This week brings a new year and new positions for brawny Mars and brainy Mercury. Their happiness in their new digs will foster happiness for us as well. Mars hasn’t been in a familiar sign since the summer; on Sunday when he goes into Scorpio, one of the signs he can call home, he’ll be able to bring his drive and passion out in better and more focused ways. His unrelenting energy at the start of the year can help us keep the resolutions that usually get broken within days of the New Year.
Mercury hasn’t been out of one of his favorite elements, air, that long; but when he goes into nonchalant Aquarius, he’ll feel closer to home than he’s felt in weeks. In Aquarius, Mercury raises our networking and socializing prowess. We can make cooler, more objective assessments of people and situations rather than relying solely on our baser desires and ideas. Overall, Mercury’s stay here makes it easier to work together on proposals and ideas at the office or with our pals.
There’s a little drama for these two planets before they change decks, however. Mercury and Mars have an arm-wrestling match on Tuesday. Mars’s passion while in principled Libra and Mercury’s plans in honorable Capricorn could prompt tempers to flare and spark righteous indignation over trifles. On the other hand, the wrangle between Mars and Mercury might make it easier to clear the air of any passive-aggressive bullshit that’s been haunting us in the last days of 2015.
The planetary weather report: Use these guidelines to unlock the stars, not to be locked down by them.
Saturday’s last-quarter moon in Libra makes it a good first weekend for socializing and pursuing new passions or people. The one downside of the moon’s position and the brand-spanking-new positions of Mars and Mercury is that there could be too many options with no one, initially, willing to stake too much in making a choice. Set time limits on how long you’ll canvass options or talk things out. Otherwise, you might not get even simple things accomplished, like ordering a pizza that pleases everybody.
Read on for your sign’s Sky Code.
Capricorn (December 22 to January 20)
A surgeon wouldn’t use a buzz saw to cut off a mole, and you shouldn’t take off someone’s head when a clever quip or simple fact-check will suffice. Use precision whenever you can. It takes extra effort to find the perfect bon mot, but the time and work to write a clear email or to script out what you want to say will go a long way toward preventing more issues later — such as when cosmic messenger Mercury goes retrograde next month.
Aquarius (January 21 to February 18)
If you’re stuck between two options, consider what you might do if you had a third one. The prospect of yet another choice might not sound appealing, but this could be one of those times when a “third wheel” will get things moving forward by highlighting what you want and don’t want. Speaking of motion, once well-traveled Mercury moves into your sign on New Year’s Day, put more care into whatever gets you around, whether that means purchasing new tires, running shoes, or both.
Pisces (February 19 to March 20)
It’s cool to stroll down memory lane, especially at the close of the year, but don’t get lost. With storming Mars and pensive Mercury changing signs at a brooding last-quarter moon, you could become more reserved, wistful, and emotional. Passive actions like meditating or reading could do you a world of good, but looking over old photos or dwelling on what coulda, shoulda, or mighta happened during 2015 (or before) won’t. Embrace the New Year contemplatively. However, just know with lively Jupiter in Virgo tugging at the heart of your sign, you’ll have plenty of opportunities for growth in 2016.
Aries (March 21 to April 19)
When folks have trouble keeping up with you, either you have to lead them to sundry promised lands or leave ‘em behind — that’s no way to transition into the New Year. Once chatty Mercury ventures into team-spirited Aquarius on Saturday, you’ll be able to strike up better dialogue with your work team or any other group so you can smooth out the kinks and do what you love to do best: kick ass and have fun doing it.
Taurus (April 20 to May 21)
With tough Mars moving into powerful Scorpio (the sign for your personal development with people in general), you’ll do better to be on the offensive than defensive. However, you don’t have to be aggressive to advance your own agenda. Your winning ticket, from the boardroom to the bedroom, will rest on being specific about what you want. Swift-minded Mercury’s move into flexible Aquarius will also help you keep your eye on the big picture rather than getting swept away by petty dramas.
Gemini (May 22 to June 20)
Muscular Mars barreling into Scorpio is exactly what you need to purge and reprioritize your workout regimens or work routines. Give yourself over to feeling the burn and passion for improvement, whether that means your body or your office walls. You’re red hot with energy, so it’s okay if you end up at the gym, for example, nearly every day this week. You’ll find a sustainable rhythm soon enough. With Mercury moving into broad-minded Aquarius, you might also sign up for a fun class or workshop to gain a better and results-proven approach to a fascinating topic.
Cancer (June 21 to July 21)
Don’t pull your punches; focus them. Mighty Mars brings his swag into an area of your celestial chart that cultivates grit, determination, and power. That’s a perfect celestial gift for the New Year. However, mindful Mercury’s move into understanding Aquarius might prompt you to think, rethink, and overthink how you go about moving forward. If you’re not truly hurting anyone in going for yours, then there’s no need to feel guilty about doggedly reaching the next rung of your success.
Leo (July 22 to August 21)
You likely feel good enough to share more of your wonderful self with those closest to you. Chatty Mercury moving into your relationship sector on Friday will likely make it easier to flirt or have meaty conversations, if you desire. However, mission-oriented Mars in forceful Scorpio could prompt you to be more intense and direct than usual. Go easy on the intensity, especially if you’re attempting to be playful. Your sense of play might feel like a jaunt into the coliseum if you’re not careful. Tease lightly, and avoid the background-check questions.
Virgo (August 22 to September 21)
Once quick-thinking Mercury moves into Aquarius on Friday, you’ll find it easier to implement ideas and changes at work that you’ve been mulling for weeks. Start slow and small, because you’re still sorting out the budget kinks that vigilant Mars unknotted while he was in your money sector the last month or so. You’ll likely feel the difference almost immediately. Now that he’s moving on to your communications sector of the sky, you can put more effort into sharing the feelings and ideas that you’ve been churning recently.
Libra (September 22 to October 21)
Shout hallelujah and dance! Mars has left your sign’s astrological building! Your colleagues, friends, and intimates might be rejoicing louder and harder than you, though. At your worst, you felt you had to draw sharper boundaries with others, and sometimes you might have been too sharp. At your best, however, you were likely more productive than you’ve been in a long time. Now that you likely feel calmer, you can follow up on some of your best ideas and projects with greater creativity and focus. Mentally sharp Mercury in creative Aquarius, another air sign, will definitely help smooth things out with your loved ones.
Scorpio (October 22 to November 21)
Mighty Mars has come home to you, Scorpio! After being away for two years, you can relish this homecoming by using his strength to remove the obstacles that have been standing in your way, whether they’re junk cluttering your hallways or heavier psychological stuff, like fears about leaving a dead-end job. What you can’t do, however, is stand still and pretend to go about things normally. Mars demands expression in our lives. When we don’t honor that demand, then his need to express himself finds his way into our lives as anger.
Sagittarius (November 22 to December 21)
With quick-witted Mercury wending his way into your Aquarius-headed celestial communications center, you’ll find it easy to let your mouth or hands get ahead of your brain. When other people’s personal lives or feelings are involved, that can be a touchy issue (and outright social catastrophe). However, pushing your mind to keep up with other, faster-moving parts isn’t a bad idea when you’re pressed for fresh ideas or you need to untangle snarled projects. Sometimes insight and intuition can sidestep your mind’s red tape.
Samuel F. Reynolds is a professional astrologer in New York City and the founder of the Zodiac Lounge.
GIF reporting by Leah Rodriguez.
