This Week in Astrology

First Quarter Moon on Monday, January 30th, 2012, at 11:10 PM EST.

On Monday night, a First Quarter Moon occurs when the Sun in Aquarius forms a square with the Taurus Moon. There is a crisis theme surrounding any quarter Moon phase, as we feel compelled to take action. Shortly after, we are made aware of how our actions affect those close to us, perhaps through trial and error. Whatever project or initiative we began around the New Moon on January 23rd is now off the ground, and it may face its first obstacles.

This phase of the Moon occurs at 10 degrees and 41 minutes of  Taurus and Aquarius, affecting people born with personal planets and points at approximately 9 to 13 degrees of the Fixed signs (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, and Aquarius) most significantly.

The Sun is in Aquarius; Mercury is in Aquarius; Venus is in Pisces; Mars is in Virgo.

The Sun is in Aquarius from January 20-February 18. During this cycle, we are motivated by our hunger for knowledge, experience, and originality. Innovation is more important to us than convention. We become more aware of what is outdated in our lives, and strive to find new perspectives and new ways to do things. The class distinctions, structure, and order that Capricorn finds appealing now seem to be too rigid. The freedom of the individual becomes far more significant to us. We strive to free ourselves from some of the restrictions, inhibitions, and limitations that now feel constraining rather than safe.

Mercury is in Aquarius from January 27-February 13. When Mercury is in Aquarius, we are hungry for knowledge and open to new and original ideas. We begin to think outside of the box, and our thinking becomes more progressive and objective. Our communication and thought patterns are spontaneous, somewhat fragmented, and liberal. This is a time when inventive thinking is at a peak.

Venus is in Pisces from January 14-February 8. Pisces never sees the world in black-and-white terms. Rather, Pisces sees all the colors of the rainbow. With the goddess of love in Pisces, our love is all-embracing, we are able to forgive and understand, we are seducible and seductive, and we show compassion to our partners. Venus in Pisces is tender and affectionate, although hard to reach nevertheless, as there is a longing for something that is hard to define and hard to satisfy. Borders and boundaries blur under Venus in Pisces. The shadow side of this position is allowing ourselves to be victimized or deluded, as well as evasiveness.

Mars in Virgo November 10-July 3rd, 2012. In Virgo, Mars is somewhat of a workhorse. We have a passion for details, as well as a need to do the right thing at just the right time under this influence. The satisfaction of a job well done is one of your greatest incentives now. We are more precise and concerned about performance.

Jupiter entered Taurus on June 4th. Read about Jupiter's transit through Taurus here.

Uranus entered Aries on March 11th. The urge to start fresh, to break free from restrictive attitudes or circumstances, to totally redesign an area of our lives (or even our personalities), and to gain freedom through independence is strong with Uranus in Aries.

Romance & Relationships

Venus is in Pisces from January 14-February 8. Like Aquarius, Pisces love is universal. However, Pisces draws no bounds in love. With Venus in Pisces, we have compassion (and perhaps attraction) for those who are left out, overlooked, or victimized. We are self-sacrificing, and we have a hard time setting up borders. The walls go down, we have a hard time saying no (especially if our compassion is engaged), but we are also prone to avoiding all that makes us feel uncomfortable. Wishful thinking is one expression of Venus in Pisces. We can too easily believe what we want to believe. People can be hard to pin down, and love is hard to define under this influence. Pisces never sees the world in black-and-white terms. Rather, Pisces sees all the colors of the rainbow. With the goddess of love in Pisces, our love is all-embracing, we are able to forgive and understand, we are seducible and seductive, and we show compassion to our partners. Venus in Pisces is tender and affectionate, although hard to reach nevertheless, as there is a longing for something that is hard to define and hard to satisfy. Borders and boundaries blur under Venus in Pisces. The shadow side of this position is allowing ourselves to be victimized or deluded, as well as evasiveness.

This week: On Sunday and Monday, a parallel between Venus and Chiron brings healing energy to love relationships. We are open to romantic feelings, and more willing to act upon them. This is a good time to make a resolution to repair, heal, and improve relationships. Venus opposes retrograde Mars on Wednesday and Thursday, when actions, or more likely inaction, can rub us the wrong way in love relationships.

Venus, the Goddess of Love: Highlights in the Coming Week:

Venus in Pisces January 14-February 8. A martyr complex, a love for the underdog, a search for your soul mate: such are the experiences associated with the new cycle you're now just beginning. A yen for soul-stirring romance, a weakness for the weak, and a tendency to idealize people and relationships ... very aesthetic, very other-worldly.
Venus parallel Chiron January 29-30. Healing energy is brought to love relationships, and a new cycle begins. A commitment-friendly transit. Love can heal old wounds. We are open to romantic feelings, and more willing to act upon them. This is a good time to make a resolution to repair, heal, and improve relationships.
Venus semi-square Mercury January 29-30. Communications between lovers are superficial and unsatisfying, and perhaps awkward. Superficiality in romantic expression may exist now.
Venus opposition Mars February 1-2. Romantic needs are at odds with assertive, physical, or sexual needs. Relations are heated and erotic, but come with an underlying tension.
Venus quincunx Saturn February 7. A feeling that we may not be able to express our affections, or that our affections will not be received well, can undermine us in our relationships. Fear of rejection, emotional distancing, and over-sensitivity.
Venus parallel Uranus February 8-9. We embrace all that is new, unusual, and out-of-the-ordinary with regards to romantic involvements. We lose our fear of taking risks at this time. We are ready to experiment, but not necessarily ready to commit. Peculiar, sudden, or avant garde attractions. This is an exciting but unstable energy. Friendship in love relationships becomes more important.
Venus conjunct Uranus February 9. We have a taste for the unusual and the avant garde. We are itching for a change. What makes a person unique is more attractive under this influence. Excitement and newness is valued over permanence in social relationships. Freedom is more important than intimacy just now. We lose our fears of taking risks in love and social situations. Romantic infatuations, gossip, unanticipated opportunities socially or financially. We have a greater need for self-expression, personal freedom, and social excitement. 
Venus square Pluto February 15. Intense passions, but there's a hidden agenda. Jealousy and possessiveness are high, in direct proportion to fear of losing partnership. Avoid starting a new relationship at this time, because it can be characterized by these energies.

The Moon & Timing

The Void-of-Course Moon this Week:

Void-of-course Moon on Monday, January 30th, from 1:09 AM EST, with the Moon's last aspect before changing signs (a sextile to Neptune), until the Moon enters Taurus at 1:29 AM EST.

VOC Moon on Wednesday, February 1st, from 2:06 PM EST, with the Moon's last aspect before changing signs (a square to Neptune), until the Moon enters Gemini at 2:15 PM EST.

VOC Moon on Saturday, February 4th, from 12:07 AM EST, with the Moon's last aspect before changing signs (a trine to Saturn), until the Moon enters Cancer at 1:04 AM EST.

Void of Course Moon Table for January 2012:

Void of Course Moon Table for February 2012:

Timing with the Moon - Better Periods this Week for Electing New Initiatives

The Moon is waxing this week -- a period that is generally considered favorable for new beginnings, with some exceptions. (See Best Time to Start a Business for more details). 

A window of opportunity occurs this week on February 3rd from approximately 4 PM to midnight, while the Moon is in Gemini.

Planetary Stations & Sign Ingresses:

Nov 10th: Mars enters Virgo 11:15 PM
Nov 22nd: Sun enters Sagittarius 11:08 AM
Nov 24th:  Mercury Retrograde 2:20 AM
Nov 26th: Venus enters Capricorn 7:36 AM
Dec 10th:  Uranus Direct 2:05 AM
Dec 13th:  Mercury Direct 8:43 PM
Dec 20th:  Venus enters Aquarius 1:26 PM
Dec 22nd: Sun enters Capricorn 12:30 AM
Dec 25th:  Jupiter Direct 5:08 PM  
Jan  8th:  Mercury enters Capricorn 1:34 AM
Jan 14th: Venus enters Pisces 12:47 AM
Jan 20th: Sun enters Aquarius 11:10 AM
Jan 23rd:  Mars Rx 7:54 PM
Jan 27th:  Mercury enters Aquarius 1:12 PM
Feb  3rd:  Neptune enters Pisces 2:03 PM
Feb  7th:   Sat Rx 9:03 AM
Feb  8th:  Venus enters Aries 1:01 AM
Feb 13th:  Mercury enters Pisces 8:38 PM
Feb 19th:  Sun enters Pisces  1:18 AM
Mar  2nd:  Mercury enters Aries 6:41 AM
Mar  5th:   Venus enters Taurus 5:25 AM
    *** Daylight Saving Time begins ***
Mar 12th:  Mercury Retrograde 3:49 AM
Mar 20th:  Sun enters Aries 1:14 AM
Mar 23rd:  Mercury Retrograde enters Pisces 9:22 AM
Apr  3rd:   Venus enters Gemini 11:18 AM
Apr  4th:   Mercury Direct 6:11 AM
Apr 10th:  Pluto Retrograde 12:24 PM
Apr 13th:  Mars Direct 11:53 PM
Apr 16th:  Mercury enters Aries 6:42 PM
Apr 19th:  Sun enters Taurus 12:12 PM
May  9th:  Mercury enters Taurus 1:14 AM

See also: The Astrology of 2012 - Overview.

Note: Times given ET.

This Week's Calendar

Mercury semi-square Venus. Difficulties in social or romantic communication are possible today. On the other hand, we may make more efforts to be polite and to communicate. Hypersensitivity, and lack of mental discipline. Our minds wander.

Mercury sesquiquadrate Mars. Impulsive communications and hasty decision-making. We can accomplish more if we are careful not to be too hasty and forget details. "Haste makes waste".

Venus opposition Mars. Passions run high. Jealousies are possible. Impulsive decisions affect our finances and/or established relationships. We stir up problems in order to fulfill a need for excitement.

Last Week

Note: Times given in the table/calendar above are Eastern Time (ET).

Daily Trends Calendar

See below for day-by-day forecasts and planets in signs.

What's In Store By the Stars - Daily Astrology Trends

(as featured on our site's main page and in our Daily Trends Calendar)

January 29
The Moon is in Aries all day, and its lack of major aspects with major planets suggests an easier time shaping what we want out of the day on an emotional level. With an Aries Moon, we can be bolder than usual. Craving activity and action, we might more easily step out of our comfort zones in order to pursue our desires. The desire to begin new projects, or simply to make a fresh start emotionally, is strong.

January 30
The Moon enters Taurus early into the day. Venus parallel Chiron today suggests healing energy is brought to love relationships. We are open to romantic feelings, and more willing to act upon them. This is a good time to make a resolution to repair, heal, and improve relationships. With Mercury semi-square Venus, however, we may be especially sensitive. A First Quarter Moon is exact at 11:10 PM EST, when the Sun in Aquarius forms a square with the Taurus Moon. There is a crisis theme surrounding any quarter Moon phase, as we feel compelled to take action. Shortly after, we are made aware of how our actions affect those close to us, perhaps through trial and error. Whatever project or initiative we began around the New Moon on January 23rd is now off the ground, and it may face its first obstacles.

A void of course Moon occurs from 1:09 AM EST, with the Moon's last aspect before changing signs (a sextile to Neptune), until the Moon enters Taurus at 1:29 AM EST.

January 31
The Moon is in constant Taurus all day, and we are more aware of our need to enjoy the sensual pleasures of life--eating, drinking, listening to music, and so forth. Our emotions are steady, and common sense rules when it comes to handling domestic matters, money, and work. We instinctively know that patience is required for matters to naturally move forward. We tend to resist change and to fall back on old habits and patterns under this influence. Finances and possessions might come into focus now.

February 1
The Moon is in earthy, practical Taurus until 2:15 PM EST, when it enters communicative Gemini. Venus in Pisces opposes retrograde Mars in Virgo today. With this influence, others' actions, or more likely inaction, can rub us the wrong way in love relationships. We can be impatient and hasty. Passions run high and jealousies or competitiveness may be stimulated. Impulsive decisions affect our finances and/or established relationships. We may stir up problems in order to fulfill a need for excitement.

A void of course Moon occurs from 2:06 PM EST, with the Moon's last aspect before changing signs (a square to Neptune), until the Moon enters Gemini at 2:15 PM EST.

February 2
The Moon is in inquisitive Gemini all day. Under this influence, there can be a great deal of movement in our daily lives. Our emotions are in a state of change and flux, and it can be difficult to get in touch with our deeper feelings and desires. There is a strong need to communicate and to express our ideas. Siblings, relatives, or neighbors and community involvement are especially important to our emotional well-being under a Gemini Moon. We adapt easily to change, and in fact we crave surprise, novelty, and intelligent responses in others.

February 3
The Moon is in changeable, sociable Gemini all day, and our basic instinct is to communicate, think, and learn. The Moon in Gemini is light-hearted, breezy, and curious, but it can also be restless and fickle. Today, Neptune enters Pisces, the sign that it rules, where it will transit until 2025. Neptune is in its own terms, and this is a strong position. This long-term influence can bring spirituality, compassion, and universal love into strong focus. Mercury parallel Pluto today can help channel and focus our thoughts, although if this overdone, obsessive thinking may be experienced.

February 4
The Moon leaves Gemini and enters Cancer early into the day, at 1:04 AM EST. We tend to respond to challenges and stress by retreating or withdrawing under the influence of a protective Cancer Moon, and we are especially concerned with family and close loved ones. We are motivated by a feeling of belonging and by the need for security and familiarity.

A void of course Moon occurs from 12:07 AM EST, with the Moon's last aspect before changing signs (a trine to Saturn), until the Moon enters Cancer at 1:04 AM EST.

Daily Trends Calendar

If it's your birthday today, see our feature, If Today is Your Birthday Forecasts, for a free forecast for the upcoming year.
 

Moon Signs This Week:
 

When the Moon is in Aries

We're motivated by a strong desire to start fresh. A gut instinct to start something new is with us now, as well as the gumption to do so. Our pioneering impulses are strong, and we feel energetic, spontaneous, and enthusiastic. We may also be tactless and impulsive now. Excess energy is best channeled into physical activity.

The Moon in Aries generally favors the following activities: Quick actions that yield immediate results. Undertakings that involve the self and the personality. (Staying power may be lacking). Self-assertion, taking on challenges, beginning short-term projects.

When the Moon is in Taurus

We are motivated by the desire for serenity, security, peace, and comfort. The Moon is at her most sensual and constant in Taurus. Our basic impulses are to relax, resist change, and "stop to smell the roses". Life slows down a little, and we get comfortable. We may also be inclined to stubbornness and materialism under this influence.

The Moon in Taurus generally favors the following activities: Substantial and material actions that yield solid results. Financial activities, and those involving personal possessions, applying for a loan, beginning a potentially long-term relationship, music, home decor.

When the Moon is in Gemini

Our basic instinct is to communicate, think, and learn under the influence of Moon in Gemini. We are motivated by a desire for variety and by an instinctive curiosity. The Moon in Gemini is light-hearted, breezy, and curious, but it can also be restless and fickle.

The Moon in Gemini generally favors the following activities: Mental and communicative actions, and more than one activity at once. Reading, learning, letters and emails, errands, writing, teaching, making connections, short trips.

When the Moon is in Cancer

The restlessness of the Gemini Moon gives way to an instinctive need for peace and quiet. A feeling of belonging and safety is what motivates us under this influence. The Moon feels right at home in the sign of Cancer, as it rules the sign. This Moon position has much healing potential. Although insular by nature, our feelings run deep, making it an ideal time to get in touch with what motivates us.

The Moon in Cancer generally favors the following activities: Domestic activities, those that involve awareness of personal needs. Home decor, family get-togethers.

When the Moon is in...Transits of the Moon through the Signs.

What's In Your Forecast?

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