It’s hard to say whether 2023 will be better than 2022, but there’s no doubt that it’s going to be different. With the Nodes of the Moon slipping onto a different axis and Saturn, Pluto, and Jupiter changing signs, 2023 promises bold, new energy. Our first notable shift happens on March 7th, when Saturn, the ruler of ambition and duty, moves into spiritual Pisces. Saturn spends approximately two and a half years in each sign. For the past five years, he’s been in signs he rules, first Capricorn then Aquarius. (Note, this is based on Hellenistic rulerships. Modern astrologers give Aquarius to Uranus.) This is important because for five years, Saturn’s been on his A-game, bringing the gifts of determination, wisdom, and the ability to work hard toward worthy goals. But Saturn, the ruler of boundaries and structure, is moving into Pisces, the sign of idealism and creativity. The earthy planet of building walls will be hosted by the watery sign of dissolving into The One. Sometimes earth and water create fertile ground and support the growth of new life. Sometimes they just make mud. Perhaps it would be safest to expect a bit of both. On March 23rd, Pluto, who spends from 12 to 32 years in a sign, will transition into Aquarius. The God of the Underworld entered Capricorn on November 28, 2008, so this energy has been with us long enough to become the norm. But who wants normal? Get ready to embrace the new…or maybe the really old. The last time Pluto landed in Aquarius was in 1778. How does the song go? “Everything old is new again.� Pluto represents power and deep transformation. Consider that both World Wars occurred around the time Pluto entered new signs. This is not to say that a global conflict will occur. Plenty of other significant events happened in connection with Pluto changing signs. But moving from Capricorn, ruler of the status quo and governmental structures, into Aquarius, associated with technological advances and diffused leadership, is sure to bring profound changes. Expect more power-to-the-people style social movements and technological advances. And don’t be surprised if global leaders go a bit bonkers, as they defend the old systems that supported their power. Before we get on to some lighter, brighter news, Pluto’s transition is even more complicated because he scoots back into Capricorn on June 12th. He’ll stay there until January of 2024 taking care of unfinished business. Once he’s satisfied that everything is put right, the Lord of the Underworld will move back into Aquarius where he’ll stay until 2044. Power to the people! On a much lighter note, Jupiter, the planet of expansion and good luck, moves into earthy Taurus on May 16th. Whew! Unlike his slower moving sky-mates, Jupiter only spends about a year in a sign, but given everything else going on, let’s just be grateful for some good news! Taurus is ruled by Venus, the planet of love, money, art, and general good vibes. Taurus’ earthiness provides soil for growth in these areas, and Jupiter brings positive energy needed to foster unlimited expansion. World economies could start to emerge from current challenges. And on a personal level, who doesn’t need more love, money, and joy? Finally, 2023 brings the beginning of karmic change when the Nodes of the Moon start to shift their axis from Taurus/Scorpio to Aries/Libra, where they’ll remain for the next year-and-a-half. Two of the 2023 eclipses will finish out the Taurus/Scorpio cycle we’ve been experiencing since December of 2021. The other two will give us a hint of what’s to come in 2024. The outgoing Taurus/Scorpio energy forced us to reconcile the desire for personal comfort and the pull to deep-dive into emotional intensity. Do we curl up and watch a romcom or settle in with Kafka? As we shift to the Aries/Libra axis we’ll be confronted with the need to find the balance between getting our own desires fulfilled while insuring inclusivity and fairness. Especially around the times of the eclipses, we’ll all be receiving hints of where we’ll feel this energy in 2024. It’s impossible to predict specifically how all the planetary changes will be felt on the individual level because each transiting planet triggers hot spots in our individual natal charts. But one thing is quite certain: 2023 has big changes in store for us, and it’s my guess that most of us are more than ready to move on. Happy 2023 everyone!