Starting today December 29 until January 18, 2023, Mercury is retrograde in Capricorn (24º21'-8º08').

Even if this commonly means miscommunications, technology break-downs, delays, missed flights, lost keys and general forgetfulness, you have heard me say many times, how much I love Mercury retrograde periods. These are also times when we remember abandoned projects, when people we haven't seen in a while re-appear, when we revisit places we had not been to in a long time, and when the pace of life slows down, allowing us to reflect on our lives.

That Mercury is retrograde in Capricorn just as we are about to leave 2022 and enter 2023, couldn't be more perfect.

Rules and obligations need to be revisited. Are they outmoded or do they still hold precedence? We are required to review all the structures of our life, examine who and what supports our goals and gives us recognition, transform the possible fears and limitations that hold us from achieving our highest ambitions, as well as make solid plans for the future.

During the next 3 weeks, we may be forced to reconsider some more conventional points of view, and as we carefully reassess our responsibilities, are likely to discover unsuspected new options. It is a wonderful time to return to a study that requires patience, concentration, focus, logic, hard work, discipline, and seriousness. Our thinking may be slower, but because it is more rational, constructive, efficient, and practical, it leads to steady progress. We seek knowledge that gives us a sense of authority and enhances our wisdom.

We are entering 2023 with more caution and discrimination. Our matter of fact attitude and somewhat pessimistic approach inspire efficient, calculated moves. We could become privy to grave information or secret agendas. Our mental awareness is particularly deep. We are able to X-ray what is going on around us with renewed clarity.

As considerable frustrations are building up in some people, verbal explosions, out of control emotions, bullying, control, jealousy, possessiveness, and subversive attacks are to be expected. Some dramatic changes of mind and radical shifts of opinion are likely to occur, leading to sweeping life transformations. Because, during this retrogradation, our mind is particularly powerful, it is important that we come to terms with the behaviors that no longer serve us, and resolve whatever insecurity or compulsive drive still controls us.

This is not a time of superficiality. We are likely to find ourselves drawn to solitude and even isolation. The answers we seek can only be found by delving deeply into our own soul, mulling over plans, and probing the mysteries of life.

Despite being a very mentally grounding retrogradation, we could find that our intuition, imagination and idealism are also stimulated. Our psychic abilities are greatly enhanced. This is an amazing period for writing, designing a vision board, and exploring healing modalities using gemstones, sound and color. During the next 3 weeks, we have the very definite ability to channel our need to escape the harsh realities of life into an inspired, yet very concrete, form of artistic creation.

The more we focus on what brings us serenity and makes our daily environment lighter, warmer, more balanced, peaceful and welcoming, the more comforting this transit will be.

Wishing you all the best for 2023!
In Loving Light.

Michelle Karén, M.A., D.F.Astrol.S.