This Week in Magick: 1/19 - 1/25

✨ THIS WEEK IN MAGICK ✨

January 19th - 25th, 2026

We're in the Waxing Crescent phase this week: the first sliver of light after the New Moon. The moon is barely visible, just starting to build, and this is planting energy. You set the intention at the New Moon. Now you water it, tend it, protect it while it's still fragile.

But the sky is shifting. January 19th at 5:44 PM PST, the Sun enters Aquarius, kicking off Aquarius season. And this isn't subtle. Mercury enters Aquarius on January 20th. Mars follows on January 23rd. By mid-week, we have Sun, Mercury, Venus, Mars, and Pluto all in Aquarius! A stellium of forward-thinking, collective-minded, innovation-demanding energy.

Aquarius doesn't do things the old way. It breaks the mold. It asks "why not?" instead of "that's how it's always been done." This is the energy of invention, revolution, collaboration, mutual aid, co-ops, community organizing, and getting weird with it. If you've been thinking about starting something unconventional, a creative collaboration, a group project, a community venture, this stellium is your green light. 

Then, on January 26th, Neptune enters Aries for the first time since 1861-1875. Neptune will stay in Aries until 2039. This is a generational shift. The planet of dreams, illusions, spirituality, and dissolution moving into the sign of action, courage, and initiation. We got a preview of this energy from March-October 2025, but now it's here to stay. Expect the spiritual to get activated. Mysticism with teeth. Dreams that demand you chase them. 

January 23rd is Basant Panchami (also called Vasant Panchami or Saraswati Puja), a major Hindu festival marking the arrival of spring and honoring Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge, wisdom, music, art, and learning. This is the day to worship intellect, creativity, and the pursuit of wisdom. Students place their books and instruments at Saraswati's feet. Children are initiated into learning (Vidya-Arambham or Akshar-Abhyasam) by writing their first letters. Artists, musicians, scholars (anyone who works with knowledge or creativity) asks for Saraswati's blessings.

The color yellow dominates... yellow clothes, yellow flowers (marigolds), yellow sweets. It symbolizes energy, knowledge, and the vibrant mustard blooms of spring. People fly kites, prepare saffron rice and sweet offerings, and celebrate the end of winter's lethargy. In West Bengal, elaborate Saraswati pujos are held in schools, homes, and temples. In Punjab, it's a kite festival. Across India, this day is considered Abujha Muhurat, a time so auspicious that you don't even need to consult a muhurat (auspicious timing) to start new ventures, marriages, or education.

WORK WITH IT:

January 19-25 (Waxing Moon + Aquarius Stellium): This is collaborative planting energy. What are you building that requires community? What vision needs multiple hands to manifest? Aquarius magic works best when it's collective. Write down your intention, then find your people. Start the group project, the creative collaboration, the shared vision. Invite others in. Work under this stellium is amplified when it serves more than just you.

Use yellow candles, silver candles, or electric blue candles. Burn incense that sharpens the mind like rosemary, peppermint, lavender. Work with aquamarine, lapis lazuli, or clear quartz for clarity and communication.

January 23rd (Basant Panchami/Saraswati Puja): Honor knowledge and creativity. Set up a small altar with your books, journals, instruments, art supplies, whatever tools you use to create or learn. Dress them in yellow cloth or surround them with yellow flowers (marigolds, sunflowers, yellow roses). Light a yellow or white candle and offer saffron rice, honey, fruit, or yellow sweets.

If you work with Saraswati, chant her mantra:"Om Saraswatyai Namah" 

Or the longer invocation:"Om Saraswatyai Cha Vidmahe, Brahmapatnyai Cha Dhimahi, Tanno Devi Prachodayat."

Ask for clarity, focus, creative flow, or breakthroughs in your studies. This is an excellent day to start a new course, begin a creative project, or dedicate yourself to a practice of learning.

TOOLS FOR THE JOURNEY:

For Aquarius work: silver or electric blue candles, rosemary, peppermint, lavender, aquamarine, lapis lazuli, amethyst. For Saraswati Puja: yellow candles, marigolds, saffron, honey, yellow cloth, books or instruments as offerings, white lotus.

We've got everything! candles in every color, fresh herbs, oils for anointing, crystals, altar cloths, offering bowls.

The crescent grows. What do you build together?

🖤

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