January 1, 2026: Fire: In southern Switzerland 40 people (Pluto) are killed and 115 are injured after a fire (Mars) rips through a ski resort bar. Progressed Mars was sesquisquare progressed Uranus in the Aquarian age chart; progressed Pluto was parallel Mars in the Pluto cycle; and Mars was parallel Pluto in the sky.
January 3: Military: In Venezuela a surprise (Uranus) US military operation (Mars) (that was months in the planning [Saturn] and involved soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines and guardians working in unison with intelligence agency partners and law enforcement teammates [Pluto]) captures President Nicolas Maduro (Pluto) who’s accused of narco-terrorism (Pluto) and drug trafficking (Neptune).
Whilst initially framed as a US drug and security operation (Neptune-Saturn) it appears that Venezuela’s vast oil reserves (Neptune) – the largest in the world at about 303 billion barrels – was a primary motivator. This story will be ongoing.
Progressed Mars was sesquisquare progressed Uranus in the Aquarian Age chart; progressed Sun was square Mars in America’s chart; progressed Mars was trine Sun in the Mars cycle; and Mars was parallel Pluto and Saturn was conjunction Neptune in the sky.
Nicolas Maduro’s chart progressed to January 3, 2026
Violence: In northern Nigeria’s Niger state gunmen (Mars) raid a village killing at least 30 villagers and abducting others (Pluto). It’s a common event in a conflict-hit region where dozens of rogue gangs (Pluto) – locally known as ‘bandits’ – often target remote communities with limited security and government presence. Mars was parallel Pluto in the sky and progressed Mars was parallel Pluto in the Mars cycle.
January 7: Drama on the high seas: America asserts its power and seizes (Mars) two oil tankers part of Venezuela’s shadow fleet used to smuggle oil (Neptune-house 12) in defiance of US sanctions. One ship (Jupiter) the Bella 1 aka Marinera was carrying a Russian flag and had been stalked (Pluto) for weeks. Saturn was conjunction Neptune in the sky; and Mars was opposition Jupiter and parallel Pluto in the sky.
Violence: In America an ICE agent (house 6) fatally shoots 37-year-old Renee Good during a Minneapolis immigration raid (Mars). Federal officials alleged Good ‘weaponised’ (Mars) her vehicle during a large-scale immigration operation. Donald Trump has called on ICE (Saturn) and other agencies to pursue an aggressive (Mars) deportation strategy. This story will be ongoing. Saturn was conjunction Neptune and Mars was parallel Pluto in the sky.
ICE – the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency – was established after the Homeland Security Act was enacted in 2002. It's a federal law enforcement agency under the Department of Homeland Security and its stated mission is to protect America through criminal investigations and enforcing immigration laws to preserve national security and public safety. It enforces more than 400 federal statutes, focusing on customs violations, immigration enforcement, terrorism prevention, and cross-border trafficking of migrants. ICE agents wear balaclavas to protect themselves from doxxing and to maintain anonymity.
ICE is ruled by Saturn, the laws it enforces are ruled by house 9, and ICE agents are ruler by Mars and house 6.
Weather: A big freeze (Saturn) bringing heavy snowfall and ice across western Europe disrupts transport with more than 700 flights (Neptune) cancelled at Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam, a major regional transport hub. Saturn was conjunction Neptune in the sky.
January 9: Trade: The EU and the Mercosur trading bloc – which includes Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay – reach a free-trade deal (Jupiter) after 25 years of negotiation despite opposition from farmers (Saturn) in several European countries. Under the agreement, Mercosur would export agricultural products and minerals (Saturn) to Europe, while the EU would export machinery, chemicals and pharmaceuticals (Neptune) under reduced tariffs (Saturn). The agreement requires approval from the European Parliament before it can take effect. Saturn was conjunction Neptune in the sky; progressed Moon was trine progressed Jupiter in the Aquarian Age chart; and progressed Jupiter was parallel Pluto in the Jupiter cycle.
January 10-11: Protest: In America the outrage (Mars) mounts as thousands of people march to protest (Uranus) the fatal shooting (Mars) of a Renee Good by a federal immigration officer (house 6) in Minneapolis and the shooting (Mars) of two protesters in Portland, Oregon. Hundreds of protests (Pluto-Uranus) are held protesting the excesses of the Trump administration’s mass deportation campaign (Pluto). Mars was conjunction Pluto in the sky; progressed Moon was sextile progressed Uranus in America’s chart; and progressed Sun was opposition Mars in the Sun cycle.
January 12: Protest: In Iran nearly 500 protesters and 48 security personnel have been killed in two weeks of anti-government protests (Uranus) according to a US-based rights group. Other estimates put the death toll at 6,000. On January 9 millions of protestors (Pluto) took to the streets in 31 provinces. Hospitals in Tehran and Shiraz were overwhelmed by injured protesters. On January 10 the internet is taken down. Mars was conjunction Pluto in the sky and progressed Mars was parallel Pluto in the Mars cycle.
January 14: Accident: In north-east Thailand at least 32 people are killed and 66 others injured after a construction crane collapses onto a passenger train causing it to derail (Mars) and catch fire (Mars). Mars was conjunction Pluto in the sky; and progressed Mars was parallel Pluto in the Mars cycle.
January 17: Trade: In Paraguay top officials from the EU and the South American bloc Mercosur sign a free trade agreement, paving the way for the European Union's largest-ever trade accord. Saturn was conjunction Neptune in the sky; progressed Moon was trine progressed Jupiter in the Aquarian Age chart; and progressed Mars was trine Jupiter in the Mars cycle.
Weather: Weeks of torrential rain (Saturn) batter South Africa, Mozambique and Zimbabwe, overwhelming rivers and infrastructure, killing more than 100 people, forcing mass evacuations and leaving entire communities cut off. Saturn was conjunction Neptune in the sky; and progressed Pluto was parallel Saturn in the Pluto cycle.
January 17: Ocean conservation: After nearly two decades of negotiations the world’s first legally binding agreement to protect (Saturn) marine life (Neptune) in international waters take effect, marking a historic moment for ocean conservation (Neptune-Saturn) The High Seas Treaty (Jupiter) or Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdictions (BBNJ) Agreement, will govern about two-thirds of the planet’s oceans including vast areas beyond any country’s borders. The high seas (Neptune) face mounting threats from destructive fishing practices, shipping, plastic pollution, overfishing and potential deep-sea mining, all compounded by climate change. To be truly successful the agreement needs to be ratified by 145 signatory countries. So far it has 83. Saturn was conjunction Neptune in the sky.
January 18: Accident and fire: In southern Spain a collision) Mars) between two high-speed trains kills at least 21 people and seriously injures 30 people; and in southern Chile two dozen forest fires (Mars) are active forcing more than 50,000 people to flee their homes and killing at least 18 people. Mars was conjunction Pluto in the sky.
Kidnapping: In northern Nigeria at least 172 worshippers are kidnapped (Pluto) when dozens of gunmen storm (Mars) a church in Kurmin Wali village. Nine later escaped. Mars was conjunction Pluto in the sky.
January 20: Protest: In America thousands of workers and students march through cities and university campuses in protests (Uranus) opposing Donald Trump’s immigration policies. Progressed Moon was sextile progressed Uranus in America’s chart; and Saturn was conjunction Neptune in the sky.
January 21: Immigration: The United States suspends processing for immigrant visas for applicants from 75 countries including Somalia, Iran, Russia, Afghanistan, Nigeria, Yemen, Thailand and Brazil as part of Washington’s intensifying immigration crackdown. Mars was conjunction Pluto in the sky.
Conflict: In Gaza an Israeli airstrike (Mars) kills 11 people including two boys aged 10 and 13 and three Palestinian journalists travelling in a car on assignment to film a displaced persons camp. Mars was conjunction Pluto in the sky; and progressed Mars was sextile Neptune in the Mars cycle.
Conflict: In Ukraine millions of people grapple with below-freezing temperatures (Saturn) without heating (Mars), as Moscow lobs more than 330 drones and dozens of missiles (Mars) on the country’s energy network. The temperature in Kyiv was -12C with more than a million residents in the dark. Mars was conjunction Pluto and Saturn was conjunction Neptune in the sky.
January 22: Military: In Syria the northern city of Raqqa celebrates as locals mark the withdrawal (Saturn) of Kurdish forces as the military (Mars) under Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa sweep through the area. Mars was conjunction Pluto and Saturn was conjunction Neptune in the sky.
Floods: In Mozambique catastrophic floods (Saturn) caused by torrential rains have forced thousands to flee their homes with many residents trapped on rooftops amid rising waters. More than 620,000 people have been directly impacted with more than 72,000 homes destroyed and essential infrastructure including roads, bridges and healthcare facilities severely damaged. Saturn was conjunction Neptune in the sky.
Fire: In Pakistan the death toll from the Gul Plaza fire (Mars) in Karachi on January 17 rises to at least 67. Mars was conjunction Pluto in the sky.
Peace: In Davos, Switzerland, Donald Trump in a signing ceremony (Mercury) launches his so-called Board of Peace that aims to resolve international conflicts (Mars) with a $1bn price tag (Saturn) for permanent membership. Saturn was conjunction Neptune in the sky; and progressed Moon was sesquisquare birth chart Mercury and trine birth chart Saturn in Trump’s chart.
January 23-24: Trump’s war: In Minneapolis thousands of demonstrators (Uranus-Pluto) demand an end to Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown in their city. To counter what many describe as constitutionally suspect ICE raids more than 100 Somali American volunteers patrol south Minneapolis, distributing ‘Know Your Rights’ guides and escorting frightened elders. And US immigration agents (house 6) shoot and kill (Mars-house 8) American citizen Alex Jeffrey Pretti sparking more protests and outrage. Mars was conjunction Pluto in the sky and progressed Sun was conjunction Pluto in the Sun cycle. (See America’s Mars-Pluto conjunction chart and Capricorn lunation chart.)
January 24: Purge: In China Xi Jinping places the country’s top-ranking general (Mars) and one-time ally Zhang Youxia under investigation for corruption. It leaves Xi virtually alone at the top of the country’s military hierarchy. Mars was conjunction Pluto in the sky.
January 24-25: Storm: In America at least 22 states declare a state of emergency as a monster storm (Saturn) with heavy snowfall and freezing rain (Saturn) sweeps across the country with more than a million customers without electricity and over 10,000 flights cancelled. Saturn was conjunction Neptune in the sky; progressed Saturn was sextile Neptune in the Saturn cycle; and progressed Mars was semisquare Saturn in the Mars cycle.
January 25: Violence: In central Mexico at least 11 people are killed and another dozen injured when gunmen (Mars) open fire on locals gathered at a football pitch in the city of Salamanca. Mars was conjunction Pluto in the sky; and progressed Mars was conjunction Pluto in the Mars cycle.
January 26: Neptune in the sky moves to Aries.
January 27: Trade deal; In Delhi the European Union and India announce a landmark trade deal (Jupiter-Saturn) after nearly two decades of on-off talks. The deal allows free trade of goods between the bloc of 27 European states and India and will see a number of huge tariff cuts (Saturn) across a range of goods and services, and a joint security partnership (Saturn-house 7). Saturn was conjunction Neptune in the sky.
Fire: In Australia firefighters (Mars) in the state of Victoria are battling at least six major fires (Mars) as a record-breaking heatwave (Mars) hits the country’s south-east. Some parts of the state have seen all-time temperature highs – with one area hitting a high of 48.9C (120.2F). Melbourne recorded 41C. Mars was conjunction Pluto in the sky; and progressed Mars was conjunction Pluto in the Mars cycle.
Emergency: In Washington scientists set the Doomsday clock at 85 seconds to midnight — the closest it has ever been to midnight. It symbolically represents how close humanity is to destroying the world (Mars) and considered that there had been insufficient progress in combatting or regulating global challenges including nuclear risk, the climate crisis, biological threats, and advances in ‘disruptive technologies’ such as artificial intelligence. Mars was conjunction Pluto in the sky.
January 28: Conflict: Tensions between Iran and the United States continue to ramp up as US President Donald Trump announces a massive ‘armada’ (Mars-Pluto) – led by the USS Abraham Lincoln – was heading toward the Persian Gulf raising fears (Saturn) of a military confrontation (Mars). Mar was conjunction Pluto in the sky.
Disaster: In eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo more than 200 people are reported killed in a collapse (Mars) at the Rubaya coltan mine (Saturn). Rubaya produces about 15 percent of the world’s coltan (Saturn), which is processed into tantalum, a heat-resistant metal that is in high demand by makers of mobile phones, computers, aerospace components and gas turbines. Saturn was conjunction Neptune and Mars was conjunction Pluto in the sky.
January 29: Markets: Gold (Sun) – the traditional safe-haven (Saturn) – surges past $5,500 an ounce, extending an extraordinary rally that has seen the precious metal gain more than 20 percent in value since the start of the year. Progressed Sun was sextile birth chart Saturn and progressed Moon was parallel birth chart Sun in the Aquarian Age chart.
January 30: Protest: In America protesters (Uranus) take to the streets in a nationwide ‘no work, no school, no shopping’ strike (Uranus-house 6) in response to Donald Trump’s deportation drive and the killing of two US citizens in Minnesota by immigration enforcement agents; and the US Department of Justice releases three million pages, 180,000 images and 2,000 videos relating to the late sex offender (Mars-Pluto) Jeffrey Epstein. In America’s chart progressed Moon was sextile birth chart and progressed Uranus; and Mars was parallel Uranus and conjunction Pluto in the sky.
January 31-February 1: Conflict: In Pakistan security forces kill 145 militants (Mars) in a 40-hour battle launched as a series of coordinated gun and bomb attacks (Mars-Pluto) across Balochistan left nearly 50 people dead. It’s one of the deadliest flare-ups in years, as insurgents in the resource-rich province bordering Iran and Afghanistan step up assaults on security forces, civilians and infrastructure. Mars was parallel Uranus and conjunction Pluto in the sky.
Astrology for Aquarius – sharing our knowledge
