By Amanda Painter

Happy New Year! Even though most people try to set their New Year’s resolutions and intentions by Jan. 1, the astrology this year is clearly indicating a wider window for this process — and for beginning to take active steps in accordance. The major event with this theme is Saturday’s New Moon in Capricorn, which also happens to be a partial solar eclipse.

As we go deeper into this most unusual and challenging phase of history, intelligence is the thing we need the most. That is the theme of the 2019-2020 annual edition of Planet Waves — audio now available for instant access. See more information here. If you’re looking for individual signs, order here.

This New Moon — a conjunction of the Sun and Moon — is exact at 8:28 pm EST on Jan. 5 (1:28:05 UTC Jan. 6). The peak of the partial solar eclipse is about 13 minutes later.

One notable feature of this event is that it occurs right at the midpoint of Capricorn; and, incidentally, very close to the midpoint of the current positions of Saturn and Pluto in Capricorn (those planets are about three-and-a-half to five-and-a-half degrees on either side). This looks like some real “engine of change” astrology based on that proximity alone; I’m also wondering if it carries some foreshadowing or early echoes of the 2020 Saturn-Pluto conjunction.

From what I’ve read about Saturn-Pluto conjunctions, I suspect one message of this New Moon and eclipse is to begin really focusing your energies: on your highest priorities, or perhaps on anything that seems to be restricted. As in, if something in your life feels narrowed or limited, what is your attention being trained on? What does it mean to be very thorough within certain parameters, as opposed to trying to ‘do it all’ in a more dispersed fashion?

Interestingly, the minor objects in closest alignment with the New Moon (within one to two degrees) are also in Capricorn: Atropos, Amycus and Icarus. Atropos was one of the three Fates in mythology, and relates to endings and transformations as well as inflexibility and inevitability. Amycus, a centaur, seems to represent the proper way to treat people and the consequences of not doing so (and may also symbolize innocent victims of violence). Icarus, the mythological figure who flew too close to the Sun (thereby melting his constructed wings), indicates themes such as the desire to escape limits and restrictions, the exuberance of youth, and reckless decisions that ignore both sound advice and potentially disastrous consequences.

In Capricorn, the sign of government and big business, it’s hard not to think immediately of the many ways government and corporations are running afoul of almost all of these themes. Does this New Moon and eclipse signify a deeper awareness of this collective karma? Do we have a new opportunity to engage with these powerful global structures and really focus on the ways we all must change for the good of the planet?

Perhaps, even though this event is not happening on the Aries Point (the first degree or so of Aries, extended to Cancer, Libra and Capricorn, where individual and collective meet). Cap is also the sign of leadership — the kind not ‘divinely given to kings’ (as astrologer Isabel Hickey says of Leo), but rather the kind of respect, reward, humility and leadership that is earned and delegated. And just as we all have Leo’s divinity somewhere in our personal chart, so too do we each possess an area of life where we can and must earn respect, and humbly take the lead.

In that sense, you may wish to zone in on the places in your life where transformation is beckoning (and where it may be butting heads with inflexibility); or where the consequences of how you treat others are manifesting; or your desire to escape limits (especially instances where that desire has led to reckless choices, or could do so). I also get the sense that this New Moon and eclipse is an opportunity for some focused introspection and reorienting that could be more accessible than what the solstice and New Year’s Eve might have offered, in the midst of holiday distractions — depending on your circumstances.

As you may know if you’ve been reading astrology for a while, eclipses generally come in pairs. And the time between those pairs can be very useful for releasing old patterns that no longer serve you, and for setting new patterns. The second eclipse in this pair is a total lunar eclipse with the Leo Full Moon on Jan. 20-21.

With Mars now in Aries and planets gathering in Capricorn (Mercury arrives there Friday night into Saturday, 10:40 pm EST / 3:40 UTC), industrious action should be more feasible than it may have felt most of last year.

Yet, before we get to the New Moon, the mental landscape, as represented by Mercury, is still ranging far and wide in Sagittarius. Today, Mercury makes a conjunction to the Galactic Core and Ixion in late Sagittarius, and squares Chiron in Pisces.

There’s a question here about how you integrate what’s been brought to your awareness by Chiron (this year and during the last eight years) with anything that feels like a ‘second chance’ at something. In particular, this might have to do with your sense of spiritual purpose, long-term goals, or ethically questionable behavior — especially in relation to anything needing healing.

Additionally, Mars is bringing in themes around how you identify with your sexuality, and how that may be at odds with certain family narratives — or how it resonates with greater cultural issues. Chances are you can begin to bring things into alignment with seemingly small actions and conversations.

There’s also a trine between Mercury in Sagittarius and Uranus in Aries, exact tomorrow. If you seem to get a brilliant idea out of nowhere, why not let it spark your imagination? Maybe when Mercury enters Cap later tomorrow, you can hang on to that brainstorm and any recent optimism and channel it into a very practical plan.

Mercury in Capricorn may also help in concentrating and staying grounded during Saturday’s New Moon and eclipse. With the centaur Pholus right there with Mercury, seemingly small ideas could indeed move you toward grand goals. As mentioned, those goals may go through a focusing or limiting process of transformation in the future. For now, though, like with any eclipse, touch on the things you’d most like to cultivate in the next six to twelve months. And maybe spend a little time clearing out some space in your home, within your consciousness, or in some other area of life in which new patterns can take shape.

As we go deeper into this most unusual and challenging phase of history, intelligence is the thing we need the most. That is the theme of the 2019-2020 annual edition of Planet Waves — audio now available for instant access. See more information here. If you’re looking for individual signs, order here.