The panic seems to be on as we are moving toward another Mercury Retrograde cycle. The upcoming event will have Mercury in Scorpio beginning retrograde motion on Saturday, 4th October 2014 at 10:02a PDT, and ending with Mercury back in Libra on 25th October at 12:17p PDT.
I posted about the next six weeks of Mercury energy earlier today. However, I wanted to write a post about retrograde planets in general as there seem to be a LOT of misconceptions about retrograde energy and how it works.
For some of you, this is going to seem a bit harsh. Yet it is important that you understand why things may be challenging for you during retrograde cycles, especially Mercury Retrograde.
First of all, retrograde motion is best explained like passing cars of the highway. When you are in a faster-moving vehicle passing a slower-moving vehicle, the slower-moving vehicle seems to be moving backwards. You’re both moving forward, yet because one is moving at a different rate of speed, one seems to be moving backward while the other seems to be moving forward. This is what happens with the planets and why we experience retrogrades – the Earth is moving faster than the other planet OR the other planet is moving faster than the Earth, causing one to look like it is moving backwards in relation to the other.
Almost all of the bodies assessed in astrology will move in retrograde motion at some point. The only two that do not move in retrograde are the Sun and the Moon. ALL of the others will experience this phenomenon at some point, and depending on their orbit length, the retrograde cycles for some planets last longer than others.
Retrograde cycles have two effects:
- They encourage you to ‘stop, look, and listen’ to what is happening around you in the present moment, and to notice how what is happening around you is affecting you and your self-perception (outside-in; external events forcing inward/self focus)
- They bring ‘do-over’ energy to matters at hand – an opportunity to go back and redo something OR a second chance to seize an opportunity or make something right.
The first one is usually what gets people so upset about retrogrades. In our current societal norms, there’s a go-go-go quality about things. People want to do things when they want to do them and how they want to do them, and usually get them done quickly. Yet retrogrades often slow things down, forcing people to pay attention to what is happening around them. There is information to be received, lessons to be learned, experiences to be present to, and feelings to be felt.
When you are in the hustle and bustle of daily life, you often get so caught up in your plans and agendas that you forget that the world is bigger than you and sometimes you forget that others, the world, and nature may have some things to contribute to your journey. You want things to go your way, and retrogrades are the Universe’s way of saying both “You can’t always get what you want, but you’ll always get what you need” and “Slow down and notice what you already have”.
When you stop resisting retrograde energy, when you stop trying to force things in your life to go exactly your way, when you stop pushing your agenda; you may find that there is more available to you than you ever could have thought or imagined, or you may find yourself having opportunities and/or moving in directions that you never imagined because they don’t look the way you planned or wanted them to.
My advice to everyone for retrogrades is this: Instead of getting frustrated with the circumstances, pay attention to what the Universe is trying to tell you through all of the challenges and delays! If you’re not able to do it the way you want to do it or the way you envisioned, pause to see where the Universe is guiding you to go. You may not like where you’re being guided at first, but you may be much happier with the results you get doing it the Universe’s way than you would have doing it your way.
As stated before, almost all of the astrological bodies have retrograde periods. This is how they may affect (or be affecting) you:
Mercury – (retrograde begins 4th October) deals with thoughts, ideas, information, and communication. Information exchanges and communications may be delayed or postponed. Contracts or agreements made during this time may fall apart or need to be revisited later on. Electronics (a.k.a. – communication vehicles) may malfunction; e-mails and voice mail messages may be lost or missed; plans or intentions may be misunderstood, etc. These breakdowns and delays may be indicators that you need to rethink your plans, move in a different direction, or stop and allow things to develop a bit more before moving forward. It may also give you a chance to communicate or receive information about things that did not get communicated previously – things that may provide you with opportunities to redo any agreements or to make positive or necessary changes to things previously agreed upon. However, you may miss these opportunities if you are trying too hard to force your original plans.
Venus – deals with one-on-one relationships, partnerships, diplomacy, and matters of fairness, balance, and justice. You may experience being on the receiving end of unfair or unjust treatment, or you may see how you have been treating others in an unfair or unkind way. Relationships of all kinds may be challenged, and blocks to making connection with others or challenges in existing relationships may indicate that you need to reconsider certain partnerships or ways of being within your partnerships that make them more fair and just for both you and your partner(s). This may also produce an opportunity to reconnect with someone who you missed connection with previously, but you may miss it if you’re looking for it to show up in a certain way.
Mars – deals with intentions, actions, and assertions. The warrior planet takes action, and in retrograde, your actions may backfire or may be met with resistance or outright challenge. You may be on the receiving end of assertive or aggressive behavior, or recognize the impact that your aggressive or combative actions are having on you as well as others. These challenges may be indicators that you need to rethink your strategy or your approach to matters at hand, behave or act differently toward others, or maybe even to stop taking action for a moment to be still and allow things to happen around you for a moment so you can see what your best next step or action may be. This may provide you with an opportunity to take action in a way that you could not previously, but you need to be watchful and aware of when that opportunity may present itself – you may miss it if you’re too focused on forcing your way with aggression or anger.
Jupiter – deals with growth and expansion. Jolly and optimistic Jupiter often approaches life with the belief that there is never too much of a good thing. However, in retrograde, Jupiter may help you recognize where you may be experiencing or dealing with too much of a good thing and/or reveal the areas of your life that are either in extreme excess or deficiency. When you recognize these excesses in your life, they may be indicators of where you need to stop trying so hard to grow and expand, and in contrast may indicate where you actually need to grow and expand in your life. If you are finding blocks or resistance to your growth and expansion efforts, you may want to pause and reassess your efforts to see if you are moving in the best direction or if the Universe is trying to redirect you to a different option or opportunity for growth.
Saturn – deals with structure, focus, discipline, and responsibility. Serious and stern Saturn is all about recognizing what you get to be responsible for in your life. In retrograde, you may feel its oppression and discipline when you are trying to be responsible for something that is not yours to be responsible for, when you are trying to be responsible for things that do not align with your True life purpose and role, and/or when you are not taking the steps to be responsible for what you need to be or do in this lifetime to fulfill on your purpose and role. If you are finding that your efforts to take ownership or responsibility for something are blocked or met with delays, you may want to redirect your focus or pause to look at where or how you can better apply your sense of duty and responsibility in your life.
Uranus – (currently retrograde in Aries) deals with matters of unique contribution to communities, groups, teams, and humanity. Individual and eccentric Uranus likes to know that it is part of something bigger than itself, but it doesn’t want to be the same as everyone else. If you are finding your efforts to belong to a group are not being received well, if you are feeling trapped or oppressed in your self-expression, if you’re doing all you can to blend in yet you still stand out as odd or as an outsider, or if you are feeling like your contributions to the greater whole are not being received or acknowledged; these all may be ways the Universe may be trying to nudge you into a different community OR it may be the Universe trying to push you into environments where you can fully share your unique self-expression and genius with others. Stop trying to belong and try being yourself fully and truly in order to find your tribe –where you truly belong.
Neptune – (currently retrograde in Pisces) deals with vision, imagination, artistry, and emotional-spiritual transcendence. In retrograde, you may find that your dreams, visions, and ideals are taking you out of the reality of your life OR that they are taking over the reality of your life! You may notice where others are becoming lost in their idealism – possibly to the point of delusion – yet this is not for you to judge others for their fantasies and ideals. Rather, this is an opportunity for you to recognize where you may be just as delusional or idealistic in your own life. Where do you try to escape or hide from your life realities? How do you hide your imaginative, creative, and artistic ideals and visions from others? How do you run from your imagination or from opportunities to connect with others in Oneness? Your resistance to your dreams and visions may reveal your resistance to your connection to something bigger and/or Higher than yourself. This may result in your being given opportunities and messages more repeatedly and in a variety of ways by the Universe, encouraging you to accept and allow your imagination and artistry and to see what is possible for yourself and others through the manifestation of your visions or pursuit of your beliefs.
Pluto – deals with transformation, death, rebirth, and power. In retrograde, you may notice that others are not able to exert the same power and/or influence they had over you in the past. You may also find that the powers that once were are no longer, and that power is being wielded in a different way or by different people, parties, and/or institutions. There is more of an inclination to wipe the slate clean and start over in matters, and as others around you do this, you recognize your life is being forced to change as result. If you are resisting these changes in the world around you and/or in your own life OR if you are resisting how the slate-clearings around you are affecting your life, you may find yourself having a really difficult time during Pluto Retrograde. Your resistance to and attempts to control changes that you have little to no control over may make this transformation more painful than it has to be for you.
Chiron – (currently retrograde in Pisces) deals with making things functional by solving problems and healing wounds. In retrograde, you may notice that you are more perceptive to the pain of others and how their pain affects your perceptions of your own pain. You may notice that others are either projecting their pain onto you, holding you responsible for their pain, expecting you to fix their problems and heal their pain, and/or you may find that others are mirroring your own problems and pain. Any challenges in healing and overcoming the pain or problems in your life may be due to your unwillingness to face what your real problems actually are. The Universe may be trying to direct you to what your problem truly and actually is rather than what you think (or want) your problem to be. Pay attention to where you are getting blocked or delayed in your efforts to find solutions to problems and/or to heal your wounds, and notice that it may be the Universe trying to pause or redirect your efforts.
Ceres – deals with your personal values, morals, and ethics regarding your lifestyle preferences and resources. In retrograde, you may notice that challenges to your lifestyle resources may push you into beliefs and behaviors that you might normally not be inclined to think or act upon. The Universe may be pushing you out of your comfort zone, or threaten your comfort in some way in order to get you to reassess your life values. Pay attention to where your values are meeting with great resistance, or where your ability to establish or sustain a particular lifestyle is being challenged by changes in your circumstances and/or resource flow. You may find the Universe is asking you to change your perception of your resources and alter your approach to acquiring or maintaining them, or to pause and make sure that what you’re pursuing really aligns with the lifestyle you want to live.
Juno – deals with commitments of all kinds. In retrograde, Juno challenges the strength of your commitments in order to get you to question the reason(s) for your commitments. Pay attention to how the Universe may be forcing you to pause in taking steps to honor your commitment(s) in order to get you to reassess and/or reconsider your position. The Universe may be asking you to make sure your commitment is in alignment with the greater goals and intentions you may have for your life.
Hope all of this info helps!
Thanks for reading and sharing Signs and Numbers. Until next post…
~ Light, Love, and Blessings,
Grace
