Special Dates In The Year Ahead! 2023 Astrology…

As we enter a New Year, it’s ideal to know the most important moments and key points in the twelve months ahead.

Here are some special dates in 2023 to look out for…

These are just some dates I’ve personally selected as interesting! There are likely many more and I’m just pointing these out as I’ve walked through the year. See more on the Eclipses of 2023, here.

23 February 2023: Aries Stellium…

The first day I’d like to point out is February 23rd, when there’s a huge stellium in Aries.

Venus, Vesta, Jupiter, Chiron, the Moon, Juno and Eris are all assembled in this cardinal fire sign.

All oppose Ceres in Libra, more specifically Venus and Vesta. Not seen is Pallas in Cancer, which is square Jupiter, I just thought this looked neater!

We’ve harmony (and a trine) between Mercury in Aquarius and Mars direct in Gemini (after a long spell retrograde). The Sun is aligned with the North Node in Taurus.

To me this date emphasises what we’re hoping to accomplish with the longer transit of Jupiter in Aries. It’s a great day to recognise what you’re up to in this regard, really finding you’re tuned in thanks to the abundance of energy that lands in this sign and corroborates.

Because Mars is no longer backtracking, we’ve licence to really push ahead! Go! Support from Mercury brings clarity and support through social connections…

7 March 2023: Full Moon in Virgo…

I’ve not included every Full Moon in this list.

This one is particularly interesting to me, as the Sun (and Moon) have recently made a trine aspect to Uranus.

The ruler of the Full Moon [Mercury in Pisces] also recently aligned with the Taurus North Node. Note too that Saturn and Pluto are at 29ª, a ‘hot spot’ degree as the Annular Total Eclipse (see below, April 20th) is at 29º…

This is a day that’s great for reflection on what’s been accomplished, not just around Virgo themes and the Full Moon but also in the Taurus house of our horoscope. And, more broadly what we’ve established with Saturn in Aquarius, and Pluto in Capricorn.

20 March 2023: A Nice Day To Relax & Let Go…

I see this as a really nice day – just ahead of a New Moon and ahead of Spring Equinox!

The Sun finds harmony with Pluto and Sedna, Venus is conjunct the North Node in Taurus (+ Juno), Pallas is agreeable.

All is well save for Mars in Gemini (sticking out like a sore thumb in air), suggesting it’s a time to wind things down, rest and go easy…

22 March 2023: Spring Equinox | New Moon!

Very quickly after this pleasant lull (above), we’re whisked into Aries Season and swiftly see a New Moon in Aries (opposite Ceres).

Technically, the ruler of this lunation [Mars in Gemini] is square to the New Moon, however, I don’t think it will be really that testing, as it’s in Gemini, a more compatible place.

Venus and Juno are together with the North Node, and Ceres moves (retrograde) into Virgo the next day. I wonder if this leads us to meditate on the themes or dynamic that’s come up with Ceres in Libra prominent thus far in 2023 (see Feb 23rd)…?

20 April 2023: Annual Total Eclipse | New Moon… War!

Here we have an Aries New Moon and Total Eclipse (on my birthday no less!) with a square from Pluto, newly arrived in Aquarius (00º19′).

Note Jupiter and Eris in Aries, too. It’s a spicy one!

Elsewhere, Saturn is aligned with the Node Node (4º), Mars is aligned with Mercury (13º), all these in water and earth, and finally pallas is aligned with both Neptune and Ceres (24-26º).

This will be the second New Moon in Aries and one to write home about!

Thankfully Sun and Moon quickly move into Taurus, so this heightened mood comes onto solid ground (though Pluto in Aquarius continues to square the Sun in a more direct fashion…)

Still, it gives me ‘war’ vibes, 

14/15 May 2023: Lovely Day For A Family Picnic…

Another nice day.

I’m already hearing people making their plans for mid-May 2023, so it’s nice to see right on cue slap bang in the middle of the month we have this LOVELY DAY.

Saturn and Venus in the water signs bode well for planning something nourishing, fulfilling and enriching among friends and family, with support from Mercury (5–8º Pisces, Taurus, Cancer), the Pisces Moon and Neptune are at ease with the Sun and Mars, too.

Ceres again features as a stand out feature in Virgo with harmony from Sun and Mars.

This is a Sunday, and I can’t help but think of a picnic with free-flowing drinks, and a vacillation between healthy fare, indulgent eats and a swell of affection for familiar faces!

Plan something sweet and delightful everyone!

19/20 May 2023: New Moon in Taurus…

A continuation of the above, now we see Jupiter in Taurus (and Pluto, not seen, playing nice with this New Moon).

Right after this moment it starts to get testy, however, as Mars moves into Leo – see below!

1 June 2023: Grand Fixed Cross!

A troublesome square forms as the Moon in Scorpio opposes Jupiter and the North Node in Taurus.

Both see the stressor of Mars (and Black Moon Lilith) in Leo, and Pluto in Aquarius, which altogether give us a Grand Fixed Cross!

The run up to this will be fierce too, with Mars opposite Pluto, then Mars square Jupiter – you can consider May 20th to this point as hairy!!!

17 July 2023: New Moon in Cancer…

Another New Moon that I see as more important than the others!

This one lands (widely) opposite Pluto (now back in Capricorn), with further tension thanks to the North Node, just about to enter Aries…

Saturn is at odds with Mars (and Pallas) too, which is quite uncomfortable – taking practical action comes up against new rules being explored.

5 September 2023: Grand Earth Trine, Make Solid Progress!

A lot going on here – bear with me!

It’s Virgo Season, with the Moon in Taurus, and Pluto in Capricorn so all three earth signs are occupied.

[Moon, Jupiter, Uranus in Taurus, Sun, Mercury, Pallas in Virgo, Pluto in Capricorn].

Mercury is retrograde but happy in Virgo.

There’s tension thanks to the North Node conjunct Eris, and Ceres on the South Node; the only reason I point this out is because Eris has played quite a significant role these past few years (and Pluto is still square this asteroid) and Ceres feels prominent in 2023 too!

Feels like peace is being denied us, yet there are intelligent forces in play…

2/3 October 2023: Cardinal T-Square, Grand Trine in Earth…

One month on from the last scene, and Mars (in detriment) in Libra opposes the North Node (and Eris, and approaches a square to Pluto), with the Sun and Pallas.

Elsewhere, we’ve a Grand Trine in Earth (exalted Taurus Moon, Mercury in its domicile in Virgo, Pluto in Capricorn), with Neptune (in domicile) making a kite!

Planets in earth work together and we could feel secure, at ease, informed and yet somewhat at a loss, too. I’ve not included the opposition of Mercury-Neptune in the diagram, leaving the T-square of Cardinal points more obvious: Aries, Libra, Capricorn.

Peacekeeping efforts may be in motion, blocked somehow… Juno and Venus are trine Eris and the North Node.

13 October 2023: Annular Eclipse | New Moon In Libra Incoming…

This chart is cast for a few hours before the Eclipse at 21º07′ Libra (1.55 pm EDT / on October 14th).

Here we see a Grand Water Trine, with Mars in Scorpio, Saturn in Pisces and Vesta in Cancer. Venus – the ruler of the New Moon is opposite Saturn.

This demonstrates a sense of flow but also a major fallout, since this is on the South Node.

We may be facing a lack of peace and harmony, diplomatic relations, yet might not know it!

28/29 October 2023: Partial Eclipse | Full Moon In Taurus… 

Here is a chart cast just after the Full Moon (and Partial Eclipse) at 5º09′ Taurus (October 28th 8.24 pm).

See the dynamic in Scorpio and Taurus – the Sun, but then Mercury and Mars together in Scorpio opposite Jupiter and the Moon all at 11º. 

Then Ceres and Uranus at odds too. Ceres again playing a part in the key charts…

By this point we’re nearing the end of the year.

13 November 2023: Scorpio New Moon…

What a day! Let’s unpack…

It’s a New Moon in Scorpio conjunct Mars, with a quincunx between Ceres, and also Mars and the New Moon, and the North Node and Eris.

Furthermore, Neptune is quincunx the South Node, and Pallas.

There’s also a nice sextile between Mercury and Venus.

20 November 2023: First Quarter Aquarius Moon…

The last quarter Moon in Aquarius arrives on November 

25 November 2023: Sagittarius Season, Mars & Mercury…

This is an interesting day for me – Mars is approaching the Sun in Sagittarius, both square to Saturn in Pisces; Mercury is approaching a square to Neptune in Pisces.

Mercury is trine the North Node at this time.

The Moon and Jupiter (and Uranus) in Taurus make for a strong trio in this sign.