Out of Bounds…
Happy New Year!
As we end 2025 and head into the new year, three planets are ‘out of bounds’ – Mercury, Mars, and Venus. We’ll begin 2026 with all of these planets beyond the maximum north/south position of the Sun, plus the Moon will also be out of bounds on New Year’s Day.
So what does it mean when a planet is out of bounds (OOB)? They tend to act both forcefully and erratically. It’s a little like the retrogrades of the planets, although they are even more ‘over the top’ and there is no ‘shadow’ period.
Mars OOB suggests impulsive actions and there is a tendency towards aggression rather than mere assertiveness. He’s been OOB since late November, and you can assess for yourself what effect he may be having (it’s certainly difficult to see increases in our violence prone world). Mars rules all sorts of infections (as well as pests), and this may help to explain the high prevalence of the flu this year. The Celestial Warrior goes back within bounds on January 4th.
Venus OOB often corresponds with a bit of excess in both social and romantic situations, as well as failed diplomacy and contentious business transactions (the recent fight over merging media giants began when Venus went OOB on December 21st. The goddess of love comes back within bounds on January 3rd.
Then there’s Mercury. The Cosmic Messenger went OOB on December 18th, and will stay beyond the constraints of the Sun until January 15th. For shorthand purposes, we can think of this as a kind of “Bonus” Mercury retrograde.
The Moon goes OOB frequently, and the usual effect is an additional amount of lunacy (the root of the word is luna, or moon). Luna will be OOB at the January 3rd Full Moon, so expect that New Year’s celebrations – and lunacy – will continue through the weekend.
Many of us are hoping for a less turbulent year than last, but if the start of 2026 sets the tone for the coming year, it doesn’t look especially quiet. Still, we may be given a dose of high energy, but how we use it is ultimately up to us.
This year’s Cancer Full Moon on January 3rd is closely conjunct the United State’s Sun, at 13 degrees of Cancer. Given the out-of-bounds planets and the increased energy of the Moon, it should be a very powerful lunation – we’ll have to see how it plays out.
The 7th through the 10th is another very active period, with the Sun, Venus, and Mars meeting with each other and opposing Jupiter. Just as Venus and Mars have come back within bounds, they get a burst of energy from Jupiter. Yet with Jupiter exalted in Cancer and Mars exalted in Capricorn, we can hope that the energy through this time is more productive and ordered – if still very high-energy.
Mercury’s opposition to Jupiter on the 14th – while he’s still out of bounds – could be an opportunity to say too much. Again, Jupiter in Cancer might have a softening influence on this aspect, but expect that folks will be speaking their minds at mid-month.
The New Moon on the 18th is at the end of Capricorn. It’s an opportunity to make structured plans for the year ahead. Think of it as a chance to make some more realistic and achievable New Year’s resolutions. An actual plan is better than a general intention, so take some time before the new moon to make up your mind about your agenda for 2026.
The Sun enters Aquarius on the 19th. From the 19th through the 23rd, Venus, Mercury, and the Sun will meet with Pluto in the first few degrees of the sign of the Water Bearer. Coming out of the New Moon, it’s a time of reckoning as we consider the changes that need to be made in our lives. In the collective sign of Aquarius, we’ll have to balance our individual wants and needs with the greater trends of society and the needs of the world at large. It’s worthwhile to look to economic, social, and political indicators around this time.
Neptune re-enters Aries on the 26th, and this time he’s in the sign of the ram for good – or at least until 2038/39. Keep an eye on the news for some early signs of how he’ll be manifesting his energies (or how we’ll choose to manifest his energies) during his time in Aries. With Mars (ruler of Aries) meeting with Pluto on the 27th, this is yet another ‘hot’ time of the month.
Wishing you a Happy and Peaceful January and 2026!
