January 2026 Astrology Forecast: Solid Ground, New Territory
This month, I'm continuing the approach that (I hope) makes the forecast more practical and actionable. Rather than trying to track every transit, you're invited to work more deeply with what's actually alive in your life right now. As you read through the themes below, notice which questions make you think 'that's what I'm dealing with.' Those are your invitations to go deeper. It's kind of a "choose your own adventure" where you trust your intuition to pull out the parts that make sense for you to weave your magic with this month.
January 2026 isn't messing around. This is a month for building something that lasts - and then watching it evolve into something even more interesting than you planned.
We're starting the year with a Capricorn stellium that would make any architect proud. Sun, Venus, Mars, and Mercury are all gathering in the sign of structure, ambition, and long-term vision. This isn't the scattered energy of resolutions that fizzle by February. This is the kind of focused, determined energy that actually builds empires (or at least really solid foundations for your life).
But, just as we're all getting comfortable with Capricorn's "let's make a plan and execute it perfectly" vibe, everything shifts. By the third week, those same planets start moving into Aquarius, bringing innovation, experimentation, and a willingness to break the rules we just made. And then, on January 26th, Neptune - which has been swimming through Pisces since 2011 - finally makes its permanent move into Aries.
That Neptune shift is MASSIVE. We're talking about a collective spiritual awakening that's about pioneering new territory. The dreams are getting bolder. The vision is getting clearer. The mysticism is getting... well, more action-oriented.
Jupiter is retrograde in Cancer all month, asking us to review what emotional security actually means before we build our next chapter. And speaking of building, there's a beautiful supportive network of outer planet aspects (Saturn sextile Uranus on the 20th, plus all those harmonious connections to Neptune) that's basically saying: "Yes, you can build something stable AND innovative. You can honour tradition AND break new ground."
The month we have two lunations: a Full Moon in Cancer on the 3rd (illuminating what we need emotionally before we can build practically) and a New Moon in Capricorn on the 18th (planting seeds for structures that will actually support the life we want to live).
January is about laying cornerstones with one hand while holding a compass in the other. You're building something real, but you're also staying open to where the journey might actually take you.
If you want journal printables inspired by the astrology of January 2026 you can find that here.
January 2026 TRANSITS AT A GLANCE
1st – Sun in Capricorn sextile North Node in Pisces; Mercury in Sagittarius square Neptune in Pisces; Mercury enters Capricorn
2nd – Venus in Capricorn sextile North Node in Pisces; Chiron stations direct at 22° Aries
3rd – Full Moon at 13° Cancer
6th – Venus in Capricorn conjunct Sun
8th – Venus in Capricorn conjunct Mars; Mercury in Capricorn sextile North Node in Pisces
9th – Sun conjunct Mars in Capricorn; Venus in Capricorn opposite retrograde Jupiter in Cancer
10th – Sun and Mars in Capricorn opposite retrograde Jupiter in Cancer
14th – Mercury in Capricorn opposite Jupiter in Cancer
15th – Venus in Capricorn sextile Saturn in Pisces; Venus in Capricorn trine retrograde Uranus in Taurus
17th – Venus in Capricorn sextile Neptune in Pisces; Venus enters Aquarius; Sun in Capricorn sextile Saturn in Pisces; Sun trine retrograde Uranus in Taurus
18th – New Moon at 28° Capricorn; Mercury conjunct Mars in Capricorn at 26°
19th – Mercury in Capricorn sextile Saturn in Pisces; Mercury trine retrograde Uranus in Taurus; Sun in Capricorn sextile Neptune in Pisces
20th – Venus conjunct Pluto in Aquarius; Saturn in Pisces sextile retrograde Uranus in Taurus; Mars in Capricorn trine retrograde Uranus in Taurus; Mars sextile Saturn in Pisces; Mercury in Capricorn sextile Neptune in Pisces; Sun enters Aquarius; Mercury enters Aquarius
21st – Mercury conjunct Sun in Aquarius
22nd – Mercury conjunct Pluto in Aquarius
23rd – Mars in Capricorn sextile Neptune in Pisces; Mars enters Aquarius; Sun conjunct Pluto in Aquarius
26th – Neptune enters Aries
27th – Mars conjunct Pluto in Aquarius
29th – Mercury conjunct Venus in Aquarius
Note: All dates are in GMT. Major themes and detailed guidance follow below.
THE MAJOR THEMES FOR JANUARY
As you read through these three themes, pay attention to which resonance questions spark recognition in your body and experience. You don't need to work with all three - in fact, it's often more powerful to go deep with one or two rather than skimming the surface of everything. Trust what calls to you. The theme(s) that make you think "yes, that's exactly what I'm navigating" are your invitations for deeper work this month.
Theme 1: The Capricorn Construction Site - Building What Actually Lasts
If you've ever watched a building go up, you know the foundation phase looks kind of boring from the outside. Lots of measuring, lots of checking levels, lots of making sure everything is exactly right before you go any higher. That's January's first half.
We've got Sun, Venus, Mars, and Mercury all moving through Capricorn and meeting up with each other throughout the month. Venus catches the Sun on the 6th. Venus meets Mars on the 8th. The Sun and Mars join forces on the 9th. Mercury links up with Mars on the 18th, right at the New Moon: cosmic teamwork.
Here's what this means in practice: your values (Venus), your actions (Mars), your identity and purpose (Sun), and your ideas and communication (Mercury) are all getting on the same page. They're all agreeing on what needs to be built and how to build it. When was the last time all these parts of you were actually working together instead of pulling in different directions?
But there's tension too. Venus, the Sun, and Mercury all oppose retrograde Jupiter in Cancer between the 9th and 14th. Jupiter in Cancer wants emotional comfort and security. It wants to feel safe and nurtured. Meanwhile, Capricorn is over here saying "but have you considered the five-year plan?" This opposition asks: can you build something ambitious while also honouring your emotional needs? Can you be disciplined without being harsh on yourself?
The New Moon at 28° Capricorn on the 18th is your moment to plant seeds. But not just any seeds - these are the ones that will grow into the structures that support your 2026 and beyond. This isn't about New Year's resolutions. This is about cornerstone commitments.
Resonance Question: What are you actually ready to build this year that will still matter five years from now? Are you trying to force growth in an area that needs stronger foundations first? Is there a tension between what you think you should build and what would actually make you feel secure and nourished? Can you be ambitious without abandoning your emotional needs?
Journal Prompts:
- If I could only build ONE thing this year that would support everything else, what would it be?
- Where am I confusing "being productive" with "building something meaningful"?
- What does sustainable ambition look like for me? (Not burnout hustle culture, not giving up on dreams, but the steady climb.)
- What emotional needs do I have to honour in order to actually stick with what I'm building?
Micro-Practice: Pick one project or goal that matters to you. This week, break it down into the smallest possible foundation-level steps. Not the exciting parts - the boring, essential groundwork. Then do just one of those steps. Then another. Let yourself feel how satisfying it is to build slowly and well. Track your progress somewhere visible (journal is ideal).
Ritual: Find a stone or piece of wood, something that feels solid in your hand. This is your cornerstone. On or around the New Moon (18th), sit with this object and speak aloud what you're committing to build in 2026. Be specific. Not "I want to be healthier" but "I'm building a body that feels strong enough to do the things I love." Not "I want a better career" but "I'm building work that uses my skills and pays me fairly."
Write your commitment on a piece of paper and place it under the stone. Put this somewhere you'll see it regularly - your desk, altar, kitchen counter. Each time you take action on your commitment, touch the stone. Let it remind you that you're building something real, one choice at a time.
Theme 2: Neptune in Aries - The Spiritual Pioneer
Okay, let's talk about the big one. On January 26th, Neptune leaves Pisces and enters Aries for the first time since the 1860s. This is huge.
Neptune has been in Pisces since 2011. That's 14 years of collective spiritual energy that's been all about dissolving boundaries, feeling everything, surrendering to the flow, and sometimes feeling like we're all just floating in a cosmic soup together. Beautiful? Yes. Occasionally overwhelming and confusing? Also yes.
Now Neptune's moving into Aries, the sign of the warrior, the pioneer, the person who goes first. This is a completely different flavour of spirituality. Instead of "we are all one," it's more like "I am called to do this specific thing." Instead of surrendering, it's about spiritual courage. Instead of dissolving, it's about forging new paths.
This is mystics with momentum. Dreamers with direction. Faith that takes action instead of waiting for divine timing. This is the energy that starts spiritual movements, that has visions bold enough to actually change things, that believes something better is possible and goes after it. Pay attention to what shifts in you this month. What vision gets clearer? What calling gets louder? What dream suddenly feels less like a fantasy and more like a mission?
Resonance Question: Are you tired of just "going with the flow" and ready to actually pursue what you believe in? Do you have a vision or dream that needs courage more than it needs more meditation on it? Is there something you're being called to pioneer - to do first, to try even though no one else is doing it? Are you ready for your spirituality to become more active, more directional, more brave?
Journal Prompts:
- What spiritual or creative vision have I been too afraid to actually pursue?
- Where have I been using "surrender" as an excuse to not take bold action?
- If my faith had courage, what would I do differently?
- What does "spiritual pioneering" mean to me personally?
Micro-Practice: Starting on January 26th, when you feel called to do something but fear stops you, pause and say: "My spirit/ soul is brave." Then take one small courageous action - even just sending the email, speaking up in the meeting, starting the first sketch. Neptune in Aries wants faith in motion.
Ritual: Light a red candle (or any candle you have - the intention matters more than the colour). Red represents Aries' fire and courage. As you light it, speak aloud: "I am the pioneer of my own life. I have the courage to follow where spirit leads me."
Let the candle burn for at least 15 minutes while you sit with this question: "What vision is mine to bring into being?" Don't force an answer. Just hold the question and see what arises. When you're ready, write down anything that came through - even if it seems impossible or scary or too big. These are your marching orders for the next 13 years of Neptune in Aries. It's plenty of time.
Theme 3: From Capricorn to Aquarius - When the Structure Becomes the Launchpad
Here's where January gets really interesting. We spend the first two-and-a-half weeks building, planning, structuring, getting serious. Very Capricorn, very "let's be responsible adults about this." And then, starting around the 17th, everything shifts.
Venus enters Aquarius on the 17th. The Sun follows on the 20th. Mercury on the 20th. Mars on the 23rd. Within a week, we've gone from earth to air, from tradition to innovation, from "this is how it's done" to "but what if we tried it this way instead?"
And they're all meeting up with Pluto in Aquarius! Pluto's been in Aquarius since late 2024, doing deep transformation work on our collective systems and structures. Now all these personal planets are joining the party, bringing their individual flavours to Pluto's revolution.
Venus conjunct Pluto on the 20th: What you love and value is transforming. What beauty means to you is evolving. Your relationships might be going through a metamorphosis.
Sun conjunct Pluto on the 23rd: Your identity and sense of self is shifting. Who you are is becoming something both more authentic and more powerful.
Mercury conjunct Pluto on the 22nd: The way you think and communicate is being revolutionised. You might find yourself saying things you've never dared to say before.
Mars conjunct Pluto on the 27th: Your drive and ambition are being recalibrated. What you're willing to fight for is changing.
This is evolution. The foundation you built in Capricorn becomes the launchpad for innovation in Aquarius. You're not throwing away what you built, you're discovering what it can become when you're willing to experiment.
Resonance Question: Are you ready to innovate on what you've built rather than just maintain it? Is there something you've carefully constructed that's now ready to evolve into something unexpected? Can you hold the tension between "doing it the right way" and "trying something completely new"? Where in your life is transformation knocking, asking you to become something more authentic and powerful?
Journal Prompts:
- What have I built or created that's now ready to evolve beyond its original form?
- Where am I clinging to "the way things are supposed to be done" when I could be experimenting?
- What part of my identity is ready for a complete transformation?
- How can I honour the foundation I've built while also giving myself permission to innovate on it?
Micro-Practice: Take one area where you've built a solid routine or structure. This week, experiment with changing just one element of it. Not throwing it all out - just tweaking one variable. Notice what happens. This is how innovation works: foundation + experimentation = evolution.
Ritual: You'll need something that represents what you've built (could be the cornerstone from Theme 1) and something that represents innovation or change (a key, a coin, perhaps something silver or unusual).
Place them side by side. The first represents your Capricorn foundation. The second represents your Aquarius evolution. Speak aloud: "I honour what I've built. I welcome what it's becoming."
Then do something that symbolically links them - tie them together with string, place them in a small container together, stack them. The goal is to physically represent that you're not choosing between foundation and innovation. You're bringing them together.
Keep this combined object where you can see it. Every time you feel tension between "the safe way" and "the new way," look at it and remember: you can have both.
Horoscopes for December 2025
(Read for your rising sign, or your sun sign, or moon sign, if you don't know your rising).
Aries
Keywords: Career mastery, spiritual awakening, public transformation, mystical courage
Life Areas Highlighted: Career and public reputation, identity and spirituality, home foundations, transformation and rebirth
Invitation: All that Capricorn energy is stacking up in your 10th house of career and public life. This is your moment to build something that lasts in the professional realm. But it's not just about climbing the ladder - with Neptune entering your sign on the 26th, this is about aligning your career ambitions with a deeper spiritual calling. What do you want to be known for? And more importantly, what mission are you willing to pioneer? The New Moon on the 18th is your chance to commit to a professional path that actually matches your soul's evolution.
Taurus
Keywords: Belief revolution, learning expansion, values transformation, comfort evolution
Life Areas Highlighted: Beliefs and higher learning, resources and values, communication and community, relationships
Invitation: Your 9th house of beliefs and expansion is getting a major overhaul this month. What you believe about yourself, about life, about what's possible - it's all up for renovation. The Full Moon in Cancer on the 3rd lights up your communication sector, asking you to speak truths you've been sitting on. Venus (your ruler) enters Aquarius on the 17th and meets Pluto on the 20th, revolutionising what you value and how you relate. This is about expanding beyond comfort zones that have become too small for who you're becoming.
Gemini
Keywords: Intimacy transformation, shared power, resource revolution, deep connection
Life Areas Highlighted: Shared resources and intimacy, career and reputation, transformation and psychology, values
Invitation: January takes you deep into your 8th house of shared resources and intimate transformation. This isn't surface-level stuff - this is about examining power dynamics, trust, and what you're willing to merge with (whether that's another person's resources, energy, or vision). The Capricorn stellium asks you to build something solid in the realm of joint finances or intimate partnerships. Then, when planets shift into Aquarius (your 9th house), what you learned in the depths becomes a new philosophy for living.
Cancer
Keywords: Partnership foundation, relationship evolution, emotional clarity, collaborative building
Life Areas Highlighted: Partnerships and one-to-one relationships, identity and self, intimacy and transformation, beliefs
Invitation: The Full Moon in your sign on the 3rd is a powerful moment of emotional clarity. What do you need? Not what everyone else needs, what do you need? With Jupiter retrograde in your sign all month, you're reviewing your relationship to emotional security before you build the next chapter. All that Capricorn energy in your 7th house of partnerships is asking you to get serious about who you're building with. Not who's comfortable or familiar, but who actually shares your long-term vision.
Leo
Keywords: Work mastery, health foundation, daily revolution, service transformation
Life Areas Highlighted: Work and daily routines, health and embodiment, partnerships, spirituality
Invitation: Your 6th house of work and daily life is where all the action is this month. This is about building sustainable routines that actually support your health and productivity instead of burning you out. The New Moon on the 18th is perfect for committing to practices that will compound over time. When planets shift into Aquarius (your 7th house of partnerships), you might find that the systems you've built for yourself become something you share with or teach to others. Your daily magic becomes collaborative.
Virgo
Keywords: Creative construction, joy architecture, pleasure discipline, heart expression
Life Areas Highlighted: Creativity and pleasure, romance and self-expression, work and health, community vision
Invitation: All those planets in Capricorn are lighting up your 5th house of creativity, pleasure, and self-expression. This is about building sustainable creative practices, not just waiting for inspiration to strike. What brings you joy? What do you want to create? The New Moon on the 18th asks you to commit to actually making time for it. When planets move into Aquarius (your 6th house), those creative structures become part of your daily work. Your pleasure becomes your practice.
Libra
Keywords: Home foundation, family patterns, domestic transformation, ancestral healing
Life Areas Highlighted: Home and family roots, emotional security, creativity and joy, intimacy and depth
Invitation: Your 4th house of home and foundations is getting a complete renovation this month. This is about building a home base (whether physical or emotional) that actually supports who you're becoming. The Full Moon in Cancer on the 3rd illuminates your career sector - are you building a home life that supports your professional ambitions? When Venus (your ruler) enters Aquarius on the 17th and meets Pluto, your creative expression and joy become revolutionary acts. Your foundation becomes your launchpad.
Scorpio
Keywords: Communication power, learning mastery, mind transformation, truth speaking
Life Areas Highlighted: Communication and learning, immediate environment, home and family, partnerships
Invitation: Your 3rd house of communication is packed with planets this month. This is about learning to speak your truth with authority and building practices around learning and information sharing. Mercury, Mars, and the New Moon all gather here, asking: what do you want to say? What do you need to learn? When these planets shift into Aquarius (your 4th house), what you've learned becomes part of your foundation. Your words become your home base.
Sagittarius
Keywords: Resource building, value transformation, worth revolution, material foundation
Life Areas Highlighted: Money and resources, values and self-worth, communication and ideas, spirituality
Invitation: January is all about your 2nd house of resources, money, and values. What are you worth? Not what you produce, but what is your inherent value? The Capricorn energy helps you build actual financial structures and systems. When planets move into Aquarius (your 3rd house), your evolved values change how you communicate and think. Your worth becomes your message. Neptune entering Aries on the 26th adds a mystical dimension to your self-expression - your words might carry unexpected power.
Capricorn
Keywords: Personal construction, identity mastery, self-transformation, authentic emergence
Life Areas Highlighted: Self and identity, personal presence, values and resources, home and family
Invitation: This is YOUR month, Capricorn. Sun, Venus, Mars, Mercury - they're all moving through your 1st house of identity. The New Moon on the 18th at 28° of your sign is basically a cosmic coronation. Who are you building yourself to be? This isn't about becoming someone else's version of success - this is about constructing an identity that's authentically yours. When planets shift into Aquarius (your 2nd house), your transformed identity changes what you value and how you resource yourself.
Aquarius
Keywords: Spiritual construction, unconscious integration, transformation emergence, authentic power
Life Areas Highlighted: Spirituality and solitude, hidden patterns and completion, identity and self, mystical work
Invitation: The first half of January has you in preparation mode with all those planets in your 12th house of spirituality and hidden work. This is incubation time - building privately before you emerge publicly. Then, starting the 17th, planets begin flooding into your 1st house of identity. Venus, Sun, Mercury, Mars, all meeting with Pluto in your sign. This is your metamorphosis moment. What you've been building in secret is ready to be seen. Neptune entering Pisces-ruled houses adds mystical fuel to your evolution.
Pisces
Keywords: Community building, friendship transformation, collective vision, social revolution
Life Areas Highlighted: Friends and community, hopes and dreams, spirituality and retreat, career and purpose
Invitation: Your 11th house of community and future vision is where all the Capricorn construction is happening. Who are your people? What communities are you building or joining? The New Moon on the 18th is perfect for committing to group involvement or collective projects. When planets shift into Aquarius (your 12th house of spirituality), your community connections become spiritually significant. Your friendships become your practice. And with Neptune preparing to leave your sign, you're in the final stretch of a 14-year spiritual journey - trust what you've learned.
.
