January 17-23 | New Moon New Cycle
- Sarah Brynteson
- Jan 16
- 8 min read
Good morning!
As I shared in my Saturday Email
This weekend we shift from one Moon cycle into the next under a very grounded Capricorn sky. The invitation is simple: go within, get grounded, and tend to what’s right in front of you.
Lately, it may feel like there’s very little we can do on our own. I know I’ve felt that way over the past few weeks with everything unfolding in my community. When that feeling shows up, I find myself looking for glimmers.
Glimmers are those small moments of hope or light that remind us we’re still here, still connected. I found one while preparing for the New Moon Circle yesterday. I came across an article that described this Capricorn New Moon as being “ruled by Gnomes.” Why? Because January’s earth is frozen and hard — and if you want to move it, you don’t rush or wish. You work slowly, steadily, with simple tools and patience.
Thinking about Gnomes brought me a moment of whimsy — and that felt like a gift.
I encourage you to look for your own glimmers this week. Small ones count. They help us keep going. They remind us we’re not alone. And sometimes, just by showing up as ourselves, we become a glimmer for someone else too.
Now—on to the week ahead! 🌠
Cosmic Weather: January 17-23 | New Moon New Cycle
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Note for all times listed in it will be CT due to where I live. Please convert to your time zone!
✨ January 17, 2026
Continuing on from my email:
Venus begins the parade of planets moving from Capricorn into Aquarius today at 6:43 am CT.
In our charts, Venus represents how we love, relate, manifest, and work with values and money. As she moves through Aquarius, we all gain access to that energy collectively. You may notice themes around wanting your space — emotional, physical, or relational — to be respected. Friendship becomes especially important, and for some, love may even be found within those circles.
There’s also a strong desire to be accepted for your authentic self and uniqueness.
Where Aquarius falls in your birth chart shows the area of life that’s being highlighted.
I go deeper into this within my Between the Moons membership on Patreon.
As we move through the rest of the day, there’s an expect the unexpected quality in the air. We’re also building toward Mars and Mercury meeting in the early hours of Sunday morning. Mars represents drive, determination, and anger; Mercury rules thoughts and communication. You may notice your mind feeling extra busy today — full of ideas, plans, and future goals. Writing them down can be a helpful way to work with this energy and carry it into the next Moon cycle.
At the same time, this combination can make it harder to fall asleep on Saturday night. If you feel wired, calming your nervous system may help — putting your phone down a couple of hours before bed, drinking a cup of tea, or meditating to clear your head before rest.
And with Mars strong in the sky, it’s wise to be mindful of triggers around you. I often remind people during active Mars periods to take extra care on the road, watch your words, avoid unnecessary confrontation when possible, and prioritize safety.
✨ January 18, 2026
Sunday can feel like a two-act day. We reach the peak of the Capricorn New Moon at 1:51 pm CT, and later in the afternoon, the Moon moves into Aquarius at 4:17 pm CT.
First things first: this Capricorn New Moon invites us into a quieter, heavier kind of earth energy. Not the kind that grows or expands, but the kind that holds, contains, and sets boundaries. Capricorn reminds us that before anything new can be built, the foundation has to be solid — and sometimes that work happens out of sight.
This New Moon builds directly off the recent Cancer Full Moon. Where Cancer’s waters revealed emotional cracks or leaks — places where energy, care, or effort was draining — Capricorn now helps us seal them. This is a moment for clean decisions, quiet endings, and choosing what no longer gets access to you. What you claim and commit to now becomes something you defend and uphold through the rest of the year.
There is wisdom in moving slowly with this Moon. You don’t need to announce your plans or rush into action. Capricorn teaches that some work needs darkness and stillness to set properly. Rest, containment, and clear boundaries are not avoidance here — they are part of the structure being built.
🌑 Capricorn New Moon Mantra“I choose what has access to me.What I commit to now is grounded, steady, and built to last.”
Later in the afternoon, the Moon enters Aquarius at 4:17 pm CT. The overall emotional tone may not feel dramatically different from the last few days, but the mindset can begin to shift. This is a good time to notice what is genuinely supporting you as you look toward the future. With Aquarius energy coming online, there may be flashes of insight, unexpected ideas, or a desire to think differently about your goals.
The Moon will remain in Aquarius until 12:49 am CT on Wednesday morning, and Aquarius season officially begins on Monday, continuing the invitation to look ahead with perspective — without pressure to have everything figured out yet.
✨ January 19, 2026
Today we move into Aquarius season, and the energy begins to feel a little different. After the heaviness and focus of the last few days, there’s a sense of stepping back just enough to see things from a wider angle.
Aquarius energy is familiar to me. Both of my kids are Aquarius Suns, and I’m an Aquarius Moon. Many of my closest friends carry this energy too. I’ve learned that Aquarius often holds an interesting mix of caring deeply about people while also needing space to think and breathe. It values honesty, fairness, and being able to show up as your real self.
Today isn’t about taking action so much as noticing. You might find yourself thinking about the future, your people, or how you fit into the bigger picture.
Due to other things happening in the sky alongside this season change, you may also experience vivid or unusual dreams that linger after you wake up. Pay attention to what stays with you — sometimes clarity comes through images, feelings, or conversations rather than clear answers. Things may not unfold in the order you expect, so staying flexible can help. You don’t need to solve anything today. Just notice what’s getting your attention and what feels different than it did before.
Along with this expect-the-unexpected energy, you may notice your values, relationships, or finances coming into sharper focus. Venus is connecting with Pluto today, which has a way of highlighting what’s working — and what isn’t. If something feels off in these areas, it may be easier to see clearly now.
This is a day for orientation — letting yourself look ahead without pressure and allowing new perspectives to form.
✨January 20, 2026
You may notice flashes of insight today, especially through your dreams, that leave you waking up ready to move on them.
Mercury moves into Aquarius at 10:41 pm CT, joining Venus and the Sun. Mercury represents how we think and communicate, and while he’s in Aquarius, our thoughts and conversations can feel more logical, future-focused, and community-minded.
Truthfulness tends to stand out more clearly during this time as well.
Where Aquarius falls in your chart shows the area of life where this out-of-the-box thinking may show up for you. Mercury will remain in Aquarius until February 6, giving us all access to this energy.
✨ January 21 and 22, 2026
At 12:49 am CT, the Moon moves into Pisces — another great night to tune into and pay attention to your dreams. She remains there until 7:25 am CT Friday morning.
This blend of an Aquarius Sun and Pisces Moon brings together Aquarius’ humanitarian perspective with Pisces’ deep emotional waters. As a result, these days may feel especially sensitive. Having a plan for how you ground yourself can be helpful if emotions feel overwhelming — knowing what supports you ahead of time makes a difference.
On Wednesday, Mercury and the Sun meet, which can bring clarity around future-focused roles or directions. This is a chance to align your thoughts more closely with what feels true at your core.
Then on Thursday, Mercury meets Pluto, opening the door to deep, transformative thinking. Hidden truths may surface, and unique or intense ideas can emerge. Your mind may feel very busy over these two days. Remember to rest as needed, stay hydrated, and if things feel heavy, listening to music or watching something that makes your heart happy can help.
✨ Janaury 23, 2026
As we close out the week, Mars joins the Aquarius lineup at 3:16 am CT. Before he does, he forms a beautiful connection with Neptune, which can further activate the dream space.
Mars represents our drive, determination, anger, and passions. While moving through Aquarius, that energy tends to show up in more logical, collective, and justice-oriented ways. This can feel different from Mars’ usual act first, think later approach — yet here we are.
Later, the Sun meets Pluto, offering opportunities for deeper understanding around ego, power, and what you will — and will not — accept moving forward into this next year-long cycle.
Then at 7:25 am CT, the Moon moves into Aries. Yes — everything above happens before the Moon changes signs. Once in Aries, motivation can spike and the desire to move forward quickly may kick in. This could make for an energized start to the weekend.
Be mindful of triggers and your words, and if you need an outlet, move your body. That’s always supportive under an Aries Moon.
🌙 Closing Thoughts
As we move through the rest of this week, the energy invites awareness more than urgency. Between dream insights, shifting conversations, and moments of clarity around what matters, there’s a lot of information available — if we’re willing to notice it.
You don’t need to act on everything right away. Let ideas settle. Let feelings clarify. Pay attention to what keeps returning, especially around relationships, values, and where your energy is best spent. This is a week for listening, adjusting, and gently orienting yourself toward what comes next — not forcing answers before they’re ready.
Until next week,
Before I go…
Here are a few gentle reminders of what’s available to you, if you’d like to explore further.
🎉 Birthday Month
If you’re an Aquarius Sun, happy birthday month! 🎂You can use the codes below to receive 15% off any service or event.Sessions and events do not need to take place before the expiration date — they just need to be booked by then.
NOTE: Current Between the Moons members please use your code as part of this membership to receive 20% off of any consult with no expiration.
Consultations can be found HERE
New Moon Circle events can be found HERE
♒️ Aquarius Suns: Codes expire February 18
Consultations: Aquarius26
Events: Aqu26
♓️ Pisces Suns: Codes available January 19 – March 20
Consultations: Pisces26
Events: Pisces2026
♑️ LAST CHANCE — Capricorn Suns: Your birthday codes expire January 19
Consultations: Capricorn2025
Events: Cap25
Missed the New Moon Circle?
Looking for insight into your personal 2026 through your birth chart?
There are 2️⃣ weeks left to access the Written Astrology 2026 Outlook, available through Saturday, January 31.
This is a 20+ page guide focused on your birth chart and how it interacts with the energies of the year ahead — including the outer planets, Solar Eclipses (the first arrives on February 17), and Mercury and Venus retrogrades.
If you’d like to take a look, you can find it HERE
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