Ready or not, this year initiates a transition into a whole new reality for humanity.
First of all, congratulations for making it until 2023! What an intense decade. We have so much to process emotionally, mentally and physically. So much has changed in our inner and outer worlds, and our close circle has been upgraded, sometimes in a not-so-nice way.
Allowing time and space to process will be very important for us to get ready for the big shifts that come in the Spring of 2023.
I recommend you take advantage of the last few days of retrograde energy in January to ponder where you really want to go next.
Wrapping Up To Start Anew
The year 2023 takes us to places we have never been before. It presents us with a number of cosmic signs that symbolize a powerful transition from endings towards new beginnings.
In order to truly move forward, we need to make sure we have gotten rid of past stagnated patterns.
Every year, we go through a couple of months during which most planets are in retrograde motion. This year, the retrograde intensity will be in August, and especially in September. However, that means we also get a few months of no retrogrades each year!
Between the ends of January and April there will be no retrograde planets. This means, for a period of 3 to 4 months, we get our eyes back on the road. Life moves towards new themes, gradually and increasingly, leaving certain past themes behind for good.
Mercury Retrogrades in 2023
Speaking of retrograde planets: in 2023 all Mercury retrogrades happen in Earth Signs. The first one is in Capricorn, the second one in Taurus, the third one in Virgo, and there is a fourth one, which involves both Capricorn and Sagittarius.
These earthly Mercury retrogrades symbolize that, while we step into brand new worldly scenarios, we may be carefully reviewing our moves in the material realm.
I find this to be very helpful for us to move forward in a clear and grounded way.
Powerful Shifts Of Energy
This year sees some incredible energy changes.
Probably the most important transits of the year occur in March, as two of the slower planets change signs: Saturn goes into Pisces (2023-2026) and Pluto goes into Aquarius for the first time in 225 years.
Pluto represents large themes that run deep, while Saturn is related to what we are working on. Our collective work consciousness (Saturn) moves towards crystallizing the vision (Pisces), to build what we dream of. Our collective deep psyche processing (Pluto) goes into scrutinizing the power and the shadow of technology, community, and sovereignty for humanity (Aquarius).
Both planets have been working together since 2020, and they will continue to develop their "projects" towards what looks more and more like the Aquarian age: an era of interconnectedness with tech and all this entails.
We exist in an embryonic phase of the Aquarian age. I believe we know very little about how far technological advances are today.
I will be going more in depth about these changes in future posts. Follow my Telegram or Instagram channels to stay up to date.
Let’s take a look at the rest of 2023
As we get into April and May, we go through the first eclipse season of 2023. We will have a Solar Eclipse in Aries, and a Lunar Eclipse in Scorpio. The most crazy part is this: we will have 2 New Moons in Aries in 2023! One of them is this Solar Eclipse in Aries. What a spicy new beginning!
This represents a powerful new chapter of independence in our lives.
The cycle of eclipses in Aries and Libra will take us through a cleansing of relationship dynamics and agreements, while we balance the imbalances by bringing our Self to the table.
The Nodes of the Moon shift to Aries and Libra in July, meaning these themes will accentuate further from then on. Eclipses in the axis of “self and other” (Aries/Libra) will last until March 2025.
Heart Healing And Liberation
Venus, the planetary ruler of both Libra and Taurus (both are eclipse points!) will be retrograde between the end of July and early September in the sign of Leo.
She will be interacting with Mars, Chiron and Uranus, representing a series of triggers in our heart which have the potential of connecting us to our most authentic truth in terms of what we love and value most.
We may go through a heart healing and transformation during this time, which can involve a change in our values in order to allow our longings to run more freely. This can help us with the “shedding away of relationship patterns” process that comes with the Libra eclipses.
Whatever may be getting in the way of our heart’s truth, will be exposed and evaluated.
Anything that involves Uranus and Mars is never chill. I would expect some intense shifts around relationship dynamics, and would recommend waiting for Venus to end her retrograde to see where our decisions stand at that point.
Also, our most authentic desire to create in this world can be rebirthed from this Venus retrograde in Leo.
As a side note: try avoiding styling your hair during Venus retrograde. I've heard some stories - you may appreciate waiting a bit.
End Of 2023: Tensing The Bow
September may feel slow and reflective, as we will have 7 to 8 planets in retrograde. This energy bleeds into October. But it won’t last long: we get shaken awake halfway through the month as eclipse season starts again with a Solar Eclipse in Libra, which opens up a “relationship shedding” chapter, and with a Lunar Eclipse in Taurus, that shows us in the material realm the result of our shadow work of 2022.
During the last 2 months of 2023, planets gradually go direct, moving things back on track once again. There is one planet that stays behind though. Mercury enters his last retrograde in December, making sure we are thinking straight so we make the right decisions as we enter 2024.
And now... are you feeling ready for 2023?
Make sure you book a reading to be much more prepared for this year and beyond.