The week unfolds with stops and starts befitting this time of ended retrogrades and new beginnings, so don’t expect to easily find a comfortable personal pace for the next few days. You could liken the uneven rhythm of regular routines to the cacophony of children banging on pots, but if you’re willing to be patient, this erratic time signature could eventually resemble an intricate piece of modern music that doesn’t jar as much as it excites and stimulates curiosity. Of course, in the scramble to get going, some things—real or imagined—could get damaged or broken, so try not to be in a hurry; acting in haste could cause several situations not yet clearly articulated or delineated to evaporate before you have a chance to explore their potential.
The source of this week’s uneven pace is the combined effect of three ending retrogrades—Mars, Mercury, and Uranus (in that order). We started 2023 in what is best described as reverse—and now all three planets are direct. And so are we. But finding an appropriate personal rhythm isn’t easy. Some of our fellow travelers may not be having any issues at all adjusting to the new pace of daily life, while the rest of us are still trying to figure out how to handle that forward momentum after so many weeks and months of stagnation. To be clear, the stagnation is dissipating; it’s adjusting to the retro-free zone that takes more time.
There are several positive configurations that not only lead us out of the doldrums but also power the exodus:
(1) A Sun/Mars trine supplies a strong current of physical strength—the Sun symbolizes our essential vitality; Mars represents muscle of every denomination, from the muscles of the physical body to the muscle of an idea. This positive influence spurs ambition, and that intention can help us stay on course and not get discombobulated by the erratic pace of the week.
(2) A Sun/Jupiter sextile provides an uplifting attitude. Jupiter signifies enthusiasm and expansion. I like to call it the planet of good fortune. When it is in a positive relationship to the Sun, a good attitude is easier to acquire and hold on to. Jupiter also represents humor, so be sure to laugh, even if you are laughing at gallows humor.
(3) A Mercury/Uranus trine stirs the ethers with creative inspiration. I like to think of this interaction as the universal symbol for invention—a light bulb over your head blinking with each new idea. Use this positive interaction by thinking outside the box and allowing new and different perspectives to illuminate situations, especially those that have stymied you with persistent limitation. Uranus is the great creative liberator and when it works with Mercury, symbol of the mind’s power, it is possible to forge new attitudes and approaches to the same old same old.
As if to prove a point with the week’s vibe (oh, those end-of-retrograde hangovers!), I’ve had to rewrite this last paragraph of the column five times—and I am exhausted from it. So I am only going to add this: it will take a Herculean effort to stay centered this week, so get those spiritual weights out of the closet and start lifting. And as always, be kind to those who are less skilled at handling the ups and downs and back-and-forths of the week. Patience is always a good remedy for times like these—we are all learning and teaching and the more we recognize that, the easier it will be to grow.
There are no individual Sun Bursts this week. They will be back next week.