Hey nox! Can you make a post on your stance about retrograde planets?
planetary and asteroidal retrogrades
thank you for the compliment!! sure thing, let’s talk about it! and since we reached 100 posts last night, let’s celebrate with this long post!
retrograde is when an object appears to move backward or appears smaller when in reality, it is doing what it always does. the keyword is appears - during a retrograde or having natal retrogrades means that your perception in the area said planet or asteroid is located is altered in comparison to how it would be normally or in comparison to others. anything that is retrograded in your chart can indirectly affect you OR the aspect of the planet or asteroid takes longer to develop. in my aphrodite signs, degrees, houses, and aspects post i presented retrograde as though the effects everyone is about to read are slower to develop than those who have a direct asteroid - this post will be a breakdown similar to that post, reflecting on the planets and five common asteroid i see retrograded in a chart and advice for each retrograde.
feel free to use the following to analyze your natal chart, solar returns, or as a survival guide during retrograde periods! USE THIS AS MOMENTARY FOR TRANSITS AND LONG-TERM WHEN PRESENT IN YOUR NATAL CHART. if you have a retrograde in your chart, i have noticed that when that retrograde is in effect, life seems easier.
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MERCURY: retrograde occurs three or four times a year for around three weeks.
i believe that if MERCURY is retrograde, people have a slower manner of speaking or i always find that they need speed to be faster (2x on youtube videos type vibes). this is a time in which people may write slower. they likely have a harder time in school or learning something new, they may be the least likely to change things when they have found what works for them. they may be forgetful or rather unorganized, these people seem rather nervous to me - you can usually see it in the hands, they may be unsteady, nail bitters, hand talkers, etc. this is all a means to let out extra nervous energy. they may also experience paranoia or social anxiety worrying about what others think and feel towards them. gossip may be a downfall for them or stir up worse situations for them. they may have an issue with profanity as well; it could be the mouth of sailors and truckers OR someone who doesn’t ever say curse words at all and gawks at those that say them.
my advice for surviving this retrograde: deep breathing exercises. creating your own shorthand when writing notes. affirmations (you’re smart, grades aren’t everything, you gave it your best, you tried today and you’ll try tomorrow, you’re safe, etc.). trying one new thing a week - how do you know it’s the only thing that works if it took you this long to find it? couldn’t there be another option as well? try a fidget tool. make to-do lists. don’t comment when provoked or just to do so - think before you say things. evaluate how you go about your life - improve where you can. breathing before you speak; people who curse a lot have a lot of penned up energy, gotta let that out if you are trying to not curse as much (especially if you are trying to do so because of children around you) OR breathe when you hear someone curse and you don't like it - not everyone says, acts, or reacts like you and that’s okay - it’s part of the human experience.
VENUS: retrograde occurs roughly every eighteen months for around a month and a half.
VENUS retrograde people may be late bloomers in terms of love and relationships - that’s perfectly fine. never try to lower your standards just to fit in and reach a milestone. that being said, i find that a lot of venus retrograde people struggle to come to terms with their sexuality and oftentimes clothing is used to shelter it. they may take longer to find a style that works for them. they may not be trusting toward women - it may take time to warm up to them. they could be maximalists or minimalists have no in between. they may not like social functions finding them uncomfortable or anxiety-invoking. they may not feel pretty or graceful very often as well.
my advice for surviving this retrograde: take time away from social media. don’t be afraid to explore sexuality or style at your own pace (remember you are beautiful - it’s scary to try new things but scary doesn’t mean bad, ugly, and/or unworthy). spend time with the women you trust and feel safest with. practice decluttering for the maximalist and practice gifting yourself something you truly want (NOT WHAT YOU NEED lol) for the minimalist. self-care. if you have to go to a social event, give yourself a time marker. ex: just for one hour, when dinner is over, etc OR tell yourself you have to say hi to ___ before you can leave or set a number of people you want to say hello before dipping. AFFIRMATIONS (you are kind, you are beautiful, you have lovely hair, etc.).
MARS: retrograde occurs roughly every two years for around two to three months.
MARS retrograde people are people that not as assertive as the rest of those around them. it’s usually because they have low energy, they easily get tired of trying to assert themselves or make others hear them. they may be quick to anger and have a hard time reallocating that anger into doing something productive. it’s hard for them to turn strong emotion into a passion. these people may also have an issue with blood - heavy periods, irregular periods, fear of blood, anemia, etc. they also may be uncomfortable around masculine energy. they are likely not impulsive rather they stick to what they know. i feel like MARS retrograde people are always collecting injuries - it doesn’t matter what they are doing. opening the mail? paper cut. working on the computer? tennis elbow or carpal tunnel. out for a walk? they fell or have some type of foot problem now. there could be struggles with independence or leadership (i feel like pissing competitions are most common in mars retrogrades)…
my advice for surviving this retrograde: brainstorm everything you want to say to assert yourself and pick the best option. sleep, relax - a few “lazy” days never killed anyone OR have a lowkey day a walk instead of a run, meal prep. or do something that will help you out for when tiredness kicks in again. if people don’t get what you are trying to tell them or telling you "no" when it's a good idea and you know it is going to work - stop trying to assert yourself and just do it (sheila buff is quaking). but no seriously it’s better to ask forgiveness than permission as they say. try yoga, swimming, or walking to release excess energy! brainstorming random ideas - journals are your friends - track your mood, keep a dream log, and write down good ideas you have (you can always return to these ideas when you get the energy to do stuff again). if you have issues with blood you are not alone - i hate getting blood drawn (my recent trip to the ER, i needed an IV and the guy was like "scared? don't worry, i don’t like needles either THATS WHY I DON'T LOOK WHEN I PUT THEM IN" AND I WAS BRUH STOP IT. but we did a count and I didn't look at my arm the rest of the day lol. so find what works for you: counting and not looking works for me. I don't care if they say my blood pressure is high from the anxiety lol. you aren’t alone in period issues either - talk with your doctors! MARS retrograde may not be the best of times for asserting yourself with doctors (unless you are a MARS retrograde native) BUT perhaps it's a great time to look into symptoms yourself! you know your symptoms best! if you tell a doctor and they refuse to test you or tell you "your symptoms can’t be that bad," THEY ARE GASLIGHTING YOU! find a new doctor - your feelings are valid - if you say the pain or the symptoms aren’t normal then your are right! it’s okay to not like or feel uncomfortable around masculine energy - stick to the masculines you trust or hang out with feminines! try something new each week. for the love of the gods PLEASE AVOID ANYTHING THAT MAY RESULT IN AN ER VISIT: no bungee jumping for the first time, tubing, hand gliding, etc. practice patience; people will always be at your throat with this retrograde, just breathe and smile all the while calling them an asshole in your head :).
JUPITER: retrograde occurs roughly every year for around four months.
feeling unlucky? i feel like that’s a common trend for JUPITER retrograde people. there is often a struggle with optimism - these people are realists or pessimists by nature. they may also struggle with growing up - this could be related to separating from parents, getting a job, leaving a home town, or even going away for school… expanding from these pre-existing notions tends to be hard on them. it may even be a struggle to start dating - they may be late to the dating realm or getting into a relationship compared to those around them. this retrograde can show a person who is either super devote or an atheist. they are less likely to "pay it forward" to others - it may be due to past experiences, “no good deed goes unpunished.” their judgment may be either too realistic or too impractical. they may be a glutton or on the other extreme end someone who believes they didn't do enough to deserve a prize.
my advice for surviving this retrograde: be proactive - sometimes having a ritual helps. it may sound crazy but doing something like a cleanse, a cinnamon ritual, a simmer pot, a tarot reading, etc. every first of the month may help change your mindset from pessimistic to optimistic. growing up is rough but hey we all do it and time waits for no human - walk before the universe shoves you along unwillingly. change is good. i’m not gonna lie to you dating sucks… people are weird. my only advice is not to take things so seriously, if you are looking for romance :/ get a book - it’s definitely not perfect day one of any dating scene. if you are dating then everyone is allowed to date other people including you - when you are exclusive is when ya’ll shouldn’t be talking to other people. don’t assume exclusivity on day one, its 2022 lol. and definitely don't rush into a relationship to catch up to those around you - it’s not a competition. religion is great don’t shit on others for not sharing your beliefs or lack thereof though. pay it forward is good vibe energy - every day is a new day, don’t think that others wouldn't do the same for you OR you’ll pay for it later - embrace the positive and move forward. practice active listening to others - you may be a realist while some one else is a dreamer, a healthy balance is somewhere in between. treat yourself to something healthy - something you’ve wanted to try OR for the glutton, look around in an area you haven’t been recently in a closet or a cabinet is a favorite you have long forgotten, rediscover the joy you felt when you find it again for the first time. number a list of things you want to do (all in your price range and capabilities) use a random number generator and go do what it lands on. take the scenic route or a different route home than you normally do. play a card game.
SATURN: retrograde occurs roughly every year for around four to five months.
SATURN retrograde people likely had to grow up very quickly - during this retrograde you may need to be more mature. they are likely always early or always late. there are likely a lot of self-restrictions - this could be due to a lack of self-approval. they may feel as though they too experienced a lot of unluckiness similar to JUPITER retrograde. they may experience a lot of delays - usually self-provoked, they may hold themselves back in the area where this planet transits or sits in their chart due to a fear of failure or generalized fears/anxieties. they may receive a lot of bruising and other injuries, especially broken bones. they may be haunted by their past. they may experience sickness: chronic or acute - most common is depression (which may cause a lot of isolation from others) and frequent common colds. this is likely to cause a lot of frustration with themselves due to a hatred of being limited. they may have a lot of responsibilities and work hard to reach their high expectations. in philosophical states, their views may be more conservative wanting the harshest justice to be served. and last but not least, fatherly turmoil - it is highly likely there are a lot of issues surrounding a relationship between this person and their father.
my advice for surviving this retrograde: revisit childhood in a safe environment like therapy or a shadow-work journal. do something that you have wanted to do since childhood. show up somewhere late for the early bird and show up somewhere early for the late comer. buy yourself something you’ve been wanting but have been saying you’ll wait until something big happens. take a leap of faith. rest and care for yourself - have a lot of downtime, eat well, and do low-intensity exercise. know that there is no time like the present to start taking care of yourself - limitation now is not limitation life long. people who don’t take care of themselves when they feel bad only drain themselves more in the long run - take care of yourself! it’s not terrible to not reach all of your goals in a day. make three goals a day - no more, no less and certainly not something you can’t complete in a day (like buy a house, see the world, etc. it has to be manageable!). be reasonable with your views - it’s okay if others do not agree with you. life would be boring if we all had the same thoughts and beliefs.
NEPTUNE: retrograde occurs roughly every year for around five months.
NEPTUNE retrograde people typically struggle with their thoughts - during this retrograde you may feel like you can’t think straight or that you are more critical of yourself. these people frequently struggle with spirituality - not knowing what to trust or if it’s a good idea to be all in with a group mentality when it comes to following faith. these people typically have a different taste in music compared to everyone else - they may only listen to jazz or classical or something rather underground OR their taste in music doesn’t appear to match them at all. they may feel creatively blocked or like they only have creativity to help them express themselves. they may daydream or use substances frequently to help escape from their reality. they may lack intuition or have an intuition that others do not believe in. they may be incredible with makeup and use it to become a “different person” or have a strong dislike towards makeup. they may have very odd dreams or feel as though they are incapable of dreaming (not true, everyone dreams but not everyone can remember what they dreamed). these people may have a hated or fear of swimming due to past experiences where they nearly drowned or did drown. they may have a story attached to them about being completely incoherent - ODs, drowning, coma, concussion, anaphylactic shock, etc.
my advice for surviving this retrograde: write down your thoughts and analyze during this retrograde, if it’s natal, OR after the retrograde ends, if it’s transit based. don’t feel as though you are required to be part of a group. listen to new music. make a list of ideas as they arise. scribbling is safer than gazing. if you are using substances please do so in a safe environment or write down what, when, and where from you are taking this substance on an appendage (this is not me saying that you should, this is me stating be safe if you do - if you believe you may have a problem, reach out and seek advice from others who you feel will not judge you, it may be an outsider and that is okay - i too am here, you are never alone if you need guidance when seeking help). be careful with makeup use - you may find that it shocks others and even yourself and can be dangerous for those who struggle with dysmorphia. keep a dream journal. monitor symptoms after injuries and tell others about your allergies!
URANUS: retrograde occurs roughly every year for around five months.
URANUS retrograde people typically struggle with their originality - during this retrograde you may feel as though you are stuck in a rut when it comes to your life and how it looks. naives may feel as though they lack freedom or have too much of it and feel rather alone and that no one cares for them in this world. they may not feel like they are capable of standing up to others. they may have deep and rather harsh thoughts about humanity. they may be prone to accidents yet preserving like surviving a devastating storm that left others harmed, dead, or stranded, they may experience electrocution (extreme ex (and the first person i thought of while rereading my post before posting it): Ted Bundy has a natal URANUS retrograde and was sentenced to death via electric chart), etc. they likely feel apart from the world - whether by choice or otherwise is the question. these people are often estranged from select people in their life - a father, a mother, grandparents, a whole side of the family, etc. they may experience unexpected and chaotic things happening around them. these things often disrupt their day-to-day life: natural disasters, divorces, health woes, etc.
my advice for surviving this retrograde: try something new and different from your norm. travel, eat something you’ve never tried before, pick a new aesthetic, change up your look! go somewhere new - get away from your routine. reach out to someone you’ve not spoken to in a while. stand up for yourself even if it’s “i don’t appreciate that” you owe no one an explanation. and if they start talking back to you - tell them “my feelings are valid. i recognize that you disagree. we can talk at a later time.” and walk away - anything that happens after that statement is not your fault. you are okay and you spoke your mind and that is something to be proud of! be careful about who you share your views with. don’t give up on finding your people - they are out there! it takes time. if someone abandons you: IT IS NOT AND HAS NEVER BEEN YOUR FAULT. you guys can (could’ve) fix (fixed) things if they stay, you guys can’t fix things if they aren’t there. THAT IS NOT YOUR FAULT - THEM LEAVING IS NOT YOUR FAULT. on the flip side, it is okay to leave those who you feel don’t make you a better person, who harm you, or alienate you! you deserve more! prepare for anything! prep a go-bag for your car, always have a week's worth of food in case of an emergency, meal prep, check your expiration dates on medications you need to live, buy a generator, make sure you have a list of emergency contacts, pay attention to the weather, make sure you have gas in your car and air in your tires, TAKE CARE OF ANYTHING THAT HAS TO DO WITH YOU BEING STRANDED OR COULD LEAVE YOU STRANDED! take survival course or read a book of wildness survival.
PLUTO: retrograde occurs roughly every year for around five to six months.
PLUTO retrograde people may experience a lot or very minimal death and change in their life - during this retrograde you may experience a death or life-changing event. these people may be extremely sexual beings or not sexual at all. they are likely not the most willing to eliminate the things in their life that are no longer the best for them. they may lack a lot of motivation compared to others. they may not let others get close to them due to not feeling safe or not feeling secure enough to expose themselves. they may be extremely ruthless or lack a spine when it comes to asserting themselves. they may have issues with people with power as well. they can be easily provoked. power to them may be or look like something to be destroyed or something that is too over the top, like a dictatorship.
my advice for surviving this retrograde: as a pluto dominant person, i can tell you, change is natural as is death - both are scary but in time things regulate and become still again. take advantage of resources like therapy to help cope and also downtime. people who are in mourning or are always on the go with change in life forget to stand still and breathe! it’s okay to take a break and rest! get STD/STI testing. do a juice cleanse and take your ACV and cranberry pills. make sure you are being safe. cleanse your space, declutter, and go through old contacts/following list it is time to remove the things that no longer serve you. clean out the closets, following lists, the memory bin, photos, and detox from all that stuff you’ve been dragging along! it’s okay to let go - if a lot of feelings arise ask yourself: is this a positive feeling (keep) or a negative feeling (next question)? is this a thing i would like to fix and have the ability to do so (keep) or something that can’t be fixed (get rid of) or i can’t fix it myself (take it somewhere to be fixed or contact who you need to fix things with)? after talking with the person who i needed to fix things with or getting the object mended - do i feel like this object/relationship was worth the time and energy expending? if yes, keep and continue to use the object or talk with the person as you get used to them being in your life again. do a weekly check-in with yourself to ensure you are still happy with your decision. if not get rid of the object OR block and delete the contact! we do have time for energy vampires around here! this is a great time to take your time - think through things! tell someone about something you haven’t told anyone about. be careful when asserting yourself or take a note from the URANUS retrograde handbook: “stand up for yourself even if it’s “i don’t appreciate that” you owe no one an explanation. and if they start talking back to you - tell them “my feelings are valid. i recognize that you disagree. we can talk at a later time.” and walk away - anything that happens after that statement is not your fault you are okay and you spoke your mind and that is something to be proud of!” go on a yoni or phalanx retreat. power structures will always exist try to evaluate the good and the bad of the one you exist in. if you see more bad than good perhaps it’s time for a big change! look into other places with other power structures and investigate/plan how you can make your life happen there!
popular asteroids that i often see retrograded:
aphrodite (asteroid 1388)
aphrodite retrograde people may experience extremes like stalkers or not being adored by others at all. they may feel unseen and unappreciated by others, making it extremely difficult to appreciate themselves. they may experience a lot of drama with none of the other perks that aphrodite herself gained (attention, romance, etc.). they may not be the most jealous person but rather the person who is too insecure to be jealous - people who say “i knew it was too good to be true” or simply walk away because there is no reason to fight for what they want anyway.
my advice for surviving this retrograde: avoid social media. self-care and self-love exercises - because you can really only ever count on yourself to show and give yourself what you deserve. when you do something you appreciate, smile and acknowledge you did that! buy yourself a gift. try to remove yourself from drama, you won't be letting anyone down by doing so. affirmations. let someone know when something hurts your feelings or bothers you - don’t just walk away or brush it off. if it bothers you and they care about you, then it should bother them as well.
chiron retrograde people may not realize they are suffering until it is too late. they carry the bulk of all burdens without realizing that they have become someone’s personal mule. they may feel as though no one sees their skills or appreciates their talents. their empathy and gestures of nurture get overlooked because it is "just a given that they are that way" - meaning they are likely surrounded by people who use them. they likely feel as though no one is there when they need someone.
my advice for surviving this retrograde: daily check-ins. evaluate relationships with others: distance yourself from those using you. appreciate a job well done by you! someone’s gotta acknowledge it, right? self-care when you feel you need someone and no one is there: watch a comedy movie BUT if it life-threatening, please call or text a hotline like 988! you matter.
eris retrograde people may unknowingly cause trouble by doing something they thought would be overlooked. they may not like confronting others because it feels uncomfortable or they feel attacked whenever they speak up for an injustice they faced - they may experience a lot of gaslighting. they may hate rivalries with others. they may feel as though they are alone even when surrounded by others.
my advice for surviving this retrograde: tread lightly, as they say, eris retrograde is like walking on thin ice. you may be doing nothing wrong yet everyone is sensitive to your actions, if not, simply your presence. know that i have yet to meet someone who does not have eris in aries and retrograde - it’s a very slow-moving asteroid. thus nearly everyone around the world feels the same way.
hermes retrograde people may be surrounded by a lot of mischievous people and tend to take the fall for others' wrongdoings. they may feel as though the pace of their life is uncomfortable for them. these people tend to be good but get a bad wrap (kind of like eddie munson from stranger things). they may experience fertility issues. they may not be the best at balancing their life and managing their time. they may have travel-related fears (fear of flying, fear of water, fear of car accidents, etc.) due to past accidents or incidents they have experienced.
my advice for surviving this retrograde: if you are hanging around a bad group stay away from them. if it is something illegal (*group* related) and you find you can’t just leave please reach out, other resources exist in the system. i get that the word "system" may be daunting but it’s better to get out alive or with a minimal sentence and a say in your sentence than to be stuck and face a longer trial and sentence. please read the MERCURY section as well because MERCURY is the roman aspect of hermes. fertility is a problem for more people than you think but we are blessed to live in a world where there are options: adoption, fostering, surrogacy, IVF, etc. get a planner and set a date to prepare for the week ahead. exposure therapy.
vesta retrograde people feel like they lack a cause to be motivated by or feel they belong to. they may feel like everyone else or as though they try their best to fit in with others and met the milestones society sets. they may not be devoted to others after the others do something extremely kind to them. they may not be an acts of service type of person - their love language is likely not one that promotes much giving. they may despise domestic life and homestead upkeep. they may not have a solid definition of pure or have a skewed opinion of pure, holding everyone to a high standard of pure or none at all.
my advice for surviving this retrograde: don’t be too hard on yourself - everything exists on a continuum, you don’t need a big cause to feel like you have something worth to believe in and feel motivated by. you exist on your own timeline, there is no pressuring you into anything, if someone is truly are your friend they won't and shouldn't be pressuring you. say "thank you" or smile at the person who does something helpful or kind for you. please do not be too harsh with others - your expectations of those you know or barely know need to be in check; too high and you’ll have fear, hatred, or dislike, too low and you’ll have chaos, disrespect, or disappoint towards others.
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