The Aquarius New Moon on January 21 may feel like the time when 2023 actually gets started. This also coincides with the Chinese Lunar New year-as we enter the year of the Water Rabbit. (New Moon will occur on January 22 in China) According to Ruby Zhao from www.chinahighlights.com, “The sign of Rabbit is a symbol of longevity, peace, and prosperity in Chinese culture. 2023 is predicted to be a year of hope.”
In Western Tropical astrology, 2023 promises to be a year of transition, and this Aquarius New Moon chart has plenty of charged potency to help bring on the changes! The Moon conjuncts the Sun just one day after it moves into the sign of the water bearer, joining serious Saturn and relationship oriented Venus. With all the other planets in direct motion after January 22, there is plenty of kinetic energy available for advancing your hopes & wishes for the year.
Aquarius is fixed air, though is often confused with a water sign, as it’s symbol is a human pouring water. The water pouring from the aquarian vessel actually represents the flow of higher consciousness channeled from the collective through the individual for the future of human-kind. Aquarius is logical, social, detached, progressive and forward thinking. This sign also governs hopes and wishes, friends and communities.
Air is the dominate element of this New Moon, which stimulates mental activity, nervous system impulses and freedom of movement. With a stellium of planets in Aquarius, insights, ideas and innovations can strike like a bolt of lightening. This Moon could also have you feeling more rebellious, emotionally activated, hyper-aware or autonomous than usual.
If you’ve been feeling shackled, repressed, or stuck in a rut, this lunation will help break chains that bind, or provide the inspiration to switch up old patters and routines. There may be some restlessness, rebellious urges, emotional activations or nervous system responses that are designed to initiate some form of liberation in one or more areas of your life.
Saturn is the traditional ruler of Aquarius, (where it is currently transiting)- which bolsters up the energies of this years first New Moon. Saturn also rules Capricorn, and both sign deal with time. Where Capricorn looks back to traditions and time tested strategies, Aquarius has its sights set on progressing the future. Both signs are concerned with structure, though they go about it in different ways. Earthy Capricorn governs material success, personal reputation and building things that last. Aquarian structures are rational, experimental, impersonal and often aimed at benefiting the whole of humanity. The Saturnian expression of Capricorn wants to crystalize, whereas Saturn in Aquarius wants to liberate. Capricorn follows rules. Aquarius breaks them.
Uranus is the Modern ruler of Aquarius. It is currently in Taurus and making a trine aspect to Mercury in Capricorn. Though the emphasis in this lunation is on Aquarian themes, Mercury in Capricorn has its mind on practical matters, which can really help us ground intentions into reality. Uranus is often considered to be the higher expression of Mercury. Both planets govern mental functions, thoughts, perceptions and communication. Mercury is associated with the nervous system, whereas Uranus rules the electrical currents and connections throughout the body. Body, mind and emotions could be hyper-charged at this lunation. While both planets correlate with intelligence, Uranus takes us beyond the bounds of the ordinary, asking us to challenge the “status-quo”.
Uranus governs anything that is outside the “box”. Aliens, abnormalities, extreme weather, spasms, contradictions, electromagnetism, sudden or unexpected events, freedom, flying, lightening, metaphysics, outbreaks & outlaws are just some Uranian associations. Astrology is ruled by Uranus and Aquarius! ( It’s no wonder I LOVE this New Moon!)
Uranus has been retrograde in Taurus since August 24, 2022. It will station direct the day after this New Moon. Because Uranus is an outer planet- it moves slowly-spending approximately 7 years in a sign. It will remain stationary for a while-emphasizing the 15° point in Taurus. This energy is significant for this Lunation, as Uranus is a co-ruler.
The Sabian symbol for Taurus 15°:
HEAD COVERED WITH A RAKISH SILK HAT, MUFFLED AGAINST THE COLD, A MAN BRAVES A STORM.
Dane Rudyhars interpretation:
“The courage needed to meet the crises precipitated by social ambition. The man with the silk hat has seen some of his ambitious efforts bring him social success; but he learns that often "nothing fails like success." The storm may be within him, or it may attack his social status. He is ready to face it daringly. This shows a willingness to accept crises and to go through them — and therefore great character, the soil upon which a higher kind of consciousness may develop.”
Uranus is at the degree of it’s station in the lunation chart, and now is prepared to move ahead with concentrated force. This is the planet of shocks and surprises. Among it’s nick names are ; “the great awakener”, and “the great disrupter”. If this placement makes an aspect with your natal chart, you are likely to feel it on a personal level. Because outer planets evolve the collective, Uranus will bring more disturbances, unexpected events and turbulence that will provide the impetus for much needed break throughs.
This lunation comes with a Yod pattern-also referred to as the finger of God. This pattern carries the feeling of destiny or fate and is considered challenging. It creates a pressurized closed circuit between the celestial bodies involved. In this case, we have Mars in Gemini at the tip of the finger, making inconjuct aspects to Mercury in Capricorn and the South Node in Scorpio-who are sextile one another. The energy of Mercury and the South Node have no choice other than to deal with Mars.
Mars has barley moved forward since it stationed direct on the 12th of January, and this New Moon emphasizes an urgency to undertake some type of action involving the past and taking responsibility for any Capricornian themes you have been navigating. Perhaps there is a need to set some practical goals, deal with an authority figure or get serious about what you want to build for yourself or your family in the future. While this could be challenging, the potential for increased awareness and spiritual (R)evolution is not to be ignored.
This Full Moon is in an out of sign Conjunction with Pluto in Capricorn. This undeniably brings an important level of intensity to this lunation.The message is; if you want to progress, those misuses of power, old corrupt structures & forms need to go.
Pluto is the outermost-slowest moving planet, and it has been dismantling traditional power structures across the globe since 2008. It’s likely you have been experiencing the death & rebirth of structures & forms in your own life. In March, Pluto will dip in to the sign of Aquarius for a few months, then goes back into Capricorn- moving between these two signs until November 2024- where it will spend the next 20 years.
This New Moon has us focused on the future, with the need to acknowledge and clear away those past constructions that just won’t work as we forge ahead into a “Brave New World”.
In Conclusion…
There is a lot of fresh, fertile oomph in this Aquarius New Moon, along with some fierce potency. We will be working with the energies activated at this lunation through out 2023.
Even if you are not the “intention Setting” type- you may want to consider experimenting with an aspiration at this time. Take advantage of the unconventional, cool, mystifyingly detached energies available now and plant a seed or two. If there is something that needs to go or change, the universe is ready to support a clean transmutation. If you have been masquerading your true unique (maybe freaky) self, there has never been a better time to break free from old conditioned identities and let it all hang out. The future holds whatever you build in to it!
Here’s to you, your relations, and the future you are creating and we are co-creating!
