Tomorrow, January 11th, we will have this year’s new moon in Capricorn and it brings a seed of powerful and clear potential for the month. It will occur at 3:57 AM in California (I guess that means tonight), 5:57 hours in Mexico City, and 12:57 hours in Santander. I hope you read this in time to cast an intention for the month, I apologize for the tardiness. In the preview for 2024, I put forward the analogy of being on an airplane that is finally at the end of the runway after quite a tumultuous 2023 and which will begin speeding later this month towards a 2025 take-off. Regardless of where our flight is heading, which broadly depends on the consciousness level at which we operate, this year will go very fast.
I have made the point that Capricorn is a very powerful sign. All the expansive energy of Sagittarius, with its global and far-reaching visions for a civilization, is harnessed and made concrete as an organized State in Capricorn. In physics, the solid state of matter has large amounts of potential energy being used to keep its crystalline structure. Similarly, the State uses energy from its citizens to organize and maintain the structure of its institutions along with their laws and regulations. Just like in physics, potential energy may be transformed into kinetic energy in Aquarius and released as power to dismantle obsolete structures of the State in either a reforming controlled manner or an explosive rebellion.
Time for Concrete Action
This is always a powerful new moon given that Capricorn is the Cardinal sign of the Earth element, which we can loosely define as concrete action, often in the form of ambition. No doubt that is why January is the perfect month to begin the calendar year, which deals with societal rhythms. Looking at the new moon’s chart, I was struck by the number of key aspects that are exact (same degree) or one degree apart. Furthermore, there are six planets in earth signs: Jupiter and Uranus in Taurus, and Sun, Moon, Mars and Pluto in Capricorn–Mercury will join them in four more days. Moreover, every planet is moving direct, with the exception of Uranus who will do it before the end of the month. A new moon with lots of concrete (Earth signs) and lots of action (direct planets).
This is a great new moon to begin a project or start the ending of one. In addition to the Sun–Moon conjunction at Capricorn 20°44′, the chart has a Minor Grand Trine configuration between Mars (Capricorn 5°08′) in exact trine with Jupiter (Taurus 5°48′), both in Earth signs and each forming a near-exact sextile with Saturn (Pisces 4°14′), ruler of Capricorn and functioning as vertex of the configuration. Jupiter expands everything so the trine with Mars is capable of energizing a big project and Saturn could organize it all. The only caveat is that Saturn in Pisces may bring unusual modes of organization which may be truly inspirational or simply delusional, both energies are available.
A strong Saturn, like conjunct with Sun, or a well-represented Capricorn, may result in individuals who can thrive in the middle of chaos, organizing what seems pure randomness to others, and being able to maintain calm in the middle of a storm. A strong Capricorn has such an encompassing look in life that is able to laugh at his own foibles, or, unfortunately, insist in the sanctity of familial and societal rules in the most patriarchal manner.
Sabian Symbol
I remind you that this is the third of five consecutive new moons falling in the 21° of the sign, through the end of the astrological year, which is significant for our emotional-cultural level of evolution, according to the Sabian symbols. At any rate, the symbol for Capricorn 21° has the image: “A Relay Race”, further characterized as the value of competition in developing group consciousness. Its key phrase is: Dynamic Interchange.
This race is not a competition about individuals but about groups that are composed of individuals who are not competing among themselves, instead taking turns to maximize the success of the group. The whole of civilization is kind of a relay race where groups of people, and entire generations, carry the torch of progress and evolution. Once again, it points to the power of co-creation by the consciousness of the many.
In his book “An Astrological Mandala”, Dane Rudhyar remarks about this degree: “Wherever this symbol appears, it emphasizes the value of group cooperation and of necessary give-and-take”. I’m not getting tired of listening to the same message, are you?
Healing Energies
I spoke earlier of exact aspects, and we already saw the Mars–Jupiter trine, but note the exact square formed between the Sun–Moon conjunction and the North Node at Aries 20°13′, making this lunation an important one for transforming collective karma into dharma. This is, of course, an opportunity for healing collective wounds.
The mechanics of the nodes is such that, in a personal chart, the North Node points us the areas and modes of experience where we should invest our energy, for that is the direction of “best sailing” for us. It symbolizes the future which will gives us the best growth, defined in Wholeness as going from Natural Man to Illumined Man. The South Node, meanwhile, represents our karmic past, full of tools we can use in our journey through the North Node experiences. We obviously feel comfortable with the South Node energies but focusing in that field of experiences will not lead to the soul-growth for which we are here.
When we talk about a lunation chart, the dynamics are the same but they apply to humanity as a whole. Yet a visionary Capricorn realizes that a civilization is ultimately made from individuals who transformed their ego into the Self, and what is good for the civilization must also be good for the individual, or it will fail. From such viewpoint, the transiting nodes give us an opportunity to be agents of change.
I have mentioned that Chiron has quickly become one of my favorite minor planets, which is related to both the biggest hurt, where we become defensive and insecure, and the biggest healing, by transcending the hurt that won’t really go away but instead will help us gain strength. Well, at Aries 15°34′, Chiron will be conjunct with the North Node and, because both move relatively slowly and the nodes always move retrograde, they will remain within the orb of a conjunction for many months, signaling a long opportunity to collectively feel humanity’s hurt, being able to transcend it and heal. At this new moon, Chiron will also form a trine with Venus (Sagittarius 15°26′) reminding us that all healing begins within our relationships.
Moreover, as I mentioned in the preview of 2024, Chiron will be precisely conjunct with the North Node, in the same degree and minute, at the first new moon of the astrological year, the much anticipated total solar eclipse of April 8th, which will propel us at high speed on the metaphoric runway. The journey is a healing one, let’s co-create the reality we will have on arrival.
Galactic Inspiration?
The new moon chart ends on another precise note. At Sagittarius 27°20′, Mercury is conjunct with the galactic center1, although I have my doubts as to whether planets other than Sun can have a meaningful direct relationship with the galactic center. Nonetheless, Mercury and Neptune (Pisces 25°16′) form a square which will bring our minds in connection with universal love and compassion. Such connection will bring us needed inspiration to effect and speed up the healing process for humanity and for the planet.
I am of the opinion that the incredibly strong solar flares we have been witnessing the last few months are a physical manifestation that Spirit, the Day and Night forces, is coming on with tremendous strength. Remember that Spirit only and always responds to a calling, and I truly believe that Sun is responding a calling from Earth, for we have seriously wounded the planet and it needs to elevate its consciousness to heal, which in turn means to elevate humanity’s consciousness.
Aquarian Entrance
Let me say a few words about the “real” entrance of Pluto in Aquarius, even though it already spent ten weeks in Aquarius in 2023; who could forget the ChatGPT craze? Although Pluto will reenter Capricorn for a ten-week final soiree in that sign, to which it won’t return in nearly 250 years, this new moon is like a going-away party: Moon will be conjunct Pluto later in the day (a going-away hug?) and Sun will form its conjunction with Pluto on January 20th in the final minute of Capricorn (29°59′)!
Later on that day, Sun and Pluto will enter Aquarius practically hand in hand, as you can see in the enclosed chart made for the moment when Pluto will be at Aquarius 0°00′ and Sun at Aquarius 0°27′.2 I want you to pay attention at the position of the North Node in this chart, Aries 19°28′, which is only 0°04′ from where the April 8th solar eclipse will occur. Recall that when a planet is “at” a degree, it is forming a conjunction with it. The two archetypes, the planet and the Sabian symbol, are combined to act as one, under the holistic equivalent of the addition operation.
The life experiences in the field (astrological house) where you have Aquarius 0°00′ will be felt in a different way almost overnight. Generally speaking, we are very serious about the life matters symbolized by the house(s) of Capricorn, and Pluto forces us to pay attention to the matters of whichever house it transits, so in the past few years there has been a “heaviness” in the house where we have the final degrees of Capricorn. With Pluto moving to Aquarius in the same house, the heaviness will be lifted and we will confront the same type of life experiences in a different and “lighter” way. Perhaps we were forced to act in a more “paternal” manner: organizing, structuring, providing, reassuring, etc., and suddenly we will feel freer and more open to the future, the new, the unknown. The move from Capricorn to Aquarius is that of a daredevil, like skydiving off of a building, since Capricorn seduces us with a false sense of security in the material. Thus, we must find courage within ourselves and jump.
In mundane astrology, José Millán tells us that when Pluto enters a sign, actual events occur on our planet, perhaps related in this case to the atmosphere since Aquarius is the most “airy” of the three Air signs. I also mentioned earlier that Uranus will be the last planet to move direct, reaching 10% of its normal speed in that direction on January 30th. Every time Uranus changes from retrograde to direct the planet also experiences events and, being in Taurus (the Earth), it may continue bringing earthquakes and other “natural disasters”. Of course, it has been in Taurus for many years telling us the damage we have done to our planet, for Uranus always brings out information about unusual, unspoken or taboo aspects of the sign in which it transits, forcing us to talk about them.
Wrapping Up…
The next ten days, between the new moon and the entrance of Pluto in Aquarius, are like the final seconds at the end of the runway, just prior to accelerating. Or, if you prefer a different analogy, like going uphill in a roller coaster very slowly before the initial downhill. The reason I like the plane analogy better is that each of us may be in a different plane, some flying solo, others in a twin-seat plane, and others in a great jumbo jet with a large community, but all of us who are getting at least a glimpse of our role as co-creators are taking off this year. The routes are not necessarily set in stone, just the general direction. I think that the twenty years of Pluto in Aquarius represent the symbolic threshold for the Age of Aquarius, which we will have crossed once Pluto moves on to Pisces.
Unfortunately, the future is more invisible than usual, because the old paradigms that have given us “security”, as false as it may be in reality, are no longer working and we will be witnessing their destruction, rendered inoperative. The final blow will come from within the corrupt systems in a most Aquarian way: by reform or by rebellion. The problem is that such ending will only happen after the inertia of the old, fueled by the power of the elites, is overcome.
This particular lunation is about accepting the responsibility that comes with being conscious of the fact that humanity is undergoing a radical transformation, nay, a metamorphosis for which we have fastened our seat belts. The lunation is about working with others for the good of the group, as in a relay race. Not only in space, with others around us, but also in time, passing the torch of wisdom and compassion to others by the contagion with our way of living, which must be in accordance with the values of the new consciousness.
As Heather Ensworth emphasizes, our relationships must be in balance, starting with the one we have with ourselves. To do that, she suggests the development of a “witness” in our minds so we can become aware of our subconscious reactions, which is undoubtedly the first step to integrate them in our conscious mind. Early on in my writing, I mentioned that the most important integration we should attempt is that of our self image with our relatedness image: the one (or ones!) we present to form and maintain relationships. In astrology that means integrating the polarity of the horizon in the chart: the Ascendant and Descendant signs.
At a personal level, this lunation is the perfect time to concretize plans or projects that are ready to go. The energy is for action, not reflection, perfect for completing tasks that have been neglected. It is also the time to realize of which we must let go to lighten the load, have space for the new, and keep on growing. Let’s use our witness, as Heather would say, to identify and release the patterns of the past that are no longer working. She also recommends a fire ceremony of letting go. Above all, have faith. The energies trying to derail us from the transformation we desire will fail, regardless of what the amount of chaos around us suggests.
Always Love. 🌹🙏💖
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