HAPPY NEW YEAR 2023 !!!

    

MERCURY completed its fourth and final retrograde journey for 2022 on Wednesday, January 18th, and stationed  back into direct motion at 8:12 AM EST - once again, do I hear a BIG SIGH OF RELIEF out there especially as Mars also completed its retrograde journey on January 12th ??? ... what revelations have you had or will have, either positive or challenging in regards to what you may have done while Mercury has been "scrubbing" over these degrees - 24 degrees 21 minutes Capricorn back to 8 degrees 8 minutes Capricorn - forwards, then backwards and now forward again as it crosses back over them ... in which house or houses do these degrees fall in your natal chart giving you a clue as to what area of your life this retrograde may have affected you ???

Hopefully, some of the disorientation, confusion, frustration and outright irritation along with the sudden and unexpected issues that may have been produced by this Mercury retrograde will now begin to clear and subside as it becomes time to move forward cautiously into the swing of things on all levels especially with Mars having resumed direct motion as well ...  this is a lot of energy and incentive encouraging us to get "unstuck" and move forward on some level of our lives ... in fact we might all could finally say "HAPPY NEW YEAR 2023" !!!

Did any issues and complications or questioning arise in regards to things done during the last retrograde period from September 10th through October 2nd, 2022 ??? ... or maybe as far back as May 10th through June 3rd, 2022 ... or even January 14th through February 2nd, 2022 ??? ... and it's a sure bet that as Mercury moves forward once again crossing back over the degrees it covered during this retrograde period, issues may begin to arise meaning things begun and actions taken are certainly subject to potential review and revision - a never ending universal process but all for a good reason !!!




Mercury retrograde periods, even though annoying and extremely frustrating at times, are actually a very beneficial thing, especially for those who were strong and fearless enough to dig deep down, as we need to validate, or in some cases invalidate, actions and situations gone awry and deal with them in order to finally release them to produce a calmer, positive and more productive state of mind thus allowing us to move forward to bring about greater personal and spiritual growth !!! ... again, if you've had a natal chart done, you should look to see in which house or houses containing 24 DEGREES 21 MINUTES BACK TO 8 DEGREES 8 MINUTES CAPRICORN fall to determine what issues you may have had to deal with in the areas of life governed by those houses ??? ... how many of you went with the flow and how many of you tried to swim upstream in the raging current of Cosmic confusion ???



Of course the recurring question we may find ourselves asking now that Mercury is back in direct motion is "WHY" ??????? ...What actions did you take yourself or have taken against you that you or the other person may now be regretting ... or you may be simply wondering why you chose to do what you did or why you were the victim of a particular course of action from other(s), and why didn't you or the other person wait a little longer ...  or perhaps you are simply now trying to figure out why it even happened ???

Relationships may have come to an end - some needed to and others may have jumped the gun and you are now wondering, or will be, why did I do that or end things during this period ...  how many of you had relationship issues surface or resurface, extremely likely in a Mercury retrograde, that you thought surely had been resolved or didn't even realize existed ???  ... how many of you began new actions within a relationship, personal or professional without waiting for the retrograde period to conclude ??? ... AND ... how many of you got married ??? 




Did anyone make any major purchases - homes, cars, electronics - that now don't seem like the best thought out course of action or that you are beginning to regret or will do so in the days ahead ??? ... there could be problems regarding any purchases made especially with anything where electrical energy and/or computers were involved ... all of these scenarios are possible as the energy of a Mercury retrograde is one where communications and mental energy is going "backwards" and rational decision making isn't always so sharp !!!




So now that the mental processing facilities are no longer going backwards - at least for most of us if you know what I mean - in regard to Mercury and its functions, it's time to finally RELEASE these emotional holds and allow ourselves to move forward with our lives ... let go of what is best left in the past so you can achieve greater personal and spiritual growth !!!

Mercury retrograde in Capricorn was retrograde in an earth sign ... these retrogrades are mainly focused on practical matters ... Saturn was the planetary ruler of this Mercury retrograde ... the areas potentially affected with Saturn ruling the retrograde were : form, discipline, responsibility, organization, ambition, limitations and delays ... Saturn governs theories and scientific laws, older persons, depth, patience, timing, tradition, conventionality, productive use of time ... Saturn represents the principles of truth, the solidification of wisdom and of aging ... its action is slow and lasting !!! 

Certainly this retrograde had the potential to affect ones career and/or public image as Saturn rules Capricorn which the natural sign on the 10th house cusp ... there may have been some very deep and weighty thinking and rethinking done here ... along with profession, reputation and standing in the community, other areas where issues might have arisen that needed reviewing and rethinking may have included the following : ego, status, fame (or lack of it), promotion, ambition, business or social activities, ones employer, the government or any other authority over one, personal achievements, the way the world sees and evaluates one, the influence one exerts in their own circle, and the parent who is considered the authoritarian if both parents are still here, or the parent who remains should there only be one !!!

In regards to overall health, remember Mercury is the natural planetary ruler of the 6th house which rules health, so there could have been more chances to have health issues in general during a Mercury retrograde ... in Capricorn, again ruled by Saturn, there could also have been more potential to have health issues with the bones, joints, knees, the skin, the skeletal system including the teeth, left ear and the auditory organs !!!

Gemini and Virgo born, yet another period of review and reflection for you has come to an end

especially in regards to actions taken since October 2nd when Mercury last stationed back into direct motion ... how have you been enlightened and how was your life affected by having your ruling planet Mercury retrograde ... your ruling planet now resumes forward motion and much to your delight so will you - even though you were probably trying to do it during the actual retrograde ... right, of course right - in fact many of us were doing the same thing !!!

Those of you born between December 30th and January 17th definitely got Mercury retrograde energy in their birthday (solar return) chart for the whole year ahead ... those born on December 29th and January 18th may or may not have gotten this backward energy depending on the time of your solar return ... I, being born on January 18th, got it this time as my solar return occurred on the 17th - gee, thanks Universe !!! ... below is a repeat explanation of what it means to have Mercury Retrograde for the whole year in your birthday chart:



The significance of having Mercury retrograde in your yearly birthday chart or, as we refer to it in Astrology, a Solar Return, is summed up below by Mary Fortier Shea in her book titled "Planets in Solar Return" :



"A Solar Return is the time every year that the Sun returns to the same degrees and minutes it was at when you were born - all the more reason to know your birth time now isn't it, hmmmmm????? ... a new chart is run for you at the time your solar return occurs in that given year and it is run for wherever you are at the precise time of your solar return ... this produces a new horoscope chart which shows what energy you may or may not run into for the year ahead - that is from the current birthday until next years birthday ... its energy can be felt from one to three months out before the actual solar return occurs .... often people will relocate for the return time in order to get a particular energy in their solar return chart !!!



Mercury is usually retrograde in a solar return chart every six years ... during this time it's best to be introspective ... you should be learning and thinking on your own rather than depending on others ... the mind is like an overstuffed drawer seriously in need of re-filing and reorganization ... in other words the time has come to "process" !!!



The mental processes are not very receptive to new information at this time ... it's time to go back and re-examine and review things in your life which may have been started but not carried through to fruition or maybe interrupted and suddenly abandoned for some reason ... by focusing inward you might be able to see that your own opinions, thoughts and decisions work best for you rather than those made by others ... at the same time be very receptive to the feedback others are giving you especially if you have missed the mark in regard to some endeavor !!!




Another side effect of this energy is secretiveness where you decide to withhold information or sometimes outright lie ... and why ??? .. because you have secrets that need to be kept or else were you to express your opinions and thoughts outwardly it could cause tension in your relationships ... have plenty of ice cream around to soothe the tongue you are most likely going to have to bite frequently this year !!!



This is a great year to keep a journal and put your thoughts down on paper and also to write original material ... sometimes you can see things differently when thoughts and ideas are written down which is a very helpful way to get organized ... this is a year where you will probably realize old opinions and beliefs are now outdated thus encouraging you to reassess your thinking, reformulate previously developed ideas, and shed new light on something on some level of your life that needs to be addressed !!!



It doesn't really have to be a bad year ... done wisely, fast forwarding to the past and clearing out the "clutter", you can propel yourself further ahead in life than you originally may have thought !!! "

Just a reminder of what the energy of Mercury in Capricorn is all about should you need a "refresher" :

Mercury was last in Capricorn from December 13th, 2021 through February 14th 2022 due to a dual retrograde period where it entered Aquarius but returned to Capricorn before stationing direct !!!

Mercury in Capricorn is the energy of a highly organized mentality ... it is a hard worker that stores up facts and figures for future practical use ... it is cautious and highly methodical as it knows what it wants and exactly how it plans to get it ... the mind as well as the tongue are serious and sensible ... communication is made cautiously, and for those born with this energy in their youth there could be doubt as to ones mental ability therefore yielding a need to prove ones self as having a good mind ... there is sometimes this doubt associated with limited educational opportunities in childhood that may be overcome by further study in adulthood ... words here are usually not spoken until they are well thought out unless, of course, MODIFIED by something else in the natal chart !!!



Mercury in Capricorn can make one appear to be rather formal, authoritative, reserved and self-sufficient which can sometimes inhibit communications with others ... natural logic and cautious planning are oriented towards material success and/or personal responsibilities ... thinking is well-organized ... learning is achieved through persistence, dedication, and steady progress ... one might become a little pessimistic under  this energy by mistakenly focusing on limits rather than potentials ... here we have a Mercury/Saturn (ruler of  Capricorn) relationship that will ultimately give a very structured, organized and well thought out quality to the mind and communicating especially if there is no other energy adversely modifying it !!!



Mercury in Capricorn can make one ambitious, careful, calculating and very patient ... one excels at handling detail and rarely loses sight of the overall picture ... people born under this energy often obtain positions of leadership due to their dependability and their air of authority ... one must guard against becoming too dictatorial though ... the darker side of life is often viewed under this energy, yet a redeeming trait would be the very dry sense of humor bestowed here !!!



Mercury in Capricorn teaches us how to think and communicate through what it is we are "building" in our lives ... the mind rules the matter ... it's the organizer ... there is the capability of extended concentration and excellent organization ... one becomes realistic rather than idealistic in the approach to their goals ... little of practical consequence escapes ones attention due to a keen sense of awareness ... think of Mercury in Capricorn like a laser beam - pointed and locked on exactly what it wants and it will know exactly how to get it ... ultimately it is not the facts that ones mind contains that determines its quality - it is how you use your mind and what you use it for that counts ... another essential lesson of Mercury in Capricorn is to learn to USE concrete facts but NOT be weighed down by them ... when you achieve this, you realize how ridiculous it is being enslaved to material status and belongings ... the energy of Mercury in Capricorn can be expressed in the following ways:

POSITIVE: good timing, mentally cautious, not easily fooled, retentive mind, methodical mind, orderly mind, serious when necessary, level-headed, clever, discriminating, shrewd, profits from little, employs others, sober, clear and deliberating mind, strong concentration, painstaking, patient

NEGATIVE: procrastinating, slow learner, skeptical, mentally overloaded, lacking originality and imagination, given to melancholy, boring and rigid, suspicious, devious, avaricious, uses others, stern, dry minded



Mercury is currently transiting through the sign of Capricorn with Pluto !!!



Use this energy well and you will never lose sight of what really counts the most - your resourcefulness ... be sure to give your mind a break when it needs it, or IT may break !!! ... help to inspire others with a goal that you are able to see more clearly than they can !!!

No doubt my fellow Capricorns and I will come up with some truly scathingly brilliant ideas as it passes through our birth sign and eventually transits over some of our natal Sun placements ... perhaps during this lengthy back and forth transit of Mercury many of us may find ourselves summing it up by the very well known phrase made famous from the television series Dragnet - "JUST THE FACTS MA'AM" !!! 

Mercury now moves forward to complete its full transit through Capricorn which began back on December 6th, 2022 and will end on February 11th ... Mercury will exit its retrograde zone on February 7th when it returns to 24 degrees 21 minutes Capricorn the point where it began this retrograde period back on December 29th ... Mercury enters its next shadow point on April 7th ahead of its first full retrograde journey for 2023 which occurs from April 21st through May 15th going from 15 degrees 37 minutes Taurus back to 5 degrees 50 minutes Taurus !!!

For now, move forward and try to find ways to be grateful and thankful for all that you are blessed with even though there may be some difficult challenges occurring as well ... the Universe never lets us have anything "perfect" or "for free" because we are supposed to be in a constant state of enlightenment and illumination promoting personal and spiritual growth !!!