January 2022 astrology includes Mercury and Venus retrogrades and a nodal shift

Happy New Year, cosmic cuties! Global astrology for 2022 makes us vibrate with excitement of a new beginning – and relief that last year’s planetary drama is now behind us. But the cosmos is wasting no time shaking things up in January, as the entire first month of 2022 is filled with planetary action, from New Years Day to the very end.

In order to get a feel for the general mood of January, let’s go back to the second half of December, which brought about some significant planetary changes that set the tone for the month ahead. Retrograde Venus began on December 19 – a transit that lasts until January 29 and causes us to dig beneath the surface of our love lives while rehashing relationship dramas. Then the sun entered Capricorn, kicking off the season of Capricorn, most of which takes place in January. And finally, a few days before New Year’s Eve, Jupiter enters Pisces, where it will stay until May 2022 and light up our luck.

January’s spicy planetary action also offers a lot more twists and turns. We have a lot of Capricorn energy happening which allows us to start 2022 with a grounded, pragmatic mindset that’s perfect for killing New Year’s goals. An exciting new moon on January 2nd adds some motivation to the occasion, while a sentimental full moon on January 17th asks us to release all those heavy feelings that are being pushed back beneath the surface. Mercury retrograde descends in the middle of the month to throw a wrench in our mental groove, but the Aquarius season will always happen to bring us a lot of fresh and futuristic ideas. Additionally, we can expect the retrogrades of Uranus and Venus to end before the end of January.

It’s just the tip of that astrological iceberg, baby. Ready for your January 2022 astrological roundup? Read on.

Capricorn Vibes & A New Year’s New Moon

Capricorn is the cardinal earth sign of the zodiac, and the Capricorn season 2022 dominates the first three weeks of the year. The No-frills Capricorn season highlights our hardworking sides and focuses us on building a solid foundation for our goals – so it’s fabulously disciplined energy to take us into a New Year. Alongside the sun is retrograde Venus in Capricorn, which amplifies down-to-earth vibrations and asks us to take our values ​​seriously.

The energy of Capricorn truly peaks on January 2, the first new moon of 2022. At the time of this powerful lunation, the sun and moon will align in Capricorn and send a lucky trine to the unpredictable planet Uranus, which inspires us to keep an open mind as we set strong goals for the year ahead. Now is a great time to come forward and focus on your tangible needs.

While the Capricorn season may end on January 19, the energy of this cardinal earth sign will not be done with us just yet. Towards the end of the month we have the action planet Mars entering Capricorn on January 24th making us more efficient and focused on how we achieve our goals. Instead of taking wild risks and shortcuts, we’re more likely to stick with proven methods that ensure we get what we want, even if it involves extra work. A day later, Communicating Mercury – which at this point will be retrograde – will re-enter Capricorn, giving us a second chance to revisit the New Year’s plans we made in the final days of 2021.

The first mercury retrograde of 2022

Mental planet Mercury lives up to its reputation as a busy body this month, as it quickly initiates planetary action by changing signs, entering Aerated Aquarius on Jan 1 PT / Jan 2 ET. In Aquarius, Mercury emphasizes communicating with friends, thinking unconventional, and finding common goals in a collaborative manner.

However, the forward movement comes to a screeching halt on January 14, when the first Mercury retrograde of 2022 begins. This retrograde begins in Aquarius and then returns to Capricorn, where it will walk on the moon for the rest of the month. Instead of focusing on future plans, this time is better spent reviewing the stability of our recent decisions and paying more attention to how we interact with the people around us.

A cathartic full moon on January 17th

With so many planets currently grouped together as Capricorn and Aquarius distant, the January 2022 full moon in the sensitive water sign Cancer will feel refreshingly cathartic – but pretty intense too. The full moon opposes the transforming planet Pluto, which could lead to deep emotional revelations and points of crisis. However, a positive connection with the Nodes of Fate also makes it a powerful moon to let go of the past and usher in a more aligned future.

The displacement of the nodes

On January 18, the north and south nodes – also known as lunar nodes or nodes of fate – will change sign for the first time since 2020, entering Taurus and Scorpio respectively. The north node represents our destiny and our collective direction in life, while the south node represents the lessons we have learned and the things we must leave behind. In Taurus and Scorpio, we will learn to let go of our need for power and control while embracing our values ​​and finding solace in new ways.

This nodal shift also aligns with the new series of eclipses that will take place on the Taurus / Scorpio axis of the zodiac throughout 2022 – but luckily we don’t have to deal with that until April.

The cool breeze of Aquarius season

On January 19, the sun will leave Capricorn to join mental Mercury and serious Saturn in the eccentric realm of Aquarius. This solar entry officially kicks off the Aquarius season 2022 and generally feels like a breath of fresh air from the zodiac. The forward-thinking energy of Aquarius season allows us to take the practical plans we made during Capricorn season and give them an unorthodox and original twist. It also prompts us to connect with friends and engage with our communities, even as Mercury retrograde tries to cloud our social plans.

The end of the retrogrades of Uranus and Venus

We may have to deal with the antics of Mercury retrograde, but at least the second half of the month brings us the end of two planetary retrogrades as well. On January 18, the wild child planet Uranus ends its five-month backspin. This straightforward movement propels us into a time of collective change and unexpected change, so we’ll want to keep an open mind as we move forward.

We will then close the month with the end of the retrograde of Venus on January 29. After six long weeks of backspining, the planet of love will finally find its usual rhythm, allowing us to move forward on questions of romance, money, and beauty. Because Venus will still be in its post-retrograde shadow until February, take it easy and give yourself time to process the adjustments and accomplishments you made during the backspin.

A rare “black moon”, depending on your time zone

If you are in the Pacific time zone, then technically the second new moon of the year will occur during the last hours of January, making it a “black moon” – a term that refers to the second new moon. to occur in a calendar month. This new moon, which takes place in futuristic Aquarius, peaks at 9:46 p.m. PT on January 31 / 12:46 a.m. ET on February 1, meaning it straddles the line between one month and another. Whatever your location, this new moon is a wonderful opportunity to set hopeful intentions and embrace your most unconventional wishes as we wrap up the first month of a New Year.