January is a “2” universal month [1 (January) + 1 (2026) = 2] in a “1” Universal Year. “2” months are associated with connection and coming together. This is very appropriate given the absurd number of planetary conjunctions during January, in the signs of Capricorn and Aquarius.
The Set Up
We begin the month with the Sun, Mercury, Venus, and Mars in Capricorn; retrograde Jupiter in Cancer, Saturn and Neptune in Pisces, retrograde Uranus in Taurus, and Pluto in Aquarius. Over the course of the month, the Sun, Mercury, Venus, and Mars will all enter Aquarius. Neptune also enters Aries at the end of the month.
This indicates an ongoing theme that will persist throughout the year: moving on. During 2026, the Sun, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Saturn, and Neptune will all enter 00° Aries (highly significant and a repeat of last year), and Jupiter, the lunar nodes, and Chiron will all change signs as the year progresses.
This is our first step in a forward direction.
The Nitty Gritty
January will be an intense start to 2026 simply because we have a major pileup of planets (the Sun, Mercury, Venus, and Mars) all in close contact with each other in the signs of Capricorn and then Aquarius. At the beginning of the month, we will have a significant concentration of Capricorn energy, focused on work and accomplishments. Then, as the planets enter Aquarius, the focus will shift to groups and organizations – very big picture thinking. This is highly significant as the North Node (the placement of forward-facing fate and the impetus of our eclipses) will enter Aquarius during the summer.
We all need to pay close attention to our planetary conjunctions this month:
1/6 – Sun conjunct Venus 16° Capricorn
1/7 – Venus conjunct Mars 18° Capricorn
1/9 – Sun conjunct Mars 18° Capricorn
1/18 – Mercury conjunct Mars 26° Capricorn
1/19 – Venus conjunct Pluto 03° Aquarius
1/21 – Sun conjunct Mercury 01° Aquarius
1/22 – Mercury conjunct Pluto 03° Aquarius
1/23 – Sun conjunct Pluto 03° Aquarius
1/27 – Mars conjunct Pluto 03° Aquarius
1/29 – Mercury conjunct Venus 14° Aquarius
That is 10 non-lunar conjunctions! This is highly unusual, and anything that is highly unusual should be considered highly significant. We will mainly focus on the conjunctions involving the Sun and the personal planets. Pluto, as our outermost dwarf planet, is too far beyond our comprehension and our reach to be “predictable” in any functional way.
We should note, in particular, our two major stelliums of the month: the first between the Sun, Venus, and Mars at 16°-18° Capricorn from 1/6-1/9 and the second between the Sun, Mercury, and Pluto at 03° Aquarius from 1/21-1/23. Each of these (and each conjunction as well) provides a unique opportunity to work planetary magic.
The Lights: the Sun and the Moon
As the Sun moves through Capricorn, it will conjunct both Venus and Mars, oppose retrograde Jupiter in Cancer, sextile Saturn and Neptune in Pisces, trine Uranus in Taurus and the South Node in Virgo, and square off with Chiron in Aries. When it enters Aquarius, it will conjunct Mercury and Pluto. When you add in the inevitable new moon, this shows that the Sun will be in aspect to every single major point in our solar system.
To reiterate, this indicates we should pay close attention. January isn’t a month for dillydallying and daydreaming; it is the time to dig deep and do the work to set ourselves up for the new world that is unfolding. With so much going on, this energy will be quite concentrated which will make it very intense for some. During Capricorn season, this is going to be extra intense for earth and cardinal signs (especially Capricorn and Saturn-dominant types). During Aquarius season, it will be extra intense for air and fixed signs (especially Aquarius and Saturn-dominant types). It’s worth noting here that both Capricorn and Aquarius are our two Saturnian signs, meaning this will be a very Saturnian month, in a year where Saturn enters Aries. This significance cannot be overemphasized.
Saturn is generally the most challenging planet for most people (even Saturnian types, who tend to enjoy the challenge). We should expect the month to be dense, intense, and somewhat constricting. Note here that the Sun will sextile Saturn on 1/17, further concentrating this energy. If you need to do Saturnian work, this month – as a whole – is the right time, with 1/17 being particularly strong in that regard.
Our full moon peaks at 13° Cancer on 1/3 at 5:02 AM. Note that, due to the solar-lunar opposition occurring early in the day, the “night” of the full moon extends from the evening of 1/2 into the morning of 1/3; the time for full moon magic will have passed by the night of 1/3. (By midnight of 1/4, the moon will be at 24°, far outside the orb of opposition).
It is a 5/7 Full Moon.
10 (Capricorn Sun) + 4 (Cancer Moon) = 14 = 1+4 = 5.
5 (Capricorn Full Moon) + 2 (January 2025) = 7.
“5” is considered an uncomfortable number, often associated with strife. It can help to break up stagnation. “7” is the number of the mystic and the seeker. It’s worth noting here that every Cancer Full Moon is a “5” full moon, but this full moon in particular is a 5/7 full moon. This strife is happening for a reason; we could see it as the breakdown that is secretly a breakthrough, the shakeup that leads to an awakening.
At 13°, our Sun is already in a close stellium to Venus (11°) and Mars (14°) – a stellium that actualizes between 1/6 and 1/9. This puts relationships in the cold seat from 1/3 through 1/9. Yeah, you read that right – the cold seat. Why? Because Saturn isn’t hot. Ever. We cannot ignore the implications of Venus conjunct Mars in Capricorn, which rules marriage through Saturn. There is a sense in 2026 as a whole of “just do it already,” and I imagine there will be many proposals in early January, especially overdue ones. Be wary of saying yes just to have someone, if you know what I mean.
All three of the planets in this stellium (Sun, Venus, and Mars) are going to oppose retrograde Jupiter on 1/9 (Venus) and 1/10 (the Sun and Mars). Jupiter is exalted in Cancer, but also retrograde. Good luck if you’ve met the “right one,” but very bad luck if you’re trying to settle down for the wrong reasons. This applies to other more metaphorical types of “marriage” as well, of course – apply it where it belongs in your own life.
Our new moon on 1/18 sits at 28° Capricorn, tightly conjunct to Mercury and Mars. This looks like the end of an era as the Sun, Mercury, and Mars are all about to enter Aquarius in the days ahead. For the next couple of years, Aquarius IS our future – represented by the North Node. This is a good day to clean up your proverbial shit or release anything you’ve been holding on to for too long.
It is a 2/4 New Moon.
10 (Capricorn Sun) + 10 (Capricorn Moon = 20 = 2+0 = 2.
2 (Capricorn New Moon) + 2 (January 2026) = 4.
“2”, the natural number of the Capricorn new moon, echoes the “2” energy of the month. Work with both Mercury and Mars during this time to represent the togetherness (conjunction) inherent within “2” energy. “4” is a number of stability and form. This indicates where we are headed, as Aquarius, the next sign, is fixed.
The Sun enters Aquarius on 1/19. Aquarius season is the dead of winter, the Sun’s exile, opposite sign to its domain, Leo. In the summer, we can be ourselves and shine like the Sun; in the winter, we must work together as a group to survive. All solar magic is at a disadvantage during Aquarius season, so if you wish to work with the Sun, do so early in the month rather than later.
The Sun conjuncts Mercury for the first time in 2026 at 01° Aquarius on 1/21. This is a superior conjunction, meaning that Mercury is in direct motion and moving past the Sun. It is a great day to think, write, and plan. Perhaps even for inspiration, if you are especially Uranian.
On 1/23, the Sun makes its annual conjunction to Pluto. This always feels heaviest when it falls in the dead of winter, echoing many of our stories of the Sun hiding in a cave (or in the underworld) during the winter season. Be your own light during this time, if you can.
Mercury
Mercury is moving fast all month long, playing catch-up with the Sun and the other planets as it races through Capricorn before entering Aquarius on 1/20. Both 1/1 and 1/20 are great days to do Mercury work of all kinds, with this being especially true of new years day because nothing says “new year, new you” quite like a road opener done with Mercury. 1/20 stands out simply because Aquarius is co-ruled by Uranus, the higher octave of Mercurial energy. If you need to set intentions for the new year or a new path forward, 1/1 is the day; if you need inspiration or to grasp the bigger picture, 1/20 is the day.
See a simple spell for Mercury days here.
Venus and Mars
As our two relationship planets, Venus and Mars’s placements – both by sign and how they are interacting with each other – dictate a lot of the general “vibes” of our day-to-day life. When the two are well aligned, we tend to get along much more easily; when they aren’t, we don’t. When they clash, people tend to get testy and argumentative.
We are in luck this month, as Mars is exalted in Capricorn. This will make work of all kinds much easier, as Capricorn encourages us to show up every day and put in the effort needed to advance our own lives. Venus, on the other hand, can feel a bit stifled in the craggy nothingness of cardinal earth. It is what it is. Venus isn’t detrimented in Capricorn in any way, but she’s also not at her best. To paraphrase one of my favorite earth sign memes: with Venus in Capricorn, the doors to love (in all capacities) are open, but it can be pretty damn heavy.
This doesn’t look like a romantic month, even with Venus and Mars meeting up in a stellium with the Sun from 1/6-1/9. Relationships will feel more like obligations than fun times. Some people like it that way. Those prone to SADness and winter ennui may want to check themselves all month long and apply Vitamin D (or whatever makes you feel better) liberally. If you can’t make your own neurotransmitters, store-bought is fine – and that’s a wide metaphor, apply “neurotransmitters” wherever it is relevant in your own life.
There won’t be a lot of light to be found, so if you can carry sacred heart energy, the world looks like it will need it. The big flex is (as always) to be kind and remember that everybody else is going through something that you know nothing about.
It doesn’t look easy, though.
Neptune
Neptune re-enters Aries after a brief retrograde back into Pisces on 1/26, the first of our planets to do so in 2026. This is highly significant as 00° Aries is the first degree of the horoscope wheel, the point of birth and of beginnings. This makes 1/26 a great day to start over, set intentions, or try something completely new. We will have many more opportunities to do this as the Sun, Mercury, Venus, Mars, and Saturn follow in Neptune’s footsteps later in the year.
Looking Forward
If January looks intense, just wait for February, which includes the last eclipses in this Pisces-Virgo lunar nodal cycle and the first Mercury retrograde of 2026. It will be a lot, but taking the proper steps to shore up your life during January (perhaps working with Saturn in this regard) will help ease us through these upcoming transitions.
The Details
All times are in EST (UTC-5:00) Important aspects are bolded.
1/1 – Mercury enters Capricorn, Mercury in Sagittarius square Neptune in Pisces
1/2 – Sun in Capricorn trine South Node in Virgo
1/3 – Full Moon 13° Cancer, Venus in Capricorn trine South Node in Virgo
1/6 – Sun conjunct Venus 16° Capricorn
1/7 – Venus conjunct Mars 18° Capricorn
1/9 – Sun conjunct Mars 19° Capricorn, Mercury in Capricorn trine South Node in Virgo, Venus in Capricorn opposed retrograde Jupiter in Cancer
1/10 – Sun in Capricorn opposed retrograde Jupiter in Cancer, Mars in Capricorn opposed retrograde Jupiter in Cancer
1/11 – Venus in Capricorn square Chiron in Aries
1/12 – Sun in Capricorn square Chiron in Aries
1/13 – Mars in Capricorn square Chiron in Aries
1/14 – Mercury in Capricorn opposed retrograde Jupiter in Cancer
1/15 – Venus in Capricorn sextile Saturn in Pisces, Venus in Capricorn trine retrograde Uranus in Taurus
1/17 – Venus enters Aquarius, Sun in Aquarius sextile Saturn in Pisces, Sun in Aquarius trine retrograde Uranus in Gemini, Venus in Capricorn sextile Neptune in Pisces, Mercury in Capricorn square Chiron in Aries
1/18 – New Moon 28° Capricorn, Mercury conjunct Mars 26° Capricorn, Mercury in Capricorn sextile Neptune in Pisces
1/19 – Sun enters Aquarius, Sun in Capricorn sextile Neptune in Pisces, Mercury in Capricorn trine retrograde Uranus in Taurus, Venus conjunct Pluto 03° Aquarius
1/20 – Mercury enters Aquarius, Mercury in Capricorn sextile Neptune in Pisces, Mars in Carpricorn sextile Saturn in Pisces, Mars in Caricorn trine retrograde Uranus in Taurus, Saturn in Pisces sextile retrograde Uranus in Taurus
1/21 – Sun conjunct Mercury 01° Aquarius
1/22 – Mercury conjunct Pluto 03° Aquarius
1/23 – Mars enters Aquarius, Sun conjunct Pluto 03° Aquarius, Mars in Capricorn sextile Neptune in Pisces
1/26 – Neptune enters Aries
1/27 – Mars conjunct Pluto 03° Aquarius
1/29 – Mercury conjunct Venus 14° Aquarius