Skyvibe Serial 2023: Week #1

Skyvibe Serial 2023: Week #1

Skyvibe Serial 2023: Week #1

Forecast for the week of January 1st - 7th, 2023

Peering through the Mist

We could just as easily call it haze, fog, or clouds.

Part of the added energy, thanks to Jupiter in Aries, comes from the added heat. As things warm up and dry out, so goes the fog. The fog here is a stand-in for confusion, vagueness, ineffable impressions that linger like condensation on a glass.

The foggiest of ideas have a chance to crystalize when we take the opportunities provided to cut through escapist tendencies and patterns of learned helplessness.

The Good:

We get a Full Moon free from the influence of Saturn or Mars. We also get a couple of days in a row without too many aspects made by the Moon (read: mellow).

Revelation and rest in the same week. Not necessarily easy, but some kind of a godsend.

The Meh:

Mercury just stationed retrograde right as Mars prepares to station direct. We might be able to identify problems with ease this week but that doesn't mean that we're solving them.

Wile E. Coyote also, eventually, gets clear on the problems too.

The Oh Fuck Me:

We're not free of the tremendously tense fixed fuckery that comes courtesy of the Moon's weekly forays into the Saturn/Uranus square.

[*please note: "oh fuck me" is my way of subverting the normalization of conventional beauty standards; I'm not at all suggesting these outcomes are guaranteed, or that everyone is going to experience these undesirable manifestation. Rather, that in the rpg of life, these would be the chaotic evil playthrough of the same energies described by the good and the meh.]


Week in a Walnut Shell

(please pardon the pun)

Week in (wal)Nut Shell:

Quiet moods and subtle sensations shift our awareness toward intuitively relating to the reality as it really is. This is a week for gaining clarity about where you've found confusion, why there's fogginess to begin with, and what you can do to clear the air.

Sunday: growing illumination.
Monday: relating to reality.
Tuesday: spicy sparks.
Wednesday: sensitivity.
Thursday: feelings in full effect.
Friday: purifying process.
Saturday: clear questions.


Day by Day

Sunday

A day for concentrating on our imagination and the visions it holds – we're able to feel into some innovative ways of translating our internal impressions.

Early AM (midnight - 08:00, PST):

05:41 am - Moon at 10° Taurus trine Sun at 10° Capricorn
06:35 am - Moon contra-parallel Saturn

The Moon's aspects are interesting – some of them correspond to phases, and some don't. The trine is one that doesn't. We're halfway between the opening square and the waxing gibbous phases.

Growing awareness and illumination are indicated by the aspect, generally. The Sun in their own decan of Capricorn and the Moon in their exaltation amplify the vibes. Still, there's a bit of friction in the air.

Midday (08:00 - 16:00, PST):

10:42 am - Moon parallel Uranus
12:22 pm - Moon at 14° Taurus sextile asteroid Vesta at 14° Pisces
1:52 pm - Moon conjunct Uranus at 15° Taurus

Technically, there are no classical aspects made between any of the traditional planets.

Still, just because there's no ancient delineation for a Moon-Uranus conjunction doesn't mean that we don't feel that ish down here on planet earth.

We're thrust back into trying to solve the puzzle of the Saturn/Uranus square.

Retro on retro Rubik's Cube. 

Questions for the Week:

  • What's the ongoing square peg - round hole problem you've been wrestling with the past year or so?
    You know, the one where you're challenged with reconciling the need to adapt to a rapidly changing world in terms of both ecology and economy (Uranus in Taurus), as well as the Structure of the State / Shift toward Sustainability (Saturn in Aquarius).
  • With respect to your static electricity pickle, have you identified where and/or why you're unclear, confused, hesitating, discontent, or fearful (etc.) yet?
    Remember, we're not cultivating a negativity mindset here – we're identifying what's within our zone of agency / accountability to attend to. If we're unclear we can ask for or seek information, but we may not find the answers we're looking for. Instead, we get more clarity about what we can do to get them, or not. Same with hesitation: we can shoot our shots, but we can't guarantee outcomes. Instead, we can gift our future self with an easier sense of acceptance if the things we want aren't in the cards now, yet, or after all.

Late PM (16:00 - midnight, PST):

10:44 pm - Mercury retrograde at 22° Capricorn sextiles Neptune at 22° Pisces.

I think of this aspect as one that brings with it strange and dark utterances that reveal much more than intended. Mercury is the "interpreter of all" while Neptune is a planet whose function is to dissolve and merge things.

This is a good time to have a dream journal handy.

Sunday Surmises:

There's been a fair amount that's seemed hard to express, hard to pin down, hard to sort out. 2023 seems to start off with a quest to get questions that yield answers that grant us the right questions to get to the bottom of it all.

Just... don't expect to get those by force or by choice. Instead, imho, simply staying receptive and observant is the way to go. All the more so to your daydreams, mind wanderings, and sleepdreams too.


Monday

Early AM (midnight - 08:00, PST):

4:14 am - Moon at 22° Taurus squares Saturn at 22° Aquarius
4:30 am - Moon at 22° Taurus trine Mercury retrograde at 22° Capricorn
4:52 am - Moon at 22° sextile Neptune at 22° Pisces

This morning is a continuation of the translation of imagination, mood, and intuition into... questions, and flag for follow-up.

With those questions of the week, try not to dwell on crafting an action plan, or thinking about new year's resolutions (you'll find out something between now and January 18th that's likely to switch up any you set now anyways). Rather, focus on staying receptive to the free association style imagery that comes to mind as you sit with whatever feels foggy, murky, misty, confusing...

Yes, I'm aware there are plenty of folks who will experience these transits in their sleep. In that case, make sure you have that dream journal handy.

Midday (08:00 - 16:00, PST):

08:01 am - Sun at 11° Capricorn square Chiron at 11° Aries
08:58 am - Moon contra-parallel Mercury
2:16 pm - Moon at 27° Taurus trine Pluto at 27° Capricorn

Think back to the Venus/Pluto conjunction that just occurred. The Moon's trine to this degree ought to provide a moment to chew on and digest whatever came up. The Sun's square to Chiron suggests that what's being illuminated now is potentially just as painful as it is an opportunity to find integration and healing.

The Moon doesn't make another aspect until moving into Gemini. By more recent convention this is a void of course Moon, though by the ancient definition it's not. If you'd like to err on the side of caution, be sure to start anything you want to get going prior to to the evening before 2pm.

Late PM (16:00 - midnight, PST):

5:39 pm - Moon contra-parallel Venus
6:09 pm - Venus enters Aquarius
6:43 pm - Moon enters Gemini
6:47 pm - Moon at 0° Gemini trine Venus at 0° Aquarius
9:36 pm - Moon at 1° Gemini sextile Jupiter at 1° Aries

I'm struck by how dry the aspects are in the evening. With both benefics now out of signs of grounding polarity (aka feminine signs, if you want to read some words on polarity as gender you can do so here) there's a "lighter" / more volatile quality to the Moon's transit through Gemini than last month's. If anything, you can expect this energy to feel faster and potentially more externalized too.

Monday's More or Less:


Tuesday

Early AM (midnight - 08:00, PST):

02:26 am - Moon contra-parallel Pluto
02:27 am - Moon contra-parallel the Sun
03:04 am - Sun parallel Pluto

There are no classical aspects among traditional planets.

Delineating parallels and contra-parallels is beta-mode new around here, but we can safely suspect there will be intensity that feels a bit 'below the surface'.

Midday (08:00 - 16:00, PST):

09:43 am - Uranus at 15° Taurus sextile Vesta at 15° Pisces
09:45 am - Moon contra-parallel asteroid Hygiea
11:47 am - Moon conjunct Mars retrograde at 8° Gemini

The only classical aspect involving traditional planets midday is the conjunction of the Moon and Mars. Which is probably well enough because that one's lightly to feel feel of fire but not in the way that Al Green means.

Late PM (16:00 - midnight, PST):

4:15 pm - Moon parallel Mars
6:22 pm - Moon at 11° Gemini sextile Chiron at 11° Aries

Think back to the Gemini Full Moon of last month. The Moon occulted (covered up) Mars because they were perfectly parallel. This time they're not quite that close, but that should give you a something to zero-in on while you observe for yourself what parallel means and feels like.

How is this Moon/Mars conjunction different than the last one?

Mars rules things like heat, inflammation, fevers, rashes, onions, garlic, mustard, red meat, predators, aggression, dogs, things that are loud and raucous (or obnoxious). The Moon rules the body, and food.

Are you craving hot or spicy food? Is the intensity different than last time?

Tuesday's TL;DR:

Well, we're certainly going to be feeling the Mars station a few days early. We've got a couple of


Wednesday

This is a quiet day with relatively few aspects from the Moon.

Venus and Jupiter make their final aspect before their next conjunction in

Early AM (midnight - 08:00, PST):

01:01 am - Moon square asteroid Vesta at 15° Pisces
01:07 am - Venus at 1° Aquarius sextile Jupiter at 1° Aquarius

The sextile between the benefics is interesting. Occurring after dark Jupiter leads the nocturnal fiery triplicity, while Venus is in Her* own decan.

Each of the benefics is a little bit dignified, and they see one another. Yet, each is ruled by a malefic – one of the sect but retrograde, and the other direct and dignified, but contrary to the nocturnal mode.

Midday (08:00 - 16:00, PST):

03:53 pm - Moon at 22° Gemini trine Saturn at 22° Aquarius

Saturn is the triplicity lord of the Moon in any air sign. In Gemini, Saturn makes an overcoming trine.

Are there elders, authorities, or folks that you look up to an admire for their experience? Any whose support you've benefitted from in the past, or any who are showing up for you now?

Reach out to them. Thank them. Proactively seek out whatever knowledge or wisdom they may have for you.

Late PM (16:00 - midnight, PST):

04:07 pm - the Moon squares Neptune at 22° Pisces

Think: confusion. Too many details to sort through, things that sound too good to be true (probs are if they do), or facts that support a counterfactual argument. You get the idea.

It's the last aspect for the next 14 hours and until after the Moon moves into Cancer. Again, one of those maybe VOC Moons, depending on which camp you're in.

Watch for the tendency to fudge the truth, or to overlook important information. Remember too that perceptions can be perfectly valid in the sense that you're having them while at the same time not capturing or reflecting all the facts of the matter.

On the other hand, Jupiter is no longer maxing out Neptune's fog machine, so digesting information (Moon in Gemini) could be an avenue toward clearing the fog from the air.

Wednesday's Word:

The way we direct our focus is going to heavily influence the way these transits play out. If we focus exclusively on the green lights we see we might walk right by a deal-breaker of a red flag. On the other hand, a single (legit) red flag, if it's all we look at, could blot out a dozen green ones tied up with a bow made of your blessings.

The Moon's trine to Saturn primes us to notice cold hard facts. Emphasis on the cold, and the hard.

A cartoon gif of an caricature of a blue ice cube waving "hi!".
Don't you just want to hug 'em?

The Moon's square to Neptune could equally manifest as projection, escapism, or confusion.

Or, even an attunement to one's imagination that together with the Moon/Saturn trine could lead to some fruitful outlining or the constructive type of dreaming. As they say, you have to imagine it's possible before you can go make it happen.


Thursday

The Full Moon in Cancer comes. This Full Moon comes free from the gaze of the malefics. The time that the Moon is in Cancer, especially the first two degrees, will be particularly good times for starting things.


You can learn more about some of the better and best times to take advantage of the way the skies are aligned in this week's Betterthans & B-Sides.

Betterthans & B-Sides 2023: Week #1
Betterthans and B-Sides for the first week of January 2023.

Read the inaugural "issue" of BB's!


Early AM (midnight - 08:00, PST):

06:24 am - Moon at 12° Cancer square Chiron 12° Aries

Midday (08:00 - 16:00, PST):

12:29 pm - the Moon at 12° Cancer sextile Uranus at 12° Uranus
3:07 pm - Full Moon at 16° Cancer opposed Sun at 16° Cancer
3:10 pm - Moon at 16° Cancer trine Vesta at 16° Pisces

Fortnightly Lunacy: Cancer Full Moon 2023
Check out Bear’s video for the Cancer Full Moon.

Late PM (16:00 - midnight, PST):

4:08 pm - Sun at 16° Capricorn sextile Vesta 16° Pisces
5:35 pm - Moon opposite Mercury at 17° Capricorn

Just Jot this for Jupiter's Day:

Today's transit suggest that way to understanding (Moon + Mercury) begins with feeling all of our feelings (Moon square Chiron). From that place our body the genius of its wisdom (Moon in Cancer sextile Uranus in Taurus). It's the body's wisdom, together with the awareness of our consciousness, that allows us to access to the imaginal focus necessary for devotion and ritual (Moon trine Vesta in Pisces). From there we can focus our awareness – that's Will (Sun sextile Vesta).

Understanding, imho, implies a known purpose. Otherwise it's just inert facts. Kinda like the difference between vital organic thriving rich soil and inert dirt is the the life part. Just a working thought, but play around with it.

If you consider Will a by-product of united somatic and conscious awareness, and think about it in relation to purpose, what else comes to mind?

If you want to take advantage of some prime dream-time astroweather, be sure to read Friday's entry before the end of Thursday night.


Friday

Early AM (midnight - 08:00, PST):

04:29 am - Moon trine Neptune at 22° Pisces
04:56 am - Sun conjunct Mercury at 16° Capricorn

If you're sleeping at these hours, once again, I am recommending you have a dream journal near your sleeping place. And if you're the type that's been hymn'ing to the planets, consider the hymn(s) to the Oneiroi, Hypnos, Chthonic Hermes (especially), and Mnemosyne.

If you're working within other traditions consider the agents/protectors/beings of sleep, dream, traveling to the Other/Spirit world, and memory. Ask them to help you remember your dreams and to find wisdom in them.

Midday (08:00 - 16:00, PST):

9:27 am - Mercury sextile Vesta at 16° Pisces
2:22 pm - Moon opposite Pluto at 27° Capricorn

What rituals do you want/need to rework in order to clear out stagnant emotions?

Technically, there aren't any classical aspects between traditional planets until after the Moon moves into Leo. If you reckon that's a void Moon, then you might prefer to leave 2:22 - 6:39 or even 10:59 for going with the flow.

Late PM (16:00 - midnight, PST):

6:39 pm - Moon enters Leo
10:59 pm - Moon at 2° Leo trine Jupiter at 2° Aries
11:13 pm - Moon parallel Mars

If you struggled to sleep after the Capricorn New Moon, or the Moon/Jupiter conjunction, you might expect another visit from your friend Insomnia tonight. If that's the case, trying working with the Moon parallel to Mars by drinking some warm (Mars) milk (Moon) before bed.

You might use that bedside (dream) journal to write about the other kind of dreams too – before bed. You know, the kind where you dream-ily feel into your heart's desires. Jot those down before bed. Maybe even ask your sleep & dream-time allies to help you flesh out those dreams on the sleeping side of consciousness.

Venus Votes:

Soak up on of the last time's we'll experience the Moon in Cancer while He's* free from the sights of Saturn and Mars. Come March Saturn will be in Pisces and all of the dignified Moons will come with an aspect from our Icy Elder.


Saturday

Early AM (midnight - 08:00, PST):

06:46 am - Moon contra-parallel Hygiea

There are no classical aspects among traditional planets.

Midday (08:00 - 16:00, PST):

08:51 am - Moon opposite Venus at 8° Aquarius
11:18 am - Moon sextile Mars at 8° Gemini
1:13 pm - Moon conta-parallel Pluto
3:22 pm - Mercury trine Uranus at 15° Taurus

Both Mars, Mercury, and Uranus are all retrograde.

Where might you find a question that sparks an aha moment if you only look a second time? Or, is there a genius idea you had about three months ago that's due for a re-visit?

Think especially of anything that requires you put your hands on it, or to physically produce, build, make, or otherwise create something (Mars in Gemini plus Mercury in Capricorn).

Late PM (16:00 - midnight, PST):

5:52 pm - Moon contra-parallel Sun
7:03 pm - Moon at 12° Leo trine asteroid Chiron at 12° Aries

Again, technically there are no classical aspects between traditional planets.

If something particularly noticeable occurs today, take note. Venus will retrograde at 12° Leo later this year.

Saturn's Summary:

The only classical aspects among traditional planets today are the opposition of the Moon to Venus, and the Moon's sextile to Mars. Lean into demolishing outworn patterns, defending against arrogance and excessive generosity (which is really a form of overextension, which is always an inherently unstable foundation for a relationship...), and dissect the details in front of you if the facts don't sit or feel right in your body.


As always, I hope these words find and serve you well.

To learn more about the astrology of the month ahead check out the monthly forecast!

January’s Astrology Brings Sudden Release
A look at the astrological transits for January 2023.

Connect with Bear

If there's any way I can be of service to you in creating opportunities for grounded growth or embodied empowerment, please feel free to reach out to me at contact@bearryver.com; or, book a session at:


Bear Ryver is a professional astrologer helping his clients hone strategies for grounded growth and embodied empowerment by bringing them back to the BASICS. Winner of OPA’s Most Promising Astrologer in 2018, Bear has lectured at conferences like NORWAC and ISAR. He holds certifications in Hellenistic, Electional, and Horary astrology, and specializes in Intersectional Astrology. He was a teacher for the Portland School of Astrology, and has volunteered as a mentor for AFAN. When he’s not talking stars, or pulling cards, you can find him climbing rocks and playing guitar.