partial solar eclipse on Jan 5, 2019

There will also be a partial solar eclipse on January 5, at 6:34 PM NYC  time.   The Sun and Moon will join at 21° sidereal Sagittarius, with Ketu being with Ketu (at 3° sidereal Capricorn), to bring about the first eclipse of the year.

This eclipse will take place in Purva Ashadha Nakshatra and will be joined by Saturn and Mercury.  In spite of the fact that this is only a partial eclipse, the conjunction with Saturn makes it a challenging one.  Purva Ashadha nakshatra is ruled by Apas, the god of water. 

Purva Ashadha's shakti is the power to energize

On the personal level, the next couple months will be a good time to work on your health, especially with respect to increasing your general energy level.  The tendency of the eclipse, left to its  own, is to diminish energy.  However, if you work at improving your energy, you could  reverse this tendency and even increase your energy.  Diet, exercise, staying  hydrated, and eliminating refined carbohydrates from your diet might be a good place to start.  In any case, there is no reason that you have to feel sluggish if you simply make an effort.

The Mantra for this eclipse is Om Shri Purva Ashadha Nakshatra Devataye Namah

The Solar Eclipse

Saturn is close to the Sun is part of the eclipse. It impacts Sagittarius Sun, Moon or Ascendant the most and if your birthday is close to eclipse day or on the eclipse day – expect some changes in your life. Eclipses are times of transformation; secret information is revealed, and they are omens of events to come. If the eclipse is not visible in your country, the issues may be more secret – however, it will impact you. This eclipse is showing issues with governments and their leaders as Saturn the planet of karmic retribution is with Sun which is power.  Partial means its impact is less strong.

Though the eclipse may not be visible where you are, its effects are still tangible, and things are probably already gearing up with intensity in the area of your life indicated by Sagittarius. Though Rahu and Ketu are still in Cancer and Capricorn (since August of 2017), they are coming very close to transiting into Sagittarius and Gemini (which will happen in March), and this eclipse is giving us a taste of what is to come during the next nodal transit and the eclipses to occur in 2019 and 2020.

Forecast

Here are a few of the areas where challenges may be occurring due to this eclipse (and where you need to do the work), based on your ascendant, there can be others depending on your chart.

Aries — education, faith, foreign travels
Taurus — sudden changes, upheaval, secrets coming to light
Gemini — partnerships, love, business relationships
Cancer — health issues, disputes, litigation, pets
Leo — children, wisdom, authority
Virgo — the heart, the mind, home, mother
Libra — siblings, will, skills
Scorpio — the family, wealth, the mouth
Sagittarius — self-identity, place in the world
Capricorn — loss, loneliness
Aquarius — community, friends, income
Pisces — career, social status

Saturn and Mercury in planetary war on 12th and 13th

Saturn and Mercury both join this new Moon in Sagittarius. Saturn is going to have an even stronger role in our lives than usual in 2019, as he will be joining Ketu in close conjunction, within one degree, for over five months. Saturn in Sagittarius can help us to have not only the courage to do what we believe is right, but the stamina and dedication to get it done. Though we may feel a bit muddled by the eclipse (and the current combust nature of Saturn, so close to the Sun), Saturn’s determination will reveal himself more as the month goes on.

There will be a planetary war, however, between Saturn and Mercury, on the 12th and 13th of this month, when the two come within one degree of each other. When two planets are at war, contending for our attention in the same part of the sky, both will suffer, and the things they represent. With Mercury at war, our intellects will not feel as sharp, and it may be hard to pay attention to details or communicate clearly on these days. With Saturn at war, keeping our eye on  long-term goals may be hard, and we may feel temporarily deflated and struggle at work. The four areas in your chart ruled by Saturn and Mercury may also suffer, or feel at odds with each other, during this time.