Horoscopes for January 2020
Words: Emma Vidgen // @emma_vee
It’s been a rocky road but we made it, 2019 is DONE! Chances are you’re feeling a little bewildered by the year that was, or a little dizzy from going around in circles. The energy of the past 12 months was all about transition, and at times it felt like being stuck in some maze or a liminal space between two worlds.
Now as the new year and decade dawns we brace ourselves for a new chapter. The story that has been unfolding is reaching its climax. Loose threads are finally coming together. We catch a glimpse of the bigger picture. But before we get there’s still one last bit of energetic decluttering that needs your attention.
The year starts as its set to continue – momentous – with an eclipse and some major planetary movements offering the opportunity for massive release and transformation in the first fortnight. Exactly what area of your life this will impact will depend upon your chart, but Capricorn, Cancer, Aries and Libra suns and rising signs will feel these transits the most.
Speaking of rising signs, I always recommend reading the forecast for your rising sign rather than your sun sign. I’ve written about why it will change the way you understand your horoscope in a previous article. You can definitely read for your sun sign too, you may find a mix of themes will be relevant. Wishing you a magical and illuminating 2020. Let’s do this!
- Emma xx
ARIES AND ARIES RISING
To say the past 12 months or so have been relentless would be an understatement for you dear Aries. There’s been so much astro activity buzzing around the most potent areas of your chart, you’re probably feeling a little battle weary (even Aries have their limits!). While the drama doesn’t ease off in January at least things are coming to a head – a pace you’re much more comfortable with than the slow, steady grind you’ve been facing since January 2017. An eclipse in Cancer (10 Jan UTC, 11 Jan AEST) could be the catalyst for some major changes on the home and work front. While the outcome has been something you’ve been pondering for a while, the means may come as a bit of a surprise. A few days later, a major astrological transit will make holding onto anything you’re not meant to take into your next chapter, especially professionally, more or less impossible. Pay attention to what’s trying to break away and let it go, now is not the time to dig in your heels and hold on for dear life. At the same time Uranus goes direct again facilitating surprises, innovation and possibly some instability around your finances. Be open and flexible to things changing and you may be pleasantly surprised with the results.
TAURUS AND TAURUS RISING
The start of the new decade brings the promise for plenty of change, and while that may not fill your heart with glee, this new age has been in the works for some time. The past 12 months have served up plenty to keep you on your toes, but in the background, there’s been a recurrent call to consider what you stand for, your beliefs and connection to something greater. It doesn’t necessarily mean you’ve had a religious awakening, but you may have felt a persistent desire to broaden your perspective and see the world. Now as the new year dawns that yearning will become too strong to ignore, with the eclipse (10 Jan UTC, 11 Jan AEST) potentially revealing how this new adventure will take shape. Balancing what you stood for with what you believe now may be a whole lot simpler after mid-month (12 Jan UTC, 13 Jan AEST) when a powerful energetic shift purges old baggage from your life. Adding to the excitement, Uranus the planet of change, surprise and innovation also goes direct around the same time in the area of your chart governing your identity and physicality. It’s a lot to process and you may need a cup of tea and a lie down after it all. Luckily the back half of the month looks decidedly less eventful you’ll have an opportunity to take a moment to pause and reflect on what you’ve learned and what you’ve farewelled.
GEMINI AND GEMINI RISING
The new year kicks off with a bang, or perhaps a thud, with a slew of planets crowding the area of your chart pertaining to money, power, trust and sex. It all sounds rather serious, and it certainly isn’t light or frivolous but take some comfort in the fact none of this is news to you. It’s all a continuation of themes you’ve been encountering since the end of 2017. Now as Saturn approaches the end of its time in Capricorn, the conclusion to the story that’s been unfolding is drawing nearer. The eclipse in Cancer (10 Jan UTC, 11 Jan AEST) could trigger some major breakthrough around what you’re meant to learn or takeaway from the story so far. This isn’t energy to make plans or set intentions, rather sit back and wait to see what happens. If you haven’t already let go of old baggage connected to these themes of power, sex and trust, a planetary configuration (12 Jan UTC, 13 Jan AEST) may force you to let go. Change can be scary but if anyone can handle it, it’s you sweet Gemini. After a heavy start to the year, the mood lightens in the second half of the month as Mercury and then the sun moves into Aquarius. Opportunities may arise on the work front later in January too but be warned, if things seem too good to be true, they probably are.
CANCER AND CANCER RISING
It’s the time of year when we’re preoccupied by resolutions and the intentions to start fresh and create a new narrative, and the good news is, the skies are all for it in January. The first half of the month continues the rather sombre feels that dominated December with the focus firmly on your closest relationships. Business partnerships, romantic relationships and any other close one-on-one bonds are up for review, begging the question, “Are you happy with where things are at?” Tensions may have been building since the end of 2017 and in the second week of the month they could come to a head when an eclipse in Cancer triggers the winds of change (10 Jan UTC, 11 Jan AEST). A few days later a major transit makes things conducive to a serious purge of anything (or any relationship) that isn’t part of your dream for the future. It’s potent, explosive energy that could trigger a major blow-up so choose your words wisely. Thankfully the back half of January is significantly less dramatic with the sun and Mercury moving into Aquarius, bringing a cooler, detached quality to interactions. Try to make time to go within and reflect on the downloads and breakthroughs you experience earlier on in the month; you will most definitely need the time to process.
LEO AND LEO RISING
The humdrum of day-to-day routine, your health and your work may not be the sexiest topics, but like it or not, there’s no escaping them this month. Since the end of 2017 the energetic wheels have been in motion, asking you to consider how content you are with the here and now – like the old saying goes, “Life’s what happens when you’re busy making plans”. Whether you’ve paid attention or not, there’ll be no escaping it in the first fortnight of January when some major astro action forces you to ask, “is what I’m doing today helping me get to where I want to be tomorrow/ in five years/10 years?”. The eclipse in Cancer (10 Jan UTC, 11 Jan AEST) could force you to face your fears. While a few days later (12 Jan UTC, 13 Jan AEST) a meeting of two planetary heavy-hitters could force your hand to let go of old habits to make room for something better. While change isn’t something you necessarily love, release is necessary in order to make space for new growth. Unexpected opportunities, news or connections could present themselves as Uranus – the planet of surprise and innovation – starts moving forward through the part of your chart connected to your career. It’s a lot to process, but the second part of the month should bring a cool change when the sun and mercury move in Aquarius. Allow yourself a moment to breathe and regroup, you’ll need it!
VIRGO AND VIRGO RISING
The astro energy this month is appropriately epic to match the drama of entering a new decade. Last year was a period of transition with people and circumstances forcing you to reassess how you express yourself creatively and in group settings, and this month you’re called to reflect on the lessons you’ve learned. The full moon in Cancer (10 Jan UTC, 11 Jan AEST) could trigger something that shows what (or who) you are ready to let go of, in order to up level. A major transits a couple of days later (12 Jan UTC, 13 Jan AEST) could act as a catalyst for big endings that will help clear the way and build new foundations for your long-term dreams, especially relating to creative expression, children and how you experience and express joy. While it may all feel intense, these ideas have been percolating in the background for the past year. It’s only now you’re beginning to see some resolution and clarity around the new you. The final two weeks of January offer something of a reprieve from the breakthrough energy. With Venus waltzing through your relationship sector you’ll be feeling a little more romantic, while the sun in Aquarius will bring a level of analytical airiness to your day to day routine – a welcome distraction after the intensity of the start of the month.
LIBRA AND LIBRA RISING
The skies of the first fortnight of January are action-packed, heralding the beginning of a new chapter for you on both the work and home fronts. Turning over a new leaf won’t come as a bolt out of the blue; chances are you’ve been reassessing everything to do with your home and work for the past year. The astro energy has encouraged a revaluation of what you really care about, and what you want to grow both professionally and personally long-term. The trouble is knowing what to get rid of in order to make room for your future visions. All of these themes will be front of mind in the lead-up to the full moon in Cancer (10 Jan UTC, 11 Jan AEST) which could bring events or news that help you gain clarity around what you need to release in order to move forward. A couple of days later, a major transit will help take the wrecking ball to anything that doesn’t serve your new perspectives. It’s big, profound energy that could leave you feeling tapped out but at least there is some respite in the second half of the month when some of the focus will shift to your creativity and kids (if you have them). Allow yourself a break and enjoy the distraction from bigger questions which will be resolved once and for all mid-year.
SCORPIO AND SCORPIO RISING
No one knows better than you dear Scorpio, there are no new beginnings possible without endings and the first fortnight of 2020 brings with it the potential for just that. You’re naturally sensitive to the energy around you and will have noticed the heaviness that hung over the last few weeks of 2019. That tension is set to come to a head, culminating over an intense four day period (10– 13 Jan UTC, 11 – 14 AEST) bringing the opportunity for endings and beginnings especially in how you express yourself. The full moon in Cancer (10 Jan UTC, 11 Jan AEST) could bring tension with siblings to a head while a major transit in the following 48 hours could mark the end of a storyline that has been unfolding for the past 12 months. Adding to the drama, Uranus, the planet of change, surprise and innovation goes direct, a move that will hit you harder than most signs. Pay attention to out-of-the-blue ideas, invitations or meetings that could prove fateful. After the middle of the month things will lighten somewhat with your attention being drawn closer to home. Enjoy the respite and a boost to your imagination as Venus in Pisces makes a series of aspects bringing creative inspiration and a little romance.
SAGITTARIUS AND SAGITTARIUS RISING
The past 12 months have focussed energy around your finances, with circumstances forcing you to reassess how you make, spend and share your money as well as how you measure your own self-worth. What you value has been an ongoing theme, and how you measure success in 2020 is likely quite different to how you saw things this time last year. The story around cash and self-worth reaches a crescendo around the second week of January when an eclipse triggers shifts around how you share your resources. Stay present and open to out-of-the-blue opportunities or inspiration around the eclipse (10 Jan UTC, 11 Jan AEST) that could inspire a new approach to how you live. The hits keep coming a couple of days later (12 Jan UTC, 13 Jan AEST), when a major transit lends itself to releasing anything that doesn’t serve your vision for the future. These days are not for taking action, but remaining present to see what aspects of your life are calling to be released. The second half of the month offers a level of detachment that will feel like a relief after the heaviness of the first two weeks. Embrace the clarity and analytical nature of the energy and allow yourself time and space to exhale.
CAPRICORN AND CAPRICORN RISING
The past year has been an intense time of transition, for you especially Capricorn, with a palpable feeling you’re at the end of one chapter and the beginning of a new one. This month feels like there might finally be some light at the end of the tunnel, although the final leg won’t be without a few bumps. Exactly what your next chapter looks like depends as much on what you’re prepared to let go as what you’re willing to work for. That letting go energy is strong throughout the month, reaching a climax around the second week. A full moon eclipse could trigger big shifts in your relationships with those closest to you, while a conjunction between Saturn and Pluto (12 Jan UTC, 13 Jan AEST), brings the purging energy to boiling point. None of the changes or shifts triggered should come as a surprise, they’re simply building on the story that has been unfolding for the past 12 months, but you may begin to see some resolution or feel ready to pull the plug on the relationships, habits or patterns that no longer serve you. Trust the process of evolution. When the dust settles, have faith that whatever has left was never meant to walk with you into this new phase.
AQUARIUS AND AQUARIUS RISING
There’s a serious mood to 2020 right from the word go, a continuation of the heaviness that dominated the final weeks of last year. You may be feeling decidedly anti-social the first couple of weeks of the month. It’s a time of reflection and review, a time to take stock of the choices you’ve made and what you’re ready to release. Letting go will be a major theme for the eclipse in Cancer (10 Jan UTC, 11 Jan AEST), which could trigger events that draw attention to your health, work and daily routine. If you’ve half-heartedly made new year’s resolution, a major planetary transit (12 Jan UTC, 13 Jan AEST) asks you to level up and put your money where your mouth is. Come the middle of the month the mood lightens as the sun and Mercury move into your home sign shifting the focus off navel-gazing and making you feel a little more social. Venus could also have you feeling a little spendier than usual in the back half of the month, and the temptation to lash out will be strong. Resist the urge to make big impulse purchases, if something seems like the buy of the century, there’s more than likely a reason why it’s going cheap.
PISCES AND PISCES RISING
Friendships and your place in the world have been a recurrent theme for you – or potentially a source of heartache – since December 2017. Now as we move into a new decade, you’re getting close to seeing some resolution to the story that’s been unfolding over the past year or so. A sense of belonging may have alluded you or perhaps you’ve seen old friends in a new light. You have been growing and evolving along the way too, and chances are you’ve outgrown groups you once considered your soul kin. The full moon in Cancer (10 Jan UTC, 11 Jan AEST) kicks up these themes once again and could cause tensions to run over. Don’t be surprised if the intensity has you reaching for the Malbec – the urge to get lit will be strong. The same issues could cause an explosion a couple of days later, with the energy conducive to one final purge or cull (12 Jan UTC, 13 Jan AEST). It’s heavy going, but things will lighten up after the middle of the month when planets begin to shuffle into Aquarius. The shift will have you wanting to retreat into solitude and to be honest, a little quiet will do you a world of good. Listen to your body and allow yourself time to rest and restore – you’ve earned it.