January 15 - 31, 2022 Astrological Insights

The Prague Astronomical Clock

In these last weeks of January 2022, we have a Full Moon in Cancer, Mercury in Retrograde, Mars entering Capricorn and Venus continuing its 5 week trek in Retrograde, but finally going Direct at the end of the month.  Read on and see how these planetary influences may help you navigate these coming weeks. 

Mercury Retrograde
January 14 - February 3

The dynamics of Mercury retrograde periods are gaining more and more awareness in our collective cultural conversations.  The most common theme is a “warning” against doing certain activities during this 3 week period. I find what is most alive regarding Mercury retrograde is holding an awareness that anything you make a firm decision on during this period, may have to be re-worked again when Mercury goes direct (starting February 4th). Therefore, a clearer thinking process around decision-making becomes more available when Mercury is out of retrograde.

When a planet goes retrograde, it is appearing to be moving backward in the sky from the Earth’s vantage point. To understand this easily, imagine you’re walking on a path and you stop and start going backward, covering the same ground you just walked over. This is essentially what a retrograde planet is doing in the sky. The Mercury retrograde period offers an opportunity to review and reprocess the life experiences of the recent period of time when Mercury was traveling this same section of the sky with forwarding motion prior to retrograde (Dec 30th - Jan 13th). Think back on these recent dates - what was going on in your life, what were you working on, who were you in communication with, what plans were you and are still making?
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During Mercury retrograde, people often find more challenges and issues with communications, electronics, travel, car repairs, etc… and you may be finding it takes longer to get from point A to point B, or there’s more back and forth communication before things become clear.

Often, I see Mercury retrograde as an offering to surrender, trusting things will work out in the end, and taking the unexpected “scenic route”.  What seemed like a detour can bring you to something delightful you wouldn’t have been able to experience otherwise. Let go and allow an alternate way of “getting there” to manifest.

Mercury (Hermes) - Greco-Hellenic Messenger of the Gods

​​I find Mercury retrograde periods are a good time to finish up old projects that are lingering out there, taking up psychic space, not allowing you to cleanly move forward in life. Spend time with these activities and you will find ease towards completing them.  Clean out closets, garages, workspaces, donate items, etc… In other words, clear out the physical clutter, which will help clear out mental clutter and allow you an opportunity to start anew when Mercury goes direct on February 4th.  

Full Moon in Cancer
January 17
3:48 PM, PST

The Moon will reach the height of its biggest and brightest phase (Waxing Phase) in the lunar cycle on January 17th in the sign of Cancer. The Moon governs your domestic life, your emotions, subconscious habits, and patterns, and focuses on how you nurture and need to be nurtured. When the Moon is Full, these expressions become magnified.

Cancer is the natural ruler of the Moon and therefore carries similar energies of the Moon. When the Full Moon is in the zodiac sign of Cancer (once a year), there is a stronger emphasis on your emotional body and how you are feeling about certain situations in your life. Your home life is also emphasized.
Therefore, under the Full Moon on the 17th, pay attention to what emotions are emerging inside of you. What needs to be acknowledged? What needs to be nurtured? What needs to be let go of? Your emotions can serve as a guide for you, letting you know what is and isn't working out and what needs to shift in your life and in your home. 
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This Full Moon in Cancer can help bring greater awareness to your emotional body and to what adjustments you need to make in your life to be in better alignment with yourself. Create intentional space for yourself on the 17th to connect with your inner emotional world and see what areas of your life need your attention. 

There is a special power each year at this time, following the heart of Midwinter, to tend to your emotional body under the light and influence of the Cancer Full Moon.

Mars in Capricorn
January 25 - March 6

Mars is the planet of "how you take action in your life". When you have an idea or a feeling of what you want to be doing, how do you proceed with making it happen? The sign Mars is in will give you more information on how you move forward.

When Mars enters Capricorn on January 25th, there will be an offering for more groundedness and practicality in your day-to-day actions. Capricorn is more about business, in all senses of the word. This has me thinking of the common phrase, "Let’s get down to business", which is used when you finally motivate yourself to get into the work that needs to be done.
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Therefore, if it seems this level of "getting down to business" has been hard to access lately, this Mars in the Capricorn time period (Jan 25 - Mar 6) just might offer you the right energy to get yourself accomplishing what needs to be done ~ especially in the realms of Career. 
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Whatever you have been wanting to take action on, this period offers a wind in your sails to move forward.

Venus goes Direct
January 29

These last 2 weeks, Venus will be in its final days of retrograde, which began on December 19th. Venus directs your energy toward the aspects of your life that relate to creating goodness & beauty in your life: finances, business, relationships, social gatherings, and coming together in loving-kindness around the table or in the bedroom. During the retrograde time, these aspects may have been less available, more unclear, or turned inwards in some fashion. As Venus begins to move in Direct motion again on the 29th, these areas of life should start to become more accessible, active, clear, and manageable. 

I wrote a bigger section on Venus Retrograde in my last blog post. To read and learn more about how to work with Venus in Retrograde in these final weeks of January, click below. 

Venus Retrograde + Tips

As you move forward into 2022, what will you continue and cultivate more beautifully?  What will you do differently and better? What will you take leave of?  The planetary signatures harken you to take some special look inside and discover your deeper feelings, knowings, and truths.  

Trust what you find! 

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