On Jan. 29th at 7:36am EST, a powerful New Moon in almost 10 degrees of Aquarius becomes exact; this is the beginning of a new Moon cycle. I also recommend you watch my video on the subject.
The New Moon in Aquarius invites us to go out there and connect with “our people” — to find a tribe that resonates and perhaps also a cause that feels aligned with our values and our need for stability and comfort. This connection serves a larger vision for our financial future and the future of our planet, etc.
This New Moon occurs on the same day the Chinese New Year begins, marking the start of the Year of the Yin Wood Snake.
Chinese astrology divides the zodiac into 12 signs based on years rather than months. Each sign is represented by an animal, and the system also incorporates five elements — Fire, Earth, Metal, Water, and Wood — each expressed as either yin or yang. This results in 120 possible “years” (12 animals x 5 elements x 2 energetic expressions).
Therefore the last time we had the year of the Yin Wood Snake was in 1905.
The Snake symbolizes wisdom, charm, elegance, and transformation. The Year of the Snake is best approached with intuition, strategic insight, and intelligence.
The Wood element represents growth, flexibility, and harmony. It is associated with spring, new beginnings, independent thinking, and innovation.
This is a “Yin” year, which signifies a more introspective and slower pace than a “Yang” year. Yin energy is associated with calmness, receptivity, and inward reflection, suggesting that we can expect a year focused on introspection, healing, and personal development.
The best way to navigate the Year of the Yin Wood Snake is to conserve energy and focus on activities that move you forward. Listen to your intuition and slow down when you feel friction.
Ask yourself: Where do I feel friction? Where is my focus? What simple actions will support me in moving forward the most? Could I get quiet, tune in, and receive the answers to those questions?
Returning to Western Astrology, we have two exalted planets in this New Moon chart: Uranus — the planet associated with breakdowns, breakthroughs, and innovation — and Jupiter — a giant planet most associated with expansion and growth.
Ask yourself: What in my life is asking for accelerated progress? Where do I need to grow beyond what I already know? What is there still to learn?
As Venus — the planet of self-love, relationships, and values — enters her pre-Shadow phase on January 28th, we begin a journey that will ultimately take us through some profound inner exploration.
You can also read more about Venus’ pre-Shadow phase in my Weekly Forecasts blog: Jan. 27th – Feb. 2nd
The pre-Shadow phase starts just 23 hours before the New Moon becomes exact, offering us a chance to explore themes of love, self-worth, and relating in preparation for Venus’Retrograde cycle (March 1st – April 12th).
During our next Forecasting Forum on February 15th, we’ll dive deeply into this Venus Retrograde phase as it unfolds in Aries and Pisces.
We will:
1. Explore the exalted Energies of Mars and Venus to understand how the interplay of exalted feminine and masculine energies can support our growth and healing during this period.
2. Navigate Venus Retrograde with Awareness: We will reflect on the themes of self-love and connection that Venus invites us to revisit, clarifying how these energies may manifest in your chart.
3. Create Space for Questions and Shared Insights, providing an opportunity for real-time support and a deeper connection with our astrological practice.
Whether you join us live or watch the recording later, this Forum offers a unique space for exploration, connection, and support as we navigate the upcoming planetary shifts together.
==> For more information or to reserve yourself a spot, click here <==
Bonus: Joining our monthly Forecasting Forum will also give you access to my NEW Astrologer Coach community group. I have created this group so you can connect with like-minded people and share your passion for Soul-Based Astrology with people who understand the language.
If you are already a member of my online community, please check your emails (including your junk mail) for the invitation to join this group. I sent it out on Jan. 19th in the afternoon when the Sun moved into Aquarius.
And there is a SECOND Bonus: You will get a discount coupon for my very Special webinar about the Moon Nodes in Pisces-Virgo, live on Feb. 25th. This is not a Forecasting Forum. So if you are a Star Member you will need to register as well!
Here is what we will cover in connection with this New Moon:
- A planetary Line-Up in Aquarius and Pisces creates a robust focus on those two signs. The Aquarian line-up includes Pluto (the energy of transformation and desire for empowerment), Mercury (the planets most associated with processing and distributing information as well as communicating), and the Sun and the Moon – our masculine and feminine sides (our yin and yang, our conscious and unconscious processes)
- The New Moon also makes a beautiful trine to the exalted Jupiter in Gemini, increasing our ability to communicate and connect with others, especially like-minded people.
- Uranus, the modern ruler of Aquarius, is currently in Taurus and will halt only 28 hours after the New Moon becomes exact — ending its yearly 5-month Retrograde phase. It will also make a sextile to Venus in Pisces and Mars in Cancer, and a trine to the South Node in Virgo — so many beautiful harmonious aspects with other planets.
- Saturn (the planet associated with building sustainable and realistic structures/habits) is the traditional ruler of Aquarius and is currently in Pisces. It is still in a Square aspect to Jupiter in Gemini — due to Jupiter’s Station and Retrograde phases, we have been aware of this challenging aspect since Nov. 26th of last year.
- Saturn is also part of a planetary Line-up in Pisces, followed by Venus, Neptune (the energy associated with unconditional love, Oneness, and the dissolver of boundaries), and the North Node (our current Soul direction).
- Saturn also makes a beautiful trine to Mars in Cancer, giving us a chance to connect with others from the heart and building sustainable connections that support us with feeling safe, nurtured, and accepted.
- Lastly, there will also be a Square between Mars and Chiron in Aries.
With all this, we are asked to be extra-mindful about our connections with other people. It invites us to contemplate how we impact everyone’s life around us — consciously or unconsciously, on purpose or by default.
We are also asked to bring integrity and maturity to our connections with others and our collaborations — and to choose Love over fear whenever possible.
Let’s first talk a little bit about Aquarius and what the Line-up of planets represents before jumping into the other aspects of this New Moon chart:
The highest vibration of Aquarius represents…
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Do you have your Ascendant (or any personal planets) in 8-12 degrees of Aquarius, Leo, Taurus, or Scorpio? If so, you may feel the effects of this New Moon more strongly. This is also true for those of us who have our Ascendant or Sun-sign in Leo or Cancer (the Sun rules Leo; the Moon rules Cancer).
Finally, let’s talk “New Moon Intentions”: The New Moon is the best time to set some powerful intentions for this month’s Moon cycle; this is best done soon after the New Moon becomes exact and not during a Moon void of Course phase.
That means that this month, the best time and most potent time to set intentions would be any time between 7:36am on Wednesday, Jan. 29th and 6:29am on Thursday, Jan. 30th. Then again from 5:52pm on Jan. 30th until 7:36am on Friday, Jan. 31st – (New York Time/US Eastern Time)
If you live in a timezone other than EST (US East Coast) and converting time zones isn’t your thing, I suggest joining my Facebook page and following me on Instagram or Twitter. I will post reminders to let you know when to set your New Moon intentions.
For more info about Setting Intentions, click here.
Sonja’s passion is for connecting with people and helping them transform their lives. This led her to train as a life coach, in addition to her lifelong study of Astrology. With her Readings, her coaching and her Soul-Based Astrology Courses she aims to empower and support people in fulfilling their life’s potential and aligning with Soul Purpose.
