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Mercury, Neptune, Saturn, and Chiron will all be cazimi at some point over the next three months. A cazimi occurs when a celestial body is within one degree of Sun—a few degrees (within two to nine) either direction outside of that perfect conjunction, and the planet is considered “combust”. Combustion is a volatile burning of that planet’s energies and influence—it’s a harmful alignment. When a planet is a bit further from that cazimi (up to fifteen degrees) it is considered to be “under the beams”—also an intense, unrelenting alignment for the planet.

Cazimi is the sweet spot. It’s the eye of the proverbial storm, where the celestial body is safe and protected from the intensity of Sun’s rays, just beyond that degree. Therefore, cazimis are fleeting, and potent moments of power…where Sun’s heat, dryness, and intensity aren’t scorching the planet, but supporting it to be the most potent version of itself. They last anywhere from thirty minutes to an hour.

When a planet (celestial body) enters cazimi on a direct path, it’s considered to be a Superior Conjunction. Superior conjunctions impact us on a macrocosmic level—they’re big-picture moments. When a planet enters cazimi while retrograde, it’s an Inferior Conjunction. Inferior conjunctions impact us on a microcosmic level. We feel them more internally, and they present themselves in daily interactions and relations.

✧ Mercury Cazimi (inferior) March 7th at 3:03am Pacific time.

Mercury will be in retrograde from February 25th through March 20th. This cazimi (conjunction) with Sun will be a window of personal insight and communion between ourselves and the Divine. Messages will be directly channeled by Hermes to us, if we allow ourselves to receive them. Now, most of us on the west coast—and probably some of y’all on the east coast will be asleep during this time. Instead of setting an alarm to be up and at ‘em, instead set an intention before bed to be open to receiving those messages via dream. Maybe make some mugwort tea to help you rest, or place a piece of opal under your pillow—a stone used by indigenous peoples of the Americas and aboriginal peoples of Australia to aid in visions.

✧ Neptune Cazimi (superior) March 22nd at 4:17am Pacific time.

Another early-morning cazimi for those of us in The States. Neptune by nature is a dreamy planet—so being asleep during this cazimi is actually perfect. If you’ll have already risen and started your day by the time this conjunction occurs, take a few moments for meditation. Close your eyes, regulate your breathing, and open yourself to receiving insights and visions for how to proceed with projects. This would be a perfect time to journal, or work on a vision board…but don’t linger too long: Neptune will be combust around 5:00am Pacific time.

✧ Saturn Cazimi (superior) March 25th at 1:51am Pacific time.

Due to Saturn’s distance, he resides in the heart of the sun approximately once a year—whereas other planets that are closer, like Mercury, find themselves cazimi multiple times a year. This makes Saturn cazimi a bit more special, and carry a bit more weight. Saturn rules time, boundaries, and karma: what you sow you reap. This fleeting moment of alignment affords us an opportunity to both celebrate what we have reaped, as well as establish boundaries and take steps to ensure they’re shored up and staunch to protect those dreamy visions and ideals we received from Mercury and Neptune earlier in the month. What is one action step you can enact that will bolster your dreams?

✧ Chiron Cazimi (superior) April 16th at 8:09am Pacific time.

Finally, a cazimi at a convenient time for the majority of us! If you remember, earlier I said that not only planets enter the heart of the sun—other celestial bodies do as well. Here is our first example of that this spring. Chiron is a centaur, astrologically, astronomically, and mythologically speaking. Astronomically the classification of “centaur” is regaled to asteroid/comet hybrids—just as a centaur is a hybrid human/ horse. Chiron is also sometimes considered a minor planet, but that’s a digression. Astrology is often rooted in myth. Chiron was a centaur of great renown. He was himself an astrologer, healer, and teacher. Chiron placements are often referred to as the arenas in which there is room for healing. The places where we experience suffering and have opportunities to learn through the ache—not necessarily seek a “quick fix”. Chiron teaches us that sometimes things can’t be fixed, and aren’t meant to be. That there’s beauty in the cracks and the lines and the scars. He offers his wisdom with grace and tenderness. With so much wounding in the world right now, April’s Chiron cazimi is an invitation to soften and be more gentle with yourself. We all need more tenderness in our lives. So often we’re able to extend grace to loved ones, and even strangers, yet not ourselves. Take a few moments this day to find the beauty in your own lumps and bumps, lines, wrinkles, and scars—they’re markers of just how far you’ve come.

✧ Taurus Conjunct Algol February 4th (when Uranus Stations Direct from Retrograde)

Here is an example of a powerful conjunction worth acknowledging—though not a cazimi, this celestial occurrence is rare and noteworthy. Algol is a fixed star. It resides in the constellation of Perseus—located usually directly overhead, nestled between Cassiopeia and Pleiades. Algol is the Eye of Medusa. As such, Algol represents “decapitation”. The severing of the head of the monster from its body. This severing can create an energy of chaos, destruction, and fear (of what is to come). Politically this may end up being a very significant date—nationally and globally. We’ll see. I bring up this specific conjunction, not because it is shocking, but because with great severance and tumult comes the opportunity for immense change. Positive, revelatory and revolutionary change. Note: this conjunction precedes the four cazimis. This severing of the head of the monster occurs before all of the visions and messages and healing of the planets residing in the sun’s heart. And from Medusa’s decapitation springs Pegasus: symbolic of self-empowerment and embodiment—bridging the ouranic and terrestrial planes.

Feel empowered knowing what is to come; that it is often darkest before the dawn. I don’t view this conjunction as a bad omen, I view it as a necessary step toward a greater good—and how blessed are we to have Chiron to mentor, guide, and offer us healing along the way?

Note: I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that there’s a solar eclipse in Aquarius on February 17th and a lunar eclipse in Virgo on March 3rd. Eclipses can shake things up, and be a bit disorienting. In light of all that is transpiring on the global stage, it might be of benefit to lie low for these two.