New Year, New Moon, New You

Happy New Year! I bet everyone is breathing a sigh of relief that the dumpster fires that were 2020 and 2021 are over.

Good news: with the exception of a couple of stinker points, this year is shaping up to be milder than the last two. I say milder and not better because, like the rest of us, I’m tiptoeing into this year with some caution. Positivity, too, but mainly caution.

The way the sky is looking right now can be summed up with the phrase “look before you leap.” This is a better year to move forward – but proceed with caution, especially for the first few months of the year. That said, this will be a year “to do”.

It is, after all, a “six year,” meaning the numerological value of 2022 is six. Six signifies a service year. It’s about humility, diligence, daily routine, health, and hygiene. For a lot of people, this year will be about rolling up your sleeves and putting your plans that were formulating, upended, rebuilt, torn asunder, and then restructured over the last two years. This year, it will be partnership and relationship-focused due to the three twos present in the year. So for most of you, consider getting a buddy or a partner in crime to put your goals into action this year.  

And we’re starting off the new year with a new moon. Tomorrow on the second, the new moon in Capricorn is asking us, as it does every year, to initiate our career goals, public image, and ambitions. This new moon will be trining Uranus, still unhappily in Taurus and retrograde until the 18th of this month. On the plus side, it could be an auspicious time to begin planning for gardening, spending more time in nature, unique ventures and generally outlining the how of how you’re going to tackle any new Year’s resolutions. Personally, I think it’s generally a good time to begin getting your paperwork in order for the Tax Man, or hammering your investment plan for the year.

Except there’s a monkey wrench: Saturn in Aquarius is still making a weak square to Uranus. It’s nearly exactly semi-sextile the new moon, signifying lingering doubts for getting anything off the ground over the last few years we’ve had.

That’s why planning is the operative word here: not executing or doing, especially since we’re in the thick of Venusian retrograde (that the moon will pass over later this week) with another Mercury retrograde right on its tail.

Speaking of Mercury, he’ll be flying into Aquarius the same day as the new moon. He’ll be there all winter thanks to the retrograde later this month, where he’ll travel back into Capricorn until Valentine’s Day. He’s not impacting now the new moon tomorrow, but there will be a noticeable change in our communication, mainly going towards the eccentric.

Mercury likes being in Aquarius; after all, it’s an air sign, so Mercury is freer to flit and fly through the sign than, say, earth signs. Speaking of, Mercury is going retrograde this month. I’ll elaborate more as we draw closer to retrograde, but there will be a welcome change in the winds as far as mercury retrogrades go compared to the last couple of years.

For now, look up where the new moon is in your natal chart. Whatever zone it’s happening in is where you should begin setting your goals and dreams for the new year. Here’s how to make the most of your month and the start of your 2022 based on where this moon falls in your chart.

New moon in your 1st: Outline a plan for self-care and for boosting your self-esteem this year. Most of you had some nasty transitions to your first house over the last two years (the Saturn/Pluto conjunction in Capricorn comes to mind), so this is a time to begin planning your comeback. Refresh your wardrobe. Start a gratitude journal. Work on you this year.

New moon in your 2nd: Money, money, money. This Venusian retrograde is most likely in your second house also, so if you haven’t been careful, now’s the time to start making budgeting, investing, and finance goals for the year. Make your money work for you in 2022!

New moon in your 3rd:  Get your communication goals in order before Mercury begins going retrograde. Typically, I say plan, not do now, but if you need to send out any important communique to get the ball rolling, today is the day.

New moon in your 4th:  Home improvement, anyone? Plan your DIY, repair, and renovation projects now. If you’re planning a move, tomorrow’s a great day to check out Zillow, real estate agents, and prices. As far as family goes, if you’re planning on, or thinking about, starting or growing your family*, now is the time to plan for that. Also, since home is your castle and Capricorn is a sign of purging and decluttering, this is an excellent weekend for you to throw stuff out and purge.

*Traditionally, starting or growing your family simply meant “having kids.” Welp, it’s broader than that. Starting or growing your family simply means letting a new person or being into your family circle. It can still mean bringing a child in, via birth or adoption (look to your 5th house as well when pondering kids), but it could also mean adopting a pet (also look to your 6th house), letting someone into your chosen family circle (also look to your 11th house), or joining families through marriage (also look to your 7th house of relationships, plus 2nd and 8th houses of personal and joint finances).

New moon in your 5th:  This is a good weekend to plan your yearly vacations, staycations, and breaks; Universe knows you need them after the last two years! It’s also a good weekend to invest in some art supplies or other creative tools and carve out some time to nurture your creative spirit and inner child.

New moon in your 6th: Your daily routine could always use some TLC, so this is a good time to fine-tune your daily routine and schedule for the upcoming year. If you have a new year’s resolution to get healthier, now is the time for meal planning and scheduling those trips to the gym.

New moon in your 7th: Start a new relationship or rekindle an old one. This is a time to take a look at your one-on-one relationships and partnerships and determine if it’s time to clear out the old. Since the new moon is in Capricorn, there’s more of a focus on business partnerships, mentors, and other one-on-one professional connections.

New moon in your 8th:  Like the new moon in the second, this is a time to plan for money. Since the new moon is in Capricorn, it could point more to business matters, like a loan. However, the 8th house rules other people’s money, so this is more of a time to get your paperwork in order for upcoming loan repayments, taxes, or joint accounts. Similarly, Venusian retrograde is at play here, so expect the unexpected when it comes to finances. This could also be a transformative time for you, so expect the unexpected, this month, especially since Taurus is most likely trining the new moon from your 12th house of secrets.  

New moon in your 9th:  This still isn’t a great time for overseas travel (my condolences, especially if you’re a Sagittarius looking to satisfy your wanderlust). However, it’s always a great time to pursue educational opportunities or travel in your mind with books. If you want to finish that degree, learn a new skill, or join a book-of-the-month club, jump online and see what’s out there. This is especially a great time to sharpen the skills you need for work or school.

New moon in your 10th: Dang, your work energy is amplified! A new moon in the sign of career and public images, in the house of career and public image? Double-whammy! This is an excellent year for new beginnings at work. Not necessarily finding a new job per se; if you’re happy where you’re at, it could also mean outlining a new work project, or strategizing how you’re gonna bag that next promotion.

New moon in your 11th:  Time to make some friends! They’ll probably be work friends or friends made to form a business network, but brainstorm ways that you can expand your work collective this year. This is also a great year to go after your hopes and dreams, so plan big for 2022!

New moon in your 12th: An excellent time to start writing a dream journal or to begin a meditation regimen. Focus on your dreams and spiritual health this year. This is also a time to manage self-care, especially around your work or personal ambitions.