All Times Pacific: Astrology Report for Jan 23-Jan 30
Friends, we have before us a mixed bag of aspects this week, relatively quiet, but with the potential for intense experiences. Very early this morning sun conjunct Mercury retrograde in Aquarius was exact, a good time for communication, writing, getting to know your way around new approaches and technology, but try to give practical matters the attention they deserve. The Sumerians believed that the gods created the world and then got bored because it required constant attention to keep going. So they invented humans to slave over the details. Most of us hate chores, but remember, drudgery truly is prevention of harm.
Mon Jan 24 Mars enters Capricorn at 4:53 AM where it is happy and effective. Supply chain disruptions may begin to ease up as Mars gets used to the practical approach of Capricorn after the over-optimism and distractions of Sagittarius. A good time to get organized. If there is some project looming that requires hard work you may want to wait until Feb 3 if you can, when Mercury goes direct, but with Mars in Cap difficult tasks become easier to attain.
Tue Jan 25 the dark of the moon begins at 5:41 AM, beginning a week long time of introspection, rest, and finishing rather than beginning. Take it easy. The drive to go go go is strong as humanity and the pandemic enter year three, but with Saturn still square Uranus until Feb 6 we can see all around us epic endings and promising beginnings, a tense, anxious time. Remember the good advice of late Vietnamese Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh: “It is in moments like this that we stick to our mindful breathing and gently recognize our afflictions, whether anger, frustration, or fear. Suppose we are feeling worry or anxiety. We practice, Breathing in, I know that anxiety is in me. Breathing out, I smile to my anxiety.”
Also Tue Mercury retrograde re-enters Capricorn at 7:05 AM bringing a time when on the negative side we may feel overly critical, mentally bound or exhausted, and oppressed by old patterns. But on the positive side this is an excellent placement for organizing, editing, building structure, taking care of practical matters and planning for the long view. Take some notes about what you want to accomplish.
Wed Jan 26-Thu Jan 27 only lunar aspects are exact but these days may not be as quiet as they could be with Mercury conjunct Pluto gaining strength. Find a rhythm and enjoy 48 hours of navigation by the moon. Let your intuition and your feelings guide you. Warning: sharp comments or obsessive thinking may tempt you. But there will be plenty of time for that. Take some time off from going mental.
Fri Jan 28 sun sextile Chiron is exact representing an opportunity for healing. Perhaps this is the beginning of some sort of improvement in the pandemic situation, but with Mercury retrograde conjunct Pluto taking risks is more dangerous than usual. Avoid road rage, online bickering, preoccupation with morbid or violent scenarios. Do some research on healing. Meditate on something that is troubling you. Write out a program that will help you transform your well being.
Also Fri Mercury retrograde conjunct Pluto is exact. Mercury retrograde ends Feb 3, making this an unusual Mercury conjunct Pluto that will last all the way to Feb 18. Expect intense conversations. It will be easier than usual to think and speak with sharp humor or deflating pessimism about others or self. Is that really how you want to spend your precious time? Find something transformative to obsess about. Instead of avoiding the depths explore them, read about them, talk about them. This can be a time of great healing, but also a time of frightening or depressing news.
With the first of three exact U.S. Pluto returns this year we can expect the American drama to become epic soon. The cases being built against the former president may burst into the news again as the nation argues about what really happened not only January 6 but in the way Trump did business, and how he and his partners handled the presidency. Secrets will be revealed. Be careful when it comes to the pandemic. Pluto rules transformations, that is mutations. Why take unnecessary risks when the practice of patience and mindfulness can not only protect ourselves and others but also prepare us to handle life with greater wisdom. Ponder this quote from Thich Nhat Hanh: “Fear keeps us focused on the past or worried about the future. If we can acknowledge our fear, we can realize that right now we are okay. Right now, today, we are still alive, and our bodies are working marvelously. Our eyes can still see the beautiful sky. Our ears can still hear the voices of our loved ones.”
Saturday Jan 29 Venus is stationary direct in Capricorn at 12:46 AM, Taureans and Librans rejoice! Venus is just the harmonious presence we need to counteract Mercury conjunct Pluto. Look to the women in your life, and to all those associated with the feminine side of life, for pleasant times, refreshing beauty, and conscientious stewardship. Be sure to make some time this weekend for romance, art, music, natural beauty, and rejuvenate your mind and soul.
Sunday Jan 30 sun square Uranus is exact, this can be an irritable and impatient aspect, indicating detours, delays, disruptions, errors due to hastiness. Take your time. We all need more freedom in our lives after the last two years, but we must choose our freedoms carefully, with a sense of responsibility to our fellow travelers in this space/time. Do something different, but don’t be in a rush to break free immediately. With almost three more weeks of Mercury conjunct Pluto ahead plans may change. As Thich Nat Hanh said: “Letting go gives us freedom, and freedom is the only condition for happiness. If, in our heart, we still cling to anything — anger, anxiety, or possessions — we cannot be free.”
