Hi loves,
Welcome to your weekly forecast.
I cannot believe how different it feels writing/recording today versus a mere week ago… just wow…. but, the cycle continues.
Before we jump into the highlights of the week: I spent a good amount of time writing & putting together a Cycles of Time Google Calendar that I have available as a digital download on my Etsy store! If you’d like to follow along with the cycles I talk about here on the pod in a deeper way, you can import the calendar with detailed descriptions of the major Astrology/Human Design/Wheel of the Year transits as a digital download, and that can be imported into your Google Calendar.
It helps me so much to be able to look at the transits alongside my calendar’s obligations and appointments- I hope you find it useful too!
Now onto the highlights- there’s a lot going on this week as we celebrate the midway point between the Winter Solstice and Spring Equinox and the first inklings of spring arriving.
This week’s highlights:
Wednesday, January 29:
Lunar New Year! Year of the Wood Dragon is over, Year of the Wood Snake is here
New Moon in Aquarius, in the HD Gate of Wanting (Gate 19)
Thursday, January 30:
Pluto enters Gate 41, the Gate of Contraction/Imagination (he was last there from 1781-1789)
Uranus stations direct in Taurus
Saturday, February 1: The cross-quarter day of IMBOLC in the Pagan wheel of the year
Human Design/I’Ching:
Monday: Gate 41: The Gate of Contraction/Imagination
Tuesday-Saturday: Gate 19, the Gate of Wanting
Sunday into next week: Gate 13, the Gate of the Listener
This week’s themes:
The first signs of Spring are peeking out from beneath the surface on earth and in our bodies
Innovation feels like interconnection feels like wisdom
Cleaning out the old to welcome the new
Attracting opportunities through true care and empathy
Our Place in the Wheel of the Year
Medicine Wheel Direction: NORTH (Wind, Elderhood, Spirituality) with EAST on the near horizon (Earth, Spring, Birth & Childhood, Physicality)
Wuxing Cycle Element: WATER > EARTH > WOOD (Earth is the transitional element that grounds us in between each distinct season)
Pagan Season: IMBOLC
Zodiac Season: Aquarius (January 19- Feb 18)
Moon Phase: New Moon in Aquarius (Wednesday)
I Ching Hexagram/Human Design: Gate 41 (Mon), 19 (Tues-Sat), 13 (Sun)
41: Mountain over Lake or "Decrease", aka the Gate of CONTRACTION
19: aka the Gate of WANTING
13: aka the Gate of THE LISTENER
Reflecting on Gate 41, Pluto in Aquarius, Uranus stationing Direct
Last week we entered the Rave New Year, the celebration of new beginnings in the Human Design System as the sun transited through Gate 41, the Gate of Contraction, also known as the Gate of Imaginal Cells, Fantasy, and Decrease. The big lesson here was: after we get real and acknowledge the limitations of our current situation, we are ready to begin the process of preparing for something completely new. And the best way to do this? Contract inward. Trim the excess. Prune the branches to conserve energy for more sustainable growth when the time comes.
Speaking of which… how many of you deleted a social media app last week or deliberately made changes your habits in that arena, reeling your time and brain-space back in for more worthwhile endeavors? That’s Gate 41 in action. For the past 20 years or so since I joined Facebook, I have added on new social media accounts and adapted to changes in the platform, but I have never decided to prune them back or quit cold turkey. This past week I have been deep in contemplation about the best move forward with my Meta accounts.
It seems somewhat inane and almost ridiculous to be focusing so much on social media with so much on the line right now in the real world, but I think a lot of us are reeling from the sudden reality check about how much these apps have taken over our lives. Ultimately, I’m still a fan of social media at it’s core- a digital town square that allows many diverse opinions and topics to be in the same place at once- but when you start to think more critically about who owns the square and what types of billboards they’ll be putting up in the coming years, it’s time to make some decisions about where we’re spending our time and energy.
I’ve noticed that even if I don’t quit social media, and I instead migrate over to a new place like Bluesky or Xiaohongshu, the energy that was cultivated in my existing communities on Instagram and Tiktok and Facebook is not there. Because these are not just media platforms, they are true communities, unique constellations of individual souls. No matter what I decide to do with my social networking, a conscious change in behavior will result in a decrease, a contraction, the energies of Gate 41.
As the first full gate of Aquarius season, Gate 41 is reminding us that in order to best create the new interconnected channels and realities that will influence the future, we need to first drain the main aquifer and refill it with fresh water. In the I’Ching, the two trigrams ‘mountain over lake’ reminds us that a lake is simply a decrease or a hole in the ground, one that can be filled with fresh rains generated over the mountains.
This week, the sun leaves Gate 41 on Monday and enters the Gate of Wanting (Gate 19) for the rest of the week … but we’re not done with the energy of Gate 41 yet. Not by a long shot. That’s because our old friend Pluto, the slowest moving of the planets, is entering into Gate 41 on Thursday, completing a 250 year cycle.
The last time Pluto was in Gate 41 was from 1781 to 1789, which coincided with the discovery of Uranus in 1781. During this period, Pluto’s transit through Gate 41 was marked by significant historical events such as the American Revolutionary War and the French Revolution. The transit was characterized by tension and the need for constant adjustment, reflecting the transformative and revolutionary nature of this period. The contractions of Gate 41 are like the uterine contractions before birth, where we know upheaval is a necessary part of a new beginning. But as someone who has experienced labor, I know that allowing my energy to decrease into complete relaxation and rest in between each active contraction is also truly necessary for the birth to happen.
I believe that Pluto in Gate 41 over the next several years will shine light on the things we need to release in order to make space for something completely different- a new cycle . (Note: Pluto will be retrograding back into Gate 60: Limitation from August 20 2025 until December 5, 2025, when it will stay in 41 for the next two years until February 2028.)
On the same day as Pluto enters Gate 41, the Planet Uranus stations direct in Taurus after a retrograde period that started on September 1. Uranus is the modern ruler of Aquarius, representing innovation, eccentric revelations, and sudden transformations, so this forward motion will add even more Aquarian-ness to the season of the water bearer and Pluto’s deepening into the sign as well. Hold on- we are not in for a boring season ahead. But I didn’t have to tell you that….
Wednesday: Happy Lunar New Year!
The Lunar New Year, also known as Chinese New Year, is one of the oldest and most widely celebrated festivals, deeply rooted in ancient Chinese traditions and the lunar calendar. This calendar, based on the cycles of the moon, is different from the solar calendar, and the Lunar New Year always falls on the second new moon after the winter solstice, usually between January 21st and February 20th. The new moon marks the beginning of a fresh lunar cycle, symbolizing renewal, new beginnings, and a time for reflection. As the moon is invisible in the sky, this moment represents cleansing, letting go of the past, and making space for new opportunities. The festival historically coincided with the end of deep winter and the anticipation of spring, a time to honor ancestors, seek blessings from deities, and gather with family and community to prepare for the year ahead.
A central part of the Lunar New Year tradition is the legend of the Twelve Zodiac Animals. The Jade Emperor, according to myth, wanted to choose 12 animals to represent the years in a repeating 12-year cycle. To determine the order of the animals, the Emperor organized a race across a river. The first 12 animals to cross would earn a spot in the zodiac. The rat, small and clever, was the first to arrive, having cleverly ridden on the back of the ox, who was strong but not as quick. At the last moment, the rat jumped ahead, securing the first place, while the ox came in second. The tiger, powerful and quick, finished third, followed by the rabbit, who hopped across using a stone. The dragon, capable of flying, could have easily won but stopped to help others, including a village that needed rain, and ended up in fifth place. The snake came next, slipping past the horse while it was distracted, claiming sixth. The horse, following closely behind, took seventh.
The sheep, monkey, and rooster worked together, using their collective skills to cross the river and came in eighth, ninth, and tenth positions, respectively. The dog, distracted by the river’s current, arrived eleventh, while the pig, who had stopped to eat and rest, was the last to finish, earning the twelfth spot. The order of the animals was not just based on speed, but also on their unique characteristics, with each animal representing different virtues like cleverness, strength, determination, and kindness. This race became the basis for the Chinese zodiac, with each animal’s year influencing the personality traits and energies of those born under it.
The association of elements with the animals of the Chinese Zodiac is rooted in the Five Elements theory, a foundational concept in Chinese philosophy that underpins various aspects of Chinese culture, including medicine, astrology, and cosmology. The Five Elements—Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water—are believed to represent the fundamental forces of nature, each with its own qualities, interactions, and cycles of creation and destruction. The idea is that everything in the universe is composed of these five elements, and they constantly interact with one another, creating balance or imbalance.
In the case of the Chinese Zodiac, each of the 12 animal signs is not only assigned a specific year, but also a cycle of elements. The elements are paired with the animals, rotating every 60 years to create a combination of both an animal and an element for each year. This 60-year cycle is part of a larger cosmic system that brings together the 12 animal signs and the 5 elements, creating a dynamic interplay of energies that influence both individuals and the world at large.
Each animal of the zodiac is connected to an element, which is thought to influence the characteristics, behavior, and fortune of those born in that year. These elements add complexity and nuance to the interpretation of each animal, creating a richer, more layered astrological system. For example, someone born in the Year of the Wood Dragon would have a very different energetic makeup and characteristics than someone born in the Year of the Fire Dragon, even though they share the same animal.
The five elements are believed to interact in both creative and destructive cycles. In the creative cycle, each element feeds into the next: Wood nourishes Fire, Fire creates Earth (through ash), Earth produces Metal (as ore), Metal enriches Water (through condensation), and Water nourishes Wood (through rain). This cycle represents harmony and balance, with each element helping to promote and sustain the other. On the other hand, the destructive cycle shows how each element can control or suppress another: Wood breaks up Earth (as in roots breaking through soil), Earth absorbs Water, Water puts out Fire, Fire melts Metal, and Metal cuts Wood. This cycle represents the ways in which the elements can interact in ways that are imbalanced or restrictive.
In the context of the Chinese Zodiac, the elements cycle through the 12 animals in a way that adds depth to the personality traits and fortunes of individuals born under each sign. The Wood element is associated with growth, creativity, and expansion, while Fire represents passion, intensity, and transformation. Earth is linked with stability, practicality, and nurturing energy. Metal reflects strength, precision, and organization, while Water is connected to adaptability, intuition, and emotion.
For example, someone born in the Year of the Wood Rat may have qualities of cleverness and resourcefulness (from the Rat) combined with the creative and nurturing traits of Wood. On the other hand, someone born in the Year of the Fire Rat would likely possess the Rat's intelligence and quick wit, but with the added intensity and drive of Fire. This creates a richer, more specific profile for each year, adding layers of meaning to the basic characteristics of each animal.
In this way, the elements tied to each Chinese zodiac animal are not just a symbolic or arbitrary addition; they are integral to understanding the deeper energies and dynamics at play in each year. The elements provide a framework for understanding how each animal's energy expresses itself, and they influence the patterns of behavior, opportunities, and challenges that people might face during each year of their lives. This makes the Chinese zodiac not only a system for predicting individual traits but also a way to connect to the larger rhythms of nature, the cosmos, and the flow of energy throughout time.
The Lunar New Year is a celebration of this deep connection to time, nature, and the animal spirits that guide it. The race across the river symbolizes the balance between personal effort and external help, reminding us that success comes not only from individual traits but also from working together and being attuned to the needs of others. The new moon, which begins the Lunar New Year, echoes this sense of fresh starts and new opportunities. It is a moment to reflect on the past, learn from the lessons of the animals, and look ahead to the coming year, making it a perfect time to set intentions, embrace personal growth, and celebrate the unity between humans and the natural world.
The year of the Wood Snake begins on the New Moon in Aquarius
For the past year, we have been riding the back of the Wood Dragon, a powerfully dynamic animal and element combination that represents change, strength, and upward growth. This week, with the new moon on Wednesday the 29th, we will slither into the year of the Wood Snake, maintaining the qualities of upward growth but shifting from the audaciousness of the giant winged dragon to the wisdom and humility of the serpent.
In 2025, the Year of the Wood Snake will coincide with the New Moon in Aquarius, bringing a unique blend of energies that can inspire deep personal transformation, intellectual breakthroughs, and innovative change. Let’s break down how these two astrological and Chinese zodiac influences will interact.
Year of the Wood Snake (2025)
In the Chinese zodiac, the Snake is known for its wisdom, intuition, and ability to navigate complex situations with grace. The Wood Snake, in particular, combines the Snake’s natural qualities with the Wood element, which is associated with growth, creativity, and adaptability. Wood energy encourages expansion and new beginnings, while the Snake’s energy is more introspective and strategic.
During the Year of the Wood Snake, we may feel inspired to focus on personal growth, intellectual pursuits, and the cultivation of deep wisdom. This is a year that could favor long-term planning and thoughtful decision-making, rather than rushing into actions. The Wood element supports nurturing ideas and projects from the ground up, while the Snake's energy urges us to remain patient, trust our instincts, and pay attention to the subtle signs around us.
This year can also bring a heightened sense of intuition and an increased ability to see beyond the surface, helping us to discern hidden truths. However, there could be moments of introspection or self-doubt, as the Snake tends to provoke us to examine our motivations and inner desires more closely. This is a year to slow down, gather knowledge, and take measured steps toward your future goals, trusting that growth will come in time.
New Moon in Aquarius (January 29, 2025)
The New Moon in Aquarius will occur on January 29, 2025, right at the beginning of the Year of the Wood Snake, amplifying the themes of innovation, independence, and forward-thinking that Aquarius embodies. Aquarius is the sign of the future, of technology, and of social progress. It is rebellious, unorthodox, and often visionary, seeking to break free from tradition and create something radically new.
A New Moon is always a time of new beginnings—when the moon is dark and the sky is clear, it's an ideal moment to set intentions, plant seeds for new ventures, and embrace the unknown. With Aquarius’ influence, this New Moon encourages us to think outside the box, challenge societal norms, and make strides toward personal and collective freedom. It’s an excellent time to focus on community-building, technological advancements, or progressive ideals that reflect the changing times.
While the Wood Snake is more introspective and patient, Aquarius can urge us to think on a grand scale and envision a brighter future. This makes for an interesting combination: the Snake’s wisdom aligns with Aquarius' innovative energy, encouraging us to think strategically about the changes we want to see, both in our lives and in the world. This New Moon could be an ideal time to launch projects that challenge the status quo or to step into leadership roles that push boundaries.
How These Energies Align
Together, the Wood Snake and the New Moon in Aquarius create a powerful opportunity for personal and societal evolution. The Snake’s introspection and wisdom can help us navigate Aquarius’ innovative energy in a grounded way, avoiding rash decisions or impulsive actions. The Aquarius New Moon encourages us to take bold steps toward our future, while the Wood Snake asks us to do so with patience, careful planning, and attention to the details.
This is a time to set intentions that not only reflect your own desires but also serve a greater purpose or align with larger, progressive goals. Whether it’s starting a new creative project, engaging with technology in innovative ways, or simply seeking personal freedom, the Wood Snake year paired with the New Moon in Aquarius offers a potent moment for making lasting, meaningful changes.
Practical Takeaways for the Year of the Wood Snake
Focus on Intuition and Strategy: The Snake encourages a more measured, thoughtful approach. In combination with Aquarius' energy, you can plan ahead for the future while embracing innovative, unconventional ideas.
Community and Social Change: Aquarius is all about social progress, so this is a good time to get involved in collective projects or movements that aim to bring about positive change.
Balance of Patience and Vision: While the Snake is all about patience, Aquarius urges you to take action toward new, unconventional ideas. Find a balance between long-term planning and embracing new, bold ideas.
Personal Growth and Transformation: This year will encourage personal reflection and inner growth, while also pushing you to step outside your comfort zone, explore new intellectual territories, and perhaps make social or environmental contributions.
In sum, 2025 is a year to harness both the wisdom and patience of the Wood Snake and the progressive, future-oriented energy of Aquarius. It’s a year for combining deep personal growth with bold, visionary ideas for the future.
Saturday : The Cross-Quarter Day of Imbolc, In the Belly of the Year
Imbolc, celebrated on February 1st or 2nd, is an ancient Celtic festival marking the halfway point between the winter solstice and the spring equinox. Traditionally, it honors the goddess Brigid, who is associated with fertility, healing, and poetry. The festival signifies the return of light and the lengthening of days, symbolizing new beginnings and the stirring of life beneath the snow.
A parallel in the US is Groundhog Day, another holiday that looks to the animal world to help us tap into the coming of a new season. Just as Imbolc celebrates the return of light and the stirring of life through knowing that ewes are pregnant at this time, Groundhog Day involves observing the behavior of the groundhog to forecast the length of winter. If the groundhog sees its shadow, it indicates six more weeks of winter; if not, an early spring is on the way. This connection reflects the same themes of renewal and the anticipation of warmer days, echoing the ancient customs of celebrating the light and life returning to the earth.
Customs associated with Imbolc include lighting candles to represent the increasing daylight and cleaning homes to welcome in the new season. People often celebrate with feasts featuring seasonal foods, and some create Brigid's crosses from rushes as a protective charm for the home.
In modern pagan practices, Imbolc is a time for reflection and intention-setting, allowing people to connect with the themes of renewal and growth as they prepare for the coming spring. It’s a beautiful celebration of light, hope, and the promise of new life.
Imbolc is one of the four Gaelic seasonal festivals, alongside Beltane, Lughnasadh, and Samhain. Its name is believed to derive from the Old Irish word "imbolc," meaning "in the belly," signifying the pregnancy of ewes and the impending arrival of spring.
Imbolc marks the midpoint of winter, often viewed as a time to prepare for the agricultural year ahead. Traditionally, it was a time when shepherds would start to prepare for lambing season. The festival is deeply tied to Brigid, who is not only a goddess of fertility but also a patroness of healing and fire. Her connection to fire can be seen in the practice of lighting candles and bonfires to symbolize the returning sun.
Customs and Traditions
Candles and Fires: Lighting candles is a central custom, representing the return of light and the warmth of the sun. Many also celebrate by kindling fires to honor Brigid.
Brigid's Cross: Crafting Brigid's crosses from straw or rushes or reeds is a traditional activity. These crosses are believed to protect the home and symbolize blessings for the coming year.
The arms of the cross are not parallel to one another, giving the impression of motion. (Photo from Wikipedia.) Feasting and Celebrations: Imbolc is often marked by feasting with family and friends, featuring seasonal foods. This communal aspect emphasizes the importance of community and the joy of coming together to celebrate.
Spring Cleaning: Many people engage in cleaning their homes to clear out the old and welcome the new, symbolizing purification and renewal.
Divination: Some practices include divination, such as predicting the weather for the upcoming season, reflecting the ancient connection to nature's cycles.
In contemporary paganism, Imbolc is often embraced as a time for personal reflection and intention-setting. Many take the opportunity to meditate on their goals and aspirations for the year, aligning their intentions with the themes of rebirth and renewal. The celebration may involve rituals, gatherings, or solitary practices that honor the goddess Brigid and the returning light.
Overall, Imbolc serves as a beautiful reminder of the transition from the cold, dark days of winter to the warmth and renewal of spring, encouraging a connection with nature and the cycles of life.
Tuesday-Saturday: Human Design Gate 19, The Gate of Wanting
In Human Design, Gate 19 is known as the Gate of Wanting, a Gate found in the Solar Plexus Center, which governs emotions, desires, and our emotional experience of life. As the name suggests, this gate is about the energy of wanting — an inherent longing for something greater, whether that be material, emotional, or spiritual. People with Gate 19 defined in their charts often feel a deep yearning or desire for connection, fulfillment, or resources. This gate is highly sensitive to the needs of others, and individuals with this gate often experience an emotional pressure to fulfill those needs, leading to a sense of urgency or emotional dissatisfaction when those desires are unmet.
I want to note that the Gate of Wanting is also deeply connected to the Earth and animals/more-than-human relationships, through its emotional sensitivity to the needs and desires of all living beings. This gate amplifies a longing to nurture, protect, and connect with the natural world. People with Gate 19 often feel an emotional urgency to fulfill both their own desires and the needs of others, which can extend to the environment, plants and animals.
This sensitivity makes them attuned to the emotional states of animals, leading to a natural empathy for their well-being and a desire to help them thrive. Animals, in turn, often act as emotional mirrors, providing individuals with a sense of grounding and fulfillment. This feels so spot-on for this time of year, as we see with both the Pagan holy day of Imbolc and it’s relationship to sheep, and the Lunar New Year’s stories of animals.
Gate 19’s connection to the Earth also involves an intuitive awareness of the planet’s health. People with this gate may feel an emotional pull to support environmental causes, restore balance to ecosystems, or adopt practices that honor the Earth’s natural rhythms. Their emotional landscape is closely tied to the well-being of the planet, and they may experience fulfillment when engaging in activities that support sustainability and nature conservation.
This gate’s energy embodies the intersection between personal emotional needs and the collective needs of the Earth. As individuals with Gate 19 align with their sensitivity, they often find that nurturing animals and the planet brings a profound sense of purpose and emotional satisfaction. Their connection to nature becomes not only a way of caring for others but also a path to personal healing and spiritual fulfillment.
Gate 19 is connected to the process of attraction — you might want something or someone because you feel that it can complete or fulfill you in some way. The challenge here lies in recognizing that these desires must be clarified and aligned with your true emotional state, rather than impulsively acting on them without self-awareness. When functioning in alignment, Gate 19 can serve as a guide to what truly needs to be nurtured, allowing a person to make decisions that resonate with their authentic emotional state.
I Ching Hexagram 19: Approach
In the I Ching, Gate 19 corresponds with Hexagram 19, "Approach", which speaks to the idea of leadership, influence, and attracting others in a way that is based on genuine care and empathy. The hexagram depicts the image of a leader who must approach their followers with humility and wisdom, offering something of value that naturally draws others to them. There is a recognition here that true influence comes not from force but from the ability to nurture and care for the needs of others.
The central message of Hexagram 19 is that true approach is grounded in understanding the needs of others and seeking to fulfill them without personal ego or agenda. It’s an invitation to create a situation where people feel supported and acknowledged, and where the leader (or person with Gate 19) can move forward with a sense of purpose that aligns with the collective good. However, this approach requires a level of patience and emotional clarity, as Hexagram 19 warns against rushing into situations without a deep understanding of what others are truly longing for.
In the context of Gate 19, this hexagram suggests that emotional fulfillment and satisfaction are not about forcefully pursuing what we want, but about taking a humble and empathetic approach to others’ desires and needs. When you engage with others from this place, you naturally attract opportunities and experiences that align with your true emotional desires.
The Gene Keys: Gene Key 19 - The Key of Sensitivity
In the Gene Keys system, Gate 19 is associated with Gene Key 19, which explores the themes of Sensitivity, Idealism, and Impatience. The journey of this Gene Key takes us from the Shadow of Impatience, through the Gift of Sensitivity, to the Siddhi of Sacredness.
Shadow of Impatience: When operating from the shadow, individuals with this gene key may feel restless and dissatisfied, constantly seeking something outside themselves to fulfill their emotional needs. This can manifest as a tendency to be easily overwhelmed by the desires of others or the perceived lack of resources. There is a sense of emotional urgency to get what one wants, without truly understanding what is needed or how to approach the situation.
Gift of Sensitivity: The key to unlocking the higher potential of Gate 19 is cultivating sensitivity — an ability to attune oneself deeply to the emotional states and desires of others, while also listening to your own inner longings. This sensitivity isn’t about emotional overreaction but about developing an awareness of what’s truly important. When aligned with the gift, you are able to be a deep listener, helping others meet their desires while also finding your own emotional satisfaction in the process.
Siddhi of Sacredness: At the highest expression of this Gene Key, the energy of Gate 19 manifests as sacredness, where the individual has transcended the constant seeking and desiring. They move from a place of complete emotional clarity and understanding, where their desires are in harmony with the greater flow of life. There is no rush, no attachment to outcomes — instead, everything unfolds in its own time. The individual radiates an aura of grace, sensitivity, and spiritual leadership, drawing others to them without needing to exert any force.
Together, all of these systems suggest that the journey of Gate 19 is one of cultivating emotional awareness and sensitivity, so that the wanting of the self can be expressed in a way that is aligned with the greater needs of the collective. When we learn to approach life and others with empathy and patience, and when we understand our desires in a deeper way, we create the conditions for true emotional fulfillment and spiritual growth.
xoxxo,
Alison
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