This Astrological Event Is Pretty Rare

We all spend plenty of time grumbling when Mercury is retrograde — but then there's this beautiful event called APDM (All Planets in Direct Motion), when everything is moving in the same direction. How often do all planets move direct, you ask? Well, it's very special, typically with an opportunity just once every year (and sometimes even less frequently than that).

Here's a quick review: When a planet is retrograde, it appears to orbit backward in the sky, although in actuality, it does not. This seemingly backward motion has to do with the positions of all the planets at that time and how they're moving around the Sun.

Mercury retrograde is particularly troublesome to many, as according to astrology, Mercury controls such huge aspects of life as communication, decision making, finances, technology, and information processing. Mercury is retrograde several times a year and remains so for about three weeks each time. In fact, most of the time, at least one planet is in retrograde. That brings us to APDM.

We ended 2016 and started 2017 with another Mercury retrograde period from Dec. 16 to Jan. 8, after which point we entered APDM — that precious time when all planets appear to be moving in the same forward motion.

APDM offers a rare opportunity of harmony, opportunity, and peace of mind; and especially since it's now happening at the beginning of a new year (and will last for about 28 days!), it's an important time to put your most positive foot forward and plan for an amazing 2017.

And you shouldn't sleep on the opportunity, because it won't happen again until next year. According to the APDM website, this event seems to happen about once a year — save for 2014, when at least one planet was retrograde the entire year. (Occasionally, we'll have two APDMs a year, like in 2010.) The current APDM will end on Feb. 6; the next won't happen until Jan. 2, 2018, ending 65 days later on March 8, 2018. After that, there will be two APDM periods in 2019 and 2020, although the APDM website doesn't yet offer specific dates. We can expect to have one APDM period a year until roughly 2039, at which point we'll experience a 40-year gap!

This time is not to be wasted. During APDM, be extra mindful and pay close attention to you intentions — because now more than ever, what you think is what you'll manifest.

Take advantage of the heightened clarity, finally tackle those goals you've set, and spread love and positivity everywhere you go.