January 2025 | Volume No 13
FOUNDER’S LETTER
“The pause is as important as the note.” — Truman Fisher
The Gift of the In-Between
Dear Astral Planner Community,
December brims with celebration and holiday grandeur, while March greets us with the invigorating energy of spring and renewal. Yet, nestled between these two vibrant seasons lies the quiet heart of winter—a time that often feels overlooked, unappreciated, or even burdensome.
Come January 1st, an unspoken, collective norm emerges, urging us to dive headfirst into action and transformation—to set grand resolutions, sign up for that gym membership, and harness the momentum of January's "fresh start." But when I look out my window and see the snow resting softly on bare branches, the sun low in the sky, and a quiet stillness punctuated only by the occasional flitting of birds, I’m reminded that nature tells a different story. Midwinter invites us into a season of rest, an annual opportunity to pause, reflect, and recalibrate. This is a time to slow down, appreciate the stillness, and attune to our inner rhythms.
In prior years, I would kick off the new year with detailed goals in each life area and a myriad of projects to execute. My Astral Planner and Google Calendar would be filled with ambitious timelines, category-coded lists, and an innate sense of urgency to achieve more, do more, and be more. But what I often overlooked was the energy it takes to sustain such aspirations, especially right after we wrap our busiest season. This year, my intention is to start the year off gently and appreciate midwinter for what it is—a bridge “less traveled”, nestled in-between two seasons where you can take your time reflecting on recent experiences, think about what you want to achieve, intentionally allocate energy and time towards a handful of people, projects, and experiences; and mindfully lay the groundwork for personal transformation and development—without the pressure of diving head first into relentless productivity.
Of course, life’s demands and responsibilities will continue, but it’s vital to take advantage of this season by carving out moments for quiet self-care. Light a candle and meditate in silence, brew a comforting cup of tea, expand your perspective with documentaries, nourish your body with home cooked meals, or wrap yourself in a blanket and immerse yourself in a book that expands your imagination. These small rituals can help clarify your intentions and inspire a vision for how you want the year to unfold. Midwinter is an invitation to rest—while simultaneously expanding within. Just as the trees conserve their energy for the burst of spring, we too need this pause to replenish our reserves.
During this brief pause, I encourage you to embrace your own version of the "in-between"—to savor the stillness and uncover the gifts midwinter has to offer. May this season inspire you to appreciate its quiet beauty, finding clarity and renewal in a time that so many rush through or wish away. When spring arrives, you’ll not only be ready for growth but deeply rooted in purpose.
NUMEROLOGY REPORT
JANUARY 2025
A Year of Reckoning and Renewal
As we step into 2025, two powerful numbers set the tone for the year ahead: the number 1, reflecting the essence of January, and the number 9, defining the overarching energy of the year. Together, these numbers create a profound dynamic—one of beginning and completion, inspiration and introspection, and the merging of two opposing energies in-between.
January’s underpinning energy of the number 1 represents the seed of creation, brimming with potential and the drive to carve a new path. It is the number of individuality, action, and the pioneering spirit. This number embodies the essence of creation, much like the primal force from which all numbers originate.
But while January offers the spark of initiation, 2025 carries the heavier weight of the number 9. Known as the number of reckoning, 9 calls for introspection, closure, and transformation. It asks us to face the lingering threads of our past with honesty and grace, releasing what no longer serves so that new cycles can emerge. In this year of completion, there is a call to reconcile where you’ve been, who you are, and who you want to become—a delicate balance that mirrors the “gift of the in-between.”
This interplay between 1 and 9 reminds us that growth is neither a straight line nor a singular destination. It is a journey of weaving together beginnings and endings, progress and setbacks.
To align with 2025’s energy, start by focusing on small, meaningful actions in January. Set one or two clear intentions that excite you and feel achievable. Break them into manageable steps and make progress one day at a time. Use the quiet energy of this month to reflect on what truly matters and let go of any distractions.
Throughout the year, remember that growth isn’t about constant forward motion—it’s about balance. Take time to learn from your past experiences and use those lessons to guide your decisions. When challenges arise, see them as opportunities to refine your direction rather than obstacles.
In a year like 2025, where endings and beginnings are so closely intertwined, patience and presence will be your greatest tools. Trust the process, embrace the pauses, and recognize that lasting transformation often happens in the moments between one chapter closing and the next beginning.
For a comprehensive deep dive into your own numerological profile, complete the personal worksheet and consult pages 29-33 in your 2025 Executive Daily Planner.
KEY transits
January 2: Vesta Enters Scorpio
January 3: Mars Opposite Pluto
January 4: Moon Conjunct Saturn
January 5: Pluto Sextiles North Node
January 6: Mars Rx Enters Cancer
January 8: Sun Squares Chiron
January 12: Mars Trines Neptune
January 13: Full Moon in Cancer
January 19: Sun Enters Aquarius
January 21: Sun Conjunct Pluto
January 23: Mercury Trines Uranus
January 27: Mercury Sextiles North Node
January 29: New Moon in Aquarius
January 29: North Node Enters Pisces
January 30: Uranus Direct
january 2025 ASTROLOGY GUIDE
VESTA ENTERS SCORPIO: A FLAME OF DEVOTION (JAN 2)
Vesta, asteroid of devotion and sacred service, moves into Scorpio, a sign associated with deep transformation, mystery, and the cycles of life and death. Scorpio is ruled by Pluto, planet of regeneration, and co-ruled by Mars, planet of action. This dual rulership reinforces themes of transformation through intentional effort. This transit highlights the profound power of dedication to inner work, collective healing, and the mysteries that connect us all. Scorpio’s penetrating energy asks us to dive below surface-level commitments and uncover what truly drives our passions and our service to others.
In mythology, Vesta’s sacred flame symbolized the eternal spirit of devotion. In Scorpio, this flame represents our capacity for renewal through focused intention and meaningful change. Scorpio’s association with Pluto adds themes of rebirth and empowerment through letting go.
Today’s Ritual: Light a candle as a symbol of your inner flame and explore your personal ikigai, the Japanese concept of "reason for being," which lies at the intersection of four elements:
What you love (your passion)
What the world needs (your mission)
What you are good at (your vocation)
What you can be paid for (your profession)
Create a journal entry with four overlapping circles (a Venn diagram) representing these categories. Reflect deeply on each one, and identify where they intersect. Ask yourself:
What pursuits fill me with purpose and joy?
How can I devote myself to these in ways that also serve others and sustain me?
Once you’ve identified an area of focus, light a candle to symbolize Vesta’s sacred flame. As the flame burns, set an intention to nurture this area with Scorpio’s transformative energy. Repeat this ritual periodically to realign with your ikigai and adjust as your path evolves.
MARS OPPOSITE PLUTO: POWER STRUGGLES AND INNER STRENGTH (JAN 3)
Mars, the planet of action, opposes Pluto, the lord of transformation, creating a powerful dynamic between control and assertion. In mythology, Mars represents the warrior spirit, while Pluto governs the underworld. Together, they symbolize the balance between bold action and the wisdom of deep change. This aspect can manifest as external power struggles or internal tension between the ego’s desires and the soul’s calling. Historically, oppositions between Mars and Pluto have coincided with moments of reckoning—both in personal and societal contexts. This aspect offers a chance to question not only how we assert ourselves but also how we channel our energy into lasting, ethical impacts.
Today’s Ritual: Identify one area in your life where you feel blocked or overpowered. Meditate with a grounding stone (such as hematite or black tourmaline), visualizing roots anchoring you into the earth. Journal about what power means to you and how you can use it constructively in this area.
MOON CONJUNCT SATURN: EMOTIONAL MASTERY (JAN 4)
When the Moon joins Saturn in Pisces, highlighting the intersection of emotional vulnerability and disciplined responsibility, emotional maturity takes center stage. Saturn’s presence in Pisces is particularly interesting, as it bridges the physical (Saturn) and the spiritual (Pisces). In astrology, such conjunctions remind us of the harmony between the tangible and the intangible. This aspect asks us to honor the boundaries of our emotional world while leaning into compassion and resilience. It’s a potent day for confronting fears, practicing discipline in emotional expression, and building inner stability. Saturn’s influence adds structure to the sometimes boundless emotional terrain of Pisces, encouraging a balanced approach to empathy and personal accountability.
Today’s Ritual: Journal about a recent emotional challenge, focusing on the lessons learned. Close the practice with a compassionate affirmation.
PLUTO SEXTILES NORTH NODE: ALIGNING WITH DESTINY (JAN 5)
Pluto’s sextile to the North Node offers a powerful opportunity to align with your soul’s purpose. This harmonious aspect highlights transformative steps that can lead to long-term growth, particularly in areas tied to your life’s mission. This supportive aspect suggests opportunities to align personal evolution with a broader sense of purpose. Pay attention to where life nudges you toward deeper. Sextiles are aspects of opportunity in astrology, providing subtle but powerful openings for growth. While The Astral Planner utilizes tropical astrology–Historically, the North Node has been associated with the “dragon’s head” in Vedic astrology, symbolizing forward movement toward spiritual goals.
Today’s Ritual: Write a letter from your “future self” who has achieved their soul-aligned goals. Describe the path that led you there, the challenges you overcame, and the habits you cultivated. Keep this letter visible throughout the month as a source of inspiration. Choose a symbol (such as a crystal or talisman) to represent your journey toward a meaningful goal. Hold this object during a quiet meditation, visualizing how it can serve as a reminder of your intentions throughout the year.
MARS RX ENTERS CANCER: ACTION THROUGH EMOTIONAL WISDOM (JAN 6)
Mars retrograde shifts into the nurturing waters of Cancer, emphasizing emotional awareness as a driver for action. Cancer is ruled by the Moon, which governs emotional cycles and intuition. This transit slows impulsive energy and encourages deliberate, heart-centered choices. Mars’ retrograde through this sensitive sign asks us to review past actions through the lens of emotional wisdom.
Today’s Ritual: Set aside time for restorative care. Prepare a comforting meal, take a mindful walk, or engage in a creative activity that soothes your spirit. Reflect on how prioritizing self-nurturing can recharge your ability to support others.
Sun Squares Chiron: Healing Through Discomfort (jan 8)
The Sun in Capricorn forms a tense square with Chiron in Aries, highlighting areas of vulnerability and unhealed wounds. This aspect may challenge your sense of identity or bring unresolved insecurities to the surface. However, it also offers an opportunity to cultivate resilience through self-awareness and intentional healing. Chiron, the “Wounded Healer,” represents the process of transforming pain into wisdom. Aries’ influence urges proactive engagement with these wounds, while Capricorn’s steady energy encourages a practical approach. This square is a reminder that growth often involves discomfort, but the rewards are worth the effort.
Today’s Ritual: Practice “mirror work” to confront insecurities compassionately. Stand before a mirror and speak affirmations that address your perceived vulnerabilities, such as: “I honor my strength and accept myself fully, imperfections and all.” This exercise fosters self-acceptance and shifts negative internal narratives.
MARS TRINES NEPTUNE: INSPIRED ACTION (JAN 12)
A harmonious trine between Mars in Cancer and Neptune in Pisces creates an opportunity to merge motivation with intuition. Mars’ drive and determination blend seamlessly with Neptune’s visionary energy, encouraging actions that align with your ideals and higher aspirations. This trine reminds us that strength isn’t only about force—it’s also about subtlety and imagination. Mars in Cancer’s protective energy becomes a tool for nurturing, while Neptune in Pisces dissolves boundaries, fostering a sense of interconnectedness. Together, they encourage us to act in ways that uplift others and transcend personal gain.
Today’s Ritual: Create a vision board with an emphasis on collective well-being. Gather magazines, newspapers, or printed visuals that reflect your dreams—not just for yourself, but for your family, community, or even global causes. Meditate on how your individual efforts could contribute to a greater good, and place the vision board in a space where you can see it daily.
FULL MOON IN CANCER: Nurturing the Inner and Outer Home (JAN 13)
The Full Moon in Cancer illuminates themes of emotional security, family, and home life. Cancer’s lunar rulership is deeply tied to intuition, nurturing, and the past, making this an excellent time to reflect on your roots and emotional foundations. It also invites you to address unmet needs or establish stronger emotional boundaries. Cancer is the archetype of the caretaker, reminding us of the importance of both giving and receiving care. The Full Moon in this sign often stirs memories, emotions, and vulnerabilities. It’s a reminder to honor the wisdom of your inner child and foster environments where growth feels safe.
Today’s Ritual: Host a personal “moonlit dinner” at home. Set a cozy table with comforting foods, candles, and any objects that hold sentimental value (like family photos or heirlooms). Use the dinner as a reflective exercise: journal or discuss what emotional nourishment means to you, and make a list of practices that will help you honor this in your daily life.
Sun Enters Aquarius: Innovation and Authenticity (JAN 19)
As the Sun enters Aquarius, the season of innovation, community, and forward-thinking begins. Aquarius, ruled by Uranus, values individuality while remaining deeply attuned to collective progress. This season calls for unconventional approaches to personal and communal challenges, encouraging open-mindedness and inventive solutions. Aquarius energy teaches us the balance between independence and interdependence. It’s not about rebellion for rebellion’s sake but finding the courage to challenge outdated norms for a better future. With the Sun here, the focus shifts to how your unique perspective can contribute meaningfully to your community.
Today’s Ritual: Perform a "future self" journaling exercise. Visualize yourself one year from now, having embraced your most innovative and authentic qualities. Write a letter from this future self, offering guidance or encouragement to your present self. Seal the letter in an envelope and store it somewhere safe, opening it during the next Aquarius season.
Sun Conjunct Pluto: Transformation Through Illumination (Jan 21)
The Sun’s conjunction with Pluto at 1 degree Aquarius brings powerful insights about transformation, innovation, and letting go of the past. This aspect often reveals hidden truths, urging us to confront fears or limitations in service of long-term growth and renewal. While this energy can feel intense, it’s a potent reminder that true change often comes through embracing the things we’ve avoided or resisted. Pluto symbolizes the phoenix’s rise—death and rebirth as a continual cycle. In Aquarius, this energy pushes us to reimagine systems and structures, questioning outdated paradigms to make way for progress. The Sun’s illumination sheds clarity on these changes, making it an ideal time to reflect on your personal role in shaping the future and how you express your individuality and unique vision.
Today’s Ritual: Light a black candle for release and a white candle for renewal. Write down one belief, habit, or pattern you're ready to release and one intention you wish to embody moving forward. Safely burn the paper representing the release, allowing the smoke to symbolize transformation. Keep the paper with your intention somewhere visible to remind yourself of your renewed focus.
Mercury Trines Uranus: Sparks of Genius (Jan 23)
Mercury in Capricorn forms a harmonious trine with Uranus in Taurus, amplifying mental clarity, originality, and problem-solving. This aspect supports innovative thinking grounded in practicality, making it an excellent time for brainstorming, strategizing, or seeking unconventional solutions to stubborn challenges. Uranus, as the planet of innovation, often brings unexpected insights, while Mercury governs communication and thought processes. Together, they combine the best of pragmatism and creativity. This energy helps bridge the gap between traditional methods and groundbreaking ideas.
Today’s Ritual: Dedicate 30 minutes to a brainstorming session with no distractions. Use pen and paper instead of digital tools to stay tactile and focused. Write down every idea that comes to mind regarding a specific challenge or project, no matter how impractical. Later, review your list for actionable insights or hidden connections.
Mercury Sextiles North Node: Purposeful Connections (jan 27)
Mercury forms a supportive sextile to the North Node in Aries, bringing forth opportunities for meaningful conversations and intuitive insights that align with your life’s purpose. Pay attention to subtle signs and serendipitous encounters, as they may guide you toward greater clarity and direction. The North Node represents the soul's path, the lessons to be learned, and the direction for personal growth. In Aries, this energy urges bold action, independence, and the courage to assert your unique identity. Mercury’s influence aids in clear communication, helping you align your thoughts and words with your soul’s true calling.
Today’s Ritual: Write a letter to your “higher self.” Begin by asking a question or voicing a concern about your current path. Then, meditate briefly to quiet your mind and invite clarity. Allow your writing to flow naturally, as though channeling guidance from within. Reflect on your words to uncover insights about your next steps.
New Moon in Aquarius: Setting Revolutionary Intentions (jan 29)
The New Moon in Aquarius ushers in a period of innovation and forward-thinking. Aquarius energy encourages us to break free from limitations, envision new possibilities, and embrace individuality while considering the collective. This lunation is ideal for planting seeds related to social impact, intellectual pursuits, or community initiatives. Aquarius’ modern ruler, Uranus, governs breakthroughs and progress, while its traditional ruler, Saturn, anchors these ideas in reality. This dual influence allows us to dream big without losing sight of practical implementation. Use this New Moon to reflect on how your unique gifts can contribute to shared growth.
Today’s Ritual: Host a virtual or in-person “intention circle” with friends or peers. Share goals related to personal innovation or collective progress, and support one another in refining these aspirations. End the gathering with a collaborative activity, like brainstorming actionable steps or creating a shared vision board.
North Node Enters Pisces: Evolving Through Compassion (jan 29)
The North Node’s shift into Pisces marks a collective pivot toward spiritual growth, surrender, and interconnectedness. This transit emphasizes empathy, creativity, and the integration of higher ideals into everyday life. The North Node’s journey through Pisces invites us to embrace the mystical and trust in the flow of the universe. The North Node represents the soul’s evolutionary path, and Pisces symbolizes transcendence, imagination, and unity. This transit challenges us to let go of rigid structures (South Node in Virgo) and cultivate faith in the unseen. It’s a time to explore practices that deepen intuition and promote inner peace.
Today’s Ritual: Begin a dream journal to connect with the subconscious. Each morning, record any dreams or impressions upon waking. Over time, look for recurring themes or symbols that may reveal insights about your spiritual journey or areas of growth.
Uranus Direct: Grounded Breakthroughs (jan 30)
After several months of retrograde motion, Uranus stations direct in Taurus, bringing a renewed sense of momentum to areas of life that have felt stagnant. This shift encourages the implementation of changes that align with your values, particularly in matters of finance, security, and the environment. Uranus’ influence in Taurus blends the innovative with the stable, transforming how we relate to material resources and personal security. Retrograde periods often bring internal reflection, and Uranus’ direct motion now allows those insights to manifest outwardly. It’s a reminder to embrace change as a pathway to growth.
Today’s Ritual: Declutter one area of your home that feels stagnant, such as a closet, desk, or pantry. As you release old items, set an intention for the type of energy or opportunities you want to invite into your life. This simple act creates space for renewal and aligns with Uranus’ transformative influence.
For a comprehensive overview of all astrological aspects and lunar conjunctions, refer to your January Monthly Dashboard in the 2025 Edition of The Astral Planner.
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