Astrology

When it comes to astrology aspects, it’s important to know what dates are coming up. Here, we’ve created a list of all the important 2020 dates and aspects that you need to know about including retrogrades, zodiac sign seasons, solstices and equinoxes, and full and new moons. (And if you need a planner to help keep track, we’ve got the perfect astrological calendar for you!)

Divided into winter, fall, spring, and summer, here’s what you need to know:

Important 2020 Dates & Astrological Aspects

2020 Dates: January-March

January 10: Full moon in Cancer

The first full moon of the year is in sensitive Cancer, giving us a chance to honor our feelings as we charge into 2020. This is a good time to ask yourself where you find a sense of abundance, even in the cold and dark months. The focus of this full moon is on family. This could mean celebrating and strengthening bonds, or it could mean difficult conversations about wounds—both recent and ancestral.

January 20: Sun enters Aquarius 

Get ready for things to take an interesting turn! Aquarius energy is all about thinking big—like, outer space big. How can you help your community, and the world at large? This is a great time to seek out your inner social justice warrior and sign up for some volunteer work. Aquarius season is the time to be a mad scientist, tinkering with ideas and inventions that seem avant garde or just plain out there. The future is yours!

January 24: New moon in Aquarius

We welcome Aquarius season and all its charming idiosyncrasies with a new moon that focuses on looking inward and setting intentions. As this moon is in Aquarius, it’s a great time to ask how we can give back. Manifesting abundance for yourself and others takes effort—how can you carry that out over the next moon cycle? Don’t be afraid to dream big, because Aquarius season is when things get shaken up.

February 8: Full moon in Leo

This full moon in feisty Leo adds an uplifting jolt of energy into the winter sky. While we usually howl at the moon, tonight you want to roar. This moon is about embracing your personal power to break out of a rut and be all the heat you need—even when the temperatures have dropped. The Leo full moon shines a light on our personal magnetism, so don’t be surprised if you attract attention.

February 16: Mercury retrograde in Pisces (ends March 9)

The first Mercury retrograde of the year can throw you (and your resolutions) off balance. Mercury begins this retrograde in Pisces, so communicating your thoughts and emotions might be exceptionally difficult during this time. It’s important to sit with your feelings before you try and express yourself. Mercury ends this retrograde period in Aquarius, which deals with technology and science. Avoid making any big tech purchases for now.

Read Me: Mercury Retrograde Dates 2020: February, June, & October

February 18: Sun enters Pisces

During dreamy Pisces season, we’re encouraged to go deep and hone our intuition. This water sign is deeply empathetic, showing us how to heal ourselves and others (just make sure to protect your own energy; keep your boundaries). Creativity is key during this time—if there is a type of art you’ve been curious about, now is the time to experiment.

February 23: New moon in Pisces

Things calm down a bit with a new moon in sensitive Pisces. Pisces is the sign in the zodiac most associated with psychic abilities and intuition, so using the dark sky as we kick off the season is perfect for some dream work. Keeping a dream journal can be a great tool to understand your subconscious and hone your intuition. Things under this moon might feel slower than usual, but that’s okay. Embrace this period of rest.

March 9: Full moon in Virgo

As we inch into spring, it’s time to thaw off those to-do lists. Celebrations take many forms and getting yourself organized for a new season can be invigorating. This full moon is a perfect opportunity to start some spring cleaning, swap out your winter wardrobe, and think about any new routines you want to adopt for the coming season.

2020 Dates: March-June

March 19: Spring equinox

The spring equinox marks the beginning of the astrological new year! Today, as the sun moves into Aries, we’ll light the match that will burn through the zodiac for the next twelve months—first representing energy and excitement, then personal development and growth, and finally connection to others and the world around us. Today marks a period of intense drive, as we shake off the winter and feel ourselves being charged by the sun.

March 19: Sun enters Aries

Things are about to move fast as Aries season moves underway. As things begin to thaw and come back to life outside, we feel the same pull in our spirit. As the first sign in the zodiac, Aries is the spark that lights the fire for the rest of the year. It’s about action, power, and taking that leap. This intense energy can bring up some impatience and frustration when things don’t move fast enough, so remember to take a time out now and then.

March 24: New moon in Aries

With the recent spring equinox, we’ve officially changed seasons and started a new astrological new year! As the baby of the zodiac, Aries energy is fresh, bright, and raring to go. We can honor this sense of curiosity and youth by letting go of old habits and patterns under the new moon. Who would you be if you could start from scratch? By releasing the past, we can march boldly into the future.

April 7: Full moon in Libra

The sign of the scales, Libra is all about balance. This full moon is a chance to find your footing and enter the next few weeks on more solid ground. Full moons have a way of illuminating the truth, so if you’ve been seeking the solution to a problem, tonight should help you see the truth. Remember though, balance is also about compromise. Be prepared to give in order to get something back.

April 19: Sun enters Taurus

Time to find what feels good. Taurus season is about living the good life—treat yourself! Taurus is an exceptionally sensual sign, concerned with pleasant taste, touch, and scent. It asks us to consider how the decisions we make contribute to our stability. The sign of the bull can be stubborn, but in this sign, we learn how to slow down and make decisions that last.

April 22: New moon in Taurus

Entering Taurus season, it feels like all your senses are alive. We experience awakened sensuality—with a desire to touch, see, taste, and feel everything. There’s a focus on connecting financial security to personal support. So when the sky goes dark under this new moon, it teaches us how to use our other senses for both perception and pleasure.

April 25: Pluto retrograde in Capricorn (ends October 4)

Pluto spends about half the year in retrograde, and it serves as a lesson in letting go. Ruler of the underworld, Pluto retrograde challenges us to look at our lives and cut out the things that no longer serve us. The idea of transformation can be frightening, but it’s necessary for rebirth. Embracing your “dark side” during Pluto retrograde can help you heal deep seated wounds and old traumas so you can shed that skin and renew yourself.

May 7: Full moon in Scorpio

A Scorpio full moon is a particularly intense lunation, bringing up themes of sex, death, and transformation. Issues regarding our shadow selves tend to come to the forefront under the influence of Scorpio, and the light of the full moon means there’s nowhere to hide. Instead of feeling intimated by its light, try making friends with your dark side and invite it into the light, where things seem a little less frightening.

May 10: Saturn retrograde in Aquarius (ends September 29)

Saturn is the planet associated with karmic debts, so if there is any unfinished business out there, now is the time to resolve it. During Saturn retrograde you might feel sluggish, unproductive, or out of balance. This is a difficult time to form new routines or patterns, but it is helpful to examine our old habits and experiment with alternatives that could serve us better. Above all, this is a time to sit with lessons you’ve been taught in the past. Learn from them to avoid making the same mistakes again.

May 12: Venus retrograde in Gemini (ends June 24)

Venus is the planet of love, beauty, and money. During Venus retrograde, we have the opportunity to rethink what those things mean in our lives, and how we can invite them into our lives in new and satisfying ways. This can be a difficult time to maintain relationships, but honesty and vulnerability will serve you well here. Lastly, if you’re confronted with past flames, this is a test: It’s time to let them go.

May 14: Jupiter retrograde in Capricorn (ends September 12)

Jupiter is the planet of expansion, luck, and optimism. When in retrograde, expect some bumps on your spiritual highway. You might find yourself questioning your belief systems or reconsidering what it means to be part of the universe. This is a time of questions and finding new paths that might hold the answers. Whereas some planetary retrogrades can make life difficult (looking at you, Mercury), Jupiter retrograde is a good time to reach out and see what you can learn from your community.

May 20: Sun enters Gemini

Social butterfly Gemini kicks off its season with a flurry of energy and activity. Ruled by Mercury, Gemini season encourages communication and connection. It’s a great time to strengthen your relationships with friends and loved one, as well as communicate your needs and desires. This season is a lot like a good cocktail hour: busy, buzzy, and even a bit flirtatious. Avoid getting caught up in idle gossip, however. Good communicators know when to pull back.

May 22: New moon in Gemini

Gemini season always brings a fresh sense of vitality with its focus on socializing, culture, and communication. Think about ways to bond with your closest friends over the next month, and ways in which you can share knowledge to empower yourself and others. The new moon is also a good time to set an intention to communicate mindfully and with respect.

June 5: Full moon in Sagittarius

Summer has a way of inspiring a sense of wanderlust, and this full moon in adventurous Sagittarius is bringing that big time. If you’ve been thinking about a trip or vacation, this is a great time to make it happen. If you need to stay close to home, this full moon also encourages you to find the hidden gems in your own backyard. Remember, you don’t have to go halfway across the world to expand your horizons.

June 17: Mercury retrograde in Cancer (ends July 12)

Mercury returns to retrograde in June, this time in the water sign of Cancer. Matters at home may be frustrating now, especially if you’re trying to buy a home or rent a new apartment. Communication may seem passive-aggressive and hurt feelings are likely if you don’t find ways to blow off steam before expressing your issues.

2020 Dates: June-September

June 20: Summer solstice

The summer solstice: longest day of the year. This is a powerful time to manifest your desires for the next season as we’re alive with feelings and intentions. As we kick off Cancer season, it’s important to take time to work on balance and self-care. The summer solstice is a day when feminine and masculine energies are perfectly balanced, which gives us access to the full spectrum of our power.

June 20: Sun enters Cancer

During Cancer season, we decompress from the whirlwind of the last month by retreating to our personal shelter. Cancer is the most nurturing sign in the zodiac—connected with family and home life. Emotions can run high when this water sign is in control, so be prepared to shed some tears and ride the waves of feelings. Over the next month, we prioritize how to protect ourselves and what we need to feel secure.

June 20: New moon in Cancer

Paired with the energy from the summer solstice and a solar eclipse, this new moon (in watery Cancer, no less) is a lot to take on. New moons are generally time to set intentions, but with an eclipse going on, it’s much better to sit back and let the universe do its thing. Your time will be better spent reflecting and journaling. Go with the flow.

June 22: Neptune retrograde in Pisces (ends November 28)

When Neptune goes retrograde, life is like a costume party: impossible to tell what’s what! As the planet of dreams and intuition, Neptune controls our psychic selves. During retrograde, it can feel like a fog hovers over everything, making it difficult to determine truth from fiction. Avoid acting hastily, and make sure you have all the information you need to make the right decision.

July 5: Full moon in Capricorn

We’re still riding that intense eclipse energy, so keep your cosmic seatbelt on for this full moon in Capricorn offset by a lunar eclipse. Eclipses can be erratic, but they get the job done. If there’s anything in your life that you’re unsure about, trust that the eclipse will wash away whatever isn’t serving you.

July 20: New moon in Cancer

After all the intense energy that comes with emotional Cancer and unpredictable eclipses, this new moon in Cancer is a time to settle into the feels. In fact, you may still be mourning things that didn’t work out recently and looking for a sense of safety and home. Take time to reflect on where you’ve been and where you’d like to go.

July 22: Sun enters Leo

This is the season of the superstar! The sun is at home in Leo, which it rules. Leo season is about the self, ego, and learning to take main stage in our lives. Self-expression is key here. With everyone grabbing for the mic, things can get a bit crowded, so remember to listen and create space for others, even while you’re in the spotlight. During this season, you might want to think about assuming a leadership role and sharing your talents with others.

August 3: Full moon in Aquarius

As we come into the last month of the summer, we’re figuring out what works and what doesn’t. There may be a sense of unrest, but we can harness that unconventional Aquariusenergy to guide us to new solutions. Amazing things can happen when you open your mind! If you’re feeling like your world has become too constricted, the solution might be found through science or technology.

August 15: Uranus retrograde in Taurus (ends January 1, 2021)

Uranus retrograde pushes us out of our comfort zones. Expect the unexpected! During this time, we are given the opportunity to grow, but only if we’re willing to challenge ourselves. Artistic and career pursuits may change in significant ways, forcing us to adapt—hopefully for the better. Uranus retrograde can feel chaotic (especially for those who thrive by sticking to a plan), but ultimately it teaches us to question what we want.

August 18: New moon in Leo

As the summer beings to wind down, Virgo season guides us into a place with a little more routine and structure. Moving from the “speak first, ask questions later” energy of Leo season to a more practical and analytical place can create some tension, but if you focus on making conscious choices it should subside. This is a good time to make concrete plans to accomplish your next goal.

August 22: Sun enters Virgo

Get those to do lists ready, it’s Virgo season! Appropriately, Virgo season corresponds with back-to-school time. No matter how far out of school you are, this is the perfect opportunity to get organized and reset. Routines, especially those related to health and wellness, come back into play. Setting up your goals for the rest of the year will prepare you for success.

September 1: Full moon in Pisces

Analytical Virgo and mystical Pisces may seem like an unlikely duo, but they actually make a great pair (as opposites on the zodiac wheel, they are natural compliments to each other). During this lunation, your goals seems a little more magical and inspired, and even your wildest dreams seem to have a roadmap. Embrace this powerful balance to stoke both your ambition and your creativity.

September 9: Mars retrograde in Aries (ends November 13)

Mars only goes retrograde once every two years, so the effects can be overwhelming. Mars is the planet of action, and during retrograde, things can seem to grind to a halt. Plans and decisions seem to drag on, and the path to any goal is anything but straightforward. Looking inward, this is a good time to reevaluate any areas of your life where you feel angry or volatile.

September 17: New moon in Virgo

You’ve probably been putting your nose to the grindstone lately, and this Virgo new moon is here to remind us that hard work pays off. Diligence and details are themes for this earthy new moon. Intentions around work and health are particularly powerful things to manifest right now. Just remember to create some healthy boundaries for a more well-rounded existence.

2020 Dates: September-November

September 22: Fall equinox

The fall equinox represents the day we begin to shift focus from embracing our gifts and talents to thinking about how we can use them to benefit ourselves. As the days start to get shorter, we’re reminded that winter will be here soon. This is a good time to conserve and plan, stocking up on the reserves you’ll need to get through the winter. Transitional seasons like this one are important to remember to breathe, take stock, and consider the future.

September 22: Sun enters Libra

Libra season, represented by the scales, is the month to find a sense of balance. If there are areas of your life that don’t seem fair or equitable, those things will come to light during this time. While Libra season is about weighing your options, don’t get too stuck in indecision. Libra is also ruled by Venus, planet of beauty, so take in some art or culture for an extra dose of inspiration.

October 1: Full moon in Aries

An Aries moon always brings a sense of excitement and energy. If there are any projects you’ve been meaning to start or ideas you’ve tried to put into action, this is the time to start! Just be sure to read the fine print and look at the details before you pull the trigger on anything. (This moon is more about enthusiasm than practicality.)

October 13: Mercury retrograde in Scorpio (ends November 3)

For its final retrograde of the year, Mercury will turn retrograde in Scorpio, challenging your communication with… yourself! You may find it exceptionally difficult to do any deep shadow work during this time. Conversations with intimate partners need extra care right now. The influence of sensual Scorpio makes this retrograde the classic “don’t text your ex” warning. Stay present and wait for the future to unfold.

October 16: New moon in Libra

We’re in the depths of fall now, where we can visualize the transformation of life and death in nature. A Libra moon is about balance, but it’s also about diplomacy. You may struggle to share the dark side of yourself in order to keep things peaceful; use this moon as a catalyst to be honest about all your feelings, both good and bad. This is the season to get real.

October 22: Sun enters Scorpio

Scorpio season has a reputation for being intense, and knowing it’s ruled by Pluto (planet of the underworld) it makes sense why! The season of the scorpion is when we do the deep dives and shadow work that balances our light and dark. The struggle is definitely real, but we emerge stronger and more powerful. Scorpio also rules the libido, so if you’ve been looking to spice things up in your love life, this is the time.

October 31: Full moon in Taurus

This Halloween full moon arrives to illuminate all the shadowy figures in the night! Because Scorpio season is all about looking at the dark side and challenging our inner worlds, tonight is the perfect culmination of that work. Shining a light on our demons and taking them out to play is what Halloween is about after all!

Read Me: The Best Halloween Costume for Your Zodiac Sign

November 14: New moon in Scorpio

Taking time to engage in your inner world is important right now. Trivial or superficial matters hold little appeal for you, as the new moon entices your proclivity to dig deep and find a more profound sense of truth (even if that journey isn’t always comfortable). A new moon in Scorpio is a great time to do some self-evaluation, allowing your dark side to come into the light for growth.

November 21: Sun enters Sagittarius

Worldly Sagittarius a sign that has an intense desire to grow and learn. While last month was about going within, Sagittarius season is about expanding without. This is a “learn by doing” time that pushes you out of your comfort zone. It can be hard to stick with a routine during this time, so embrace the power of spontaneity.

November 30: Full moon in Gemini

This time of year can be difficult for many people without traditional or comfortable families. A full moon in Gemini reminds us of the power to choose our own communities and revel in the bonds that we create. You might feel like you have powers of communication right now, especially when it comes to sharing ideas and philosophies. Just be mindful that tonight’s full moon also comes with a lunar eclipse, so sit back and let the universe do the work for you.

December 14: New moon in Sagittarius

Many of us have been looking inward lately, but this new moon in philosophical Sagittarius encourages us to look beyond. We might be using our newfound sense of self to question our belief systems, creating a perfect moment to deepen our spirituality. Sagittarian energy is all about questions and curiosity, so crack open some books and start expanding your horizon!

December 21: Sun enters Capricorn

As we approach the New Year, it’s time to put your nose to the grindstone. Capricorn season is about business, working toward your goals, and activating your professional power. Simply put, how can you be CEO of your own life? It’s no wonder this is the time when people make their resolutions! The challenge this season is to balance priorities, but if you stay focused, there are major strides to be had.

December 21: Winter solstice

As we wind down the year and prepare for the winter months, it’s important to acknowledge the importance of darkness and hibernation for personal growth. Winter’s cold and quiet attitude can be intimidating, but light can’t exist without the dark. On the shortest day of the year, we honor Capricorn energy, which has the strong grounded courage we need to forge through until the spring thaw.

December 29: Full moon in Cancer

The last full moon of the year gets personal. The Capricorn/Cancer combo puts focus on our domestic and career lives—and how the two intersect. Capricorn season tends to inspire a hard charging and singular view of success, but a Cancer full moon reminds us to be present with our feelings and take care of ourselves and our loved ones. This is a good chance to start the next year feeling confident and balanced.