After the chaos of 2020, the new year ushers in resolutions and goals powered by the ambition of Capricorn season
Grace McGrade is an intuitive astrologer and priestess based in Los Angeles. She is the co-founder of ASTRAL ORACLES and author of Palpable Magic; a website exploring prose about sex, love, Los Angeles and the occult. Her sessions include natal chart readings, energetic clearing and activations, and tarot readings.
Happy New Year! After the turbulence and trials of 2020, January 2021 plants us firmly on the ground, with the Sun in driven, practical Capricorn. Here we set goals and resolutions that we can see to completion, with the help of Capricorn’s ambition and dedication to improvement.
We are looking to build something in the world at large, and make moves in our career and professional sphere with applied focus. With our external world changing, we are called to step into greater responsibility and commitment to our future. In 2021, we are entering Aquarian energy, encouraging us to find a “new normal” through innovation and awareness of the bigger picture.
We just had the long-awaited Great Conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter in Aquarius, which is imbuing all signs with a sense of hope and innovation for the year ahead. We are looking to redefine our concept of community, inspect friendships and find people on our wavelength. Warrior planet Mars enters the sensual sign of Taurus on January 6, increasing our appetite for self care and pushing us to fight for our values.
On January 14, Uranus goes direct, after its long retrograde since August. This is bringing a bout of independence and rebellion that compliments Aquarius season, beginning on January 19. In Aquarius season, we are less focused on self-improvement and more focused on the future, embracing our uniqueness, and trailblazing ahead. We are seeking reinvention and newness, assisting all of our resolutions in the upcoming year. On January 30, we have our first Mercury retrograde of the year in Aquarius, so be sure to use this month to set things in motion and tie up any loose ends.

ARIES
Happy New Year, Aries! In 2020 you were asked to embody your sense of personal drive, with Mars, your ruler, boosting your sense of power, vitality, and personal drive. As Mars enters Taurus, your focus will shift from making money moves to taking care of your body and home, helping you to add a greater sense of comfort to your immediate surroundings. This momentum draws your attention towards your pocketbook, and figuring out the expenses and earnings you need to acquire to treat yourself to a life that feels comfortable. Utilise this boost to set some intentions around money making, as 2021 promises you abundant opportunity, so long as you are willing to own your talents and tricks.

TAURUS
Happy New Year, Taurus! In 2020 you sought comfort in the slow down and suspension of the world, but 2021 has you humming a different tune. With action planet Mars entering your sign, and Uranus in Taurus stationing direct, you are encouraged to use this month to seize opportunities that will inevitably be rushing your way. ‘Rushing’ isn’t really your style, but there may be people around you who are reliant on you picking up the pace. With your fight or flight responses amped up, be discerning about the battles you pick. Mars in your sign can make you a bit more hot-headed than usual, but you can utilise this passion and turn it towards following through on creative projects.

GEMINI
Happy New Year, Gemini! In 2020 you made major strides of growth, with the North Node travelling in your sign, asking you to deepen your understanding of your identity. As you grow older, you learn more and more about what makes you unique. In 2021, the North Node continues to travel through your sign, asking you to commit to the changes you have started. Capricorn season encourages you to stay steady by taking the next right indicated step in front of you. As you ponder your new year's resolutions, it may be time for a makeover in your relationships. You are redefining what you need and what you want, and some of your relationships aren’t fitting the bigger picture. January is beckoning you to examine where your efforts are reciprocated in relationships, and draw back from the ones that aren’t. You are changing rapidly, encouraged to move towards genuine relationships with pure motives, and leave the past in the past. This means no revisiting ex lovers and friends, but gravitating towards people who speak your language and are on your wavelength. Friendship and community are accentuated for all the signs, and new connections can be made when you leave space for them.

CANCER
Happy New Year, Cancer! You’ll be happy to hear you are leaving 2020 behind, but not the immense lessons you were taught in setting boundaries in relationships. You have had to create a more selective circle, and practice discernment in who you choose to give your energy to. Lucky for you, Venus is anointing your house of partnership, imbuing a romantic hue on all of your connections. This emphasises connections that simply feel good, and come easy to you, which is a pleasant refreshment from the year you are coming out of. When we enter Aquarius season on January 19, you are happily busy with both social engagements and work matters. Try and tie up loose ends and set things in motion before Mercury stations retrograde on January 30.

LEO
Happy New Year, Leo! With Saturn and Jupiter in your opposite sign of Aquarius, you're learning to balance your own needs with others, and looking to hunker down with someone who shares the same buoyancy and enthusiasm as you. You are eager for romance as a heart-based sign, but perhaps you are trying on a more distanced and boundaried approach. Mars in Taurus livens up your career sector this month, putting you in line to receive more admiration and recognition in your professional sphere. Keep an eye out for out of the blue engagements and sudden developments that will elevate your personal platform. The Full Moon in Leo on January 28 wants you to shed your skin and release all obscuring your light from shining. Carve out some time to define what it is you want to be done with.

VIRGO
Happy New Year, Virgo! Although you don’t need to wait a year to commit to a goal, the stars are working in your favour in terms of jumpstarting your dedication to work and success. The Sun moves through fellow workaholic-earth sign Capricorn, ensuring that there are little obstacles on your path to greatness in January. However, your goals may take on a different direction this year. You are asked to practice greater self-care, to nourish yourself, and allow yourself to play. In 2021, Saturn moves out of your fifth house of romance and play, loosening you up a little bit. Perhaps it’s time to give yourself a break, and allow yourself downtime. January is a great time to set goals around how you restore and recuperate after all the hard work you put into your relationships and career goals.

LIBRA
Happy New Year, Libra! You’ll be pleased to hear your period of hermetic self-isolation is over, and January quenches your thirst for newness in all areas of life. It’s time to bring some zest and passion to your relationships, whether you are chatting it up with a long time pal, or exploring a new connection. With a global focus on innovation and community brought in by Saturn and Jupiter entering Aquarius, you have the chance to get your need for intimacy met in brand new ways. As always, you are romantically minded, and the good news is that the stagnation in your love life from 2020 has ended. When Mars leaves Aries and enters Taurus on January 6, there's a pressure to cut ties with the past and eliminate habits around sharing yourself with people who are hindering you. Mars does things by force, so take the action into your own hands, and set some boundaries.

SCORPIO
Happy New Year, Scorpio! In 2020, the foundations of your life were subject to great upheaval, dramatically testing your willpower and focus. In 2021, you are ready to clear away the rubble and rebuild some stability, clear of the remnants of your past. This begins in your personal relationships. On January 6, war god Mars enters Taurus, and then charges his way through your house of partnership, testing your fight or flight response when it comes to significant others. You may feel challenged to stand up for your values, and amp up the heat when it comes to fighting for what you believe in. Caution is advised, dear Scorpio, as sometimes spur of the moment decisions can have lasting impact. This month is an opportunity to balance your need for independence with the comfort of others. Steer clear of unnecessary drama.

SAGITTARIUS
Happy New Year, Sagittarius! Capricorn season is all about adulting, and adulting isn’t always your strong suit, you would much prefer to embark life's perpetual journey with limited responsibility. Lucky for you, the planets have your back, and Mars builds momentum to your sector of daily routine, helping you finish the projects you start. Perhaps it’s time to set some new year's intentions around your spending habits, and start to focus on saving for the long haul. In January, Venus anoints your financial sector with something extra, and you have the chance to earn from a skill you have mastered. Remember to practice moderation and take the more practical route.

CAPRICORN
Happy New Year Capricorn! With the obstacles and challenges that you overcame nestled under your belt, 2021 wants you to take a load off. Allow yourself to have fun, reward yourself to social engagement, and stop being so critical. With Saturn exiting your sign and entering the sign of group-oriented Aquarius, you have the chance to build networks and relationships that feel more stable than ever before. With the Sun, Mercury, and Venus all in your sign for the beginning of the month, you are feeling animated and ready to give work a rest. It’s time to focus on what brings you pleasure, and liven it up.

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AQUARIUS
Happy New Year and Happy Birthday early Aquarians! The stars are shining their spotlight on you, with serious Saturn and abundant Jupiter entering your sign. This is a massive year for you, with Saturn pushing you to practice greater authority and adulthood. This is a time for you to grow, monumentally, by learning to match your goals with action. Luckily, the Sun in Capricorn is helping you match vision with action. When Mercury enters your sign on January 8, you have the chance to communicate clearly and efficiently, so don’t be afraid of talking yourself up. Our words shape our world. Your ruling planet, Uranus, has been retrograde since August, giving you a greater pull inward. On January 14, this planet will reanimate and give you a boost of vitality and sense of direction. Use the first month of this year to set some intentions in motion.

PISCES
Happy New Year, Pisces! You will be pleased to know, this year is going to be much more peaceful for you than last year. There is an emphasis on creativity and you’ll be given plenty of downtime to exercise it. January asks you to reach out to friends, and start to build a network of dreamers and artists as in-tune as you are. You’ll be pleasantly surprised by how much you have to offer others, and you can expect the same treatment in return. With so much of 2021 being about friendships and groups, you are in a position to build a dream team of friends who dish out as much love as you do. When Aquarius season begins on January 19, you have the chance to spruce up your wellness routine and apply more focus to the little actions that can help you feel secure and happy in the day-to-day.