Plus an astrology and tarot forecast, new moon ritual, and herbal lore for the Capricorn new moon.
The January 2026 new moon falls in the sign of Capricorn. Symbolized by the mountain goat, which maintains perfect balance while it climbs over precarious rock ledges, the Capricorn archetype is one of disciplined and dogged determination towards the attainment of our worldly desires.
Spiritually, the Capricorn archetype teaches us about integrity and helps us to harness the ability to plan our work, and stick to it, no matter what. In these times of 24×7 consumption culture, it’s easy to be addicted with shiny object syndrome and forget about our goals and plans. Capricorn teaches us about the meaning of integrity: to align ourselves with our highest ideals and actualize our potential.
The January 2026 new moon also brings into focus the ways in which we communicate and the power of owning your voice. This isn’t always an easy thing — to speak your truth. There’s a lot of anxiety that it can bring up, around how you are perceived; how your words translate; and what people may think of you. It can lead to fears of being “found out” or ostracized, neither of which is a rational fear!
You could also find yourself in a reflective mood at this time, teasing over a particular long-held belief or way of showing up in the world. Or perhaps, you may just need some time to take things slow or to introspect. If that is the case, do honor that impulse.
Astrology and tarot influences for the January 2026 new moon
To throw some more light on the January new moon astrology, let’s take a look at the astrology and tarot influences of this lunation. The Capricorn new moon falls in decan 3, which is represented by the 4 of Pentacles. This is to be interpreted in conjunction with The Devil, which is associated with Capricorn.
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Looking at these cards, I feel a sense of constriction and contraction. There are things we hold on to so tightly that they enslave us. Things that we could release that would set us free. But either fear of the unknown or the lure of shiny objects holds us firmly in its grip, and we think we can never unshackle ourselves and be free.
With the 4 of Pentacles, the pressing concern is typically over material resources, our relationship with money, and our mindset around scarcity and lack.
But money matters run deep. It would be disingenuous to say “money doesn’t or shouldn’t matter”, because the fact is that it does. On the other hand, our consumerist culture has normalized shiny object syndrome and pushed us to consume far more than we really need. Added to that are our beliefs around money, which, to a large extent, are shaped by our caregivers and the circumstances in which we grew up.
So how do we liberate ourselves from being slaves to capitalism and over consumption?
I think the answer, as always, comes from understanding ourselves better. What were the circumstances in which we grew up? What was the attitude of our caregivers towards money and the lack thereof? How well are we currently resourced? How much stuff do we own? Do we actually use the things we have, or are we just hoarding them because we are afraid of “using up all the good stuff”? Do we own our things or do our things own us?
None of this is a value judgement. It’s simply a gentle nudge to examine our relationship with money, with material things, with the messages we absorb from the overculture.
I remember watching Tidying Up with Marie Kondo on Netflix and realizing just how much stuff almost all of us have! Piles of clothes that have never been worn, garages filled with Christmas decorations, rooms stuffed with sneakers. It made me re-examine my own relationship with the things I love to collect…or should I say hoard {stickers and washi tape, anyone? Also tarot and oracle decks, journals, fountain pens and pretty inks, and the list goes on}.
There are sticker subscriptions I’ve signed up for, swooned over the contents, and then stored them carefully away, unwilling to “waste” the stickers on “random” journal pages. Until I realized all I was doing was depriving myself of the joy of using the stickers I love. Which is silly, considering I am constantly finding new stickers to fall in love with!
And isn’t it the same with so many of our belongings? The too pretty to use dinner set. The precious scented candle we never burn. The dress that’s too “dressy” to wear anywhere…
Instead of holding so tightly to these things, what if we just allowed ourselves to enjoy them? That’s the medicine of the Four of Pentacles paired with The Devil. To be able to take a clear look at what we are holding on to tightly, where we are finding meaning and value, and how we can unshackle ourselves from the hamster wheel of over consumption and hoarding, so we can embrace a more joyful, whimsy filled, and ultimately freer life.
Meanwhile, there’s a lot going on astrologically during this new moon, so buckle up! There are several planetary players that are active at this time, which gives this Capricorn new moon a dense, almost pressurized quality.
The moon is conjunct Mercury, Venus, Mars, and Pluto, clustering our thoughts, desires, motivations, and deeper psychological undercurrents around the same core themes. It’s as if everything we think, want, do, and fear is being drawn into the same conversation. This can feel intense, even compulsive at times, particularly around questions of security, control, and what we rely on to feel safe in the world.
Pluto’s involvement brings a subterranean tone to this lunation. Old survival strategies may surface, especially those rooted in fear of loss or scarcity. This is the kind of astrology that exposes where our sense of stability is being propped up by habits or attachments that no longer truly serve us. With Mars here too, there may be a defensive edge — a reflex to protect what’s “mine” — while Mercury asks us to notice the stories we tell ourselves to justify those reflexes. None of this is meant to alarm us, but it does invite us to take a honest look at our habits and attachments, especially around compulsive shopping and the resources we already have.
At the same time, this new moon is supported by gentler, steadier influences. Saturn and Neptune form harmonious aspects, offering us a somewhat paradoxical blend of realism and compassion. There’s room here to take responsibility for our material lives without slipping into harsh self-judgement, and to dream of something more meaningful without losing our footing. Uranus adds a spark of liberation, suggesting that freedom may come through small but conscious shifts…through a willingness to experiment, to loosen the grip just a little, and to do things differently than we always have.
And then there’s Jupiter, standing opposite the new moon, stretching the tension between “enough” and “more.” This can amplify our awareness of excess, or highlight the gap between what we own and what actually nourishes us. It asks big questions about growth, meaning, and value, not in an abstract way, but right in the middle of our everyday choices.
Altogether, this is a new moon that invites us to look closely at the structures we’ve built around money, possessions, and security, and to ask whether they’re supporting our lives… or quietly constraining them. The astrology mirrors the medicine of the Four of Pentacles and The Devil so clearly: awareness first, then choice. A chance to unhook from automatic patterns, and to rediscover what it feels like to live with a little more trust, presence, and joy.
Herbal medicine for the Capricorn new moon
Every new moon, I will choose a herb for us based on the astrology around the moon, using the Herbal Astrology Oracle by Adriana Ayales. I’ll include a bit about the herbal lore and some guidance that you can weave in to your new moon workings.
The herb that I chose for the January 2026 new moon in Capricorn is Tulsi, one of the main pillars of herbal medicine in Ayurveda.
Tulsi is the embodiment of Goddess Laxmi, the goddess of wealth and generosity. In Hindu mythology, Tulsi is believed to be a manifestation of the divine within.
Tulsi teaches us that the key to abundance and wisdom is to live, create, and communicate from a place of wonder, innocence, and impeccability. Not something we can realistically do when we are drowning in stuff or don’t allow ourselves to use the good dinner set!
Note: I am not a herbal practitioner, and the herbs that I choose for us on each new moon are not meant to be ingested. If you own a copy of the Herbal Astrology Oracle, you can place the card on your altar. Alternately, you can find a photograph of the herb and paint or sketch it in your journal while you reflect on its healing properties and how they may resonate with you.
Tarot spread for the January 2026 Capricorn new moon
Here’s a tarot spread to tap into the energy of this new moon.
1. Tightly held: This card represents an underlying belief, pattern, or mindset related to your finances or material possessions
Holding pattern: This card reveals what aspect of self this belief or pattern is trying to protect.
3. Loosen control: This card represents how you can loosen this belief.
4. Embrace simplicity: This card represents a new perspective — read this in relation to card 1
5. Mamma moon says: This is always an encouraging message
If you share your spreads on Instagram, please tag me @numinousstardust so we can connect with each other.
Ritual for the new moon in Capricorn
For this new moon, I offer you a gentle ritual to help you use what you love! This ritual is not about adding something new, but rather about changing your relationship to what’s already here.
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You will need:
An object you own and genuinely love, but that you’ve been “saving” or “hoarding” {for example, your object could be a candle you’ve been saving; a beautiful notebook you don’t want to “ruin”; a favorite packet of stickers or washi tape, or paint or art supplies that you’re too afraid to use.}
A notebook or journal
A pen
A quiet space
The ritual:
Sit comfortably and take a few slow breaths. Let your attention drop out of your head and into your body.
Gently notice where you feel tension, where you feel supported, and how it feels to be here, right now, without fixing or improving anything.
Look at the object you’ve selected for this ritual. Remember, this should be an object you love but rarely {or never} use.
Let yourself notice any hesitation that arises as you pick it up. No analysis yet. Just notice
In your journal, write freely for a few minutes on this prompt:
If I don’t use this, what am I protecting?
You might notice stories about:
- Running out
- Not being worthy
- Waiting for the “right” moment
- Fear of regret or waste
Write without judgement. These stories once made sense to you.
Now, use the object.
Light the candle. Write on the first page of your notebook. Stick down some washi or stickers in your journal.
Do it slowly and with attention. As you do, quietly reflect on this question:
What becomes available when I allow myself to enjoy what I already have?
This is about restoring trust in yourself, in time, in sufficiency…
Return to your journal and complete this sentence:
Over the coming lunar cycle, I give myself permission to…
Let your intention be small and realistic. Think practice, not transformation.
Some examples:
- “…use what I love without saving it for later.”
- “…notice when fear disguises itself as practicality.”
- “…choose presence over accumulation.”
Over the course of this new moon cycle, make it a point to use the things you’ve been hoarding — enjoy the fancy tea set, use the stickers, light the candles, and as you do, notice how your relationship with your possessions changes.
Conversations with the Soul: 365 Tarot Journaling Prompts for Reflection and Renewal
Unlock deeper insights, one card and one question at a time.
You love your deck of tarot cards, but some days, you’re not sure what to ask.
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You start to wonder if the real issue isn’t with the cards, but with the questions you’re asking.
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