January 2026 Elections

KristaLyn Sofia

 

Welcome to January! The year kicks off with plenty of energy and renewal. Both Venus and Mars will have their Cazimi with the Sun in the second week. Unfortunately, Venus goes first, which means her Cazimi is applying conjunct Mars and not ideal to work with. Mars, however, receives the conjunction from Venus and opposition with Jupiter. The Moon is square to the Cazimi in Libra, applying next to Mercury.

 

This is not an election I would consider for a Talisman, mostly thanks to the Moon’s condition, but it is an interesting election to consider if you’d like to bring energy and determination into career endeavors! Our election this month finds the Mars Cazimi applying to conjoin the Midheaven within degree minutes of the Cazimi’s perfection. With Mars both exalted and in the throne of the Sun, we see Mars in a unique energy. I highly recommend considering your natal Mars condition and testing if you should work with this election using divination, just to be completely sure.

 

Here is what we are working with in January:

• The Sun starts the month in Capricorn until he ingresses the the sign of his Detriment, Aquarius, January 19
• The Moon visits each sign, as always
  • Waxing from 9Gemini to 13Cancer
  • Waning from 14Cancer to 28Capricorn
  • Waxing again from 29Capricorn to 2Leo
• Mercury ingresses Capricorn on January 1 until they move into Aquarius on January 20
• Venus is in Capricorn until January 17 when she ingresses Aquarius
  • Venus is Cazimi with the Sun on January 6 in Capricorn, though Mars is also conjunct
• Mars is also Exalted in Capricorn until his ingress to Aquarius on January 23
  • Mars is Cazimi with the Sun on January 9
• Jupiter is exalted in Cancer and is still retrograde.
  • Jupiter will station direct again March 10, 2026
• Saturn remains direct in Pisces all month.

For a review, we are looking for a basic election with the planet of choice well dignified, rising or culminating during their own hour and preferably day, and for the planet and the Moon to be unafflicted.

Our election finds Mars Exalted and culminating during Mars hour on Venus’s day. The Moon is in an overcoming square with Mars, though applying to Mercury. In this case, because we are working with a malefic, the Moon was always going to be afflicted in connection to the planet we are working with.

Here is an overview of the chart calculation and ritual process:

January 9 at 11:27am -12:15pm ET

(NOTE: Be sure to adjust the chart for Mars hour with Mars conjunct the MC in your time zone! You can check planetary hours in the Traditional settings on astro-seek.com.)

Example Intentions (source: William Lilly):

• Courage
• Confidence
• Honor
• Victory

Optional Ritual:

• Prepare ritual space, using 5 Red candles and dressing in similarly colored clothes.
• At elected time, light the candles and burn bitter incense or Frankincense.
• Meditate on desired outcome or perform the elected action

 

The Orphic Hymn to Mars (credit: Christopher Warnock and www.renaissanceastrology.com):

Magnanimous, unconquer’d, boistrous Mars,

In darts rejoicing, and in bloody wars

Fierce and untam’d, whose mighty pow’r can make

The strongest walls from their foundations shake:

Mortal destroying king, defil’d with gore,

Pleas’d with war’s dreadful and tumultuous roar:

Thee, human blood, and swords, and spears delight,

And the dire ruin of mad savage fight.

Stay, furious contests, and avenging strife,

Whose works with woe, embitter human life; 10

To lovely Venus, and to Bacchus yield,

To Ceres give the weapons of the field;

Encourage peace, to gentle works inclin’d,

And give abundance, with benignant mind.