Stellar Insights: December 26 - January 1
Looking Back to Look Forward, a la Mercury Retrograde
The end of the year is always a fortuitous time to look back, reflecting upon where we’ve been. This not only allows us to honor and assimilate what we’ve been through but also helps us become more clear as to what it is that we want to pursue moving forward.
And so it feels quite apt that Mercury Retrograde begins just days before the year’s end. After all, the beauty of this three-week period is the encouragement to retrace territory we’ve recently traversed. In doing so, we may be able to perceive skipped steps and overlooked opportunities. We may then also be able to see things through a different lens, understanding things from a more nuanced and complex viewpoint.
This Mercury Retrograde, occurring December 29 – January 18, occurs in the sign of Capricorn. Given this, if you’re not sure where to begin your year-end review, perhaps consider looking at it through the lens of Capricornian-related realms: work, family responsibilities, financial foundations, and structures you have architected. Also inventory your loyalties, reveling in those that uphold your life; all the while, see whether any are built upon false facades and/or unconscious entanglements, those that with some readjustment would allow you to redirect your duty and commitment to endeavors that will eventually be more rewarding.
Look back upon what 2022 brought you in these arenas as well as the way that you were in relationship to them, seeing whether this allows you the opportunity for greater understanding, celebration and/or peace. Doing so can help you to further carve your aims for what you’d like to experience and achieve in the coming year/s.
Remember too that Mercury Retrograde offers us a powerful time to adopt a stance unique from our go-to, gifting us the ability to see things from a different perspective. Go slow, honor the power of the pause, and allow your mind respites of quiet: the latter will not only help to tamp down stress and sidestep possible mishaps but can also allow space for your intuition and subtle knowing to flourish. This all feels especially important the days around the messenger planet shifting direction since that’s when there’s often a concentration of messages, information, and conversations clamoring for our attention; if we can maintain a steady mind, we may be able to cultivate a steadfastness that gives us the dexterity to attend to what’s of import and what edges closer to triviality.
Also, as Mercury goes retrograde it then makes an exact union with Venus. And with that, we may find that we can access insights related to our values, what we deem to be enriching, while further paying attention to what we believe truly is worthwhile. It’s an opportunity to focus upon our relationships, seeing how they can expand our knowledge base and add to our understanding.
In closing, on this week that closes the year, I wanted to share how thrilled I am that we have traveled through 2022 together through via these Stellar Insights (and any astrology sessions we may have done). I look forward to being able to provide you with further illumination that supports your life in 2023 and beyond.
Happy New Year!
xoStephanie
Astrological Highlights
December 28: Venus/Neptune Sextile
December 29: Mercury Stations Retrograde; Mercury/Venus Conjunction
All days refect Eastern Standard Time (- 5 hours GMT)
Photos: Amy Shamblen, Planet Volumes, and Jason Leung, all via Unsplash
New Year, New You Sessions
2023 is a year of shifting tides. With several planets—hello, Jupiter, Saturn, and Pluto—moving into new signs, it feels like new landscapes are about to emerge and new realms of growth and opportunity ready to rise on the horizon.
If you want an overview of what this new year may usher in for you, as well as strategies to navigate 2023 with more insight and awareness, schedule a New Year, New You Session.
These limited availability 75-minute sessions will be held during the first weeks of January. And, as a way to help you further navigate the year ahead, they include a complementary 15-minute follow-up session that can be scheduled through March.
Upcoming Event Calendar
As a reminder, I have three events scheduled for January. Consider joining me for one, two, or all three.
January 5: Illumination - Cancer Full Moon Gathering (with Ashley Dahl). Online.
January 11: AstroSalon at The Cloud Room (with Megan Skinner). At The Cloud Room in Seattle.