Astrology for January 2025
Capricorn New Moon on December 30th & January Astrology
Capricorn begins in the dark of winter, the Sun pausing at the Winter Solstice for three days, at its most southern dawn position. After the gatherings of Sagittarius, we pause too and pull in. (Capricorn is a yin earth sign). We consider the year ahead. What brings meaning in the coming year? What will we pursue? How will we remember that deeper calling? From sea to mountain top the MerGoat of Capricorn moves. Explore your deepest self. What desires activate a vision, a vision to manifest in the coming year? Can we own our own knowingness and find sure footing to reach our goal? This is Capricorn, the sign which brings back the light in the deepest darkness. The Ancients called it the most sacred of signs. Why do you think that is?
December 30th – New Moon at 9 Capricorn, 2:27 pm PST
The new Moon in Capricorn is a time to plant our goals for the year ahead. The sextile to Saturn helps us to ground and practically plan our intentions. With Mars approaching the 2nd exact opposition to Pluto, we want to review what motivates our actions and the passion we apply to them in reaching our goals. The Saturn Jupiter square during the New Moon reminds us that this time is an important turning point for how we want to grow, what we deeply value, and how we would like to manifest our intentions. With this square, it is recommended that we slow our busyness and consider our thoughts, carefully defining them in order to ground and make real what is now a potential. Where does the Capricorn new Moon fall in your chart? How might it be supporting the themes of that house or planets?
Affirmation for New Moon in Capricorn
“The intentions I now plant for the year ahead carry wisdom and thoughtfulness from my contemplations of what I most want to create”
Into the Rapids
2025 shakes things up and begins as the full force of the last part of the Dragon year roars in. And like a large high-tide wave, that comes thundering in, it also has a pull that draws the wave back, through February. We feel the push forward and the draw back as situations are activated, evaluated, then reflected upon. And yet the year will be fast moving and so it is named, “Into the Rapids”. We start the year with Mars still retrograde, a time where events slow the quick moving intentions, to bring deeper contemplations, a time of revising, reviewing our actions and intentions. A time of reversals of plans. We begin the new year on the first with Mars completing its second opposition to Pluto, next to the waxing crescent moon in Aquarius. This aspect brings out what needs transforming. It exposes what was hidden, or repressed. It intensifies actions and choices in dramatic ways. It brings up issues of power and how it is used, positively or negatively. (We see this unfolding in the politics of now).
As is our tradition on the New Year, but especially this year, with Mars retrograde at the turn of the year, it is a powerful time to review and deepen our connection to our intentions for the year. Discover what feels right. Situations or projects left incomplete may be completed and cleared by February 23rd when Mars goes direct.
Key themes for this year are working with change, trusting your inner voice and guidance. We allow alertness, breath, and being centered, to guide our inner listening, and give us support navigating this year’s journey. (read the article Planetary Alignments for 2025 to learn about all the aspects of the year, and how they might be affecting your chart).
Shifting themes and powerful changes in 2025
The transpersonal planets, Pluto, Neptune, Uranus (and Sedna), are archetypes of great change and expansion of consciousness. These transformative planets, all change signs and form a flowing alignment with each other 2025-2028. This alignment is like the movement of water being poured from one container to another, or like unobstructed winds. The transpersonal planets are harbingers of evolution, of disruption to breakthrough, (Uranus) of living in the collective swell of unconscious reactions or to the powers we each have to create, (Neptune) and of repression to eruption of what must be dealt with, (Pluto).
Saturn and Jupiter join the transition to sign change as well, making a total of 5 outer planets changing signs this year. This hasn’t happened for 500 years! Based on decisions made and values clarified, 2025 leads us into to new places. Find what inspires you. The alignment of the planets encourage you to grow in your ability to hold your sense of purpose, connect with a vaster vision of interconnectedness, and seek conscious sustainable living.
Aries Vortex – May 2025-2026,
(for more info on Aries Vortex, read Susan’s Planetary Alignments for 2025)
The astrological highlight of 2025 is the unique alignment, “the Aries Vortex” named by astrologer Ray Merriman, https://www.mmacycles.com/
Imagine the trine (a flowing stream of energy) that connects Uranus and Pluto as the base of the formation. Imagine Uranus, the disruptor, the energy of breakthrough, originality and change, as it receives the powerfully compelling and driving energy of Pluto, the god of the underworld, the archetypal energy of death & rebirth. Imagine the power of deep earth, of that which has been repressed or hidden, erupting, (Pluto), then driving its energy into the planet of change, Uranus, intensifying the process breaking down to break through.
Then imagine this energy funneling through the Saturn Neptune conjunction, at 0 Aries.
Because Saturn and Neptune are at the midpoint of the Pluto Uranus trine, it serves as the release point of the two outer planets, as if the energy of Pluto and Uranus are funneling through the combined qualities of Saturn and Neptune and the zero Aries point. So named the Aries Vortex.
You can imagine this energy of 2025 to be this intense compelling drive for transformation (Pluto), for liberation, and with disruptive qualities (Uranus), funneling through idealism and/or spin (Neptune), and then to be checked for its reality in the physical world, confronting what’s real, what’s true, or not, (Saturn), in order to create and birth a new evolutionary cycle for humanity (o Aries).
“This is a combustible situation. But it is also opportunity for a rebirth, a new reality once we come out on the other side…If we are going to survive and get there, we need this vortex to open up an opportunity to enter a new world. The cosmos is giving us that opportunity right in the midsection of the “New Aira.” Ray Merriman
Last year I wrote, “Humanity is in an alchemical vessel, being cooked into transformation. The intensity between the old and the new ways increases, as we are polarized between the past and future, in this change of the ages. Aquarius is the fertile field in which we now find ourselves. What will our ideas and perspectives create for us? We struggle, like a huge serpent shedding its skin, for which values will lead us forward, being dominated by old world views, or will the positive visions for needed change and transformation gain momentum to create the new Era? How do we create change with the disruption of large systems without destroying the evolutionary intent to come to understand the interrelatedness and equality of all? The next few years will form the answer”.
2025, the Year of the Wood Serpent in Chinese astrology
Begins January 29th, 4:36 am PST, at the 2nd New Moon after the Winter Solstice. We feel its energy entering in the beginning of the year
On January 29th we move into the year of the Wood Serpent (Snake) from the year of the Dragon, leaving the Dragon year of transformation, power, eagerness, and zeal, an exuberance of mission and daring. In the year of the Serpent we move from a dynamic year of yang energy to a year of dynamic yin energy, turning inward to bring forth wisdom, seeking answers to deeper underlying causes which can bring forth wisdom. This is a year to wisely plan and to seek answers. The serpent is determined to achieve goals, but in a yin way, through thoughtful foresight and strategy. Expect political extremes and the exposing of secrets. We can imagination the Serpent to coil then spring into quick movement. Think of the Serpent shedding its skin to be birthed anew. 2025 carries this energy.
The image of the Serpent on the Tree of life (paired with the planetary symbols) reminds us of the mystical, ancient wisdom teachings, the kundalini energy. A year to deepen your practices, wisdom and mindfulness.
The element of Wood is the element of the Serpent in 2025. The wood element supports formulating and implementing ideas while working cooperatively with others. (Combine this with Pluto in Aquarius and Uranus entering Gemini, centering through Saturn and you have an excellent year for implementing your ideas, community efforts and projects). Wood is the element of Spring and implies quick growth, sudden breakthroughs.
Celestial Events for January
Dec 30 – New Moon at 9 Capricorn – (see above)
Jan 2 – Venus enters Pisces – Venus is said to be exalted in Pisces, where unconditional love, acceptance, and tolerance can be cultivated. Enjoy those you love and reach out in open ways to others. Write poetry, play music and take time for creative contemplations. Record your dreams for Pisces brings in the collective transpersonal dimensions.
Jan 2 – Mars at 1 Leo opposes Pluto in Aquarius – This aspect brings out what needs transforming. It exposes what was hidden, or repressed. It intensifies actions and choices in dramatic ways. It brings up issues of power and how it is used, positively or negatively.
Jan 4 – The Sun at 14 Capricorn sextiles Saturn in Pisces – Organize your visions, your projects, focus and following through to complete projects.
Jan 6 – Mars retrogrades back into Cancer – Mars expression now deepens into protective qualities of Cancer. When Mars is in Cancer one’s responses can be more unconsciously reactive. Wisdom arrives as you take time to seek out the deeper motives that bring about responses and reactions. Mars in Cancer until April 17th!!
Jan 8 – Mercury enters Capricorn – Our thoughts and plans can now be more organized and structured. Practical communications enhanced.
Jan 8 – The Sun at 19 Capricorn squares Chiron in Aries – This day highlights the Wounded Healer. The practical hard working Capricorn energy seeks a new relationship with the wounding of the Warrior, the Aries impulsiveness and impatience. We notice aggressive energy and its deeper wounding. Coming to terms with whats been marginalized or abandoned.
Jan 13 – The Sun at 23 Capricorn trines Uranus in Taurus – a day for original thoughts and actions. Lean into change and the new. Where in your life would you like to breakthrough, create radical change.
Jan 13 – Full Moon at 23 Cancer, 2:27 pm PST – The full Moon in Cancer enhances our sensitivities and feeling states. Nurture yourself under this full Moon. Cancer is an imaginative and creative sign, touched by memory and heart felt experiences. Belonging is highlighted with family and close friends, sharing intimate encounters. Interestingly, this full Moon is next to Mars in Cancer! Tune into what you are wanting. If you feel the heat of irritation, notice the deeper aspects of what you are needing. The Moon also sextiles Uranus. Both Uranus and Mars represent lightening. This Moon may bring up sudden unexpected situations. The Sun in Capricorn keeps us grounded, so we can lean into change and new perspectives in response to situations.
Full Moon in Cancer
Jan 13 – Full Moon at 23 Cancer, 2:27 pm PST
Affirmation for full Moon in Cancer
“I honor my sensitivities and feelings, and seek their deeper wisdom embedded in my body. I take time now to reflect inward, to nurture my deep self.”
The full Moon in Cancer emphasizes the polarity between Cancer and Capricorn. How can we both be feeling, empathic, and nurturing while maintaining healthy boundaries, owning our own knowingness, and drive to achieve? Cancer seeks emotional belonging while Capricorn looks for acknowledgement of its public offerings. How do you balance this polarity in your life?
Jan 14 – Venus at 11 Pisces squares Jupiter in Gemini – a day of generosity, and perhaps going to excess or over promising. An appreciation of deeper conversations.
Jan 15 – The Sun at 26 Capricorn opposes Mars in Cancer – the Sun highlights the heat and emotional sensitivities of Mars in Cancer. Be thoughtful in encounters where you may be triggered. Ponder your deeper needs into consciousness.
Jan 17 – The Sun at 27 Capricorn sextiles Neptune in Pisces – a day to imagine, dream, or volunteer to be of service.
Jan 18 – Venus at 16 Pisces conjuncts Saturn – a time of making commitments in partnership. What do you value and feel able to commit to? The empathy of Venus in Pisces, the imagination of Venus in Pisces, takes on a form with Saturn.
Jan 18 & 19 – Mercury at 16 Capricorn sextiles Venus and Saturn in Pisces – a good time to review your creative works, to communicate your feelings and define your boundaries in relationship.
Jan 19 – The Sun enters Aquarius – as the Sun moves into airy Aquarius it highlights community and gathering together with others to share ideas, creativity, and information. It is a time when we once again reach out to belong to something larger than our individual selves. In December of 2020, Jupiter and Saturn conjuncted at 1 Aquarius, marking the entrance to a “New Era” for humanity that will evolve over the next 200 years. This degree then becomes a “super charged degree”. It holds a special energy that reverberates the theme of a new Era, of evolution of purpose. We might honor this day by making space to observe, write, contemplate, tuning into a deeper wisdom, opening to the downpour of the Aquarian waters from the higher states of consciousness, from the cosmic intelligence that holds and informs us.
Jan 21 – The Sun conjuncts Pluto at 1 Aquarius – Pluto is also energizing this “super charged degree”, as it starts its 20 year movement through Aquarius. It brings up what needs to be seen and transformed to move forward. The conjunction of the Sun to Pluto lights up these matters. We may see this day shine a light on a collective issue that needs transforming, or on the themes of power and how it’s used or misused. Individually, this is a day to contemplate what needs transforming in our personal lives, especially if you have a planet or angle at or near this degree.
Jan 23 – Mars retrograde at 23 Cancer sextiles Uranus in Taurus – this is an energizing combination. What needs to get done? Where do you need to free yourself up, trust your own guidance? With Mars retrograde, you may be reviewing these ideas again.
Jan 23 – Mercury at 23 Capricorn opposes Mars retrograde in Cancer, sextiles Uranus at 23 Taurus – Sharp and quick responses. Communications that bluntly point things out, get your point across. Be alert to sudden unexpected direct comments or accusations. It’s positive to refrain from immediately responding.
Jan 25 – Venus at 22 Pisces trines Mars retrograde in Cancer – a day for taking action on what we love and value. A romantic day to enjoy those we love.
Jan 26 – Venus at 23 Pisces sextiles Uranus at 23 Taurus – a day of imaginative creativity, to enjoy something new and different with a friend or loved one.
Jan 27 – Mercury enters Aquarius – Mercury flies between divine contemplations and departing knowledge and information to fellow traveler when in Aquarius. In Aquarius it can be more inventive, mentally creative and interconnected with with community. It lights up the “supercharged degree” of 1 Aquarius.
Jan 28 – Mercury at 1 Aquarius conjuncts Pluto – powerful, deep and revealing discussions and communications can take place as Mercury conjuncts Pluto.
Jan 29 – New Moon at 9 Aquarius – this is the second New Moon from the Winter Solstice, which begins the Chinese New Year of the Wood Snake or Serpent. (see above). This Aquarius New Moon is in a flowing trine with Jupiter in Gemini, supporting growth, expansion of plans, rapid sharing of information and communications, positive outcomes.
Affirmation for New Moon in Aquarius
“I take time to tune in to my higher self, my inner guidance, to receive the guiding messages of Jupiter in Gemini for my journey and purpose in 2025. I honor my own inner wisdom, the kundalini energy of body and soul as the Year of the Snake begins”
The Twelve signs for January 2025: Sun and Rising Signs
Aries (Mar 20-Apr 19): Dear Aries, as the Sun travels through Capricorn, until the 19th, there is a pull on you to slow and deepen. Capricorn is an earth sign, ruled by Saturn, contrary to your fire sign, Aries. The next 2 1/2 weeks are an excellent time to contemplate your deeper desires and vision for yourself for 2025. As an Aries, you are often ahead of yourself, doing and moving forward into activities. Your ruling planet, Mars, now retrograde, enters the sign, Cancer, on the 6th, and retrogrades until February 23rd. Mars encourages you, now, to look more deeply into the unconscious patterns (Cancer) that influence your life. Where and how would you like to make changes? Mars retrogrades once every two year, so this is the optimum time to access your unconscious perspectives, beliefs, and attitudes that shape your life. The full Cancer Moon on the 13th, is next to Mars, emphasizing your deeper desires, aligning with Uranus and encouraging new insights and change.
Taurus (Apr 20-May 20): Dear Taurus, put your philosopher’s hat on! As the Sun moves through Capricorn until the 19th, it stokes your desire to expand your mind, to adventure into new territory. How creative can you be with that? Your words and thoughts form your perspectives. Your planet, Venus, enters Pisces tomorrow, January 2nd, and navigates your path into imaginative and spiritual realms. What a great time to start meditation, yoga, a contemplative practice or to pursue the arts. Venus conjuncts Saturn onthe 18th an excellent time to make a commitment. The full Cancer Moon, next to retrograde Mars, takes place on the 13th. This highlights how you communicate yourself. It encourages directness, while being alert to impatience and aggravation being expressed unconsciously. Look to your deeper needs and underlying motivations to gain insight. The Sun enters Aquarius on the 19th, joins Pluto, and brings light to what you want to transform in terms of career or purpose.
Gemini (May 21-Jun 20): Dear Gemini, as the Sun moves through Capricorn until the 19th, it is a perfect time to clear and let go. Perhaps you go through your closets, rearrange your studio, or clarify issues with a friend or partner that needs expressing. The key is to have insight and to let go, making space for something new to enter or inspire you. Your planet, Mercury, makes three sign changes this month, moving rather quickly through thoughts and stages. In Sagittarius until the 8th, where it can imagine broad plans and ideas, then into Capricorn, where it desires a structured practical plan. On January 27th, Mercury enters Aquarius and attunes to the collective, loving to share info and insight. The full Cancer Moon takes place on the 13th, where it highlights your resources, both your talents to use and your finances to review. On the 19th, the Sun moves into Aquarius, supporting your creative mind, transforming old ideas, and aligning with the new Moon and Mercury at the end of the month to bring inspiration.
Cancer (Jun 21–Jul 21): Dear Cancer, as the Sun moves through Capricorn it gives you the opportunity to reset and renew your relationships. Mars retrogrades back into Cancer on January 6th. Now you are more sensitized and can be more direct, needing skillful navigation. The waters of emotions are stirred, and perhaps old issues and needs create the motion. What a great time to review those deeper desires. It can be helpful to write and clarify those insights. Perhaps you need to nourish yourself now, being so good at mothering others. On the 13th, with the full Cancer Moon, these themes are emphasized. You can help them be conscious. This time of year calls for a conscious balance between your needs and others’ needs. As the Sun moves into Aquarius on the 19th, how you collaborate, share, and intimately connect with others is highlighted. Deeper issues surface. What needs conversation and what needs to be released?
Leo (Jul 22 – Aug 22): Dear Leo, as the Sun moves through Capricorn, you may be organizing, refining and reviewing, in general putting things in order. This is the time, until the 19th. It is also an excellent time period to focus on your health and create new patterns or routines that support your health, along with reviewing how you serve or want to serve others. Mars, that has been in Leo since November 3rd, giving you energy, drive, and perhaps some impatience, returns to Cancer on the January 6th. This encourages you to pull inward, to reflect, to listen to your dreams. It can bring you to the studio, inspire imaginative reverie, or stimulate your creative juices. The full Moon in Cancer takes place on the 13th, next to Mars retrograde. It’s as if you jumped into a deep pool of possibilities and urges to get things going. Let it ripen. contemplate to clarity. The Sun, your guiding light, enters Aquarius on the 19th. Aquarius highlights relationships in your chart. With Pluto in Aquarius and Mercury in Aquarius by the 27th, the New Moon on the 29th in Aquarius, brings you into intimate and deep discussions. Transformation is at hand.
Virgo (Aug 23-Sep 22): Dear Virgo, the earthy Capricorn Sun resonates with your Virgo energy, supporting your creative expression, enjoyment, and your relationship with those you love. With Mars retrograde, it’s a perfect time to realign yourself with what you love, with the people and creative activities that nurture your soul. Your ruling planet, Mercury, makes three sign changes this month. Now in Sagittarius, until January 8, the philosopher and idealist is highlighted. Mercury moves into Capricorn from the 8th – 27th, that’s when you get to business and accomplish things. Practical Mercury in Capricorn, helps you plan, schedule, and get to the task. The full Moon in Cancer takes place on the 13th. You bring your nurturing qualities to others. With Mars retrograde next to the bright Moon, you’ll want to be aware of your needs or frustrations, so that you have a way to express or channel. As Mercury enters the stellium of planets in Aquarius on the 27th, your mind is stimulated to create. That’s when quiet Virgo gets together with others to share ideas and creativity.
Libra (Sep 23-Oct 22): Dear Libra, home and family are highlighted for you while the Sun travels through Capricorn, until the 19th. Your planet, Venus, enters Pisces on January 2nd, bringing a sweetness. It enters your house of work, health and daily routines. In work, you can tune into its empathy and imagination as you relate to others. With Mars, now retrograding through your house of career, purpose, and public standing, it’s an excellent time to deepen your insight and bring sharp clarity to what you would like to achieve. When Venus conjuncts Saturn on the 18th, you can make a commitment to your vision. The full Cancer Moon takes place on the 13th shining its reflective light on your aspirations. The timing is right. What would you like to achieve in work and/or life purpose?
Scorpio (Oct 23-Nov 21): Dear Scorpio, the Sun in Capricorn gives emphasis to communications, networking and connecting with family members. Deep feeling Scorpio finds grounding in Capricorn. Mars, your ruling planet, retrogrades in Leo, until January 6th, when it moves into water sign Cancer. Mars has been in Leo since November 3. You may have found yourself under stress as you tried to manage life and family events. There are events that may have been stressful at work. As Mars moves back into Cancer there is more ease and alignment with what you need. Time for quiet contemplate and self nourishment will set you on a healthy course. You seem to gather all the feelings in the environment and then sometimes forget your own. Now is your time for reset. The full Moon in Cancer on the 13th aligns with your Mars, and you may feel a lot of energy. It’s a very good time to move your body, to reflect on what is it that you are wanting to be direct about. Are there irritations under the surface? With the Cancer Moon placement you may take up a new study, travel or teach a new course. As the Sun moves into Aquarius on the 19th you refocus yourself into house, family, and home issues.
Sagittarius (Nov 22-Dec 20): Dear Sagittarius, Mercury has been activating your sign since November 2, stimulating lots of ideas and plans. Having visions of what could be. On the 2nd, Mercury moves into Capricorn, where the Sun now travels, and plans become more practical, down to earth, and organized. The Sun is in Capricorn until the 19th, shining it light and attention in the area of your life that represents your values, and the resources you have to create your life with. This can be a good time to review your finances, or to make a plan around your resources. Your planet, Jupiter is in Gemini, lighting up your relationship with others. Perhaps there is much communication about what you want to create with others, lots of ideas being shared. The full Cancer Moon on the 13th highlights how you share finances with others, and how you would like to collaborate. What are you willing to let go of and what stays with you as essential? With Mars retrograde next to the Moon, you may be especially direct, which suits you fine, but maybe not everyone else. New desires or needs come to light. At the end of the month, the gathering of planets in Aquarius increases your insights and discussions with others.
Capricorn (Dec 21- Jan 19): Dear Capricorn, Happy Birthday! When the Sun moves through Capricorn it is your time. So take time for yourself. Reconnect with your visions and intentions. Ask that you be supported in taking some quality time for yourself. Saturn, your ruling planet, is in Pisces, a sign that harmonizes with Capricorn. What you imagine, wants to take on structure and form. Retrograde Mars moves into Cancer on the 6th, making it a good time to reflect on your partnership, or on your work with others. What’s working, and what needs adjusting and/or transforming? This is an excellent time to clarify issues and problem solve. The full Moon in Cancer on the 13th heightens and may intensify these themes. Be clear on what you are needing or wanting as you share your insights with your partner. Because your planet, Saturn, will be moving into Aries in May, marking some new beginning for you, it is helpful to see the long view for yourself, tapping into your greater life vision.
Aquarius (Jan 20-Feb 17): Dear Aquarius, the movement of the Sun through Capricorn highlights the area of your life that calls you to deeper imaginings. It’s a time to go to the studio, to be in reverie, and to deepen your awareness about meaning and larger purpose. It will fuel your birthday time with clarity and energy to pursue your life journey. Aquarius has two ruling planets, Saturn and Uranus, and both change signs this year. Saturn into Aries and Uranus into Gemini. New adventures are ahead. Uranus in Gemini brings in innovative brilliance and thinking outside of the box. Saturn in Aries will firm up your commitment to new beginnings and ground your ideas. The full Moon in Cancer takes place on the 13th, next to Mars, bringing reflection to daily routines that can support new habits and change. On the 19th, the Sun enters Aquarius, then conjuncts Pluto on the 21st. The depths and the heights merge to welcome all that needs transforming, as Pluto moves through your sign over the next 19 years. Great insights and creative ideas come to you as you participate in group endeavors, while Jupiter is in Gemini until June. Enjoy!
Pisces (Feb 18-Mar 19): Dear Pisces, as the Sun travels through Capricorn, it illuminates your participation with others. You are a grounding rod for them. And even though you are sensitize and sometimes fragile, to others, who you care about, you may seem as sturdy and enduring as the mountains. Retrograde Mars enters another water sign, Cancer on the 6th, and suddenly there is more ease in your actions and movement. This can be a creative time for you. What do you love doing? And do more of if. Play more, and enjoy those you love. Take time for yourself. Venus is now in Pisces, bringing a sweetness to you. It heightens your enjoyment and expressive creativity. The full Cancer Moon on the 13th carries a lot of energy for you. You may just have to say something loud and clear to get your point across. There’s something that needs to change, or be redefined to work well. On the 19th, the Sun moves into Aquarius lighting up your deeper feelings and connections. Before your birthday take time to retreat and nurture yourself.
Susan Heinz is a professional astrologer in Santa Cruz for 42 years, bringing together traditional & esoteric astrology, Tarot and Qabalah. For info on her Friday monthly astrology groups, her Qabalah, astrology and/or painting classes, and for personal readings, call (831) 479-3751, or go to www.susanheinz.com