January 2017  ~ The Edge of the Abyss    

    January begins with us standing on the edge of the abyss of retrograde energies that will prevail through most of May 2017. This whole period of time will carry a major theme of tying up loose ends. The energy of the earthworm is a perfect analogy for this time.  The earthworm tirelessly goes back over dirt, over and over, until it becomes finely ground soil enriched for sustaining prolific future crops. Taking the time to go into the abyss, backwards and deep, will be the key to future successes.  Another important thing to remember during this whole transit is that you will likely have to get things much messier in order to get them much better organized.  Think of the process of deep-cleaning a room where you take everything out of the closets, cabinets, containers, etc. and you are left with a righteous mess, so much worse than when you started to clean, but when you are finished, you are lit up with joy and pride at a very thorough job well done and can’t figure out how you really lived before you did that work. This theme could also be seen as a movement towards chaos and formlessness so as to have experiences and circumstance take shape with more structure and coherence in the future.

     Here are more details about the back-to-back retrogrades …

     January sees Mercury still retrograde (which started on December 19) until January 8.  The post-shadow period (that still carries the confusion, miscommunication, and device/transportation mishaps or changes that the retrogrades can be known for) runs until January 28.  Two days later, on January 30, the Venus retrograde shadow period begins.

     ** Note here that if you have to slip in a launch or important decision or action, January 28 is your best bet all month and for a long time. January 27 is the New Moon in Aquarius and Chinese New Year. Mars will be about to move into Aries, which supports forward movement, and there is a powerful conjunction between the Mercury and Pluto both in Capricorn on January 29 that will be energetically evident on the 28. Capricorn energy is very supportive of taking action. The 28 will still capture the positive energy of the aspects on the 27 but a little less input from the challenging transit between Venus and Saturn on the same day.

    Back to Venus and the beginning of its shadow period on January 30 … Venus rules beauty/aesthetics, money, and love.  Just as things that Mercury rules (communication and transportation) tend to go haywire in its’ retrograde, the arenas of Venus’ domain tend to ‘ask for attention’ or tend to go backwards at its’ time of retrograde. Note that sometimes Venus retrograde can actually bring in money from past connections, love from the past, or life and love breathed back into stale romantic connections.  At the same time, anything unresolved in money, beauty and love, is fair game to be unavoidably exacerbated.

    Venus is officially retrograde from March 4 through April 15. The post-shadow period for Venus runs from April 16 through May 21.  So essentially, January 30-May 21 is covered in Venus retrograde.  Venus retrograde is known as the worst time astrologically to launch a business or financial venture,  to move forward romantically in any way, or to launch or make any decisions that are art or beauty-based (the worst time for cosmetic surgery!  Please note that if you need a medical surgery for something life-or-death this transit does not rule those procedures - purely cosmetic).

    While Venus is still retrograde, the Mercury retro shadow starts again on March 27, turns retrograde on April 9, stays going backwards until May 3, with the post-shadow going through May 19. Also note that Venus is retrograde in Aries, which will be more inclined to chomp at the bit for forward moving action.  The best way to use the frustrated gusto is the make headway on backward moving projects that set the stage for future leaps.

    You can see what I mean now about January bringing us onto the edge of the abyss.

    Retrogrades have begun to have an association with ‘not being able to do anything’.  This is very far from the truth of the transits.  Retrogrades can be a wonderfully productive time but remember the rules: the transits favor a going back over things, as opposed to launches; short-term trials versus long-term commitments; a dipping back instead of a blazing forward; breathing life back into old ventures, instead of moving forward with new ideas; a trying things on, as opposed to a solid commitment, a time for research, teaching, and learning in the backdrop, instead of an outward push to make claims or bring attention to the direction you think you are going with the learning; a time to experiment versus a time to define.

    For launches or moving forward, the best option is likely January 28. You may feel some bumps of sweetness on or around the 3, 6-7, 20, 23, 28, and 29.  Some times to expect challenges and/or excess emotions: January 5-12, 19, 27-29, 31.

Check out more January Highlights:

** Note: often the effects of planetary transits are felt before or after the actual day the transit occurs.

January 3 — Mercury in Capricorn Sextile Venus in Pisces —  A little bump of sweetness now balancing dreamy Pisces energy with practical Capricorn manifestations in a nice angle.

January 6-7 — Sun in Capricorn Conjunct Pluto in Capricorn —  Deep delving brings great results with this pair-up.  Practical insights can come in now.

January 8 — Mercury direct at 28° of Sagittarius —  The days around this time could be a little rocky.  Take only intuitive action and be quiet and observe to make this time more graceful in the midst of the awkwardness.

January 10 — Sun in Capricorn Square Uranus in Aries —  Unpleasant jolts usually accompany this combo.  Status quo is upset somehow leaving nerves frazzled.

January 12 — Full Moon at 22° of Cancer —  Fullness, fruition, completion come to something home or family related.  There is a challenging and intense Cardinal Grand Cross that accompanies this Full Moon.  The three-step process to deal with these energies is 1. Come to a complete stop 2. Feel fully/go internal instead of reaching out to blame or argue 3. Regroup.

January 19 — Mars in Pisces Square Saturn in Sagittarius —  This planetary line-up brings the feeling of walking through mud and/or having to work inside on a sunny day when you would rather be reading in the park.

January 20 — Venus in Pisces Sextile Pluto in Capricorn — This is a nice counterbalance to the energy of the previous transit.  Perhaps insights come in that support enhancement of love or money.

January 23 — Mercury in Capricorn Sextile Neptune in Pisces  —  Sweet and dreamy communications or connections are more likely at this time.  Spiritual insights can drift in with clear direction about practical applications.

January 27-28 — New Moon at 8° of Aquarius/Chinese New Year (of the Fire Rooster) —  Make your New Moon Wishes especially for things on the topics of: technology, internet, social connections/media, friends/acquaintances/social circles, group/team projects, large organizations, and humanitarian efforts.  This New Moon comes flanked with the first of several difficult aspects between Venus and Saturn this year, bringing a year-long theme of the testing of relationships, business and other financial ventures, and self-worth.  There will likely be challenges in all of these department but we will leave the series with a very clear picture of the value of what we have, what we think we want, and whether these ventures are sustainable for the long haul.

January 29 — Mercury and Pluto in Capricorn Conjunct  —  This transit increases the odds of meaningful news and interactions, and practical insights. Could amplify authority issues or sternness.

January 31 — Mercury in Capricorn Square Uranus in Aries —  Take extra care walking, biking, driving, moving your body in any way.  This transit could bring sudden interferences with your mobility or jolting news.