#planetary retrogrades

A planet can only be in one sign at a time. If you're sensitive to that planet's energy, you can often even feel the shift from one sign to another - sometimes almost down to the exact minute. It's always a big shift because we're always going from one polarity earth/water to the other air/fire or vice versa.

Retrograde.

The word is so cringe, I almost didn’t write this article! (Kidding — I love every aspect of astrology. That’s why I work with people and celebrities all over the world.)

One thing I try to teach people is that even challenging periods that are triggered by cosmic weather are a blessing in disguise. If you haven’t read our article about the facts of what a planetary retrograde is and the different cycles of it, be sure to brush up on the deets there.

Retrogrades are notorious for causing drama, confusion, delays and stagnation — all centered around what the planet rules.

They even bring back situations, people or unresolved issues from the past to face once again.

Planetary retrogrades aren’t all bad — in fact, they’re necessary

So what can you do during a planetary retrograde? If everything is out of whack and you have no control, then what’s the point?! Well, you can control something: you can control your actions and reactions.

Retrograde periods are excellent times to REVIEW, REFLECT, REDO, REVISE AND REVISIT situations. If the word has “re-” before it, that might actually be a perfect time to do it.

Retrograde periods aren’t the best time to start new things; they’re more suited for reassessing your previous progress, plans or relationships and fine-tuning them to be improved going forward.

While, yes, you may end up hearing from that crazy ex or old friend during a retrograde — or even feel that something is “breaking down” — it’s okay. Retrogrades are the best times to release control, surrender and watch how the universe is shifting around you. Think of it as the perfect time to turn within, rather than focusing on everything external.

Retrogrades can be triggering. But that’s because you need them to slow down, breathe and change your course going forward. We are creatures of habit that like to plod along as fast as we can — but that actually can cause us to miss some of the beautiful experiences, relationships and opportunities that have passed us by.

Retrogrades give you a second chance. Think about how when you were a kid, if you messed up, you’d always ask for an opportunity to do better next time. Retrogrades let you reorient your path.

One notable thing to say is that if for some reason something leaves your life or shatters during a retrograde, then it might actually be doing you a favor. Trust the universe during these times. Give yourself some much-needed TLC. You deserve it.

How each planetary retrograde affects you — and the world

Not all planetary retrogrades hit us as intensely as others. The ones that are most noticeable in our lives are always when a personal planet — like Mercury, Venus or Mars— moves backward in the sky. These planets are called “personal” because they’re closer to us in the constellation. Each one individually also rules an area of our lives that we deal with on a daily basis. That’s why we’re so heavily impacted during those periods — something I will outline a bit later.

The outer planets — Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto — tie to bigger themes in our lives and the world around us. These often influence our bigger goals and impact the structures of our lives and society.

Each planet ties to a component of life and a different energy. That’s why when each one retrogrades — in essence, weakening its strength and power — we find whatever it rules to be up for review.

Here’s a quick list of how each retrograde affects you.

Mercury retrograde

As the planet of communication, technology and the mind, Mercury is the fastest-moving planet in the sky. However, because it moves so quickly, it also experiences the most retrogrades per year — usually three to four times. This is the most noticeable retrograde because we can see it so clearly in our lives, creating mental fog and disagreements and causing anything with moving parts to break down. Each period lasts for about three weeks.

Venus retrograde

As the planet of love, beauty and relationships, Venus retrogrades roughly every 18 months. When she does, we often see exes and old relationships resurface for us to gain closure or rekindle. We also tend to look at everything through rose-colored glasses, so it’s not an ideal time to get married, start a relationship or change your appearance. Each period lasts for about six weeks.

Mars retrograde

As the planet of sex, passion, drive and energy, Mars retrograde periods can be extremely taxing. We often feel like we are moving through sludge and have no energy for anything. Because Mars also rules conflict and war, we may become more combative or find that battles from the past rear their head once again. Mars retrograde periods are not good to launch a big project — or anything, really. These periods take place roughly every 26 months for about two to 2½ months at a time.

Jupiter retrograde

As the planet of luck, wealth and expansion, Jupiter retrograde periods are far less noticeable than any of the others in the above list. During these cycles, we may find that we are reviewing our growth and finding new ways to pursue our goals and aspirations. These periods take place once a year for about four months at a time.

Saturn retrograde

As the planet of life lessons, karma and perseverance, Saturn retrograde can help us to turn within to better understand our strength and how we are building the structures of our lives. We may find that the pressure around us actually lessens as we can catch our breath before charging forward to face the next big challenge. For every 12 months, Saturn is usually retrograde for about 4½ months.

Uranus retrograde

As the planet of chaos, liberation and freedom, Uranus retrograde periods help us to understand how we are pursuing our own independence and evolving in our lives. We tend to become aware of where we stand and where we can transform next. Once a year, Uranus is asleep for roughly five months.

Neptune retrograde

As the planet of imagination, spirituality and illusion, Neptune retrograde periods help us to understand how we are connecting to our soul’s mission. We are often taught to turn within to understand compassion and any delusions or murky influences that may exist within. These cycles take place once a year for about five to six months.

Pluto retrograde

As the planet of rebirth, power and intensity, Pluto aids us in burning down what isn’t working for us so we can rise like a phoenix. These periods help us to uncover hidden or subconscious forces that exist within our lives so we can transform them into renewal. These cycles last for about five to six months and take place once a year.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When planets are in retrograde in a natal chart, the traits associated with that planet are internalized and kept hidden instead of being openly and readily expressed. However, you can learn to express these parts of you, and you can learn to grow from the typical qualities of a planet in retrograde.

Thank you @aurora701-blog for giving me the idea for this post!!

The mind and the expression of your thoughts is internalized, everything that circulates around your mind is often kept private and rarely ever leaves your mouth. You may prefer to keep your deep, innermost thoughts as private as possible, and may have difficulty when it comes to expressing yourself through words and communicating comfortably with others.

The expression of love and your appreciation of beauty and aesthetics may be something that you don’t express to others often. Love and truly showing that love may be something that is difficult for you, being comfortable in relationships may be something that you have to work towards, and you’re possibly more likely to be fearful when it comes to telling your crush that you like them.

When you are angered, others may not even notice. Anger and passion may be something that you are unable to express comfortably and easily. You most likely hold in your anger in an unhealthy way, and may even be prone to realeasing it in random fits of rage or total breakdowns when you are no longer able to hold your anger within. Others may see you as a “chill” person, but that does not mean that your anger doesn’t exist beneath the surface.

Your philosophies, view on religion, and view on life in general may be something that is very personal and private to you. You may not be one that often expresses their thoughts on society and the world as a whole, these thoughts may be kept in your head as your most private and innermost thoughts. The expansion of Jupiter will also be internalized, there is a great opportunity for internal growth and expansion during the course of your life.

Who you are and who you will become has been barricaded from you, you put limitations on everything that you are capable of accomplishing in life, and those restrictions start from the inside. You may feel as if you are never enough or that you’ll never live up to other’s expectations, that you’re in a constant loop of failure or of dissappointing others. No matter what you accomplish, there may be a tiny part of yourself that will still nag you about what you haven’t done.

You may not readily partake in protests and revolutions in public, and may prefer to let your thoughts about how the world should change inside. Due to this, you may not see yourself as a very revolutionary or unique person, as you also may keep your quirks and individual interests/ideas to yourself. Inside, you may want to protest, to rise up against whoever or whatever you don’t agree with, to be a strong source of movement and forward thinking for others, but you may be scared to do so.

Instead of Neptune clouding or mystifying your view on the world, Neptune has clouded and mystified your view on yourself. Recognizing who you really are and not the mirage that you have put up for yourself may be a difficult tasks, and questioning your identity may be a relevant theme throughout the course of your life. You’re going to have to discover which parts of you are genuine and which parts of you are not actually there.

Internally, there is a war. Constant internal transformations, internal death upon internal death, internal rebirth upon internal rebirth, they may dramatically alter who you were at birth and who you are now. Be ready for great changes in terms of who you believe you are on the inside and who you will become. There is a tremendous power and presence that is beneath the surface of who you are, whether you realize it or not.