Astral Weather Forecast December 2022

Mercury Retrograde, and Looking Ahead to the New Year

Nov 28, 2022

Please note that I am a sidereal Vedic astrologer and my calculations are based on the sidereal zodiac, Lahiri ayanamsa, not on the tropical system used by most western astrologers.

The last month of 2022 begins with a conjunction of Mercury, Venus, and the Sun in Scorpio in opposition to a powerful retrograde Mars in Taurus. Jupiter, planet of wisdom, hope, and expansiveness, stationed direct and began moving forward on November 23. Venus, planet of love, peace, and harmony, transited past its long period of combustion (on November 26) and is now beginning to reappear in its auspicious evening star apparition. These recent movements of the benefic planets are a Godsend for this period and in the months ahead. We will end December and begin the new year of 2023 with a retrograde Mercury, which will station retrograde on December 29.

Using a five-degree effective orb:

Mercury is in opposition with Mars from November 27 to December 2.
Venus is in opposition with Mars from November 28 to December 5. They are also exchanging signs (parivartana yoga/mutual reception) from November 13 to December 5.
The Sun is in opposition with Mars from December 4 to 11.

Using a wider orb, which is acceptable practice in Vedic astrology, the opposition of Mars with Mercury, Venus, and the Sun began in mid-November. In their higher expression, these aspects can have an ambitious, creative, and determined quality, and may also suggest an opportune time for contemplation, research, and study. In their lower expression, they can point to intense storms or seismic disturbances. They may also reflect excessive emotion, anger, or passion, rash behavior, irritability, fault-finding, or violent acts.

When these oppositions are in place, one should especially avoid gossip and slander, and practice “counting to ten” before reacting to anything or anyone that is challenging. In addition, a strong tamasic (heavy, dense) quality is constituted by Mars, Venus, Mercury, and the Sun in fixed signs Taurus and Scorpio. This tamasic energy is best managed through physical fitness, body work, and deep relaxation techniques.

The Sun will conjoin the fixed star Antares from December 1-3. Antares is a flaming red binary star located at 15 degrees and 54 minutes in the heart of Scorpio. As the fifteenth brightest star in the sky, Antares indicates pride, strength, strategic success, and sometimes, revenge. Antares means the “Rival of Mars,” and its nature can be like that of Mars: impulsive, pugnacious, volatile, aggressive, and noxious. The Sun conjoined Antares has at times past been associated with major accidents, violent events, political unrest and assassinations, and flooding. (Note that Mercury and Venus already conjoined Antares around November 24).

Mercury will station retrograde at zero degrees of Capricorn on December 29. Its pre-retrograde shadow period will extend from December 12 to December 29, during which time we will get a glimpse of the themes that will be playing out in our lives during the retrograde period. Mercury will retrograde back through the last half of Sagittarius until January 18, 2023, at which point it will station direct at 14 degrees of Sagittarius. The post-retrograde cycle will extend from January 18 to February 6, when we will be adjusting to the shifts that occurred in the previous month or so.

As 2023 begins during a Mercury retrograde cycle, this can point to a slower than usual start to the new year. In fact, we may as well delay any new year resolutions until Mercury goes direct, and perhaps instead enjoy an extended holiday period. Yet, this may be a frustrating proposition for some, as Mercury will be retrograding in the idealistic and striving sign of Sagittarius which is always ready to forge ahead to the next idea or adventure!

Each year, Mercury retrogrades three or four times, and each time in a different sign within a particular element. In the past year or so, it retrograded in earth signs. I previously wrote an article about what this meant for 2022. Mercury will be retrograding in fire signs starting in this new cycle and extending through 2023. The last time it retrograded in fire signs was in late 2016 through 2017.

Mercury is the planet of technology, commerce and trade, speech, travel, communication, learning, intellectual analysis, discernment, astrology, and the nervous system.
Mercury in fire signs can be creative, courageous, enthusiastic, optimistic, aspiring, future-oriented, freedom-loving, and thirsty for knowledge and experience. In its lower expression, it can also be impulsive, impatient, overconfident, demanding, unrealistic, fervent, agitated, or stressed out. Since Mercury will be retrograding (and thus spending a lot of time) in the fire signs throughout 2023, these qualities will be intensely emphasized in the above-mentioned areas that Mercury governs.
With Mercury retrograding in fire signs in 2023, it’s time to “think big” as we seek new perspectives and understanding that can lead to innovative solutions to our problems.
In 2023, many people will be up for travel, learning, adventure, and exploration. We will see new trends in education, the travel industry, and in technology and communication, including significant changes in the areas of news and social media, global trade, e-Commerce/Web development, digital currencies, and blockchain innovation.

Mercury will transit in Sagittarius from December 2 to February 6. Because of its retrograde cycle, this period is longer than usual for Mercury’s transit in a sign, which is usually only around 25 days. In general, and because it will be favorably disposited (or ruled) by Jupiter in Pisces, Mercury in Sagittarius can express a good deal of wisdom, hope, faith, joy, open-mindedness, and compassion.

Venus, planet of love and harmony, will join Mercury in Sagittarius from December 5 to 29. As Venus will also be disposited by an auspicious Jupiter in Pisces, this is a truly magical conjunction for the holiday season, reflecting some very pleasant vibes. From December 15 until January 14, the Sun will join the party in Sagittarius, adding to a sense of hope, good cheer, faith, and optimism!

Then, from December 17 to 22, the Sun will undergo its annual transit through the Galactic Center. Known in the Vedic tradition as Vishnunabhi, the Navel of Lord Vishnu, the Galactic Center spans from about two to seven degrees of sidereal Sagittarius. This center is the source of cosmic light and creative power for our whole Milky Way Galaxy including the solar system in which we live. Our Sun, the soul of the world, is annually recharged and rejuvenated in an “energetic upgrade” when it transits here, just in time for the New Year!

The solstice will occur on December 21 at 4:47 PM EST. This is the winter solstice in the northern hemisphere, and the summer solstice in the southern hemisphere. Later in December, I will share my annual new year forecast based on the winter solstice horoscope, so please stay tuned.

Mars, planet of action and energy, will continue to transit retrograde in Taurus until January 12, also adding to a slower start to the new year. Saturn is now transiting in the tail end of Capricorn, where he gains a good deal of strength to help complete all his challenging agendas which began in January 2020. Saturn will enter his more favorable sign of Aquarius on January 18, 2023. This will constitute a sea change which I will also be writing more about soon.

I wish all my readers a blessed December and Holiday Season.

I heard a bird sing in the dark of December. A magical thing. And sweet to remember. We are nearer to Spring than we were in September. I heard a bird sing in the dark of December. (Oliver Herford)