January 2014 Overview

Here’s the planting by the phases of the moon and signs for the zodiac overview for the remainder of January. My apologies for it being a few days late — it’s COLD in my part of the country and I haven’t been thinking much yet about gardening.

I promise to do better in the future.

The moon

The moon began the month in the light phase that continues through 11:52 p.m. E.S.T. Jan. 15.  And, oddly enough, the last day and a half of the month are under the influence of the new moon, the second new moon of the month coming into force at 4:38 p.m. Jan. 30 and continuing until the dark moon on Valentine’s Day, 6:53 p.m.

Thus Jan. 16-29 are under the influence of the dark moon and the remaining days this month ruled by the light moon.

When when the new — or light — moon rules, only light-moon activities. When the full — or dark  — moon rules, proceed only with dark-moon activities.

Check “General Tips” for dark- and light-moon activities.

Light moon: Through all but eight minutes of Jan. 15 then some of Jan. 30-Feb. 13.

Dark moon: Jan. 16 through most of Jan. 30.

The signs

Remember: Check to see if the moon is in the light or dark phase (information above) before proceeding with planting or other activities, indoors or out.

Fertile signs: the most fertile signs in the zodiac rule these days: Taurus (the neck), Jan. 9-11; Cancer (the breast), Jan. 14-16; and Scorpio (the secrets), Jan. 24-25. There are eight days remaining this month ruled by the fertile signs — Scorpio, Taurus and Cancer. Pisces (the feet), the other fertile sign was in force Jan. 5-6.

Killing signs: No planting, transplanting, or dealing with things you want to thrive should occur on these days. Reserve them for cultivating, cleaning out fencerows — anything but planting: Leo (the heart), Jan. 17-18. There are two killing days remaining. Aries (the head), the other killing sign was in force Jan. 7-8.

So-so days: These aren’t particularly fertile nor destructive, just so-so: Sagittarius (the thighs), Jan. 26-27; Capricorn (the knees), Jan. 28-29; and Aquarius (the legs), Jan. 30-31. There are/were plenty of so-so days this month — 10 to be exact. Four of them have passed, Jan. 1-4.

Flowering days: These are “bloom days” and well suited for planting flowers — if there are any we can plant now and there aren’t unless they are indoors or you live somewhere south of the Gulf of Mexico since most of the deep south in the United States has been in a deep freeze! There are five “bloom days” this month: Virgo (the bowels), Jan. 19-21; Libra (the reins), Jan. 22-23.

Gemini days: Gemini rules the arms and is in force Jan. 12-13.

General tips

Again, here are a few general tips for activities other than planting:

>If you have gravel to pour on a drive or roadway, do that in the light of the moon (through Jan. 15) so the gravel won’t sink. Same applies for stones on a garden path: Place them when the moon is in the light phase so they don’t sink.

>If you’re setting fence posts, do that in the light of the moon so the posts don’t sink.

>If you’re putting on a new shingle roof, do that when the moon’s in the dark phase so that the shingles stick down and don’t curl up on the ends. While this originally applied to cedar shakes, it is nonetheless applicable to modern shingles singes the idea is for them to stick down, too, to keep the nasties outside!

>If you have changes to make like stopping smoking, starting a diet or exercise program, weaning small animals or children, scheduling elective surgery — anything that requires a change — here’s the formula: The moon in the dark phase and the signs are going out of the body, past anything that “functions” so that means thighs, knees, legs and feet — Sagittarius through Pisces.

We have four full days and a piece of another perfectly suited, Jan. 26 and until 4 p.m. Jan. 30. On these days the moon will be in the dark phase and the sign in Sagittarius (the thighs) for two days, Capricorn (knees) for two and Aquarius (feet) for most of the 30th. All are signs ruling something that doesn’t function.

If you have elective surgery to schedule, there’s time and if you have changes to make there’s plenty of time to get yourself all psyched up to begin on the 26th. There’ll me more and more days that perfectly suit the formula each month now as we move through winter into spring!