Please note that this and all my other forecasts are based on the sidereal zodiac used in both Vedic and Western sidereal astrology, not the tropical system used by most Western and some Vedic astrologers. All the astrological charts below are calculated according to the sidereal zodiac and Lahiri Ayanamsa.
Waxing Crescent MoonA Time
We will begin the last full week of January on the tail end of the New Moon which occurred on Saturday, January 21. We will be moving into the Waxing Crescent lunar phase on January 24. Technically, this phase begins when the Moon has moved 45 degrees past the Sun and is 10% illuminated. The Waxing Crescent phase of the Moon will be in place for about week, until January 28.
The crescent Moon phase is the time of the month when we may begin to feel newfound optimism, determination, and self-assertiveness. These emotions can help us manifest the intentions that we set on the recent New Moon.
Moon Transits into Aquarius from January 23 to 25: Get Ready for a Reality Check About Your Relationships or Finances
The Moon will transit in Aquarius from January 23 to 25. In this sign, the Moon will activate the conjunction of Saturn and Venus, possibly triggering a reality check about a financial or relationship matter.
Moon Conjunct Neptune from January 24 to 25: Inspiration or Confusion
On January 24 and 25, the Moon will conjoin dreamy and spiritual Neptune. This conjunction can be positive or negative. If you are going through a challenging period, this conjunction may cause you to feel confused. If you are in a better mindset, you may feel hopeful and inspired.
Ganesh Jayanti on January 24/25: Removing Obstacles and Preparing for New Beginnings
The Hindu festival of Ganesh Jayanti will occur on January 24 in the western hemisphere, and January 25 in the eastern. This annual birth celebration of Lord Ganesh is widely observed in South Indian culture.
Ganesh is one of the most well-known and venerated representations of God within the Vedic tradition. As the epitome of knowledge and wisdom, he is the deva (god) of arts and sciences. He is the lord of hosts, guardian of primordial cosmic energy, and patron of writers and astrologers. We worship Ganesh to help us clear obstacles so that we may follow the correct path in life.
Vasant Panchami on January 25: A Flawless Day Celebrating Early Spring in India
The auspicious Vedic holy day of Vasant Panchami will be observed on January 25 in the western hemisphere, and January 26 in the eastern. This holy day commemorates early spring in parts of the world (especially in India), and also it is Devi Saraswati’s birthday. I wrote all about this sacred day in a previous article titled Why You Should Begin an Important Project on January 25 or 26: Vasant Panchami: The "Flawless Day" of the Year.
Moon Transits Through Aries from January 28 to 29: A Time of Heightened Emotions and Increased Energy
The Moon will transit through Aries activating Rahu and Uranus on January 28-29. At this time, we may need to be cautious to avoid emotional hypersensitivity, paranoid thinking, disputes with others, or impulsive behavior. That said, if we are in a mindful and balanced state, the energy of the Moon conjoining Rahu and Uranus in Aries can be very energizing, perceptive, and creative, especially as Mercury in Sagittarius is also forming a favorable trine aspect to Aries and the planets therein.
Mars Transiting in Taurus: Retracing His Steps from September 2022
Mars continues in his extended transit in Taurus which began on August 10, 2022. He is currently retracing his steps from the early weeks of September 2022. If that period of time represented a significant event, you may be revisiting that event or any related consequences.
Mars Conjoins the Fixed Star Aldebaran from January 25 to February 8: Potential for Political and Financial Upheaval
Mars, which is transiting in Taurus until March 12, will conjoin Aldebaran within a tight one-degree orb of influence from January 25 to February 8. The exact conjunction will occur on January 30. Aldebaran (Alpha Tauri) is the main marker star (yoga tara) in Rohini nakshatra within the Taurus constellation. Known as the Eye of the Bull, this red giant lies at 15 degrees 56 minutes of zodiacal longitude in Taurus.
Mars was in the same orb of conjunction with Aldebaran from September 5 to 9, 2022, with the exact conjunction occurring on September 7. In mundane astrology, this conjunction can have favorable consequences in scientific and technological fields, but has also been associated with danger, violence, and collective mental and physical illness; political and financial crises; and natural or man-made disasters
In astrology, Mars signifies our efforts to find security in a world that is often fraught with danger, upheaval, and loss. Its manifestations in transit can be challenging or supportive depending on its placement and the aspects it makes in an individual horoscope. This is a matter upon which a professional Vedic astrologer can advise.
Around the time of its exact conjunction with Aldebaran on January 30, Mars will also conjoin the waxing Moon. And, on January 31, the Moon will “occult” (cover over) Mars. The Moon also did this in early December 2022, which I wrote about in a previous article.
“Look for the waxing gibbous moon near Mars on the nights of January 30 and 31, 2023. They set a few hours before sunrise. Also near Mars is the fiery red star Aldebaran, the Eye of Taurus the Bull. Then the impressive constellation of Orion the Hunter finishes out the cosmic scene. Plus, parts of the globe can enjoy a lunar occultation of Mars at 4 AM UTC on January 31, 2023. Chart via John Jardine Goss/ EarthSky.”
Sun Squares Lunar Nodes on January 28: Lunar Node Instability Marks a Turning Point
On January 28, the Sun will form a tense and stressful T-square aspect to the lunar nodes Rahu and Ketu. Here, each of the lunar nodes (which are always opposite to each other) will also be in a 90-degree aspect to the Sun, forming a T-square pattern. Using a ten-degree orb of influence, this aspect is in place from January 19 to February 6, but is exact and perhaps strongest around January 28.
The Sun squaring the lunar nodes marks the halfway point between the solar eclipses of October 25, 2022, and April 19, 2023. The late astrologer, author, and astrological researcher Carl Payne Tobey discovered that when the Sun squares or conjoins the lunar nodes, this creates a lunar node instability which manifests as a destabilizing psychological factor:
When the Sun is conjunct or square the lunar nodes there is human instability. People are excitable. They are more easily confused. Their reactions are emotional rather than intellectual. Something must be done about something. Wars are kicked off…peace treaties are also signed on these occasions. Life…seems to speed up…” (The Astrology of Inner Space, p 307, by Carl Payne Tobey; Omen Press, Tucson, AZ 1973).
Some astrologers have called the lunar node instability (with the Sun conjoining or squaring the lunar nodes) a “Moon Wobble.” This is not to be confused with the other kind of “Moon Wobble” which is an astronomical term for the Moon’s physical oscillation.
The Sun squaring the lunar nodes may be associated with mass disasters, geopolitical turmoil, and meteorological or seismic events. For those whose birth horoscopes are directly impacted, it can also point to a turning point, a time for reckoning with the past and making an important decision.
I hope that this weekly update is illuminating and useful to you. I pray that Lord Ganesh will open all pathways toward the fulfillment of your soul’s desire, and that Saraswati Devi will nurture you with the divine flows of life. And may you have a peaceful week ahead!
Under A Crescent Moon is a painting by Charles Thomas Fine Art which was uploaded on Pixels.com October 1st, 2017.
The reappearance of the crescent moon after the New Moon; the return of the Sun after a total eclipse, the rising of the Sun in the morning after its troublesome absence at night were noted by people around the world; these phenomena spoke to our ancestors of the possibility of surviving death. Up there in the skies was also a metaphor of immortality. (Carl Sagan)
