Hello Everyone and Happy New Year!
I hope this new year is treating you well so far, and that any challenges you face soon come to clarity and resolution with ease and grace.
As has become tradition, I am writing this article in acknowledgment of the Lunar New Year, as well as the Gregorian calendar year of 2023. The tone of 2023 is one of transition, opportunity, and harmonization. After the upheaval of the last few years, now we regain our footing and begin to face life anew. It is time to look ahead, create new order, care for the self, and embrace simplicity.
This is a year of greater calm, offering necessary reprieve for reflection and reorientation. Use this time wisely, as the coming years in this decade are likely to continue to be very intense collectively. Integrate what you have learned about yourself in the last few years to strengthen your resilience. Be adaptable. Soften any remaining edges of rigidity, hyper-vigilance and obstinance. Reconnect with community. Remember what is true.
To give a more complete overview of what to expect in this coming year, I will share from both the Eastern & Western astrological perspectives. Enjoy!
I-Ching Reading for the Lunar New Year: Year of the Water Rabbit 2023
This year’s casting yielded Hexagram 11: T’ai, “Peace / Good Opportunity.” Line number 3. The italicized quotations presented here are from the I-Ching: Book of Changes and the Unchanging Truth, translation and commentary by Ni Hua Ching.
Earth over Heaven
General Guidance for this Hexagram:
“Good Opportunity. In a time of prosperity, something small is given and something large is returned. Little effort brings a big reward. Good fortune. Proceed.”
The hexagram of Earth over Heaven represents peace and integration. Because of the rising Yang nature of the Heaven trigram, and the sinking Yin nature of the Earth trigram, in this arrangement, the two trigrams intermingle harmoniously.
Master Ni notes in his commentary that a more literal translation of the Hexagram’s title “T’ai” is “Best Order” or “Perfect Condition.” The suggestion here is that we can utilize a harmonious time to establish appropriate structures, discipline, and alignment that allow peace to be sustained. During 2023, it will be important to balance one’s lifestyle, health, resources and affairs, and to do so in a manner that is useful and enduring.
From a Taoist perspective, integration means no extremes. If there are discordant, stagnant, disconnected or otherwise inharmonious energies in your life, now is the time to observe these, and invite guidance on how to set them in order. The conditions of this time are much like a still point between worlds — we are shedding our old concept of self and reality, while solidifying new groundwork and new understanding. The new frameworks that we build in these quieter times will carry us forward through more challenging ones.
Because the energetic conditions are naturally harmonious, adjustment will be more effortless. Thus it is a good opportunity to strengthen oneself for the future.
Guidance from Line 3:
“No plateau is without a slope and no forward movement is without a turning back. One needs to maintain one’s goal without being discouraged by difficulties. Have no worries and be faithful; thus enjoyment and blessings follow.”
The third line represents a position of transition. One must maintain control and be firm in approaching one’s goal. Though this situation may appear beyond one’s capabilities, with firmness, good results can be achieved.
Line #3 is the “specific guidance” of this Hexagram for the year of 2023. The events of the last several years have been revelatory and have shown us many personal and societal weaknesses. At the same time, these difficulties have the possibility to embolden us and lead us to greater understanding, personal strength, and resilience. While this year might not be as eventful as previous years, reflecting upon what has occurred already provides necessary insight as to what we need to know, do, or be going forward.
Once clarity has been established within, the difficulties that arise must be faced courageously and unwaveringly. Where we might have withered before, we instead stand strong. The wisdom we have gained through hardship will not be easily thrown off course. Yet, we should be prepared for unpredictable circumstances, situations, and outcomes — and pursue the path forward with faith regardless.
Characteristics of the Water Rabbit
The year of the rabbit is a yin energy year, which promises a gentler period after the very intense and stormy energy of the Water Tiger. Elementally, the year of 2022 and 2023 both share a Wood/Water combination. This is a combination very conducive for growth and expansion. Many of last year’s themes of simplification and temperance are still relevant this year — and will likely feel easier to accomplish under the Rabbit’s energies. The turbulent Tiger can be difficult to deal with, and so while normalcy may have been regained in some respect, there were still many big waves to navigate. Events around the world were far from stable, and in our individual lives many experienced their fair share of upheaval and disruption.
Last year’s I-Ching guidance of “Self Restraint” encouraged discipline, and retaining one’s energy instead of wasting or overextending it. In our current conflict laden and psychically pressurized environment, such a skill is incredibly useful to develop. Under the Tiger energy, we had a lot of chance to observe how well we manage our energy. Tiger’s intense and dynamic vibe can be very active and eventful, leaving one depleted if down time is not respected. During the Tiger year we were more courageous, and may have undertaken difficult projects, new adventures, or set new boundaries for others and ourselves. In this coming year, we will have the opportunity to fully integrate our new understandings with regards to these developments and apply our awareness to forging new structures that protect us from wasteful expenditure of energy, resources, and time.
The rabbit is a quiet and gentle archetype that symbolizes elegance, quick responsiveness, kindness and patience. The rabbit is skillful, responsible, empathetic, and social. Those born year of the rabbit are very intuitive and sensitive to their environment. They will not usually flaunt their thoughts and feelings, but will show their true nature through their actions, creations, and gifts. They tend to be reserved, but demonstrate a gracious and welcoming attitude.
During 2023, we will all likewise feel a bit more amicable, crave peace, and appreciate our solitude and social life equally. Calmness is refreshing after such stressful years, and our energy for conflict will likely wane, as inward pursuits take precedence. I will add as a footnote here that 2023 is also a Numerological Year 7 — the number of retreat and spirituality. So it is likely that many will feel the impulse to focus more on spiritual pursuits, personal healing, and self reflection, especially if the turbulence of the last few years caused disruptions to your usual routine. Essentially, it feels a bit like the dial on collective noise will be turned down a bit — and we will regain a sense of sweetness in daily life.
Growth in recent years has been much more Yang presenting — dictated quite often by sudden changes in the outer world, events, and chaos from other people. This year growth will come through inward exploration, clearing and anchoring. Instead of letting ourselves be wound into collective chaos — how can we instead stay grounded and centered within ourselves? To gain and maintain one’s own internal stability and clarity, regardless of what is occurring outside, is what is truly useful. Through that, we can be a vector for productive and creative forces, contribute positively to others and society, and be an active part of facilitating change.
Western Astrological Notes for 2023
A reading for this Lunar New Year New Moon in Aquarius at 1 degree from Ellias Lonsdale’s “Inside Degrees.”
AQUARIUS 1
A two-headed calf
Taking a good look at things with an eager eye brings you right into the middle of the dilemma with polarities. As you stand there faced with the different sides, you are impartial; neither side pulls you more sharply than the other. Immense opportunity. Huge challenge. You have vital potential for brilliant synthesis, but a subtle temptation to think too long. A schooling in alchemy in every moment—do you find what is ready to emerge, or do you think about it? Progressive evolution draws you through your mistakes into all that can be.
This reading of the Chandra symbolism for Aquarius 1 was quite apt in conjunction with the other facets of this reading, so I felt it would be useful to share as another look at the same general concept. This reading in particular centers around harmonizing polarities and the opportunity for alchemization brought forth through the synthesis of them. It is encouraged to engage with life in real time, rather than becoming lost in abstractions — something Aquarius can be quite prone to. The Aquarian dilemma of abstract concepts vs real world application, individualism vs collectivism, and mental vs spiritual paradoxes are some of the most pressing issues of our time. As Pluto begins its transition into Aquarius in 2023 (following Saturn’s 3 year transit through this sign), we can expect this struggle will continue.
The Lunar New Year chart (set for Washington DC time/USA focus) does seem to orient us towards looking at relationships and facing communication barriers with full honesty. Conversations and connections are fraught, and can be painful, but continuing on in the way that we have leads us collectively further from truth. We must be willing to engage impartially — to take the time to investigate things, understand others’ perspectives, and build relationships if we’re to reach any potential of higher realization or collective clarity. Allowing systemic forces to continue to influence us to engage in division is unwise and is our greatest collective vulnerability and downfall at this time. Nothing is resolved when there is no listening.
The paradox of Aquarius is that it contains both individualism and collectivism. These concepts are both expressive of fundamental facets of human development and evolution, and are both important. In this time, however, the guidance that has been shown to me is that we must develop our individual sovereignty, from a spiritual perspective, firmly, before we can have a healthy collective. This means we need to learn to cultivate our vertical connection (the energetic link to heaven and earth) first and foremost — and allow our horizontal connection (social orientation, material world) to be born from that.
It is so important to develop one’s own relationship with spirit, and with the earth in order to form healthy and clear personal discernment and presence. At this time on earth there is an unprecedented level of difficult, dark and chaotic energies creating interference in the mental, emotional and spiritual consciousness of humanity. Many of these are deeply embedded historical energies that are arising to be cleared, while others are simply born of the egregores of today’s outer world challenges. If one is not sufficient grounded, it is easy to become confused by all of these cross currents, and lose track of the here and now.
On a more basic level, having a firm connection with one’s own internal alignment, and its alignment with natural cycles, as well as a well-developed relationship with our higher aspects, also allows us to have a healthy relationship with ourselves. The more attuned we become to our personal alignment with both heaven and earth, the more we will be in rhythm with life, have healthy boundaries, and be able to recognize and correct lower tendencies latent in our nature. This personal work is essential if we hope to develop healthy community in any future time — especially on a larger scale. Pluto’s transit through Aquarius will undoubtedly bring this collective shadow process to the fore throughout the next two decades. Before we can cross the threshold of the true “Age of Aquarius” we must deeply reckon with the roots of corruption that darken communities, organizations and governments — and learn to move from clarity rather than fear or control. There is no true freedom from the evolutionary loop if this is not resolved.
From a Taoist perspective, the heaven & earth connection is the essential integration that we as humans have the power to actively develop. To integrate both heavenly & earthly energies, is to be capable of manifesting higher energies through one’s earthly form to the physical world. If we only orient ourselves through the horizontal plane — socially, intellectually, materially, so on — we are subject to the currents of those realities. The needs of our soul may or may not be regarded. And because we are not utilizing our natural alignment or listening to natural order, it is also difficult to create tangible change. In this case, we may find ourselves simply repeating the cycle.
Being oriented only in the horizontal aspects of reality — that which is visible — is a form of being too “earthly.” In this point of view, it might also be considered being too “human only” — not respecting earthly cycles or heavenly cycles. However, it should be understood that there is also a pitfall of being too oriented in “heavenly” energy only. This is when a person is floating about in the spiritual aspect of reality with no grounding. While it may appear to be more “exalted” than the “human only” orientation, this, too, is imbalanced.
In the Taoist perspective, it is important to be able to live a “plain, simple life” in the world. To understand what it means to be in society, to have a home, to pay your bills, cook food, and tend to basic survival. If one is only focused on spirituality and is not able to bring this into their life in an authentic way, the energy is ungrounded. On a similar note — all spiritual concepts, philosophies, etc, that one takes on should also be functional in the regular world. A large part of integration work is alignment, as I have mentioned — which means eliminating hypocrisy and internal contradictions. Walking your talk. Whatever virtues one cultivates must be embodied completely and universally. Not selectively.
Additionally, one of the most important aspects of cultivating our awareness of spiritual reality is to bring the wisdom and purity of heaven into the material world. To give back and serve, even in simple ways. Similar to how the pitfall of being “too human” doesn’t invite alignment to cosmic forces and thus perpetuates the cycle of human limitation, the pitfall of being “too spiritual” doesn’t allow us to ground higher evolutionary change into the world. In both instances, one is separated from an essential aspect of reality and unable to be effective. This is why the integration of both the heavenly and the earthly is the highest calling of this time — and the true path to creation.
Of course, because we are human, we will not be perfect in our execution of all things at all times. But, if reaching toward a better world is your goal, it is important to practice consciously, and to always work towards self development. If we can’t maintain goodness and grace ourselves — how can we have the strength to root out the world’s darkness?
The coming planetary movements in 2023 all harken back to these essential ideas. This is a time for building spiritual discipline, untangling knots in our consciousness, freeing ourselves from enmeshments and falsehood, facing collective shadow, and exploring human consciousness in all of its facets — deeply feeling the truth of this world — its darkness, and its promise. We transform the world by first transforming ourselves. Trying something different. And exploring the possibilities of what lies just beyond our awareness.
Thank you for reading!
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