As the year ends, I urge you to think back and pick out the very best day of the year, which made you smile, and the hardest day of the year too. If you have my annual calendars, you can see what aspects were at play on the days you choose, or the aspects very close to that day. Make a note of the aspects you find – they might be helpful to you over time…

During most of January, you will be nearly obsessed with money management. This is not usually like you, for the realm of ideas, facts, news, concepts, and creative thinking is usually a more compelling area for you to be drawn. Yet this is no ordinary month, and things that ordinarily would not capture your attention will suddenly do so now, as you will soon see. You will also have time for travel, so don’t be concerned that you may be heading into a dreary month.

The focus on money will begin immediately, at the full moon January 1, in Cancer 12 degrees. If anyone owed you money, it likely came in at the last minute, just as the year, 2017, was winding down to a close. The full moon, January 1, will light your second house of earned income, so it seems reasonable to assume that in the last week of December you sent checks to pay those you owe, and also might have been prepaying bills such as for property taxes (where allowed) or an anticipated bill for your dentist’s bill, among many possible examples, so that you can take a tax deduction for 2017.

Certainly as you enter the month, you have a strong buildup of planets in financial houses, and you will be interested in doing savvy planning with your accountant. Full moons bring things to culmination, so within four days of January 1, you will be finished with the major part of your check writing. This is not to say you won’t be thinking about money later – oh no, not at all. You will have plenty more financial talks and money management as the month goes on.

Pay special attention to Friday, January 5, and Saturday January 6, when Mars will align perfectly with Jupiter, an event that happens once every two years, but always in a different sign. (The exact aspect is due January 6, but you always feel the approaching energy one day earlier.) This time these two brilliant planets will meet on those days this month in Scorpio, in your sixth house of health and work projects. Mars is the planet of action, and Jupiter is the planet of good fortune, so good news that the cosmos is cooking up for you at this time should make you very happy. If you are self-employed, the news will be extra special, for a client of considerable importance is likely to give you a piece of substantial business. If you work for others, you can now be given a plum assignment that will bring you into a new realm – it will be the kind of assignment that will take you places in the future, and will likely pay you well too. A friend or other intermediary may be instrumental in helping you get your assignment opportunity at this time.

To show you how rare this aspect is, the last time Mars aligned with Jupiter in Scorpio in your solar sixth house, it was August 8, 1982. This aspect will happen again in Scorpio this month on January 6, but after that, will not repeat until November 24, 2053.

You must use January 5 or January 6 to pitch or present an idea for an important work-oriented project. These same days will also be superb to increase or strengthen your health and well-being, for the sixth house, where these planets are due to meet, is associated not only with work but also with the steps we take to improve health.

Here is another good use for these days, January 5 or 6: if you were hoping to add a dog or cat to your household, this would be the day to find the right little furry creature for you. I say this because among the areas that the sixth house rules are small domestic animals. Because this day stands out like a beacon, you would do well to make your choice of pet.  Or, if you have a pet or two, you may want to buy toys or special treats for your loyal little four-legged friend.

January 8 will be another stellar day for getting good news about work assignments, for the Sun, now in your house of funding, will be in divine contact with Jupiter in your house of assignments and projects. Venus will also be working with Jupiter in a loving way the following day, adding to your popularity with financial types. Apparently a VIP believes in your worth, and this person’s interest will show. If you go to a mixer or party, you will meet very distinguished types, and some may be quite interested in what you do and how they can tap your talents for their businesses. Your ability to communicate well, especially in regard to your superb ability to write or speak effectively, is compelling and will put you head and shoulders above the rest. Whenever Jupiter is involved, a fine financial deal cannot be far behind.

Your big financial event will come on or just after the new moon, January 16, in Capricorn 27 degrees. At that time you will have no less than six out of ten heavenly bodies in your house of other people’s money. That is an extraordinary configuration. The last time we had anything this special was back on May 3, 2000, when we had seven planets in Taurus, but according to scientists, we will never have seven heavenly bodies aligned in one sign again. Scientists pointed out that we will have six planets in one sign, however, and that will happen January 16, 2018. This is why I feel you will be nearly obsessed with money in January. As you begin the month, like guests at a party, the various planets will be orbiting in deep space to get to the constellation of Capricorn, to be sure to be present by time the new moon arrives. All will be in place by January 16: Venus, Mercury, Saturn, Pluto, Sun, and new moon.

As a result of this new moon, you may be discussing a financial deal, say, with a business partner. Alternatively, you may be petitioning money for your business from a venture capitalist group, or dealing with a soon-to-be ex-partner such as splitting profits or funds with a partner at the end of business or a marriage. Or, you may be speaking with an insurance company about a payout you feel you are entitled to receive. You might be dealing with a tax audit, asking the bank for a mortgage, or be told you will be getting an inheritance. If you feel someone owes you money, you might be filing a court action. Be careful, though and be strategic about your moves, for a legal situation may bring unanticipated, reverse results this month.

The aspects to this new moon January 16 will be complicated by the move of Uranus, the reason I just said what I did. Uranus is the planet of all unexpected matters, in hard aspect to the Sun, new moon, and Venus. Uranus seems to be throwing news out of left field, and may involve a former friend or someone working in a foreign country. Uranus is volatile and could cause the upset in the legal realm. If it is the latter, news brings the kind of news you never thought would or even ever could happen.

Uranus is the perpetrator here, and it’s still traveling in Aries, the sign of entrepreneurial activities, so this might be a clue if you are involved in or are offered an opportunity to invest in an entrepreneurial idea. Do not be impulsive – think things over carefully from all sides. This is a new moon, so what develops will take time to discuss and work out. Finally, Uranus rules electricity and electronics, so be sure to back up your data on your computer.

Last month, Saturn entered Capricorn for the first time since February 1988 to February 1991. Saturn comes by only rarely, every 29 years, so when he does, he settles in for three years, and works on giving you a vivid memorable period of tutoring. In this case, Saturn will give you a cosmic MBA and teach you about money management in all of its forms. Some people need a lot of Saturn’s advice, and some people only need just a little – Saturn will be self-adjusting and give you precisely the enlightenment you need, no more, no less.

With Saturn in this house until December 2020, you will learn to be very careful to protect your financial identity. Paying bills on time and keeping your credit clean will become a near-obsession for you too. You will also have to be careful not to trigger a government audit, for Saturn in the eighth house can bring one on. Even so, if this should happen to you, if you have nothing to hide, and have done everything right, you will likely sail through the audit easily, with no money due. Saturn shows the overall condition (you will be under scrutiny) but NOT the outcome – that will be up to you. It would be wise now in and in the coming three years while Saturn remains in Capricorn to follow tax rules to the letter, and to be careful about not getting involved in any speculative investments unless you and your financial advisor have checked it out thoroughly.

Saturn will teach you to find ways to negotiate effectively, and show you the reason you need to work with a lawyer before signing documents and to how to save money by finding bargains when buying big-ticket items. If you are in a business, you will find ways not to take cash advances from high interest credit cards but rather borrow money from a bank, with lower rates, when you need it, assuming your credit is good. (If it is not, this trend of Saturn will help you get to a fine credit rating if that is a goal. You might want to talk with your banker or a financial advisor.) Sometimes the lesson Saturn has to teach you is not to be too trusting of a person with whom you do business and share money. In that case, Saturn will have you become more protective of yourself in the future. You may conclude by the time this period is over that it is wise to have contracts in place to cover all contingencies.

One day to circle in gold will be January 25, when your ruling planet, Mercury, will collaborate with good fortune Jupiter. Use this day to make an agreement; make a pitch; give a speech; hand in a manuscript, report, or thesis; or take a trip spontaneously for any reason – you’ll enjoy it. Mercury is a planet of news, and on this day, news should be exciting.

Now let’s turn to another big event in January, a full moon lunar eclipse on January 31 in Leo, 12 degrees, that may bring good news, for it will highlight your abilities in communication. As a Gemini, this is an area where you usually excel. You may be asked to sign a contract, give a speech, or write an important manuscript or report. You may travel under this eclipse, or next month, within days of the next eclipse, a new moon solar eclipse in Aquarius, February 15.

By eclipse time, Mars will have moved into Sagittarius and be in friendly angle to the Sun and full moon. With helpful Mars in your partnership house, you might need an intermediary to help you, such as a lawyer, agent, representative, friend, spouse, or other person who would bring you to your opportunity.

If you were born on June 2, plus or minus five days, you will feel the effects of this eclipse quite directly. The same is true if you have Gemini rising 12 degrees, or the moon in Gemini 12 degrees. If you know your chart, look to see if you have a natal planet at 12 degrees in Gemini, Libra, or Aquarius, plus or minus five degrees, or a natal planet in Aries, Leo, or Sagittarius at 12 degrees, plus or minus five degrees.

From the moment the month takes off, you will be focused on all phases of money management. The month – and the New Year – starts off with a full moon in Cancer, January 1 – so you may be starting a new job within four days of this date, for money will likely flow in. You also may be paying bills too, and with Pluto in opposition to the full moon, you may have no choice but to pay up, for someone may be quite insistent that you write a check.

More intense money management seems to be on the docket on and after January 16, when the new moon will appear in Capricorn. This will be a very unusual event, for the Sun, new moon, Pluto, Saturn, Venus, and Mercury will be in the same sign of Capricorn. Almost eighteen years ago, back on May 3, 2000, we had seven heavenly bodies aligned in Taurus, but we won’t have another alignment of seven heavenly bodies in one sign again in our lifetime – the most we will have is six, and that’s happening this month at the new moon in Capricorn.

Uranus, the planet of sudden, unanticipated actions, will be in hard angle to many in the group of planets in Capricorn on January 16. This is an exceedingly intense aspect, indicating the need to come up with money quickly. It may be that you get news of a surprise expense, or that money that was promised to you won’t be forthcoming. Alternatively, it is also possible you’ll be in negotiations, but if so, you may experience a sudden twist to talks that catches you off guard. There is no doubt everyone of every sign will feel somewhat fragile, depending on where in the chart these aspects will fall – for you, these aspects point to talks, and some stress, concerning money.

You do have cosmic help, however, in the form of Mars conjunct Jupiter in perfect angle to the planets in your financial house. Although you may see a loss of income or a high expense, you will likely see money come in too, most likely through new business, or if you work for others, a new assignment that will help you find future work from the expertise you pick up now. It is also possible that you may be making a big purchase, such as for a house, and getting all the paperwork ready to get to closing.

Mars will link to Jupiter in precise mathematical conjunction on January 5-6, a stellar time for work assignments, and because these two luminaries will be in ideal aspect to planets in your eighth house of other people’s money, the picture becomes balanced, with a greater chance for income than outgo.

Jupiter will bolster talks further when he sends a shimmering signal to the Sun on January 8, another wonderful aspect for meeting with top level VIPs and finding accord. January 10 also brings support from higher-ups, so keep negotiating. That entire week, from January 6 to 9 will be special for you, but you must make an effort to negotiate finances and make decisions about them. Use these days, January 6-9, to focus in on talks. Tension about money will lessen dramatically by the time the Sun enters compatible Aquarius on January 19, and after that date, your mind will turn to travel.

In a month that has everything, a lunar full moon eclipse in Leo will arrive on January 31. Eclipses have the strength of three full moons in one, so they often bring life-altering events. This one may bring on a reason to take a short trip with a defined purpose. This full moon eclipse may also bring the conclusion to a negotiation that may have started some time ago, possibly as far back as August 2017, or even further back, to decisions you made in February 2017. This eclipse will be positive for you, for it will receive assistance from partners and collaborators, thanks to Mars’ position. Also, a friend, club, community, or charity that you belong to can be helpful to you now by offering a tip or an introduction that proves perfect for solving a dilemma.