The Company You Keep?
Retrogrades get a bad rap, but I secretly applaud them.
Mars Retrograde
How are you managing the cosmic turbulence in your life? Did you feel Mars slow down to a symbolic halt on December 6th? I did, and depending on where Leo and Cancer live in your chart, you are up for an 11-week journey of retrospective research in the realms of your unique motivations and impulses. As Mars rules your energy sources, you may feel more withdrawn or pulled inward. There will be challenges that force us to slow down and rethink our strategy for momentum. Right now, it is similar to the drawing of an arrow back—when it stations direct on February 23rd, you can begin to contemplate letting go, but I wouldn’t until May 2nd when it leaves its shadow.
The Journey of Persephone
For me, this astrology feels painful and revealing. Transiting Pluto (Hades) conjunct transiting Venus (Persephone) invites us to review our personal underworld. At 0 degrees Aquarius, they also conjunct Ceres (Demeter) at this time. For those of you who know of Persephone’s story, you might recall that Demeter, the mother of Kore—Goddess of the Spring, searches for her daughter, who was kidnapped and taken into the underworld by Hades. Kore becomes Persephone, the Queen of the dark realm when she unknowingly eats three pomegranate seeds from Hades and is caught in his spell. Later, she can only return to the upper regions half the year, as represented by Spring and similar to when Venus becomes the morning star once again.
Why is it painful for me? Pluto, Venus, and Ceres oppose transiting Mars, which is stationed retrograde. The trinity of Pluto, Venus, and Ceres is also conjunct my late-degree Capricorn Sun and opposes my Mars, which also has transiting Mars sitting on top of it. So, it has felt like shards of glass cutting open ancient wounds of relationship, and salt slowly ground into the open sore. I could be more graphic, but I will refrain. When keeping company with Hades, the journey is always bound to be profound and, at times, excruciating.
Seeds Planted
You don’t have to review a current astrology chart to know what the astrology is invoking. And I don’t track astrology every second of the day on purpose. I can always pull it from my sky vision when I need to, but I instead move through my days with a civilian mindset, free from obsessive awareness of the moment-to-moment movements of the stars. However, I am constantly in awe of how the planetary bodies, like celestial chess pieces, work our psyches like the hands of a watch. There is no escaping the destiny of transits meant to challenge, heal, boost, or teach us.
Today is the first quarter moon, where last week's new moon begins to take form and carry us to next week’s full moon. We are at a midpoint where the seeds planted in the fertile soil of that dark moon are sprouting, and these days, you might get a sense of what this moon cycle’s lessons are all about. And again, this moon is carrying the 11-week retrograde of Mars within it. Perhaps your inner Mars is your living myth's antidote and true hero. During these months, Mars joins Persephone in the underworld to learn from the deep mysteries of courage and magic. Retrogrades get a bad rap, but I (not so) secretly applaud them for extra emphasis on inner work in these times. If you aren’t sure which houses the current astrology of this Persephonic journey is activating, I recommend finding out.
An Exploration of Relationship
Here is an example of how Pluto, Venus, and Ceres conjunct are playing out in my life as they transit through and over my 11th-house natal Sun, which is conjunct my natal Venus. This is the house of friendship, community, society, and how we participate in the world. It is the kingdom where dreams come true, aspirations are fulfilled, and hopes are buoyant with enthusiasm. An underworld exploration in this realm is recognizing who your true friends are and coming to value your friendships in new ways. Friends are gems, a super rare form of humans with concrete karmic bonds to one another.
Your chart is set by the time of your birth and denotes your rising sign or Ascendant. The moment of your first breath on Earth initiates your destiny, which can also be discovered within a reading of your chart. For all the rest of your inhales and exhales in this life, you will be navigating the time and space between your chart and the current chart of the moment—Current Transits. Your chart is alive and can reveal your relationships with others: family members, friends, lovers, and foes. Remember, your birth chart mirrors your psyche, and the people in your life reflect to you in various ways and depths.
You know the saying, you are the company you keep? Indeed, we are deeply influenced by those we surround ourselves with and support each other or tear one another down. Pay attention to who you choose to share your breath, heartbeat, laughter, and tears; you will learn something extraordinary about yourself and them, too. And to note: there are those you are aware of, the seen, and then there are the unseen, the spirits, and the beings that may not so obviously be interacting with you daily. Whether living within you or engaging with you externally, the unseen keeps you company every stellar moment of your life. Perhaps Pluto conjunct Venus and Ceres in today’s sky will remind you of those seeking your awareness with hidden messages from beyond.
The Looking Glass that is Astrology
Astrology is a resource unlike any I have discovered yet. It is exact and revelatory in cycles and layers. Depending on your intention, when you peer into the looking glass of your birth chart, you will see, experience, and learn from different perspectives every time. I always encourage my clients and star friends to envision their chart as a multi-dimensional sphere we enter via the rising sign. From here, we can travel in various directions with their intention and questions guiding us on our shared journey.
To all of those of whom I’ve had the great honor of reading your chart, thank you for being here and for keeping company with me in the celestial vault of inner knowing. And if we haven’t delved into the star language together, there is time for that. Time always tells, and just maybe, there is a message awaiting you in the mirrored sphere of your psyche. If you don’t explore with me, consider getting a reading with a trusted astrologer recommended by one of those gems in your life.
May you be blessed on your underworld explorations on these long nights and colder days. All my best to you, and please receive the piece of my heart that lives inside these words,
See the Astrotherapy Sessions Holiday Cosmic Gift Guide here 💫 🎁
Thank you for visiting my inner world. If you want to learn more about my work in the outer world, enjoy cielawynter.com and listen to Season 1 of my podcast here.
Ps! I am offering an inner zodiac mentorship (now slated for early 2025) for those of you curious, called, and, of course, sense that it is written in your stars.
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We cannot change the world until we accept we are the world. This is the new conversation.