The stars of January are dynamic and varied. Strong cardinal energies move us to act. Capricorn alignments set our eyes on the peaks of potential and lead us climbing up the cliff of apparent challenges. Empowered throughout the month, driven Mars won’t let us back down. Meanwhile, relational Venus and universal Aquarius spotlight connections. There’s work, communication, love and adventure. Directly or indirectly, most of it seems to involve Pluto, the dark wizard who gives our busyness a different level of determination, thrust and potential impact.
Since Pluto entered Aquarius in 2023, we’ve been through a lot. So far, this transit hasn’t brought the popular empowerment that we would have liked to see. Last year’s stars looked hopeful, as the outer planets joined in a highly unusual minor grand trine that offered opportunities for harmonious evolution. However, with the subtlety of a steam roller, Pluto seems to have run over human rights, the earth, and civilization as we know it. As 2026 begins, we get a new cosmic ID. We have a chance to identify with power, and wield it to mold our world.
Capricorn Stellium: Taking the Reins
On Thursday, January 1, Mercury enters Capricorn, sign of authority. The planet of thought and communications activates the critical, cardinal degree of zero, unleashing a dynamic wave that extends beyond our personal sphere, connecting us with wider concerns. At the same time, Mercury is associated with active Aries. During his stint in Sag, Mercury opened our vision, and now he focuses on implementing it. Don’t underestimate your ideas and strategies.
This commanding transit strengthens the line-up of Venus, Mars and Sun in the sign of the Mountain Goat. We are serious, about relationships, ideas, values, and spiritual and worldly goals. Neptune is finalizing his trip through foggy Pisces, where the planet of dreams may have had us doubting our ideas. But team Capricorn means business.
In this tenth sign, boss-planet Mars is exalted. He can get his teeth—or climbing hook—into a worthy challenge. Until they reach the top, mountain goats don’t stop to contemplate the path below. Like the mountain goat, believe in your new vision, ignore the past, imagine the future, and lean into your climb, one step at a time.
Cancer Full Moon: Empowering Mind and Soul
Just two days later, we get a chance to focus on sensitive needs, as the Moon becomes full in Cancer. Conjunct visionary Jupiter, she favors inner expansion and angelic connections. As we aim for the top, we can create a space for our soul growth and emotional wellness. Capricorn brings success through effort; this lunation spotlights the kind of abundance that comes from getting in the flow of infinite good.
In Luna’s chart, Mercury has moved to 2 degrees Capricorn, close enough to form a stellium with the other personal planets. And Mercury forms an exact semi-sextile with Pluto. Imbued with the dark wizard’s powers, the messenger planet brings penetrating insight. His x-ray vision sees beyond the surface into the heart of situations and ideas. We can solve problems, persuade others and use words to transmute appearances. These Plutonian strengths will last through the current Moon cycle.
Venus and Mars, Building a New Team
The Full Moon precipitates the influence of this conjunction between masculine and feminine archetypes. Their coupling perfects on Wednesday, January 7, and along with Pluto, flavors the rest of the present Moon cycle. Sun is nestled right between flirty Venus and hot Mars. There’s a potential for romance, and with Capricorn’s taste for commitment, we might meet our twin flame or reunite with an ex. Mars-Venus is what I call the Aphrodite aspect. Its charismatic energy adds magic to connections—for love or friendship, to attract clients, close a deal, or, in constructive Capricorn, to build a team for a new stage of progress.
Taking Our Power Personally
Venus and the other personal planets don’t stop there. They zip around the solar system. Over the week of Sunday, January 4, they move to perfect an opposition to expansive Jupiter, picking up the large planet’s abundant vibrations in Cancer. Venus moves on to sextile Saturn and trine Uranus, with the aspect perfecting on Tuesday, January 13. This harmony integrates the combined potential of Aquarius’ corulers, and the minor grand trine. We can build new energy into our projects, work, investments, financial situation and relationships.
On Saturday, January 17, the sweet goddess sextiles compassionate Neptune, precipitating opportunities for romance, creativity, enchantment, and kindness. A few hours later, Venus enters Aquarius, sign of the rebel. Our values start to shift into a more progressive, humanitarian and authentic mode. On the cusp of wise Capricorn and brilliant Aquarius, we can get brilliant inspiration for relationships and finance.
And Venus is poised to get even more highly charged as, just two days later, on Monday, January 19, she conjoins Pluto. She’s been picking up strength, originality and compassion. Now, she makes a statement. This conjunction imbues her with passion, determination and the power to heal situations of self-esteem, relationships, finance and female physiognomy.
In relationships, this aspect can be an obsessive and controlling. Yet in freeing Aquarius, it’s more apt to insist on ideal, honest, and perhaps open relationships. Our controlling impulses are more likely to be of an ideological kind—we might watch out for pushing our ideas on others. Gone is the shy, reticent Venus that squared stern Saturn at the Winter Solstice. This woman knows what she wants and can focus on getting it, even if doing so requires major change.
This transit can be a point of no return in …
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Crystal Pallas Pomeroy, Maya’s daughter and astrological protégé, offers in-depth astrological consultations from her home in Mexico, in person or via Skype. She is a noted author as well as a regular radio and television commentator on esoteric topics, and leads a spiritual and healing ministry in Mexico City. Crystal offers workshops on astrology, the sacred feminine, indigenous spirituality, and the goddess in beautiful locations throughout Mexico. Her book Angels & Goddesses (Llewellyn, Spring 2022) is available now. Reach Crystal by email here.
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