The New Moon’s Energetic News: Capricorn –18 January 2026

by Lynne Hyde

The days have felt long and sloppy, yet they have been tricky, tedious and quick-moving. This Mutable Sagittarian Fire cycle with all its slippery slopes, filled with twists and turns, seems to have lasted forever. The ruling planet Jupiter’s expansive ways have overly stretched the fabric of our lives, and we are a bit “out of shape.” It now comes to a close as we sit uncertainly on the edge of a cliff with the “celebratory times” and the Solstice behind us, not wanting to look down. Yet the energy moving in is stabilizing and a lot less unsettling than where we have been. Now we can find the comfort of the Capricorn container to safely fit within.

The Sun and Moon join again, near the last degree of the Sign, while Mars and Mercury, holding hands together at the same degree, stand closely by. These four planets are a resolute, protective force in the conservative and careful Sign of Capricorn. All are in a trine (favorable) aspect to Uranus in Taurus. This stellium of Earthy energy will hopefully aid in our recovery.  Uranus, the planet of disruption and chaotic change, supports this New Moon and hopefully we will experience breakthroughs instead of breakdowns in the situations that surround us. We can stand steady as we welcome routine back into our fretted lives.  Capricorn, the Sign of contraction, is ruled by Saturn. which is opposite in function from Jupiter, the planet of amplification, which was in charge of the scenario we just left. Isn’t the natural cyclical order perfect and kind, to create the next phase in consideration, to compensate for where we have been? The twelve steps that unfold around the astrological wheel are accurately and precisely designed. Each zodiac chapter, every month, takes us as far as we can go in experiencing the Sign’s essence and lessons, and then transmutes the energy into exactly what’s needed next, for balance. Contraction follows expansion. We can trust the cycle and the process.

Every year during this time, like the archetypal goat that represents Capricorn, we extend our pointed claws into the hardened stone and try to grip onto the rocks of reality to climb the steep mountain of our life. There is no glamour here, there is no excess, there are no flashy lights. There is hard work, and an awareness that there are simple, factual basics that need to be managed. This is the time we have boring strength and dull skill at our side, with the insistent planetary demand above us to deal with them. Our survival issues surface this month. Do we have our medical appointments set up? Does our house need painting? Do we need to check our investments? Do we need to repair our leaky roof and most importantly, do we need to take charge and contain our fear?  The bottom line in a Capricorn cycle is, what do we need to do and prioritize to keep our foundation steady? When you are in doubt this month about the next step to take, ask yourself if your actions will serve Capricorn’s purposes, which are becoming practical and secure; setting boundaries in order to simplify and steady; leaning towards safety and sobriety for relief; and being careful and cautious, as there is no room for mistakes without paying a heavy price. Capricorn is like an old, wise grandfather that grades you sternly but fairly. There are no shortcuts this month, only working effort will earn us growth.

The chart of the New Moon moment is almost gentle, even as we watch the worldly affairs unfold in horror and disbelief. We will be watching as Mercury (thinking, communicating) and Mars (action, aggression) both occupy the twenty-sixth degree of Capricorn. They are bound at the hip, both needing a stage to perform on; we will need to communicate this month and it may be impulsively and angrily. This may be softened a bit as Mercury and Mars are sextile (easy) both Saturn (structure, constraint) and Neptune (dreams, ideals). We all will know clearly what we think and believe, yet what is essential is that it’s shared, coupled with others. Mars is exalted (does well) in Capricorn, and taking action on our beliefs may constructively and proudly manifest good, solid results!

The only hardship in the chart is with Chiron, which has to do with wounding and healing and sometimes “money matters.”  Chiron is a centaur body that was discovered in 1977 as the “self-help” movement prevailed. It has to do with acknowledging the personal wound inside us that will lead to our own private individuation. Chiron is widely square (difficulty) Mercury, Mars and Jupiter. We may feel the pain of our exaggerated wounds this month and we may witness the wounds of the world, bleeding before us. Money may cause stings, bruises and worry, or great financial scams may strike our television screens as Chrion is the only wounded warrior in this almost “no bad aspects” Capricorn New Moon cycle that is before us.   

Neptune will leave Pisces on January 26^th, where it has been for the last fourteen years. Our endings are coming to completion now. The goddess of idealism and escapism will have to face the coldness of fact and realism when it joins Saturn February 20^th  at zero degrees of Aries, the most potent and powerful degree in the zodiac. Beginnings will surely blast forward but no astrologer is excited about this. This combination has never been cited before in the astrological records and we don’t know yet if it will be war and downfall or a magnificent start to a creative, bold new era. All we know is that Life as we have known it, will never be the same again.

Take in this last cycle in bowed humility, give up your good looks and your innocent youth, face the greyness and put your intention into whatever you love and can hold in the trembling of your alerted heart. We all must take responsibility now, for where we are and what we have created, and have the hesitant yet soulful courage to not need to know what’s yet to come…

Be crumbled so wildflowers will come up where you are.

You have been stony for too many years.

Try something different,

Surrender.

-Rumi

 Title Image Credit: from Pixabay