We step into the New Year of 2026 beneath a resolute Capricorn sky, and the cosmos wastes no time setting the tone. The very first week of January opens with a luminous Sun–Venus–Mars triple embrace—a rare and potent gathering, the cazimi of Sun and Venus, also known as the Venus Star Point. This celestial spark will glow long and steady, carrying us all the way into October 2026. Below, you’ll find the chart that captures this moment.

Very rarely does Mars step into the intimate choreography of a Venus–Sun cazimi, but this year it does—and the temperature rises accordingly. Mars and Venus are classically known as the hot lovers of the zodiac, igniting passion whenever they cross paths. Add the Sun to the mix, and the fire burns brighter still. The question becomes: what, exactly, are we burning for?

Mars, the god of war, may arrive ready to defend territory or press for action. Venus, goddess of love, may gently but firmly redirect the dialogue toward harmony and accord. Somewhere between assertion and attraction lies the alchemy we’re being asked to find—the precise balance that satisfies both desire and diplomacy.

All of this unfolds in Capricorn, a sign deeply concerned with ambition, achievement, and the climb toward authority. This rare triple conjunction at the very start of the year suggests a powerful investment of energy into our goals and long-term projects. Yet Capricorn also reminds us that true success is rarely a solo endeavor. Progress comes more easily when we align ourselves with the right collaborators—friends, allies, and networks (Venus) who support our ascent as we, in turn, support theirs. In this way, ambition becomes not just a personal pursuit, but a shared journey upward.

Another point worth considering is this: does the year truly begin on January 1st—at least in terms of how we’re actually moving forward? From an astrological perspective, the answer may be more nuanced. Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune all begin the year in the final degrees of the signs they’ve occupied for quite some time. Neptune doesn’t cross into new territory until late January, Saturn follows in mid-February, and Uranus waits until late April.

What this suggests is a kind of cosmic overlap. We are, in many ways, completing chapters already in motion, tending to unfinished business, and bringing long-standing efforts to resolution—even as we begin sketching the outlines of what comes next. It’s a liminal space: part ending, part beginning.

This notion of holding a vision for the new feels especially aligned with Aries energy, which thrives on fresh starts and forward momentum. Aries is eager, courageous, and impatient to begin—but here, the lesson may be to let the vision form fully before the first bold step is taken. The fire is gathering; the spark is coming. Still, we cannot resist peeking around the corner as it seems we are need of something entirely different!

CHART FOR THE CAPRICORN VENUS STAR POINT

The chart displayed here is courtesy of the newly released Enigma Software, whose rendering of the Venus pentagram is, quite simply, the most exquisite I’ve yet seen. The two star points on its left mark the steps we’ve already taken; the two on the right are the ones that await us. Together, they trace the eight-year rhythm of Venus’s influence—like petals unfolding in time.

Credit to Jan Kamperheek. You may download the free software here

Capricorn, of course, has a reputation for solemnity. Yet in Mythic Astrology by Arielle Guttman and Kenneth Johnson, the Capricorn Solstice—winter in the northern hemisphere—is shown in a fuller, more ancient light:

“This turning point has been celebrated since at least 3,000 BC. The megalithic tomb of Newgrange in Ireland contains a small stone window through which the winter solstice sun rises, illuminating the interior of the tomb. In megalithic tombs, bones were typically painted with red ochre, a color which symbolized life and vitality; hence the hope of rebirth.”

And so it remains across the world today: before the calendar’s new year even begins, we honor the return of the light. The solstice is the shortest day, yes—but also the quiet hinge on which the Sun swings back toward us. In Christian tradition, this became the Birth of the Son. And throughout the world, we echo the ancient longing for renewal by kindling brightness—stringing lights on trees and rooftops, weaving them around windows and doors. Their shimmer whispers reassurance: the light is on its way.

Capricorn’s ruler is Saturn, the wise elder—part taskmaster, part mentor, part cosmic Yoda—encouraging patience, discipline, and steadfast purpose. As a cardinal earth sign, Capricorn blends grounded persistence with initiative, the drive to set plans in motion. Under its influence, we can build steadily, even magnificently. But Saturn also reminds us to mind our resources, trim excess, and honor the rhythms of necessity. In older times, this meant stretching winter stores until the first green shoots of spring appeared, and the harvests of summer and autumn could renew the pantry. The lesson still holds: use wisely now so that you may flourish later.

An engaging discussion of the current Venus Star Point in Capricorn in this video featuring astrologers Arielle Guttman and Julija Simas can be viewed here.

A DEDICATION TO SOME OF THOSE
WE LOST IN 2025

Before we move too far into the new year, I want to pause and honor a few of the brilliant lights whose earthly journeys came to a close in 2025. Many of them were personal inspirations—voices, visionaries, and spirits who shaped the world through their music, their courage, their artistry, and their compassion.

There were far too many good souls to name in a single breath, but these are the ones I hold especially close in memory:

✨Primatologist Jane Goodall, who taught us to listen to the natural world with humility and wonder;

✨Beach Boy, inspired songwriter, and tender-hearted genius Brian Wilson;

✨Actor, director, producer, and tireless humanitarian Robert Redford;

✨The incomparable and delightfully offbeat Diane Keaton;

✨The steady, commanding presence of actor Gene Hackman;

✨John Lodge, masterful bassist of the Moody Blues and creative partner to Justin Hayward.

✨Rob Reiner, actor, producer, director and activist, multi-talented creative genius.

Each one leaves behind a legacy of beauty, courage, and originality.
Each one leaves behind a world made better because they passed through it.
You will be missed.

THE OFFERINGS FOR 2026

I hope you will join me either in person or online for one of these special events.

Peace and Blessings to all in 2026!

For further studies of the Venus Star Point, please refer to the following sources.
YouTube channel: The Official Venus Star Point channel
Facebook: Venus Star Rising page
Newsletter archives: www.SophiaVenus.com/blog/

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Are you interested in deepening your astrological awareness of Venus and her star? There is a certification course and exam offered here for the Venus Star Point. Explore the inner workings of the Venus Star and how it can enhance a natal chart by learning how to chart and interpret its meaning.