Lunar Calendar for Friday, January 23, 2026
Moon in Pisces · waxing crescent · lunar day 5
- 22% illuminated
- Element Water
- Wet day
- 236,118 miles (379,995 km)
At , the Moon moves into Aries.
Pisces days wake the imagination and soften the edges. Intuition leads better than logic, and others’ needs come first. Keep a boundary or two.
Waxing crescent
A crescent of the Moon is lit, and it grows a little each evening. Look for it in the western sky after sunset. In lunar tradition, the waxing Moon stands for building up: intake, growth, and new efforts all trend upward.
On its monthly path across the sky, the Moon is now climbing: seen from the Northern Hemisphere, each day it crosses the sky a little higher than the day before. In planting tradition, the ascending Moon is the time of rising sap—a time for grafting and for harvesting fruit meant to stay fresh.
Element of the day
- Element
- Water
- Day character
- Wet
A wet water day in Pisces is gentle and slow, suited to reflection and unhurried work.
Lunar day 5
The fifth lunar day favors food and the body; eat well, since the body is said to make good use of what it gets today.
Lunar days are counted from the new moon: day 1 begins at the new moon, and a cycle has 29 or 30 of them. Tradition gives each day its own character.
Health by lunar tradition
In lunar tradition, extra care goes to the feet, soles, and toes.
Under a waxing Moon, care for the feet counts for more, starting with a rich cream for the heels.
Pisces days belong to the feet. A foot massage or acupressure on the soles is the day’s classic practice, tradition says.
A foot bath with sea salt is a small luxury that suits the day.
January is short on daylight: step outside at midday for at least a quarter of an hour, since even a gray sky is far brighter than indoor light. Keep a regular sleep schedule, and look to food for vitamin D; the winter sun is too low to make much of it.
Food by lunar tradition
- Favored today
- Carbohydrates and starches
Pisces days are starch days. Potatoes, rice, grains, and bread are said to nourish well today, and lettuce is said to be at its juiciest and tastiest. Keep portions modest if bloating is a familiar guest.
With the Moon waxing, a bowl of rice or potatoes satisfies, tradition says.
As the Moon begins to wax, lunar lore says the body switches to storing, so what you eat matters more.
January cooking rests on the stored harvest: cabbage and sauerkraut, root vegetables, winter squash, apples, and nuts. Citrus is at its best now, and fermented vegetables add vitamin C of their own.
Reach for seasonal foods that suit the day: potatoes, barley, and oatmeal.
Tip of the day: baked potatoes in their skins make a full meal today; a yogurt dip and vegetables are enough.
Garden by the moon
- Plant part
- Leaf
January in the garden belongs to planning: draw up the planting plan, order seeds, and check stored produce, discarding anything that has started to rot. Keep the bird feeders full. Prune apple and pear trees only on frost-free days; cuts heal poorly in a hard freeze.
Pisces days are leaf days: tradition favors sowing and planting everything grown for its leaves, and generous watering. Herbalists gather leaves on Pisces days too, though tradition rates Cancer and Scorpio days higher.
In winter, move lunar gardening indoors: under a waxing Moon, windowsill sowings are said to do well, and cress, sprouts, and potted herbs to grow faster.
A leaf day supports leafy vegetables and herbs, right now especially kale, cress, and Brussels sprouts.
The harvest is coming in: kale and Brussels sprouts.
Seasonal advice is for the Northern Hemisphere’s temperate zone; south of the equator, swap the seasons. For the best days of the month, see planting by the moon and the lunar hair calendar.
Frequently asked questions
What moon is January 23rd?
On January 23, 2026, the Moon was a waxing crescent, 22% lit, in the sign of Pisces. It was day 5 of the lunar cycle.
Is January 23, 2026 a full moon?
No. On January 23, 2026, the Moon was a waxing crescent. The nearest full moon after that date was February 1, 2026.
What day is the full moon in January 2026?
The full moon in January 2026 was the Wolf Moon on January 3, 2026, at 10:03 AM UTC.
The whole month day by day: lunar calendar January 2026; the whole year at a glance: lunar calendar 2026. Full moon in January 2026 · New moon in January 2026