In just a few days, both Mercury and Uranus will turn direct! They join Mars, which just turned direct a few days ago, and the planets are now moving forward – and so are we!

　　

What is “Direct” in Astrology?

In astrology, planets or other bodies are called retrograde when they appear to move backward through the zodiac. This can throw them off since normal motion is forward for all of the planets and most other astrology positions.

　　When the body begins to move forward through the zodiac again, it is no longer retrograde, and the change from backward to forward motion is called turning direct. Mercury turns direct on January 18th, and Uranus turns direct on January 22nd.

　　Don’t forget to use the free astrology calendar to keep track of the planets each month!

　　

About Mercury & Uranus Direct

Mercury is the planet of the mind and communication, so with Mercury retrograde, we can struggle with focus and expression and have many misunderstandings. We can have lots of little things pop up, and stress and anxiety can surge.

　　This Mercury retrograde occurred in Capricorn, and this is the zodiac sign ruling our goals and direction, so we may have felt pretty off over the last month or so and may have experienced setbacks and delays. It’s likely been easy to get overwhelmed by responsibility as well.

　　Uranus is the planet of change and the unexpected, so with Uranus retrograde, we can struggle to make the changes we want to happen and struggle to adjust to the changes we experience. We can be extra impatient and impulsive.

　　Uranus has been in Taurus for a few years, so the retrograde occurred entirely in Taurus, as will be the case for a few more years. We may have been feeling extra stuck, wanting to lash out, and impatience was sky-high.

　　

Don’t Forget Mars!

2023 began with Mercury and Uranus retrograde and transit Mars retrograde in Gemini as well, and Mars turned direct on January 12th.

　　This has likely led all of us to feel like this year has had a very slow start. Mars retrograde in Gemini added to the communication and focus issues with Mercury, the impatience and impulsive energy with Uranus, and brought some frustrations of its own.

　　Mars direct was the start of turning things around, and Mercury and Uranus direct got us moving forward, finally. Time to actually take action with those resolutions!

　　

How to Use Mercury Direct

With Mercury retrograde having the most direct impact on our goals and direction and stalling those resolutions, this is an excellent time to get that on track. The best thing to do now is to work on your long-term plans, perhaps for the rest of 2023, and make them as practical as possible so you know you can achieve and succeed.

　　The Mercury retrograde in Capricorn also likely threw off our ability to properly manage responsibilities, so take a look at what you’re doing yourself, and be honest about whether or not you’ve been taking the right approach and if this is something you should actually be doing (or should it be someone else?).

　　Capricorn can be a suffocating sign when not manifesting properly, so getting some space can be really good right now, even if it’s just a little bit. Free yourself to have some room to wander, especially in your head.

　　Read this next: What to Expect When Mercury Goes Direct

　　

Mercury Direct 2023 Ritual

Mercury direct is actually fairly strong for Mercury energy this year since it ends on Wednesday, which is Mercury’s day. Then, the Moon will enter Capricorn, the sign of this Mercury direct, the next day, from January 19th to 21st, so we’re really tapped into this direct energy for a few days.

　　For a simple ritual to get clear on your 2023 intentions, take some time to yourself in a quiet space. Burn a candle or incense and take some deep breaths. Visualize the goals you have for this year in your mind. Let them become clear.

　　When you have a good visual in your head, take some paper (or a journal) and something to write with and write it all down (or draw scenes if you prefer). Write down what it’ll look like, how it’ll impact your senses, and how it makes you feel emotionally.

　　Keep the paper on your altar, dresser, or underneath your pillow, or keep it in a sachet or small box.

　　

How to Use Uranus Direct

With Uranus retrograde having the greatest impact making us impatient and bringing difficulties with change, this is an excellent time to focus on the change you want to create. Work on your plans for change, and this may be a part of your resolutions.

　　Go through the changes you want to make, and work on the steps that you’d need to take to make them happen. What is the very first step you need to take right away? How do they fit together?

　　If there’s somewhere you’ve felt extra stuck during Uranus retrograde, you may want to focus on that first. 

　　

Uranus Direct 2023 Ritual

For Uranus direct, I recommend meditation. Uranus retrograde is such impulsive, impatient energy, and meditating can help soothe so you come out of this period in a much calmer headspace.

　　Take some time to yourself, at least 5-10 minutes, and get comfortable. Sit or lay down, and if you’d like to set the mood, play some quiet music, light candles, or burn incense.

　　Take some deep breaths in and out, slowly, and focus on your breath going in and out.

　　As the air goes in, imagine it taking all of your stress, frustration, agitation, and impatience and absorbing it. As the air goes out, imagine all of that stress, frustration, madness, and impatience goes with it, freeing you and soothing you with each breath.

　　Continue until you feel relaxed, at ease, and less stressed. You may need to repeat this if you’re extra stressed!

　　Read this next: The Benefits of Meditation & the Best Meditation for Your Zodiac Sign

　　

Cleansing Rituals for All of This Direct Energy

Given all of this direct energy with Mercury, Uranus, and Mars, one really great thing that can be done is a cleansing ritual. If you only have time for one and can’t do rituals for all of them, then one cleansing ritual is all you need to focus on.

　　There are many different cleansing rituals out there, so feel free to go with whatever resonates most with you. 

　　One easy cleansing ritual is a ritual bath.

　　Add some essential oils, flower petals, crystals, or herbs to the water, and light candles or burn incense. Imagine the water taking all of your negative energy; afterward, as the water goes down the drain, it takes the negative energy with it.

　　As you’re in the water, imagine the water and anything you add to it infusing you with positive energy. It can be helpful to imagine the positive energy as a color, usually white or gold, and it fills your entire body.

　　You can do something similar in the shower, just without all the stuff added to the water. Imagine the water infusing you with good energy and taking away the bad down the drain.

　　Another simple cleansing ritual is to use incense or smudging sticks.

　　As you light them, try to channel positive cleansing energy into them (or say it out loud that this will cleanse).

　　Wave the incense or stick, so the smoke covers your entire body. If you’d like, you can also use this around your home or office spaces so they get cleansed too (but you should do that first and then do your body so you cleanse yourself of anything that might’ve been picked up in the space).

　　Let it burn out, and give thanks.

　　Yet another easy cleansing ritual is to cleanse your chakras. Take some time for yourself and get comfortable (like for meditation).

　　Take some deep breaths. Imagine a ball of bright light being absorbed into each of your chakras, starting with the Root chakra and exiting through your crown chakra (base of your spine for the Root chakra, navel for the Sacral chakra, stomach for the Solar Plexus chakra, chest for the Heart chakra, throat for the Throat chakra, between your eyes for the Third Eye chakra, and top of your head for the Crown chakra).

　　As the ball moves through your chakras, imagine it absorbing everything negative, challenging, and blocking your chakras. As the ball exits the top of your head, you may notice it’s not as light or a different color (that’s fine!).

　　Now imagine the ball transforming into a golden orb. The orb is absorbed into each of your chakras again, and this time it brings healing, positive energy to each of your chakras.

　　After the golden orb exits your crown chakra, let it go into the Universe and give thanks.

　　Learn more by reading: Everything You Need to Know About Your Blocked Chakras

　　

Good Luck With Mercury & Uranus Direct!

One thing to note about this period is that we’re experiencing major shifts in totally different directions, with three planets going from backward to forward motion. This might make us a little wonky and uncertain at the moment.

　　Go easy on yourself, and try to have patience. It’ll pick up soon!

　　Related article: The Ultimate Guide to Retrogrades