Shinto Gate in Japan. Photo by Jezael Melgoza
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Astrological Overview: January 15 - 21, 2024
Astrologer Pam Younghans writes this weekly astrological journal based on planetary influences, and offers perspectives and insights to assist you in making the best use of current energies. This column is not intended as prediction. Your own experience will be more specifically defined by transits to your personal chart.
Aspects of Note this Week:
All times listed are Pacific Daylight Time. For Eastern Time, add 3 hours; For Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), add 8 hours.
Monday: Sun sextile Neptune, Venus sesquiquadrate Jupiter
Tuesday: Venus conjunct Ceres
Wednesday: Mercury sesquiquadrate Uranus
Thursday: Mercury sextile Saturn, Venus trine Eris
Friday: Mercury trine Jupiter, Venus square Neptune
Saturday: Sun conjunct Pluto, Sun enters Aquarius, Pluto enters Aquarius
Sunday: No major aspects are exact today
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TRANSITION: We enter a powerful transitional phase this week, initiated by the Sun's alignment with Pluto in the final degree of Capricorn, and their side-by-side ingress into the next sign. Thus begins a four-week timeframe in which the remaining personal planets — first Mercury, then Mars, then Venus — all conjoin dynamic Pluto in the first degree of progressive Aquarius.
Although Pluto dipped its toe into Aquarius briefly last year — from March 23 to June 1 — none of the other planets (except the fast-moving Moon) conjoined the dwarf planet while it was in the eleventh sign. They seem to have been waiting until 2024 to really welcome Pluto to its new terrain. As each of the personal planets aligns with Pluto over the next four weeks, events that occur should provide new clarity on what we can expect during its 20-year transit through Aquarius.
PLUTO IN AQUARIUS: Pluto has a very long journey around the Sun, taking 248 Earth years to complete one orbit. The last time the Planet of Transmutation was in independent, rebellious Aquarius was from 1777 to 1797.
History records that the American and the French Revolutionary Wars were fought during those years, resulting in major changes in the power structures within each country. In keeping with the Aquarian themes of individual and societal rights, published works included The Rights of Man by Thomas Paine and A Vindication of the Rights of Women by Mary Wollstonecraft. And, astronomers discovered and named the idiosyncratic, sideways-spinning planet Uranus, which was given rulership of Aquarius by astrologers.
During the Pluto-in-Aquarius years from 1532 to 1553, Copernicus published his work entitled On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres. This paper explained the scientist's controversial (Aquarian) theory that the Earth orbits the Sun, not the other way around. With this in mind, it is interesting to conjecture what revolutionary ideas will become accepted as fact over the course of the next 20 years.
From 2024 to 2044, while the planet named for the God of the Underworld transits Aquarius, we expect to see major social reforms, new theories and revolutionary ideas, and life-altering advancements in technology, space travel, communications, and consciousness.
And although Pluto's foray into Aquarius in 2023 was brief, there have already been significant revelations regarding the existence of intelligent life elsewhere in the universe. In the United States, congress has passed an "unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP) disclosure bill"; although the bill does not declassify all government documents about UFO sightings, it is one sign that a shift in mass consciousness is underway.
DAILY ASPECTS: Here are my brief interpretations of this week's most important planetary aspects:
Monday
Sun sextile Neptune: Compassion and altruism are enhanced with this aspect. We may find it easier to go with the flow, and can let go of needing to control or define each step in a process.
Venus sesquiquadrate Jupiter: When Venus and Jupiter are in hard aspect, we can have a tendency to be somewhat lazy and self-indulgent. This could actually be a nice break from the pressures of daily living, but it may also be wise to monitor our intake of sweets.
Tuesday
Venus conjunct Ceres: As the Goddess of Love meets the Earth Mother Goddess, the desire to nurture loved ones is enhanced. With both planets in Sagittarius, we might also use this energy to create symbolic or spiritually meaningful art.
Wednesday
Mercury sesquiquadrate Uranus: Life may feel a bit disorganized under this influence and unexpected interruptions can occur. We will need to be especially flexible and openminded as we navigate this aspect.
Thursday
Mercury sextile Saturn: Logic and mental focus come back online with this stabilizing influence, helping us stay more on task today.
Venus trine Eris: There is a desire and a willingness to take risks, especially in relationship, creative, or financial matters.
Friday
Mercury trine Jupiter: This visionary aspect supports us in setting lofty goals and in being open to higher guidance and insights.
Venus square Neptune: A lack of clarity in relationship or financial affairs can lead to misjudgments, misperceptions, and disillusionment. It may be best to delay major decisions in these areas for now.
Saturday
Sun conjunct Pluto: This alignment in Capricorn highlights ambition and determination, but there can be a tendency to be insensitive to the feelings of others. With the drive to accomplish being so powerful, we can be blind to other, more emotionally-based concerns.
Sun enters Aquarius: The Sun will be in the eleventh sign from January 20 to February 18. During this solar month, we are motivated by a need to be authentic, independent, and true to self. The desire for knowledge is strong, either for scientifically-proven facts or for consciousness-raising esoteric information.
Pluto enters Aquarius: Pluto will bring its transformational influence to Aquarian themes for most of 2024, and then until 2044. Dates to watch for more insights into the effects of Pluto-in-Aquarius are February 5 (Mercury conjunct Pluto), February 13 (Mars conjunct Pluto), and February 17 (Venus conjunct Pluto).
Sunday
No major aspects are exact today.
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IF YOUR BIRTHDAY IS THIS WEEK: You have been undergoing a profound shift in your core identity over the past couple of years. This process will continue in 2024 to varying degrees, depending on your date of birth. If your birthday is Monday through Thursday of this week, your most powerful transformative experiences may be behind you, but you are still working with the ripple effects of recent changes, both internally and externally, in the year ahead. If your birthday falls between January 19 and 21, the transmutation process is still very active throughout 2024. While there may be some dramas involved and strong emotions could surface, these will give you important insights as to how and where you may still give your power away. Side-benefits to the inner work you do this year are significant spiritual growth and a stronger sense of being aligned with your higher mission in this lifetime. (Solar Return Sun sextile Neptune, conjunct Pluto, square Eris)
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TRANSLATION and AUDIO/VIDEO VERSION: This weekly Journal is recorded (in English) AND the text is transcribed into 30 languages! You'll see a row of flags under "Available Languages" in the upper right. And, there are options to listen to the audio (in English) or watch a video directly beneath the photo (see top of page).
The Journal entry is usually updated by Sunday evening, with the recordings appearing late Sunday or by Monday depending on your time zone. Please share this information with those who might benefit.
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CLASSES AND WEBINARS by Pam Younghans:
MONTH OF AQUARIUS CLASS: My class covering the Month of Aquarius is this week, on Wednesday, January 17! During this class, you will: Gain helpful insights into the daily aspects for the month (January 20 to February 18); Learn about how transits work in our personal lives, through seeing how they are impacting the chart of a well-known personality; Have an opportunity to ask questions about your personal chart and transits.
If you haven't yet registered, please complete your registration by Tuesday (Jan 16). If you're not able to attend the class live, the replay link will be sent to all registrants.
WEBINAR RECAP: My thanks to everyone who registered for our "Breakthroughs & Awakenings" webinar last week!
If you missed the webinar, the replay and class materials are available for purchase. Just send an email with "Webinar Replay" in the subject line to
INSTAGRAM: I'm now posting daily astrological updates on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/pamyounghans/
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For previous weeks of the Astrological Journal, click here.
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About the Author
Pam Younghans is a professional astrologer, editor, and writer. She lives in a log home northeast of Seattle, Washington with her beloved animal companions. She has been interpreting charts professionally for over 25 years. If you are interested in an astrology reading, e-mail
For more information about NorthPoint Astrology offerings, please visit northpointastrology.com or visit her Facebook page.
