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Astrological Overview: January 4 - 10, 2021
Astrologer Pam Younghans writes this weekly astrological journal based on planetary influences, and offers perspectives and insights to assist you in making the best use of current energies. This column is not intended as prediction. Your own experience will be more specifically defined by transits to your personal chart.
Highlighted Aspects for This Week
All times listed are Pacific Daylight Time. (For Eastern Time, add 3 hours; For Greenwich Mean Time, add 8 hours.)
??MON: Mercury square Eris, Mercury conjunct Pluto
WED: Mars enters Taurus
FRI: Mercury enters Aquarius, Venus enters Capricorn, Sun sextile Neptune, Mercury square Mars
SAT: Venus trine Mars, Mercury conjunct Saturn
SUN: Mercury semisquare Neptune
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THE WORK of 2021 now begins. Our Aquarian goals of unity and peace may feel like a distant horizon at times this year, but we have a lot of assist from the nonphysical realms – and from our own Soul – to support us on this journey.
Focusing on that horizon, that "golden living dream of visions," may be a challenging task in this first full week of the new year. The planet Mercury, representing our mental state and nervous system, is in a bit of tangle, with hard aspects to five other planets strewn across several days. The mind can be a wild beast at times, and we'll need to call on all our thought-training and taming skills this week.
AS WE START the week, Mercury is in late degrees of Capricorn, the sign of authority and ambition. On Monday, as Mercury squares disgruntled Eris and conjoins power-hungry Pluto, there may be pronouncements from top eschelons that trigger strong reactions, especially from those who feel they do not have a voice.
This influence is along the lines of "react now, worry about the consequences later." Any time Pluto is involved in an aspect, there can be a sense of "have to" – a strong need that feels like it MUST be met, and right away. As Pluto and Mercury align, we'll need to watch for a "need" to say something, even if it might be hurtful or lead to problems later on. We can of course use this energy in positive ways, to state a strong case as needed, but with Mercury also square Eris, someone is likely to take affront.
THREE PLANETS change signs midweek, somewhat altering the landscape of our journey. The first to move is Mars, which enters Taurus on Wednesday after having been in Aries for what seems like forever (since June 28), due to going retrograde in the sign.
Mars represents how we take action and how we express our desires. While the Red Planet is in assertive Aries, we would expect tempers to flare more readily, and that people would be more impatient, impulsive, and headstrong. Looking back across these past six months, we can most likely observe many ways in which those qualities were expressed, in ourselves and in others.
TAURUS is much different energy than Aries. While Aries can be impulsive, Taurus is typically consistent and thorough. When Mars transits Taurus, reaction time is typically slower. We can still get angry, of course, but overall we are less explosive and more cautious in asserting ourselves. Resistance with Mars in Taurus tends to manifest as stubbornness and rigidity – the heels planted, "you'll have to make me" response.
On the positive side, Mars in Taurus supports slow and steady movement forward. Our determination to meet our needs is strengthened, and we are more focused on physical realm issues that need resolution. Taurus also rules personal values and finances, so our energy and attention will be drawn to these arenas while Mars is in Taurus (January 6 to March 3).
ON FRIDAY, Mercury enters inventive Aquarius, encouraging us to think outside the box and to open our minds to progressive ideas. Although usually in a sign for about three weeks, Mercury will be in Aquarius for an extended period this year, due to going retrograde on January 30.
But, Mercury meets with a challenge right out of the chute, being square to Mars on Friday. This aspect represents the battle of an old, proven way (Mars in Taurus) versus a new ideology or technology (Mercury in Aquarius). It is easy to get into arguments with this square in effect, although anger may come out more passive-aggressively than directly.
VENUS also changes signs on Friday, moving from hopeful Sagittarius to realistic Capricorn. Venus, named for the goddess of Love, is the planetary representative of relationships, values, and financial matters.
Given the current landscape, it makes sense that while Venus transits Capricorn (January 8 to February 1), we will be coming to terms with economic realities and become more security-conscious than we have been for the past few weeks. This may also be a time of looking more seriously at certain relationships, observing what does and doesn't work for us. It can be a time either of renewed commitment or of endings, depending on our answers to some tough questions.
ON SATURDAY, Venus is in a harmonious trine aspect with Mars. This is a day when we can get a better sense of positive potentials, rather than focusing only on where we feel limited. It should be a good day to look to the future with a balance of optimism and realism, due to the Venus-Mars trine and Mercury's alignment with Saturn in Aquarius.
Sunday is better spent on less practical concerns, as Mercury is semisquare elusive Neptune. This aspect is not conducive to clear reasoning, but it could be very nice for going with the flow of the day, or perhaps daydreaming about the future.
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IF YOUR BIRTHDAY IS THIS WEEK: This year, you are encouraged to tap into the abundant spiritual support that is available to you. If you so choose, you can let go of some of your need to be in charge, and allow more trust into your life. It is also a good year to find outlets for your compassionate heart, which is being opened in new ways. Your empathy is enhanced, as well as your wish to be of service and to help others who are in need. (Solar Return Sun sextile Ceres, sextile Neptune)
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ONLY TEN DAYS AWAY! On Wednesday, January 13, I'll be presenting a class entitled "Uncharted Waters: Setting Sail," covering the astrological energies we'll be working with during the first four months of 2021. As we move through this new, unmapped territory, it can be helpful to have some guidance from the planets.
To learn more about the class, please visit: https://uncharteredwaters.eventbrite.com.
After you register: Watch for an email from (
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For previous weeks of the Astrological Journal, click here.
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About the Author
Pam Younghans is a professional astrologer, editor, and writer. She lives in a log home northeast of Seattle, Washington with her beloved animal companions. She has been interpreting charts professionally for over 25 years. If you are interested in an astrology reading, e-mail
