A series of posts with an overview of 2023:
BIG PICTURE 2023 - 2026 | ALL THE OUTER PLANETS CHANGE SIGNS WITHIN 3 YEARS, NOT SEEN SINCE THE 1530'S, EVOLVE OR DIE
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 1, 2023
Before we talk about the Virgo Full Moon, let's step back and look at the BIG PICTURE.
When Saturn met Pluto in Capricorn in January 2020 (along with the Sun and Ceres and Mercury) - time ran out. If life were a video game, we moved to another level and all the preceding levels were, in a way that is both real and unreal - GONE. I don't mean this in any kind of 'great reset' kind of way, but in a sense there was/is, yes, a great reset.
Yes, those words make me nervous, too.
Then, at the end of 2020, at the winter solstice - Saturn met Jupiter at 0 Aquarius - their first meeting in an air sign in 200 years, and 'the new world started up again'. Now they will be meeting in air signs for the next 200 years. For the last two hundred years they had met in earth signs - think about solid things like the industrial revolution and capitalism and physical structures. Things you can see, hold in your hand, take to the bank - real things. Air signs are not earth signs/not real things - this is language, ideas, science, theory. These two middle planets, Jupiter and Saturn, are the planets that connect the outer and inner planets. Hold the universe together in a way. They represent the polarity of expansion and contraction and meet every couple decades. So, at the end of 2020, the world starts up again, in the most perfectly imperfect way the universal energies and ''free will' can conspire to produce through these two energies. A more Aquarius world with all the good and bad that comes with that - more logical, science-focused, techy, detached, individualistic, hive-minded. Now we have to play the game at this new level/this new world.
A level where none of us have ever played the game before.
I have said all this before, and, this is just one person's way of looking at it. But, I feel the need to kind of back up and say it again, so here it is :)
Then in 2021 - 2022 we have a series of Saturn/Uranus squares - battle between the ancient ruler of Aquarius (Saturn) and the modern ruler (Uranus) for the future of the world. The old vs the new. This is a PROCESS. Something we are all working out, individually and collectively.
Then in 2022, Jupiter - the other half of the 'world starts up again' meets up with Neptune in Pisces. This is the ancient ruler of Pisces (Jupiter) meeting the modern ruler of Pisces (Neptune) and hadn't happened in Pisces since 1856. This is a one-time conjunction, that stays within orb for many weeks. This is a not the series of squares/battles like Uranus and Saturn - Jupiter and Neptune are not those kind of energies. They are transcendental/they meld together. They change Pisces and Pisces changes them. This is another part of the old world becoming the new world story.
Also in 2022, Venus met Mars at 0 degrees Aquarius, hitting the hot "world starts up again" degree. They won't meet again until February 2024 and that meeting will be in Aquarius, too! Our relationships set to become more independent, logical, detached, smart.
(In early 2023, another relationship dynamic, although NOT one of balance - married Gods Jupiter/Juno - met at 0 Aries. An Aries point/collective beginning and this degree is sextile 0 Aquarius and in the sign of independence, but also the sign of war. Collectively, we saw the U.S. (Jupiter, Sag rising U.S. natal chart) supplying tanks to Ukraine (Juno, exactly conjunct ascendant of Ukraine natal chart, in Cappy, so answering to their 1 degree Aquarius Saturn). Pictures of a train in Kansas carrying tanks were in the news the day before Biden announced the tank transfer. Juno conjunct Jupiter, Venus (Zelensky, Venus/Sun exact natal conjunction) conjunct Saturn (authority), transiting Mercury (news/deals) conjunct Ukraine's natal retrograde/12th house Uranus (a very old story being retold here of revolution and trauma/chaos), the Saturn/Venus conjunct Ukraine's natal Aqua Moon, their natal Saturn sandwiched between Pluto (death, evolution) and the Sun (what is visible). This war, part of this new level of the game. Then a week later more 'trains of death' as 15 trains of chemicals crash in Ohio. Another 'train of death' in Greece this morning. I might be connecting dots better left unconnected here, but maybe not. The Jupiter/Juno (U.S./Ukraine) at 0 Aries is definitely important though, because this is where Saturn will meet Neptune in 2026.)
So, we all start playing this NEW GAME.
There are new rules. New expectations. No one really knows what they are doing. Lots of old things feel very unsatisfying. Some people are feeling this more than other people, but most people are feeling unmoored, even anxious. At the same time we have things like ChatGPT and Dalle2 - both generative AI - doing hundreds of things, any one of which would be considered revolutionary just last year. The impact this is going to have on our jobs, education, lives - will be unprecedented. We have had a pandemic with divisive ramifications and still plenty of unknowns. We have a war in Ukraine destroying lives, complicating resource and immigration issues and recent news of both Germany and the U.S. supplying tanks to Ukraine and the possibility of China's increased support of Russia. And, with transiting Mercury on the U.S. natal Pluto (truth coming out) and transiting Pholus (small event with big consequences, genie out of the bottle energy) on the U.S. natal Eris (whistleblower), a Pulitzer prize winning journalist claims the U.S. Navy was behind the Nord Stream II Pipeline explosion and the U.S. Department of Energy report about the covid lab leak 'conspiracy' not being such a conspiracy after all. None of which is totally surprising, if true, but still, up is down and down is up.
We have adjustment anxiety on a collective level.
It's at this point in the game, where we are now, March 2023, when the game changes again.
Remember those - change is good - t-shirts we were all wearing in the early 2000's before we realized what change could actually look like/feel like :) And, hubs is telling me those t-shirts said 'life is good' not change is good, so actually I might be mucking this part up, but you get the idea. Adjustment anxiety doesn't mean change won't be good, but this is life - there will be good/great, there will be not-so-good, there will be some real $hit.
First, Saturn will change signs in early March. Saturn is not an outer planet, but since he has been strong in his home sign for the last five years, kind of holding everything together (and he was the only player in BOTH 'time runs out' and 'the world starts up again') - we will toss him in here. Once he gets into Pisces, this next stage of change kind of turns on.
Saturn/reality goes into Pisces/unreality. We talked about Saturn into Pisces HERE.
Then, Pluto will change signs in late March. This is a BIG deal, because he has been in Capricorn since 2008, moving into Capricorn just as the world economy tanked via the housing crisis.
We get a sneak-peek of Pluto's change of signs from late March until June of this year, but the real-deal stuff will probably happen at the end of the year or beginning of 2024 when his move becomes more sticky. Pluto is about death and transformation and the wheels of evolution that DO NOT STOP, but what Pluto could illustrate most simply here is the energy of Plutocracy - and I am going to way simplify everything in this particular post because we are going to deep-dive into Pluto in Aquarius in another post. Power. Merged resources. Merged money. Corporations. You get the idea. Of the three outer planets, Pluto changes signs first. Since 'time ran out' Pluto has been in Capricorn, the sign of all the corporate stuff he is very comfortable with and he has been answering to a strong Saturn in one of his home signs. We could see him as kind of 'powered up' as he moves into Aquarius, the sign of 'the people'. Pluto hasn't been in Aquarius since the Revolutionary War.
Aquarius is about social patterns and group goals. It is the space where the individual meets the group. We bring our individual/unique self to the group. It is also the space where the group tries to bring us into the group. So it is about BOTH our individualistic self-expression AND enforced conformity. We saw this with Saturn in Aquarius for the last couple years. Aquarius is ruled by Saturn, ancient ruler - the father/reality energy - and Uranus, modern ruler - the future/change/trauma energy. The Aqua story-line has alot to do with technology and with Pluto about to crash and burn his way through Aquarius over the next 20 years it is anyone's guess where all this could end up.
Right now, Pluto is at 29 degrees Capricorn (my south node) and will move back and forth from 29 degrees Capricorn - the end of the end of the old Saturnian world - and 0 Aquarius - the start of the new world - MULTIPLE TIMES. This isn't a one-and-done journey - THIS IS A PROCESS.
Then Neptune changes signs.
He moves from his home sign of Pisces into Aries in 2025. Neptune represents alot of things, but for our example - the same way we are using Saturn to represent reality and Pluto to represent something like Plutocracy - we will use Neptune to represent all the stuff we can't really touch - imagination, illusion, delusion, propaganda and viral diseases and things that spread like diseases, the virtual world, and, even, yes, spirituality/God. We can't narrow Neptune down to one word like Pluto, but you can get the idea. In the positive Neptune is VERY positive/raises the resonance. In the negative, which is always the positive taken too far - we get something like - lalaland/losing touch with reality. And, remember Neptune in Aries starts out his journey with a conjunction to Saturn (reality). Neptune hasn't been in Aries since the Civil War (sorry for all the U.S. references).
We can see this trajectory already playing out. We don't really need that crystal ball. Although I wouldn't mind one.
Then Uranus changes signs.
Uranus moves from Taurus into Gemini in 2025. For our example here, Uranus represents freedom and the people and CHANGE, yes, sometimes chaotic change, and even traumatic change, because he is disrupting things we depend on.
With Uranus in the mutable air of Gemini, changes will be fast and furious and furious and fast. The future will be barreling at us like a freight train. BUT and this is a BIG but, Uranus will LEAVE the fixed earth sign of Taurus where he has been thrashing about for years. Gemini is mutable air, where we are more comfortable with changes.
Uranus is also unpredictable, although not totally unpredictable, so, whatever direction things look like they are going, well, we will probably get some of that, but not all of that. There will be other stuff, too. It will not be possible to be totally prepared. We would screw this all up by being too prepared - imagine the quarterbacks at the Super Bowl knowing the outcome of the game before they played - they would surely muck it all up. We will see it in hindsight, but from our perch here in 2023 it isn't clearly see-able. Uranus hasn't been in Gemini since World War II.
Yes, there are war patterns. And, I won't skip the scary-a$$ possibilities, but there are other possibilities, too.
Nothing repeats in precisely the same way and remember there isn't a 'thing that is going to happen'. As an astrologer I don't believe we have as much free will as new age spirituality would have us believe ... but we absolutely/definitely/certainly have SOME.
This Uranian energy shift comes in at the end. This means something, too.
Changes everything?
Saves the day?
Utopia? Dystopia?
(keep in mind alot of our dystopian fears have been coming in with Saturn in Aquarius, because Saturn brings up our old fears and Aqua rules the future, and that transit is almost over)
This is Gemini, so both Utopia and Dystopia will be happening at the same time, depending on your way of looking at things. And this will likely have ALOT TO DO WITH TECH. At this point remember, Pluto will be in Aquarius and answering to Uranus.
By 2025, when we have two outer planets changing signs, we will have alot more information about what Pluto in Aquarius is going to look like and Saturn will be in Aries, the first sign - starting anew/fresh. His old man Cappy/Aquarius/Pisces (hierarchal, patriarchal) storylines BEHIND HIM, AND US.
There is a reason Saturn is going to meet Neptune in Aries (the first sign) and not Pisces (the last sign).
When Saturn meets Neptune in Aries, 2/26/26, this is more 'time runs out/the world starts up again'. Reality dissolves/unreality becomes real. Uranus will be on Algol, considered the most malevolent fixed star in the galaxy/eye of Medusa - this is where Uranus was when Pearl Harbor was bombed pulling the United States into World War II (and its date with its destiny as a world leader). But Algol, is also the name of the first algorithm based computer program from the 60's, so this energy has many outlets. Saturn/Neptune will be on the IC/root of the U.S. chart, Mars will be on the U.S. Moon - the people - Jupiter will be conjunct the U.S. Sun. The transiting Sun will be conjunct the North Node in Pisces (a light on the future/path forward).
In the positive Saturn/Neptune is the ultimate - 'making the dream real' energy. In the negative - reality dissolving. I am pretty sure both will be happening at once. Will the veil drop and we get to see what is really happening behind the curtain? Will Saturn bind us to Neptune's un-reality?
By 2026-2027, the outer planets will be settled into their new positions. Saturn's journey through Pisces will be over. The world will look very different than it does right now. All our personal lives will, too. In ways we can't even imagine right now.
Between now and then we want to take care of ourselves/stay connected to our physical bodies. We want to have a strong intention to be here. We will have to know when to stay on our "witness perch" and turn away from collective harshness and when our non-participation might bring the very things we are trying to avoid right to our front door.
Our attention/intentions will REALLY MATTER.
THE ASTROLOGY OF 2023 | PART I - THE INNER PLANETS - MERCURY IN 2023, REVIEWING, REVISING AND REMAKING THE PHYSICAL STRUCTURES OF OUR LIVES, BECOMING MORE USEFUL, GROUNDED AND STABLE
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2023
OK, we are moving ahead now. Time to unpack the astrology of 2023!
Let's begin with a look at the inner/personal planets - Mercury, Mars and Venus. We will start with Mercury and maybe the most important part of his annual journey known as the dreaded 'Mercury retrograde'.
There is alot of non-sense out there about Mercury Retrogrades, and, of course, some people who would just disregard them entirely. I remember when most people had never heard of a Mercury Retrograde and now it seems like poor Mercury (planet of communication and MAGIC) is being shamed/blamed for everything that goes wrong.
This is probably because - 1. the internet has exposed many more people to astrological teachings 2. most people are moving so fast now that any sort of slowdown feels like a problem 3. it's a convenient excuse when stuff falls to sh*t, especially stuff that would normally be considered our fault. The truth is the things that breakdown/fall apart/reverse course during a Mercury retrograde are always symbolic of 'what's not working' or what is 'backward' in our thinking/behavior, etc. Yes, even that broken washing machine during the last Mercury retrograde cycle - what else needs to be brought up to date or better maintained?
The truth is, although we don't want to spend too much time looking backward, we can't full steam ahead through life either, so Mercury goes retrograde, as viewed from our position here on Earth, three times a year (sometimes four). Mercury, think Hermes here, is "the Messenger", the "Trickster", the "Cosmic Magician". He/she rules the signs of Gemini and Virgo. Collectively this is our - words, communication, siblings, early childhood education, our local community, commerce, tech devices, transportation, our daily life, our service, our health, our work - our collective 3rd and 6th houses and our personal, natal Virgo and Gemini houses and their themes.
We are going to focus here on Mercury's retrogrades in 2023.
Mercury retrograde periods are times to slow down/to look within. Anything started with "re" becomes the most effective use of our time. Re-thinking, re-evaluating, re-flecting, re-peating, re-unions, re-novations, etc. Mercury retrogrades are re-curring opportunities to shift out of old mental patterns. We are often asked to pull back from the world and face our shadow self in some way. When we’ve exhausted the possibilities for what we can gain by projecting our shadow self onto the external events and people in our lives, we are ready to face them within our own mind (and heart).
On a practical level we see things that were concealed when Mercury was in direct motion. Maybe because we were going too fast to notice them or maybe we took a wrong turn two miles back and need to change direction. Maybe there is a road out up ahead that we don't know about yet. These retrograde periods are always useful/always needed even when they are a major pain in the ass and we appear to incur delays, re-dos, reversals and roadblocks.
Imagine you are walking somewhere and you stop walking. You turn around and begin walking back the way you came. Then after a time you stop again and turn back around and walk forward again - back the way you were going in the first place. You can visualize how you are walking the same ground three times and that you will be covering ground you walked before for awhile until you get back to where you turned around in the first place. We think of Mercury retrograde as the time he is backtracking and things get wonky, but the story is LARGER than that - his journey (inside us) actually takes us over situations and issues three times - we go forward, we go backward (doing the "re's") and then forward for one final time after we've had time to re-do, re-examine (whatever the situation calls for) whatever is happening.
For people, with planets and points within the degrees Mercury travels during these retrograde, there will be a bigger situation seeking to resolve itself in some way. For other people, retrograde events will be more minor, but the retrograde has still worked its frustrating kind of magic, just in smaller ways (not every retrograde is uber-important for every person).
Mercury has three retrograde periods in 2023 - all in Earth signs. These will be times of practical re-visions. We are becoming more useful, helpful, grounded, stable.
We are going to spend a GREAT deal of 2023 with fast-moving Mercury in slow-moving Earth.
This tells us a few things - we will spend about a third of the year going back over PRACTICAL CONCERNS. This will be about real things we can hold in our hands/take to the bank, etc, and we will want to take advantage of this - and, two - when Mercury is in the faster moving air and fire signs, things will greatly speed up (and we won't have alot of this energy this year), so we will want to take advantage of this, too. Mercury retrograding throughout 2023 in Earth signs speaks of a collective need to "re" - re-think, re-vise, re-novate, re-do, etc - the practical STRUCTURES OF OUR LIFE.
Collectively, the first retro will be about our careers, goals, reputations, authority. The second retro will be about our values, money, resources and self-esteem. And the final retro will be about our day-to-day life and habits, our work and our health.
FIRST MERCURY RETROGRADE
December 8, 2022 (Mercury shadow starts - 8 degrees Capricorn), Mercury retrograde : December 28, 2022 - January 18, 2023 (24-8 degrees Capricorn), February 7, 2023 (Mercury shadow ends - 24 degrees Capricorn)
As I write this in late January, we are in the shadow period FOLLOWING this year's first Mercury retrograde, so Mercury (as us) is walking degrees of Capricorn we have already walked twice before. We have had the chance to - via circumstances/situations - re-view, re-do, re-think, etc our Cappy ambitions, goals, career, our public reputation, our personal Capricorn house theme, the structure of our lives and now the delays/revisions are behind us. It will be easier to make decision/plans/chart our course. During the first few months of 2023, the North Node is still in Taurus and the South Node in Scorpio, so finding ways to move from something that is complicated/depleting to something more simple/abundant, will be beneficial. Mercury in Capricorn is about serious/sober language and thinking. When we take our words and ideas seriously other people will, too, and then, as we step into our responsibilities/authority, we will have to walk our talk. Hopefully we have spent the Mercury retrograde getting some ducks in a row and now - through at least April 7th, we are making decisions/plans and moving forward. Note - Mercury will begin walking new degrees on February 7th, so that is when this whole Capricorn renovation process is officially OVER. Note also - this has been an important retrograde since Mars in Gemini (also retrograde for part of this process) is answering to Mercury during this entire cycle. We will talk about this more in the Mars 2023 post. People with planets/points in the cardinal signs will feel this retrograde strongest.
SECOND MERCURY RETROGRADE
April 7, 2023 (Mercury shadow starts - 5 degrees Taurus) Mercury retrograde : April 21, 2023 - May 14, 2023 (15-5 degrees Taurus), May 31, 2023 (Mercury shadow ends - 15 degrees Taurus)
So, the second retrograde of 2023 will unofficially begin on April 7th, when Mercury reaches 5 degrees Taurus and starts walking degrees he/she (as us) will walk two more times. So, events/situations/news/conversations from April 7 - 21, will be some of the things we are re-vising, re-viewing during the retrograde period. Once Mercury stations retrograde there will be delays/changes of direction. During Mercury's retrograde in Taurus, we have the chance (and circumstances can conspire to force our hand with some of this) - to re-view, re-do, re-vise, etc, our resources, money, values, self-esteem, our connection to the planet, our Taurus house theme. Taurus is fixed Earth. This is not a fun place for Mercury, although he CAN be effective here. The pace slows, the plot thickens. Mercury in Taurus gets results through self-sufficiency, by bringing ideas and concepts 'down to Earth' - by being sensible. The downside to Mercury in fixed Earth Taurus is we can get stuck, so his retrograde is likely designed to un-stick us (or to entrench our thinking/firm our resolve with situations where we have been waffling). By the end of this Mercury retrograde cycle on May 31st, we will know where we stand having figured out just what we must have - what is ESSENTIAL. Note - this Mercury retrograde is also an uber important retrograde because, among other things, it will start, on April 21st, with Mercury conjunct chaotic change-enabler Uranus and within hours of our first Solar Eclipse in Aries and the Sun, at 0 Taurus, making an intense square to Pluto at 0 Aquarius (yes, 0 Aquarius!). People with planets/points in the fixed signs will feel this retrograde strongest.
THIRD/FINAL MERCURY RETROGRADE
August 3, 2023 (Mercury shadow starts - 8 degrees Virgo), Mercury retrograde : August 23, 2023 - September 14, 2023 (21-8 degrees Virgo), September 15, 2023 (Mercury shadow ends - 21 degrees Virgo)
The final Mercury retrograde of 2023 will unofficially begin on August 3rd when Mercury reaches 8 degrees Virgo and she/he (as us) starts walking degrees we will walk three times. Events, situations, news, conversations form August 3 - 23 will be some of the things we are re-vising re-viewing, re-doing during the actual retrograde. Once Mercury stations retrograde there will be delays/changes of direction. During Mercury's retrograde in Virgo, we have the chance (and circumstances can conspire to force our hand with some of this) to re-view, re-do, re-vise, etc - the day-to-day structure of our lives/our habits, our work, health, pets, paperwork, what needs to be corrected/fixed/cleaned up, our natal Virgo house theme. Mercury rules Virgo/is strong here, so this MAY be the easiest of the retrogrades. Although with Virgo ruling traditionally Mercurian things, the things that go wonky/get delayed, etc, might be more noticeable. With Mercury in Virgo, our thinking, writing and communication will be more practical and commonsense. We will be all about the details. Nothing gets by Mercury in Virgo, but lots of things get dismissed (or over-analyzed!). If it's not real, if it doesn't work - it's gone. People with planets/points in the mutable signs will feel this retrograde strongest.
With Mercury spending so much of 2023 in Earth signs, it is uber important to pay attention to our language - we will want to be precise. We want to honor Mercury. Think about what you are thinking about. Watch what you are watching. What you are reading, talking about, hearing - will matter now. Notice how you verbally get in your own way - use unnecessary negative words (like saying something "isn't bad" when you mean it is good) - double speak, babble, gas-lighting, lies. Avoid that "sorry" thing some people say moving through life. We aren't really sorry anyway right - so why are we saying it. Words are powerful. They are one of the most powerful tools we have to move through life on planet Earth - let's not hold ourselves back by tossing around stuff we don't mean/don't want to have/be.
OK, next post we will look at Mars in 2023, once again spending over four months of the year in Gemini! - then Venus - who will retrograde in 2023, spending her 40 days and 40 nights in Leo, so her story (within us) is a bit more complicated. Mars and Venus will also switch positions in 2023, with Venus going from ruling the North Node (Taurus) to the South Node (Libra) and Mars moving from ruling the South Node (Scorpio, ancient ruler) to the North Node (Aries). The Nodes will change signs in July.
After the Mars and Venus post we will look at the middle planets - Saturn and Jupiter. Saturn moves into Pisces in early March and this will be one of the biggest changes in 2023, since Saturn has been in signs he ruled for the last five years and now he will be in much more uncomfortable territory - this will have it positives and its challenges for us. Then we will look at the nodal change from Taurus/Scorpio to Aries/Libra, the dwarf planets/asteroids (particularly Sedna into Gemini and BML in Leo) and finally the outer planets in 2023 with an emphasis on Pluto since he changes signs temporarily in March, testing the fixed air of Aquarius, activating the "world starts up again degree" from December 2021 and giving us a preview of the next 20 years!
Back with the Mars/Venus post. I am going to put these 2023 posts in a link at the bottom of the blog, so we can find them again and we'll do a big wrap-up at the end.
xo all
THE ASTROLOGY OF 2023 | PART II - MARS - FINALLY LEAVES GEMINI IN MARCH, IS IN THE THICK OF THINGS THIS SPRING AND FALL, TRIES TO CLEAN UP THE MESS THIS SUMMER, OUR WOUNDED MASCULINE HIGHLY VISIBLE IN 2023
MONDAY, JANUARY 30, 2023
Let's continue our look ahead at 2023 through the lens of Mars.
Mars has been in Gemini since August 2022. Usually spending about 8 weeks in a sign, due to his retrograde in 2022, he ends up spending 8 months here.
Finally on March 25, 2023, Mars leaves Gemini for Cancer.
This will be a tricky time, because we will have alot going on!
Not only is Mars changing signs in March after 8 months, we also have Saturn, after 2.5 years, leaving Aquarius for Pisces AND Pluto, after about 15 years, leaving Capricorn for Aquarius. Saturn's change will have a big impact becase he has been strong in Capricorn and Aquarius for the last 5 years and this substantially changes when he swims into watery/boundary-less Pisces. Worst bet with this - dad's asleep, passed out drunk on the dining room table, paranoid, lost in lalaland. Saturn is considered an old malefic and any weakness can be dangerous. So, yes, there's that. Best best with this - spiritual warrior, dad becomes more compassionate, connecting, forgiving, rules/limits loosen up. And the reverse of this as Saturn impacts Pisces, rules/limits/seriousness applied to escapist things like drugs, fantasy, etc, as well as Piscean things like pharmaceuticals and the companies that make them, spirituality, new-age-group-think, art, music. Likely we will see all sides of Saturn in Pisces over the next couple years. The good news for now with Saturn in Pisces, is, he is answering to a strong Neptune in Pisces.
Note - Saturn and Neptune won't actually meet until 2026 when they are both in Aries ... if we think Mars is important this year, wait until 2026!! Please let's heal the wounded masculine in all of us!!
Also Saturn's ongoing square to Uranus - the old vs new/battle for the Age of Aquarius - ends when Saturn gets into Pisces. Pluto, will only dip his toe into Aquarius until June, then moves back into Capricorn, only to return to Aquarius in December 2023 for a 20 year stay. This "dip of his toe" thing from March-June is not to be taken likely, is going to have major ramifications, because, well .. this is Pluto.
But, we are still talking about Mars ....
Before Mars gets into Cancer, he is going to square Neptune in Pisces - this will be in THE MIDDLE OF MARCH when the Sun and Mercury are BOTH making an exact conjunction to Neptune, so Mercury and the Sun will be squaring Mars AND at the same time, Venus, in Aries (so answering to Mars) will exactly square Pluto. Something VERY important will be going on collectively. This is happening with Pluto at 29 degrees Cappy where he hasn't been since the days of the Revolutionary War and he is going to pass over this degree two more times before the end of the year. Pluto really doesn't want to leave Capricorn! That Venus/Pluto square is their last square with Venus ruling the North Node and Pluto the South - something could be happening that is scaring the hell out of us in order for the Capricorn-y power structures to maintain control, which sounds like a mad-hatter 'conspiracy theory', but is probably part of the revolutionary process it would be hard to skip (it's what we do with these feelings that matter and we'll talk about this in the Pluto 2023 post). Much will be coming to light, but it will be hard to know what is REAL. Jupiter will be conjunct Chiron (both answering to Mars!) - BIG pain/vulnerability, also big opportunities for healing masculine wounds which will be hard to miss. And Saturn, will be in Pisces by now, so answering to Neptune. We will talk about that next week in the Saturn 2023 post.
Personally, those with planets/points in the later degrees of the water and cardinal signs will be most impacted. This is about a week before Mars finally leaves Gemini. We get this square to Neptune to dissolve the Gemini stuff that can't come with us into Cancer. Those decisions/choices we made that aren't working, etc.
This square is a repeating aspect.We had the first square - confusion, deflation, exhaustion, scattered focus - on October 12, 2022. This aspect repeated on November 19, 2023 with Mars retrograde, so that was when we needed to be re-fining, re-imagining, etc, whatever we had going on. Maybe we were looking at what wasn't working/didn't work the first time, so we could make another decision/choice. Now, on March 14, 2023 we get our third crack at this. This aspect could see us getting sick/tired/burned out, taking a break, spacing out, chasing ghosts. OR taking inspired action, having the courage to let go, giving up the ghost, pushing ourselves to create fits the bill, too. If you had something dissolving or exhausting or even were being extremely creative or spiritual back in the middle of October, you might see something similar going on here, but you are now older/wiser/third time lucky with the square this time.
Then Mars moves into Cancer toward the end of March. Mars (action, initiative, anger, passion) is not quite so comfortable in Lunar-ruled Cancer, answering to the moody/changeable Moon, where he is considered in his fall.
This is because Mars can't be all Martian - fired up and passionate and out in the world testing his courage, running onto the battlefield thinking only of himself and how good it will feel to swing that sword - when he has these pesky emotional Cancerian things to contend with. Things like feelings (it's harder to take the instinctive action he needs to take when he has to feel his way through what he is doing instead of just doing it). And home and family and security (harder to be putting himself first when he has a family depending on him and harder for the Mars warrior to fight most effectively when he needs to stay alive to come home at the end of the day). This stuff can make Mars like a pot of hot water ready to boil over at any minute. Like the too-young father who wants to be out bar-hopping with his buds - he is trapped.
Collectively we will be more security and safety conscious. Our actions are more likely to be based on our emotions. We could be more focused on home and family, real estate, a renovation project, a home or family business. We could be taking action to be more protective of whatever we have going on within these themes. Individually, our natal Cancer houses will experience more initiative, action, passion and anger. Where is Cancer in your natal chart? Wherever it is, Mars is not the usual way we deal with the things ruled by this house (unless of course, you have Mars there natally). Mars will be in Cancer until he enters Leo on May 20th.
Mars hasn't been in a fire sign for about a year, so mostly his move into fiery Leo in the third week of May will be good news for our energy levels/ability for us to take action, have courage, garner attention and appreciation.
The fly in the ointment here (and there is always a fly) Mars move into Leo puts him right in an exact opposition with Pluto at 0 degrees Aquarius. Mars in Leo has not opposed Pluto in Aquarius since the late 1700's, so this is brand new territory! Adding to the story, Jupiter will be at 0 degrees Taurus making this a fixed T-Square! We've already said March is gnarly INTERESTING, have I said May is gnarly INTERESTING, too? We'll just say spring is INTERESTING. Mars opposed Pluto speaks of power struggles and powerful culminations. This is Leo/Aquarius, so the king vs the people. Our space on the center stage/head of the table vs our seat in the audience/need to cede the stage to other people. Jupiter, in Taurus here, will be squaring the whole thing pulling in whatever is happening with our resources, money, values. People with planets/points nearest to 0 degrees of the fixed signs will be feeling this mash up the strongest. A few days later (May 26th), Mars will be squaring the Nodes of Fate - we are facing a 'skipped step'/facing a fork in the road. This will be with our back against the wall. The North Node is still in Taurus here, so we are back to - what is the most simple, stable, nourishing path forward? What supports our values? What makes the most sense/cents?
By the third week of June, Mars at 19 degrees Leo now, will trine (brakes off) Chiron. Mercury will be sextiling Mars and Chiron, so we have a real opportunity for words/actions to be HEALING here. A few days later Mars squares Uranus - can you believe Uranus has made it to 21 degrees Taurus by the end of June?! since he has been sitting near the middle of the fixed signs for what seems like forever - this is a SUDDEN BREAK, BREAK-UP, BREAKDOWN, BREAKTHROUGH, BREAK FOR FREEDOM, sudden change/disruption brought on by a need for attention/need for appreciation/need to be loved. Mercury is squaring Neptune and inconjunct Pluto here, so words will MATTER. We don't want to be careless with our language/too impulsive with our actions now if we don't want to blow something up. Care should be taken to avoid accidents - these are the days near June 25th.
By July 10th, Mars has caught up with sister Pallas and they enter 'let's clean up this mess' Virgo together. They move right into a smooth trine with the North Node at the very end of Taurus (the nodes are always retrograde, so the beginning is the end). Something is falling into place, moving us forward, leaning us into a more stable/simple future. Take practical, organized, helpful action. By July 20th, Mars is opposing Saturn in Pisces. Reality checks. So, for the first three weeks of July, we are building toward this opposition with Saturn/authority/limits. We will cover this in the Saturn post - then the final post will pull everything together/make it easier to refer back. By August 1st, Mars is in a smooth trine to Jupiter in Taurus. Something new is GROWING, this is also the day Mercury faces her/his own opposition to Saturn. So this growth is likely to come through news/information/conversations that GROW US UP. By the middle of August, Mars is trining Uranus - our practical, organized, humble, useful actions are lining us up with change/the future. The next week, so now we are approaching the end of August, Mars in Virgo will be opposing Neptune and trining Pluto (who is back in Capricorn by now), so our empowerment comes through truth/responsibility and Neptune - in the best case scenario here - dissolves the stick from Mars in Virgo's you-know-where and our POSSIBILITIES EXPAND. Worst case, Neptune tricks Mars into some scheme/delusion/self-sabotage.
On August 27th, Mars moves into Libra - this is a few hours before Uranus stations retrograde. So, as Mars enters Libra, starts answering to Venus, some CHANGE IS POSTPONED. Mars will be making some adjustments while in Libra, but his major aspects will be an opposition to Chiron, during the third week of the month and a big square to Pluto on October 8th. This will start building at the beginning of October and will be something like a surge of ambition/power that pushes us to do something or maybe the more negative angle of this would be something like we are manipulating a relationship or being manipulated. Either way there are power struggles in the beginning of October and we will want to keep things above board.
By the middle of October, Mars will enter Scorpio trining Saturn, his ancient rulership, so he is strong here, this is just a day after Pluto (Scorpio's modern ruler) stations direct. This is also just a couple days before our first Eclipse in Libra, so this will be another important time of the year. October is going to be important - alot will be going on. Venus, ruler of the Eclipse, will be opposing Saturn, alot going on. By the end of October, Mercury will meet up with Mars in Scorpio and they will both oppose Jupiter in Taurus. At the same time Venus will be trining Uranus and we will be having a Full Moon Lunar Eclipse in Taurus. The end of October is BIG. By the middle of November Mars will be opposing Uranus for some more fireworks, breakthroughs, break-downs, break-ups. Financial shake-ups. Then Mars will trine Neptune - something falls into place and meets the Sun starting a new Mars/Sun storyline - a light on our actions, the truth, what has been buried.
On November 24th, Mars will enter Sagittarius. Our actions are more optimistic, expansive, BIGGER. he will make a healing trine to Chiron mid-month, inconjunct Uranus at the Winter Solstice - a rock and a hard place between this optimism/bigger-is-better and our finances, resources, change. Finally on Christmas day, Mars will trine the North Node in Aries - our best, most active, new, self-affirming way forward, Venus will trine Neptune (is there a more beautiful aspect for Christmas - I don't think so!), the Sun will be in a opportunistic sextile with Saturn. Between Christmas and New Year, Mercury will meet up with Mars and compare notes. Mars finally aspect in 2023, on December 28th, will be that exhausting (maybe pushed to take inspired action) square to Neptune - the three-peating aspect we started 2023 with. This time conjunct the Galactic Center.
In fact, Mars in Sag at the end of December will be nearly opposite where we was when we started the year. I would expect many of us will be doing things very differently or doing very different things at the end of 2023 when compared to the beginning!
So, we close out part II having learned in part I that Mercury will be retrograde in Earth signs exclusively this year, so we know this is a year for practical revisions, fixing what's broken, being more useful and helpful. And we know from part II, Mars (as us) will be re-doing Gemini until spring, then involved in March's BIG changes - this means the collective changes (Saturn into Pisces, Pluto into Aquarius) are brought into our personal lives and LIVING ROOMS.
Something to keep in mind here is Mars journey isn't just about Mars now.
We have Chiron in Aries answering to Mars. We have Jupiter in Aries - until May 16th - answering to Mars. We have the South Node - until July 17th - and then the North Node, after that date, because the North Node will move into Aries - all answering to Mars. Not to mention planets in Aries in the spring and Scorpio in the fall. Mars always matters, but in 2023 Mars (and this includes Mars-y things like young men, action, war, passion, initiative) is REALLY GOING TO MATTER.
Heads up Aries and Scorpios!
Back with Venus, where to save time so we can get to what is happening with Saturn and Pluto (as us) in March, before we actually get to March - we will focus on her retrograde in Leo.
xo all
THE ASTROLOGY OF 2023 | PART III - VENUS RETRO IN LEO THIS SUMMER - RETHINKING WHAT OUR HEART WANTS, HOW WE SHOW-UP AND SHINE, THE THINGS WE DO FOR LOVE, OLD LOVES AND PASSIONS CAN BE REVIVED, BREAKUPS AND BREAKTHROUGHS, THE SUMMER OF LOVE
TUESDAY, JANUARY 31, 2023
Venus is the invisible force of attraction.
She rules beauty, love, women, our values, our resources, our money, our self-esteem. She rules the signs of Libra and Taurus, our second house of values (everything money can buy and everything money can't) and our seventh house of marriage and partnership.
We aren't going to look at all the transits of Venus in 2023. We are going to zero in on the summer of 2023 and Venus's retrograde through 12-28 degrees Leo. This is going to be about getting us past blockages to love and money and creativity! This is more Age of Aquarius 'prep-work' because Leo opposes Aquarius and we don't want to lose our heart/spirit of fun and joy as we move into what certainly looks to be a more logical/detached and science-focused future.
People with planets/points in Leo within these degrees will get multiple CONJUNCTIONS as Venus meets your natal placements. There is definitely the opportunity to get what you want here, but the retrograde will force delays/patience while certain things are re-worked or we get what we want and then have second thoughts/need to adjust. People with planets/points between 12-28 degrees of Taurus and Scorpio will get multiple frustrating squares that will create the need/push to TAKE ACTION (action that can't be avoided). People with planets/points between 12-28 degrees of Aquarius will get the opposition. This can bring a culmination/ending - or someone/something requiring us to MAKE A DECISION (it might look like someone else's decision is forced on us). Remember this is all designed to BENEFIT us - this is benevolent Venus - to get us past our blockages to love and money and creativity, to our ability to shine/to do our SUN!
If we are lucky enough to have planets/points in our natal chart (or progressed) at 12-28 degrees Aries or Sagittarius, we will get the smooth trine - SOMETHING IS FALLING INTO PLACE. The retrograde delays and re-workings will work in our favor. Good for love, money, attracting what we want.
Venus transits emphasize our connection to what we are in relationship with. We fall in love. We fall out of love. We make money. We spend money. We question our worth as well as the value of the things, people and places we spend our energy and resources on. And she makes us aware of those resources. Venus transits show us what really matters to us. Not what we give lip service to, but what we actually value.
Venus is an inner planet and always connected (within 48 degrees) to our Sun (ego). She can drag us into vanity and self-possession turning love into manipulation and have us collecting chalk marks on our bed posts or swipes on our phone past the ordinary when we think only the very best will do (note this isn't about 'settling'), if we carry her into dysfunction. In her highest form though she balances out the masculine energy we carry - she literally soothes the savage breast. She brings us to peace.
Environmentalist John Seed, channeling his Venus, and working to save the rain forests, says, if he thought he were just one man, just one Seed (how wonderful his name is Seed, huh?), the vast needs and seeming hopelessness of his work would "feel overwhelming".
Instead he sees himself as "the part of the rain forest that has evolved into a man", (how much do you love that!)
He doesn't see himself as laboring alone even when he is laboring alone. He connects to the work that has sent him here (his Venus - the thing he loves). It's that connection that allows his work (and ours!) to attract what it needs for as long as it needs to exist.
We all carry the Venus archetype. The things we create do, too. I believe we are the emissaries of the work we put out into the world. Not the other way around. The work has sent us here. We are required to do something, for, and with, the stirrings of our heart.
We increase our ability to attract when we HONOR Venus.
We honor Venus when we do everything as beautifully as we can. When we move beauty from the periphery to the very center of whatever we are doing. The act of creation is a spiritual act that worships Venus. Our grandmothers instinctively knew this because this is how they spent their days - they made bread, they made sweaters, they made friends with their neighbors, they made a life with what they had.
We honor Venus when we are joyfully partnered with the things, people and places we love. Venus isn't the girl who settles. Venus is the space in our chart where settling will never work for us.
The house and sign she calls home in our natal chart is an indication of what we need and find attractive as well as clues to our own powers of attraction. For example Venus in Gemini needs a mental connection and variety while Venus in Cancer needs an emotional connection and commitment. These are non-negotiables. You get the idea.
Venus, ruler of our money and resources, in Leo, knows money flows where our passion does, too. What will we pay more for? What do we hang carefully on the padded hanger and what do we drop carelessly on the floor? And, I am not just talking clothes here! If our money is crumpled into balls in the bottom of our handbag, is it really something we value? If our partner is valuable to us, why don't we do the small things we are perfectly capable of doing and know will make them happy?
Sometimes a Venus transit wakes us up to what we value by bringing us close to losing it.
We honor Venus when we honor ourselves. We honor Venus with simple things like long baths we don't have time for and complicated things like accepting the image of ourselves as "artists". Everyone is an artist! We honor Venus with leisure time and yes, even what we might call "waste". Venus entices us to take another look at what we have blindly called "luxuries" and embrace them as necessities.
Venus starts 2023 as the ruler of the North Node. Our best path forward. On May 16th, Jupiter is going to enter Taurus and start answering to her. We already have Uranus in Taurus answering to her. This "answering to her" thing, means she has a say in what they are doing AND, so what she does - the aspects she makes, the signs she inhabits, the strengths and weaknesses of Venus in the signs, etc, impacts the planets who are disposited by her (answering to her).
On June 5th, Venus enters Leo.
She starts answering to Leo's ruler, the Sun, who is in Gemini at this point. While Venus is in Leo, it can pay for us to pay attention to what the Sun is doing.
Now, before she entered Leo, Venus (love, money, values) had been very comfy, although also somewhat restrained, in Cancer for the last few weeks. She prioritized security over all else and this kept her safe, but also a wee bit bored. Cancer rules the Moon and a Venus/Moon natal opposition is considered the Madonna/Whore complex in a man's chart - so maybe Venus has felt like she was living with her mother-in-law!
With her move into Leo she gets to spread her wings a little (maybe a lot, maybe a whole lot and we do, too!). She leaves her mother-in-law's safe little house with the shuttered windows, central air conditioning, and alarm system where her mother-in-law was paying the rent. What more could Venus want, Cancer asks as Venus heads for the door? "Quite a bit MORE", Venus answers. She moves into a noisy apartment on the other side of town with curtain-less windows, a fan that wakes the neighbors, a deadbolt that doesn't quite latch properly and the rent only gets paid if she pays it. Standing on her own two feet (and what lovely feet they are - this is Venus we are talking about!), Venus is more confident. She has to be to make it on her own (cue Mary Tyler Moore tossing that damn hat). So, what does this mean to us? First, our Leo house, hosting the lovely Venus, becomes more attractive. Leo Suns and rising signs are more naturally attractive (ie easy on the eye and able to attract). We attract what we want and need (Venus) through Leo - so by standing out, standing up, being passionate, taking the world by storm - you get the idea.
We could, of course, go overboard with all of this. Leo (ruled by the Sun) doesn't really like others blocking their light. Competition can get ugly. We could become downright diva-like. Being in love with being in love fits here, too. Wanting to be adored will make being ignored harder to handle.
Venus will get all the way to 28 degrees Leo, almost the very end of the sign, when she will stop, "hey, what did I miss?" and turn around.
This turnaround, the point where she stations retrograde, will be on July 22nd. She will reverse course, getting all the way back to 12 degrees Leo on September 3rd, when she will turn around again and start moving forward.
JUNE 5th - Venus enters Leo
JUNE 19th - Venus at 12 degrees Leo starts walking degrees she (as we) will walk two more times - notice what is happening in your life from now until she stations retrograde because you will be re-doing something here
JULY 22nd - Venus stations retrograde at 28 degrees Leo
SEPTEMBER 3rd - Venus stations direct at 12 degrees Leo
OCTOBER 7th - Venus crosses 28 degrees Leo, ending the entire retrograde story
When Venus moves into Leo on June 5th - she will oppose Pluto at 0 degrees Aquarius.
Remember in the last post we talked about Mars entering Leo and opposing Pluto on May 20th. So, we will have Mars opposing Pluto on May 20th, followed by Venus just a couple weeks later.
The Venus/Pluto is a powerful culmination, power struggle. What we want could have a 'life and death' intensity to it. We could be dealing, maybe intensely, with a Scorpian theme - death, sex, intimacy, reproduction, other people's money, inheritance, taxes, insurance, etc. What we want/what we love/what we are creating/how we shine is opposed. If we are acting like a child or acting like a king we could be humbled here. If this is about an important ending, our best bet would be to let go or end it ourselves. Secrets can come out. Obsessions. Compulsions. Pluto digs deep and shows us our deepest fears. Uranus is going to be exact with Mercury here, this is on June 5th, so disruptive/maybe chaotic UNEXPECTED NEWS is part of the story - likely regarding finances, resources, our Taurus house theme.
For both Mars, on May 20th and Venus, on June 5th, this is happening on the RED HOT degree of 0 Aquarius where Jupiter met Saturn on the Winter Solstice at the end of 2020 and 'started the world up again'. Think - cosmic reset. This retrograde is part of that.
On July 2nd, Venus squares Uranus - EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED. Uranus squares tend to bring breakdowns, breakthroughs and break-ups. This is the first of three, so part of a repeating process as we deal with this over the next few weeks.
On July 17th, the Nodes move from Scorpio/Taurus to Libra/Aries. Venus goes from ruling the North Node to ruling the South Node. We will explore this in a 2023 post within the next week or so.
Then Venus stations retrograde on July 22nd and the Sun enters Leo just a few minutes later. This is good news, since Leo is the Sun's sign, he is strong now and Venus is answering to him. We always want our planets strong! By now, the Nodes have changed signs and the day after Venus stations retrograde, Pluto (who is back in Capricorn here) will square the Nodes of Fate and Chiron will station retrograde. This third week of July time-frame is another pivotal period - Pluto square the nodes will show us important 'skipped steps' (particularly within our relationships) and crossroads.
During her retrograde Venus will make the following important aspects:
JULY 27th - retro Venus conjuncts Mercury (28 degrees) - this is conversations/news/information about whatever Venusian wants/needs we are re-viewing, re-thinking, re-doing. Someone from the past could return or something we 'used to love' be thought/talked about. We are re-thinking Leo themes, too - our creative projects, romance, children, our ego, recreation.
AUGUST 7th - retro Venus conjuncts Black Moon Lilith (23 degrees). This is a repeating aspect - their first meeting is June 28th. We are going to talk about Black Moon Lilith's transit of Leo in its own post, but, basically BML can bring up the ways we are UNCOMFORTABLE WHEN WE ARE TOO SHINY (she is the anti-Moon and always speaking of very old maternal wounds). The ways we are afraid to stand out in case we will be tossed from the garden again. The ways we have been shamed for wanting attention. For wanting LOVE. In Leo, she will be showing us the ways we play small to make other people more comfortable with us, deflect praise, have lost our ability to CREATE, have been shamed for our 'egos', for wanting to play when there was work to do. Black Moon Lilith is always about being shamed for needing things we were perfectly entitled to be needing. Her multiple conjunctions with benevolent Venus will be a time for dealing/healing with these wounds. How are these energies we created to keep us safe (carried from our mothers and their mothers) now standing in the way of our ability to love and be loved, to create and procreate, to attract abundance and stability? How do we need to choose ourselves (maybe over a 'king') within our Leo house theme? There are many ways this will play out and we will talk about it in the 'other planetary bodies in 2023' post. I might think Black Moon Lilith wouldn't have the punch she had last summer in Cancer (her being the anti-Moon), but since she is pulled into the powerful Venus 40 days and 40 night retrograde, it is obvious she is an important player this summer, too.
AUGUST 9th - retro Venus squares Uranus in Taurus (22 degrees). Breakdown, breakthrough, break-up. Relationship/financial tension. Expect the unexpected. We had this same aspect with Venus direct on JULY 2ND - when something likely hit us out of the blue - and we will have a third hit - third time three times lucky/three strikes we're out? on SEPTEMBER 29TH.
AUGUST 13th - retro Venus conjuncts the Sun (20 degrees). This is the Sun/Venus inferior conjunction. A new beginning in Venus's story with the Sun (what is visible) and the mid-point of her retrograde cycle. The Sun brings illumination/clarity - here is what we need to see about the situation. We now know what this retrograde cycle is about for us and what we need to do.
She stations direct a couple weeks later and then will finally start covering new ground in early October. She leaves Leo and enters Virgo (October 8th) just in time for Pluto to station direct, Mars to enter Scorpio and the autumn Eclipse season to begin. She will be direct, in Virgo, on October 14th, when we get the first Libra Solar Eclipse, which she rules. We will look at the 2023 Eclipses and Nodal shift in another post. I will put all the 2023 posts at the bottom of the blog's homepage, so we can refer to them easily. I will come back and add to these posts as we go along.
Again keep in mind Venus's retrograde is designed to BENEFIT us - this is benevolent Venus - to get us past our blockages to love and money and creativity, to our ability to shine/to do our SUN!
OK, the next post will be Saturn and Jupiter in 2023.
Then we will look at the outer planets including Pluto's 'toe-dipping' into Aquarius. Then the Nodes switch to Aries/Libra and the Eclipses. And finally the asteroids, etc - my favorites - probably with a focus on Sedna and Black Moon Lilith, but I haven't really looked at the others yet, so we will see what we see!
Let's close out Venus, for now. with a Venus ritual from the amazing "trickster" astrologer Caroline Casey (if you read the wonderful book Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert, you might remember she referenced Caroline when she talked about 'trickster' energy, but she called Caroline a 'radio personality' - maybe she didn't want to use the term 'astrologer' in her book - ack!):
- It’s best to perform this ritual on a Friday - which is Venus’ day. You’ll need a round piece of bread, a dinner roll will work. Make a hole in the bread and put a nickel or five pennies inside (the number five is sacred to Venus, Friday is 5th day of the week).
- On a small piece of paper, clearly state your desire. Fold this paper and put it into the bread, on top of your nickel. Then pour a little honey on top to sweeten the deal!
- Finally, place a small candle in the hole (bigger than a birthday candle, but smaller than a taper, Casey says yellow. I have used green).
- As the candle is burning, do something to honor Venus - take a bath, bake a cake and eat it, etc. Do something that makes you feel beautiful, prosperous and happy.
- When the candle is completely burned down, so that only the melted wax is on the bread, go to a stream or a river, but not salt water like the ocean. Toss this now ritually potent (and fully bio-degradable!) bread into the water, saying a prayer, poem, etc.
- Venus energy will respond to our desires. She might fulfill our dreams in amazing ways. Or she might play the trickster, revealing a blind spot that still stands in the way of us attracting what we need.
Note - rituals are powerful and effective and carry the energy of all the previous rituals prepared in the same way. If you decide to do this one - use care and respect.
xo all
THE ASTROLOGY OF 2023 | PART IV - SATURN INTO PISCES MARCH 2023 - FEBRUARY 2026, THROUGH THE SIGNS - SACRIFICE, SURRENDER, DISSOLVING BLOCKS, BARRIERS AND LIMITS, DREAMS BUSTED OR MADE REAL, GOING SANE OR TOTALLY LOSING IT
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2023
March is HUGE. Collectively, it is life-changing.
Saturn and Pluto's change of signs will be particularly POTENT.
Saturn makes the first move on March 7th.
Keep in mind, at that time, Pluto is in Capricorn and answering to him, so Saturn's change of signs is impacting Pluto, too. After five years running the world through Aquarius and Capricorn - both signs Saturn is very comfortable through rulership and ancient rulership - Saturn leaves the solid grounding of cardinal earth and fixed air and dives into the deep end of mutable water!
The most solid planet in the least solid sign! I would say it's sink or swim time, but this will be just as much, or more, about learning to FLOAT.
To kick this thing off properly, as the Universe is more often than not apt to do, March 7th is also the day of the Virgo Full Moon (with the Moon in Virgo/Sun in Pisces). Saturn is inconjunct Pluto at the Full Moon (EXACT by degree) and sextiling Juno. So power struggles, challenges with work/career, our goals and ambitions are pulled into the Saturn in Pisces chapter as well as opportunities to built stronger/more stable partnerships. And, of course, the power of that Virgo Full Moon gives everything an extra kick!
Saturn was last in Pisces 28 years ago. What was going on is your life in 1993-1996? My foundations were definitely dissolving. People born during that time are a group of souls with a special purpose and they are about to find out what that is.
Although we might find some connections with that time-frame, there are also some major differences. Back in May 1993 when Saturn first went into Pisces, Neptune (the modern ruler of Pisces) was in Capricorn which is Saturn's sign, so they were in mutual reception. And Neptune and Uranus were conjunct. This year, Neptune will be in his home sign of Pisces and he won't have Uranus to deal with. But, Saturn won't have the mutual reception thing going on to get him back to himself. Once Saturn gets into Pisces, he is on his own. And Pisces, home to Pisces modern ruler Neptune since 2012, is a very Piscean space. Like, it's as Pisces as it gets. And Saturn is on a path toward a meeting with Neptune, Pisces ruler, except they won't actually meet until they both get into Aries, answering to Mars, who will be in Aquarius by then! Mark the time around 2/26/26 on your calendar folks.
For now, two things happen when Saturn goes into Pisces. Pisces changes Saturn - think about a serious business person letting her hair down at a rock concert. And Pisces is changed by Saturn - think about that rock concert needing to do all the serious things that are needed to be done to have a solid/successful show. The guy can't just show up and sing anymore because there are rules and responsibilities and bills to be paid.
You know I love my word salads - dreams (Pisces) into reality (Saturn). Reality (Saturn) busting dreams (Pisces). Reality becomes more surreal. Illusion becomes more real. Taking responsibility for our mental health, ancestral inheritance, the ways we self-sacrifice/martyr/self-sabotage, our medications/meditations, our relationship with something greater than ourselves. Reality becomes more spiritual. Spirituality becomes more stable (we look for it to show results, for example, aren't satisfied with too much woo-woo). Authority/limits/rules weaken. Rules/limits/sobriety are more strongly applied to Piscean things. Music/art taken seriously/gets down to business. Business becomes more compassionate/connecting. Dad goes on vacation/starts drinking/escapes into video games. Drunk dad gets arrested/spends his vacation in prison/needs to hock his video games for bail money. You get the idea. I think. Pisces is hard to pin down and this could be, too. Saturn will try though.
If we have planets in Pisces - Saturn will meet up with them at some point over the next couple years. If that meeting is part of his retrograde, this might happen three times. Our planets in Pisces are used to kind of free wheeling it. Saturn comes in here to GROW THEM UP. Limits, reality checks, hard work. Karma. Sometimes endings.
If we have planets in Virgo - Saturn will oppose those planets (I am especially looking at you 60's born people with Uranus and Pluto conjunct in Virgo). Limits, reality checks, hard work. Keep this area of life HEALTHY. You will get to see how any over-attention to detail, going looking for problems, perfectionistic procrastination, Virgo nit-picking is wrecking your roll. Karmic chickens come home to roost. Necessary endings will happen. Priorities will likely change over this transit and rewards will come in as you focus away from what you can't control and focus in on WHAT IS WITHIN YOUR CONTROL.
If we have planets in Sagittarius or Gemini - Saturn will square those planets bringing tension/frustration/the need to CHANGE/MOVE. You will be pushed and motivated to make choices and face responsibilities.
If we have planets in Scorpio or Cancer - Saturn will make a smooth trine/brakes off. This is an almost effortless Saturn (there is probably no such thing as a totally effortless Saturn) - security, dependability, stability. You get SUPPORT. A life preserver is tossed from your Pisces house. Take it.
Let's run through the signs. This is geared to rising signs (sign on your first house cusp), but bringing your Sun to the first house cusp - making it your rising sign, can usually work, too - feel around, see what fits.
As always take what helps and leave the rest.
TAURUS (Aquarius 11th house) - Saturn coming home to your 11th house of friendships, groups and the internet says it is time to take this stuff seriously. Some friendships will end and others will become more committed. Your relationship to the "group" may require you to step into added responsibility and pressure. The good news for you dear Taurus is Saturn is 'exiting stage left' your 10th house of career so work pressures will start to ease up. Changes to your career are possible - if something ends now, it is meant to end - let it go. Rewards for your hard work at work/in public could come in now, too
GEMINI (10th house) - Saturn coming home to your 10th house of career/public image says it is time to take this stuff seriously. You will be required to step up to the plate, step into your responsibility, change what isn't working to see results - there will be rewards over the next two to three years for the hard work you put into this area of life. Any slacking off/shortcuts will come back to bite you in the ass. If you are dragging around a dead career Saturn will see to it that it gets a nice funeral. A brand new career or public life is possible. You might have to build it from the ground up.
CANCER (9th house) - Saturn coming home to your house of travel, higher education, foreign people/places, legal issues, publishing, weddings, the media says it is time to take this stuff seriously. Sober and dedicated efforts made in any of these directions will pay off over time. A half-assed attempt at anything here will land you on it. For your sake I hope it's bouncy. The best news for you may be that Saturn is 'exiting stage left' your 8th house of other people's resources/money, debts, loans, taxes, sex, intimacy, reproduction, so situations dealing with these issues will start to ease up and rewards will come in for your hard work over the last three years within these areas. Do I hear a collective Cancerian sigh of relief? YES!
LEO (8th house) - Saturn coming home to your 8th house of other people's resources, sex, death, intimacy, debts, taxes, loans, inheritance, spouse's income says it is time to take this stuff seriously. What is mine? What is theirs? What is ours? Over the next two and a half to three years these issues will become more clearly defined. I am not going to sugar-coat this, this is a tough transit. You have had Saturn in your relationship house for the last couple years, and that hasn't been a picnic either. Alot of what happens now will depend on what you worked through then. A relationship could end or maybe the intimacy just kind of fades to black for a bit. Now stuff has been known to "rise from the ashes" in the 8th house, but it is going to take work. And that is OK. The 8th house is your natural Pisces house - of things that are not so solid - so now you have solid Saturn to give you a wall to push against. The wall is your friend. You've got this thing Leo!
VIRGO (7th house) - Saturn coming home to your 7th house of partnerships says it is time to take this stuff seriously. Relationships started over the next couple years could bring you additional responsibilities. Business partnerships will require firm rules of duty and obligation and firm boundaries. Existing relationships will become more clearly defined as parties become more self-sufficient and self-governing. If you are relying on someone else for something you should be doing for yourself or carrying for yourself, that kind of dependency will end. Committed relationships could strengthen and casual relationships could commit. Anything less than that will fade to black. Saturn's 'exit stage left' from your 6th house of health and your day-to-day routine should lighten your load in these areas. Whew!
LIBRA (6th house) - Saturn coming home to your 6th house of health and your day-to-day routine says it is time to take this stuff seriously. What you eat, how you move your body, what you do everyday, any health issues will require your committed focus. This is an excellent transit (the next three years) to "get your act together". Tend to medical issues as they crop up. Take care of yourself. There could be changes in your daily routine due to increased responsibilities/work load. Saturn is 'exiting stage left' your 5th house of children, romance, creative projects - something here that has required your hard work has peaked/culminated.
SCORPIO (5th house) - Saturn coming home to your 5th house of children, creative projects, FUN and romance says it is time to take this stuff seriously. What does your heart want? Well, you are about to find out dear Scorpio. This stuff won't come easy - you are going to have to work for it and plan for it, but Saturn assures that much can be accomplished here if you step into your responsibility. Saturn is 'exiting stage left' your 4th house of home and family, so pressure here will start to ease up.
SAGITTARIUS (4th house) - Saturn coming home to your 4th house of home and family says it is time to take this stuff seriously. The cracks in your foundation will be mended over the next three years or the whole place will be torn down. Additional responsibilities within the home or for family members is likely. Home businesses will require additional time commitments and hard work to succeed. Family situations will worsen if neglected. If you move homes during this transit the move is likely to be long-lasting and bring stability. Be sure any home renovations are done with quality products and responsible vendors. The good news Saturn is exiting stage left your 3rd house of communication - all that third house stuff (your conversations, writings, sibling situations, local community interactions, transportation/tech snafus) will become less of a struggle.
CAPRICORN (3rd house) - Saturn coming home to your 3rd house of communication, writing, speaking, the local community, siblings, transportation says it is time to take this stuff seriously. Thoughts become things now so think about what you are thinking about. Words need to be more deliberately used. Relationships within your local community or with siblings become more sober. You could be required to step up or into your own authority in some way. Learning, teaching, writing will bring rewards but require hard work. Official documents will be signed. Verbal and written commitments should be taken very seriously because they will be built to last. Saturn's 'exit stage left' of your 2nd house of finances should ease up the pressure here.
AQUARIUS (2nd house) - Saturn coming home to your 2nd house of finances, self-esteem and personal resources says it is time to take this stuff seriously. Start a budget. Do it now. Know where your money is coming from and where it is going. Streamline. Trim the fat. Saturn will firm up your financial foundation by requiring you to be responsible and disciplined with your resources. The best news for you is Saturn is exiting your sign - YAY! - the things you have worked hard with and committed to over the last two and half to three years will bring rewards now.
PISCES (1st house) - Saturn is coming home to your 1st house of yourself dear Pisces. His move into your first house could require you to step into a new responsibility and deal with added pressure and authority. Your entire persona could change over the next three years. You will be ambitious. This is a big transit for you that will require work and commitment, but can bring big rewards over time. There's that mountain. Here you are. Enjoy the view, because I know you are going to reach the top!
ARIES (12th house) - Saturn coming home to your 12th house of what is happening behind the scenes and what is hidden from view says it is time to take this stuff seriously. Make the time to be alone. Make the time to meditate. Make time for music/art. Do charity work. Something will be pulled out of the closet and worked through during Saturn's stay here. Tend to your health. Something major will end to free up the time/space. Saturn here is preparing you for the years ahead when Saturn moves into Aries in 2026. You will be ready!
In the meantime, we all need to take care of our feet.
I hope something here is helpful. I have written so many Pisces posts lately I am anxious to get to Pluto and the Nodes of Fate in 2023 which are next.
xo all
PLUTO INTO AQUARIUS | 2023 - 2044 - FEAR OF THE FUTURE, THE POWER OF TECHNOLOGY, THE POWER OF SOCIALISM, THE POWER OF FRIENDSHIP, THE DANGERS OF GROUP THINK, OVERHAULS HAPPENING OVERNIGHT, THE END OF KNOWING WHAT'S NEXT, LIFE AFTER WORK AND AMBITION
FRIDAY, MARCH 24, 2023
THE ASTROLOGY OF 2023, PART VI | JUPITER INTO TAURUS ON MAY 16TH FOR THE NEXT YEAR - A CHANGE OF FORTUNE, A SLOW BUT SURE ACCUMULATION, GROWING WHAT MATTERS, ENJOYING THE FRUITS OF OUR LABOR, NEW WAYS TO GET LUCKY
MONDAY, MAY 15, 2023
At 1:20PM EST on May 16th, Jupiter leaves fiery Aries for rock-solid Taurus. Jupiter will be in Taurus for the next year.
Jupiter's role is expansion - to create the BIG PICTURE.
Jupiter is huge, but not solid. He grows whatever he comes in contact with, then, through contact with the other planets, this unchecked growth gets form/structure/limits.
Considered the greater benefic (as Zeus, he was king of the Gods), he promotes abundance, wisdom, our ability to stretch outside our comfort zone, expansion, our desire for MORE.
Now Jupiter brings OPPORTUNITIES to our Taurus house and to the collective themes of - money, our resources, our values, our self-esteem, the Earth, WHAT WE ALREADY HAVE.
Jupiter brings LUCK and we get lucky in a couple different ways with this energy.
One way is by ACTING lucky. Having confidence/courage. Being generous. Knowing things are going to work out and so things work out. The whole King of the Gods thing and all. Another way is by taking something FURTHER. Going out on a limb. This can be through a reckless/adventurous spirit (not so much this way in Taurus though) or through the wisdom gained by putting the time/energy into learning something really, really well and/or by taking a wider view. Think about the guy who is climbing the mountain and also the guy he meets in the cave on the way up, contemplating the BIG PICTURE. Jupiter also gets lucky by having FAITH - something deeper than confidence. Manifesting by knowing. Having faith in our values. Knowing we will be ok no matter what. Knowing our own worth.
Taurus is fixed Earth, so growth is slow and steady. This transit won't be about get-rich-quick schemes or require us to risk-it-all on something speculative. We will attract the Jupertarian goodies in more practical ways. By being more salt-of-the-Earth.
Jupiter can also take things too far and in Taurus this might look something like - overspending, being too stubborn, not taking action, overeating, hoarding, increased debt, greed, being lazy, focusing solely on practical considerations and not investing enough time/attention in more spiritual matters. Keep this stuff in mind. Also the fact that Jupiter, being made solely of gases and quite like a celestial Santa Claus, isn't entirely real - things do not always pan out quite as well as we had hoped without a connection with more stable energies. Taurus will help ground this, but also slow things down.
MAY 16, 2023 - Jupiter enters Taurus
MAY 17, 2023 - Jupiter squares Pluto
JUNE 1, 2023 - Jupiter meets the North Node
SEPT. 4, 2023 - Jupiter stations retrograde at 15 Taurus - note this is conjunct where Mercury just stationed retrograde and also exactly opposes the powerful Lunar Eclipse in Scorpio we just had
DEC. 30, 2023 - Jupiter stations direct at 5 Taurus / JAN. 12 - Mars trines from Cappy (this happens at 5 degrees, so although Jupiter has stationed direct he is hanging out at 5 degrees for weeks, waiting for Mars)
JAN. 27, 2024 - Sun squares Jupiter (a month later and Jupiter has only moved 1 degree - there is something at 5-6 degrees Cappy we are needing time to deal with, we are panning for gold)
MARCH 23, 2024 - Jupiter finally gets back to 15 Taurus and starts walking new territory
APRIL 20, 2024 - Jupiter meets Uranus (21 degrees)
MAY 25, 2024 - Jupiter enters Gemini (Venus, ruler of Jupiter in Taurus is trining Pluto here)
JUNE 1, 2024 - Jupiter trines Pluto (1 degree) Gemini/Aquarius
So, we start the transit of Jupiter into Taurus with a square to Pluto (stop, tension, frustration, power struggles, this is dangerous territory for our 'King of the Gods') and we end it with a (brakes off) smooth trine.
When Jupiter leaves fiery Aries and enters solid Taurus, something could slow down/not feel so urgent (note he enters Taurus with a square to Pluto, so this won't be the case right away!). The last time Jupiter was in Taurus was June 2011 - June 2012. Whatever was expanding/growing/making us lucky that year could have connections or similar themes to what expands/grows/makes us lucky now.
Jupiter in Taurus is answering to Venus, so what is going on with Venus for the next year - and remember she has a long retrograde this summer in Leo, we talked about HERE - is going to impact Jupiter. Also, the way something starts is very important to the way something goes. As Jupiter enters Taurus, Venus is in Cancer (a space she loves) and is out of bounds (out of the control of the Sun - which can be a good thing as we step outside the rules or where we create problems for ourselves by ... stepping outside the rules). Jupiter enters Taurus with the North Node (our collective way forward) still in Taurus - only for a few more weeks - and he will meet up with the North Node in just a couple weeks. This is fortunate for us! He also enters Taurus right before our Taurus New Moon - which seems to be waiting for him. Also good. Uranus is in Taurus, so we know at some point - and this will happen next spring - Jupiter will meet up with Uranus - this looks like a prequel to the tech explosion that happens a month later as Jupiter gets into Gemini and trines (brakes off) Pluto in Aquarius. How that goes, will depend on how this goes (Jupiter into Taurus square Pluto and then the next twelve months).
Bottom line - joy, luck, expansion will comes through our Taurus house. Let's take a quick look by sign. Check your ascendant and your Sun - any questions shoot me an email. For the house/theme Jupiter is LEAVING, check the sign AFTER your sign. You will surely be able to see the gifts/benefits his time in Aries has brought you.
Jupiter always does his job.
TAURUS | Taurus Rising - this is YOUR TRANSIT Taurus and is happening in your 1st house of yourself. Faith. Luck. Confidence. The desire for MORE. You can physically take up more space during this transit/stand taller/get noticed (just watch that one donut doesn't turn into the whole dozen). The Taurean qualities, you naturally possess - steadiness, earthiness, patience, practicality, a focus on building, appreciating comfort and longevity will make you LUCKY.
GEMINI | Gemini Rising- this is happening in your 12th house of what is hidden or put away or done behind the scenes, art, music, relaxation, meditation, water, compassion, forgiveness, secrets, the ethereal realms, the past, imagination, hospitals, spirituality, addiction, healing. Something here EXPANDS. Your intuition increases. Your dreams/imagination gets bigger. Faith. Luck. Confidence. The desire for MORE
CANCER | Cancer Rising - this is happening in your 11th house of the collective - your friendships, your tribe, groups, causes, the internet, the public, the goals that bring you into relationship with other people, your advancement, technology. Something here EXPANDS. Your confidence/optimism in social situations grows. Faith. Luck. Confidence. The desire for MORE.
LEO | Leo Rising - this is happening in your 10th house of your career, your calling, your public reputation, your achievements, goals, your father/paternal story, business, authority, responsibility. Something here EXPANDS. This could be about a change of career, recognition or the confidence to explore something in a bigger way. Faith. Luck. Confidence. The desire for MORE
VIRGO | Virgo Rising - this is happening in your 9th house of travel, higher education, weddings, politics, legal issues, the media, publishing, foreigners, everything outside your comfort zone, exploration, your beliefs and higher thinking. Something here EXPANDS. Faith. Luck. Confidence. The desire for MORE. This is Jupiter's natural house, so should be a good thing!
LIBRA | Libra Rising - this is happening in your 8th house of other people's resources, other people's values, intimacy, other people's money, spouse's income, loans, debts, taxes, inheritance, death, rebirth, sex, reproduction. Something here EXPANDS. Faith. Luck. Confidence. The desire for MORE.
SCORPIO | Scorpio Rising - this is happening in your 7th house of partners and partnerships. Something here EXPANDS. Faith. Luck. Confidence. The desire for MORE. A new/idealistic person could enter your life or a partner could become more stable/practical. You will experience Jupiter in Taurus through your relationships/other people. Worst case a partner takes this Jupiter/Taurus energy too far/becomes too stubborn or stagnant. Best case, and this is probably way more likely, the relationship grows in optimism/faith/patience/stability.
SAGITTARIUS | Sagittarius Rising - this is happening in your 6th house of your day-to-day activities, your routine, work, co-workers, pets and your health. Something here EXPANDS. Take care of your health. This house can get tricky, so you want to keep things in balance/avoid burnout/growing the wrong things. Faith. Luck. Confidence. The desire for MORE. Jupiter is your ruler, so you will feel his move from cardinal fire to fixed earth more than most.
CAPRICORN | Capricorn Rising - this is happening in your 5th house of creative projects, your self-expression, what you give birth to, children, romance and recreation. Something here EXPANDS. Faith. Luck. Confidence. More fun for you dear Capricorn. The desire for MORE.
AQUARIUS | Aquarius Rising - this is happening in your 4th house of home, family, your roots, mother, mothering, your ancestry, real estate, renovation or a home business. Something here EXPANDS/becomes bigger or a bigger focus. Have faith. Here is luck/confidence. The desire for MORE.
PISCES | Pisces Rising - this is happening in your 3rd house of communication, information, writing, siblings, transportation or your local neighborhood. Something here EXPANDS. Jupiter's move from fiery Aries to earthy Taurus can help you reboot your burned out mind by expanding your optimism/faith. Your mental health or communication could become a top priority under this transit and you will find ways to improve it. A good transit to learn something new, write, talk, grow in your local environment.
ARIES | Aries Rising - this is happening in your 2nd house of your money, your values, your resources and self-esteem. Something here EXPANDS. Your resources/property can increase in value. This transit can increase your income/expenses which can be a good thing or maybe not, so keep an eye on the bottom line Aries and focus on increasing what you really value/need/want to keep.
We will talk more about this transit as we move through it and again in a couple days in the New Moon in Taurus post!
xo all
No comments
Post a Comment