Your Guide to the Astrology of 2023

A quarterly break-down with planning tips and reflective prompts.

Hey!

We now have all planets moving in direct motion for several months - most notably, Mercury and Mars (both of whom have had overlapping retrogrades in Dec/Jan).

Hallelujah. That was a rough retrograde chapter for me.

And yet while I have a distinct sense that life is now moving forward with greater clarity and momentum, life still shows up with its sad news and difficult challenges.

In a later post I think I will offer some astro auto-ethnography and explore how to navigate times when tough transits correlate with tough life stuff. But in the meantime, I want to offer my yearly forecast and tips for 2023’s astrology so that they may be of service before we dive deeper into the year.

My baseline goal is to offer at least one post per month, and I fell short of that goal for January unfortunately. However, I have several posts I would like to write in February, including one on Saturn cycles and Saturn’s ingress into Pisces.

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Before I break down the astrology into quarterly themes and interpretations, here’s a short list of what I perceive to be the key transits and aspect patterns of 2023 (for those who understand astrologese):

1. In March Saturn enters Pisces and Pluto enters Aquarius

2. Jupiter leaves Aries and enters Taurus in May (joining the North Node + Uranus)

3. Eclipses finish up in Taurus/Scorpio as they begin an overlapping series in Aries/Libra

4. The Fixed Grand Cross in May involving Pluto, Mars, Jupiter, and the Nodal axis (between 0° - 3° of Aquarius, Leo, Taurus, and Scorpio)

5. The Anaretic Cardinal Cross with Pluto and the Nodal Axis at the late degrees of Capricorn, Libra, and Aries (~July, October, and late November)

6. Venus’ Summer Retrograde in Leo (while engaging with Jupiter and Uranus in Taurus via a square aspect)

7. The Hero-Warrior-Mother traveling trio in November (Sun, Mars, and Ceres)

Dividing the solar year into four quarters…

In the business world the annual planning process is often divided into “quarterly planning”, where the year is split into four quarters of three months each. 90-day periods are easier to work with in contrast to 365-day periods in regards to effective goal-setting and tracking progress.

I think dividing the year into four workable quarters is a great idea. However, I like to combine practical goal-oriented quarterly planning with the pagan wheel of the year model, which divides the solar year into four quarters using the dates of the two solstices and two equinoxes.

Furthermore, I overlay the symbolism of the lunar cycle’s four main phases on to this solar cycle.

I mark the first quarter of the solar year as beginning with the winter solstice on December 21st, 2022 (aka, the beginning of Capricorn season), and ending with the spring equinox on March 20th, 2023 (aka, the beginning of Aries season). This means it is only discordant with the four quarters of the 12-month Gregorian calendar by about 10 days. I think that’s workable for practical planning purposes.

You may have heard that the “astrological year” begins with Aries season since Aries is the first sign of the zodiac. Thinking of the spring equinox on March 20th as the year’s beginning, the fresh start, makes a lot of sense in many ways - especially in the northern hemisphere where the early smell of spring feels like a catalyst for action as mammals are called out of winter hibernation.

When we look at the lunar cycle for symbolic wisdom however, we find that the first waxing quarter begins in darkness with the new moon, becomes a tiny baby crescent, and then finally reaches a state of 50% illumination in the night sky.

The lunar cycle offers us a quiet, dark, gentle, barely-there new beginning each month, that slowly grows.

This is how I imagine the 1st Quarter of the solar year from December 21st - March 20th, 2023; winter solstice to spring equinox. In the northern hemisphere the days are short, darkness is dominant, and the cold drives everyone indoors.

The December solstice however, still marks the return of the sun as the days slowly grow longer from this point onward even if we do not notice a shift immediately. It’s like the new moon; we know the cycle has restarted, but we can’t immediately see it.

The 1st Quarter from winter solstice to the spring equinox offers a time for gradually laying our foundation and getting everything ready behind the scenes so we are prepared to increase our speed and energy output come Aries season.

It’s a quiet beginning to the year (in the north, at least).

Then there is Quarter 2, from the spring equinox on March 20th, to the summer solstice on June 21st, 2023 (aka, the beginning of Cancer season). This maps on to the part of the lunar cycle that carries us from the first quarter moon, through the waxing gibbous moon, all the way to the full moon and its “peak summer energy”.

Generally speaking this is a very action-oriented Quarter of the solar year - excellent for launching new projects.

Quarter 3 takes us from the summer solstice on June 21st, 2023, to the fall equinox on September 23, 2023 (aka, the beginning of Libra season). This aligns with the part of the lunar cycle that takes us from the full moon, through the waning gibbous phase, to the last quarter moon. This is a great time for building on all the catalyzing action that took place the prior Quarter and growing it, building on it, extending it, refining it.

Finally, the last part of the lunar cycle (the last quarter moon, through the waning crescent to the dark, balsamic moon) maps on to the solar year’s Quarter 4 that begins at the fall equinox on September 23, 2023 and takes us to the winter solstice on December 21, 2023 (aka, the beginning of Capricorn season). This period is ideal for reflection, consolidation, clearing and releasing.

And then we get to do it all over again!

So that’s the basic outline of the solar year symbolically divided into four quarters. Now I will take each of those quarters and look at the transits that are taking place within.

*At the end of each quarterly interpretation I offer some planning tips and reflective prompts which you can skip to if the astro jargon is too much.

Quarter 1: Winter solstice (December 21, 2022) - Spring Equinox (March 20, 2023)

The year begins with Jupiter recently having ingressed back into Aries and ready to rumble (it will zoom through Aries and leave by May 16th). Astrologer Mark Jones sees this transit as “An Invitation to Start Something Big” that you can develop further over the course of 12 years.

Throughout January to mid-February, Venus, the Sun and Mercury make successive conjunctions to Pluto teetering at the edge of Capricorn, highlighting some of its final messages in this sign (Jan. 1st, Jan. 18th, Feb. 10th).

Mars stationed direct in Gemini on January 12th, Mercury stationed direct in Capricorn on January 18th, and Uranus stationed direct in Taurus on January 22nd, finally providing some forward momentum to the start of 2023.

With Mars and Mercury both retrograde at the beginning of January, the Gregorian new year was off to a sluggish - perhaps chaotic - start. By the time we reached the weekend of January 21st/22nd, which hosted the new moon in Aquarius and Uranus stationing direct, I began noticing a big difference in the quality of time. I experienced greater clarity and motivation - I hope you did too!

February reminds us of what Uranus in Taurus is up to when the Sun in Aquarius and then the full moon in Leo tightly square this rebellious planet from February 3rd - 5th. Valentine’s day terrain is both dreamy (Venus and Neptune conjoining at 24° Pisces on the 15th) and harsh (Sun conjoining Saturn at 26° Aquarius on the 16th). 

Pluto hits the 29th degree of Capricorn on February 12th, where it will linger there until its ingress into Aquarius on March 23rd. Saturn reaches the 29th degree of Aquarius on February 27th.

This is an edgy, transitional time.

After Mercury broadcasts Saturn’s final words in this sign (with its conjunction to Saturn on March 2nd), Saturn will then enter Pisces on March 7th. With two outer planet heavy-weights reaching anaretic degrees at the same time, February and March will have an under-pressure edge to them as we likely experience a sense of significant shifts and transitions in our lives and try to finish up a life chapter or two.

Pluto will traverse the boundary line of Capricorn and Aquarius for the next couple years, but Saturn will not return to Aquarius until 2050.

Some of the most beautiful attributes of Pisces includes faith and hope through connecting with a larger vision; being anchored in life-giving dreams and the belief that anything is possible; imaginative creativity; intuitive spiritual gifts, altered states of consciousness and other-worldly connections; and the compassionate capacity to see the good in absolutely everyone and lovingly accept them, no matter what they have done.

Of course all of these qualities also have shadow sides and liabilities. 

Saturn tends to present a tough challenge specific to the qualities of the sign it is transiting, in order for us to grow, develop and mature in that area. Therefore, all the qualities described above will be presented with an array of challenges targeted to compel growth in Piscean areas of life. Boundaries, discernment and the willingness to take off rose-colored glasses (while still accessing faith, hope, and empathic connection) will likely be a big theme. While there may be the pain of bubbles being popped, there is also the great potential of getting serious and down-to-earth about making our wildest dreams and fantasies tangible and manifest. 

In March, in the midst of two powerful planets, Saturn and Pluto, transitioning into new signs, we also have a burst of energy in Aries. On March 2nd and 3rd, Venus will conjoin with Jupiter and then Chiron, helping to ease in and prepare us for the upcoming union between the expander and the healer, which occurs on March 12th (it’s actually a triple conjunction of Jupiter and Chiron with the asteroid Vesta at 14 degrees Aries). This may bring up themes around independence, courage, risk-taking, conflict and experiences of devotion and rejection - within relational contexts.

March is certainly one of the more cosmically active months of the year. The other significant event is that in the middle of the month there will be a triple conjunction of Mercury with the Sun and Neptune in Pisces while the trio squares Mars in Gemini as it comes out of its shadow. This dynamic mutable aspect involving four planets is the signature of a spiritual warrior and channeler, empathic activist communicator, and a rebellious creative innovator. Looks a bit messy - but also looks like we might get a final piece of intel that resolves confusion from the Mars retrograde and catalyzes us toward our next steps.

🌒Q1 PLANNING TIPS & REFLECTIVE PROMPTS :

• We have now cleared January, but my advice would have been - don’t bother trying to have a typical new year type start on January 1st. Wait until at least the weekend of the new moon in Aquarius (Jan. 21-22), otherwise you may get discouraged by low energy and a tangly mess.

• ~February 3rd-6th is a good time for a refreshing, radical burst of authentic creative expression and honesty that is uncompromisingly courageous in its manifestation (even if it’s a bit weird or breaks some social norms and expectations).

• As you read this in early February, consider whether or not you are already anticipating a life transition in March. It is very possible you can already see the shifts on the horizon that Saturn and Pluto’s sign change will bring. From mid-February through to late March, there will likely be a noticeable, edgy feeling of instability, uncertainty, and urgency as you/we are finishing or processing something in order to start something new. Transitions can be stressful - consider putting extra supports in place at this time to grow your capacity to navigate the unknown while you pass through a personal (and global) transitional period.

• Saturn began its Aquarius story with a preview that began around March 22nd, 2020 (i.e. when the world shut down), and then for the long-term when it entered Aquarius on December 18th, 2020. Notably we were initiated into this new chapter with the Great Conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter occurring on December 21st, 2020, at 0° Aquarius, making Saturn’s final ingress into Aquarius extra potent. As you travel through March 2023, consider that which was initiated in your life around March 21st and/or December 18th-21st, 2020 that is now reaching a new phase of evolution as Saturn leaves Aquarius on March 7th (and Pluto enters this sign on March 23rd). What learnings and processes have occurred in the Aquarian house of your birth chart over the past ~2-3 years?

• The first half of March is a great time to lean into any healing process that’s calling you in around risk-taking, independence, courage, leadership, and conflict. There’s opportunity for great growth and expansion if you tend to pain points and vulnerabilities along the way.

• The middle of March is a time to listen for deep, intuitive or spiritual insights that can help you tackle some challenges or take decisive action.

Quarter 2: Spring Equinox (March 20, 2023) - Summer Solstice (June 21, 2023)

On March 21st, both the Sun and Moon help us welcome the spring equinox as they join together at 0° Aries (the birthplace of the zodiac wheel) in a lovely new moon aspect that is perfect for launching bold new projects.

When Pluto enters Aquarius on March 23rd, he is landing right on the same degree which still bears the imprint of the Great Conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter on December 21st, 2020. Therefore, Pluto’s ingress may powerfully connect us to the end of 2020 - and also bring us deeper into that story in new ways, revealing that which may have been hidden from us in the initial moment of threshold-crossing in December 2020. 

Aries Season continues to turn up the volume in April with a bombastic and expansive Sun-Jupiter conjunction in this fiery sign on April 11th, and then a nail-biting new moon solar eclipse at 29° Aries on April 20th in a tight (but out-of-sign) square to Pluto in Aquarius. This is our first eclipse on the Aries-Libra axis, even though the nodal axis doesn’t shift into this pair of opposing signs until July.

It’s unusual to have two new moons in the same sign in the same season (the first at 0 degrees, the second at 29 degrees Aries). It’s also unusual to have both eclipse seasons in 2023 feature overlaps between the Taurus-Scorpio eclipse series and the Aries-Libra eclipse series - the second new moon in Aries on April 20th is the first eclipse in the Aries-Libra series.

By late April we are into Taurus Season where Mercury has its first retrograde station of the year on April 21st.

All of Mercury’s three retrogrades in 2023 will initiate in earth signs.

The North Node is still in Taurus (in the early degrees), along with Uranus. Mercury’s retrograde (which occurs just within the space between Uranus and the North Node) may offer new insights and revisions into this area of life that has been particularly activated beginning in ~2019 with Uranus’ ingress, and then increasingly so after eclipses began in this region in November 2021.

The Sun encounters the North Node on April 24th, and Uranus, on May 9th.

Pluto stations retrograde at 0° Aquarius on May 1st, again pulling focus on the Great Conjunction degree (of December 2020) and reminding us that it’s not quite done with Capricorn; a sign Pluto will re-enter on June 11th. 

Our second eclipse of this first eclipse season occurs at essentially 15° Scorpio on May 5th. This one is a lunar (full moon) eclipse that opposes the Sun which is conjunct Uranus in Taurus. It sends liberating jolts into areas of life (likely involving power, money and resources) that have been experiencing significant upheaval since ~November 2021. This is the last Scorpio eclipse for 9 years. There may be some meaningful experiences of truth-finding and releasing for many.

Jolts continue from May 16th - June 1st, when there is a series of tense transits involving 0° to 3° of the fixed signs.

These fixed sign clashes may send tremors through life projects that have been established in these areas. It begins with Jupiter leaving Aries and entering Taurus on May 16th, joining the North Node (at 3°) and Uranus (at 19°) in this sign. This ingress puts Jupiter into direct conflict with Pluto at 0° Aquarius via a square aspect, which perfects on May 17th. 

On May 20th, Mars (renown for adding fuel to flames) jumps into the fray as it enters the fires of Leo. Immediately landing on 0°, Mars aggravates the situation by opposing Pluto, and then squaring Jupiter, creating a tense T-square aspect involving the three fixed signs of Leo, Aquarius and Taurus.

The nodes are still in the fixed signs of Scorpio and Taurus, slowly moving backwards (as they do) toward Aries and Libra. By May 26th, Mars in Leo is squaring the Nodal Axis in Scorpio/Taurus at 3°. A few days later, Jupiter catches up to the North Node and conjoins with it in Taurus on June 1st. 

This fixed grand cross that includes the nodal axis, Mars, Jupiter, and Pluto, involves a lot of power moves and demands great courage and strength (and hopefully some grounded humility) to make changes in areas of life that don’t change easily. Reactive conflict could easily be a part of this transit story, but channeled wisely, there is a lot of powerful energy to be harnessed for good (positive aspects from the Sun during this time should help with beneficial use of it). Pay attention to the way that resources and money are being navigated among individuals within collective and collaborative contexts. 

Just before these fixed squares reach full throttle, the new moon during Taurus Season occurs at 28° on May 19th. This relatively mild new moon is out of range of the nodes and thus is not a solar eclipse - although it should be noted that there is one more Taurus eclipse in this series that will take place in the fall.

In June, throughout Gemini Season into Cancer Season, there’s a number of retrogrades that may have us feeling as though we are stepping back a bit to regroup after the recent intensity.

Pluto retrogrades back into Capricorn on June 11th (landing on the 29th crisis degree, but it should feel less acute than in March with the retrograde motion) and we are back at work deconstructing and rebuilding foundations and taken-for-granted traditional institutions and governing systems.

Saturn follows suit and stations retrograde at 7° Pisces on June 17th.

7 degrees is as far as Saturn gets into Pisces this year, but it should be noted again that Saturn will not retrograde back into Aquarius. Its retrograde will take it as far back as 0° Pisces. As Saturn stations and pulls focus, we could get further clues as to what this Saturn-in-Pisces chapter is all about.

There’s more Pisces/Neptune vibes in the air at the time of this station as the New Moon in Gemini on June 18th tightly squares Neptune at 27° Pisces and communications may feel overwhelmingly confusing before Saturn helps us straighten things out (with extra help via a sextile from Jupiter that perfects on June 19th). 

🌓Q2 PLANNING TIPS & REFLECTIVE PROMPTS :

• Aries season is great for new beginnings, the spring equinox is a fantastic birth place of a new initiative, and new moons are of course, natural starting places. On March 20/21st all three of these qualities combine. Do the thing!

• Pluto began its Capricorn story in 2008 - how does Pluto’s exit out of Capricorn into Aquarius in late March (which is not complete until November 2024) seem to be book-ending a thematic chapter in your life?

• Around April 11th would be a good time to take a brave leap into the unknown in service to your self-expression, growth and evolution!

• Are you familiar with the disruptions and new developments that have been happening in your Taurus-house since ~2019? If you are, I advise preparing ahead of time for Mercury stationing retrograde in Taurus on April 21st. Think about how you can dive in and go deep with your process in this area of life. During Mercury’s retrograde, reflect on what steps you want to take going forward in order to take advantage of all that Uranus and the North Node have been inviting you into.

• Before we reach the last lunar eclipse in Scorpio on May 5th, again, perhaps prepare ahead of time - what in your life needs a deep cleanse and release that you could intentionally engage with at that time (unless Uranus has other plans for you)?

• The second half of May *could be* a good time to test your strength and determination as you tackle a gnarly, seemingly insurmountable task or issue that requires some serious power, leadership, persistence, and the application or transformation of resources. YOU CAN DO IT!

  But also… take good care around things that can explode (including social dynamics).

• Pluto first enters Aquarius on March 23rd, 2023 where it proceeds to sit on that one 0° point for almost three months until it retrogrades back into Capricorn on June 11th. Take note of what you observe during this important first ingress. Perhaps within these three months, you notice a dark shadow or secret emerge within contexts that prioritize technology and/or the progressive good of the collective or of a collaboration? Or maybe it was a time to either begin transforming or grieving (or both) a group effort or situation that meant a lot to you? 

• Saturn first entered Pisces on March 7th. Its retrograde station on June 17th may be a time to take stock of what you have learned in the last three months in your Piscean area of life. 

Quarter 3: Summer Solstice (June 21, 2023) - Fall Equinox (September 23, 2023)

Mars in Leo squares Uranus in Taurus on June 26th, urging us to keep moving forward with changes involving our resources amid all the retrogrades, which includes Neptune stationing retrograde on June 30th. 

There’s a Yod grand aspect pattern set up for planets as they pass through the last degrees of Leo. First to do this is Mars in early July, as it forms inconjuncts to Neptune in Pisces, and then Pluto in Capricorn.

Venus is going to spend the bulk of the summer retrograding through Leo. When she stations retrograde on July 22nd at 28° Leo, she does so while also creating a Yod with Neptune and Pluto.

This Yod (sometimes called the finger of god) may create a lot of restless agitation as we feel strongly, the call of a compelling personal mission - and yet the faith, trust, and transformative courage we need to follow through, may feel tantalizingly out of reach at times.

Venus in Leo has a thing or two to teach us about the ways in which we relate to our authentic essence in public spaces, and the ways in which we contribute to the conditions that allow other people’s true selves to emerge. Its stationing point during some other tense astrology, is sure to make itself known.

Aside from Venus stationing retrograde in Leo, the other significant news in July is that the nodal axis backtracks out of Scorpio and Taurus, into Aries and Libra on July 17th. As the nodes land at the 29th degree of Aries and Libra, this puts them a prolonged square with Pluto at the 29th degree of Capricorn, which is most acute throughout the second half of July.

Mars in Virgo has an opposition to Saturn in Pisces on July 20th while all this is happening, which certainly does nothing to ease the strain - indeed it enhances it.

But of even more relevance at this time, the Sun in Cancer opposes Pluto from about July 17-22nd, thereby filling out the last corner of the anaretic grand cardinal cross as the new moon also squares the nodal axis (on July 17th). We are presented with the challenge to grow toward risk-taking independence while honouring emotional and relational commitments, as well as important aspects of our history. The North Node in Aries pulls us toward new unknown territory, while the activation of the 29th degree in all cardinal signs may put our teeth on edge. July 22nd in particular, is a day that may feel particularly potent. 

The focus in August continues to center on Venus’ retrograde in Leo as she makes her second set of fixed squares to Uranus and Jupiter in Taurus, which encourage grounded innovation and expansion in the realms of love, beauty, art, money and relationships. Her cycle restarts at the heart of the Sun on August 13th.

Uranus makes itself strongly felt in August - not only through its square to Venus, but also through its exact square to the Leo New Moon on August 16th and as it stations retrograde on August 28th at 23° Taurus, providing opportunities for the innovation on the outside, to catch up on the inside. 

While Venus is retrograding through Leo, Mercury stations retrograde in Virgo on August 23rd - its second retrograde of the year in an earth sign. Mercury is exalted in Virgo and a retrograde in this terrain is an excellent time for technical revisions and editing. 

Venus is ready to station direct in Leo by September 3rd - while still holding a square to Jupiter in Taurus who stations retrograde the very next day. This may result in a very palpable sense of push-pull; something is going forward, and something is reversing or stalling. As Venus makes her way forward, she repeats her squares to Jupiter and then Uranus, for the third time. This is the post-retrograde shadow phase where integration occurs and wisdom is harvested. 

The new moon in Virgo on September 14th, is supported by a grand earth trine involving Uranus in Taurus, and Pluto in Capricorn. Its ruler, Mercury, is preparing to station the next day in Virgo, a sign in which it is at full strength. This is an excellent time for starting new habits or laying the groundwork for a project that will involve lots of detailed work. 

🌕Q3 PLANNING TIPS & REFLECTIVE PROMPTS :

• If you can, figure out in advance where Venus’ summer retrograde will happen in your chart (12 - 28 degrees of Leo) from July 22nd to September 3rd, 2023. It will be valuable to know what house topics in your birth chart will be getting special Venus treatment. Now think back (or go through emails, photos and social media) to the summer of 2015 (specifically July 25-Sept 6th, 2015). This was the last time Venus was retrograde in Leo. It’s possible some similar themes may reappear through new experiences.

• Venus’ stationing day on July 22nd is sandwiched by some tough astrology. If you can, listen for Venus’ call beneath the noise of the tense aspects. What magical underworld journey does she want to take you on? Consider Venus’ summer retrograde period an excellent time to lean into… self-love, the way we inspire the best in others, any issues we need to sort out with our relationship to public visibility, and the worthy endeavor of expressing our authentic essence in the world.

• During the second half of July, pay attention to the way you are stepping into greater independence and exercising your risk-taking muscle while navigating power dynamics, responsibilities, and continuing to work on the construction zone that is Pluto in Capricorn. Pull out the punching bag, the art supplies, or your favourite grounding tools if those 29th cardinal degrees create anxiety.

• The Leo new moon on August 16th is at a different degree than the Leo full moon in early February, but they both land in tight fixed squares to Uranus in Taurus. Thus the same advice applies! This is a good time for a refreshing, radical burst of authentic creative expression and honesty that is uncompromisingly courageous in its manifestation (even if it’s a bit weird or breaks some social norms and expectations).

• Have some task that involves major editing or revisions? Use Mercury’s retrograde in Virgo Aug. 23 - Sept. 15th, 2023 to go deep into your process.

• In early September (around September 3rd/4th) taking time to pause and reflect on your current relationship to matters that involve pleasure, beauty, money, and desire, may help you integrate something that is important to this month.

• Consider initiating a practical or earthy endeavor around September 15th that begins gently with room for adjustments, and supports significant change via daily microsteps.

Quarter 4: Fall Equinox (September 23, 2023) - Winter Solstice (December 21, 2023)

October re-activates the cardinal square tension of late July as Mars, the Sun, and then Mercury conjoin with the South Node in Libra, oppose the North Node in Aries, and square Pluto at 27° Capricorn. Pluto stations direct in the midst of all this on October 10th, bringing further attention to the cardinal square with the nodes that it is participating in. As a result we may be releasing, processing, digesting themes around relationships and codependency, fairness, peace and justice in October - particularly as the first solar (new moon) eclipse in Libra lands on October 14th at 21°, conjunct with the South Node within 3 degrees.

By late October we are into Scorpio season and the focus shifts from the cardinal square, to the fixed signs. 

The weekend of October 28/29th is fairly intense, cosmically speaking, as Mars and Mercury conjoin in Scorpio, exactly opposite Jupiter in Taurus, while within 6 degrees another opposition is taking place on the Taurus-Scorpio axis - a lunar eclipse at 5° Taurus; the last eclipse in Taurus in this series - and the final eclipse on the Scorpio and Taurus axis for 9 years.

Because of Mercury’s upcoming retrograde it will make three conjunctions with Mars. The one that occurs on October 29th is the first of three, and it is powerful. Insight and communications are probing, deep, dark and sharp. They have an edge in ways that make them cruel, or capable of defending with skill as necessary. With the conjunction occurring opposite Jupiter, plans and communications are also expansive and potentially explosive as the lunar eclipse punctuates our journey of growth on the Taurus-Scorpio axis and highlights what we’ve learned in terms of navigating power, money and resources. 

November launches with Saturn stationing direct at 0 degrees Pisces on the 4th, and then continues with more intense Scorpio action for the first few weeks.

From November 11th - 20th, the Moon, the Sun, Mars, and Ceres all activate the later degrees of Scorpio while opposing Uranus at 21° Taurus. This activity includes a new moon in Scorpio at 20° - a wild shocking lunation that opposes Uranus, yet it is also notable because it is the first Scorpio lunation in a couple years that is not an eclipse and thus perhaps it is less energetically charged than it would be otherwise (or not!).

The Sun conjoins Mars, and then Ceres, as all three form a triple conjunction around  27° Scorpio. Stealth aggression and proactive defense (in ways that involve mother-daughter or mother-nature archetypal expressions) may be a theme. The trine that these planets make to Neptune in Pisces helps to soften what is otherwise an intense transit. 

Following this triple conjunction in the late degrees of Scorpio, the Sun, Mars, and Ceres all enter Sagittarius together in late November, immediately hitting a square to Saturn at 0° Pisces. November seems to be highlighting some important journey that the hero, warrior, and mother archetypes are embarking on together - a journey which involves some shocking revelations or liberations (Uranus), a transition from deep emotional water to scattered energetic fire (Scorpio to Sag), and encounters with strict limits or structures (Saturn).

Because of her retrograde in Leo, Venus is behind the rest of the gang, still in Libra. From November 29 - December 3, 2023 she conjoins the South Node in Libra (at 24°), and then squares Pluto at 28° Capricorn - thereby completing and re-activating the cardinal square between Pluto and the nodes; just like Mars, Mercury, and the Sun did in October. Venus is at home in Libra, so there is perhaps a profound sense of clarity here as Venus brings to our attention the power imbalances in relationships and partnerships of all kinds. 

December is book-ended by two outer planets stationing direct. Neptune stations direct at 24° Pisces on December 6th, and Jupiter stations direct at 5° Taurus on December 30th. Mercury’s third retrograde of the year commences at  8° Capricorn on December 13th, and meaningfully Mercury forms its rx interior conjunction with the Sun just hours after the solstice, at 0° Capricorn on December 22nd.

Planets traveling through Sagittarius encounter messy squares with Neptune in Pisces, including the new moon on December 13th. Mercury Rx and Mars make the square to Neptune nearly simultaneously as they conjoin (for the second time out of a series of three) at 24°/25° Sag on December 28th.

Other transits of note in December include Venus in Scorpio opposing Uranus on December 21st, Chiron stationing direct in Aries, and a sturdy, supportive Sun-Jupiter earth trine happening during the full moon in Cancer on December 26th. 

🌗Q4 PLANNING TIPS & REFLECTIVE PROMPTS :

• From early - mid October (and again from November 29 - December 3, 2023) it’s time to tend to the Libran area of your chart and issues that involve seeking peace, justice, fairness, and harmony in relationships - in ways that make the unconscious conscious, and metabolize shadow material. Don’t ignore what’s hiding in the dark.

• Around October 28th, keep your wits about you and be careful with how you use your communications as ammunition. If you are going to uncover or expose something, steady yourself for the ripples and possible backlash. On a lighter note, as the last lunar eclipse in Taurus lands, perhaps take some time to reflect on what eclipse-related changes have unfolded in your life pertaining to the Taurus-Scorpio houses in your chart since November 2021. What has been released in Scorpio’s realm, while leaning into the Taurus zone of financial security, ownership, nature, peaceful stability, self-sufficiency, body-oriented practices, gardening, herbalism, food, and sensual pleasure?

• In November there may be something that has to be fought for or protected and defended. This maybe a time to be emotionally fierce and establish those boundaries.

• In November it may also be appropriate to carve out time to grieve - to grieve all that has been released in the Scorpio area of life over the past two years. Your prior identities, former goals and ambitions may need to be placed on the altar of grief so you can step fully into the changes that have arrived. Honour the endings.

• December 22nd offers a lovely moment for reflection and insight. This would be a wonderful time to review 2023 and consider how you will apply your learnings to the coming year.

And… that’s a wrap!

Now we just need to live out all these transits 🌝

It’s always a weird yet fascinating thing to do forecasting work. I’m excited to see how this symbolism will manifest in concrete ways!

Remember that your personal transits (transits to your natal chart) are also very important to consider alongside these global transits.

I hope this quarterly outline of 2023 with its transit details, planning tips and reflective prompts, is of service in navigating and preparing for the upcoming astrology!