Today: minds slow to stillness, allowing greater perception of our heart’s depths. There, we may navigate emotional fathoms by an echolocational sense, abilities we may have forgotten that we have.

This comes as Mercury, Venus, and Pluto all come together in conjunction, in a harmonious relationship to the Moon’s transit over Neptune. Mercury, the master of cognition, is rapidly losing his characteristic speed – more on this later – allowing Venus to catch up. Now very closely connected, the love planet has access to technology not always available, devices for exploration and transmission. The proximity to Pluto ensures that these insights are direct and strong, cutting through any layers of self-deception or delusion – though they could be used to deceive or delude others, as Pluto is often tapped as an instrument for power and control. This is especially true with Neptune’s involvement; Neptune’s presence conjures the illusory. But assuming there is no ill intent, (and indeed, the contact is harmonious here,) Neptune can be a port of call to the great sea of dreams, revealing the interconnectedness of us all.

So while there are some components fit for duplicity, the week begins on a largely romantic note, possibly even a transcendent note.

And that’s the sugar around the bitter pill, because on Thursday (12/29,) Mercury will go retrograde until January 18th.

I wrote about this in my Capricorn Season piece, and will quote myself here. This retrograde marks the ending of a long period of connection between transiting Mercury and Venus, and indeed, they are exactly conjunct on this day, fusing the heart-mind for a final time this season. They will not get far away from each other this week, but space between them can be felt as the new year begins. “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…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.”

On the same day, the Moon will be sandwiched between Jupiter and Chiron, casting a negative ray at the Sun. Don’t overthink a compliment, or other vessels of elation. Getting out of one’s comfort zone could open avenues to real growth. Potentially a good couple of days for facing down trauma, as the Moon will also be with Chiron on Friday, 12/30.

This actually dovetails nicely into Saturday 12/31, New Year’s Eve, where Venus will make her conjunction to Pluto. We talked a little bit earlier about the power dynamic effects that can occur with a merging of these two celestial bodies, but it also holds a deeply transformative power. I will borrow once more from my Capricorn piece… “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…” The Moon will cast some friction on this conjunction of Venus and Pluto early in the day on Saturday, which may propel some folks into action.

New Year’s Day is usually a placid occasion to my mind, but it might be a little different this year. Though not necessarily unpleasant, the two luminaries may preside over some big surprises on Sunday 1/1/23, as the Sun casts a harmonious ray to the Moon, who will be passing over the conjunction of Uranus and the North Node. I’ve written a lot about this conjunction before, and the long and short of it is “material shake-ups.” The Sun and Moon should smile on whatever curveballs fly into your open glove. Meanwhile, Mars begins to slow down and station at 8 degrees Gemini. More on this in the coming weeks, but what it basically means is that Mars Retrograde is drawing to a close. Now is the time not to act, but to digest information from the past few months, to strategize, cultivate oneself, fortify.

Monday (1/2/23) may feel like the first real salvo of the Mercury Retrograde period, as the Moon tips a hat in his direction Mercury. He is still stalled out, busy trying to process too much information, as the sextile to Neptune is still active. We may be called to revise, rethink, redo.

Then on Tuesday (1/3/23,) Venus enters Aquarius, truly ending her time together with Mercury, as they are now fully in different signs. Her transit through Pluto served as a gateway of sorts, a crucible for rebirth. She is not particularly strong or weak here, but she is certainly different. “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.” As an exclamation point on this change, the Moon will move over Mars, but will cast a big, harmonious ray to Venus, highlighting the renewed connection between the maiden and the knight. She is in a position to offer the wounded warrior comfort and counsel as he takes this moment to rest. Indeed, in our lives and insofar as we are able, this may mean directing our energies to the things we love most, or to be open to new enjoyments.

Until next Hump Day! Happy New Year!