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Whether astrology is science or magic, we’re open to most things, if they may be of benefit. ~ Ed.

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Oh, you may say, not this again!

Mercury retrograde and full moon can be sticky times, with all kinds of emotional or circumstantial obstacles thrown at us willy-nilly. Add to this Venus Retrograde and the start of Aquarius season.

Here are the dates:

Mercury Retrograde: January 14 to February 4, with a two-week post-shadow

Venus in Retrograde: until January 29 with a two-week post-shadow

Full Moon in Cancer: January 17

Aquarius Season begins: January 21

The 30 days between January 14 and February 14 (Valentine’s Day) reflect the themes and archetypes of Relationship, Love, Home and Family, Change and Individuality, Emotions, Communication, Intellect, and Healing.

This is going to sound counter-intuitive, but I personally think that the cosmic start to this year is going to set us up for success. The reason for this is I’ve noticed that full moons and retrogrades are good teachers of presence, and if we can get our feet under us right at the beginning of the year, we will have great habits of self-support. Once we understand the energies before us, we can move more intuitively through them.

Here’s more on the days ahead:

Venus: activating our ability to attract love and beauty, kindness, and spiritual depth

I wrote this on Instagram when Venus began her journey:

“Venus, in a 40-day and 40-night dance through Capricorn, awakens love, beauty, and the mysticism of the Feminine in our hearts. Look back in your life to the last time Venus was in retrograde through Capricorn—December 2013 to January 2014. We will revisit similar themes, as an eight-year cycle comes to a conclusion. Be kind to yourself, as these themes seek either a deeper awakening or resolution.

The heart chakra is also inscribed with the symbol of the Seed of Life, created by the movements of this gentle planet through the cosmos over its cycle. The Pentagram can also be traced through the five petals of Venus. Therefore, this time—until January 29, is perfect for working with ROSE energy, the Divine Feminine archetype, the Pentagram, Seed of Life, Mary Magdalene, Intuition, and Inner Wisdom.”

Mercury Retrograde: activating our capacity to learn, be present, pay attention to detail, communicate, and reason

It’s not personal. But it seems like it when we trip up over the same old chestnuts in our relationships, travel, technology, or communication.

This Mercury pre-shadow, I’ve had someone hack my Instagram three times, impersonate me, and try to get folks to send them money for readings. It made me want to quit social media for good! I felt super-vulnerable and violated. My community pulled me through with so much kindness and grace, it was inspiring. From this, I learned to reach out for help when shadows made communication unclear.

Mercury awakens us to “choices.” And that’s why it is such a wonderful teacher. If we can slow down, tread more carefully, be aware of the choices we do have, and take responsibility for them, we’re learning to empower our steps. We’re not helpless when unwelcome things happen, although it may feel like that initially. First, stop and take an honest look at the situation. As soon as we stop, we’re allowing for breath to carry us through, instead of reacting too quickly. Then, without layering too many stories on top of it, we can sift through the choices we could make.

“If we understand how growth happens and are inspired to pursue the path of awakening, we develop an appetite for the things that challenge us. We become increasingly drawn to the places where learning and deepening can happen.” ~ Pema Chödrön

Full Moon in Cancer: activating our desire for home, warmth, and security

The Full Moon is associated with the Mother Archetype, an illuminated focus on our emotions, an expanded heart, with an invitation to view ourselves sans shadow. What is before us is easily seen, a journey into gratitude and the birth of intentions set at other times—such as the previous new moon or a longer-term dream.

Full moon is about awareness, availability, vulnerability—it is a climax and a celebration.

This time can be overwhelming, especially with such a powerful inhale of receptive, feminine energy of Cancer, also of the mother archetype—a watery, reactive, initiating force. It can be nurturing as well, and that is where we come in.

This is the time for self-care, for not pushing away our wide-open hearts, but to claim the vulnerability as a superpower. We strive at this time to self-nurture, to treat our fears with compassion, to know our basic goodness. I’ve always found moon-bathing a supportive practice. Even if you can’t see the moon from where you are, simply do a meditation, visualizing yourself in a moon-soaked meadow, skyclad, (naked), safe and warm, wild, and completely at home with yourself.

“…and that visibility which makes us most vulnerable is that which also is the source of our greatest strength.” ~ Audre Lorde

Aquarius Season: activating our individuality and ability to find freedom through all avenues.

Aquarius, the Water-Bearer, is a fixed Air sign ruled by Uranus, the master of sudden change, revolutionary thinking, and action. It is the humanitarian, a masculine energy that can carry new thought and spiritual ideals through from the Unseen to Earth-side.

Because we’re in the first months of the year, we’re naturally exploring new ideas, perhaps to do with purpose, job satisfaction, or partnerships. Aquarius affects circulation in our body, but also with what’s circulating in our lives. The interesting pairing of Mercury Retrograde with Aquarius Season is that we may be eager to create change, shake things up, but are called to being more careful. The balance can be found in trust. Trusting our intuition is part of our wild nature. It is relying on inner guidance as opposed to doing what others think we should. Not that we should not seek wise advice, but intuition must prevail.

“When you reach the end of what you should know, you will be at the beginning of what you should sense.” ~ Kahlil Gibrán

As you can see, there are a plethora of energies swirling this next month. Just remember, you are also energy, and as these energies affect you, you are also affecting them. Isn’t that magical? Doesn’t this give us the opportunity to birth more hope in the world?

Blessed Be Witches.

~

More about this full moon: A Powerful Process to get Ourselves Unstuck this Full Moon. {January 17}