Weekly Astrology Forecast July 23-29: Understanding What You Need

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This week brings particularly good invitations as Chiron retrograde begins and Mercury enters Virgo. As Chiron travels through our inner shadows of past wounds, we open our access to wisdom.
Retrograde Chiron
Chiron retrograde begins this week, July 23, 2023, where it will continue its apparent retrograde motion until December 26, 2023. Technically, Chiron is not classified as a planet, but rather any of many things, including a minor planet, comet, or asteroid. Chiron first entered Aries in 2018 and will remain there until 2027.
First discovered in 1977, Chiron is relatively new to our study of astronomy and astrology. However, in mythology, Chiron has a rich history and wisdom that we can turn to when we seek to more easily understand this small planet.
In mythology, Chiron was a centaur who was abandoned by his mother at birth. Despite growing up feeling unloved and unwanted, his journey is powerful as he begins to teach combat to some of the most famous Greek heroes. Despite his psychological wounds, or perhaps because of them, he created his own path to power.
Once Chiron was accidentally wounded by a poison arrow. Because of the pain, he began to study and even master various methods of treatment. He learned with such depth, wisdom, and knowledge that he then began to teach these healing arts to the gods, but he still could not heal his own wound. Chiron became well known across the seas as a powerful healer, teacher, psychic, and philosopher, and became known as “The Wounded Healer.”
Evolutionary astrology suggests that Chiron’s role in our lives and the wounds it represents are wounds or karma from past lives that we came into this life to work on. In psychological astrology, Chiron is considered a wound from childhood. Either way, Chiron may feel hurt. However, as his story shows, Chiron is also a portal to deep wisdom, compassion, and value. As the famous Persian poet Rumi once said, “a wound is a place where light enters.”
As Chiron begins its retrograde, it invites us to explore some of these wounds. It invites us to go back inside to what sits inside, waiting for our attention and love. It invites us to rethink our experience, perception and relationship with these wounds through the realization that it is here that we can access our greatest wisdom.
Chiron’s glyph, or symbol, is shaped like a key. The key that unlocks the door within us. The key that unlocks compassion, wisdom, knowledge and deep value. Our experiences are one of the many aspects that make us who we are. This retrograde is an opportunity to decide whether we see them as empowering or disempowering.
Mercury enters Virgo
In astrology, Mercury rules our mental sphere. It defines how we perceive, process and share information. As an archetype, he represents learning, logic, communication, information, technology and planning. Mercury in Leo over the past few weeks has challenged us to bring passion to our ideas, our communication and our planning. It brought us crafty thinking and bold expression.
However, when Mercury moves into Virgo, the pace begins to change. Mercury rules Virgo. They share the same intentions and desired directions, and when their energies come together, they create a cohesive invitation. Virgo is an earth sign known for its commitment to detail, ritual, organization, practical thinking and purpose in everything. As an archetype, he has a wonderful gift of grace.
Mercury in Virgo is a beautiful energy that we are gifted with. It draws on the passion and fire of Leo and determines the best direction for our dreams and desires, breaking them down into precise and doable steps. We invite you to explore the daily rituals that best support you.
Your invitations
Like all retrogrades, this time is more about integration and reflection than action and moving forward.
Virgo is deeply connected with ritual. Think about the habits and practices that best support and sustain you. It could be your yoga or meditation practice. It can also be affirmations or movements that strengthen your well-being and confidence. Think about what rituals help you become the happiest. Rituals performed daily over a long period of time work quietly in the background, but cause profound changes within.
Learn more about how astrology affects your life, including astrological events such as moon cycles, your Sun, Moon, and rising signs, how journaling can help you connect with current influences, and more with Jordan Marie at Girl and her Moon.
About our contributor
Jordan Marie is the founder of Girl and Her Moon, a platform and community that explores the soul through the lens of astrology, tarot, and energy healing. She is an author, intuitive astrologer, energy and soul guide, and host of Girl and Her Moon, The Podcast. She inspires herself every day to be a mirror for you to see all that you really are, you in all your infinite capacity, in full expansion, in infinite possibility and love.