extra vision added by Neptune (FANTASTIC) square Jupiter (JOURNEY):
- China lands on the dark side of the moon.
- New Horizons spacecraft sends back images of far-out object Ultima Thule
I’m still grooving to my Headspace app — the meditation thingamajig I started using on last month’s Mars (head) – Neptune (meditation/space) conjunction. I just completed its ten-day course on how to use the energy of anger, which made perfect sense for ten days with Mars at the Aries Point (demanding attention) and moving into Aries (the sign it rules, where it functions with high efficiency.
No sleeping in tomorrow, as there’s no Moon void and much work to be accomplished. Onward!
Thank you for reading this forecast.
Leave a Reply