5 Astrological Aspects In 2023 You Need To Know About
The last year has been nothing short of cosmic chaos. From the "Summer of Retrogrades” that saw several retrograde planets diverting your usual plans to the dreaded Taurus x Scorpio eclipse season that flipped everything on its head, it's been a whirlwind of emotions, triumphs, and defeats. It's safe to say that despite the heartbreak that came with it, 2022 was the year of finally finding yourself and ending toxic relationship cycles that took more than they gave (via Allure). And though things may not have gone down the way you'd planned for this year — 2023 promises just as much growth, change, and possibility on the horizon. Only this time, you're ready to tackle these new challenges head-on as the savvier and wiser version of yourself.
This new astrological year kicks off with Mars and Mercury retrograde both stirring up trouble at the same time, which will cause things to get off to a slow start. However, things will smooth out by the end of the month and remain relatively quiet until March. From March through May, there will be several major transits: including Mars leaving Gemini, Saturn leaving Aquarius, and the first set of eclipses for the year in the signs of Aries and Scorpio. You can expect conflict in your relationships when Venus Retrograde crashes the party from July to September, with the eclipses in October threatening to keep the sparks flying. However, things will smooth out again as the year winds to a close (via Astro Seek). The cosmos have a lot in store for you this year. Keep reading to find out how the stars will align in your favor in 2023.
Saturn shifts from Aquarius to Pisces
One of the most talked about transits of the year is Saturn's long-awaited exit from the sign of Aquarius. On March 7, 2023 -– Saturn will enter Pisces and stay there until May 25, 2025, before taking a brief detour into the sign of Aries. Saturn will then re-enter Pisces on August 31, 2025, and remain there until February 13, 2026, per Cafe Astrology. With Saturn's ingress into Pisces next year, you'll want to prepare for the inevitable clash between fantasies and reality. In astrology, Saturn is the planet of karma, maturity, responsibility, and self-discipline. When Saturn was in Aquarius, the collective was forced to confront their ideals compared to existing social structures. With Saturn shifting into emotional and soft Pisces — the new challenge will be focused on stepping into your power and using your perceived "weaknesses" as strengths.
Of course, this doesn't come without challenges. Saturn in Pisces might also lead to some passive or avoidant behaviors when faced with feelings of overwhelm. Pisces energy wants to dream and love with rose-colored glasses and live in their fantasy world rather than face the challenges of growing up. Meanwhile, Saturn teaches where you need to have boundaries, limits, focus, and continuous effort to get anywhere in life, per The Starry-Eyed Mystic. This means that in order to move forward, you'll need to let go of the lost daydreams and focus on the life you're building in the present, confronting your blindspots and working toward striking a balance between idealism and reality.
Pluto enters Aquarius
When Pluto enters a new sign, everything about the way we view our lives and our society as a whole changes in unprecedented ways. Pluto enters Aquarius on March 23, 2023, and will stay there until June 11, 2023, where it will spend a brief period of time retrograding back through the sign of Capricorn. This final stretch of Pluto in Capricorn will likely cause a bit of a stir in retaliation to the revolutionary ideals and structures that Pluto in Aquarius promises to bring, so expect some large–scale social conflict around this time, per AstroButterfly. Then after a bit of back and forth, Pluto will settle back into Aquarius to begin its uninterrupted 20-year journey through the sign of rebellion and change.
Pluto moving into Aquarius in 2023 is all about self-liberation and the forward progress of more egalitarian and humanitarian ideals. When Aquarius, the sign of the rebel, finds itself sitting in Pluto, the planet of death and destruction, you can almost always count on challenges to existing authoritarian systems and a collective reinvestment in community strength. As evolutionary astrologer Rose Marcus explains, Pluto's transit through Aquarius marks times of rebellions, revolutions, and significant social progress. "What may be unthinkable, radical, outlandish, bizarre, or extraordinary today can become the norm of tomorrow's reality," writes Marcus. And Pluto in Aquarius marks the era of destroying all the inequity in our systems so they can be rebuilt to better serve the collective.
Venus retrogrades in Leo
If you were hoping to have a Hot Girl Summer this year –- you might want to think again. Venus, the planet of romance, will station retrograde in the sign of Leo on July 22, 2023, and remain there until September 3, 2023 (via Astrology). Normally, Venus in Leo transits are a great time to display your feelings to your partner or make a serious commitment to another person. However, when Venus is retrograde, issues related to love and relationships are likely to arise. Your relationships could experience some major fireworks during this period, as well as some unforeseen drama. And while it's common to have love on the brain during Venus in Leo -– this retrograde is not the best transit for moving in with someone, getting engaged, or having your wedding.
Money is also a huge factor to consider during this time. As Theresa Reed (aka The Tarot Lady) explains it, because Venus also heavily influences your finances and savings, you're more likely to engage in retail therapy and overspending as a coping mechanism during this time. In fact, Reed suggests putting off any major purchases until after Venus goes direct if you can avoid it -– otherwise, your credit card bills might come back to shock you ahead in a few months. Instead, you'll want to focus on stacking your savings account, re-working your budget, and having those tough conversations about the future with your significant other. This will be a tough time for sure -– but couples who survive it will find their relationship feels stronger and more financially sound than ever.
Jupiter's move between Aries and Taurus
On May 16, 2023, Jupiter ends its stay in the sign of Aries and moves into Taurus, where it will stay until May 25, 2024. When Jupiter, the planet of luck, knowledge, higher–education, spirituality, and philosophy enters the sign of Taurus -– it offers the chance to make real progress toward a dream or long-term goal; and put down the roots for longevity and success. As astrologer Chani Nicholas explains, every time Jupiter changes signs, it also "changes the style in which it brings opportunities for growth and abundance." For example, Jupiter in Aries rewards boldness and risk-taking, while Jupiter in Taurus promotes dedication, focus, and hard work.
Jupiter will spend the first half of the year in fiery and passionate Aries between January and mid-May, giving you the focus and energy to get things done. This is an ideal time to move with your intuition and be self-sufficient, as the energy of Jupiter in Aries brings a boost of confidence that allows you to turn things in your favor (via Tarot). Although this period of time might feel a bit scattered and chaotic -– you can expect to see the results of your work when Jupiter enters Taurus. And as astrologer Narayana Montúfar predicts, this changeover will benefit Taurus placements the most and one of the best years they've had in a long time. "All the work that they did to stay afloat or to change, leave relationships is going to translate into growth in many different areas of life," Montúfar explains.
The Aries – Libra nodal shift
And finally, after spending the last 18 months causing chaos in the signs of Taurus x Scorpio, the lunar nodes will begin their retrograde spin back into the signs of Aries x Libra. Eclipses act as a dramatic wildcard of the cosmos and act as fated events that move you closer to your destiny. Normally, eclipses occur in "seasons" that occur across the same two zodiac signs. However, because this year marks the transition between eclipse cycles, there will be eclipses in four different signs in 2023: a solar eclipse in Aries on April 20, a lunar eclipse in Scorpio on May 5, a solar eclipse in Libra on October 14, and finally a lunar eclipse in Taurus on October 28, per astrologer Stephanie Gailing.
Understanding how the lunar nodes influence your birth chart can show you where your life will change in unexpected ways during an eclipse cycle. As astrologer Tea and Rosemary writes, the placement of the North Node will show what society's collective values are shifting toward. Meanwhile, the South Node shows where humanity experiences a collective decrease in interest and value. With this transition away from the Taurus x Scorpio eclipses toward the Aries x Libra eclipse cycle, you may find yourself moving away from aggressive social conformity and more easily towards independence and individual expression. And while all signs will feel the effects of these eclipses, naturally, Aries and Libra placements will be impacted the most.