January starts on a positive note with one eclipse behind us and another on the way, marking the beginning of 2020 with notable shifts for everyone. The planets will start to move toward strong, dignified positions, and will remain there throughout the year, making this a remarkable year to implement new beginnings in all areas of life.
Mars in Scorpio till February 8, 2020
As we ring in the new year, we are standing on some slowly shifting terrain, leading to stable times ahead. One hint of steadiness comes from Mars, the planet that rules power, protection and tangible energy sources, who will be positioned in his own sign of Scorpio, giving us all encouragement to dig in and find stability on our own ground. This move into Scorpio occurred just hours before the penumbral solar eclipse that saw the conglomeration of planets in Sagittarius on December 26.
Mars in Scorpio is supportive of going deep, digging in, and transforming situations. This is a surgically precise astrological influence that may inspire one to remove unwanted growth or limbs that may not be producing fruits any longer. During this time of pruning, balance the black and white thought process of Mars with the compassion and creativity of Venus. Act decisively, trust intuitive information and allow the changes to begin.
Venus Transits Aquarius from January 8 – February 2
Venus moves from one sign of Saturn to another, shifting from Capricorn to Aquarius on January 8. Aquarius is co-lorded by Saturn and Rahu, making it one of the most exciting of the zodiac signs due to Rahu’s ingenious yet unpredictable influence. Aquarius has a dual nature created by the serious boundary-making of Saturn combined with the innovative out-of-bounds influence of Rahu.
Rahu is currently placed in the sign of Gemini throughout September 2020. This puts the strong desire energy into all of the air signs during this tenure, which magnifies and amplifies the energy in Gemini, Libra and Aquarius. Any planets passing through those signs will receive this jolt from Rahu. With Venus passing through here, perhaps it is time to get your creativity flowing or to try new modes of creative expression while the amplifiers are plugged in and the stage is set.
Here, Venus receives the heavy gaze of Saturn; the unpredictable influence of Rahu; and the laser focus of Mars, all influencing Aquarius at this time. While this could be daunting and feel a bit like too much scrutiny, pressure and manipulation, perhaps the trick is to prepare for this eventuality and resolve that whatever actions or directions that are taken should flow naturally and that naysayers will be kept at arms’ length. Valid suggestions (Mars), practical advice (Saturn) and wacky inspiration (Rahu) could be very welcome in certain measure, though, so make sure you are using a filter rather than a shield.
Lunar Eclipse / Full Moon in Gemini in the nakshatra of Punarvasu on January 10
As the month progresses, the Moon waxes, pulling up right beside Rahu on January 10 at approx. 5 pm UTC in Gemini, opposing the Sun, Ketu, Saturn and Jupiter in Sagittarius. This will cause a lunar eclipse, the second in the eclipse pair started on December 26, with the solar eclipse visible mostly in the eastern hemisphere.
The Moon will be at approx. 26º Gemini, within the nakshatra of Punarvasu, which carries the symbology of universal light and righteousness. Rahu causes the eclipse here though it is far enough from it, at about 14º, in the nakshatra Ardra. This is not a particularly close eclipse, but could be sensitive to those with important placements close to 26º Gemini or Sagittarius, which is the placement of the Sun during this full Moon eclipse.
Rahu eclipsing the Moon may cause mental confusion, emotional turmoil, or a temporary lack of empathy. This may not be the best juncture to make important decisions, especially that affect the houses in the personal chart that are being pulled into the eclipse axis through Gemini and Sagittarius.
Similar to the recovery operations in Scorpio led up by Mars, Sagittarius will be similarly in a state of reconstruction and invigoration after the herd of planets moves through. The Saturn-Ketu conjunction that created deep furrows through the summer of 2019 will have ended but the terrain will have changed and we will need to make adjustments for a new avenue of growth in 2020.
The eclipse energy that is bringing in the new year and new decade will be more prolific than normal. Generally, we count on two eclipse pairs per year, totalling four eclipse events per year. In 2020, we will have six.
Mercury Transits Capricorn from January 13 till 30
After swimming through the eclipse axis and getting ahead of the Sun in the zodiac, Mercury runs steadily from Sagittarius into Capricorn on January 13 for a quick traverse of Saturn’s earth sign.
On his way out of Sagittarius, Mercury rushes past the Sun and Saturn, aiming to put himself ahead of the pack. While Mercury is putting space between his position and the Sun’s in the zodiac, he will still be in a state of combustion due to the proximity of the Sun, until he moves into Aquarius. Mercury spends most of his existence in this state, from our Earthly perspective. This in itself shows Mercury’s versatility and ability to be in the spotlight.
Mercury is still going to be in the same room with Sun and Saturn as they break into Capricorn in the remaining days of January. Mercury is a great translator, communicator, negotiator, and ice breaker. We may find ourselves in similar situations as the Sun transits Capricorn with Mercury and Saturn, who have much more advantage in the cold, steep and rocky hills of Capricorn.
This is a good period for establishing new schedules, as we have been collectively leaving behind defunct programs. Mercury is enthusiastic, quick, and skilled, leading our charge, keeping us organised and attentive to detail.
Sun Transits Capricorn from January 14 till February 13
The Sun moves into Capricorn on January 14 for his annual wintery trudge through Saturn’s earth sign. Predictably, he exits about a month later, moving into Aquarius on February 13. This annual transit of the Sun through Saturn’s earth sign brings forth the inherent relationship between the Sun and Saturn, which is that of enmity. The rift is a fundamental difference in the role of the individual ego. The Sun thinks the ego is rather important and self-defining. Saturn thinks we shouldn’t be too attached to self-identification given the fleeting nature of life and inevitable destruction of physical form.
The opportunity to strike a healthy ego balance continues strongly through the Sun’s transit into Saturn’s sign. The opportunity becomes even more evident when Saturn follows the Sun into Capricorn on January 23. This conjunction during January may reflect some conflict along the lines of Leaders vs Constituents, Boss vs Workers, Glamour vs Age, Individuality vs Collective, etc. We should know by now that enemies or opponents can be the best teachers.
During this transit, we may find ourselves wrestling with themes of self-assertion vs surrender, individual desires vs collective demands or leisure vs sacrifice.
Saturn in Capricorn from January 23, 2020 till January 17, 2023
The transit of Saturn through each sign takes approximately two and a half to three years and can make a significant impact on how life unfolds for each person depending on the placement of Saturn in the horoscope. The domain of life where Saturn transits can become burdened, sluggish, and contracted by Saturn’s passage through that sign, depending on Saturn’s lordship in your individual horoscope.
It is easy to shrink away from Saturn’s effects and lessons, as they often come with pressure, disappointment, fear, or negativity. The faster one runs away from Saturn, the harder the lessons become. Surrendering to the difficulty is the ultimate answer; Saturn wants us to put our shoulder into the load and find the strength and detachment to bear the burdens that come with our earthly journey.
As with each planet, there are certain sectors of space that favour Saturn’s transit more than others. His most recent position has been in Jupiter’s expansive sign of Sagittarius since 2017. This has caused a slowing of growth due to Saturn’s constrictive, conservative influence. The summer months of 2019 were particularly obstructed, brittle and crippled due to a tight Saturn-Ketu conjunction.
On January 23, 2020, Saturn will move out of Sagittarius and into Capricorn, a sector of the zodiac that is considered to be Saturn’s own home. Any planet in his own sign has the benefit of this ‘lordship,’ which frees the planet to perform at its optimum level. Saturn in Capricorn for the next few years will allow us to slowly and deliberately build a new foundation, possibly upon the ruins that have been wrought in the past six months.
The buoyancy that Jupiter provides will re-emerge in Sagittarius when Saturn exits. This should allow for projects or situations that have become stagnant or blocked to regain traction and move forward. Growth potential should become more evident and accessible.
Depending upon the role of Capricorn in personal horoscopes, we can expect Saturn’s influence to come through as pressure, challenge or limitation. For example, if one has Cancer ascendant, Saturn will be transiting the 7th house. The 7th house shows one’s orientation to others – to relationships generally, and our serious partner more specifically. Saturn coming into a three-year transit through this house may affect the relationship/partnership realm for Cancer ascendant. Saturn tends to be separative, suggesting a desire for increased time alone or in seclusion, or other pressures which causes temporary separations, which could be coupled with a lack of desire to nurture relationships. On a positive note, one may become disappointed by interactions with others that really drive them to create better personal boundaries, and hence, better relationships. In fact, this would be the ideal time to do so, since due to this transit, the Sasha yoga is being created for Cancer ascendants, hinting at the creation of more durable, steadfast relationships.
One interesting feature of Saturn’s Capricorn transit will be when Jupiter joins Saturn. While Saturn in Sagittarius seemed to suppress and slow growth, Jupiter in Capricorn will likely bring positivity and fruitfulness to the foundations that will begin to be laid after Saturn enters there this month.
Jupiter will be in Capricorn from March 29 till June 29, 2020 for a brief dip into the early degrees of Capricorn and then a retrograde retreat back to Sagittarius. Jupiter re-joins Saturn again on November 20, 2020, traversing through the remainder of Capricorn and exiting to Aquarius on April 5, 2021.
Jupiter is considered to be debilitated whilst in Capricorn, which means that Jupiter finds it difficult to be expansive and positive in an environment controlled by a planet that prefers limitation, responsibility, and practicality. This debilitation is lessened during this current transit by Saturn’s own presence, which improves conditions in Capricorn, empowering Jupiter to do his job.
For individual sign analysis, below is a video for this transit:
