Another Retrograde .. Really?!?!

Mercury and Venus and Saturn .. Oh My!!!!

( Spoof on The Wizard Of Oz .. I just had to .. LOL )

What are Retrogrades anyway?  Why do so many have issues with them?

Can we not have a mental breakdown every single time there is a retrograde?

We are going to cover all that and then some 😉

Ready?  Get your Grimoires and pen .. Here we go!

First off .. What is a retrograde?

The term retrograde comes from the Latin word retrogradus, which literally means “backward step.”

As the name suggests, retrograde is when a planet appears to go backward in its orbit, as viewed from Earth. Astronomers refer to this as “apparent retrograde motion,” because it is an optical illusion.

The opposite of retrograde is direct or prograde motion. Prograde motion is the term astronomers prefer, while astrologers are more prone to use the term “direct” motion.

Backwards? Am I seeing right?

Every planet in our Solar System travels in the same direction in its journey around the Sun, and none of them ever pause and turn back in the opposite direction. Yet, all of them appear to do just that from time to time.

Because of the Earth’s daily rotation, the objects in the night sky appear to “move” from east to west in the night sky. While the location of the stars relative to the Earth is fixed, at least from our vantage point, the other planets in our Solar System all orbit the Sun at varying speeds.

The outer planets ~ Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune ~ take longer to orbit the Sun than the Earth does, because their orbits are larger. For this reason, the Earth often laps these planets in its journey around the Sun.

When the Earth overtakes an outer planet, that planet appears to travel backward, as compared to the stars, for a time.

Picture two cars on the highway going in the same direction in different lanes. If one car is driving faster than the other, the slower car will appear to go backward from the perspective of a person in the faster car, even though the slower car is still going pretty fast in the same direction.

OK .. what’s up with so many Mercury Retrogrades?

For the inner planets, Mercury and Venus, the mechanism that causes them to turn retrograde is the same, but in reverse. Mercury and Venus appear to go retrograde when they lap us.

Because Mercury completes its orbit around the Sun in only 88 days, the swift planet becomes retrograde three or four times in a calendar year, for about three weeks at a time. Outer planets have less frequent, but longer-lasting, periods of retrograde motion.

So what’s all the fuss about?

So what does all of that have to do with people wanting to hide in their rooms, or lock themselves up in their broom closets  for weeks at a time?

Astrologers believe that the Moon, stars, planets, and Sun affect happenings here on Earth and that each planet in our Solar System rules a different aspect of life.

Like the Greek messenger God it was named for, Mercury is said to govern transportation and communication.

Those who dread Mercury’s retrograde motion say that, when the planet travels backward, its power to positively influence these domains is stifled, leading to chaos.

But, we now know that it really doesn't travel backwards .. right?

Believers in the malevolent power of Mercury retrograde blame the phenomenon for everything from arguments to lost mail or luggage to automobile accidents and technology issues, and warn people to hold back on conducting important business during this time.

How do we learn to live with all this?

It’s going to take some work on your part. But it really isn’t that hard to do.

Retrogrades are a time to review the past rather than continually jogging forward blindly.

If you’ve ever wanted to impact humanity, or your own life through your own thoughts and actions, these are great times for doing it.

In hindsight (that’s a pun for you), looking back and “going in” may be the best way to leap forward. 

Here’s a fun exercise for understanding and contemplation in three steps:

1) Identify The Planet

Identify the planet going through a retrograde and imagine it has a personality. If each planet was a character in a play, here’s what they might be:

Mercury is like an ever-present reporter, just wanting to communicate findings.

Venus is like Marilyn Monroe. She concerns herself with the beautification of life. 

Mars is a top-notch Roman military general ready to pounce on his enemy. He’s brash and ready to take action.

Jupiter is the cosmic cheerleader for society. She shouts “H-O-P-E!” across the global stadium.

Saturn is the cosmic thumb. Like a stern grandfather, he prefers limitations and a slow pace.

Uranus is futuristic and unique. She brings change, aches for freedom … and she wants it now! (Remember, these outer planet personalities affect generations of humans.)

Neptune is the dreamer, lounging near the ocean’s edge, thinking and feeling deeply all the while. 

Pluto is like a Tasmanian devil. He has power to regenerate and evolve life. He will wipe out the old to make space for the new. 

With these planetary personalities firmly in place you can take your next step toward retrograde work.

2) Meditate On Self-Reflective Questions

Take that planet on a walk to the nearest meditation cushion, or wherever you go,  to contemplate what’s going on! Take a deep-dive into the recent past and start asking reflective questions. Try using some of the questions from the timeline below in Upcoming Retrogrades.

3) Follow the timeline, and utilize the questions/descriptions, or create your own.

Inner planets retrograde in 2024

The Inner planets are closest to the Sun. They are the “personal planets” since they govern the daily aspects of our lives.

2024 MERCURY retrograde dates

August 5-14, 2024 in VIRGO

August 14-28, 2024 in LEO

November 25 to December 15, 2024 in SAGITTARIUS

• Where can I add order to my environment? 

• What contribution can my services be to the greater good? 

• What area of my health can I improve?

Mercury is the ruler of information, communication and our intellectual processes. For these approximately three week retrograde cycles, we can blame every Internet outage, petty fight and canceled plan on a spinning rock 48 million miles away.

While the scrambled signals can be agonizing, we have a chance to dive into deeper discourse. But try not to start anything new. Focus on activities that start with the prefix “re-,” .. This means, simply: go back!

Review all your contracts before you sign. Renew your commitments, rather than making new ones. Prepare to repeat yourself often. Reunite with old friends. Redecorate a room. Rekindle a romance (proceed with this one with caution!)

2024 VENUS retrograde dates

Surprise, there is no Venus retrograde in 2024! The next Venus retrograde isn’t until March 1 to April 12, 2025!

Venus is the planet of love, beauty and luxury, lending its decadent energy to every zodiac sign for three to five weeks each year. Since we get a reprieve from her reverse commutes in 2024, this is an excellent year for weddings and any beautification projects.

2024 MARS retrograde dates

December 6, 2024 to January 6, 2025 in LEO

Mars is the like a celestial sentry, readying us to fight for what we hold dear. Beware the blowhards and narcissists! Tempers flare and egos balloon during Mars retrograde.

Outer planets retrograde in 2024

The outer planets turn retrograde each year for 4-5 months. These snoozes help us incorporate changes.

2024 JUPITER retrograde dates

October 9, 2024 to February 4, 2025 in GEMINI

• Am I being overly optimistic or cautiously pessimistic about my financial situation? 

• What is the energy of optimism around money? 

• What would it be like to feel more valued in this world?

Wise, wild Jupiter is the galactic gambler, the global nomad and the eternal seeker. Developments happen rapidly in this powerhouse’s path! Jupiter’s job is to push us out of our comfort zones and into uncharted territory ~ even if that means leaping before we look.

Jupiter’s 2024 backspin will be extra chaotic since it takes place in double-talking Gemini. What are the facts and what’s fake news?

2024 SATURN retrograde dates

June 29 to November 15, 2024 in PISCES

• How can I be more disciplined with my spiritual practices? 

• What space can I create for more creativity in my life?

Where have we become excessive? When is enough just…enough? Whistleblowing planet Saturn reveals where we need to set better boundaries. We need to be vigilant as we set limits around our time, money and indulgences. Your new mantra? “No” is a complete sentence.

Saturn has been in Pisces since March 7, 2023.

2024 CHIRON retrograde dates

July 26 to December 29, 2024 in ARIES

Okay, Chiron isn’t a planet, but in recent years this comet’s been called everything from an asteroid to a planetoid. In astrology, Chiron reveals our power to process our trauma and suffering so that we can in turn, heal others. That is why astrologers (including us), call Chiron “the wounded healer.”

This timeout brings a chance to look deep within and gain greater emotional regulation. Our healing gifts emerge as we do our inner work.

Chrion has been in Aries since 2019.

2024 URANUS retrograde dates

August 28, 2023 to January 27, 2024 in TAURUS

September 1, 2024 to January 30, 2025 in TAURUS

Uranus is in “fall” in Taurus, meaning it’s in its least comfortable position. It makes sense! The side-spinning planet rules all things rebellious and futuristic, while earth sign Taurus is a conservational traditionalist. Uranus wants change, Taurus seeks to limit it and create predictability.

So how do you manage? Increase your mindfulness. Slow down and get conscious about your every move—and your impact!

Uranus has been in Taurus since 2018.

2024 NEPTUNE retrograde dates

July 2 to December 7, 2024 in PISCES

• Are my spiritual practices serving me or am I? 

• What is the benefit of regular meditation, prayer, and journaling?

These periods can be deeply introspective times ~ but ones that require extra reality checks! You may feel like retreating or escaping from the world, which can be a healing process or one that lures you back to a destructive habit.

“Just this once” can become famous last words during a Neptune retrograde. Set up support systems so you don’t give in to toxic temptations. While Neptune intensifies its boundary-dissolving effect in its home sign of Pisces, that advice goes double!

Neptune has been in Pisces since 2011.

2024 PLUTO retrograde dates

May 2 to September 1, 2024 in AQUARIUS

September 1 to October 11, 2024 in CAPRICORN

• What changes need to be made for the sake of everyone involved? (Aquarius)

• How can we improve on recent changes to  institutions such as government, health care, education, and nonprofits?  (Capricorn)

We have an opportunity to go back and revisit some of the buried stuff we’ve glossed over in our lives, during Pluto retrograde. What have you shoved down to the recesses of your consciousness? Pluto dwells in the underworld, a kidnapper of young Persephone ~ which is a metaphor for your own inner child.

The truth is, we all have a shadow side ~ the part of ourselves that we’d rather deny than lay claim to. No one’s cedar-lined closet is without rattling skeletons. For the five months of Pluto retrograde, you may have to face a few specters head-on. This will be a great time for inner inspection .. Shadow work. While its ultimate effect is for good, there can be a few intense moments at first…so hang on tight!

Pluto has been in Capricorn since 2008.

A Final Thought

It’s easy to ignore the more delicate astrological energies at play, such as those that an outer retrograde planet creates, but for the sake of new potentials and options, don’t ignore them. These occasions for providing input toward universal shifts can have a great impact.

So you see, we just need to learn to work with these planets, their motion and retrogrades. It isn’t much different than working with The Moon or The Sun.

I hope this gives you all a little bit of respite from all the hub-bub about retrogrades and learn not to run from them, but partner with them to become an even greater person/Witch than you already are.

Blessed Be Always