Hi, friends!

My last newsletter highlighted the areas of life where you might find tremendous growth and opportunity this year. That news came with a few caveats about the overall picture, the general astrology landscape we’re still in. That doesn’t change with the calendar year. 😛

I’m back to assure you that 2022 has promising moments in store for each of us. That said, simultaneous retrogrades of both inner planets – Venus and now Mercury – start our year a bit slowly. Venus continues her retrograde motion until the end of the month. And before her backtracking ends, Mercury joins the party and turns retrograde January 14th. 

Before we discuss what that means, remember this: ASTROLOGY DOESN’T PROPOSE THAT THE PLANETS or their movements CAUSE ANYTHING! Instead, the principle of astrology is one of correspondence. For some reason of universal design, events here on Earth reflect, correspond to, or coincide with the planetary movements.

So as both of our innermost planets of the solar system cease forward motion, we as a collective are slowing our roll for some reason. Below are the important dates. Note that the days near the beginning and the end of any retrograde cycle are most emphatic, as that’s when the planet moves most slowly.

As Mercury stations retrograde this month, it meets with Saturn in the sky. This heightens the effects normally seen with Mercury retrograde, particularly around the 14th. It’s time to take some deep breaths and set your intentions on establishing, maintaining, and finding PEACE with a slower pace for the next few weeks.

The common effect of Mercury retrograde is moving too quickly and missing a step. We increase our chance of error, must rethink decisions, review past work, or recant things previously said. As Saturn is the disciplinarian of the Zodiac, it’s not a good time for quickness or shortcuts. Saturn demands caution and following the rules. Proof your work, think twice, and exercise care!  

Those of us who move through life at faster tempos often find the slow pace of retrogrades frustrating. This is especially the case with planets closer to us, including Mercury and Venus. But ASTROLOGY GIVES US AWARENESS AND THUS, THE POWER, TO CHOOSE A POSITIVE APPROACH. 

TRUTH:You can excel these next two weeks through mental and physical discipline, cautious planning, and carefully measured communication. We can’t stop living every few months when another Mercury retrograde rolls around. We must only find tasks well-suited for the occasion. And anything that requires slow and deliberate movement or review work fits the bill now.

Don’t forget Venus is retrograde too, adding relationship, enjoyment and money themes to the picture.

Remember what I said in December about things moving backwards in relationships and money matters? All kinds of “old stuff” is being dredged up around me. Old behavior patterns, old problems, old agreements and all the things we thought we’d gotten past are resurfacing. (By “relationships” I mean all things relational – how you interact with a lover, a boss, a parent, a friend, and your social life in general.)

As two retrograde cycles overlap, we’re asked to slow down in every single way. It’s more important than ever to be mindful of:

• THE WAY WE DEAL WITH OTHERS. Think twice before you speak. Is it likely to move you and the other person in a constructive direction? Or are you really just singing the “same old song”? It’s NOT an ideal time for co-operation or persuading others to your point of view. Discuss important matters after these retrogrades when you’ve crafted a new and finely-tuned approach.
• ACTIONS INVOLVING MONEY. Enter agreements, track expenses, and make payments cautiously.
• DECISION-MAKING. It’s not a great time for far-reaching decisions. It’s hard to see everything you need to know to make them wisely, and hidden information may surface early February. Take small steps in the short-term while avoiding commitment.
• PHYSICAL MOVEMENT. Mercury rules travel. Not just vacations, but local travel, driving, and general movement to-and-fro in daily life. Be cautious on the road and unsurprised of renewed restrictions related to the virus.
• HEALTH. With Venus retrograde, social interactions and our enjoyment in general often decrease. To boot, Mercury rules the lungs. Rising respiratory sickness is an unsurprising “coincidence” that makes these astrology themes a reality. Be kind to yourself and find some benefit from slowing down / staying inside. If fear arises related to tasks undone while you’re caring for yourself…that’s something to look at.

I’ll admit that Mercury retrograde rarely justifies the amount of attention it gets. I’m a writer, a speaker, a researcher, and a traveler. My life is all things Mercury, and I can’t spend a big chunk of the year sitting around. I travel and do all my normal work activity during Mercury retrogrades. I simply have to.

But this Mercury retrograde justifies a cautionary note. Without belaboring the details, Mars, Saturn and Pluto are all involved this retrograde period and could deal heavy consequences for carelessness. How we handle ourselves over the coming weeks has major impact potential. 

So here is the motto we’re adopting for the coming weeks, again, because I always want to remind you – THERE IS SOMETHING TO BE GAINED AT ALL TIMES, IN EVERY SINGLE ASTROLOGICAL CONDITION: 

You can excel these next 2-3 weeks through mental and physical discipline, cautious planning, and carefully measured communication. Focus on the right tasks and find peace with the slower tempo. It’s just temporary!!! 

So much love, 

Jules