Happy Solstice to all! And Happy Holidays. The Sun enters Capricorn today, and the salty old sea-goat will play host to a labyrinth of celestial twists and turns over the course of this solar month. There will be challenges and there will be pressure, but they will be the type to refine uncommonly strong wills, akin to a tough little sapling bursting up through cracks in the asphalt.  

Nothing speaks to that more loudly than the New Moon in Capricorn on 12/23/22. Jupiter moved from its watery domicile in Pisces into brash Aries right before the Sun made its ingress into Capricorn, which immediately puts the two sky chiefs into an adversarial relationship This lunation serves as an exclamation point to that friction, but also as a jumping off point to the work they must do together. In Capricorn, the Sun’s light conveys cool control over its domain, a resource-oriented regent who wants his subjects to know that he runs a tight ship on every level. Meanwhile, Jupiter in Aries takes the archetype of the guru and trades out his entire lesson plan on interconnectedness for a playbook on will, power, and agency. He’s somewhere between fight coach and motivational speaker, but either way, he seems to want you to get your knees up and hustle for your personal betterment. The cultivation of these skills may not seem practical to the Sun in Capricorn, and practicality may seem banal and unimportant to Jupiter in Aries. The commonality here is efficacy, which is a quality that both planets prize. 

The new moon’s square to Jupiter marks the beginning of a period where a lot of growth is possible, but may be hard-won. All the more so because Jupiter in Aries takes his marching orders from Mars; Mars is still firmly retrograde, a commanding officer who is too busy and frustrated trying to clean and reassemble a gun they’ve taken apart to ever give a clear-headed order. It is likely that the way forward will not only be difficult and uncertain, but that it may require us to rethink our methodologies, whether that means getting inventive and trying something new, or as is often the case with retrograde planets, casting our minds back to reclaim strategies that have worked for us in the past. Another important component here is that Mars will not be retrograde for very much longer. More on that later.   

Chiron turns direct in Aries on the same day as the new moon, so we may expect that past doubts and insecurities are likely to creep into the picture. But for many, this may show the way to truly heal and move beyond these limiting factors, transmuting them into strength.

Mercury and Venus have been walking together for some time now, since mid-November, having spent the entirety of their time in Sagittarius walking hand in hand and never getting more than a few steps away from one another in Capricorn. When these two planets get together, clearer channels of communication open around love and aesthetic, art reflects the contents and processes of mind, casual conversation comes with a zest of the poetic. However, their time together is coming to a close.

First, the two planets will take turns making sextiles to Neptune. Mercury will do so on 12/24 and Venus on 12/27. Neptune is the planet of the great collective unconscious, and forms become more diluted in this space. But a sextile is an easy-going aspect, so even though it is an invitation to bathe in the potential for every other idea that’s possible, it is not a mandatory directive. Our minds and hearts should generally have a pleasant time slipping into this space, and good few days for indulgence into fantasy. For Venus, this is Step One in a process of being remade, and Step Two will be tougher. For the messenger planet, this dip in Neptune’s waters will occur twice more.

After a month of increasing distance between them, Mercury and Venus close the gap and form an exact conjunction again on 12/29, a culmination in the fusion of heart-mind. But they have only reconnected because Mercury has slowed down in order to turn back. On the very same day, Mercury’s retrograde through Capricorn begins. This retrograde lasts until 1/18/23, and the period will likely be colored by his conjunction and parting with Venus. The mind has to remember how to be the mind on its own again, separate from the heart. Neptune’s involvement in this retrograde station is also likely significant. Mercury doesn’t typically do well in aspect to Neptune, because Mercury is usually trying to work systems of communications, to transmit data, and Neptune is an ineffable sea of all available data. It would be like trying to print the entire internet. But in encountering that prospect, our minds may encounter koans which unlock deeper, more effective processes. This Mercury retrograde occurs in Capricorn after all, and as we discussed above, Capricorn likes getting things done. All the typical Mercury retrograde warnings apply: check your emails before you hit “send,” expect traffic and technological mishaps, try not to sign anything binding and official, travel during this period could be problematic, don’t break your cell phone, etc.

Venus will head in the other direction, casting off her vestments so that she can pass alone through the pressurized eye of Pluto on 12/31. Pluto is an intensity modifier, one that draws up what is hidden below the surface of whatever it touches. Part of Venus remembering who she is on her own is taking a long look at what she is getting from Capricorn’s controlling need to acquire. For some, this may mean interrogation of their hedonistic side to see whether or not they’re okay with a particular set of preferences. Should be an interesting New Year’s Eve! But seriously, there can be a huge array of emotional stirring from this type of internal process: shame, disgust, but also ecstasy and liberation. It may be a difficult transit for some folks, but an important one. Venus will then enter Aquarius on 1/3/23, ending her long rendezvous with Mercury. With Venus in Aquarius, we may be drawn to the contrary or uncommon. This is the realm of counter-culture, of sci-fi, of art with big ideas about the world, possibly informed by her recent time with Mercury.

On the other side of the zodiac, and as previously mentioned, Mars is still retrograde, a fact now complicated further by his rulership over Jupiter. That said, things are winding down. Most of the more problematic aspects on this journey are behind us, and the solar month begins only with a sextile to Chiron, which should offer entry points to therapeutically constructive use of Mars’ severing force. There are, however, a couple of contra-antiscial relationships to contend with. Antiscia and contra-antiscia are a different sort of connection in the chart, a sort of mirroring process that allows two planets to see each other despite not being connected by classic Ptolmeic aspect. To cut out the jargon, it’s sufficient to just call it a connection, one with significant charge. Mars will share this connection first to Mercury on 12/22, then to Venus on Christmas Day and Boxing Day. When Mercury and Mars get together, things might be said that can’t be taken back, anger and shit-talking are at a premium. With Venus, there may be unexpected passion in the mix, the kind that comes from opposites attracting.

Mars’ retrograde is usually a time where people feel their ability to implement their will is compromised, where things that have worked for them don’t anymore, where they feel impotent, pent-up, aggravated. I’ve written a lot about it in the past couple months, but it bears repeating that finding healthy outlets for this current is key. Self-destructive behaviors should be checked. And while we’re at it, check on your people.

Mars takes his marching orders from Mercury, as we just discussed, he’s going retrograde, too. So even thinking through solutions to Mars problems may prove to be shakey ground. Where to turn, then? Well, thankfully, the line of rulership terminates in a strong place. Jupiter may take his orders from Mars, and Mars may take his orders from Mercury, but Mercury in Capricorn is ruled by Saturn in Aquarius, who is a very strong and stern taskmaster. Thus, when in doubt, the best thing may be to fall back on the habits and routines that have proven most healthy and productive, and to cling to them for the time being. For those who have seen that Stutz doc, take care of your life force first.

And hey, it’s almost over: Mars slows way down and starts to station on 1/1/23, at 8 degrees Gemini. He stays put for almost two weeks, until he resumes direct motion in the late afternoon on 1/12/23. Mercury will be direct less than a week later on 1/18/23, at 8 degrees of Capricorn. Both planets will just hang out at 8 degrees of their respective signs until the end of the solar month. I’m not an astrologer who puts much stock in the meaning of individual degrees, nor am I a numerologist, but I bet someone has something to say about the significance of 8 degrees in relation to this doubled direct station.

That’s the big news, and takes us well past the holidays. A few other matters: the Full Moon in Cancer occurs on Three Kings’ Day, 1/6/23. The Moon will be right on top of the asteroid Pallas. Outside of Chiron, I don’t track the asteroids much, but I’ll sure pay attention when something big happens right on top of one. Pallas’ association with pattern-recognition mixed with the full-hearted moon in her domicile may mean it’s a good time to reflect on relationships with others and emotional processes on an internal level. This is the time when many have just reconnected with family and old friends, for good or ill, as well as the season of New Years Resolutions. All of this is a good excuse to take a good, long look at our own hearts and what they’ve been conditioned to do. The Sun will be conjunct a newly-retrograde Mercury, still trine to Uranus, just past a square to Chiron, a recipe for epiphanies which have been hanging out just at the tip of your brain.

The asteroid Juno then enters Aries on 1/13/23, making a conjunction to Jupiter. This becomes partile on 1/19/23. Like I said, I don’t pay attention to the asteroids much, but this was too cool not to take notice: in Greek and Roman myth, this is the pair that rules over the Pantheon. Of course, the planets and the gods are not a 1-to-1 equivalent. Most of the popular myths around this pair evoke marital discord, but I think we can expect the opposite here. Jupiter generally ennobles and bestows gifts upon what it touches; Juno, to my understanding, represents the things in life we feel drawn to commit to. With the two together, my feeling is that many will be drawn to actually capitalize on the blessings that Jupiter brings to their life by fully committing to their realization. Mileage may vary, as always. Look towards the area of your chart where Aries falls to see what this may represent.

Finally, the Sun will pass through the gates of Pluto, just as Venus did. For some, this will be an echo, a confrontation of what the redefinition of Venus says about one’s sense of self. This conjunction occurs on 1/18/23, the same day that Mercury resumes direct motion in Capricorn. We may expect the media cycle to focus in on corruptions within our civic systems, as the Sun’s flashlight is drawn to the vermin thriving off of the rot in these structures, totems of Pluto’s drive to consolidate power through unscrupulous means. The Sun will leave Capricorn a couple of days later.

Those are the headlines. Here are some notable dates:

12/21/22 – Moon opposite Mars Retrograde. Volatile stirrings of the heart.

12/22/22 – Venus’ exact trine to Uranus-North Node. Unexpected surprises, likely pleasant. Mars Rx sextile to Chiron in Aries. Mars-Mercury contra-antiscia. Cutting words may fly freely.

12/23/22 – New Moon in Capricorn square Jupiter in Aries. Chiron direct in Aries.

12/24/22 – Mercury exact sextile to Neptune. Moon will run across Venus, Mercury, then Pluto. A dreamy sort of Christmas Eve.

12/25/22 – Mars Rx contra-antiscia to Venus. Uncanny passions may be drawn out, and on Christmas Day!

12/26/22 – Moon conjunct Saturn in Aquarius. A day to get back to business.

12/27/22 – Venus sextile to Neptune. A pleasant window to escapism.

12/29/22 – Mercury goes retrograde in Capricorn. Mercury conjunct Venus exact. Moon sandwiched between Jupiter and Chiron. Don’t overthink a compliment, or other vessels of elation.

12/31/22 – Venus conjunct Pluto in Capricorn.

1/1/23 – Sun trine the Moon conjunct Uranus-North Node. A day for shake-ups and surprises. Mars begins to slow and station at 8 degrees Gemini.

1/2/23 – Mercury Retrograde sextile Neptune exact. Moon trines Mercury. We may be called to revise, rethink, redo.

1/3/23 – Venus’ ingress into Aquarius, sextile Jupiter in Aries. Moon conjunct Mars Retrograde. Careful of anger triggers.

1/5/23 – Sun trine Uranus exact. The air is thick with self-revelation. Mercury begins to lock into combustion, bringing the retrograde functions from bad to worse. Combustion is a condition where a planet grows too close to the Sun, its strength drowned out and stolen.

1/6/23 – Full Moon in Cancer.

1/7/23 – Mercury cazimi, a quick one, only in the early morning hours between 7am-9am. Venus begins to trine Mars Rx, cooling and bringing peace to the overheated warrior.

1/8/23 – Moon in Leo will touch the Uranus-NN by square, will oppose Venus, and Jupiter and Mars will be keyed into this by trine and sextile to the Moon. Mercury Rx trines Uranus exactly. Volatile and uncomfortable, but a day which may set things into motion by friction.

1/9/23 – Venus locks into an exact trine to Mars Rx, further pacifying him as he prepares to resume direct motion.

1/11/23 – Grand Earth Trine: trines between Mercury Rx, Moon in Virgo, and Uranus-NN. Possibility for foundations to shake.

1/12/23 – Mars goes direct in Gemini, in a trine to Venus in Aquarius, and in contra-antiscia to the Sun. Fresh from retraining, the warrior assesses targets and makes his preparations. Venus is in an exact sextile to Chiron. A window to work with our insecurities around our preferences and aesthetics opens. Mercury Rx is in an exact trine to the North Node. There is an opportunity to revise on a material level, but also a potential for mistakes made today to stick. The Moon in Virgo opposes Neptune. The possibility for delusions to knock us off course.

1/13/23 – The Moon in Libra passes over Ceres, opposes Jupiter and a square to Mercury Rx. She also creates a Grand Air Trine, sharing soft aspects with Venus and a freshly-direct Mars. The Air Trine invigorates minds and promotes freedom of thought, though some may find this disruptive and maddening. Juno enters Aries, making a conjunction with Jupiter. Sun in an exact sextile to Neptune.

1/14/23 – Moon in Libra trines Saturn in Aquarius, inviting us to examine ways to get comfortably organized.

1/16/23 – The Moon in Scorpio passes over the South Node, possibly triggering the destructive energy of the Uranus-NN conjunction. The Sun begins to pass over Pluto. Mercury slows, stationing at 8 degrees Capricorn.

1/18/23 – Mercury goes direct this morning, in a trine to Uranus-NN and square to Jupiter. A brains get a jolt in the right direction. The Sun is conjunct Pluto.

1/19/23 – Exact conjunction of Jupiter and Juno. The Sun is anaretic, which may make some mentally sluggish. Both Mercury and Mars are direct, but staying put at 8 degrees of their respective signs.

1/20/23 – The Sun enters Aquarius.