January 13 12:00 PM EST
This new moon is fascinating for several reasons. It takes place at 23 degrees of Capricorn, right “next door” to 22 degrees of Capricorn, the degree where the majorly significant Pluto Saturn conjunction took place on January 12, 2020. 22 degrees of Capricorn is also where 2 out of the 3 Jupiter Pluto conjunctions happened in 2020 (the 3rd one occurred at 24 Capricorn). So we can safely say this is a HIGHLY activated part of the sky. There were also eclipses near this degree in 2019 and 2020 AND it is close to the nodal axis of both Saturn and Pluto.
While 2021 marks a significant energetic shift AWAY from the heavily Capricornian influence of the past several years (and towards a more Aquarian influence as can be seen by Saturn’s ingress into Aquarius, and the Jupiter Saturn Grand Conjunction), in January 2021 we are still sorting out the debris and dealing with exactly WHAT to bring forward into this next chapter and what to release once-and-for-all.
The process of death, decay, release, transformation and transmutation is overseen by the Lord of the Underworld, Pluto. Pluto has purview over all matters pertaining to power and the cycle of transformation. After all, what truly FUELS power but transformation? Transformation of natural resources into usable units of power for our homes and technological innovations is one example. On a more esoteric level, we are talking about the inner transmutation of our “dark” materials, our own shadow, our hidden fears and shame and desires from something that DEPLETES our power (in the hiding/denying/rejecting of them) into something that energizes and supports us. This occurs through shadow work, self-acceptance and claiming our own worth and personal authority.
The new moon at 23 degrees of Capricorn is conjunct Pluto at 24 degrees of that sign. Pluto moves extremely slowly (the slowest of all of the planets) so it has been ‘hanging out’ in this general vicinity (the last 10 degrees of Capricorn) for the past year or two and will stay there until it begins its approach into Aquarius in 2023. Thus, this new moon is one of our final ‘big ticket’ energetic transits to clear up and clean out what Pluto has been trying to get us to deal with and look at in our lives over the course of the past several years. This could be some major psychological material, or it could be cleaning up some practical matters (Capricorn after all rules business and red tape), or a combination of both. In either case, we are wise right now to take Pluto’s invitation to spend the next 28 days COMPLETING what we have been excavating.
Again, Pluto stays in Capricorn until 2023/4 so we have plenty more opportunities to continue to refine our new approach to our personal power and business acumen, but for now, this mega-emphasis on the tearing apart (Pluto) of old structures and status-quo habits (Capricorn) is closing up. This new moon (and the 28 day energetic period it sets) are our final denouement of this past 3 year chapter.
And we are VERY supported in finally getting the message, letting go and moving on. Venus, the planet of love, money and beauty is also in Capricorn, but at 5 degrees it is out of orb of the new moon. HOWEVER, at the time of the full moon on January 28 (the mid-point of this new moon cycle), Venus will be EXACTLY conjunct Pluto. So she will be smoothing out these endings and transitions for us, if we are wise enough to read the writing on the wall and shift/adjust/pivot/transition/release accordingly. After all, in her current position at 5 degrees Capricorn, she is in close trine to Uranus at 6 degrees Taurus.
Uranus is majorly exalted at the new moon. It is stationing ALL MONTH at 6 degrees of Taurus, but it is only one day after the new moon that it turns direct after having been retrograde since mid-August. Uranus has to do with all things new, next, modern, updated, upgraded and streamlined. Again, the changes and shifts that have been simmering on the back burner can no longer be contained. They are ready to come to the surface, especially as Mars (the planet of action), is also now in Taurus, conjunct Uranus. Pull the trigger, take out the trash, have the difficult conversation = Now is the time.
Saturn and Jupiter, now firmly ensconced in Aquarius, at 3 and 5 degrees respectively, are just getting accustomed to their new domicile. They are closely square the Mars/Uranus conjunction in early Taurus. The new does not necessarily come easily, even when we KNOW it is the right thing. We sometimes have to fight our own inertia (Taurus), as well as our apprehensiveness that the new often continues to remain impersonal and unknown (Aquarius). This tension will continue to be a ‘big story’ throughout 2021. The new is ready to be born but it requires both our intellectual visualization of it (Aquarius) and our creative/economic/practical investment in living that way (Taurus). Again these shifts don’t come overnight, we are dealing with 2 fixed signs. Once the changes are made, they will last : but the new birth can be alternately chaotic and laborious. This fixed sign emphasis will be even more clear at the full moon on the 28th, but it certainly is active during this new moon and throughout 2021.
The main message of this new moon is to get on with what we know we need to get on with, especially if it is the thing we most dread doing. Again, Pluto deals with shadow material, with the avoided and rejected. The clean slate and fresh start we are waiting for is ever closer, but we will be best positioned for it if we can be brave and tap into Capricorn’s resilience and Pluto’s power one last time to make sure we are bringing minimal baggage, psychological or otherwise, with us into our new future.
*Art by @onuraron
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