Two full-circle rainbows captured over the Lofoten Islands of Norway by a drone passing through a rain shower. Image Credit & Copyright: Lukas Mosesch
Written and Narrated by Pam Younghans.
Watch video version on YouTube
Current and previous weeks astrological overviews
Astrological Overview: January 2 - 8, 2023
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.
Aspects of Note this Week:
All times listed are Pacific Daylight Time. For Eastern Time, add 3 hours; For Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), add 8 hours.
MON: Sun square Chiron, Venus enters Aquarius
TUE: No major aspects are exact today
WED: Venus sextile Jupiter
THU: Sun trine Uranus
FRI: Full Moon 3:07 p.m. PST
SAT: Sun conjunct retrograde Mercury
SUN: Retrograde Mercury trine Uranus
****
CROSSING THE THRESHOLD: Another year has come full circle and we are now crossing the threshold of a new calendar year. Based on the planetary activity that is in store, 2023 promises to be memorable, for each of us individually and for our global community.
We are entering new territory, symbolized most powerfully by Saturn and Pluto both entering new signs in March. Saturn is returning to mystical Pisces for the first time since leaving the sign in 1996, and in some ways, will be picking up from where it left off 28 years ago. Pluto's ingress into progressive Aquarius is the dwarf planet's first foray into the sign since 1798 and is an even more potent indicator of the profound social changes that lie ahead.
CANCER FULL MOON: The astrological highlight of this first week of 2023 is a Full Moon that perfects on Friday, January 6, at 3:07 p.m. PST. At that time, the Moon will be at 16°21´ Cancer, opposite the Sun at the same degree of Capricorn.
Emotions are always heightened around the time of a Full Moon, and with this lunation in impressionable Cancer, we can expect to be even more aware of our own and others' emotional landscape. This enhanced sensitivity is likely to begin as soon as the Moon enters Cancer on Thursday, January 5, at 6:15 a.m. PST, and be strongest around the time of the Full Moon.
FULL MOON ASPECTS: The Moon will oppose retrograde Mercury in Capricorn for the Full Moon, indicating a push-pull between what we feel intuitively and what our minds are telling us is true. With Mercury currently moving backward, it will be especially important to take our time with any important communications or decisions. I have found that the challenges associated with Mercury retrograde are most noticeable when we try to rush things based on fear or anxiety, or the need to meet a time deadline.
Also strong in the Full Moon chart is a T-square between the Sun/Mercury (in Capricorn), the Moon/Pallas Athene (in Cancer) and Chiron/Eris (in Aries). We will need to be especially self-aware with this configuration, as people can be defensive and may quickly resort to fight-or-flight mode.
Two very positive aspects are included in the Full Moon energies. The Moon will be trine Neptune and very tightly trine the asteroid Vesta. These aspects enhance our imagination and creative abilities, as well as our intuitive rapport with others. The Moon-Vesta trine, especially, can help us attune our sensitive natures to spiritual concerns, or encourage dedication to selfless service.
Luna will also be closely sextile Uranus and the North Node for the lunation. These aspects help us be open to new potentials, and enable us to more readily adapt to any changes that may occur.
DAILY ASPECTS: Here are this week's most important planetary aspects, with my brief interpretations of each.
Monday
Sun square Chiron: People can be more easily offended today, especially if they feel ignored or discounted.
Venus enters Aquarius: While Venus is in Aquarius, from January 2 to 26, we tend to value friendship over romance and can be more casual about commitments. There is a greater objectivity about relationships and a desire to be free of attachments.
Tuesday
No major aspects are exact today.
Wednesday
Venus sextile Jupiter: New, interesting people may enter our lives with this aspect, or we can feel more excited about the potentials of an existing relationship or creative endeavor.
Thursday
Sun trine Uranus: It is easier to maintain personal boundaries with this aspect, rather than becoming overly involved in others' situations.
Friday
Full Moon 3:07 p.m. PST: People may be especially self-protective with this lunation. Trust issues can arise and it can be hard not to overreact to perceived affronts. However, there are also opportunities to achieve new levels of emotional or spiritual rapport.
Saturday
Sun conjunct retrograde Mercury: This is a good day to spend with our own thoughts, to discover how we really want to proceed with respect to longer-term goals. It may be a good time for a conversation, as long as we understand that the purpose is about self-discovery and mutual understanding rather than coming to a concrete decision.
Sunday
Retrograde Mercury trine Uranus: Minds are highly active and open to new concepts with this aspect. This could be a good day to explore ideas that are unfamiliar or even seem outlandish at first, to try on new philosophical hats to see if they fit.
*****
IF YOUR BIRTHDAY IS THIS WEEK: There is a greater need for introspection this year, and to take your time with any major decisions. Pay close attention to times when you feel you "have to" choose a certain option, and consider if perhaps the pressure is self-imposed. You are in the process of healing the part of you that doesn't believe it is OK to "just be," rather than always be "doing." Opportunities for new self-expression continue throughout the year, if you allow yourself to experiment with various options rather than feeling you must commit to a specific goal. (Solar Return Sun conjunct retrograde Mercury, trine Uranus, square Chiron)
*****
TEN DAYS FROM TODAY! I'll of course be writing about each week's astrological events in this Journal, but if you are interested in knowing more about the effects we might expect from Saturn and Pluto in 2023, please join us for my "Quantum Shift" webinar on Wednesday, January 11! The class will provide an overview of the year ahead, with a special focus on the next four months, including those highly influential sign changes in March and the first eclipse of 2023 in April.
The class will air live on January 11 but will be recorded for those who cannot attend at that time. Please see the full class description on this page, or visit: https://quantumshift2023.eventbrite.com
Questions? If you do not receive your confirmation email or calendar links, or have other questions about the class, please contact Elsie Kerns, at
*****
TRANSLATION and AUDIO/VIDEO VERSION: This weekly Journal is now recorded (in English) AND the text is transcribed into 30 languages! You'll see a row of flags under "Available Languages" in the upper right. And, there are options to listen to the audio (in English) or watch a video directly beneath the photo (see top of page).
The Journal entry is usually updated by Sunday evening, with the recordings appearing late Sunday or by Monday depending on your time zone. Please share this information with those who might benefit.
*****
For previous weeks of the Astrological Journal, click here.
*****
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
For more information about NorthPoint Astrology offerings, please visit northpointastrology.com or visit her Facebook page.
