Mars is the planet of power on a daily basis. It rules our sense of passion, war, and urgency. The ways we react are reflected in where Mars lands in relationship to other planets in our chart. Its power is likened to a ram, which will change anything it smashes into. Saturn is the planet of tough love and change through work, and makes us ask questions like, “Where do I fit?” “Why does this work this way?” “Knowing what I know now, can I continue as I was?” I would liken the power of Saturn to emptying a junk drawer and carefully organizing it, with over half the contents thrown away. It is thorough and deep in its level of personal investigation when it makes a transit to your chart. It has a history of changing societies as it moves through signs.
Pluto is the planet of power at its very origin. It shifts worlds ruthlessly and completely. It rules death and absolute transformation, and influences both of these experiences of human life, often without warning. If Saturn’s analogy is the junk drawer, Pluto will take that exact junk drawer and turn it into a unicorn that likes to fight—there is no connection to who we are before and after we encounter Pluto. It is not contained well, and the best course of action when Pluto is doing something wild is to get on the ride.
This month, all three of these planets are retrograde in Capricorn from the 13th to the 28th. These retrograde phases all have absolute ability to flip power over for a serious inspection; all three flipping at the same time signifies a time of real change that we haven’t seen in our lifetimes. Capricorn is the sign of ideas rooted in planning, and as these mega-planets get untethered, we can see the benefit of changing our belief systems, a shift of our own empowerment, and a perfect portrait of happiness—but it requires a plan. Plans require work. What the planets are providing in this moment is a potentially once-in-a-lifetime shift for this work to actually make a serious impact, so don’t be discouraged or over-confident because of the past. This is a new beginning.
The sun spends the first through the 23rd in Leo, the sign it rules. There is no flaw in the sun; we just accept it exactly as it exists. This kind of messaging does something so special when it is given to us. To someone, you are the center of the universe. You shine as a central part of your being; and even if you cover the light, it’s still there. This is an important time to celebrate yourself, to feel your body, your feelings, and your history, and exist in all of it proudly. If you read this and think you have nothing to be proud of, start something now, because fire and grace spread rapidly.
ARIES
The 10th house in astrology rules the way we are seen publicly. This month brings extra electricity to this part of your life, and could bring more recognition than you are used to receiving. This energy is best used selflessly, and you will have a lot of success when you speak up for what is right. On the 7th, Venus enters your house of long-term partnerships, bringing love and admiration with it. This is an ideal time to connect with your partner(s) or meet someone new. When the sun enters your house of work on the 24th, consider new roles and responsibilities in your place of business.
TAURUS
People have spent millions of dollars to move buildings a few blocks. What an incredible choice this is, that a structure is so sacred and rare that instead of demolishing and making something new, better, sleeker, more modern, etc. we will honor what we already have. As Saturn, Pluto, and Mars are all in your ninth house this month, it brings to mind this imagery. You do not have to change to move. You can experience something new and exciting and adventurous without fully rerouting your life. Adventuring is meant to happen now; it is up to you how deep it goes.
GEMINI
With the sun and Mercury retrograde in your third house of communication and learning this month, you might feel like your brain is running a daily marathon. Of course, this energy is wildly productive if you have a creative outlet, or have to sit down to write a novel in a month. This energy is best harnessed when you make a strict schedule and stick to it. Yes, you have to deal with the mundane daily tasks of being a human, but instead of feeling like grocery shopping is as difficult as climbing Mount Everest, you can inform your over-active brain that you have plenty of time to do everything. When the sun moves on the 24th, nesting feels much more relaxing and centering.
CANCER
Let’s talk about power dynamics in your romantic relationships. This could be a current relationship, or a recent one, or the one that defines everything you do. Get down to the nitty-gritty, deep darkness of how things go, and be real to yourself about why it is the way that it is. The power planets of Saturn and Pluto are being joined by the planet of action, Mars, for this entire month in a spot in your chart that asks you to deeply examine your patterns in relationships. This is a good time for change in your relationships, but only if you are the person leading the change. When Venus enters your fourth house on the 7th, you have the potential to reach a new level of comfort in your relationships. Dive in.
LEO
What isn’t working in your work life? Is it manifesting itself physically? Do you feel less capable because of the way people in places of power in your life have mistreated you? This month brings a lot of messages around how independent and accomplished you were, are, and will be. This is also an important time to make decisions about your health that you want to stick with for the foreseeable future. The sun is in your sign until the 23rd, bringing a bit more attention to you than usual, making it an excellent time to celebrate your life. There is a lot of change coming, and in order to be fully ready you will need to feel your best. When the sun moves into Virgo on the 24th, the level of love you received in the beginning of the month needs to be turned inward. Believe in yourself as much as your best friends do.
VIRGO
As the sun is in the personally motivated sign of Leo until the 23rd, there is a power pack of planets in your house of personal motivation and creativity for the entire month. This is the universe shouting, loud and clear, that you need to prioritize yourself. We are all a part of something—families, relationships, work—that makes us show up, compromise, and prioritize in ways we wouldn’t if we were floating through the world solo. But what if? What if you had total autonomy, and considered yourself the origin of all that you do and are a part of? What would you do differently? What do you need in the time you have? Where do you need to ask for help to allow relief from some of your responsibilities? When the sun enters your sign on the 24th, many people will look to you to guide them in the ways you want to be treated, so defining what you want and how you want it is your homework to get done before then. MAKE A LIST!
LIBRA
If you could change anything about your home, what would it be? Mars joins Saturn and Pluto in your house of home this month, which will bring necessary changes to the way that you live in your space. This could bring someone new into your space, or nudge out someone who you are not living well with. These planets are usually well met with purging the unnecessary, so if you have been meaning to declutter, now is the time. Venus, your ruling planet, enters your sign on the 7th, making every day feel a lot sweeter and more fruitful. Carefully considering exactly what you want in your life during this time—especially your love life—will bring obvious actions to better your overall experience. Comfort feels clean and strong this month. Anything that feels wishy-washy has got to go.
SCORPIO
A cluster of powerful planets is residing in your house of communication and learning this month. Circumstances often get in the way of being able to fully immerse yourself in school and learning, but this is an important time for prioritizing both. This is also an incredible time to share stories that connect you to other people’s knowledge and experience. When you lean into vulnerability and truly believe that people have felt similar feelings to your own, you have a lot more success in processing and moving past intellectual roadblocks. When Venus moves into your 12th house on the 7th, surprised romantic feelings might come out of nowhere for a person you know well. This person might be exactly the breath of fresh air you need.
SAGITTARIUS
What activities make you feel most like yourself? There is a profound level of mental clarity in knowing who you are and how you act. Taking time to define yourself for yourself is important this month. A lot of people use a traditional therapy method like talk therapy to understand where they are and where they have been, but you do not live best within these boundaries. With Jupiter in your twelfth house and a cluster of retrograde planets in your second house, there is information worth finding out about your psychology and faith in yourself. Sometimes, after years of conflict, you lose track of what you are capable of, and who you actually are. When Mars goes direct on the 28th, action around ideas is key. It is time to get out of the rut.
CAPRICORN
When Mars goes through your sign, there is usually some upheaval. In March and April of this year, Mars joined the mega-forces of Saturn and Pluto, creating some pretty significant shifts. As Mars reenters your sign on the 13th of this month, some of those changes will come back up, forcing reexamination and more change. Your sign is good at absorbing your own reality without much internal drama, so be conscious of your behaviors and the manifestation of what this stress is doing to your daily routines. When Mars goes direct on the 28th, you will finally have something to do with all the knowledge you have gained from the recent planetary campout in Capricorn. This much change could feel like you have made incorrect choices, but sometimes the incorrect route needs to be abandoned because there are more important things to do.
AQUARIUS
Who are the most important teachers and role models of your life? What mediums and platforms do they excel in? This month, when you look beyond the expected path and wealth of knowledge you have accumulated, you are rewarded. There are important philosophies in every discipline, and to truly access our potential we have to interpret a message from someone who is nothing like us. This month also provides a lot of change to your love life. With the sun in your seventh house of long-term relationships at the same time that Venus is in your house of sex and sexuality from the first to the 6th, realignment with familiar partners or acquaintance with a new partner is highly likely. Get ready for something different.
PISCES
The sixth house in astrology rules our daily lives. It has to do with health and our jobs. The sun is illuminating this space from the first to 23rd, which simply highlights whatever needs to happen. This could be a time where you feel very proud of the work you are doing. This could be a time where you realize you need more diversity in your work or a change in your responsibilities. This is a perfect time to start new routines for your health, or see a doctor for a regular check up. Mercury is also inhabiting this space for the whole month, and until the 20th is in retrograde. Some of the things that are necessary for change are much more emotional and intuitive during the retrograde phase, and an ability to act out the change you need (or even just going to appointments or interviews) will be a lot easier after Mercury goes direct. A wealth of information in how to change your routine can be found in your community. Ask around for tips on how to live your best life.
CHRISTINA IGOE | @iamastrology
illustrations KALLIE TIFFAU @ultramirror
