The different stars and their movements bring us closer each year to new astral dispositions that bring with them the energetic force (and also the clues) of what the astral climate is going to be in the future. Relying on these transits and astrological events allows us to complement our mundane look in our own learning and vital path.
Mercury retrograde in 2023
Mercury in astrology refers to the mind, logic and the expression of operative and concrete mental thought processes. It represents the literalness of information and communication, roughly speaking. Knowing where we have Mercury in our natal chart gives us clues to our own abilities to deal with information and communication.
Mercury in its orbital motion moves forward, which in astrology we say is “direct”. When we speak of Mercury “retrograde”, it implies that the planet first “stations”, that is, stops, then retrogrades and goes backwards. Later, it comes back to park again to go direct again. The days of stationing are the most relevant to consider in terms of dates of stronger energetic charge, since for us the planet stops.
It is said that when a planet is retrograde it implies that we live it in a more introverted way, making us feel more inhibited or awkward. In the case of Mercury, and as far as communication is concerned, when it is retrograde it usually brings with it slow, heavy communications, misinterpretations and misunderstandings… situations that can generate certain communicative frictions and failures in the networks. Also delays, since Mercury is related to short distance transports. Mercury also rules thinking, so we may feel overwhelmed and confused, forgetful or that we do not think clearly and act impulsively instead of thinking first. It is a good time to experience this event as a “reset” to our mental computers and, as far as possible, put on hold anything that involves a start such as moving, making an investment or signing a contract. Although as time is short for many and not everything can be parked at the pace of Mercury, I do suggest that you give maximum attention and focus to that which involves any of these skills or mercurial environments.
Mercury usually retrogrades about three or four times per year, affecting us almost several months completely per year. For this 2023, the dates of Mercury retrograde are: December 29, 2022 to January 18, 2023, April 21, 2023 to May 15, 2023, August 23, 2023 to September 15, 2023 and December 13, 2023 to January 2, 2024.
Of course, to know the implication of Mercury retrograde in each one of us, it is necessary to know previously if this planetary position and astrological event supposes a relevant transit according to the disposition of our natal chart.
Eclipses of 2023
This new year brings with it new seasons of eclipses! Eclipses in astrology are related to the zodiac according to the sign that corresponds by date and time to the Sun or Moon. They are solar and occur with the new Moon if the Moon casts its shadow on our planet or lunar and occur with the full Moon if the Earth shadows the Moon.
Eclipse seasons usually bring with them general internal and environmental energetic conditions that astrology translates into psychological conditions that affect each of us as individuals. One may feel changeable, feeling at times confused, foggy, slow or impulsive, upset or thinking clearly. Eclipses are to be seen as opportunities for change, starting and/or beginning, as they indicate the end of one cycle and the beginning of another, especially in the case of solar eclipses that occur with the new Moon and this is a time of transition in which to stop, meditate and identify the new seed or desire to germinate and expand once it bears fruit and blossoms through our accomplishments.
If during the eclipse season it affects any particular area of your life, take the opportunity to analyze what is happening and how you experience it. It indicates that that area may not be advancing as it should and it is a good time to rethink situations and take them from another perspective, or on the contrary, that after weighing it, you are on the way forward and you should be grateful for it.
For this 2023 eclipses will take place around the karmic nodes, North Node and South Node, which for this year are on the axis of the signs of Taurus and Scorpio. This axis brings with it a fixed energy, which calls for stability and brings constancy, effort and sacrifice, but at the same time can bring with it at certain times a tendency to stubbornness or stagnation in the process, as well as a tendency to self-sufficiency. It is not an energy that feels comfortable in situations that imply a start and beginning in itself.
- Solar eclipse on April 20, 2023 at 4:12 Universal Time, at the 29º49′ degree of the sign of Aries.
- Lunar eclipse on May 5, 2023 at 17:33 Universal Time, in the degree 14º57′ of the sign of Scorpio.
- Solar eclipse on October 14, 2023 at 17:54 Universal Time, at degree 21º07′ in the sign of Libra.
- Lunar eclipse on October 28, 2023 at 20:23 Universal Time, in the degree 5º08′ of the sign of Taurus.
Pluto's entrance into Aquarius
Pluto, as a planet in astrology, has the slowest known orbital motion. This implies that its slow passage through each sign of the zodiac means that its energetic charge is shared by generations.
Pluto as an archetype, in its meaning brings with it some characteristics as a planet. Pluto’s energy is linked to the interest in the occult, from the interest in what is socially taboo, such as death and sexuality, among others. Pluto connects us with our shadows, it speaks to us of the ability to identify our own fears and negative emotions. As an archetype, represented by the phoenix, it also refers to the capacity for deep transformation and regeneration through purging, letting go and detaching ourselves from the darkest things that do not allow us to move forward.
For people with a dominant Pluto position in their natal chart, it speaks of their life journey around possible crises, but also of their great capacity to overcome, resilience and power to sustain extremes.
However, the sign change approaching this year 2023 from Pluto in Capricorn to Pluto in Aquarius will speak of how this planet per sign will affect each generation and the context or astral climate that this entry into the sign of Aquarius will bring, speaking of a new historical cycle.
Pluto entered the sign of Capricorn in 2008 and is expected to change to the sign of Aquarius in 2023. Under the sign of Capricorn, it speaks of power and hierarchical relationships, of authoritarianism. As a generation, it suggests a time of transformations in governmental and financial structures, with convulsions from the root, in order to purge them and re-emerge with structures and institutions that imply new foundations and paradigms. The economic crisis of 2008-09, the questioning of patriarchy, of the church as an institution, the economic, political and social crises that have worsened in recent years since 2020…, all of this indicates the achievement of a series of crises that had already been brewing years ago and that call for new paradigms.
With the change to Aquarius, this sign brings with it an energy that asks to look towards the future. It asks to leave behind what does not work, what we feel as obsolete, to give way to the new, even involving a paradigm shift at the social level.
The passage of Pluto in Capricorn has shaken and dynamited the most conservative structures and norms, and with Aquarius leads us to a more intellectual, rational and logical questioning of those social shadows that Pluto asks to surface, to identify and that Aquarius will ask to change by first breaking with them.
The Aquarian energy is rebellious by essence, it is rupturist and groundbreaking, it asks for change in the face of what it considers obsolete. Thus, social movements are here to stay as a form of consolidation to show collective power through the expression of one’s own ideas. Aquarius energy is an energy that goes beyond Capricornian structures and limiting contexts, and focuses on the growth of the individual through the support of the collective.
Aquarius is also a sign linked to technology, from its futuristic look and interest, suggesting a time of transformations in the technological and social field in turn.
Plutonian energy leads us to rebirth and Aquarian energy invites us to evolve.
Pluto will have its next entry in the sign of Aquarius this coming 2023, when it will retrograde to re-enter Capricorn for a few months and will have its final entry in 2024, what will it bring us?
Irene of Miistico
