The Week of January 8, 2023: Retrograde Planets and a Waning Moon Point to a Potentially Challenging Week
Why you should be prepared to experience intense and dramatic events during the next seven days
Note that this and all my other forecasts are based on the sidereal zodiac used in both Vedic and Western sidereal astrology, not the tropical system used by most Western and some Vedic astrologers. All the astrological charts below are calculated according to the sidereal zodiac and Lahiri Ayanamsa.
Mercury in a Fiery State of Combustion January 1 to January 12: Increased Potential for Miscommunications and Misunderstandings
Mercury is still making waves as it continues its retrograde transit in Sagittarius until January 18, which I discussed in depth in a previous article. Mercury is the planet of technology, commerce and trade, travel, speech, communication, learning, intellectual analysis, discernment, astrology, and the nervous system. As Mercury has been retrograde since December 29, you can see why a lot of areas of our lives might have felt a bit off kilter.
Additionally, since January 1, Mercury has been combust the Sun. Combustion occurs when planets are too close to the Sun. In the case of retrograde Mercury, it combusts when it is within 12 degrees of longitude of the Sun. When any planet is combust, it is invisible to us, which can manifest as certain deficits or challenges related to what that planet represents.
As an example, the name for combustion in Vedic astrology is “kopa,” which is Sanskrit for “irritated, overheated, or angry.” A combust Mercury can therefore point to miscommunications, misunderstandings, difficulty with decision making, and sometimes, impatience, agitation, or even aggression.
The combustion of Mercury will end on January 12. Around that time, Mercury will reappear in the morning sky, having made its transition from evening star to morning star. Mercury’s evening star apparition will last until April, at which point Mercury will transition back again to its morning star phase.
Mercury Prepares to Go Direct on January 18: Increased Ability to Process Information and Consider New Ideas
Mercury made its inferior conjunction with the Sun on Saturday, January 7. This is an astronomical event that occurs when retrograde Mercury lines up between the Earth and Sun, meaning that it is conjoined at the same degree of longitude as the Sun. The inferior conjunction of Mercury always occurs near the midpoint of its retrograde cycle.
Mercury’s inferior conjunction set the stage for the next ten days of the planet's remaining retrograde cycle. Around a few days before and after the Mercury inferior conjunction, we may tap into some important information and guidance. We may also begin to metaphorically sow seeds for the future.
New plans and ideas are likely to emerge around Mercury’s direct station on January 18. Until then, we may be mulling over ideas and preparing to take action. But we still need to wait until Mercury goes direct to make any life-altering decisions or to initiate anything significant.
The Moon Finishes Its Full Phase and Starts to Wane: Time to Absorb Gifts of Wisdom and Focus on Relationships
The Moon is still finishing up its Full phase. The Full Moon phase can reflect intense and dramatic events, both positive and negative. The world may appear crazier and more unstable than usual. Relationship themes can also be in focus. It’s also a time to deeply absorb any gifts of wisdom gleaned in recent days around the Full Moon.
As we move past the Full phase, the Moon will continue to decrease in light in its Waning Gibbous phase. Now we may start to feel a desire to break free from the drama of the world. The Waning Gibbous phase is the time to express appreciation, share ideas, and focus on self-improvement.
The Last Quarter phase of the Moon will begin on January 14. This phase often begins with a sense of crisis that leads us to make a change or go deeper within in order to let go, cleanse, and heal.
Mars Moving Slowly and Preparing to Go Direct on January 12: Low Energy Levels and a Sensitive Time for the World
After having been retrograde since October 30, Mars will station direct on Thursday, January 12, at approximately 14 degrees of Taurus. Mars transited in conjunction with this portion of Taurus all the way back in early September (the beginning of its pre-retrograde shadow).
Anyone whose natal chart is directly impacted by this aspect may have been caught up in something demanding or challenging since that time. As Mars finally stations direct and moves forward through Taurus between January 12 and March 12, any such issues may begin to resolve.
Currently, retrograde Mars is moving very slowly, and has been so for many weeks. Many people feel very exhausted because the lord of energy and power is barely moving. In this condition, Mars can also indicate a great deal of impatience, agitation, and wayward behavior, and this is even truer as Mars is currently Out of Bounds, which I wrote about in a previous article.
The average daily motion of Mars is 31 minutes, meaning its average speed is a little over a half-degree daily (these are longitudinal or zodiacal measurements). When a planet is retrograde, we can represent that movement as “minus” or “-”.
Mars was moving at -20 minutes on December 17. By December 31, it was moving at -10 minutes. On January 7, it was moving at -3 minutes, and on January 12-13, it will be moving at 0 minutes (not moving at all around its exact direct station). Slowly over the coming months, Mars will gain in forward momentum. By January 30, Mars will be moving forward at 11 minutes a day, and by February 28, it will be traveling forward at 23 minutes a day. By April 10, it will be moving at its normal average daily speed of 31 minutes.
Basically, when Mars begins moving forward, it can reflect progress. When it is moving retrograde or slower than normal, it becomes arduous or aggravating, and can also represent issues from the past that have come back to be addressed.
Mars is often considered to be stationary for three to five days on either side of a direct station, so from January 7-17, it will manifest the strongest qualities of a stationary Mars. In other words, these days may be quite “sensitive” or fraught with upheaval, aggravation, or upsets.
During this time, we should be extra mindful and try to avoid accidents and altercations. Momentous geopolitical events and turning points often occur around the time of a Mars direct station (some very positive, others not so), and such events can also occur in our personal lives.
Medieval representation of Mars. Sitting on a rainbow with a sword and a sceptre, he "excites men to war"
Those who have Moon, Sun, or Ascendant in Aries or Scorpio, who are running Mars planetary cycles, or have Taurus prominent in the chart, might be most impacted by the Mars direct station. Once it gains some forward momentum, Mars should provide some fresh new energy to help us face and clear away any pressing inner or outer obstacles. Certain truths may start to come out into the open as Mars goes direct. Difficulties that we have been facing may start to subside and go in a new direction.
Celebrating the Rebirth of the Sun: A Time of Hope and Renewal
The Vedic holy day of Makar Sankranti will occur on Saturday, January 14 in North and South America and Europe, and on Sunday, January 15 in the rest of the world, including India. Makar Sankranti is one of the the main harvest festivals celebrated across India. It marks the sidereal Capricorn solar ingress and celebrates the rebirth of the Sun. I plan to write more about this magical celebration later in the week, and until then…
May there be peace in the higher realms;
may there be peace in the firmament;
may there be peace on earth.
May the waters flow peacefully;
may the herbs and plants grow peacefully;
may all the divine powers bring unto us peace.
The Supreme Lord is peace.
May we all be in peace, peace, and only peace;
and may that peace come unto each of us.