January 2024 Astrology
The Astrology of January 2024 is dominated by Pluto’s shift from Capricorn to Aquarius. If you have not yet seen my Pluto in Aquarius video (22K views and counting) this is the link. My YouTube also has January 2024 videos for each sign as well as your 2024 Astrology Overview.
Pluto has been moving back and forth between these 2 signs as he ends a 16 year stay in Capricorn and starts a 20 year transit of Aquarius. Pluto spends most of the year in Aquarius with a small return to Capricorn in the fall before entering Aquarius for good, until 2044.
None of us experience Pluto through all the signs in one lifetime. And once Pluto has left a sign/house, he is gone for life. There is a karmic quality about Pluto in that he will only transit certain signs and houses in our life. Approximately 6, depending on length of transit and where Pluto is at birth (start of a sign, end or somewhere in the middle).
The Sun
In Capricorn until the 20th of January, the Sun puts the focus on success, achieving, moving up another level. Perhaps you have set a target for 2024. Capricorn is associated with the 10th house related to public success, award, rewards. Others can see we have moved up a notch.
It may not all happen in January but you are taking stock, sorting out, prioritizing and defining what you are going for. Personally, there is a feeling of optimism as Pluto will shift out of Capricorn. The feeling that a struggle is over and now we have transformed int hat area. This is in general for all of us. To see where Pluto is specifically for your sign, watch my videos.
Although, nothing is perfect. Pluto in Aquarius will not be nirvana and there are some definite downsides. The following is from my blog on Pluto in Aquarius. You can read the whole blog here.
Aquarius is very much related to technology and futuristic ideas. The accessibility of AI coincided with Pluto hovering on the cusp of Aquarius. As an air sign the approach is concepts and ideas. It can be a colder, rational approach to communities. What if this becomes over regulated, in the name of fairness? Some people worry about a centralized digital profile with all our information in one place: banking, shopping, medical, travel, and all social media. Or a social credit system as some countries already have in place.
In Yuval Harari’s book, 21 lessons for the 21st Century, he questions if we would use Artificial Intelligence to make our decisions, personal or governmental. Then who is in control? Where is the power? What’s the down side? Pluto will show us the bad side of a good thing for us to make it better.
Sun – Pluto Conjunct into Aquarius
The Sun will pass Pluto hanging out at 29 degrees 58-59 minutes of Capricorn on the morning of the 20th. That’s the absolute, very end of Capricorn.
Both will arrive in Aquarius in quick succession on the 20th. This is Pluto arriving with an energy boost and with a big spotlight. We can’t fail to miss what Pluto wants to do in Aquarius. And on the 20th of January, give or take a day, we will see or feel that change. Planets make even more of a statement arriving or leaving. Pluto will be energized by the Sun when doing so. The video, going into sign by sign, is here. The blog is here.
Whatever house Pluto is leaving, depending on your sign, there is a feeling of things being harder as he sits at 29 degrees. And Pluto has been there for the past month. In fact he’s passed over that degree a few times in the last 2 year switch over into Aquarius. There is a sense of grinding down, really trying to get the message across before leaving. The 29th degree is about the shadow side. One last call to shape up. Pluto is about power and control. But our power. Standing in our power. It is inner transformation that leaves you with more of a grasp on what has eluded. You may have done away and started over, but on a more solid footing. Not because of a change outside of you, but because of change inside. That then reflects in your outer world. It can feel like struggle is over and you should be more in control that you were previously.
The Struggle is Real…and ending
For example, if you are a Capricorn, you may feel that you have struggled to be seen by others as you wanted. Maybe they are still putting you in the same old role, seeing you in a way that is no longer you. It can be you who has been struggling to define who you are, in which case what you project to others is not something you completely control (Pluto is ask about control). Maybe you need to transform, the old you hasn’t been cutting it any more.
As a Taurus Sun, Pluto has been in my 9th house. Higher education, publishing, legal matters, philosophy, medicine. For a long time I’ve wanted to publish a book. I won’t compromise on quality (editing, cover, formatting), that’s where I won’t relinquish control. But the financial requirements are out of reach at the moment. I don’t control exchange rates, professional fees, and the general cost of prepping a book for publishing. That’s the power and control struggles of Pluto. Do I compromise? Do I clear the slate of my plan and start the process over in another way (Pluto’s death and rebirth)?
Libras have had Pluto in their 4th house of home and family (wether family of origin or of choice). This can be feeling trapped in a familial role you have outgrown, or in a family way of doing things or being that doesn’t fit with who you are now. Maybe you have struggled to create or re-create your own family. Perhaps it has to do with the physical place you live. This is also our residence, region, city , homeland. Maybe you have ‘left everything behind’ during this cycle and started over elsewhere.
Mercury
Mercury is on a retrograde cycle, stationing direct on the 1st. But the shadow lasts until the 21st, as Mercury picks up speed and returns to the same degree he was when he went retrograde.
Nothing is set until then. communications can still be confused, agreements are not set. I heard what you said but I didn’t think that’s what you meant. It is still a bad time to buy laptops, cell phones, and any form of ground transportation. Mercury was the messenger. He rules the transportation, the movement of goods and transmission of information. This includes commerce.
Full Moon
The Full Moon is on the 25th at 5 degrees of Leo. Leo, through association with the 5th house, is about individual self-expression. The 5th house is romance, sex, creativity, what we do for fun or entertainment, and everything to do with children. All areas defined by our individuality. There’s a feeling of ‘gotta be me’ with Leo and we will all be particularly sensitive to anyone trying to cramp our style. We can go into diva mode, dramatically pressing the back of our hand to our forehead and gasping “I just can’t!”. Try not to get caught up in the emotional overload of the Full Moon as is builds a few days before and takes a few days to die down.
Mars and Venus in Capricorn
Mars arrives in Capricorn on the 4th and stays until well after the Sun and Pluto have left. He is joined by fair Venus on the 23rd of January . These 2 will not conjunct but bring forthright energy (wherever Mars is the pace picks up) followed by a dose of charm and diplomacy. Mars is determined and focused. He clears the way and is driven to achieve a result. Venus then smooths that path over. You can reach your mark and leave everyone feeling good. Then Mars and Venus will move into Aquarius on the 13th and 16th of February, respectively.
Jupiter and Saturn Sextile
Jupiter and Saturn will sextile all month and into February. Mainly because Jupiter just came out of retrograde on December 30th (watch new opportunities and blessings to come in) so is moving slower than usual. In the 2024 Forecasts I call this a solid start. Jupiter is luck, blessings, and opportunities. But we have to do something with Jupiter’s gifts. Saturn (reality, solid structure, work, attention to details) can help make it happen. A sextile is an easy aspect. You won’t have to work very hard to make things a reality.
Blessings in 2024
Don’t forget to watch your monthly forecasts and 2024 horoscopes. I am so very grateful for all of you who watch and subscribe on YouTube. The channel has grown (over 5K subscribers now!). I am touched by your support and lovely comments and am looking forward to sharing the big astrology events of 2024 with you, and of course the monthly forecasts for each sign.
Last but not least, I want to thank all of you who follow me here, some of you since way back, when this started as an exercise in writing in a concise, quick to publish format, as opposed to a whole novel. In 2024 I’ll continue to explore a variety of topics close to my heart that I hope can benefit someone else. Thanks for being here with me, it means a lot knowing you take the time to read my posts.
I wish all of you good things in 2024.
Image: Victoria Quirk on Unsplash