Until October 2nd, when Mercury stationed direct at 24 degrees of Virgo, there had been six planets retrograde. As the prefix ‘re’ denotes, retrogrades represent a time for doing things again, taking a second look and being more careful about your approach in the applicable parts of your life. If gender were assigned to the retrograde cycle, it would be feminine, as it’s a time of reception in preparation for the more expressive direct phase that is to come. Here is a guide to stay in flow with the movement of the Universe!
The Outer Planets
Of the five remaining retrograde planets, three of them are outer planets: Uranus, Neptune and Pluto. Being that they are so far away from earth, they are less receptive to our individual will but, instead, operate from a more fatalistic standpoint. I would liken them to the infrastructure in your city, one example being your highway system. If you’re heading out for your morning transit to work, you have no control over such factors as the amount of traffic you’ll encounter, or whether there are wrecks or construction. All you can do is make the necessary adjustments to ease the angst that they could cause.
Some possible adjustments are to prepare, while at home, so that you can leave earlier. You may also consider taking an alternate route. From a metaphysical standpoint, you may perform some form of morning ritual, such as praying, meditating, or performing breathing exercises so that you can better manage your personal energy. But this analogy extends beyond the mere navigation of morning traffic. It provides clues about how to better deal with the retrograde energies in your life – as a whole. In other words, we can spend time lamenting and “licking our wounds,” or make conscious decisions to adjust – to be in flow as best we can.
Feminine Signs
When any planet is retrograde, its archetypal expression is stronger. Furthermore, when the outer planets are retrograde, the earth is between them and the sun, which is like the full moon cycle. This further intensifies the planets’ expression.
It is also noteworthy that the outer planets are currently retrograde in feminine signs: Uranus in Taurus; Neptune in Pisces; and Pluto in Capricorn. That means a passive energy is enveloping our planet. This can cause a great deal of difficulty, especially for the more expressive nature of the psyche.
What does that mean, ultimately??
At this time, patience is truly being tested, but there is a “silver lining.” It comes through viewing this period from an agricultural standpoint. In the Northern hemisphere, the feminine signs of Taurus, Pisces and Capricorn represent good times for planting certain seeds, as the soil is more receptive. In your life, that translates into a period of sowing and trusting that, with proper cultivation, patience and faith, those seeds will eventually sprout into luscious growth.
In Your Birth Chart
This is a time to pay close attention to where these planets are transiting in your astrological birth chart, as it may represent places where challenges are currently on the horizon. As best you can, listen with your heart in these areas, and then apply rational thought as to balance the feminine energies. Ask yourself, “Am I listening to the messages from the Universe?” Further ask, “Am I in flow, or fighting an insurmountable giant?”
If you feel like you’ve been getting constant push-back from the Universe, maybe it’s time to apply more of what retrogrades call for:
- A willingness to do it again
- The patience to take a second look at things
- More attention to detail
To help the process, keep in mind that the Universe is always conspiring in your favor, and that your willingness to be in flow will eventually result in the best possible outcome. While the ego may suffer temporarily from not being able to understand the current direction, at a Soul level your evolution will continue, and the greater victory will be attained.
I’m Here to Help
If you’re interested in taking a deeper look at how these energies may be impacting you currently, it’s a great time to receive a transit reading. We’ll carefully take a deep dive into your chart and help make sense of the universal messages so that you can do more than survive, and actually flourish!
About the Author
The founder of 720 Astrology, Jamal Robinson practices a unique brand of Astrology that incorporates Etymology, Numerology, Kabbalah, Metaphysics and various other modalities to unveil hidden jewels of the Soul. To learn more about Jamal and the array of services he offers, visit his website.