Tag Archives: retrograde

Mars Retrograde 2020 — Retreat and Backfire

by
Reading Time : 4 minutes

Two armies line up on a hill. The warriors look at each other from the opposing sides. Silence reigns supreme, and only the rattle of metal resounds in the valley. Suddenly a roar, screams release the tension. The warrior frenzy flares up and the order is given. It’s war.

The battle begins, the clash is a massacre. The energy runs out, the pain and the wounds squeeze the warriors as in a vise. Who is winning? Who is losing? Nothing is understood anymore. They desperately need a truce from all this.

And you? What about you? How are you?

A warrior ready for battle
PICTURE BY Maria Pop FROM Pexels

So here we are. One of the most import transits of 2020 has begun. What will it bring us? What are the main significations of Mars retrograde in Aries? Since the shadow period has started more than a month ago I think most of you already know the answer.

Continue reading →

Neptune Retrograde in Pisces 2020 – Imaginative Knowledge

by
Reading Time : 3 minutes

“All that we see or seem is but a dream within a dream.”
―Edgar Allan Poe

As every year, Neptune in Pisces turns retrograde for about 6 months. The power of chaos and images fuels Midsummer dream state. Waves of shapeless colors, distant sounds, blurred encounters, expanding feelings, boundless horizons, mystical impulses. Nature whispers to let yourself go and give up control.

During its retrograde motion, Neptune is going to make two sextiles with Jupiter in Capricorn. As we know, Jupiter in Capricorn is in its fall, meaning that the planet of philosophers is dealing with hard lessons coming from the earthly realm of matter (Capricorn). And we all know what these lessons are, considering 2020 so far.

Neptune Retrograde in Pisces 2020, dream-like clouds
PICTURE OF Mont Photographs BY Pexels

Still, these sextiles are going to loosen the grip. Many people are dreaming about a better future, looking at the worldwide chaos as an opportunity for change. The neptunian energy can be the amniotic fluid that provides a space for these ideas to grow, a gestation for a better world.

The importance of dreams unfolds itself clearly before our eyes. No human vision can be pursued if we lack the ability to imagine it. Imagining requires escaping from the world of senses, emerging in a place of pure thoughts where anything is possible. A place where we risk to get lost, abducted by the fairies. But also a place where we can develop a real bridge towards higher realities.

Anthroposophy and Imaginative Knowledge

How is it possible to gain more consciousness about this inner dimension? How can we process the chaotic world of images we bear inside, to give birth to something completely new? Our modern world is insanely saturated with images that pull us from every direction.

One possible answer comes from Rudolf Steiner’s Anthroposophy that indicates a way through this chaotic world of inner images, to develop a new state of consciousness called Imaginative Knowledge. Developing a new state of consciousness, especially in regards to the life of images, is a neptunian challenge for modern times.

You can think of Imaginative Knowledge as the transformation of our normal dream state to a higher octave. A state of consciousness that would enable us to penetrate in the world of the living Archetypes, Plato’s world of Ideas that he called Hyperuranion—a place beyond the heavens.

In this state of consciousness we experience each component of the inner image as if it was “intelligent”, a symbol constantly and intuitively streaming meanings towards our mind. It’s not a mere vision, something we passively undergo. We feel our will, as well as our whole inner world, actively united with the experience.

For more information about Imaginative Knowledge, and higher states of consciousness as described by Rudolf Steiner you can find more information in his book “Knowledge of the Higher Worlds And Its Attainment”, freely available online.

In addition, if you are interested in Anthroposophy I highly suggest Giorgio Tarditi Spagnoli’s blog. Specifically you can find a recent article about the 7 Nights of Midsummer Dreams that relates this period of the year with the 13 Holy Nights following the winter solstice. Check it out!

Aspects of Neptune Retrograde (UTC)

Tue 23-06-2020  6:32:09 Neptune <20Pis57> S/R
Sun 12-07-2020 20:43:04     Sun (20Can51) Tri [20Pis51] Neptune
Mon 27-07-2020 18:06:20 Jupiter [20Cap39] Sex [20Pis39] Neptune
Mon 27-07-2020 19:47:45   Venus (20Gem39) Squ [20Pis39] Neptune
Thu 30-07-2020 20:44:21 Mercury (20Can35) Tri [20Pis35] Neptune
Thu 27-08-2020 23:12:31   Venus (19Can57) Tri [19Pis57] Neptune
Sun 30-08-2020 20:43:56 Mercury (19Vir52) Opp [19Pis52] Neptune
Fri 11-09-2020 22:25:44     Sun (19Vir32) Opp [19Pis32] Neptune
Mon 12-10-2020  9:06:44 Jupiter (18Cap45) Sex [18Pis45] Neptune
Sun 18-10-2020 16:48:45   Venus (18Vir37) Opp [18Pis37] Neptune
Tue 10-11-2020  7:11:31     Sun (18Sco15) Tri [18Pis15] Neptune
Tue 24-11-2020  6:39:41 Mercury (18Sco10) Tri [18Pis10] Neptune
Sun 29-11-2020  2:36:35 Neptune <18Pis09> S/D

As always if you enjoyed this article please subscribe to the Astronomical Newsletter using the bar at the top of the website. Thanks for reading, happy summer dreams everyone.

Mercury Retrograde in Cancer 2020 – Elemental Triangle of Water

by
Reading Time : 3 minutes

A child is playing alone on the beach. It’s late and the sun is about to set, the shadows getting longer and longer. The hypnotic rhythm of the wind and the sea has made him lose track of time. A wave of fear runs through his body as he suddenly wakes up from the dream-like state that has rock him for too long.

Mercury, the god with the appearance of a young boy, is slowing down as he approaches his first stationary point at 5° 29′ Cancer. This year it is going to form with its stations an elemental triangle of water through Pisces, Cancer and Scorpio. This means that the usual significations of Mercury retrograde for 2020 are going to be about feelings and emotions.

Mercury Retrograde in Cancer, a boy playing on the beach
Photo by Shane Stagner on Unsplash

In late February, the energy of Pisces made the mind (Mercury) escape in a world of fantasy and nostalgia. The traits of Cancer instead is going to take us back to everything that makes us feel safe—our family, our home, and so on. But not without some issues because as we know Mercury retrograde comes with delays, misunderstandings and second thoughts. Generally speaking we are going to face some safety issues: family drama, crossed boundaries (even theft), financial security issues, and so on.

Continue reading →

Saturn Retrograde in Sagittarius 2017

by

Reading Time : 3 minutesSometimes 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

Mercury Retrograde in Taurus 2017 – 4 Simple Tips to Handle It

by

Reading Time : 3 minutesWe have reached the second round of Mercury Retrograde for this year. From April 10 to May 4 Mercury is going to move backwards in the sky. As always, this is an important opportunity to tune in with the rhythms of the stars, and use them to our advantage. I say this because many people love to complain about Mercury Retrograde. Finally, they have an excuse for everything.

But the point is that Mercury Retrograde is about awareness. The retrograde motion suggests—and facilitates—introspection. The mind turns inwardly, and it’s time for retrospectives. So let’s see what lies ahead for the next three weeks and how we can handle it.

A bridge in the forest, symbol for Mercury Retrograde in Taurus

Sense of Security put to the Test

Mainly, Mercury Retrograde in Taurus is about money concerns. Usually they are triggered by delays or misunderstandings in payments—which sadly are very common. But we need to understand that this is only the outer side of the matter. We don’t have to fall in the everyday materialistic mindset: there’s more than that. There’s a lesson to learn.

As always, you are going to make it through. What’s really important here—the lesson—is the way you react to the situation. In other words, you have the opportunity to better understand the way you react to uncertainty. In fact, even though Taurus is strictly related to wealth, we can’t reduce this transit to money issues.

Please note that money is just a symbol. In this case, the meaning behind it is: “what makes us feel safe” or “the source of abundance”. Everybody knows that people with strong taurine traits love to stock food and money. For them it’s important to feel they can always afford what they love. Mercury Retrograde puts this sense of security to the test.

This is the way I interpret the entrance of Mercury back in Aries on April 21. Basically, our warrior personality (Mars-Aries-Fire) activates when we feel threatened. For this reason the second part of the transit is going to be about boundary issues, being Taurus the sign of our territory. The initial sense of insecurity can turn into the feeling of being invaded.

How to Handle this Mercury Retrograde

  1. Give it a Context. It is very important to understand where this challenge is going to manifest. To do that, simply check where 5° Taurus and 25° Aries fall in your Natal Chart. Which houses (areas of life) are involved? If you don’t know it, prick up your ears. You will realize it soon by yourself.
  2. Double-Check the Information. When it comes to Mercury Retrograde, communication is key. Most concerns can be contained—if not completely avoided—by an effective communication. Misunderstandings are very common during these transits, so you must learn the art of not worrying until you are a hundred percent certain of the actual problem.
  3. Know Yourself. How do you react to uncertainty? For example, I react trying to plan everything up and keep things under control. Like most of us I don’t like uncertainty at all. So what I usually try to do is to make the uncertain, certain. This is a clear expression of my Mars in Virgo—my warrior side. Efficiency and effectiveness are my weapons, what are yours?
  4. Practice Mindfulness. Taurus are hard workers, but they usually have a very calm pace. Sometimes this makes them look lazy, even though they are not. What we want to do is to embrace this attitude inside, bringing it in our mind (Mercury). To do that you can try with mindfulness, a widely practiced discipline that can give you extraordinary results.

Venus Retrograde in Aries 2017

by

Reading Time : 3 minutesVenus 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

by

Reading Time : 3 minutesOnce 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.