Last month, on December 30th, a New Moon occurred in the sign of Capricorn, influencing the first weeks of January 2025 by signaling a new beginning. We recognize that having some boundaries and rules in place frees us up to enjoy ourselves as we meet our responsibilities. This lunation offered us the opportunity to set attainable goals and work on developing maturity, self-discipline, and common sense. We’re asked to consider and prepare for the future.
On January 6th, retrograde Mars returns to Cancer. Mars will remain retrograde until February 23rd. This cycle began in Leo on December 6th. We are in the position to re-assess our current projects and our approach to getting what we want. Mars energy is turned inward; it’s internalized, intensified, personalized, and maybe pressurized. There can be passive-aggressive behavior during this cycle and we may be instigating problems or arguments rather than dealing with issues directly. However, this can be a good time to learn more about our inner motivations and desires and to reconsider old projects and interests.
With Mars retrograde in introspective Cancer for the remainder of the retrograde from January 6th to February 23rd, we might find it hard to discover direct and healthy expressions or outlets for frustrations. We can be more pensive and cautious, taking our time to reach our goals. If we push ahead impulsively anyway, we run into problems, obstacles, and frustrations. Cancer rules our foundations: our homes, domestic affairs, and relationships with family. We may need to reassess our approach to our home lives now. We are apt to feel some frustration or anxiety about our basic sense of comfort and security and with the development of our domestic affairs. Health issues may be a factor especially in areas ruled by Cancer, including the stomach, and accidents are a possibility during the Mars retrograde period.
Our goal during a Mars retrograde period should be to better understand our impulses, survival instincts, anger, sexuality, inner courage, and the ways we go about getting what we want from life. The cosmos are asking us to look before we leap rather than throwing ourselves into action.
On January 11th, the True Node of the Moon enters Pisces. The Moon’s North Node transits a sign for around 18 months, and when the North Node is in Pisces, the South Node is in Virgo. This is a time to work on feelings of guilt about not doing enough or the tendency to overanalyze and overthink. We’re learning to put more faith and trust in a bigger plan. Our path is to develop our love for ourselves and others through growing our compassion and understanding. It’s a time to learn more humility as we recognize that we are not perfect and we don’t have to be.
During this cycle, we benefit from developing our imagination, empathy, compassion, and faith. If we default to overworking or focusing on our physical health, we must recognize the need to commit to our mental and emotional health. Learning to let go of an obsession with rules, details, and fear of not doing things perfectly or correctly will help us achieve a greater sense of balance and lessen guilty feelings and fears of failure, leading to a better state of inner balance.
This a period for inner work and an excellent time for working behind the scenes. More quality time to ourselves helps us connect with our potential for inner healing. We’re discovering that being idle is not inherently wrong and we need to disconnect, detox, and decompress from time to time. At the same time, we can enjoy more magic in our daily routines. It’s a time for growth through meditation, healing, medicine, research, art, film, photography, poetry, dance, and psychology.
On January 13th, a Full Moon occurs in Cancer. This lunation can bring a sudden desire to connect with our families or our own hearts. Something is illuminated, prompting us to get in touch with things that we may have been neglecting or putting off.
On January 26th, Saturn forms a semi-square with Pluto. This is the final of three formations, the first of which happened in May 2024 and the second occurred in September 2024. This outer planet transit with longer-term influence points to possible power struggles, frustration, and manipulation. We may recognize the need for change, but feel blocked by others or by circumstances; or we might attempt to hold on to what has worked for us in the past. Persistence will pay off in the end, and the need to adjust our expectations becomes obvious.
On January 29th, the New Moon occurs in Aquarius, stirring a new beginning. This energy prompts us to make a clean break or a fresh start. We awaken our minds to a need for a vision, socializing and brainstorming, expressing feelings of friendship, and developing more objectivity in our lives. We’re determined to start fresh. In the sign of Aquarius, friendship, brotherhood, group activities, social pursuits, group projects, trying something new, humanitarian efforts, or joining a group are in focus.
On January 30th, Uranus stations and turns direct, after being in retrograde motion since September 1st. As Uranus gains speed in the coming weeks, our urge to express ourselves, to take chances or risks, rebel, listen to our instincts, and stir up change are awakened. We begin to see clearly that we can make changes and that we are not always victims of changes thrust upon us.