The Inner Planets, Mercury, Venus, and Mars.

Mercury Retrograde.
Mercury retrograde periods are associated with disruption, obstructions, and delays… plans go astray, and we often experience roadblocks and diversions, and difficulties with IT and communication systems… so in our target and goal orientated culture, this tends to be viewed through a very negative lens…

However, if you step away from this viewpoint and consider that all aspects of planetary influences are bringing valuable and necessary gifts, this shift in perspective means you can stand back and work with the incoming energy. This is not the time to plough forwards and to push and to strive… this will come soon enough, and if you use the retrograde period well you will be wiser and better placed to move ahead with ease.

At a level of Soul growth and natural evolution, the influence of Mercury invites you to develop wisdom… so when this planet appears to travel backwards, the energy is calling you to slow down, take your time, and be alert to any signals and signs that the universe is trying to bring you… so if something is getting in the way, or a diversion pops up seemingly out of nowhere, the universe may be giving you an important sign… perhaps you are meant to take an alternative route where you will discover something that was absolutely essential to your personal growth and evolution.

Past issues can also show up during a Mercury retrograde period, so if something from your past raises its head then your attention is required. This is an invitation for you to acknowledge this and take the time to do whatever is needed to sort it out and if needed, lay it to rest.

Venus Retrograde.
Are you in balance? Do you allow yourself to receive as much as you give and vice versa… are you actively involved in your own self-care… do you pause to celebrate your achievements along the way… and do you give yourself an appropriate amount of time out to relax?

Self-care is not an act of selfishness… it is an act of consciousness. When Venus moves into retrograde the energy of the feminine invites you to listen to your heart… to override the demands of a busy mind… and be centred in your truest values… including and especially your own self-care.

Venus in retrograde is a wonderful time to reflect and to realign and to rebalance in all areas of your life. This revitalizing influence will keep your energy clean and flowing and ensure that your energetic resonance is congruent with all that you wish to manifest into the world. As such, Venus in retrograde plays an essential role in your ability to manifest your truest desires.

During periods of transition, if you have ever found yourself questioning what your true calling might be, when Venus is in retrograde, ask for guidance and be open to receive.

If during this time you find yourself called to stand up for your values, the female warrior energy of Venus will support you in connecting with the lioness within. In the name of kindness, compassion and peace, her retrograde energy will encourage you to find your authentic voice, speak your truth, and stand firm in your boundaries.

Mars Retrograde.
When Mars moves into a retrograde motion you are invited to reassess your progress, not only the projects, relationships, and circumstances of your external world, but also the way that you set about acquiring and achieving these goals.

Mars in retrograde will often highlight the role that certain emotions play in the process of manifestation, for example, anger when channelled positively through mindful considered actions, creates assertiveness… however, its negative counterpart can result in aggression and frustration being directed inappropriately, towards both yourself and others… so during this time, be prepared to journey inwards and reassess, not only your needs and desires… but also how you get these met… working from the inside out.

 

The Transpersonal Planets, Jupiter, and Saturn.

Jupiter Retrograde.
This is a time of powerful personal growth! Jupiter in retrograde invites you on an inward quest of self-discovery, seeking knowledge and illumination so you can stand in your own truth and walk your talk.

Jupiter is known as the planet of good luck and good fortune and from the perspective of manifestation, the retrograde period can bring experiences that invite you to look within and seek answers of a Spiritual nature, helping you to forge your true values and attune with your greater purpose.

And so, during this period windows of opportunity may open that illuminate issues from your past, including past lives, giving you the opportunity to find resolution and align with your true calling at this present moment of your journey.

Any internal growth and changes made during this time will then in turn manifest outwardly when Jupiter returns to a forward flow of expansion. Seriously amazing stuff!

Saturn Retrograde.
Saturn is known as Father Time and the planet of Karma and when his energy moves into retrograde, aspects of your life that need restructuring and reorganizing often come to a head, bringing circumstances that show you exactly what is working for you…as well as anything that is not!

For us as humans, the lessons of Saturn can sometimes feel quite harsh, as the energy calls us to account, speaking in the name of ‘Tough Love’… however, this is not without major rewards! The more open you are to embracing the natural evolutionary process of ‘weeding and pruning’… letting go gracefully of anything that no longer serves or has outlived its purpose… whether these are physical aspects of your life, or internal attitudes and beliefs… then the more smoothly these periods of profound transition will emerge.

Saturn retrograde energy is a reminder that change is both necessary and natural and that we live in a continual space of learning, not only from all the amazing experiences that fill us with joy, but also from the experiences that don’t feel so good as well!

From the perspective of manifestation, when you recognize that all your experiences, both good and bad, are a source of inspiration and guidance, then rather than dwell on the negative, you can use every experience to define your desires with greater clarity. This in turn opens you to receive the guidance and direction that you need to manifest those desires that resonate with you at a core level of Soul.

 

The Outer Planets, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto.

The energy of the outer planets is slow moving which means that their influence is deep and penetrating, creating significant growth stages with long term implications. In our individual natal charts, the positioning of these planets will not only have personal implications but will also be an indicator of generational traits.

Uranus Retrograde.
Uranus is known as the Great Awakener and the bringer of sudden events that wake you up and let you know that something needs to change… Uranus energy also holds a direction of higher purpose with higher minded and out of the box solutions… often arriving unexpectedly.

When in retrograde, this sometimes-impulsive energy slows down and invites you to take conscious innovative actions that forge new ways of being and living, all with the purpose of liberating you from limiting perspectives and aligning your manifestations with the greater good.

Neptune Retrograde.
Neptune is the planet of creativity, dreams, and imagination, and as such plays a key role in manifestation.

Being so dreamy, the influence of Neptunian energy opens you to divine guidance and spiritual illumination, however… it can also bring so much dreamy energy that you may find it hard to remain grounded or hold your boundaries. This is valuable to know as Neptunian energy can also sometimes indicate confusion and create a vulnerability to people who operate through delusion and deception.

When in retrograde, the Neptunian energy calls you to get real… and this is FAB!

Neptune in retrograde brings heightened levels of intuition and illumination… it’s like a ‘Spiritual Reality Check’ that helps you to see beyond any false illusions that may have previously been holding you back.

These powerful insights can be used to bring clarity of purpose and intent, releasing limiting beliefs and perspectives that may have previously blocked some of your manifestations.

Pluto Retrograde.
Pluto requests transformation and re-birth and naturally invites personal reflection at its most powerful… this influence will tap into your psychological make-up through a deep dive into your unconscious, revealing any shadows from the past that need to be released… purifying and emerging afresh with greater vitality and potency.

When Pluto is in retrograde this is not a time to hold onto or cling to the past… if some aspect of your world seems to be coming to an end, whether internal or external, such as… any outdated thinking patterns or behaviours… or an inappropriate or limiting belief… or an actual situation, circumstance, person, or people… then let go gracefully and allow yourself to emerge into a space of new beginnings.

When Pluto is in retrograde this is not a time to hold onto or cling to the past… if some aspect of your world seems to be coming to an end, whether internal or external, such as… any outdated thinking patterns or behaviours… or an inappropriate or limiting belief… or an actual situation, circumstance, person, or people… then let go gracefully and allow yourself to emerge into a space of new beginnings.

 

Chiron and the Consciousness of Healing.

Chiron Retrograde.
Chiron embodies the classic architype of the wounded healer. In mythology he is depicted as half man and half beast, able to bring wisdom and to teach and heal others… and yet he cannot heal himself. As an outer influence, his energy is slow moving, signifying profound generational changes.

Astrologically, Chiron is classified as both a planet and a comet, whose journey here is transient. In spiritual circles it is said that his presence will create a rainbow bridge of healing that will lead humanity to a higher plane of consciousness and living… in equality with one another… and in unity with all of life. Many Tribal cultures have legends that speak of all of the life on this planet arriving on the tail of a comet, acknowledging that from a spiritual perspective, we all come from the same source and are all related.

The retrograde energy of Chiron invites you to enter a space of deep cleansing and repair, laying the past to rest and stepping into a space of unity and higher vision.

This level of healing has the potential for us as individuals and as a collective humanity to resolve long-standing historical wounds that have spanned generations, bringing a new and different future for our planet and for generations yet to come.