Chiron Turns Retrograde

Chiron Turns Retrograde - Inner Dialog

"The outward freedom that we shall attain will only be in exact proportion to the inward freedom to which we may have grown at a given moment. And if this is a correct view of freedom, our chief energy must be concentrated on achieving reform from within."

— Gandhi

We begin the week just after Mercury's superior conjunction with the Sun, which has begun to shift our thinking toward the future. However, unwinding last Wednesday's Capricorn Full Moon demands significant attention. We are still looking for some clarity, especially in terms of how much independence we really need or want and how much we should be concerned about the level of approval or recognition that we are gaining from others. Impatience continues to challenge us and we may believe that we just need to push harder, work harder — or demand more from others. But this week's shifts are pointing us in an entirely different direction, suggesting that it's actually an inside job. Venus arrives in Cancer at the beginning of the week, teaching us that aggressively grasping for our desires may be less effective than consciously attracting them — maybe try asking nicely? The Universe offers us some tantalizing clues this week when some things seem to suddenly fall into place spontaneously. However, the effect of such sudden developments may feel more jarring instead of an answer to our prayers. If we actually do spend more time envisioning what we want — attracting instead of demanding — there are all sorts of questions about how much control we can maintain — which keeps us on the fence. Chiron turns retrograde on Tuesday, turning our attention inward and urging us to heal ourselves by listening more closely to our inner dialog in order to better understand our deepest intentions and ambitions. As Uranus approaches a conjunction with the Moon's North Node, there is at least some building optimism and excitement leading us to believe that some changes can actually bring healing resolutions. But by the end of the week, both the Sun and Mercury arrive in Leo, which is likely to feel disappointingly uncomfortable. We face threads of both arrogance and dependency if we continue to try to work through external channels. This is not an atmosphere where strong wills can prevail even though the initial burst of Leo energy may encourage us rely on our will power alone. The inward journey that is encouraged this week may seem like an existential threat when the new Leo energy is introduced. We will need plenty of awareness to recognize that self-care and self-reflection is, in fact, our best hope of finding lasting stability, safety, and security. By healing our own wounds, we will find the strength and wisdom to heal the wounds of others.

We may find our imagination stirred to dream of future possibilities on Sunday. There are whispers of insight that suggest that we may just need to allow the Universe to deliver our dreams to us. Monday's Aries Moon breaks that dreamy spell and demands that we pay attention. Activity is high but clarity is in short supply, likely feeding impatience. Our attention turns inward a bit on Tuesday. There are some indications that we may need to pull back and spend more time on self-reflection. There is a great deal of inspiration available on Wednesday but not a great deal of clarity. Definitive actions are hampered by indecision and uncertainty. Our focus is drawn a bit too far ahead on Thursday. We need to stay with the process and be careful not to over-extend ourselves. The Sun's arrival in Leo on Friday is particularly uncomfortable. There are threads of both arrogance and dependency but not enough interpersonal skill to sort out the discrepancies. There is some tendency to try to fall back on determined will power on Saturday. However, the Universe seems to be trying to tell us to 'let go'. We will need to acknowledge the positions of others without 'caving' to pressure.