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Astrological Overview: January 8 - 14, 2024
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.
Monday: Mercury square Neptune
Tuesday: Sun semisquare Saturn, Sun trine Uranus, Mars sextile Saturn, Mars sesquiquadrate Uranus
Wednesday: Venus semisquare Pluto
Thursday: New Moon at 3:57 a.m. PST, Venus trine Chiron, Eris stations direct
Friday: Mars trine Jupiter
Saturday: Mercury enters Capricorn
Sunday: Venus quincunx Uranus, Sun square Eris
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CAPRICORN NEW MOON: The first New Moon of 2024 occurs at 3:57 a.m. PST this Thursday, January 11, when the Sun and Moon align at 20°44´ Capricorn. A New Moon in the sign of The Seagoat is usually a fortuitous time for setting goals and aiming our sights on the mountaintop. Capricorn is known to be self-sufficient, disciplined, and hardworking, perfect qualities for making a successful ascent.
The Sun and Moon are in harmonious trine aspect to Uranus for this lunation, helping us envision new possibilities that may have been out of our comfort zone in the past. Uranus encourages us to be progressive, true to self, independent, and innovative as we set our goals and strive to achieve them.
However, the New Moon is in hard aspect to Saturn (semisquare), and also Chiron and Eris (square). We may therefore be dealing with some delays in realizing our goals, and need to navigate some self-confidence issues or the fear that we'll never attain what we desire. With Saturn involved, there might be very good reasons for what appear to be setbacks; when the planet known as Father Time slows our progress, not only is it teaching us lessons of patience and discipline, it also is aligning us with the best cosmic timing for our endeavors.
The square between the New Moon and discontented Eris is especially strong, since the dwarf planet is at a standstill on Thursday. This aspect indicates possible conflicts and power struggles that delay the manifestations we are working toward. These challenges require us to be aware of our true motivations, and to develop new levels of emotional maturity and patience.
DAILY ASPECTS: Here are my brief interpretations of this week's most important planetary aspects:
Monday
Mercury square Neptune: The imagination is strong today, but not easily translated into meaningful ideas or words. This aspect represents a dissolving of old dogmas and opinions, so it may be best to delay important decisions until we are clearer on what we now believe, as compared to what we once held to be true.
Tuesday
Sun semisquare Saturn and trine Uranus: There is a need to experience something new, to break out of old ruts. However, we may run into delays in manifesting the changes we are wanting. While these aspects are exact to the degree today, they are also very strong in the New Moon chart.
Mars sextile Saturn and sesquiquadrate Uranus: We have the stamina, strength, and courage to move forward now, but will also need to manage some willfulness, impulsiveness, and impatience.
Wednesday
Venus semisquare Pluto: Minor trust issues could arise in relationships. It may be best to address these when they are first birthed, rather than waiting until they have gained full size.
Thursday
New Moon: A new four-week lunar cycle begins when the Sun and Moon align at 3:57 a.m. PST. A New Moon in Capricorn supports setting goals and applying discipline and self-reliance to ensure their achievement.
Venus trine Chiron: This aspect supports creating healthier relationships, based on a new level of acceptance and an increased tolerance of differences.
Eris stations direct: With Eris' energy very strong this week, we feel heightened needs for independence and personal autonomy but also for the respect we feel we deserve. Some may act impulsively or in anger if they feel their rights have been discounted or their needs have been ignored.
Friday
Mars trine Jupiter: This very energizing aspect increases the willpower, courage, and optimism we need for setting and achieving goals. We may feel very enthusiastic about a new endeavor, especially if it supports a cause or a philosophy we believe in.
Saturday
Mercury enters Capricorn: Mercury will travel through Capricorn from January 13 to February 5. During this three-week period, our minds tend to be goal-oriented but also logical and practical. We will be most successful if we focus on one process at a time, rather than trying to multitask.
Sunday
Venus quincunx Uranus: There may be surprises today, as some act impulsively or out of a need to affirm their freedom and individuality. The unexpected could manifest in relationships or in our purchasing choices.
Sun square Eris: We may become aware of an underlying discontent with where our lives seem to be headed, or with our current choice of purpose. This restlessness offers insights that will help us be more self-aware as we make decisions about the future.
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IF YOUR BIRTHDAY IS THIS WEEK: You may be aware of a restlessness and a desire for new experiences this year, and you are supported in branching out of your usual comfort zone. But at the same time, there are certain realities that must be faced, and proper timing to be acknowledged. You may also need to address underlying insecurities about your ability to attain your desires. Anger can arise if you feel others are unaware of your needs and are ignoring your rights. An increased tendency to blame others or to criticize yourself may indicate a need to develop a stronger internal support system — one that accepts and honors all aspects of your being, even those you usually judge as being a sign of "weakness." (Solar Return Sun semisquare Saturn, trine Uranus, square Chiron, square Eris)
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TRANSLATION and AUDIO/VIDEO VERSION: This weekly Journal is 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.
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CLASSES AND WEBINARS by Pam Younghans:
WEBINAR THIS WEEK! Please join us for my "Breakthroughs & Awakenings" webinar this Wednesday, January 10! I'll start the webinar with an overview of 2024's most significant planetary events, and then focus on those influences we'll be working with for the next four months — including the Total Solar Eclipse and the life-changing Jupiter-Uranus conjunction, both occurring in April.
After you register, you'll receive a confirmation email, monthly aspect calendars that you can print for taking notes, and the link and passcode to attend the webinar. These emails will come from
If you are not able to join us live on Wednesday — no worries! A replay of the webinar and a pdf of the slideshow will be sent to everyone who registers. To learn more or to register, please visit https://PamJan-April2024.eventbrite.com .
MY NEXT MONTHLY ASTROLOGY CLASS, covering the Month of Aquarius (January 20-February 18), is set for Wednesday, January 17! To learn more and to register, please visit https://events.humanitix.com/solar-month-class-aquarius-2024
INSTAGRAM: I'm now posting daily astrological updates on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/pamyounghans/
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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
For more information about NorthPoint Astrology offerings, please visit northpointastrology.com or visit her Facebook page.
