Chipwitch Today!
This is Chipwitch Today, your daily source of reliable data upon which you can base your daily practice.
7 January, 2023
Solar activity reached high levels following an X1/2b flare (R3-Strong radio blackout) at 06/0057 UTC from Region 3182 (S16E59, Dki/beta-gamma). As this region continued to rotate onto the SE limb, additional spots were observed with a beta/gamma configuration developing. Region 3177 (S17W48, Cao/beta) and Region 3180 (N18W23, Cso/beta) both exhibited decay during the period. Region 3181 (S20E06, Dai/beta), Region 3182, and Region 3183 (S17W22, Dsi/beta) all exhibited some development, with Region 3183 producing a C6/Sf flare at 06/1853 UTC and a C5/Sf flare at 06/2027. No Earth-directed CMEs were detected in available data.
The solar kp index is quiet, with no changes to retrograde effects. The solar wind speed is currently normal.
The solar wind environment was slightly enhanced this period due to persistent, yet waning negative polarity CH HSS influences.
There is a 25% chance of solar activity, with a 10% chance of a minor event, a 1% chance of a moderate event, and a 1% chance of a strong event.
The waning moon is currently in Cancer, at 20 degrees, 00' 06", at a velocity of 11.9 degrees per day.
The Full moon is currently 15 days old. It is 405158.7 km from the centre of the Earth.
The next new moon is at 20:55:30, 21 Jan, 2023. The next full moon is at 18:30:44, 5 Feb, 2023.
Moon In Cancer
The moon in cancer is your healing time. While your emotions are in focus, reach out to friends and family and remind them that they're important. Quality time is good, but be careful to maintain your independence and not become too reliant on others during this kick-back-and-chill time.
Be a home body for a while during the Cancer Moon, and spend some time with yourself.
Planetary Information
The Sun
The Sun is in Capricorn
The Sun is at 16 Cap 40' 21", and is 147102073 km away and receding.
The Sun In Capricorn
Winter arrives in the northern hemisphere when the Sun moves into cool Capricorn. There’s a serious tone about this time of year because it’s when we look for new hope in a time of darkness. Just as the Capricorn symbol of the Mountain Goat climbs higher and higher, most of us will work hard toward bigger and better things during this time.
Capricorn is an Earth sign ruled by karmic planet Saturn, so when the Sun moves into this sign, we’ll all spend a little time contemplating the karmic lessons from the past year. This transit also urges us come up with new goals and take the first steps toward achieving them. It’s no coincidence that the New Year happens under the Capricorn Sun!
Things get a little more buttoned up when the Sun moves into conservative Capricorn. Take care of business. This persevering Goat likes to be in control, which helps them stay on track as they climb the ladder of success. Act like a Capricorn by getting organized and planning for the future! Capricorn is known for being bossy, but it’s because they care so much. If you need to take charge and get a little bossy so you can get things done, go ahead while the Capricorn Sun is shining!
Watch out for burnout! Capricorn’s biggest struggle is finding time for fun in the midst of getting things done. Remember to take a break every once in a while and have a few laughs. Capricorn is the most masterful zodiac sign, fierce and determined to be the very best at whatever game they play. This transit will help you harness some of that winning Capricorn energy for yourself.
The Moon
The Moon is in Cancer
The Moon will change from Cancer to Leo in the next 24 hours.
The Moon is at 20 Can 00' 06", and is 406041 km away and receding.Moon In Cancer
The moon in cancer is your healing time. While your emotions are in focus, reach out to friends and family and remind them that they're important. Quality time is good, but be careful to maintain your independence and not become too reliant on others during this kick-back-and-chill time.
Be a home body for a while during the Cancer Moon, and spend some time with yourself.
Mercury
Mercury is in Capricorn
Mercury is retrograde at 17 Cap 18' 36", moving backwards at 1.34 degrees per day, and is 100563668 km away and approaching.
Mercury In Capricorn
Capricorn is the businessman of the zodiac, with its sights set on efficiency and success. While Mercury spends time here, we are inspired to think and act in ways that will help us reach our goals. Capricorn’s influence clears up our thoughts, helping us hone in on the most important and fruitful ideas. We’re also able to be more direct in our communication during this transit, cutting down on misunderstandings and wasted time.
One of the biggest benefits during Mercury in Capricorn is the building of ideas. The many thoughts that run through our minds are easier to organize, and we can see them like puzzle pieces, arranging them until they fit together in the way that makes the most sense. Once we can see our ideas as a solid form, we are able to take action and turn them into reality.
While we tend to be straightforward during this transit, we must beware of the tone we take when interacting with others. Capricorn is acutely aware of hierarchies, which means that conversation may become more controlling than constructive. We all think our ideas are the best ideas during Mercury in Capricorn, but if we spend too much time worrying about who’s in charge, we won’t end up getting much done.
Venus
Venus is in Aquarius
Venus is prograde at 05 Aqu 13' 55", moving at 1.25 degrees per day, and is 237657870 km away and approaching.
Venus In Aquarius
The line between love and friendship is very thin once Venus enters Aquarius! Aquarius rules friendship and groups of all kinds, so during this transit, we often find ourselves falling for people we already know. We may realize those we’ve previously written off as "just friends" could be our perfect match. The likelihood of meeting a new lover through mutual friends and social outings also increases greatly while Venus is in Aquarius.
Aquarius is less attached to its emotions than other signs, relying more on the head than the heart when relating to others. We aren’t so interested in connecting over passionate encounters and sweet nothings while Venus is in Aquarius. Instead, we want to unite with those who think the same as we do. Aquarius’ loose grip on love gives Venus room to move, making love less sticky and partnership less confining. Those who like the warm and squishy stuff might find others a bit standoffish during this transit. However, the Aquarian approach is less possessive and can bring a needed breath of reason and fresh air to partnerships.
If in a committed relationship, Venus in Aquarius lightens the level of intimacy and encourages us to reconnect with the honesty, friendship, and common interests that drew us to our partners in the first place. Working together on an environmental or social cause that’s meaningful to both partners can also help rekindle hearts during this transit. We may even find that we feel a lot freer to be individuals within our relationships. Venus in Aquarius makes it clear that pursuing our own passions separately enriches what we bring back to our relationships.
For people who are single and ready to mingle, this is one of the best times to do it! The planet of love and desire in the sign of idealism and creativity puts an unconventional, even experimental, flair on romance, and opens our minds about who and how we love. Parties with friends, organized meetups, and protests and other social causes are hotspots for meeting like-minded lovers now. And because Aquarius also likes things a little weird, we may find ourselves interested in people and experiences that we have never been attracted to before. Long story short: The more open we are now, the more likely we are to find love.
While Venus is in Aquarius, we are drawn to modern, original forms of art and personal style. It’s a great time to experiment with new ways of dress and decor. We also find greater benefit from high-tech gadgets, and splurging on new electronics now can help us well beyond this transit.
Mars
Mars is in Gemini
Mars is retrograde at 08 Gem 20' 03", moving backwards at 0.07 degrees per day, and is 101400924 km away and receding.
Mars In Gemini
You can say goodbye to boredom while active Mars moves through curious Gemini. With Mars in Gemini, we’re so excited to explore new ideas and start new hobbies that we have no interest in sitting around idly. There’s so much out there to discover, and Mars’ transit through Gemini is just the time to do it.
However, because there are so many things that pique our interest during this transit, it’s hard to stay focused on one thing for too long. The challenge is to stay on track, or to realize that many tracks can take us to our goal. Diversity is the name of Gemini’s game, and Mars in Gemini is about tasting, rather than making a total commitment. We have a greater amount of flexibility when it comes to how we go after what we want. If Plan A doesn’t work out, it’s no problem. We can quickly come up with a Plan B, C, and even D.
Gemini is a childlike, fun-loving sign, but Mars in Gemini isn’t all fun and games. We’re quick to move from one thing to the next during this transit, but there could be consequences for leaving projects unfinished. We’re like butterflies, flitting about a garden of interests. This satisfies our need for discovery, but it could also make us feel generally scattered and unfocused.
Because Mars is the planet of action and drive, it’s no surprise that it’s also the planet of passion and sex. While Mars is in Gemini, the greatest erogenous zone becomes the brain, and we simply must have mental stimulation with our partners before anything else. A meeting of the minds is the biggest turn-on of all when Mars treks through this sign.
Jupiter
Jupiter is in Aries
Jupiter is prograde at 02 Ari 00' 01", moving at 0.14 degrees per day, and is 764129875 km away and receding.
Jupiter In Aries
Our minds are on fire during Jupiter in Aries, ignited with innovative ideas and lightning bolts of intuition. This is an opportunity to let go of the limits of our past and come up with new solutions for the future. Aries is the first sign of the zodiac and is always willing to step fearlessly into uncharted territory. During this transit, we can see possibilities to better ourselves that we simply couldn't see before. With Jupiter in Aries, it's not about taking our time to slowly map out a strategized plan, it's about feeling the spark of inspiration and running with it. The more time we take, the more restrictions and problems we realize, which will hold us back. We are encouraged to shoot from the hip, knowing that every experience is a learning experience that helps us grow.
While Jupiter often encourages us to learn from others, Jupiter in Aries is more about self-teaching and self-learning. We mustn't be afraid to take risks and try things, whether we feel prepared or not. Trying and succeeding and trying and failing are both valuable ways of learning and growing. In fact, it may even be harder to maintain attention in a traditional "teacher-and-student" educational setting during this transit, because we need to learn things our own way.
There can, however, be a danger in becoming so focused on ourselves and our own viewpoints. Opinions run hot during Jupiter in Aries, and we're impatient for action, which can fan the flames of confrontation both politically and socially. When we reject the importance of two-way dialogue, we close ourselves off to learning -- and that is a Jupiter no-no! Even though there's extra emphasis on our personal mindsets during this transit, we stifle ourselves if we think too narrowly. Remember, this is a time to expand, not to contract.
During Jupiter's transit through Aries, we make our own luck. When we embrace the power we have to control the direction of our lives, we are able to open up opportunities, solutions, relationships, and fortune that we were blind to before. Jupiter wants us to expand and embrace our potential as individuals, and to realize that we each hold the key to our big, bright, and happy futures, but it is up to us to put it in the lock and turn.
Saturn
Saturn is in Aquarius
Saturn is prograde at 23 Aqu 03' 41", moving at 0.11 degrees per day, and is 1586946560 km away and receding.
Saturn In Aquarius
Aquarian energy is humanitarian. It is full of boundless ideas about what will improve the lives of others, and how shared efforts can make the world a better place. As the 11th sign of the zodiac, Aquarius rules over the 11th House of Groups and Visions. This is the playground of visionaries, inventors, and creators. But as with anything airy, this sign exists primarily on the mental plane. This is why when grounded and pragmatic Saturn moves into Aquarius, the two inspire each other in truly monumental ways.
With this focus on structure in the realm of groups and visions, now is the perfect time for us to connect with others and take action on our most lofty plans: find ways to give back to the community, network in some way with people in your field, or lay the groundwork for that non-profit that's been kicked around for ages.
Saturn in Aquarius can also be a very auspicious time to begin or deepen a relationship. This transit brings people together to reach beyond the individual’s capabilities. Romances or marriages that are established during this time are some of the most powerful and activated unions of all.
As much as this transit strengthens and deepens connections, it also has the potential to end that which is no longer serving us (or maybe never did in the first place). Be on the lookout for people and connections that drain you, and be ready to let them go. Now is the time for building sturdy and lasting structures. Sometimes this means letting go of weak links in friendship, love, and work.
Uranus
Uranus is in Taurus
Uranus is retrograde at 15 Tau 02' 51", moving backwards at 0.01 degrees per day, and is 2869698890 km away and receding.
Uranus In Taurus
Taurus is a sign that likes things steady and stable, and isn’t the best at handling big, sudden changes. But big, sudden changes are what Uranus is all about! Taurus would prefer to stick to the status quo and keep doing things the way they’ve always been done. The problem is, the old ways aren’t always the best ways. Even if we are resistant to the changes Uranus in Taurus brings, we have no choice but to go along for the ride, and, chances are, we’ll realize in the end that these changes brought us to a much better place.
Money is Taurus’ main area of expertise, so while Uranus is in Taurus, we can expect some very revolutionary ways of handling and dealing with money, both nationwide and worldwide. During the seven years Uranus will spend in Taurus, brand-new forms of currency may arise, banks and banking could come to a halt or change dramatically, and the housing and stock markets may be in for a major shake-up.
On a more personal level, Uranus in Taurus encourages us to break free from the grips of money: debt, taxes, credit card interest, rent, and mortgages are all things that can prevent us from saving money or using it the way we want to. We may also feel trapped by our material possessions in general. During this transit, we must be ready and willing to change our relationship to money and materialism.We no longer have a choice. Uranus is here to liberate us, and digging in our heels and resisting won’t make things any easier, and won’t stop these changes from happening. The changes we make during this period can actually help bring us to a point of greater stability, and can be very long-lasting.
Neptune
Neptune is in Pisces
Neptune is prograde at 22 Pis 58' 51", moving at 0.02 degrees per day, and is 4531905570 km away and receding.
Neptune In Pisces
Neptune in Pisces grants us a unique form of sight. As the Piscean focus on emotion and spirit merges with Neptune’s pull to unify all things, a clarity emerges from the fog, shedding light on our own contradictions. We can suddenly see clearly the futility of caring about petty differences. The value of coming together shines like gold, and the path to wholeness is illuminated.
This transit calls us to look at what we each can contribute toward our collective progress and healing. We all have gifts, ideas, and dreams for how things could be. Neptune in Pisces is an invitation to explore our emotional intelligence for our own unique offerings.
This is the perfect time to take a course in a spiritual path that calls to us, or to create an altar space at home and connect with that which feels most sacred. The energy of Neptune in Pisces nudges us to consider how to then share these ideas with the world, and reminds us that its presence will support us in this process.
Pluto
Pluto is in Capricorn
Pluto is prograde at 27 Cap 51' 30", moving at 0.03 degrees per day, and is 5332398537 km away and receding.
Pluto In Capricorn
Pluto and Capricorn are both oriented toward success and power, sharing a strong sense of intention and focus that makes them very efficient in their tasks. We may find that our compassion for the viewpoints of other people gets cast aside during this transit, though, since both Pluto and Capricorn demand results. Beware of being intolerant of ideas other than your own.
Pluto wants us to jettison our negative patterns that no longer work for us. Of course, this involves some constructive destruction. Be deliberate in what you destroy as you create.
Current Planetary Aspects
Current Planetary Positions
The Sun
Sun Opposite Moon
You must balance your emotions with your individuality. You may have difficulties today dealing with the opposite sex, authority figures or family members. Ego confrontations over emotional issues are likely to be the cause. Vitality may be low today, so keep stress to a minimum. Try to understand others' points of view before expressing your own. Get in touch with your true feelings. Emotional impulses may interfere with objective and good judgment.People born when the Sun opposes the Moon have an internal struggle between their needs and their wants. In contrast to the Sun-Moon conjunction personality, the Full Moon personality is inclined towards lack of focus and indecision. Their ability to be objective is both an asset and a liability, simply because when they decide on one route, they are pulled in another direction at the same time. Something tugs at them, and they begin to question their stance. “But what if…” and “on the other hand…” are statements they can’t help making and that plague them. While Sun conjunct Moon people have an Aries style about them, Sun opposition Moon natives have a distinct Libra energy about them, in that they are always aware of the opposing point of view, the other side of the coin, and so forth.Their inner struggle is most obvious in their vitality, as both the Sun and the Moon strongly influence the vitality. They have many ups and downs, and it is hard to know if it is physical or emotional. In fact, it’s likely both. These people might spend a week working hard, and the following week they lack motivation and find it hard to accomplish much. Their energy fluctuates more than most people, and it is very much a reflection of what is going on inside.The messages they received in their early lives in terms of what was expected of them were conflicting, and even opposite. Some people born under the Full Moon viewed their parents as two very different and separate individuals who each wanted something very different from their child. Their parents or parent figures “stood for” two very different things, and their child internalized this. There may have been some emotional frustration in connection with the father and a stifling of the go by the mother.It is hard for Sun opposition Moon people to find happiness within themselves. They tend to look outside of themselves for fulfillment. They are inclined to form serious relationships at an early age, simply because of this tendency to try to find an answer to happiness from an “other”. They are prone to divorce, partly because of this prematurity, and partly because their needs are complicated. Full Moon people are also more apt to seek counseling because of this need to find answers.These people appear to be very self-aware. They entertain a myriad of different points of view and perspectives. They are excellent psychologists and are able to read character and uncover motivations–but with an important caveat: if they are too emotionally close to the situation, they fumble. The truth is, although they appear to know much about how people tick, they spend a good part of their lives uncovering more of themselves and learning about themselves. Generally, this is done through comparisons or through the mirror of relationships.They can most certainly frustrate the people who are close to them with their indecisiveness and frequent changes of mind (and of heart). A word to those who deal with this on a day-to-day basis: their changes of heart are not a form of insincerity–they are the result of an internal struggle that is very real and very confusing to live with! Sun opposition Moon people can be temperamental, insecure, and very sensitive. The ability to put themselves in someone else’s shoes, and to consider other points of view, is a true asset. However, at some point in their lives, they need to uncover what it is they truly want. This comes easy to New Moon people, and can be a life-long struggle for Full Moon people. On the other hand, it is extremely easy for a Full Moon personality to understand others’ points of view–something that doesn’t come as easily to a New Moon personality. Sun opposition Moon people are generally interesting and complex. Born under a Full Moon, they can be a bit “loony”, perhaps manifesting itself in a unique sense of humor.Look for a planet that might trine and sextile the Sun-Moon opposition for a way to release the tension the opposition creates. Somehow, some way, through that planet, its sign, and its house position, the Sun opposition Moon person can find an “answer” to the struggle. Look also to the sign polarity involved for more details of the struggle. If it’s Aries and Libra, for example, there is a conflict between two equal drives to be independent and to depend on others.Some Famous People with Sun Opposition Moon: Lisa Bonet (the aspect is exact, or partile), Barry Bonds, Billy Ray Cyprus, Kirk Douglas, Alicia Witt.People born with a Sun-Moon tension can spend much of their lives struggling to balance the principles of the Sun and the Moon within their personalities, and will bring this struggle to some degree into their relationships. The urge to form meaningful relationships is generally powerful, but relationships can be as much of a struggle to these natives as the inner conflict is to themselves. This inner conflict occurs with the square, opposition, and quincunx. The desire to find meaningful relationships is stronger than it is when the natal Sun and Moon form a sextile or trine, and early relationships, in particular, can be challenging until the stressful aspects are recognized as an inner tension.A woman with Sun opposition Moon, who had lived through her parents’ difficult divorce as a child, complained that her husband seemed to be quite complacent about their marriage, simply expecting that it would work out without much effort. His Sun and Moon form a sextile. When faced with a relationship problem, her instinct was to work on it actively, but her husband did not see such a need. In fact, he did not “see” the problems as clearly as his wife did. He felt that she was looking for problems that didn’t exist, while she felt he was taking the relationship for granted by not addressing problems as they arose.A stressful Sun-Moon aspect seems to imprint the native with the (often unconscious) expectation that relationships can very easily fail, and the natives will be especially aware of conflicts in partnership, taking them to heart. The upside of this natal conflict is found in this sensitivity itself! Those with a Sun-Moon opposition, in particular, are generally willing to work out problems in a relationship due to their acute awareness and sensitivity to the conflicts that arise in their partnerships. However, if they face a partner who denies the problems exist in the first place, as in the example above, they can easily become frustrated. This is because learning and growing through relationships is a basic urge – so basic that it is a need. These natives are learning about themselves through their relationships, and need partners who are willing to be a part of that process. Sun square Moon suggests an internal “war” between two equally powerful desires: the desire for emotional commitment and the desire for autonomy. The native can be quite defensive and even belligerent with others, and often over-sensitive, which can take its toll in personal relationships. Partners may complain that the native often seems to be spoiling for a fight, and relationships can be turbulent until the native learns to compromise.The Sun
Sun Conjunct Mercury
You may feel like expressing yourself today through your thoughts and words. You feel a need to be heard, that you have something of importance to say. Say what is on your mind, but give equal time to others and listen to them. You might learn something new. Your thinking today should be sharp and focused.
The Sun
Sun Trine Uranus
Today is a good day to pour your creativity and self-expression into coming up with new ways of doing things. Positive surprises are likely today as your aura is ready for the new and unusual. By going off the beaten pathway, you may open up many possibilities for further spiritual and personal growth. You feel free today from all restrictions and you want to fly like the eagle, unbounded by any restraints. Soar high and don't limit yourself.Mercury
Mercury Trine Uranus
Your thinking today is ingenious, original, clever, sharp, and magnetic. Electricity is in your head and probably the rest of your body. You are full of nervous energy, but it is the type that can help you accomplish more. New and exciting opportunities may come about today through travel, conversations with others, or through new reading material. Go exploring.You are open to new ideas, and come up with your own fair share of unique perspectives yourself. You have a technical bent and might take special interest in computers, technology, and science. Your intuition is very strong and mostly leads you in the right direction. You have a friendly, tolerant, and unprejudiced manner. You avoid making unfair judgments, being hypocritical, or stereotyping. You are very truthful and abhor modes of thinking that are biased and narrow. You are resourceful, witty, and quick to grasp and understand new subjects. Your thinking is often quite naturally outside of the box and very quick, and it can be baffling to you when you observe others who don’t get to the same conclusions as you in half the time. Still, you require much space and freedom to do your own thinking, and you don’t take kindly to anyone trying to force-feed you information or opinions. You are at your mental best and most cooperative when you have had the chance to find your own inspiration, and you easily feel hypocritical if you don’t–a feeling that doesn’t sit well with you one bit.The trine aspect is the more dynamic of the two harmonious aspects. Those with the sextile can call upon these traits when needed, and those with the trine between the Mercury and Uranus have incorporated the traits of the aspect into their personalities, expressing them naturally and consistently.Some Famous People with Mercury in Harmonious Aspect to Uranus: Sextiles – Lawrence Welk, John Steinbeck, Donald Sutherland, Erik Satie, Martin Sheen; Trines – Sheena Easton, Farrah Fawcett, Tracey Ullman, Marilyn MansonNotes about Transits
Ah, Cancer, it's lonely on the moon! But not for much longer. Ready your sandwiches and be on your guard, #TimeLord, 'cos #Mercury, #Mars and #Uranus are all having bad hair days and taking it out on everybody! Expect lots of back and forth this week (probably in the literal sense too). Don't forget to plug in your spaceship while you're at it! #RetrogadeEffect #FridaysWithTheDoctor
