Important astrological energies for the month of January 2016:

• Mercury in Aquarius turns stationary retrograde on January 5, 2016. It will turn direct on January 25, 2016.
• Jupiter in Virgo turns stationary retrograde on January 7, 2016. It will turn direct on May 9, 2016.
• Mercury retrograde re-enters the sign of Capricorn on January 8, 2016.
• New Moon with Sun and Moon in Capricorn occurs on January 9, 2016.
• Mercury retrograde in Capricorn forms a second trine to Jupiter retrograde in Virgo on January 14, 2016. The first time this trine occurred was on December 25, 2015 when both planets were in direct motion. The third time this trine occurs is on February 6, 2016 when Mercury is direct and Jupiter is retrograde.
• Mercury retrograde in Capricorn forms a second sextile to Chiron in Pisces on January 19, 2016. The first time this sextile occurred was on December 21, 2015 when Mercury was in direct motion. The third time this sextile occurs is on February 3, 2016 when it is in direct motion again.
• Mercury retrograde in Capricorn forms a square to Uranus in Aries on January 20, 2016. The first time this square occurred was on December 20, 2015 when Mercury was direct and Uranus was retrograde. The third time this square occurs is on January 31, 2016 when both planets are direct.
• Mercury retrograde in Capricorn forms a conjunction to Pluto in Capricorn on January 22, 2016. The first time this conjunction occurred was on December 19, 2015 when both planets were in direct motion. The third time this conjunction occurs is on January 30, 2016 when both planets are again in direct motion.
• Full Moon, with Sun in Aquarius and Moon in Leo, occurs on January 23, 2016.
• Mercury in Capricorn turns stationary direct on January 25, 2016.
• Mercury in Capricorn forms the third conjunction to Pluto in Capricorn on January 30, 2016.
• Mercury in Capricorn forms the third square to Uranus in Aries on January 31, 2016.

Review Your Responsibilities

By Misty Kuceris ©2016

January 2016 is going to be an interesting month with the energy of Mercury retrograde being very strong throughout this month. While Mercury doesn’t turn retrograde until January 5, 2016, you already started feeling its effect at the end of December 2015. The reason is that when Mercury was direct in Capricorn it made aspects to Jupiter, Chiron, Pluto, and Uranus. Now during the month of January, Mercury will make those same aspects while in retrograde motion putting you in a position to re-evaluate everything in your life which occurred in December 2015. Once Mercury turns direct and re-enters Capricorn, it will make those same aspects a third time and once again you’ll find yourself in the position of needing to re-evaluate recent events and finally take some action.

But before that all begins, Mercury while still in direct motion enters the sign of Aquarius on January 1^st. With Mercury in Aquarius there is a tendency to want to see the world as either one big happy family or one big experiment. You want the freedom to express your thoughts. You want other people to accept you. At the same time, you also don’t want to be held back by anyone else’s ideas. You really want to be free to live your own way. So, use this desire for freedom to consider what you’ve done in the past that’s been a success and find a way throughout this entire month to build on your past successes. If you can do that, you’ll find the upcoming Mercury retrograde a blessing rather than a hindrance.

When Mars enters the sign of Scorpio on January 3^rd, it’s in its own ruling sign. You have energy to move forward with life. You have the strength to focus on situations which are important. But, as with Mercury in Aquarius, you don’t want to be bothered by situations that aren’t important to you. You like doing things on your own.

Mercury only goes up to 1º02’ Aquarius when it turns stationary retrograde on January 5^th. As it starts moving backwards, it will re-enter the sign of Capricorn. With Mercury in Aquarius you didn’t want to be bothered by other people. You wanted to do things on your own. But, once Mercury re-enters the sign of Capricorn on January 8^th, you feel differently. You’ll feel as if you need to be responsible for the world. Even today you’ll feel it’s important to discuss matters with other people. This Mercury retrograde period is a time when you need to evaluate your responsibilities and determine whether they are supporting your life style or hindering you. If you’re caught in the negative aspects of responsibilities you’ll feel as if life is weighing down on your and there is no sense of happiness. But, if you feel joy with your achievements at this time, you’ll see this retrograde period as a time to build a stronger foundation in life with goals that are achievable. Mercury will be retrograde until January 25, 2016.

Just a little more than one hour after Mercury turns stationary retrograde on January 5^th, Venus forms a square to Neptune. Be very careful with your finances, especially since Venus will form a conjunction to Saturn on January 8^th. This is not the time to go out and make any major purchases. The deal is not as good as it seems and you’ll really regret it on the 8^th when Venus forms the conjunction to Saturn. If you really believe that you can’t live without the item, wait until the 8^th to see if you still need it.

You also need to be very cautious with relationships today. All is not as it seems. You may think that you’ve meant the love of your life only to find out on the 8^th that the person was not who you expected. Or, you may feel as if you need to go out and help someone only to find out that person doesn’t really want your help. Either that individual wants to do it on his or her own, or that individual is just looking for someone to take the blame in a difficult situation. Being a martyr right now is not the best way to use this energy.

The best way to use this energy is to meditate on your day and what you feel is important. Let thoughts surface from your subconscious mind. If you’re an artist, take time to create a work of art. Even if you’re not an artist, you’ll be able to bring up the creative side of your nature.

Jupiter in Virgo turns stationary retrograde on January 7^th, the day after Mercury turns retrograde. When Jupiter is retrograde there is a need to move slowly with legal contracts or any legal matters. You also need to be cautious with any stocks that you’re thinking of purchasing, especially with any IPOs. Many tend to lose their value after the initial offering.

If you own a business, this is not the best time for initiating a new marketing strategy. The strategies will cost you more than you expected. This is a great time to review your business plan and make adjustments that you can re-evaluate after May 9^th when Jupiter goes direct.

On the surface, Jupiter retrograde doesn’t seem to have a large impact on individuals. The reason is that when Jupiter is retrograde you tend to become introspective about the direction of your life. You don’t want to rush into new situations as quickly. Spiritually this is a good time to re-evaluate the direction of your life. It’s a wonderful time to find the balance between your material and spiritual needs.

When Mercury retrograde re-enters the sign of Capricorn on January 8^th, you feel as if you need to re-evaluate various matters very carefully. There’s a tendency to be cautious when Mercury is in Capricorn. You don’t want to say anything which can harm you at a later date. You also may be very critical of your words or the words of other people.

You need to be careful not to put so much emphasis on work that you don’t pay enough attention to your home life. Or, you may find that you get so caught up in work that it becomes difficult to feel comfortable relating to other people. It’s actually not easy having social conversations during this time period. You take everything so seriously.

Mercury retrograde in Capricorn is a wonderful time to determine where you fit into society and how to integrate that experience in your personal life. Past history is very important. Knowing how to take what you learned and use that knowledge to create a firm foundation is critical. You will be able to learn from mistakes you’ve made in the past so you can create a better future.

If you made any major purchases on January 5^th when Venus formed the square to Neptune, you’ll really see how much you overpaid today, January 8^th, when Venus forms the conjunction to Saturn. The same can be said if you got involved in a new relationship or tried to help an individual on January 5^th. You may discover that you weren’t told the truth and you might feel used. Or, you may be glad to be out of a bad situation now that you have all the facts.

When Venus forms a conjunction to Saturn, you often feel critical of mistakes that you’ve made. That’s not really how to use this energy. It’s true that you want to review your life from an honest perspective. But, you also want to understand how to put up boundaries so you can take care of your needs. If you’re on the right path, you’ll actually feel good today. If you’re not feeling so good about yourself today, that’s because your soul is trying to say that you need to take better care of yourself.

The new Moon which occurs on January 9^th has both the Sun and Moon in Capricorn separating from a conjunction to Pluto and a square to Uranus. It’s important that you focus on things from your past which may now need to be thrown out of your life. You don’t want to be tied down to situations or people who are standing in the way of your success. You also need to consider how important your personal freedom is. You may feel that it’s time to break up old relationships that are not supporting your current needs. You may also feel that you need to get rid of old items which are just keeping you back.

This could be a time period where there is a lot of anger in the world. So, don’t get sucked into any frustrating situations where other people try to control and manipulate you.

On January 10^th, Ceres forms a quincunx to Jupiter retrograde. Normally you feel conflicted between moving forward with your goals and protecting your home and environment. You want to take risks as long as those risks don’t cause harm to people you love. But this time the energy is slightly different because Jupiter is retrograde. Instead of moving forward with your goals, take time to re-evaluate them through the perspective of protecting your environment. You understand the importance of being cautious. You aren’t willing to take risks that can injure your safety. This is really a great time to put your own house in order before you try anything new.

When Venus forms a trine to Uranus on January 12^th, you could have some exciting things happen in your life. You might meet someone who is so unlike anyone else you know that you find him or her intriguing. Or, you might come across a new adventure that brings a new perspective in your life. You are open to new possibilities. As long as you don’t get carried away with all your new experiences, you’ll find this day wonderful.

You’ll feel a lot of compassion on January 13^th as Venus forms a square to Chiron. You don’t want to hurt anyone. You also feel that you need to deal with some pain that you’ve been avoiding. You may have heard some astrologers say that Chiron represents self-inflicted wounds. But Chiron can also represent the ability to heal from those wounds. This is a good day for reflection and meditation. It’s not a day to get involved with any confrontation because you may try to appease the other individual to the point of hurting yourself.

On January 14^th, Mercury retrograde forms a trine to Jupiter retrograde. This will be the first of several aspects Mercury retrograde makes over the few weeks which indicate that you have to complete unfinished business from December 2015.

The first time that Mercury formed a trine to Jupiter was on December 25, 2015 when Mercury was in direct motion. Today, both Mercury and Jupiter are in retrograde motion. This same aspect will occur on February 6, 2016 when Mercury is in direct motion and Jupiter is in retrograde motion.

Around the first time that this trine occurred you may have been thinking about your long-term plans and how to implement them. You may have considered finding a new job. Or, you may have thought about moving to a new location. But, using the holidays as an excuse, you could have put off any decisions. Now with this aspect occurring a second time, all those thoughts of change are cropping up again. But, with both planets retrograde, you need to pull back and continue reflecting rather than acting. If you feel as if you need to discuss your plans with others, make certain these are individuals who normally offer you emotional support. Take their words and reflect on them. Consider their advice but don’t act on it at this time. If you find yourself wanting to rush into new situations, consider what you would do if those situations didn’t work out right now. Have a back-up plan.

If you are self-employed, take this time to write or update your business plan. It’s a great time to think about the future of your business and where you want to take it next. When February 2016 comes around, you’ll know how to firm up your plans so they can lead you to success.

It’s fitting that Venus forms a square to Jupiter retrograde, Mars forms a trine to Neptune, and Venus forms a square to the Moon’s Nodal axis on January 18^th, a few days after Mercury retrograde starts forming aspects that were very similar in December 2015.

With Venus forming a square to Jupiter retrograde and Mars forming a trine to Neptune a few hours later, there’s a tendency to be a bit too optimistic about your potential and what you can achieve. You may feel that you’re indestructible. You may even look for easy ways out of a situation.

But, with Venus forming a square to the Moon’s Nodal Axis, you realize that you have to consider both past events and future desires. You can’t just chase your dreams if you don’t know how to implement them in a practical manner. And, you can’t get caught up in small details if those details prevent you from understand how to look at the big picture.

The best way to use this energy is to write your plans down in a journal for future consideration. Start with the big picture. Write down your goals and desires. Next, take the time to list various steps for achieving those goals. Finally, put the information aside until February 2016 when Mercury is no longer retrograde and re-enters the sign of Aquarius on February 13^th.

Mercury formed its first sextile to Chiron on December 21, 2015 when it was in direct motion. Today, January 19^th, Mercury, in retrograde motion, will form the second sextile to Chiron. It will form the third sextile to Chiron on February 3, 2016 when it is back in direct motion.

When Mercury formed the first sextile to Chiron on December 21, 2015, you may have felt that you needed to implement some healing strategies in your life. Now, with it forming the second sextile to Chiron, you need to revisit some of your strategies. You may have been too optimistic or attempted too much.

This is a good day to listen to what other people have to say. They may be able to help you with a problem. Or, you may feel more compassion as you listen to the problems of others. Also, understand the balance between discussing matters and keeping information private. This is especially true in the workplace since Mercury is in Capricorn.

As the Sun enters Aquarius on January 20^th, you feel as if you can move forward with your goals. But you need to be a bit cautious today since Mercury retrograde will form a square to Uranus a little later in the day. Once again, this is not the first time that Mercury is forming a square to Uranus. It first formed the square to Uranus when it was in direct motion and Uranus was in retrograde motion on December 20, 2015. It will form this same aspect for the third time on January 31, 2015 when both planets are in direct motion.

You need to be very cautious with your actions and words. You might say something that can get you in trouble. Or, because you feel very impatient with other people, you may rush into actions that you regret. While you may feel like moving forward with your goals, you really need to hold back because things are changing too quickly right now. You may think you have all the facts, but there is still new information that is critical which you won’t even know about until the end of this month. This need to hold back becomes even more important because Mercury retrograde will form a conjunction to Pluto on January 22^nd.

It may be a good thing that Venus forms a sextile to Ceres on January 21^st, the day between when Mercury retrograde formed the square to Uranus and the conjunction to Pluto. You have the opportunity to make some important compromises in your life. You understand what other people want and how to express those wants. You know when to pull back and still not lose your sense of personal power. You even know when to let go and move on.

When Mercury retrograde forms a conjunction to Pluto on January 22^nd you feel frustrated if you were busy doing what other people wanted you to do. You may feel as if others are trying to control you. Or, you may feel as if you just can’t get enough done. It’s better if you hold back and try not to do too much in the public eye. This is a good day to meditate and reflect on important things in your life. Once again this is not the first time that this aspect occurs in this series. The first time that it occurred was on December 19, 2015 when Mercury was in direct motion. The third time it will occur is on January 30, 2016 when Mercury is in direct motion.

Venus enters the sign of Capricorn on January 23^rd and again you feel that work is more important than your family. Or, perhaps you feel that you can really help your family if you put more emphasis on work and bringing in the money. Sometimes other people feel as if you’re alienating them. If that’s the case, it’s important that you spend time with people you love as well as devote time to your job.

A few hours after Venus enters the sign of Capricorn, a full Moon, with Sun in Aquarius and Moon in Leo occurs. This is a full Moon where you need to understand the balance between taking care of others and taking care of yourself. With the full Moon forming a square to Mars, you just want to rush out into the world and take care of business. You want to be generous in your endeavors with other people. While that’s a wonderful attitude to have, you don’t want to do so much for others that you deplete your own energy. As long as you remember to take care of your needs, you’ll be able to find that balance between helping others and helping yourself.

Mercury in Capricorn turns stationary direct on January 25^th. It went retrograde on January 5^th when it was in the sign of Aquarius. Normally when Mercury goes direct you can breathe a sigh of relief because all the energy that you spent on dealing with past matters is coming to a close and you can move forward with your life. However, this time it’s not quite true. While technically Mercury is direct, you’ll still feel as if it’s retrograde as you continue to focus on matters that are not resolved. The unresolved matters will involve the energies of Jupiter, Uranus, Pluto, and Chiron. The final aspect that Mercury makes to all these planets in this series won’t be until February 6, 2016 when Mercury forms a trine to Jupiter. Therefore, this retrograde period won’t end before then.

When Ceres enters the sign of Pisces on January 28^th, you want to retreat into your own home and not be bothered with other things or people. Having a safe harbor is very important. Understanding how to take care of your environment helps you feel better. But you may not be able to retreat right now. You may have to take a stand or pursue an important matter. If that’s the case, take the time to listen to other people and see where you may need to compromise in order to find success in your pursuits. You may need to compromise, but you can do it from a position of strength.

When Jupiter forms a conjunction to the Moon’s North Node on January 29^th, you feel as if you have to look at your future from a new perspective. You need to decide how to take risks in order to move on with your life. With both these energy points in Virgo, it’s important to keep matters simple. You don’t want to get stuck in the minutia of circumstances. Instead, you want to get rid of what doesn’t work and just hold on to the successful portions of your life.

On January 30^th, Mercury forms the third conjunction to Pluto. The first conjunction was formed on December 19, 2015 when Mercury was in direct motion. The second conjunction was formed on January 22, 2016 when Mercury was in retrograde motion. You may have felt frustrated through this month because other people stood in the way of your goals. Either they prevented you from moving forward or they tried to manipulate you into doing things their way. Today, especially with Venus forming a sextile to Neptune later in the day, you need to look at your goals and decide which strategies to take in order to achieve them. If you can stay focused, you won’t have other people manipulating you.

January 31^st is another day where you may feel frustrated as Mercury forms its last square to Uranus in this series. The first time that it occurred was when Mercury was in direct motion and Uranus was in retrograde motion on December 20, 2015. The second time it occurred was when Mercury was in retrograde motion and Uranus was in direct motion on January 20, 2016. Now both planets are in direct motion.

If you aren’t taking care of your needs, you’ll feel very frustrated today. You’ll feel as if other people are controlling and manipulating you. What you need to do is review your obligations. Perhaps some of those responsibilities need to be delegated to other people, especially in the workplace. Or, perhaps you really have no choice and have to follow through on some of those responsibilities. The key is not to just discard everything from your life but rather set priorities for what’s important.

As you move into the month of February 2016, Mercury will still make two more aspects before you finally feel as if Mercury is no longer retrograde. On February 3^rd, Mercury will form its third sextile to Chiron and on February 6^th, Mercury will form its third trine to Jupiter retrograde. What great about these aspects if that you’ll find opportunities to move on with your life and set goals that bring more support into your environment. You’ll be able to heal from some old pain and move on. You’ll even finally understand how to balance your responsibilities with your personal needs.