For the Full Moon in Cancer, I wrote about shifting how I show up in 2026. I’m now officially (and indefinitely) closed for client readings in order to more fully focus on my writing as well as group-oriented offerings: classes, workshops, containers, and the like. (Registration for the third cohort of The Grove, a group container I run with my wife Meg Jones Wall of 3am.tarot, for spiritual artists moving mindfully with the seasons, will open in a few weeks, and Roses & Thorns, my 6-week Venus Retrograde course, will return in Q4.)
But that’s not all that’s changing in 2026. The Week Aheads are, too.
The forecasts have been a cornerstone of this newsletter since I started writing it 7 (!) years ago in 2019. Astrology is the study of the quality of time, and assessing what kinds of activity a period of time is good for is quite literally astrology’s primary use! The Week Ahead forecasts were cited as the second favorite newsletter topic by folks in 2025’s reader survey (coming in behind the new and full moon lunation letters). So forecasting itself isn’t going anywhere.
But what the forecast includes, and how it’s structured, is up for a major upgrade this year.
Historically, the Week Aheads have been astrology-forward. Obvious, you say. But what I mean is that I’ve led with the astrology: on this day, at this time, two planets will be making this aspect at such and such degree. Explain what the planets mean, and then what they accomplish or indicate together. How to use it and what to use it for at the end. Rinse and repeat.
The thing is, I think this newsletter has hit a cap on the folks who subscribe because of they are primarily interested in astrology. Nearly all of you are writers and artists — and most of you care far more about HOW to easily implement and use the astrology than you do the astrology itself.
And the thing is, I also care WAY more about what the astrology MEANS for our creative practice than I do the technicalities.
(If you want to learn the foundations, I’ve got a course for that.)
So this month, I’m going to play with different formats for weekly forecasts that foreground the WHAT TO DO over the astrological foundation. For the technically-oriented among you, don’t worry: there’s still a list of transits at the end.
For as long as I’m experimenting, the week ahead will be free to read. Thanks for being here — check out this week’s forecast below.
Do’s & Don’t’s for the week of January 4, 2026
DO move shit out the door — the moon is waning and so are we!
DON’T be afraid to try something new, when it comes to your art — you can always change your mind (perfectionism is a paralytic!)
DO intentionally choose beauty on Tuesday (get your nails done, go shopping, go to an art museum, listen to a new album)
DON’T overdo it on Saturday — an energy burst is nice, but not if we get an overuse or strain injury in the process.
DO start the new year by reading a new book.
DON’T get stuck in the algorithm — intentionally slow down with analog inputs like crafting, journaling by hand, or drawing.
Read: Emergent Strategy by adrienne maree brown
Listen to: How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful by Florence & the Machine
A journaling prompt: Think about your desires for creative practice in 2026. Perhaps you’ve done a lot of this already; perhaps you resist resolutions and goals. Either way: what is on your heart to create in this moment? What expectations are you holding yourself to? Consider what you want to get done.
Now: think about how much water you need in the well to accomplish that task, which is to say, how much input you need to generate the output you desire. What it would look like to make space for just as much creative input and inspiration? How would it feel to balance every writing session with reading, every output-oriented work day with intentional input like going to the movies or taking a leisurely walk in nature? How would your relationship to Creativity shift, if your inputs and outputs were equally valued this year?
The week’s astrology, technically speaking:
Tuesday, January 6th: Venus in Capricorn conjunct Sun in Capricorn (16*) at 11:35am Eastern
Wednesday, January 7th: Venus in Capricorn conjunct Mars in Capricorn (18*) at 9:43pm
Friday, January 9th: Sun in Capricorn conjunct Mars in Capricorn (19*) at 6:41am & Venus in Capricorn opposite Jupiter in Cancer (20*) at 12:34pm
Saturday, January 10th: Sun in Capricorn opposite Jupiter in Cancer (20*) at 3:42am & Mars in Capricorn opposite Jupiter in Cancer (20*) at 9:25am
(Please note that all times are Eastern.)