Astrological Forecast: January 2021 General Horoscope

Happy New Year! Our resolutions can really hit the ground running as we start 2021 with a sextile between Mercury in Capricorn and Neptune in Pisces on January 1st—an aspect that helps us take concrete steps towards our dreams. January falls under the astrological seasons of Capricorn and Aquarius, and true to the Saturnian energy that rules over these two signs, one of the first words to come to mind for this month is overcome. Take a moment to really become aware of your initial feelings or reactions to that word. Does it make you feel victorious or defeated? Burdened or resolute? Do you interpret this word as you overcoming your challenges, or a sense of being overwhelmed or overpowered? 2020 was an unprecedented year full of challenges and restrictions, which made me apprehensive of my word choice, but there is a definite shift with 2021—and a shift almost always begins with our perspective. 2021 might feel like a chess game where we make a move, wait for another move to be made, and take our next move accordingly. While things may still feel slow, there will be a greater sense of movement. As per the strategic theme of this year, we may find ourselves standing before many crossroads, where we must discern which path is the best for us take.

With a couple of T-Squares around the 7th and 28th, we should anticipate some troubles, obstacles, and frustrations in January. While Mars in Taurus this month can certainly help us remain determined in the face of challenge, it may simultaneously be exacerbating the rigidity or bullheadedness we encounter in others along our paths. We may find ourselves in more than one deadlock this month. Play your long game in January and discern what is worth standing your ground for versus what is only serving to hold you back from taking proactive steps elsewhere. Taurean energy not only pertains to finances but also what we value overall. Knowing what is truly important to you will help you preserve your energy for the tasks and situations that actually matter. Innovation will also be a key to success all throughout 2021, particularly in the first several months of this year. The real prize does not wait for those who desire a return to normalcy, but rewards those who stride towards an even greater quality of life, both for themselves and for the greater collective.

“Necessity is the mother of invention.” — An English Proverb

January also marks a time of transformation and shifts in power as the inner planets transit over Pluto in Capricorn. While some degree of resistance is likely, Saturn and Jupiter in Aquarius are playing a strong hand for new systems, approaches, and figures. Surely the U.S. inauguration on January 20th will be one for the history books, and the conjunction between Uranus and Mars can spell out dramatic and risky situations. Still, we should not mistake one current for the whole ocean, and whatever desperate actions may be taken now will prove futile in the long run. Of course, it is not just the U.S. that is undergoing a political crisis, and we can expect 2021 to be a year fraught with ploys and demands for reformations.

Saturn and Jupiter actually remain in the revolutionary Aquarius throughout most of the year; with the exception of May 13th through July 29th and December when Jupiter transits through Pisces. We should remember that shifts in policies are most often born from activists in the streets long before they ever reach the hands of politicians. Social justice will no doubt continue to play loud notes throughout the turning of this decade, unions may dissolve while new allegiances form, and borders could even shift. On a more personal level, we may find ourselves making drastic changes in our plans or priorities in January, especially around when Uranus stations direct smack dab in the middle of the month.

Relationships will also take a more serious tone as Venus transits through Capricorn from January 8th through the rest of the month. Venus in Capricorn is less interested in romantic gestures and only cares about long-term potential and how far a relationship can go. Capricorn in Venus reminds me of a “power couple” and really evokes the desire to find people who can match us on all levels. Commitments will be made and overdue break-ups are likely to occur. We may similarly find ourselves assessing our finances and assets more closely than usual, perhaps leading us to make some changes to our investments or spending habits. The New Moon on January 13th is a great time to start a project, take steps towards a new vocation, or bring a partnership to the next level. The Capricorn New Moon is all about building things that stand the test of time.

Mercury goes retrograde for the first time this year at the very tail-end of the month on the 30th. With Mercury going retrograde in air signs this year, there is an even greater likelihood for misinformation and miscommunication, particularly in our social networks and friendship circles. The Full Moon in Leo on January 28th could really add to the drama as well, especially since this Full Moon is forming the second T-Square of the month between Jupiter and Saturn in Aquarius and Uranus and Mars in Taurus. Both the Five of Wands and Seven of Wands comes to mind for this theatrical lunation. A confrontation between wounded egos that may be difficult to step away from, yet, in the heat of moments such as these, actual solutions are scarce. We may have to hold your ground or wait for tension to settle before agreements can be made. Given this is a Full Moon energy, this conflict will likely be culminated from tensions that have built up over time. We also need to understand that anger evolved as an emotion to give us a sense of power in circumstances which would otherwise make us feel powerless or vulnerable. The way for you to really take control of your anger is to own the feeling of powerless which lies beneath. This does not mean completely resigning to a state of surrender, but rather, trying to understand what is making you feel out of control and strategize how you can actually meet that need. Sometimes this approach can backfire, especially if it isn’t being modeled in a genuine way (i.e., opening up first), and an individual may lash out even more aggressively when another person is trying to expose a vulnerability or use another person’s openness as a weapon against them. We must come back to our sense of control and understand that our power doesn’t necessarily come from controlling others. We may just have to allow a reaction or response to take place and come up with a different approach on our own or with others more willing to work with us.

We should also be aware that electronics may also be especially prone to failure or infiltration during these Mercury retrograde cycles—so ensure your information is secure and files are backed up! With the abundance of Aquarian energy in 2021, technology of all kinds is bound to make headlines, whether it be for advances, failures, or potential dangers and pitfalls.

Major Aspects & Transits for January 2021

- Mercury in Capricorn sextile Neptune in Pisces on January 1st.

- Mercury conjunct Pluto in Capricorn on January 5th.

- Mars enters Taurus on January 6th.

- Moon in Scorpio opposite Uranus and Mars in Taurus forms a T-Square between Saturn and Jupiter in Aquarius on January 7th.

- Mercury enters Aquarius on January 8th.

- Venus enters Capricorn on January 8th.

- Sun in Capricorn sextile Neptune in Pisces on January 8th.

- Mercury in Aquarius square Mars in Taurus on January 9th.

- Venus in Capricorn trine Mars in Taurus on January 9th.

- Mercury conjunct Saturn in Aquarius on January 10th.

- Mercury conjunct Jupiter in Aquarius on January 11th.

- Mercury in Aquarius square Uranus in Taurus on January 12th.

- New Moon in Capricorn on January 13th.

- Mars in Taurus square Saturn in Aquarius on January 13th.

- Uranus stations direct in Taurus on January 14th.

- Venus in Capricorn trine Uranus in Taurus on January 14th.

- Sun conjunct Pluto in Capricorn on January 14th.

- Jupiter in Aquarius square Uranus in Taurus on January 17th.

- Sun enters Aquarius on January 19th.

- Mars conjunct Uranus in Taurus on January 20th.

- Sun and Saturn conjunct in Aquarius on January 23rd.

- Mars in Taurus square Jupiter in Aquarius on January 23rd.

- Venus in Capricorn sextile Neptune in Pisces on January 23rd.

- Sun conjunct Saturn in Aquarius on January 24th.

- Sun in Aquarius square Uranus in Taurus on January 26th.

- Full Moon in Leo on January 28th.

- Moon in Leo opposite Jupiter and Saturn in Aquarius forms a T-Square between Mars and Uranus in Taurus on January 28th.

- Venus conjunct Pluto in Capricorn on January 28th.

- Sun conjunct Jupiter in Aquarius on January 29th.

- Mercury stations retrograde in Aquarius on January 30th. Pre-shadow phase begins on January 14th. Stations direct on February 20th. Post-shadow phase ends on March 12th.