The Capricorn New Moon
Friends on the Path,
It's the first new moon of the new year đź’«
I'm writing from home, back in Cascais. My tea has gone cold in the winter night, and I'm watching Jupiter shining bright in the sky. Today something special is opening in the cosmos. There’s a deep invitation in the sky.
The first new moon of 2026 arrives in the final degrees of Capricorn. And it's asking us to do something that feels counterintuitive: feel before acting. Pausing before pushing.
There's a conversation happening between Mercury, Mars, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Jupiter—all at once. It creates this strange tension where part of us wants to leap forward while another part is still holding on to old patterns, old stories, old ways of being that no longer serve us.
Saturn in Pisces whispers something we need to hear: growth doesn't follow anyone else's timeline. The pressure dissolves when we stop comparing ourselves to those who seem further ahead. Evolution happens progressively, not all at once.
And yet—Uranus sends electric possibilities to every planet in Capricorn. Unexpected meetings. Creative openings. New insight. The kind of partnerships that expand what you think is possible.
This is more than just another new moon. Both Saturn and Neptune are hovering in the final degrees of Pisces, about to shift into Aries in the coming weeks. Saturn rules this lunation. And we have such a special Saturn in the sky—at the end of the last sign of the zodiac, almost ready to go into its detriment in Aries, where it will conjunct Neptune at the start of the first sign, fiery Aries—the place where everything begins.
We're standing at a threshold—a closing and an opening. This lunar cycle carries the weight of transformation, asking us not just what we want in our life, but who we need to become to sustain it. Become that person who grows in maturity to sustain the responsibility to make the dream come true. Making it sustainable is important here (watch how your Capricorn friends build things that last, going step by step and welcoming all that comes with the journey).
It's not a time to jump on impulse and get into action on a whim. It's time to gather all the necessary resources to build something that you truly value. Act towards that which is so deeply important to you, that you work to make it work. This is not a moon for flirting with a dream. It is a moon for deep commitment—the Capricorn way. Permission to take things seriously!
The Prayer of Capricorn
Capricorn is the mountain climber. Slowly ascending. Knowing when to walk fast, when to go slow, and knowing when to stop. Not interested in shortcuts, it much prefers the long road to get to the goal.
Capricorn is a mountain goat, but has a fish tail. So in this moon we are also invited to quietly connect with the deeper realms, and from the profound layers of Life, listen to the Dream. Use the goat side of the sea-goat to bring the dream here to the 3D. This sign invites us to be in the material realm always aware of the realms beyond. As Saturn (who rules Capricorn) stands in the transition of the visible to the non visible, it reminds us that both co-exist.
This new moon creates a portal for nearly six months ahead, and is the strongest in the coming two weeks. This is our annual Capricorn gift—a moment to commit to what matters most. What is so valuable to you that you are willing to climb the mountain for.
Working With This Energy
If you need clarity on your personal astrological map and how this energy is moving through your specific chart, I have 8 Astrology sessions available in February. Book here.
Because this year I will be traveling more, after these February sessions, I will only have availability for first-time chart readings in May, and then in July.
With the Saturn Neptune conjunction in February, this is a completely unique time to look at your chart and understand where the big cosmic shifts are asking you to let go of something, and where you are being asked to build something new.
What Else is Coming
I have some other news I'm excited to share with you.
This summer, I'll be holding a retreat here in Portugal with my friend Mindy Véissid—from Art of Intuitive Photography. It will be a time to rest and restore, reflect, be present, expand creativity, and feel deeply nourished. It’s the perfect setting to ground the wild astrological energies of 2026 (with peaks in February, April, and June/July). More details on this soon, but I wanted you to know this is taking shape.
And I'm collaborating with my friend Dorothee Eshin Takatsu—an ordained Zen priest I met at a mountain temple in Nagano—to create Artisanal Japan: the Way of Shokunin. Ten days observing and apprenticing with Japanese master artisans. Washi papermaking. Ceramics. Lacquerware. Indigo dyeing. We will be so happy to share the details soon!
And I still have two spots left on my very special Tibet trip! Here too, there will be time for Astrology & so many prayers and blessings and meditation and that unique experience of being in the land of the snows, where every breath is sacred. Come celebrate Saga Dawa in Tibet with us!
Under This Dark Sky
This new moon asks: what are you ready to commit to?
A practice for these New Moon days:
Take a few minutes to place your hand on your heart. Ask yourself: What one thing am I ready to climb the mountain for in the next six months? Don't overthink it. Let answers come from your bones, or from silence, not your busy mind. Write it down.
Keep your hand on your heart. Then ask: Who do I need to be to make this happen? Write it down.
Hand on your heart. Ask: What resources do I need to gather to make this sustainable? Write it down.
Remember, Capricorn doesn't rush. The mountain climber knows that steady steps, taken with intention, are what get us to the summit.
Do your prayers. Be the light.
I am standing with you with my head bowed, thankful that you are here reading this.
With love from the Atlantic shore,
Rita
