One of the most significant changes will be Saturn’s move into Pisces on March 7, 2023, where it will remain until February 14, 2026. Saturn’s move into Pisces marks a significant shift in energy, as Saturn is known for its rigid and structured energy, while Pisces is an ethereal archetype representing spiritual consciousness and the absence of boundaries. As these two energies collide, it may create a sense of confusion and a need to adapt to new ways of thinking. While Saturn was in Aquarius from 2020-2023, we experienced numerous global challenges and societal limitations. Aquarius, being a fixed air sign, manifested as inflexible beliefs and strong opinions. However, as Saturn enters Pisces, a mutable water sign, the focus will shift away from the mind and towards our emotional sensitivity, which is constantly responding to the changing tides of life. This may be a time of great emotional and spiritual healing, as we are forced to confront the consequences of any coping mechanisms we may have employed during Saturn’s time in Aquarius.

While Saturn was in Aquarius from 2020-2023, we experienced numerous global challenges and societal limitations. Aquarius, being a fixed air sign, manifested as inflexible beliefs and strong opinions. However, as Saturn enters Pisces, a mutable water sign, the focus will shift away from the mind and towards our emotional sensitivity, which is constantly responding to the changing tides of life. This may be a time of great emotional and spiritual healing, as we are forced to confront the consequences of any coping mechanisms we may have employed during Saturn’s time in Aquarius.

In addition to Saturn’s shift into Pisces, we will also see Pluto, the planet of transformation and evolution, move into Aquarius on March 23, 2023. This marks a significant shift in energy, as Pluto moves from pragmatic Capricorn into idealistic Aquarius. This transit will only last until June 11 before Pluto retrogrades back into Capricorn, but it will give us a good idea of what to expect for the next two decades. Those with planets at 00 degrees of Aquarius, particularly the Sun, Moon, or Rising Sign, can expect a major purge and the opportunity for psychological evolution. This is a time to release control and surrender to the process, so that we can empower ourselves and step into our deepest potential.

Mars will also be making a move in 2023, entering the sign of Cancer on March 25. This transit will increase our sense of emotional vulnerability and stimulate our natural protectiveness. We may feel more caring and sensitive during this time, but may also experience insecurity and fear about the future. It is important to be assertive and direct in our actions, rather than resorting to passive-aggression. This placement strengthens our domestic nature and can bring out a more nurturing and caring side of our personality.

In addition to these major planetary shifts, we will also experience a total solar eclipse in Aries on April 20. This eclipse, which is conjunct Jupiter, is likely to bring a feeling of luck and the opportunity to start a new personal chapter. However, it is important to remember that eclipses often bring change by taking something away, so it may be necessary to proactively let go of certain things in order to make room for new beginnings. This eclipse, ruled by Mars in Cancer, may require us to be assertive and direct in our actions as we embark on our hero’s journey. It is important to ensure that we are fighting for something meaningful to our hearts, whether it be a career, relationship, or personal chapter.

The lunar eclipse in Scorpio will occur on May 5, 2023. This eclipse is likely to bring up old traumas and hurts, encouraging us to observe and heal rather than judge. This is the last eclipse in Scorpio, so it’s a good time to reflect on where you were on a soul level when the last eclipse in Scorpio occurred on May 16, 2022.

Jupiter moving into Taurus will take place on May 16, 2023. During this transit, we may feel more sensual and indulgent and be motivated to work hard for tangible rewards. It’s a great time to embrace physical pleasure and practices like massage, yoga, and dancing. This placement also brings a focus on material abundance, strong values, harmony, beauty, love, and practicality.

The North Node moving into Aries will happen on July 17, 2023. This shift brings a focus on self-centered and individualistic energy, with people concerned about their individual rights and freedoms. There may be more uprisings around this issue. It’s important to find a healthy outlet for anger and not repress it or take it out on others. This transit may also bring continued military action.

The solar eclipse in Libra will occur on October 14, 2023. This eclipse brings a need for balance, harmony, and peace. It’s a chance to set intentions for creating more balanced habits and ways of living. We may also focus on balancing our masculine and feminine energies within.

The lunar eclipse in Taurus will take place on October 28, 2023. This eclipse is likely to bring powerful emotions to the surface, and we may realize that our feelings about something have changed. It’s a time for emotional transmutation and release. The eclipse has a positive relationship with Pluto, bringing a sense of renewal.

Overall, 2023 will be a year of great change and transformation. It is important to stay adaptable and open to change, as the astrological energies may bring unexpected twists and turns. Trust in the natural flow of the universe and stay true to your authentic self. By embracing these astrological shifts and the opportunities they bring, we can navigate this transformative year with grace and growth.

The year starts off with a new moon in Capricorn and Mercury in Aquarius on January 2nd, a clear tone setting for the months to come. The new moon in the earth sign Capricorn shows that the focus will be on oneself, and with Mercury in Aquarius, we are invited to really think things through, and not let our emotions cloud the truth, no matter how progressive or unconventional it may feel. Mercury quickly moves retrograde on January 14th, promoting an immediate period of reflection early on in the year. 

January 17th’s full moon in Cancer brings back themes of feelings and emotions and will prompt us to feel them. Take this time to celebrate your recent achievements and process anything that comes up. Uranus goes direct the next day and the Sun moves into Aquarius the following, so it will be worth your while. 

With unpredictable Uranus moving direct on the 18th and the Sun moving into Aquarius, Uranus’s home sign on the 19th, we are likely to see a bursting forth of energy and emotion, both on a personal and global scale, with regards to issues pertaining to our future. Many parts of our lives have been inhibited during Uranus’s retrograde, and this will likely have a noticeable bounce back as the planet goes direct and for the following months. 

At the end of the month, Mars will move into grounded Capricorn and offer a calm confidence moving forward, further supported by Venus moving direct a few days later. 

February

This energy of new-ness continues into early February, with a New Moon in Aquarius on the 1st and Mercury moving direct on the 3rd. It is a good time for focus, and to start moving forward on the ideas sprung forth last month. Mercury moves into Aquarius on the 14th, perhaps allowing us to look at some emotionally relevant issue through a rational lens. 

Pluto will also trine the True Node that day, giving you a strong sense of determination, and a Full Moon in Leo two days later will offer an extra boost of energy. Use this time to turn your thoughts into things. Personal focus will go a long way here.

An interesting thing occurs at the end of the month. The United States of America experiences its first Pluto Return at 27°33’ Capricorn on February 20th. This was the exact aspect during the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The Sabian symbol for this aspect reads as follows: 

Capricorn 27°: Pilgrims climbing the steep steps leading to a mountain shrine.

The ascent of the individualized consciousness to the highest realizations reached by the spiritual leaders of its culture.

The symbol shows us that steps have been placed ahead of us, and we must learn from where others have been before us. The pursuit of greatness is characterized by the difficult pilgrimage and the reaching of the shrine shows the value of our past sages. But the second part places emphasis on each individual’s ascent as part of the collective, encouraging one to rise and reach up in conjunction with the shared vision of their peers. 

Pluto, the planet of power and transformation, is likely to affect political and social issues during these aspects, and the relevance of the Pluto return is magnified two days later, on the auspicious date of 2/22/22. 

At the same time, the Sun moves into Pisces on February 18th, while Neptune positions at 22° Pisces, opposing the United States natal Neptune in 22° Virgo, by the 22nd of the month, conveniently while the Sun is in 2°02’ Pisces. The last time Neptune was at this degree was the late 1850s, just before the Civil War. These aspects are rare, and the fact that they all occur together with relevance to each other, as well as our current socio-political climate and correspondences to both the American Revolution and Civil War, on a date full of 2’s is quite notable. The United States may be up for quite a transformation over the following year, until March 23, 2023, and the Aquarian Technocalypse of 2023 and 2024 where Pluto will enter Aquarius. We’ll get more in depth on the Aquarian Technocalypse in the coming months. 

This powerful transit may be the proverbial “Oh shit!” moment, as the roller coaster begins to climb and you see the drop a little ways ahead of you. Keep your hands and feet INSIDE and hold on!

March

The energy will continue through early March with a gentle new moon on March 2nd. Express yourself and show the world your positive qualities. Mars and Venus both move into Aquarius on March 6th, allowing us to go after what we want and find the means to get it. Mercury moves into Pisces on the 9th, so we may be encouraged to do so based on internal venue, rather than outer appearances, whether this is a person, place, or thing. 

The Full Moon in Virgo provides a sense of balance, to be much needed in the months to come. Take advantage of this period by grounding yourself and taking count of the year’s achievements so far, or giving yourself the extra push to get more done during this cautiously optimistic first half of the year. 

The Sun moves into Aries on the 20th, and Mercury follows a week later, turning matters at hand to conflict.

April 

Starting the month with a New Moon in Aries, it’s anybody’s guess as to who the fool will be. We will likely feel the drifting away of the balance from the month before and the prompt arrival of tension. Venus moves into Pisces on April 5th, where she may swing between her tides, bringing up energies of enchantment or spurn. Mars moves into Pisces on the 14th, so this feeling of conflict may likely be brief, or premature. Decisions may be made to hold things in place, either temporarily or for good. 

The Full Moon in Libra of April 16th and the Sun moving into Taurus may provide some balance and relief from those tensions, as well as a little wisdom and guidance. However, the energy of the end of the month signifies challenges ahead with Saturn moving into Aquarius on April 28th, Pluto moving Retrograde and Mercury into dualistic Gemini the following day, and the first New Moon partial Solar Eclipse on the 30th bringing out our stubborn sides. The best way to use this new moon energy is to go inward, and know that this too shall pass.

May

May continues right off with the Aries energy with Venus moving into the sign on the 2nd. If you are single, this is a good time to put yourself out there. Venus in Aries can be hasty, though, so make sure not to jump too far in the deep end. If you are not single, perhaps put energy into another creative venture, vacation, or family. Jupiter follows into Aries on the 10th, while Mercury moves retrograde for the remainder of the month.  

The middle of the month may see rise to tension again as the Sun squares Saturn on the 15th and a full moon eclipse in Scorpio on the 16th may see complications to our lives, both personally and socially. This may mean protests, lockdowns, or other legal or social changes that affect our lifestyles. Emotional intensity may be high, especially if you are intuitive, so celebrate this full moon with a hike, dance party, or yoga class. 

The Sun moves into Gemini on the 21st, putting an emphasis on communication, the exchange of information, and meaningful conversations. Mercury, exalted in Gemini, will assist with the social step forward, but beware gossip and superficialness. Bad company will bring misfortune. Mars will move into Aries on the 24th, highlighting key differences between people. Trust your gut on who you align with and who you don’t, but don’t forget to use diplomacy. Venus will help with stability and supper inner balance as it moves into its home of Taurus on the 28th. 

June 

On June 3rd, Mercury will go direct, helping make sense of the wild energy of the past weeks. More than anything, it may come as a strong reminder to complete what you have begun. Purge your closet, give to charity, or fix up your home to put out positivity and allow new things into your life. Saturn will move retrograde for the summer on June 4th, so refrain from making big purchases or quitting your job this week. 

June 14th’s Super Full Moon in Sagittarius promises to be a great time, whether you are traveling, socializing with friends, or taking in some music or literature. The sun moves into Cancer a week later, so enjoy this lighthearted week, as this is not likely to continue in coming weeks. 

On June 28th, Neptune will move retrograde and a new moon in Cancer will remind you to be gentle with yourself and pause to give yourself some grace. Enjoy this day, but it is also time to focus on your health and wellbeing. These aspects may lean toward mental health or issues related to voice. 

After a tumultuous start to 2021, a year we all hoped to see things get better, we can now start to look forward to the second half of the year, where things will start to shift for the better. A big focus has been on society, structure, policy, science, and other hard-cut conversations. With a pandemic still on our hands and great social change occurring, we are seeing great division globally and locally regarding masks, vaccines, policing, immigration, wages, and numerous other big-ticket items. Futuristic, revolutionary, and just Jupiter has been in Aquarius for much of the year, while social media has given us the opportunity to express opinions, or rather argue them at each other, without much understanding of how the other feels or perceives the situation. With so much divisiveness in the air, we seem to have forgotten understanding, compassion, and empathy. But with Jupiter temporarily moving into Pisces, we may get some change of heart for the second half of the year.

July

Fortunately, that is where the July 9th New Moon in Cancer starts us off, with a focus on our deeper emotions. This new moon symbolizes the extra bit of nurture and compassion we need moving forward. Whether this extra bit of love energy is for your romantic, platonic, or even professional relationships, turn inwards during this alignment to fully feel its glow. 

Quickly following this new moon is a glorious Venus and Mars conjunction on July 13th. This conjunction will help realign the feminine and masculine principles within you, reminding you to embrace the beauty of life amidst the turbulence and chaos of it all. The two planets align at 20° Leo, represented by the Sabian symbols of Zuni Indians performing a ritual to the sun, emphasizing the return to natural sources of energy. 

A Venus-Mars conjunction at this degree focuses on the importance of nature after the crisis brought about by living in artificial cities. Enjoy this conjunction, whether for a boost in creativity, rebalancing yourself, and finding love, in any form, as well as the preceding new moon energy to carry you through the month.

Right after the Sun enters Leo, we have a full moon in Aquarius on June 23rd, further carrying an energy of connection and friendship, even with those you may not see eye to eye with. Step outside your comfort zone and find people you can be with that allow you to feel free. However, if you find this a challenge this month, don’t worry, as the Aquarius full moon returns next month making a rare double appearance to help you out.

The end of the month offers a little bit of a change of pace. On July 28, Jupiter Retrograde enters Aquarius til October, out of its heartfelt change in Pisces, possibly prompting us to revisit some themes of 2020. Jupiter in Aquarius points to social reform, which we may experience more of over the next few months. Mars in Virgo shows up the following day to help you put life back in order. Organizing, establishing a mindfulness or exercise routine, or better diet are all things that may come up for you. However, be careful of taking on too much at once as Jupiter will be opposing Mars.

August

August begins with a Venus Uranus Trine on the 2nd, a harmonious alignment that may have you finding love where you least expect it. Keep your eyes and heart open on this special day. Also, starting off the month are Jupiter, Saturn, and Pluto in retrograde, with Uranus to join later this month. The Lionsgate Portal on the 8th of the month also brings about the Leo New moon, a great day to connect with higher frequencies and get some great downloads. This high energy is great for mediation, healing, shadow work, or a spiritual retreat. However, be aware of emotional sensitivity and make sure to be easy on yourself and practice a lot of self care. 

Venus moves into Libra on the 15th, one of its ruling signs. This is a powerful day for abundant Venus love energy, and we may experience harmony or balance with relationship or business matters. Use this energy to bring in more love, beauty, and money into your experience! For business affairs, put an extra effort into increasing royalties, commissions, or wages. 

On August 19th, Uranus begins its retrograde cycle in the sign of Taurus, and will remain there until January 18, 2022. 

Uranus is the planet of awakening, and this retrograde may prompt a trip down memory lane or a feeling like we need to revisit the past in some way before we can move ahead.  As it travels retrograde, we may get deeper insights or truths about issues that have been unfolding since the start of this year. 

Uranus is known to also bring sudden change or surprise, so notice the effect manifesting has in your life around this time too. Globally, Uranus retrograde in Taurus will focus on issues regarding food supply, humanitarian efforts, freedom, and technology.

As mentioned, a soft Full Moon in Aquarius returns on the 22nd, carrying with it expansive energy to help you feel part of something bigger. Jupiter will also affect this full moon, bringing with it abundance and prosperity. Remember what had come up for you at the Aquarius full moon last month, as this reappearance will help soften any tensions from that time period. 

The month ends and the Sun moves into Virgo, allowing some of the confident, creative energy from Leo to connect with us deeply on a personal level and help us move toward achievement. Be wary of making rash decisions at the end of the month, as August 29th brings about a moon wobble, which is the Sun square the Lunar nodes. This can bring about strange weather or internal energy. Stick to your intuition.

September

The September 6 New Moon in Virgo is trine Uranus in Taurus, which has the reputation of being a great disrupter and great awakener. This harmonious connection with the Virgo new moon will help you support your health, wellbeing, and work life. A loose conjunction between Sun – Moon and Mars- Pluto will provide extra energy and a big boost of power to help get things done. Venus moves into Scorpio on September 10th, which rules power, money, sex, shared resources, finances, and secrets. 

Shortly after, Mars moves into Libra on September 15th, and you should use this energy to build constructive and productive relationships, especially with yourself. You will get another reminder of this on the Full Moon in Pisces on September 21. This aspect is characterized by the Sabian symbol of Light Breaking Into Many Colors As It Passes Through A Prism. 

The second half of September is a great time to focus on yourself, putting extra efforts into bringing abundance into your life and shining brightly as you do. Mercury goes retrograde on September 27th, so make sure to do your work this month. 

October

October brings with it great opportunities for change. All major planets, with the exception of Uranus and Neptune, will go direct within a few days of each other. 

The Libra full moon of October 6th brings with it a passionate plea to bring some additional beauty and fun into your life. Pluto goes direct the same day, adding some extra transformational energy into this change. Venus moves into Sagittarius the day after, also supporting your freedom to be you. 

October 9th, Venus and the moon meet at 29° of Scorpio. The Sabian symbol for this is a woman, crying for her children. This may be a time to advocate for the rights of others or those less fortunate. Insight, awareness, and creativity might be high at a time like this. If that wasn’t enough cosmic energy for you, the next day, Saturn goes direct. 

With the two heavy hitters Pluto and Saturn both stationing and moving direct five days apart promises a week of change. On the personal level, Pluto will help you find your passion and eliminate unhealthy obsessions while Saturn helps you focus on what is important for you to reach your life’s purpose. Embrace this time of change and put your attention on what brings you a sense of meaning. 

The following week, on October 18, Mercury and Jupiter go direct. Coming out of a week of change, Mercury will require you to choose your words carefully as Jupiter helps your wheels get turning. This energy may get intense in the following days, culminating at the Full Moon in Aries 28° on October 20th. 

This full moon may be cathartic for you, as it may bring to light missed opportunities or broken promises. The Sabian symbol for this is, “a large audience confronting a performer who disappointed their expectations.” Something hasn’t turned out the way we wanted, or expected, or hoped. This may be an opportunity to confront it, whether personally or socially.

Mars will be in Scorpio during Halloween, and the Sun square Saturn brings some extra intensity. All saints Day, Samhain, is the halfway point between the fall equinox and the winter solstice, and marks the harvest time and preparation for the winter ahead. At this time, you are more able to gather cosmic energies.

November

The Scorpio new moon of November 4th brings the energy of introspection, inventiveness, and cleverness, as well as a need to scratch beneath the surface. Some secrets may come to light, and you may need to deal with and assess them, whether they are yours or others. This energy will be very helpful to those able to see things clearly, observe patterns, and make good decisions. 

A certain shedding of things that no longer serve you or people or ideas that have revealed themselves to be different than what you thought or needed. Jupiter’s influence, finally direct, will help support your creative and intuitive energies, helping protect you from those that dont wish you well. This creative energy will also help you gain self-confidence in your field as well as within our social circle. 

Do this all before the November 18-19 lunar eclipse in Taurus, where energies start to get muddled again. This eclipse will prompt you to have your priorities clear and emphasize your desire to feel safe and supported. If you are able to establish your priorities and resist temptations, the end of the month may be a trial for you decision making. An expensive or large investment may be warranted and support your material stability, but frivolous or excessive spending will be a bad decision that may bring about undesirable consequences. 

December

Neptune goes direct on December 1st, making everything a little rosier, fuzzier, but also confusing and revealing around hidden or ambiguous situations. This follows from the energy of the last month, and the December 4th new moon eclipse in Sagittarius will help reveal a new truth. It will prompt us to rethink some of our belief systems and to build new confidences. 

Mercury shifts into wonderous Capricorn on the 13th, as does Mars into Sagittarius. There is a huge shift in energy this week as we approach the full moon in Gemini over the weekend. Mars in Sagittarius adds fire to the lunar eclipse that will help get us into action for making big and important decisions.

The December 18th Gemini Full Moon at 27° occurs on the Galactic Center. This alignment tells us to stay centered or be thrust into the cosmic whirlwind. A cosmic whirlwind may very well be part of your journey, but may not satiate your need for comfort. The Sabian symbol for this aspect is “one who understands that self-mastery is the greatest force for betterment and who studies the wisdom of the ancients with this end in view.” 

Venus goes retrograde on December 19th, completing her enlightenment of 2021, and hoping we learned her valuable lessons. Beware of ex-lovers or relationships that had issues around boundaries. Focus on self care, don’t let relationships drain you, and purge what does not help you. This Venus retrograde is the completion of her journey as the evening star, before she rises in early 2022 as the morning star. This particular aspect is significant because she is conjunct Pluto, who is integral to the myth of her death and rebirth in the underworld.

Much of what no longer serves you in your personal life will begin a process of release. This will help your true self come to light more so that you can fulfill your true intentions. The sun moving into Capricorn Brings with its celebrations, exuberance, and uninhibited enjoyment. On December 24th,  Saturn squares Uranus for its third and final time this year.  The Saturn and Uranus square may bring about a sense of déjà vu from February and June, or cause you to fluctuate between extremes to reconcile two very different mindsets. 

This transit has been the impetus for a lot of rewiring behind the scene, signifying a collision between the old and the new and almost certainly a time of new change. Jupiter, the planet of creativity, travel, and expansion returns to Pisces on December 26th, as a symbolic light at end of the tunnel, and perhaps a good omen for the coming year. 

Focus. Resilience. Growth. Achievement. Creativity. Transcendence. 

These are some of the positive results of personal energy that is used well and directed at the right things. Theoretically speaking, with enough focus, attention, and energy, almost anything can be achieved. However, if you let your personal energy run on autopilot, distractions, inaccurate narratives, and the intentions of other people and energies will likely start to get some of your attention. How much is really up to you, and how much of your energy you are happy to let be taken up by it. 

Focusing and refocusing your energy can help optimize your daily life, work routine, sleep cycle, and overall mood and vibrancy. Even more specifically, it can help you learn that new skill, get that promotion, improve your self image, feel physically better and stronger.

While there are countless ways you can refocus your personal energy and incorporate it into your routine, here are 5 great ways to start.

1. Meditation or Mindfulness Practice 

A popular and well-known way to do this is to really internalize, getting in touch with subtle energy. Meditation, guided or not, can take place in many ways. Journaling, breathwork, playing music, peaceful walks or activities can all be meditative. You are in tune with the energies within you, and aware of feelings, sensations, and emotions they bring up. 

Spending some time doing these things regularly helps your body, mind, and soul recalibrate energy consistently. People who have integrated some sort of meditation practice into their lives have easier times recentering themselves and coming back to that place of zen. Such things can help calm an anxious mind, allowing it to spend more time in a state of flow. 

2. Physical Exercise

This is a great way to refocus your personal energy because you are literally focusing on moving muscles, breathing correctly and balancing yourself. Yoga may be the best example of all three, but the same features can be found in sports of all kinds, as well as recreational activities like hiking, mountain climbing, freerunning, and more.  

3. Set a High Bar -And Break Through it 

This one is one of the most rewarding ways to refocus your personal energy, and quite the win-win situation. Find something you would like to do, achieve, or accomplish, that you feel is just out of reach, and exceed your own expectation by believing in yourself and giving yourself that extra bit of energy and support. 

The world gives us countless reasons to limit ourselves, through society, social media, and personal upbringing. Overcome a self limiting belief that you may have picked up along the way. Push the envelope of how much you can achieve. It is worth noting here, the goal is not to overextend yourself or work beyond your means, but only to understand what is possible. Then set your bar accordingly. 

One easy way to explain this is a new weightlifter who can only lift 50 pounds currently, should understand that it is absolutely possible for him to lift 200 pounds, as many of the other members of his gym might, but that he will work toward that by setting his first bar at 75 or 100 pounds. 

We are resilient and adaptable, and by incremental goal setting and dedication, we can all achieve amazing things!

4. Reprioritize, Reorder, Rinse, Repeat 

Your schedule, your diet, your guilty pleasures, your goals, your podcasts, the words you tell yourself, little tasks you make yourself do. These are all results of habits and time spent in the comfort zone. While there are many habits that can be absolutely important and helpful for your day to day life, it is important to eliminate the ones that do not serve you. They may have at a time, or never at all, but a regular audit will help you naturally reprioritize your life.

Take notice of the tasks you complete today. Are they really important? Do they make you feel good? Do they accomplish what you wanted them to?

If the answer is yes, then this habit is good. However, if it isn’t, try removing it from your task list, or at least put it at the bottom of the list. Reassess, and continue. 

5. Get in touch with your Metaphysical Side 

Energy is quite intricate, when you give it your full attention. There are many versions of how this exists, but focusing your energy around an intention can have great effects on building your energy. Meditation is a great stepping stone into this world, and can lead to you experiencing your own subtle energy more, and more intentionally. Such energetic experiences can occur with tarot cards, crystals, and other tools of divination, or with nothing at all except your own energy.

Well, maybe it is not necessarily your energy specifically. It is universal energy. This is known as Reiki. Reiki translates literally to universal (rei) energy (ki) and traces its roots to Japanese healing practices. Learn more about Reiki here. 

Taking care of your energy is extremely important, especially in today’s world full of mass distractions, misleading promises, and opportunistic gladhands. Optimizing your energy throughout different periods of the day will help you stay focused, both in the short and long runs. You will get through your days more efficiently and reach your long term goals quicker. 

You may end up choosing to spend less time around people, or specific people. Some activities, pastimes, or time killers may no longer find a place in your life. While you may welcome such changes or worry about how difficult it might be to accommodate them, nothing is permanent. Learn to recognize energy drains, in people, places, or activities that don’t bring you much joy, and regulate them in your life, whether you want more or less in your life.

But what makes these cards so fascinating? They tell an archetypal story, one we are all somehow familiar with, one we all understand. The concept of hierarchy is a natural one for us, and the order of royalty speaks louder than words. 

Tarot cards split into two kinds of cards, major arcana and minor arcana. The major arcana represent archetypal concepts that we can all relate to easily. The Emperor, the Sun, and the Moon are some of these cards, representing easily understandable concepts as old as time. 

The minor arcana range from Ace to 10, and are based on the different aspects of numerology. Aces represent the fundamental energy of each of the different suits, while a 4 may be associated with foundation, and 10 with completion.

The four suits of the tarot deck correlate to the four elements, fire, earth, air, and water, as do each of the connotations for them. Action, stability, communication, and emotion could all be associated with the respective suits.

It is in this exact understanding how one can make a basic tarot draw a part of your daily check in practice with themselves. Whether you choose to draw one card, a basic three card spread, or an advanced spread of your choosing, doing this daily to check in with yourself develops a better understanding of the individual cards. 

See how these correlations relate to you, both in your daily life, with a particular situation or question, as well as its overarching theme, that you may see understand from your day-to-day draws. Say a certain card keeps coming up, or that its placement is peculiar, or that all the cards seem to tell you the same story

This daily practice will help you understand those nuances more, differentiating generalities from specific situations, or for understanding what a certain combination of cards represents. Maybe you identify a progression or resolution unfolds, or understand that a certain card is trying to bring something to your attention. 

Using tarot cards as a tool for daily check-in makes you both a better tarot card reader, and brings you more in touch with yourself. The magic of tarot cards lies in the subtlety, not the generalities, and this can help you understand tarot, archetypal psychology, and your own personality more. It is a great tool for storytelling and interpreting larger-than-life concepts.

There are many ways for skeptics to disprove that the planets or stars have any effect on us. And in a lot of ways, they may be right. But not all the ways. 

First of all, our entire way of life is based on the sun. Aside from those of us working graveyard shifts, daily life begins when the sun rises and comes to an end as it sets. Same with plants and photosynthesis, and most plants don’t wear watches. We can also harvest energy from the sun, using it to power lights, cities, and machines. That’s quite a bit of influence from one star in our vast solar system, all of 93 and a half million miles away. The sun plays a huge role in the conscious operation of the mechanics of society. 

The moon, a much smaller and much closer celestial body, also has a number of effects on the planets. Metaphysically associated with the water elements, the moon literally has a pull on the earth’s tides. There is also something about the moon’s cycle that is inherently feminine, as well. 

Additionally, as the saying goes, men are from Mars and women from Venus, signifying a quite clearly defined aspect of society, relationships, and sexual politics. Many people hesitate to buy a new laptop or book a trip when Mercury, known for its influence over communication, travel and electronics, takes its seasonal retrograde cycles.

What about the bigger planets? Slow moving and generational, these planets represent collective social and psychological shifts and transformations. How much do we really notice those in day to day life? But in retrospect, we see a lot of coincidences and peculiar alignments over the course of history. 

And if none of that resonates with you, consider the centuries-long myths, stories, analogies, science, and literature that has come from the influence of these celestial giants. Through literature, movies, and pop culture, almost everyone can envision Zeus’s thunderbolt or Poseidon’s trident, both characters based on stories of the planets. Such myths and legends are archetypal and easily recognizable and relatable to almost everyone.  

Joseph Campbell’s Power of Myth discusses how such stories, concepts, and relationships are timeless, taking place all over our history in different ways. History has given such credence to these celestial bodies, and that cannot be completely coincidental. Gravity is a great word to use here, both its literal sense of the pull of planetary bodies, as well as in its figurative sense, relating the seriousness of the effects that these planets exert. We may experience these effects consciously or unconsciously, or maybe not at all. But it is in the unified thought, the concepts we all fundamentally understand, and the archetypal correlations that give the planets their subtle gravity. The same subtle gravity we cultivate within ourselves as energetic beings. 

When we learn how to work with that subtle energy, alone and with others, how it interacts with our environment, near and far, and how things beyond us can affect us, we will develop a great understanding of these great celestial bodies above us. As a planet, we are still learning how to understand, harness, and externalize the energies within us. Perhaps we have a lot more to learn before we can grasp the energies of the heavens.