2023 feels kind of epic.
There are some major planetary shifts and movements taking place, and while some changes in the cosmic lineup are only preparing us for what’s to come over the next few years, 2023 does feel like the beginning of a new chapter. Maybe even a whole new book. Why? Let’s discuss…
But first, a preface: Despite the length of this piece (feel free to read it in a few sittings) it is but a very brief overview. Each avenue of discussion warrants its own article, or three. I hope the information here will launch you into further research and reflection. And stay tuned, because I’ll be revisiting many, if not all, of these topics throughout 2023.
*Pluto
I was going to save the happenings of our furthermost planet for last, but it’s honestly too exciting to keep you waiting. A large part of the reason 2023 feels like we’re opening a new book is that, after about 15 years spent in Capricorn, Pluto will make its first ingress to Aquarius on March 23. The last time Pluto transited here was between 1778 and 1798. I’ll just let that sink in for a moment… wild, right?
Now, I say “first ingress” because Pluto isn’t quite done with its work in Capricorn, and will return there for another go on June 11. This same back-and-forth will occur once more during 2024, but by the end of that year, Pluto will be in Aquarius to stay until 2043. So, where Pluto is concerned, 2023 might be a bit like reading the first chapter of a very long novel. We don’t yet know the full scale of the book, but we’re getting a sense of its themes and what we might expect in the pages to come.
Given Pluto’s lengthy stay in the Zodiac signs, it makes sense that it would represent processes that take a long time, such as regeneration. A Pluto cycle can take us from the destruction of something, to the discovery of why it needed destroying in the first place, to the blueprints of what the new something should look like, to the rebuilding of said something, and all the way to a total restructure of that something. It’s a planet of Underworld journeying - we’ve been to hell and back, as they say. This is what’s been happening in your Capricorn house, and will happen in your Aquarius house.
Mary Shelley, author of the groundbreaking novel Frankenstein (widely considered to be the birth of science fiction) had her natal Pluto in Aquarius. I mention this because I feel there is some strange connection between that piece of fiction, and the very real AI programs that seem to be popping up everywhere. And we certainly may see themes of technology and science, becoming a point of heightened interest on a collective level during this transit. I’m not saying we should live in fear of technology, but we should be prepared for a kind of reconstruction of how tech influences the communal and societal structures within which we live.
Let’s keep working our way “backwards” through the planets…
*Neptune
Nothing near as epic to report here. Neptune will be in Pisces for another calendar year, transiting between 23-27 degrees of the mutable water sign. If you have planets or points between 23 & 27 degrees of Pisces or the other Mutable signs - Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius - Neptune’s movements throughout 2023 may be more potent for you.
*Uranus
No sign change here, either, as Uranus will stay within the realm of 15-23 degrees of Taurus during 2023. If you do have planets or points between those degrees of Taurus or the other Fixed signs - Leo, Scorpio, and Aquarius - Uranus may play a more prominent role for you overall.
*Saturn
Now we reach another game-changer for 2023. After spending just over 5 years transiting its home signs of Capricorn and Aquarius, Saturn will ingress to Pisces on March 7. (Yep, another big shift happening in March!)
I’m uncharacteristically optimistic about this shift. After 5 years of Saturn doing Saturn things, in Saturn’s house, living by Saturn’s rules, it’s enough already. That’s a lot of heavy energy, even for this “feel your darkest feels, endure the pain” Scorpio. I genuinely love Saturn and its gothy self. It’s such a fantastic teacher. The thing is, we don’t really get to choose the lesson plan when it comes to Saturn. We have to live through the experiences Saturn is willing to provide wisdom on, and a lot of times those experiences are challenging. But they’re also typically quite rewarding…in the way that, like, going through some heavy shit can forever change our capacity for compassion and empathy.
In Pisces, among other things, we’re learning about emotional maturity, about the truths of our faith and spirituality, about the realities of what’s actually possible, and about what it really means to loosen our control. For me, the combination of Saturn in a Jupiter ruled sign, evokes the idea that the sacrifices we have to make in this life are the very thing that reinforce why life is worth living. The hardest endings usually signify an incredibly fulfilling and meaningful beginning or middle. Think of the 8 of Cups in the Tarot - a figure walking away from something that made them happy, not because it no longer does, but because they know they must let go in order to take the next steps in their life’s journey.
In this transit we see Saturn, the planet of boundaries and control, navigating Pisces, a sign of boundlessness and surrender. That could manifest in so many ways, and I’m so intrigued to see what happens. I have plans to write about this transit in much greater detail, as well as provide horoscopes for every Rising sign, so stay tuned for that!
*Jupiter
The planet of abundance, expansion, and experiential wisdom begins its year traveling through Aries. This is a bold, confident, and daring expression of Jupiter. It’s ready to spice things up and take a few risks. There’s a lot of forward momentum in this transit, with Jupiter motivating us to make quick decisions so we can take more action, so we can make the big progress. And once Mars finishes its Retrograde on Jan. 12, this energy gets fully amped up.
On May 16, Jupiter will ingress to Taurus. This is Jupiter in a Venus ruled sign, which feels very generative and supportive. Here, Jupiter has a fertile ground where it can take all its plans, projects, and initiatives created in Aries, and give them some stabilizing roots. Taurus + Jupiter = sustainable growth. It’s in Taurus that we see how our Jupiter-in-Aries adventures might provide long term safety and security, pleasure, and nourishment. For example, if Aries is your sixth house and Jupiter has helped you to increase your physical health and wellbeing, then how does that impact your close relationships when Jupiter moves into your seventh house?
Jupiter coming into Taurus affirms and expands upon the Uranus in Taurus story that’s been playing out since mid 2018. Collectively, this could pertain to (among other things) women’s rights, environmental issues, and food production. Personally, it all depends on where Taurus is in your chart. Uranus tends to be rather disruptive in the way that it brings about sudden and unexpected events. But this is also how major change and innovation can happen. With Jupiter in the mix, this energy is amplified, but there’s also a general sense of optimism to it all.
*Mars
Rejoice, rejoice y’all, cause Mars’ Retrograde in Gemini is finally coming to an end on Jan. 12! If you listen to The Stars Turn podcast - https://anchor.fm/thestarsturn - then you’ll know just how exciting this is. You’ll also recall that I’ve talked a lot about how Mars in Gemini can manifest as scattered energies that easily lead to burnout. All of which was worsened under the RX, thanks to a sense of urgency paired with low energy.
I’ve realized over the past few weeks though, that a general sense of frustration via communication has also been a prominent theme. Whether it’s an all around prickly conversation, or a word used in just such a way that it makes you cringe, there’s been a kind of friction through connection. I’ll be spending the rest of Mars’ time in Gemini reflecting on why these conversations have brought irritation - were boundaries crossed? Did they bring up unresolved issues? Was it simply a misunderstanding? Where has my frustration served me and where has it hindered me?
Now, Mars doesn’t suddenly become an easeful, optimistic planet just because it’s moving forward, but it does become easier to work with. Mars isn’t very interested in reflecting on the past or moving slowly, as is necessary with a RX cycle. So, even though Mars may have us moving towards something challenging - a separation, a cutting away, an ending - at least we have clarity and a sense of direction for doing so, as opposed to the aimlessness and helplessness we may have been experiencing before.
The red planet won’t actually leave Gemini until Mar. 25. And by the time all is said and done, this will have been a 7 month transit, with a 7 month story that’s been unfolding for all of us. (Here’s hoping the final chapters are a little softer.) After that, Mars will move through the Zodiac at a regular pace, making it all the way to Sagittarius by the EOY.
*Venus
The planet of love and beauty starts the year out in Capricorn, finishes it in Libra, but takes an extended stay in Leo that includes a Retrograde cycle.
Venus in Leo can help us to set standards. To ensure we’re getting the kind of treatment we deserve, whether that’s simply because we exist and that’s enough, or because we’ve done something that deserves special recognition. The RX could be a time to consider if we’re receiving that treatment. And if not, what might need to change? Have we been properly expressing what we need? Are our partners showing up in the ways we desire?
This is a very confident and expressive place for Leo. It’s a very big, bold, and bright energy, and I think this RX casts a bit of shade on all that, or quiets things down. We may notice some of the fire and flair we typically feel in this part of the chart, is harder to access during the RX. There’s a sense of being blocked or stagnant in our physical expression. Of course, the classic RX themes of delays, reversals, and mix ups are a possibility. As is the recurrence of certain relationships or relational dynamics that were prominent in previous Venus RX in Leo cycles.
Current cycle:
Ingress to Leo - June. 5
Station RX - July 22 at 28˚
RX - July 22 - Sep. 3
Station Direct - Sep. 3 at 12˚
Ingress to Virgo - Oct. 8
Previous cycles:
Jul. 25 (0˚ Virgo) - Sep. 6 2015 (14˚ Leo)
Jul. 27 - Sep. 8 2007 (2˚ Virgo - 16˚ Leo)
*Mercury
2023 starts with Mercury Retrograde in Capricorn, which, of course, is ruling over Mars, and I think that makes for a much needed slow start to the year. I’ve always felt the transition from December to January deserved to have a more peaceful and quiet quality, so I love this kind of calmer start to the calendar year.
Mercury has 3 additional RX cycles throughout the year, though one will finish in 2024, and they’ll all be taking place in Earth signs. So, these houses in our charts will determine the life topics and relationships where we’re revising, reconsidering, and revamping our approach throughout 2023.
The impact of a Mercury RX all depends on how it interacts with your chart. If you have a Gemini or Virgo Rising, Mercury and its movements will always carry greater importance for you. If Mercury is your time lord for the year, then these retrogrades will likely stand out that much more. This latter example was the case for me for most of 2022, and I can tell you that Mercury’s RX cycles were pretty on the nose - lots of tech mishaps, communication mixups, travel delays, things on the fritz, etc.
It’s good practice to do things like backup your hard drives, and change your passwords before a RX. And during, you’ll want to give yourself extra time for everything, re-read all your correspondences, think for an extra beat before you react, and cut yourself (and those you’re interacting with) some slack.
RX Dates:
Dec. 29 2022 - Jan. 18 2023 (24˚ - 8˚ Capricorn)
Apr. 21 - May 14 (15˚ - 5˚ Taurus)
Aug. 23 - Sep. 15 (21˚ - 8˚ Virgo)
Dec. 13 - Jan. 1 2024 (8˚ Cap - 22˚ Sag)
*The Moon - Eclipses
Though the Moon’s Nodes will be changing signs this year, shifting to Aries & Libra on July 17, the 2023 Eclipses are happening across 2 different Zodiac sign axes - Taurus & Scorpio, where we’re wrapping up one story, and Aries & Libra, where a new story is beginning.
Eclipse Dates:
(NN) Total Solar Eclipse - April 20 - 29˚ Aries
(SN) Lunar Eclipse - May 5 - 14˚ Scorpio
(SN) Solar Eclipse - Oct. 14 - 21˚ Libra
(NN) Partial Lunar Eclipse - Oct. 28 - 5˚ Taurus
Eclipses symbolize great beginnings and endings in our lives, and they tend to create a cyclical pattern of sorts in our personal histories. It can be helpful to look back at the previous cycles of Nodal transits, to help get an idea of what kind of themes and stories might be coming back into focus. This same configuration (North Node in Aries and South Node in Libra) happened from late Dec. 2004 - late June 2006. More recently we had the opposite (SN in Aries and NN in Libra) which is still worth bringing into the fold because it activated the same signs and houses in our charts, which took place from mid Feb. 2014 - mid Nov. 2015.
It may feel a little like history repeating, but we never go through two cycles in quite the same way, even when they feel like echoes of each other. We’ve gained experience and wisdom since the last transits of the Nodes in these signs, and we can use that to tackle whatever comes our way this time.
On a collective level, the Aries and Libra axis speaks to themes of self and other. To how we assert ourselves and individuate, while still being part of relationships and showing up in ways our partnerships need. To how we can drive forward with our solo goals and needs, while maintaining compassion and consideration for how our actions impact those around us.
*The Moon - Double New Moon
Last, but certainly not least, we come to the Moon itself. Every lunation deserves its own article or podcast episode, but what I wanted to highlight here is the fact we’ll have two New Moons in the sign of Aries in 2023. It’s not a totally rare occurrence, but it does stand out.
Now, the first of those New Moons - happening on Mar. 21 at 0˚ - will be our most advantageous. It takes place just hours after the Spring Equinox and the beginning of Aries Szn, and its ruler, Mars, will be moving at full speed. So, it’s a really nice energy for launching forward. A very classic New Moon.
The second of these New Moons - happening on Apr. 20 at 29˚ - is a Solar Eclipse, and therefore not a great time for our regular lunar rituals and practices. It is a perfect time however, to just be aware and open to messages coming in, and themes beginning to arise, as this is a preview of sorts for the coming Eclipse cycles in Aries and Libra.
And there you have it, a sort of brief look at what’s to come in 2023. I hope you’ve enjoyed this and that it serves you well throughout the year. All the best, thank you for reading, and please enjoy this free calendar for the month of January! It has all the major aspects and planetary movements, ready for you to make the most of the cosmic energies. (Please send me an email damnfinewitch@gmail.com if you need some help reading it!)