Mercury, planet of intelligence and communication, is in Uttarashadha from January 15th to 23rd 2026, the nakshatra that sits across the zodiacal signs of Sagittarius and Capricorn.

Uttara’s auspicious energy emphasises diplomacy and moderation, and any issues that arise have the potential for serious discussion. This asterism’s Shakti, for ‘Uncontested Victory’, favours careful negotiation, which sees a good outcome arriving without apparent planning or outside influence. This quality shows you are on the right path, and a positive result should be easy, even though you know the effort required to take you to this point. Uttara Ashadha is also of the Kshatriya, or warrior caste, and you can channel your mental powers into letters, articles, and debate, which gives any campaign energy and publicity.

You also have innate wisdom to make a real difference to an important issue, and can offer good advice to a friend in need. Mercury comes together closely with the New Moon in Capricorn on January 18th, which is an excellent time for planning a new venture. Your thinking is bound up with your emotions and security needs at this point, which is a good moment to express your feelings and find words for a personal relationship. You may also discover a missing detail in your budget or professional agenda, and bring mental clarity to a business scenario.

Initiating plans and desires is another feature of Uttarashadha, and its symbol, the elephant’s Tusk, is linked symbolically to Ganesha, where invoking the Remover of Obstacles gets a new year plan or journey off to a winning start.