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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The highest vibration of Aquarius is to experience unity in diversity — to know ourselves as both an individual and an integral member of the human race.
It’s a place where we transcend differences of gender, race, religion, and nationality and realize that we are all members of the human race.
At its best, Aquarius is the energy of equality and diversity, freedom and reform, collaboration and community, and unity but not conformity.
With the synergistic power of Aquarius — where combined efforts achieve far more than individual actions and where everyone matters — we could make tremendous progress quickly.
The Moon makes an exact alignment with Pluto in almost 2º of Aquarius on Jan. 28th in the early evening, and Mercury follows suit 9 hours later. The Sun already aligned with Pluto on Jan. 21st but will be within 10 degrees of this powerful energy until Jan. 31st.
Of course, with Pluto being part of this line-up, we also need to look at the darker aspects of Aquarius…
These can show up when we get overly attached to the mind and its functions, rigid thinking about the future, etc. “Readiness” kicks in, and the mind’s activity reaches an all-time high.
We may hold lofty ideals but have no clue how to “be the change we wish to see in the world”– instead, we want others to be that change.
Since the New Moon will be within 8 degrees of Pluto, we are getting a taste of Aquarian’s darker side but also its possibility for transformative interconnectivity and empowering group consciousness.
Ask yourself: What might be possible if I realized I was far more powerful than I imagined? And what if I realized that I am exponentially more powerful when I combine my ideas, talents, and hearts with other like-minded people?
The darker side of Aquarius also expresses itself as hypocrisy and herd mentality, adopting high ideals without embodying them and mindlessly following the crowd.
Please keep in mind that with Pluto in the mix, awareness of the darker side of Aquarius is important, so we can bring consciousness and light to that darkness. Where there is light, there is a way for transformation and empowerment.
Ask yourself: Where do I expect others to uphold ideals I have yet to embody completely? When do I trust others and their opinions without doing my research or turning inward to see what aligns with my inner truth?
Do I sometimes agree with others even when my heart is not in it?
It’s essential to be especially aware and responsible when connecting with others, so as best as you can, get present and ask yourself: What am I bringing forth? What are my intentions? Am I coming from love and the heart? Or fear and survival?
With Mercury so close to Pluto, we have tremendous focus now. On a denser level, we might get obsessed with thoughts, information, or conversations — trying to control outcomes at any cost and perhaps becoming controlling when things don’t go exactly as we see fit.
The key here is to become aware of the motivations that drive us.
Watch out for ways you feel empowered or disempowered when interacting with others or “the world”. Notice how you communicate and ensure that your inner dialog supports an empowering narrative (rather than disempowering) in connection to your future and that of humanity.
When you feel a sense of disempowerment or helplessness, open your heart and trust the divine power within you that always guides you to shed any attachments (to wanting control or other self-protective behaviors) that are no longer needed so you can live full-out and with passion in your heart.
Ask yourself: Might a more authentic emotional connection with like-minded people support empowering collaborations?
Am I living my life from a place of wanting to protect myself from future harm or worst-case scenarios? Or am I living with an open heart, feeling empowered in my daily choices?
Uranus, the modern ruler of Aquarius, will come to a halt only 28 hours after the New Moon becomes exact — ending its yearly 5-month Retrograde phase on Jan. 30th at 23 degrees of Taurus.
The planet’s energy has been “louder” since January 20th because it has been moving slower than usual; it will remain exalted until Feb. 6th.
Uranus is the higher octave of Mercury, increasing our access to innovative thinking and alternative solutions. We are asked to elevate our thinking if we want our bodies and the planet to vibrate at a higher frequency.
Uranus in Taurus emphasizes the urgency of changing our relationship with the Earth and the physical realm — from domination and exploitation to stewardship and co-creation.
Ask yourself: What have I learned about honoring my body? What about my material and financial resources? Or my talents? In what ways have I started to elevate my thinking?
Jupiter (the giant planet most associated with expansion and growth) is also exalted due to its station phase that starts on the day of the New Moon (Jan. 29th).
Jupiter is also preparing to end its 4-month Retrograde phase (that started early October 2024) on Feb. 4th at 11 degrees of Gemini and will remain exalted until Feb. 11th.
Since early October of last year, we have had the opportunity to choose what we truly believe — which beliefs serve us and which don’t — and we have been able to more easily let go of limiting beliefs and experience new truths.
With Jupiter exalted until Feb. 11th, we are more aware of our social/cultural conditioning and may feel overly optimistic or not quite optimistic enough.
Ask yourself: What if I took a 5% more positive attitude towards my inner dialog? What do I think about? What don’t I think about? What might promote a new personal perspective around my inner dialog?
How has information supported my understanding of life over the last four months? What if I stayed curious and open-minded towards all the different bits of information coming my way?
Let’s take a look at the other aspects of this New Moon chart:
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.
With this harmonious aspect in place, ask yourself for the next four weeks: What might promote growth around my connections with others and my ability to learn from those interactions? How might listening more closely or carefully be a part of that?
How might I become more curious and engaged with people around me? What mental opportunities can I now explore that support a versatile and sociable life?
The exalted Uranus in Taurus makes a sextile to Venus in Pisces and to Mars in Cancer, as well as a trine to the South Node in Virgo — lots of beautiful harmonious aspects with other planets.
These Sextiles help us find new solutions to old problems. Social gatherings and events, especially those that are spiritual or creative, are particularly favored at this time.
Ask yourself: How could I go after what I want while keeping other people’s highest good in mind?
How might an environment that supports being nurtured (or nurturing) support my enjoyment of life? How might it support my physical well-being?
Where am I prepared to make some meaningful progress? How might my intuitive connection to my higher Self support this?
The Trine to the South Node in Virgo makes it easier to discern what is most useful for our physical well-being. We get better at simplifying things and knowing what needs improving and what doesn’t.
Ask yourself: What does “physical wholeness” mean to me? How might being 5% more mindful of my physical well-being help me achieve a life of abundance?
How might “order” and “better organization” support my physical experience of life? Where could I bring greater efficiency to support my daily routines?
Saturn (the planet associated with building sustainable and realistic structures/habits) is the traditional ruler of Aquarius and is currently in Pisces.
Saturn is still in a Square to Jupiter in Gemini (since Nov. 26th of last year). Feel free to watch my most recent Full Moon video for more about this challenging aspect, and read my Weekly Forecasts for Dec. 24th, 2024 (when the aspect was exact)
Any Square invites us to surpass our previous limitations; Jupiter and Saturn, as social planets, are usually linked to our social and economic contracts, agreements, and dynamics.
We are asked to reassess our interconnectivity with all of life, our use of spiritual practices, and our ability to be present in the here and now — or lack thereof.
Some restructuring of our lives and business goals might be in order. We may be looking for new challenges — sometimes because we are forced to look, as things are not going exactly to plan.
This Square also reveals where our beliefs may be out of sync with reality. What was true before may not be now — and may have never been true in the first place. What was impossible before may be doable now.
Ask yourself: What might promote mental health and adaptability? To what degree do I engage my head — and to what degree do I engage my heart?
What am I aware of right now that would shift my perspective if I allowed myself to “go beyond all thinking”? How about resting as “the knowing that I already am”?
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).
This line-up asks us to go within and trust our intuition and connection to Source above all else. While each of us is on a unique spiritual journey, we are also all traveling together. Saturn in Pisces invites us to focus more profoundly on our spiritual journey.
With Saturn, we are learning about limits, responsibility, and becoming our own authority.
Saturn in Pisces reminds us that being too influenced by external interactions and intellectualized social concepts will not lead to a truthful connection with our inner divinity or intuitive knowing and trusting of life.
Ask yourself: What daily practice would strengthen my intuitive connection to life? What works for me (and what doesn’t around getting enough rest and downtime? How about time away from technological devices and external input?
What’s getting in my way of having a more grounded spiritual experience in this human life? Am I too idealistic? Too avoidant? Too dreamy? Too sensitive?
What might be a practical, sustainable approach towards forging a closer connection with Source? The Universe? Life? How might slowing down and trusting the flow of life support me at this time?
Saturn (and Venus) make a beautiful trine to Mars in Cancer, giving us a chance to connect with others from the heart and build sustainable connections that support us in feeling safe, nurtured, and accepted.
Ask yourself: What actions help me find a home aligned with my higher Self? What actions can I take to nourish myself and my loved ones? How might an intuitive approach support me in taking the best and highest actions?
Lastly, let’s talk about the Square between Mars in Cancer and Chiron in Aries. This aspect invites us to stretch and grow beyond our insecurities and sensitivities.
Squares always mark significant turning points, where we have to make some kind of shift before we can move forward. We may experience triggers connected to childhood wounds.
Take this as an opportunity to grow and allow yourself to notice (rather than judge) your reactions.
Ask yourself: How old am I when I react to my triggers? What if I saw the part of me that got triggered as valid and highly deserving of my love and understanding? How might a compassionate approach support me next time around?
To sum up, this new moon reminds us that we are simultaneously on a unique path and integral to the collective journey.
When we do not take responsibility for our role in the collective — when we do not honor our unique contribution to society or our communities — we get stuck in feeling alienated, unable to relate to others who are different and isolate ourselves.
An inner, spiritual revolution is required to create a new paradigm — a fundamental shift in perspective from “us versus them” to “we” via loving acceptance and the opening of the heart.
The most profound change will not be political or scientific but spiritual — a shift into a heart-centered paradigm where we realize our inherent divinity, equality, and interconnectedness.
Ask yourself: What if I allowed myself to be different and connected to others? What if I chose, right here and now, to contribute to humanity from a heart-centered and authentic place?
Those of us born to be agents of change are often unaware that millions of others like us were incarnated to assist in humanity’s evolution.
As best as you can, remember why you are here at this momentous time. “Think Different”, keep your heart open, and come together. Help birth a new world one day at a time.
Ask yourself: What if diversity was the greatest gift we could give each other now?
What if I was able to let go of whatever it is that I am holding on to that keeps me separate from my friends, my family, and my fellow humans? (This might include stories, fears, resentments, anger, etc.)
Here is a quote that fits really well (it’s from The Collective of Ascended Masters, channeled by Daniel Scranton): “When you want to see changes out there in the external world, then you had better believe that there are changes that need to be made within you… when you exercise your power to choose by exercising your power of paying attention, well then you have everything that you need to live the life of your dreams…“
Again, I also recommend you watch my video on the subject.
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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.