Feeling restless, jittery, pent up, aimless, unmoored? Are you struggling to get anything done, or feeling like you need to do a bunch things but can’t, because you keep getting sidetracked or distracted?
Do what astrologers do: blame the Moon!
OK, but for real: January 2026 has many periods where the Moon is Void of Course (VOC), including a few very-rare kenodromia periods. This exacerbates the sense of nervous anticipation in the lead up to the astrological fireworks next month, which include one of the year’s/decade’s biggest astrological events, the Saturn-Neptune conjunction.
Hop over to my 2026 astrology forecast if you haven’t read about what the skies have in store for us this year.
What is a Void of Course Moon?
The Moon is Void of Course when it doesn’t make any aspects to other planets for a period of time. There are a few ways to define this period:
- No Ptolemaic aspects to any planet until it changes signs.
- This is the medieval method and used to include only the visible planets, but most astrologers nowadays include the outer planets too.
- This is the medieval method and used to include only the visible planets, but most astrologers nowadays include the outer planets too.
- No Ptolemaic aspects to any planet for the next 30 degrees, regardless of sign changes (kenodromia/running in the void).
- This is very rare and occurs only every few months, sometimes even less.
- This is very rare and occurs only every few months, sometimes even less.
- No Ptolemaic aspects to any planet for the next 13 degrees, which is the Moon’s average daily motion.
- This is pretty obscure and I don’t think many astrologers nowadays use it.
The first definition is most commonly used.
The Ptolemaic aspects are the major planetary aspects defined by Ptolemy: conjunction, opposition, square, trine and sextile. I’ve never heard of anyone using modern aspects to define a VOC Moon, like quincunx, semisextile, quintile, septile, etc. If you include all of those, it’s basically impossible for the Moon to be Void of Course.
It’s up to the astrologer to decide whether they will consider all planets (including the outers – Uranus, Neptune, Pluto), or only the traditional/visible planets (everything except the outers) when determining VOC periods.
I think most astrologers nowadays probably include the outers, because there are demonstrable effects when the Moon aspects those planets. Seriously, just pay attention to when the Moon aspects Uranus or Pluto – you’ll feel it. But some hardcore traditional astrologers might ignore them.
I use definition #1. But I also pay attention to periods under definition #2, because they are rare and quite noticeable. More on this below.
When is the Moon Void of Course?
Because definition #1 is broad and includes all planets, and because the Moon moves so quickly, we usually don’t get many VOC periods each month. Usually, the Moon is only void for a short period – a few hours, or maybe even only a few minutes.
However, it depends on where the other planets are. If all the other planets are clustered at the beginning of signs, then we get more VOC Moons because the Moon finishes making all its aspects in the early part of its current sign. Similarly, when planets are at the end of the sign, then the Moon is only going to be VOC for a very short time period before it changes signs.
Because VOC periods are defined using only Ptolemaic aspects, the Moon will be void more often, and for longer periods, in certain signs and not others. The Moon must have either passed the planet in its current sign, and/or be averse/inconjunct the other planets. The latter means the other planets are in adjacent signs (semisextile) or five signs away (quincunx).
You can figure out if the Moon is Void of Course by eyeballing a chart or ephemeris. This can be a bit tricky though, and it’s much easier to jump over to astro-seek.com and use their Void of Course Moon calculator, which gives you a tidy list of all the VOC Moon periods by month/year. You can also filter by the different definitions of VOC Moons too. Nice!
What is Kenodromia?
Kenodromia is the Greek name for a period of time in which the Moon does not make any aspect to another planet for at least 30 degrees, regardless of any sign changes. It’s a compound word formed from kenos, which means “empty,” “fruitless” or “void,” and dromos, which means “running” or “race.”
This definition appears in the works of both Antiochus and Porphyry, who called it “running in the void” (which is such a rad description and very apt).
Kenodromia periods are rare, occurring only a couple of times a year. Some years don’t have any of these periods. The planets need to be configured a certain way, either all clustered at the very end or beginning of signs.
In January 2026, we get several kenodromia periods when the Moon travels through certain signs (times below are in MT):
- January 4 (12:44am) to January 7 (1:01am)
- 26 Cancer – 9 Virgo
- 26 Cancer – 9 Virgo
- January 13 (10:32am) to January 15 (11:16pm)
- 27 Scorpio – 27 Sagittarius
- 27 Scorpio – 27 Sagittarius
- January 18 (7:02pm) to January 22 (9:40am)
- 1 Aquarius – 18 Pisces
The only other time the Moon will be kenodromia in 2026 is in August, from August 13 to 15 and again from August 28 to 30.
What does a Void of Course Moon mean?
The image of “running in the void” tells you all you need to know about Void of Course Moon periods. When the Moon is VOC, there’s a sense of aimlessness. These are periods where little to no progress is made. Your efforts seem to be fruitless, empty or otherwise just don’t amount to much.
When the Moon is VOC it’s usually a bad time to start anything new – anything of significance, anyway. There’s a common proverb in the astrology community that you should file your taxes under a VOC Moon so that nothing comes of it. I haven’t tried this personally but hey, it’s worth a shot.
In natal astrology, kenodromia is an extremely unfavourable condition for the native. It suggests a person who won’t accomplish anything in life. Note that this refers to the strict definition of no aspects between the Moon and another planet for at least 30 degrees – so most people are off the hook. Also, the ancient astrologers are always so dramatic and dire. If you believe everything they say (especially Firmicus – I really need to do a post on him) then we are all doomed to suffer terrible lives of misery and failure.
I’ve heard some astrologers apply similar descriptions to people who are born under the modern definition of a VOC Moon. Personally, I don’t put much stock in this. I haven’t seen enough examples to convince me that someone born under a Void of Course Moon won’t get anything done in their life.
There are many other things in the birth chart that might indicate problems with forward momentum and the ability to complete tasks, but a VOC Moon isn’t the first thing I’d look at. And it would have to be paired with a few other things for it to suggest that there were actually problems of this nature.
Natal astrology aside, I definitely agree that it’s more difficult to get things done on a daily basis when the Moon is Void. This is magnified when the Moon is kenodromia.
So, keep that in mind over the next couple of weeks. The VOC Moon is really antithetical to accomplishing things, so don’t beat yourself up if you aren’t progressing on your New Year’s goals as fast as you’d like.
I also think these Void Moon periods in January 2026 are a great time to pause and reflect on everything that has happened over the previous year/decade, and prepare for what’s coming. Major changes are happening at the level of both the individual and the collective. Emotions are high, tension is thick and it can be overwhelming just to get through daily life right now.
When the Moon runs in the void, it’s a natural invitation to wander off course. These are times to give yourself permission to not get anything done. The work can wait. Instead, follow the Moon to what your heart really desires at this moment.
Like my work? Subscribe to me on Substack and you’ll receive all my new posts emailed straight to your inbox
