2024 starts on a funny, yet interesting note, as both Jupiter and Mercury will have turned direct around the first day of the year. Both planets deal with knowledge, information and wisdom. With both direct, it becomes easier to process and deal with new information. Specially with Mercury, however, we could get some fresh news starting the year. Maybe a secret or something that has been bubbling up for a while.
Events in January 2024
- 30/12/2023 21:58 Jupiter direct 11°23’24” Aries
- 04/09/2023 09:58 Jupiter retrograde 21°23’46” Aries
- 01/01/2024 22:08 Mercury direct 27°59’24” Scorpio
- 13/12/2023 02:08 Mercury retrograde 14°17’57” Sagittarius
- 07/01/2024 10:46 Mercury in Sagittarius
- 10/01/2024 21:34 Sun square Rahu/Ketu (in effect ~05/01-14/01)
- 11/01/2024 06:57 New Moon in Purva Ashada 26°32’55” Sagittarius
- 14/01/2024 16:14 Sun in Capricorn
- 18/01/2024 10:27 Venus in Sagittarius
- 20/01/2024 08:46 Sun Conjunct Pluto 05°47’34” Capricorn
- 25/01/2024 12:54 Full Moon in Pushya 11°03’11” Cancer
- 27/01/2024 03:31 Uranus direct 24°53’46” Aries
- 28/08/2023 21:06 Uranus retrograde 28°53’22” Aries
- 30/01/2024 02:04 Mars square Rahu/Ketu (in effect ~23/01-05/02)
With the Sun in Sagittarius, we will have the Sun transiting aligned to Rahu in Pisces and Ketu in Virgo. Whenever planets transit in this mid-point of the Nodes, they get intensified in some manner, and it becomes a sort of destiny point, in my experience.
With the Sun, we should be very aware of that house in our natal charts, as we could seen some changes or surprises in regards to it during this transit. Maybe a new development, a new pursuit, etc. For Libra, this could be a fresh communication, being the 3rd house. For Leo, it could be a new opportunity, either of fun or creative expression, maybe both, being the 5th house. Taurus could be making a big change, as this relates to the 8th house. For Gemini, Virgo, Pisces and Sagittarius; strong changes are possible, as they are key part of this square. The other ones, I won’t say because I don’t have all day, and I need to get my hair done for New Year’s.
The New Moon this month happens in Sagittarius, on the 11th, along with this aspect discussed above. The New Moon happens in Purva Ashada nakshatra, a star that deals a lot with rejuvenation, healing, restoring and gaining strength. This is the centaur getting ready to strike, ready to go. So it is a good time for new beginnings, taking a stance and making changes in life.
On the 14th, the Sun will enter Capricorn. In India, this is celebrated as Makar Sankranti. Sankranti means movement, and Makar is the name of Capricorn in Sanskrit. The festival celebrates this movement of the Sun as a new beginning, signaling the end of winter and the start of the harvest.
To me, the Sun in Capricorn between January-February represents a strong karmic moment. Capricorn is the sign of Karma, so this is always a time where we are asked to deal with certain loads or duties of life. Whether it is a new beginning, saying “no” to someone, starting a new pursuit, ending something, this is a time for the pull between karma and free will. Free will lies in how we deal with a certain karma, and these 30 days of Capricorn always highlight this.
On the 27th, Uranus will turn direct in Aries. 2024 is a key year for Uranus, as the planet will finalize his transit in Aries this year. Uranus will venture into Taurus for half of the year, between June and December, when it will retrograde back into Aries. From March 2025 onwards, Uranus will not go back into Aries, remaining in Taurus until 2031.
Later in the year, I will discuss more on Uranus in Taurus, but it is important to understand that this year we are on the final leg of the Aries transit. So there is a culmination happening now.
Going back to January, Uranus direct will put a strong influence of this planet from around the 23rd to the 30th of January. This could be a time of fresh insights, ideas or change in our lives. New found strength or new found mental fortitude could lead us towards a new path.
On the 30th, Mars in Sagittarius will transit the mid-point of Rahu and Ketu, just as the Sun did earlier in the month. As such, Mars energy will be intense from around the 23rd of January until the 5th of February. On the positive, this is a good jolt of energy, great for getting out of a slump.
On the negative, whenever Mars is prominent, it is a time of fighting. So arguments, aggressions and displays of force could figure late in the month. Specially as Uranus and Mars will be acting almost simultaneously, as a combined influence for most of this time.
Watch out as well for lightning storms or electrical accidents, even electrical fires too. If you have anything janky with your electrical system, this is a good time for a check-up, as problems could arise.
The Full Moon this month happens in Pushya nakshatra, on the 25th, under the umbrella of both of the transits discussed above. So again, this Mars-Uranus influence will be highlighted. An interesting point about the Full Moon is that Saturn will also be at 11° during it, so there will be a relationship between Sun-Saturn-Moon active.
There is a strong push and pull between our emotional needs, as well as our duties during this Full Moon. Also a contrast between our work life, and our personal life. This imbalance can lead towards frustration, as if we can’t fix things or as if we are falling behind. This Full Moon is a great moment to prioritize, reduce and focus only on what matters. It is a time to use wisdom, be intelligent and discerning.
Summary
January has a lot that points towards an active moment. The strong Mars and Uranus influences through the month, combined with the Nodes becoming prominent, show a moment where noticeable events tend to happen.
Mercury turning direct on the 1st, right after Jupiter, shows that some strong communication or idea could show up early in the year, as a big announcement. Overall, January starts the year strong.
Mundane
As I’ve said above, Mercury could signal some strong communication or declaration happening early in the new year.
Most of the month will have an influence of Rahu and Ketu, so it could be a time for fated events, specially in regards to laws, judges and courts. We could be dealing with abuse of authority or misuse of power right now.
The month ends with a combined Mars and Uranus influence in the air. So late in January and early in February we could see some intense events, like fires, accidents or even things like plane/helicopter crashes. Electrical problems, or issues with electricity, will be highlighted around this time too. Electricity usage only expands, while the power grid remains the same of when only radios existed.
This influence can also signal some shifts, or strong movements, in regards to the wars going on around the world. Intensified aggression or strong attacks are a possibility now.
Personal
January does something that I love to see in a month, which is challenges combined with influences that help you tackle them. It is a contrast to December, which had an intense Neptune energy, and showed a more relaxed month; more of a time of enjoying or letting go, rather than acting.
January has the usual pressure of the Sun in Capricorn, combined with some other turbulent influences, such as Mars-Uranus. But this goes along with Rahu/Ketu stimulating transformation and change, as well as great transits for taking advice, learning and finding our own voice. So we feel pressure, we have some obstacles, but we also have tools to deal with them and improve.
Overall, this month could have a few challenges, but it is a great moment for organizing yourself and setting your priorities straight.
Editorial Note
Last month I promised a few 2024 previews, which I ended up not doing, as I was busy with last minute issues on my day job — fame hooker, prostitute, wench. I figure it is for the best, as with Jupiter and Mercury direct, things are easier to digest. So I will be publishing these texts on January.
I will also start the year with publishing a text on Revati nakshatra, accomplishing a mission I’ve set up of discussing all the nakshatras that Rahu will be transiting in Pisces. I intend to publish one nakshatra a month going forward, until we cover all of them. With Revati, we have 12 of 27 nakshatras covered, a pretty good tally.
This website was one year old last October, something I didn’t exactly celebrate, as I’m not that fond of celebrations. But here we are, starting what will lead towards year two.
Year one was a time of organizing things. From the layout, the design, the annoying sysadmin work, to the actual articles and texts. I needed to set up shop, and now the shop is set. Year two will be all about content.
I started this website after around a decade studying astrology, and after about half a decade doing predictions in private, to friends and those close-by. A few missteps along the way, but I did some good back then.
I had a friend that was being invited, by some of her own friends, for a big trip in a sunny April. I told her repeatedly around January that she should refuse, she did, albeit a little annoyed at me. Then March 2020 came, along with lockdowns, and the trip (along with the money spent on it) going down the drain. I wasn’t such an annoyance after all — I really am, though.
Most of 2020 to 2022 was spent with people stimulating me to create a website, or whatever, to write about astrology. But I just kept it private around that time. Part because I’m stubborn, part because of what I believe, but mostly because I’m stubborn.
I believe that the internet has enough junk, with SEO farms, stolen content and garbage galore. I never wanted, and have no intention of making, a simple re-hash or repetition of what everybody else is doing. If I’m making something, it has to be me, it has to be unique, and it has to be good.
I could just blurt out 10 texts a month, if I copied other people, or gave a blind repetition of whatever other people have already said. I don’t want that. I want to do my own research, I want to have and give my own conclusions. If they are exactly the same as others (they seldom are), fine. If they aren’t, we can all learn from them now. I would much rather have my 2-4 texts a month, slowly surely. But made by me, made original and made well. Quality over quantity, that’s my motto.
Here is for a great 2024 and a great second year.
I have updated my transits calendar, covering the astrological events for 2024. I have also added a retrogrades page, in case you want to know when the next Mercury retrograde will happen — April, in case you’re wondering.
