Saturn Retrograde in Sagittarius 2017

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Sometimes the Universe wants us to be aware. And to do that we can’t rely too much on the outside world; we have to count on ourselves. The following weeks are going to be demanding, since today Saturn is joining the Retrograde Club.

When Jupiter, Venus, Mercury and Saturn are all retrograde things are not easy. This because usually awareness comes with struggle: it is the impact with reality that makes us open our eyes. But it is also true that we can’t learn the lesson always the hard way. And maybe, this time there is too much to handle.

I know it’s wrong to generalize. We all have our own battles to fight, and the meaning of each planet strongly depends on the individual. But despite any particular interpretation, the level of emotional processing that we are asked this time is very high. We are challenged at the same time on our beliefs (Jupiter), relationships (Venus), sense of security (Mercury) and now also on our moral sense.

Let’s see together what this Saturn Retrograde is all about.

The ruins of an old church as a symbol for Saturn Retrograde in Sagittarius

Saturn Retrograde in Sagittarius

Saturn is a very slow planet. In fact, it is going to be retrograde for almost 5 months: from April 7 to August 26. This means that its effects are not necessarily going to manifest right away. Nevertheless, they will inevitably be felt. This is after all how Saturn usually works: it gives you all the time to get ready, but you’d better be when it hits.

Saturn Retrograde in Sagittarius is about ethics and morality. We could say that it’s a sort of moralizing energy that easily turns into bigotry. Do you usually feel morally superior to other people? If that’s the case, this long lasting transit could be very important for you—as an opportunity.

When a planet turns retrograde, it mainly affects us inwardly. In that sense, Saturn acts like the super-ego: it constantly reminds us our moral flaws, making us feel guilty for everything. The more you resonate with this behaviour (if you are a person who tends to blame other people, for example), the more this inner voice is going to torture you. It literally turns on you.

The lesson to learn here is to be just. You shouldn’t judge other people on the basis of your moral standards without trying to put yourself in their shoes. Also remember that the way you treat other people is going to reflect on the way you treat yourself. I don’t usually quote the Gospels, but this verse makes the point quite nicely:

“For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you” (Matthew 7:2).

Saturn Symbol

When will all this end?

Usually, I don’t like this question. But in this case I think it’s totally understandable. So, here’s the list of the end dates for the retrograde planets I mentioned above:

  • Venus goes direct on April 16
  • Mercury goes direct on May 4
  • Jupiter goes direct on  June 10
  • Saturn goes direct on August 26

Venus Retrograde in Aries 2017

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Venus is going to be retrograde soon. From March 5 to April 16 we are going to see her moving backwards in the sky. In this article we will explain the general meaning of Venus Retrograde, as well as her entrance back into Pisces.

A red flower, symbol for Venus Retrograde

First off, Venus Retrograde. As every planet moving backwards, Venus Retrograde directs her energies inside instead of outside. This means she is mainly going to affect your inner life. This is a moment for second thoughts, because among other things Venus represents our judgment. And in Aries (where she is in detriment) she is not good. She is the cause of decisions made on a whim, rushed conclusions and self-overestimation issues. This because Aries simply can’t listen to reason and always wants to be right.

Hard Self-Criticism

As you can see having second thoughts comes naturally here. Venus stops (literally), turns and says: what am I doing? The first step of this process is ruled by a very strong Mars in Aries. This means we can expect us to be very hard on ourselves. That self-criticism will regard the particular House (area of life) affected by the transit—especially if we have messed it up. Just check 13° Aries on your Natal Chart.

My advice is to simply accept it. Everybody is hard on themselves sometimes. After all we need to be, in order to grow and learn. It’s all right. But if your Saturn (basically your super-ego, the voice of your conscience) is very strong, it may be distressing. So keep that in mind and don’t overdo it.

Overwhelming passion

Venus is of course the Goddess of Love. From this perspective, her transit in Aries (which also featured a conjunction with Mars) had a strong passionate symbolism in the last month. But was it maybe too much? When retrograde, Venus tends to second-guess her feelings: “Was it just sex? Am I really in love with him?”. To answer such questions is not going to be easy, since the passion of Aries clouds your judgement.

My advice is to just take your time. Let everything settle down a bit. Again, Venus stops because she needs a break. All this has been intense, maybe too much. Her personal boundaries are at risk, and she feels like she is too involved. Just slow down.

Venus Retrograde back in Pisces

On April 4 Venus will be back in Pisces. This is a happy ending scenario since she is going to be in the sign of her exaltation. We are talking about universal love and compassion, fueled by both romanticism and wisdom (Jupiter). This means that although in this process you will encounter many doubts and second thoughts, eventually you will be able to shed light on your feelings.

At best, it is true love. In the worst case it wasn’t, but you will be nevertheless able to clearly recognize your mistakes, to the point you won’t be angry with him (or her).

In conclusion, I’d like to point out that Jupiter is still retrograde (and it will be up to June 9). When both the benefics are retrograde, it can be a challenging moment, since we can’t count on them for protection. Still, we are definitely encouraged to transform both our belief system (aka Shadow Work) and  the way we judge people.

 

Jupiter Retrograde in Libra 2017

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Once a year Jupiter becomes retrograde. Basically, a planet is retrograde when we see it moving backwards in the sky. The Sun and the Moon for example never go retrograde. We always see them going forward, right? Well, the other planets sometimes don’t. They turn around—so to speak—and go back.

So, what does it mean? You can think of it as a person who stops in order to think better. [ictt-tweet-inline]Sometimes we all need a break[/ictt-tweet-inline]. In that period of time we can observe the situation from afar, and then start again. They are indeed precious moments of awareness.

In other words, a retrograde planet turns his energies inwardly—towards our inner life. Some planets are not always comfortable with that, but it really depends on the sign. A retrograde Mars in Aries for example is like dynamite; but the same planet in Scorpio is in its element. Perfectly at ease.

Jupiter retrograde in Libra

Jupiter is our inner wisdom. It is the voice that draws us closer to the spirit. It comes with no surprise that a retrograde Jupiter is—generally speaking—not so bad. Everybody knows how annoying a Mercury retrograde can be. But if nobody complains about Jupiter retrograde there’s probably a good reason for that.

The truth is that a retrograde Jupiter could also be a blessing. [ictt-tweet-inline]Our society is so deaf to the call of the spirit that sometimes a little push is needed[/ictt-tweet-inline]. But as I said—it really depends on the sign.

So, what about Jupiter retrograde in Libra? As we have discussed before, Jupiter in Libra is the good magistrate. And sometimes even the judge needs to stop in order to think if he is doing the right thing.

Are you going through a phase where you are second-guessing yourself? Is the voice of your conscience knocking at the door? Don’t get me wrong. It’s not about feeling bad for something. Guilt has nothing to do with that. It is about clarifying what you deeply consider right and wrong.

Knowing that gives you power. There’s nothing worse than living a life without knowing what you genuinely believe in. We all bear inside a moral compass—even criminals. They might believe in the law of the jungle, nevertheless they still believe. And Jupiter retrograde in Libra can help you remember that you have that compass.

In which house of your Natal Chart is Jupiter transiting at the moment? Knowing that allows you to nail down the matter at one of the aspects of your life. For instance, if it is in your seventh house it’s going to be about your relationship values. You can check the general meaning of each house on this page.

The Power of Beliefs

Please do not underestimate the power of your beliefs. They are able to determine the course of your existence. The decisions you make in your life are based on what you consider possible. If you feel you can’t place your trust in a person, a project or even a perspective on life you will never go that way.

Your beliefs are also your limits. [ictt-tweet-inline]When your trust is betrayed something is broken[/ictt-tweet-inline]. The very essence of your motivation dissolves, and with it every sparkle of enthusiasm. The engine that turns any inspiring idea into reality stops simply because you don’t believe anymore.

This incredible power—which is the power of faith—is what makes Jupiter such a crucial force in the human soul. So remember, as the old motto goes: “know thyself”.

Transit Details

Jupiter is going to be retrograde from Febraury 6th (23° Libra) to June 9th (13° Libra). During its retrograde motion the Great Benefic is going to perform the following Major aspects (only outer planets are considered):

  • 27 FEB: Mars opposite Jupiter
  • 03 MAR: Jupiter opposite Uranus
  • 30 MAR: Jupiter square Pluto
  • 12 MAY: Mars trine Jupiter

In your Natal Chart you may want to check mainly where its stationary points fall (again, 13° and 23° Libra). Thanks for reading and have a good week.