Astrology of January 2021: a powerful force for change

Welcome to 2021! I think it’s safe to say that many of us are relieved to see the back of 2020, which has been a tough year on so many levels. And from where I’m sitting 2021 is looking way less intense.

Of course every year has its challenges and in 2021 this comes in the form of a square between Saturn and Uranus. Due to retrograde motion Saturn will square Uranus three times over the course of 2021, in February, June and December. Between times we won’t have much of a reprieve as the two stay ‘within orb’ of one another for most of the year, even while not exact.

Saturn square Uranus will colour most of 2021 with a general theme of resistance and challenge to authority and the status quo, whether this is in your personal life (particularly if you have planets or points between 4 and 16 degrees of the Fixed signs) or on the socio-political stage.

Saturn is now in Aquarius, the sign ruled by Uranus, and so the tension will be modified somewhat by a certain degree of understanding and empathy between the two planets. Saturn in Aquarius will bring discipline and organisation to the activist movement and an improved capacity for strategy and diplomacy.

For more on Saturn in Aquarius, read my article here, or to find out more about Saturn square Uranus sign up for my Free Monthly Forecasts.

So, on to the astrology of January 2021…

The most important transit configuration of January 2021 is a series of squares between the Sun, Mars, Jupiter, Uranus and Lilith in the second half of the month. The action all occurs between 6 and 9 degrees of Taurus and Aquarius, the same field upon which Saturn and Uranus will do battle later in the year. You will feel it strongly if you have planets or points between 3 and 12 degrees of any of the Fixed signs (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio or Aquarius).

More on that later…

The month begins with Saturn and Jupiter still very much conjunct. For more on this important transit, known as the Great Conjunction, check out my in-depth article here. The two giants of the solar system remain connected until 17 January.

On 7 January Mars finally moves into Taurus after a six month stay in its own sign of Aries. This was a very long transit, due to retrograde motion, with Mars usually only staying in a sign for approximately six weeks! During this time our warrior Mars squared Pluto, Saturn and Jupiter, bringing a particularly combative quality to the second half of 2020. The shift into Taurus will shift things down a gear. The energy will be cooler, more grounded, more sustained, more considered.

On 8 January Mercury enters Aquarius. Being an air sign Mercury functions well in Aquarius. The mind is likely to be sharp and astute with flashes of inspiration, and there will be a tendency to look at things in a very objective, scientific, and perhaps even detached manner.

On the same day, Venus enters Capricorn. Venus in Capricorn tends towards the strategic in relationships and remains a little apart and emotionally uninvolved because it suits her need to be objective and independent. She avoids dramas of all kinds, but this can mean that she fails to engage with others on a deeper level, and can create a feeling of distance in relationships.

On 9 January Mercury squares Mars. This is a volatile transit that can spur us into action, stir up fiery arguments out of the blue or send our minds racing wildly. Fortunately a trine from Venus to Mars will buffer relationships and maintain connection.

On 12 January we see two exact squares, one between Mercury and Uranus, and the other between Venus and Chiron. This may trigger hurt and confusion in relationships if your chart is triggered, particularly if you have planets of points between 3 and 9 degrees of the Fixed signs (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio or Aquarius) or between 2 and 8 degrees of the Cardinal signs (Aries, Cancer, Libra or Cap).

On 13 January the New Moon rises in Capricorn as Mars makes its final square to Saturn. This energy speaks to me of two generals meeting in the field in the final days of battle. They are exhausted and ready to negotiate. It is time to create a treaty and a plan for ongoing diplomatic relations.

On 14 January Uranus turns direct after being retrograde since August. On the same day, Venus forms a trine to Uranus, the Sun conjoins Pluto and Mercury squares off with Lilith. This is an intense energy, potentially obsessive, angry or enlivening, depending on how your chart is triggered.

Venus trine Uranus in particular is a fantastic energy and brings the potential to to unblock gridlocked power struggles, reveal new paths that can take a relationship forward and liven up stale or stagnant situations. You will be affected by this transit if you have planets or points between 3 and 9 degrees of the Earth signs (Taurus, Virgo or Cap).

On 17 January Jupiter squares Uranus, beginning the series of squares between the Sun, Jupiter, Mars, Uranus, and Lilith that I mentioned at the beginning of this article. As Jupiter is the planet of expansion and excess, it’s energy may exacerbate the less desirable qualities of the Uranian energy including rebellious, non-conformist and overly eccentric behaviours.

On 19 January the Sun enters Aquarius, emphasising the already strong influence of the Aquarian archetype on the astrology of January 2021. With the Sun in Aquarius our magic (the Sun) is focused on personal and societal evolution, and any creative act that takes us forward as a group will be blessed.

On 20 January Mars conjoins Uranus bringing a combative energy to the activist movement. We may see people out on the streets demanding change, especially as the square from Jupiter is still within orb and will be until the end of the month.

On 23 January Venus sextiles Neptune, a soothing and empathetic energy that will help those in conflict see the other’s point of view. It brings compassion and connection in relationships. This will be crucial as the tense configuration between Mars, Jupiter and Uranus is still very strong, with Mars forming an exact square to Jupiter today, and Lilith also within orb.

Although mainly a social transit, if you have planets or points between 3 and 9 degrees of the Fixed signs (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio or Aquarius) this excessive, combative and rebellious energy may find its way into your personal life as well.

On 26 January Neptune in Pisces squares the Moon’s Nodes in Gemini and Sagittarius. This is an energy that speaks of confusion about the future, deception, and an inability to discern truth from fiction. Do not believe everything you read, nor indeed everything you think!

On the same day the Sun squares Uranus, triggering the still active square between Jupiter in Aquarius and Mars and Uranus in Taurus. With Lilith also within orb of a conjunction to Uranus there is an element of feminine rage here as well. The oppression of Mother Earth will no longer be tolerated, nor of her many daughters.

This square is going to pop up again when Saturn comes around, squaring Uranus three times this year, as I mentioned at the beginning of this article. The ongoing theme is resistance to authority and a demand for change, particularly when it comes to environmental politics (Uranus in Taurus).

On 28 January the Full Moon rises in Leo as Venus conjoins Pluto in Capricorn. Venus in Pluto can bring short-lived but intense connections, particularly if your chart is triggered (planets or points between 27 and 29 degrees of the Cardinal signs (Aries, Cancer, Libra or Cap). Full Moon in Leo is a sunny, sociable and creative energy. Enjoy!

On 29 January the Sun conjoins Jupiter as Mars conjoins Lilith. The two conjunctions are within orb of a square to one another, with Uranus also still tied into this powerful force for change. On 30 January the Sun squares Lilith before this square configuration finally dissolves entirely at the beginning of February.

Finally, on 30 January Mercury turns retrograde. This is the first of three retrograde periods in 2021. Mercury will appear to travel in reverse motion until February 21. If we are wise, we will allow our minds to turn reflective, and take advantage of this time for inner work and the analysis of our thought patterns and self-talk.

Ask yourself, ‘does this way of thinking serve me and those around me?’ If the answer is no, take steps to change it.

Until next month,

X Faith

PS: I love hearing how you’re experiencing the transits. Share your thoughts on the Astrology of January 2021 in the comments below.

To get started applying this forecast to your own life, grab a free birth chart at astro.com and download my free ebook The Language of Astrology.