Full Moon in Gemini - January 1
Mars-Jupiter Conjunction in Libra- January 6
Mercury Transits Sagittarius -(January 6 - 27)
Superior Conjunction of Venus - January 9
Mars Transits Scorpio -(January 16 – March 7)
New Moon in Capricorn-January 16
Full Moon in Cancer -January 31 (Total Lunar Eclipse)
Full Moon in Gemini - January 1
The year 2018 starts with a Full Moon on January 1st at 18 deg Gemini. The Sun is at 18 deg Sagittarius just opposite to form the Full Moon. A full Moon on the start of the year is quite an auspicious event to behold.
The Moon in the house of Gemini would be aspected by Saturn and Jupiter and by the combination of Sun and Venus from the zodiac sign of Sagittarius. The Full Moon helps us to get rid of all the negative energy brought around us from 2017 and behold the New year in a fresh and positive breath.
Mars-Jupiter Conjunction in Libra- January 6
Mars and Jupiter joined together on November 29, 2017 in the zodiac house of Libra. The exact conjunction of this duo takes place at 24 deg on January 6th, which happens to be a Saturday. Jupiter is a benefic planet which directs the fierce and intense energy of Mars in a positive direction. Libra's ruler is Venus which is currently in an exchange of houses with Jupiter as Venus is posited in the house of Sagittarius. This would lighten up the intensity of Mars' energy. Mars in Libra aspects the house of Capricorn, Aries and Taurus. And these aspects are quite beneficial to us for the time period.
Mercury Transits Sagittarius -(January 6 - 27)
Mercury which was retrograding in Scorpio in December 2017, turned Direct on 22nd December. Then it moves forward and enters the house of Sagittarius onua6th, 2018. The ruler of Sagittarius is Jupiter and the Mercury-Jupiter duo are said to be the student-teacher combination. Hence this period when Mercury spends in Sagittarius can be best used for paying attention to studies, paying reverence to teachers and the like. Once in Sagittarius, Mercury has the companionship of Saturn, Venus and Sun. Mercury meets Saturn at 9 deg Sagittarius. And then Mercury moves quite past to leave Sagittarius for Capricorn on the 27th of January.
Superior Conjunction of Venus - January 9
Venus turned from a morning star to an evening star around the end of year 2017 and continues in the same manner for most part of 2018. So in 2018, Venus can be visible in the western sky only after the sun has set. The exact conjunction(0 deg) of Sun and Venus takes place in the zodiac house of Sagittarius at 26 deg on 9th January. This conjunction with Sun hides Venus from our view and hence certain areas of our life like relationships and creativity being ruled over by Venus might meet with major transformations or hindrances through this period.
Venus Transits Capricorn -(January 13 – February 5)
Venus and Sun travel hand-in-hand through Sagittarius during the first week of January 2018. Then on 13th January, Venus enters the house of Capricorn while Sun would be entering the same on the 14th. Thus Venus is now in the dominion of Saturn. Venus encounters Ketu or the Moon's South node in Capricorn on January and aspects Rahu or the Moon's north node. This might cause a sort of instability in our lives, particularly around the end of January 2018.
Sun Transits Capricorn - (January 14 – February 12)
The Sun in Sagittarius, the house of Jupiter for the past one month or so, enters the zodiac house of Capricorn, the house of Saturn on the 14th of January. Venus has just now shifted to Capricorn a day before. As Sun enters the territory of Saturn, how we express our individuality in life is changed markedly. Saturn and Sun are just opposite in nature, in the sense that Sun rules the "me" attitude while Saturn just destroys individual desires and asks us to see the bigger picture of the society around us. Hence the Sun in the house of Saturn helps us to keep a check over our egoistic self-centric nature. This would be a good time for repairs, and cleaning processes. The Sun is travelling along with Venus and hence relationships would get a new meaning keeping aside selfish intentions. This combination in the harsh Capricorn atmosphere helps us to make amends to the way we interact with our deeper relationships in life.
Mars Transits Scorpio -(January 16 – March 7)
Mars in Libra during the last part of 2017, moves over to its own house of Scorpio in mid-January that is on the 16th. It stays here till the 7th of March 2018. Mars is quite powerful in Scorpio. However it would be aspected by Rahu or the Moon's north node from Cancer. And this aspect might bring about some instability in our lives. Mars in Scorpio would be aspecting the houses of Aquarius, Taurus and Gemini. Thus it aspects Saturn and Jupiter. This adds power to the houses of Aquarius and Gemini where Saturn and Jupiter are posited. This is a good time to plan and start important projects. However make sure that Mars' energy are channeled positively.
New Moon in Capricorn-January 16
The New Moon for January 2018 occurs on January 16 which is a Tuesday. The Moon would be joining the Sun on this day at 3 deg Capricorn. This new moon day calls for a balance of our egos. The energy of the Moon would be very minimal during a New Moon and hence natives are advised to lay low and contemplate future plans and actions. The Moon and the Sun in the zodiac house of Capricorn would be joined by Ketu or the Moon’s South node. And this combination would be aspected by Rahu or the Moon’s North Node. Expect some shifts and transfers or changes during this time through.
Full Moon in Cancer -January 31 (Total Lunar Eclipse)
The New Moon that occurs on January 16th, grows in size and becomes full in the house of Cancer on January 30th to joining the North Node. During this journey there would be no encounters with any other planets for Moon. Then on January 31st, the Moon moves further closer to Rahu and comes in direct opposition of Sun at 18 deg Cancer. The angle between Moon and Rahu would be about 4 degrees. And this forms a total lunar eclipse on January 31st. This might result in losing our minds and energy for quite some time though. This Moon and Rahu combination in Cancer would be opposed by Ketu, Sun, Mercury and Venus from Capricorn. This might create a blind-spot with the malefic effects of Saturn and Mars and the benefic effect of Jupiter being overridden. Use this eclipse period for calm meditation and peaceful purposes. The Rahu and Moon combination generally creates confusion and this combination in the house of Cancer would bring about an emotional turmoil, hence beware.
• Planets
