Who are the people you call friends or count on? Today’s Aquarius new moon turns your attention to the people who surround you. (It’s also the Chinese New Year — Happy Rabbit-ing!) These are the folks who influence almost everything about you, from the topics you discuss to the way you dress to the risks you’re inspired to take. We’ve even heard that if you want to know your earning potential, you should average the salaries of your five closest friends. (So THAT’S how those Beverly Hills Housewives stay so rich. Oh, Camiiiiille ...)

New moons bring fresh starts. Where could your inner circle use a reboot? Are there some Debbie Downers in the lot who could be replaced by fascinating, out-of-the-box thinkers? Perhaps you need to take more leadership in your posse if talk has devolved to gossip, complaining or the same old boring topics. Organize your friends for weekly potlucks, karaoke, indoor volleyball ... something active or positive that shifts the stale dynamics.

Aquarius also rules technology and humanitarian acts. Get involved in a social cause that betters the planet. Make an online donation to a microfinance site like Kiva.org, or browse for a new favorite charity on JustGive.org. If your bestie lives too many zip codes away, firmly schedule a weekly Skype or ooVoo call and stick to it. Or, if you have an iPhone 4 or a 4G Android, load them with free video-chat apps like Tango. (We use Tango to keep in touch when Tali is in Seattle and Ophi is in New York — and it works amazingly well!)

Today’s new moon also forms an auspicious “trine” angle to structured Saturn in Libra. Is it time to take on a leadership position or a more mature role in a group? Speak up thoughtfully in a meeting and watch yourself get pegged as a rising star in the company. Stand up for your beliefs instead of caving in to peer pressure or following the herd. Respect will come your way. You have the power to influence the people around you — let the Aquarius new moon remind you of that!