If you’ve had your eyes trained to the skies recently, you already know there’s something pretty spectacular happening at the start of 2018: The year kicks off with a month with a blue moon. If you’ve been wondering what a blue moon means for your sign, though, it’s… well, it’s kind of complicated. When we say that there’s a blue moon happening, typically we’re talking about a calendrical blue moon, wherein two full moons occur in one Gregorian calendar month; the second moon is the "blue" one. However, that’s not the only definition of the term “blue moon” with which we have to contend; what’s more, some of them are more astrologically significant than others.
According to astrologer Susan Miller, the moon “drives your deepest feelings, the fine-tuning of your character, your instinct and intuition, your emotions, and your reactions.” It has a lot to deal with your personal history, which in turn affects how easy it is for you to stay in tune with your feelings; accordingly, full moons in particular are excellent times to take stock of your personal relationships. You might also want to take the opportunity of a full moon to metaphorically take in your harvest — if you started any projects or took any specific actions prior to the arrival of the full moon, now is the time to reap their benefits (or, more generally, take a look at their consequences).
Here’s the thing, though: Blue moons as observed in the Gregorian calendar don’t typically hold a lot of significance for astrologers. That’s the kind of blue moon we’re experiencing this month — so, at most, we can expect to experience the effects of a full moon twice in January instead of once. There are other types of blue moons, however; for example, a seasonal blue moon refers to the third full moon in a season in which there are four full moons instead of the usual three, giving the year 13 full moons total. The astrology website Astro Awakenings notes that this kind of blue moon has more astrological significance than the calendrical blue moon, although we won’t see one of them again until May 18, 2019, according to EarthSky.
However, the type of blue moon with the most significance is something else entirely: A third kind called an astrological blue moon, in which two full moons occur in one solar month — that is, as Astro Awakenings puts it, a time when “during the sun’s passage through one zodiac sign, the moon is full twice instead of once.” According to Blue Moon Astrology, the effects during these blue moons are notable: “These back-to-back,same-sign ‘lunations’ increase the influence of a single zodiac archetype,” which means that the qualities for those signs are intensified during an astrological blue moon period. These blue moons occur about once every three years.
This time, though, we’re just dealing with a calendrical blue moon, so again, we’ll mostly just be dealing with the astrological effects of a full moon twice this month. Here’s what you can expect for January 2018’s blue moon, according to your sign:
Aries (March 21 – April 19)
According to Astrology King, the fact that the January 2018 blue moon is also a lunar eclipse bodes well for Aries: It’s “well placed to bring inner balance and a supportive home and family life.” If you’ve been struggling with striking the right work-life balance or making sure you can take care of yourself as well as helping take care of others, this blue moon might be just what you need to get everything squared away.
Taurus (April 20 – May 20)
Taurus, you’ll want to pay special attention not only to the blue moon occurring on the 31st of this month, but also to the new moon that precedes it on Jan. 16. Tarot.com notes that this new moon will “open new doors of intellectual experience to help broaden your mind and worldly horizons” — so when the blue moon rolls around, that’ll be the time to harvest the fruits of your labor. Exactly how you harvest them, however, is up to you — according to Tarot.com, it might be through something concrete, like a book deal or a lucrative business partnership, or something a little more ephemeral, like having the opportunity to share something new that you’ve learned recently in a meaningful way.
Gemini (May 21 – June 20)
The Jan. 31 blue moon is a time for Geminis to get ready to roll with the punches — but at least they’ll be exciting ones! AstroStyle calls the lunar eclipse occurring during this blue moon “game-changing” due to the effect it will have on “your third house of communication and ideas.” You might get some unexpected news, or “you could have a conversation that completely turns the tides” — something which might have an effect on any projects your working on, or on some of your relationships. With your adaptable nature, Gemini, you’re more than a match for whatever this second full moon has in store.
Cancer (June 21 – July 22)
The first full moon of January is actually in Cancer, so this month is going to be an eventful one. Susan Miller of Astrology Zone states that the Jan. 1 full moon puts “the spotlight on you, your emotions, and all matters that are dearly important to you.” Meanwhile, the full moon at the end of the month pertains specifically to your finances — and the news is good: Things look like they’re turning out for the better. Says Miller, “This full moon eclipse will bring to conclusion talks with a perspective or present employer. Or, if you are self-employed, you may have a moneymaking idea that is a profitable one, and if so, launch it after Jan. 31.”
Leo (July 23 – Aug. 22)
Leo, you might experience a little bit of upheaval in the second half of the month; according to Tarot.com, the new moon on Jan. 16 might see you becoming frustrated with changing circumstances that affect your ability to get things done. However, just keep reminding yourself that “perception is everything,” as Tarot.com puts it; indeed, the lunar eclipse that will occur on Jan. 31 — along with the blue moon — will “help you shift yours into its proper place.” Everything will work out; you just have to roll with the punches and adapt as needed.
Virgo (Aug. 23 – Sept. 22)
It’s going to be a good month for Virgos! Astrology King observes that the Sun and Venus transits during January will make this a great time for dating, love, romance, and partnership. The new moon occurring in the middle of the month will also “amplify this love,” stretching it all the way through the blue moon — which means it’s a terrific time for you to start a new project you feel deeply about, or to start a new relationship. I believe the phrase we’re looking for right now is, “Get it!”
Libra (Sept. 23 – Oct. 22)
Big news for Libras, according to AstroStyle: The blue moon lunar eclipse at the end of January is “the culmination of the Aug. 21 total solar eclipse in Leo” — the astonishing celestial event that had the entire United States watching the skies. Notes AstroStyle, “This game changer will sweep through your eleventh house of technology and teamwork”; as such, this month might be the time for you to examine your work relationships, your friendships,or anyone else you’ve got in your life it might be time to say goodbye to. You’ve got the power to change dynamics that need it, so embrace that power and give it your all.
Scorpio (Oct. 23 – Nov. 21)
So, hey, Scorpio, remember how one of the things that Aries has to look forward to about the blue moon is an inner balance coming to their home life and relationships? You’ve unfortunately got the opposite: According to Astrology King, “The January 2018 lunar eclipse will most likely place extra strain on your intimate relationships and your home and family life.” You’ll find it difficult to find that balance that Aries will be seeing. However, there’s goodnews, too: Tarot.com observes that you’ll likely experience a “career milestone or turning point” around Jan. 31, for which you are definitely ready.
Sagittarius (Nov. 22 – Dec. 21)
Have you been working on something big, Sagittarius? A projector goal you’ve had in the works for a while — years, even? Well, the January blue moon might be the time you finally see all that work pay off, says Susan Miller. Look beyond what you’ve got going on at home, too; apparently “foreign people and places are an area that is brilliantly lit” during this period, according to Miller, with Sagittarians possibly “making a deal with someone abroad, or starting to work in the international arena.”
Capricorn (Dec. 22 – Jan. 19)
Capricorn, you’re an excellent manager, but sometimes you can be a bit of a know-it-all — so consider this your reminder that eclipses are usually a time to reflect, rather than to make big decisions. As such, Café Astrology recommends stepping back, particularly as you might end up with “surprises surrounding intimate matters, shared finances and resources, or financial support” coming out of the proverbial woodwork. Make sure you’ve got all the information you need before making any big financial decisions, and keep your emotions in check; judicious use of logic will serve you well during the January 2018 blue moon lunar eclipse.
Aquarius (Jan. 20 – Feb. 18)
Your personal relationships are in the spotlight during this blue moon, which Susan Miller describes as having the power of “a full moon times three.” But use caution: Although you might be ready to get engaged or married, or to sign something major, hold off. Yes, notes Miller, “The idea of this eclipse is to help you join forces with another person”; however, during this period, “Uranus, your ruler, will be in direct conflict with Mercury, the planet of contracts.” Wait until February to sign anything or make any major agreements; by that point, you’ll likely have all the information you need to make a solid decision.
Pisces (Feb. 19 – March 20)
Fellow fish folk, the blue moon is going to be big for us: According to Astrology Zone, if something significant happened on any of the other recent eclipses we’ve seen — those on Aug. 7 and Aug. 21, for example — now is the time we’ll start seeing the effects of those events paying off. Our worklives will be particularly fruitful, although we’d also do well to make sure that we take care of ourselves; says Miller, “Many demands will be made on you, but hopefully they will be ones that allow you to gain a career victory that you have worked so hard to grasp.” The name of the game is dreaming big — because those dreams stand a good chance of becoming reality.
