The trip were taking right now? It’s totally an inward journey.

Armchair astrology notes (from the student astrologer): We have a huge number of planets retrograde right now, and some asteroids to boot: Venus, Saturn (direct soon), Neptune, Uranus, Pluto, Chiron,  Lilith and Pallas are all on the list. For the non-astrological, retrograde that means those celestial bodies appear to be moving backward from our perspective on Earth. Astrologically, the energy those planets are associated with is turned inward. Without even beginning to unpack what each body means, it’s pretty evident that looking within and what goes on between one’s ears is the focus of this period.

You can expect to be revising lots and lots of issues involving self-worth, your perception of yourself vs. what other people perceive, how you handle love and money, your work ethic and sense of responsibility, what your personal “incurable wound” happens to be, and oh yeah–your dark side. Most of these topics will not come as a surprise, although Neptune retrograde could smack you with a little bit of crazy you carry around that you were unaware of. Because Neptune can be kind of a jerk like that. But we forgive him because he’s really fun at parties.

So with that in mind, the forecast this week outlines a course of self-examination. My apologies in advance to those not a fan of mirrors. However, the tools you’ll be receiving courtesy the retrograde action, the nuggets of wisdom and information that surface for you, are perfectly suited to the task at hand.

Monday, Fertility – The Empress: The mind is alive with possibilities. The Empress is crackling with inspiration and it’s a heady, exciting stream of potential unfolding. But remember that while the energy of the Empress is very pleasant, it’s far from promising outcomes. Fertility is not birth; it’s the potential for birth. Big difference! Take notes on inspirations because they may quickly slip away. The strongest of the lot can be fleshed out and made real.

Tuesday, Temptation – The Devil: It’s easier to keep doing what you’ve always done, the way you’ve always done it, than to break outside your comfort zone. Recognize the difference between “cannot” and “don’t choose to,” because it’s a sizable and relevant distinction. There’s an urge to remain in a rut, but the rut has a price. This would be a great day to follow up on some of yesterday’s inspiration, with a special awareness of what’s held you back in the past. ‘Cause guess what? It probably still does, in some form.

Wednesday, Light – The Sun: Ah, the Sun shines! The Sun always advises being true to ourselves–albeit our best selves. Identity isn’t up for a vote. We’re being called to step a little further out of hiding to express our hearts’ true desires in a genuine, unconditional manner. What makes you unique? What brings you joy? What do you truly believe and feel? Let THAT out today, without concern for popular opinion on what’s important. It’s about being you today.

Thursday, Accelerated Motion – Eight of Wands: Movement! Clear, quick and decisive movement. If you’ve been waiting on signs, it’s the day to look for them. But somehow, I suspect you won’t have to look very hard. Potential for head smacks in the “signs” category.

Friday, Firm Foundation – Four of Pentacles: Go back to basics and review. Look at the underlying structures of whatever you have under consideration now to see if they hold strong. Differentiate between irrationally founded fears and legitimate structural flaws in your plans. A sense of stability and security is your gift for doing this work.

Saturday, Shadow – The Moon: The other side of the Sun, far less popular but just as important. The Moon shows us our own shadow side. It’s here we face the parts of ourselves that we don’t want acknowledge, even to ourselves. In that knowledge, however, is prectious gifts. If you fail to own up to your shadow and deal with it directly, you’ll be dealing with it via a string of life circumstances over and over again, thoughtfully providing a canvas for projecting the most hated aspects of yourself…until you “get it” or die, whichever comes first. Understanding who you really are, the not-so-pretty as well as the sunshine and roses bits, grants immense power. Today, there’s a good chance you’ll run into some of that shadow. It may not be welcome, but it will unquestionably be useful. Heads up.

Sunday, Spiritual Union – Two of Cups: Here is the payoff for acknowledging that shadow! The light and the dark meet and become integrated. Without both light and shadow, it’s like the soul has a limp, you know? But with it, we have a complete picture. We can work with the whole of who we truly are. We can love even those parts of ourselves we don’t especially like. By loving ourselves unconditionally, we are better poised to see how our shadow side has functioned to serve and protect us. Maybe some of these traits have outlived their usefulness or need to be adjusted, but we’ll never know if keep our eyes tightly closed. Great time to exercise gratitude and generosity–especially aimed right in the mirror.

Overview/Advice – Disruption – Tower reversed: In case you haven’t noticed, it’s the second week in the row we got this card, reversed, in the position for advice. Tarot stutters! So I’ll echo the themes of last week again. Look to establish routines that provide predictability and comfort. Minimize disruption. Honor your physical needs and protect yourself from emotional drains. Prioritize the tasks of daily living and show up. Good food, adequate rest, downtime, loving companions and everyday rituals carry you through stressful times. Make your week as “normal” as you can, with whatever life is tossing out at you in the process and you’ll be at your best to manage.

Affirmation, Archangel Michael: Remember who you are. “You are a powerful, loving, and creative child of God. You are very loved.” This affirmation isn’t about taking a poll on who you should be, or pretending you’re already and completely who you want to be. Remember who you ARE. If you do want to be different, fair enough. By taking responsibility, you put yourself in the driver’s seat. Don’t sit in the backseat for you life! Being yourself is your birthright, so do that. Striving for better is laudable, but you cannot define “better” without acknowledging the now.

And the second part of that affirmation – “You are a powerful, loving and creative child of God. You are very loved.” What about that?

You are okay, right now. You are exactly where you are supposed to be, right this minute. Does that mean that you don’t want to grow? Hell no! But it means you can love and accept yourself honestly, fully and completely today. Doing so allows you to be more, tomorrow.

Are you feeling this rolling in?

If you enjoy Dixie’s columns, you may be interested in her book, Everyday Tarot Archives. This weekly forecast uses the Psychic Tarot Oracle. Personal consultations are available.