Greetings Earthling!
Here we are! In 2023! And there are many cosmic changes in front of us, dear Ones. We enter the year with both Mars and Mercury retrograde – an invitation to ease mindfully into the year. The demarcation between one year and another is not a clear line, it’s a flow state. Giving you wings is Jupiter in the first sign of Aries. This is a chance at yet another beginning. Set your intention and keep it fresh throughout the coming year. You will need it.
In 2023, powerful Pluto enters social Aquarius for the first time in 250 years. This is a zeitgeist shift. A paradigm rearrangement. There are also four eclipses this year on the Aries/Taurus and Libra/Scorpio axis. I feel that life’s basics direct our attention to their preservation. Clean water and air, energy, food, relationships are key factors of our lives. Do what you can to minimize your carbon footprint and above all else, travel through this world with peace in your heart.
Here are the key points for 2023:
March 3rd to March 17th, is a tender time. Chiron and Jupiter conjunct in Aries, with Venus there at the beginning. Ego checks, willful action leads to harm, things may hurt before they get better. Great wisdom is possible. Self-awareness increases.
March 6, 2023, Saturn enters dreamy Pisces for the first time in 28 years. What conclusions can you complete over the next two and a half years? How can you develop your spirit and your faith? What does water mean to you?
March 23, 2023, Pluto enters Aquarius, the sign of the people. Human migration due to war, famine and climate change. (We need to change, not the climate!) Social unrest in response to exploitation and greed. Vast global cooperation on the things that matter. Scientific innovation. Power to the people. Team spirit!
April 19, 2023, a solar eclipse at the tail end of Aries. Use your vision to secure the foundations of your life. What does starting fresh mean to you? Is your willfulness getting in your way? Ground yourself in simple, healthy action.
May 5, 2023, a Full Moon eclipse at 14° Scorpio, with Pluto newly in Aquarius and retrograde. Uranus is present, reminding us that change is well and truly upon us whether we want it or not. I feel that this eclipse is a cosmic reminder that the only thing that goes with us is the state of our souls; all else falls away when we leave this mortal coil.
May 16, 2023, Jupiter enters earthy Taurus for the first time in twelve years. The lives of Taurus and Scorpio folks are magnified.
This year, Venus retrogrades too. She’ll make one of her mysterious turns creating her five-pointed star from July 23 to September 3rd. Like all retrogrades, it’s a cosmic invitation to pause in the present moment. Usually, Venus retrogrades are associated with a withdrawal of love and beauty. Since this occurs in Leo it suggests the tamping down of drama and hero worship. It makes me think that a famous woman may fall from grace. Or perhaps it may be a time to turn toward your own juicy creativity.
October 14, 2023, Libra New Moon solar eclipse at 21°. This New Moon and Mercury oppose tender Chiron. Relationship is so important whether with friends, family, lover. It doesn’t matter. The same principles of trust and clear boundaries remain. Get your act together and practice peace.
October 28, 2023, Full Moon lunar eclipse at 5° Taurus. Lots of Scorpio, Mars and Jupiter energy present. This is deep energy. Sexuality, secrets, desires, passion and revenge. Allow yourself to enter the shadows of your own darkness to find the gold that lives there.
As usual, Mercury retrogrades three times this year. Mid-April to mid-May; late August to mid-September; and mid-December to early January 2024. These dates are approximate. Read my column each month for specifics.
Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto all go retrograde in 2023 too. I’ll write about them as they occur. Stay tuned!
And now… the month of January.
The focus on Capricorn energy takes our attention to the structure of lives. Riding on the waves of the mystical Capricorn New Moon, we understand the power of our creative force. Just what am I making in this world, right now? Honestly friends, speaking as a mere human, I find this time to be important. I like to use it: do my taxes, focus on my roots and/or my business. But mostly this time is about what you’re doing with your time – your days and nights. It’s your understanding of the reality you’re creating; your relationship to reality itself. Good luck with that!
January 6th is the annual Cancer Full Moon. Mars and Mercury are both retrograde and Venus is newly in Aquarius. Uranus trines the Sun and Mercury bringing a little frisson of excitement. It’s a good time to take care of business, especially any emotional baggage you may have. Go through it and let it go. Rest is good.
January 13th, Mars turns direct. Things start to get moving again. It’s a last quarter Moon so consider how you want to move forward from here. We’ve been on an inner journey since late October and now, like a little plant reaching for the sun, we see the light of what could be.
January 17th, little Mercury turns direct at 8° Capricorn, in a perfect angle of tension with Mars in Gemini. Put your thinking cap on. Be sensible about the choices in front of you. Use your inner wisdom. Tell yourself the truth.
January 18th, the Sun meets Pluto. Get grounded. If fears come up, release them.
The Sun enters star-stirrer Aquarius on January 20th. Guys, I get a quiver of excitement when I see this chart. The Sun’s entry into this most collaborative and yet rebellious sign, precedes Pluto’s entry in just a few months’ time, right after the Spring Equinox. Mars is direct at 8° Gemini after being retrograde since October 2022. The Moon and Mercury are conjunct at 8° Capricorn. That’s nice symmetry.
Enough Astro*babble. The point is, it’s a go. Just go. Just enjoy yourself.
The very next day, on January 21st, there’s an Aquarian New Moon. Venus and Saturn are conjunct, Mars and Mercury are direct. It’s okay to commit to love. To a new direction. New friends and groups are forming. Give your gift.
Let’s chat about Aquarius since it’s big news this month and this year.
Aquarius energy has sometimes been tough for me since I have Saturn retrograde in this most social of signs. I feel a responsibility, a type of diligence, to the group. It shows up in me writing this blog. It’s for you ostensibly, though I get a lot out of it. This is the nature of Aquarius – giving our gifts to one another. The way in which we organize ourselves into tribes. It’s also about looking at the situation objectively. Science, baby!
Aquarius does not hide from issues. It asks, what are the problems? The JWST telescope had over 300 identified problems. There were that many things that could go wrong. Teams went through each one. This is the best of this Aquarian Uranian/Saturn axis – active problem solving and creative technological solutions. Think of kids around a STEM project. Here’s hoping that Pluto in Aquarius will enhance our ability to pull together to do what we need to do to solve the many problems we have.
January 26th, after hanging out with stern Saturn in Aquarius for a few days, Venus gratefully leaves for Pisces. Here she is unbounded, full of dreams, and capable of great love.
The month ends boldly. Pace yourself. Tend to what is most important. Take care of your friendships. And remember, you matter, we’re all connected; Earth is our home and love is our destination.
Your astrologer.
Dulce
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