Retrograde Season Survival Guide
Wow can you believe there’s an entire season for retrograde planets? It happens every year!
What does “retrograde” mean?
Retrograde is the term we use to describe when a planet appears to move backwards in the sky from our perspective on Earth. It’s important to note: the planets do not actually move backwards. The orbit of planetary bodies are not perfect circles, they’re actually ellipses. This creates an optical illusion when planets pass by each other in their orbits around the Sun. It’s important to recognize that the symbolism of retrogrades is to shift your perspective on whichever topics the planets represent.
Here’s a quick key to deciphering each retrograde:
Planet - general theme of what needs to be shifted
Zodiac sign - energy behind the shift & where it will activate in your natal chart
To figure out which house it activates in your chart look at which degrees of the sign the planet is traveling through and find that same degree range in your chart.
Below are your survival guides for the retrogrades we will have during 2021, enjoy!
Remember to use this time for soul searching and self-care. Be gentle with yourself and others 💕
Pluto Retrograde
April 27th - October 6th
26°-24° of Capricorn
Planet - Pluto
Pluto is the planet of destruction, transformation, power, hidden truths, death, and debts. So, I can understand why this sounds very scary at first! The general theme of this retrograde is to reevaluate your relationship to power. How you break down the walls of what’s holding you back and transform into the person you’d like to be. Use this time to journal or contemplate how you use the power and if it serves you in your highest good.
Zodiac Sign - Capricorn
Capricorn is the more authoritative sign, the provider and stern ruler over nature. The energy Capricorn brings to this retrograde is calling you to examine your routines and whether or not they propel you towards your goal or not. It can take some time to let go of unhelpful habits, so this retrograde is a long one that gives you plenty of time to create new routines. Capricorn is also spiritual and contemplative, so you are encouraged to explore your thoughts and motivations for pursuing changes within yourself. Do you seek to change because it would serve your highest good or is it to appease others? Take your time mulling on that one!
Focus on:
Building healthy leadership skills
Developing healthy coping skills for rejection
Building your confidence in leadership
Adjusting your routines to fit your current state of mind and limitations
Release:
Manipulative behaviors (as they relate to taking power from others)
Fears of failure, because failure is just information on how to improve
Fears of success, because you are deserving of success
Hesitation to try new habits
Saturn Retrograde
May 23rd - October 11th
13°-6° of Aquarius
Planet - Saturn
Saturn is the planet of rules, challenges, structure, and societal influences. Which, again, I can see how you’d be afraid of what this retrograde would imply. The general theme of this retrograde is to find creative solutions to your problems. Often times during Saturn retrograde we’re faced with a reoccurring obstacle, likely one that reaches far back into your childhood or adolescence. (This is because Saturn is the lord of time). You’re faced with this issue again because you must learn to adapt and overcome through different cycles of your life. You’ve faced this issue in your youth, now find a new way to handle it with your mature mind. These lessons are to our benefit, although maybe presented in ways that are uncomfortable. If you can solve a single issue 10 different ways you have a better equipped tool box for when you’re faced with a new issue.
Zodiac Sign - Aquarius
Aquarius is the scientist, community advocate, and truth seeker of the zodiac. This energy is focused heavily on research and evidence. Aquarius energy in this retrograde is calling you to become the observer of your emotions. You’re used to feeling in the moment, but is it productive? This energy is here to show you that you can step outside of reaction and observe what is making you upset. This can help you identify the pattern you need to shift to get out of any cycles that keep you from achieving what you set out to. Aquarius is also very future-focused which can bring an element of planning or foresight to this retrograde. You may find yourself spending a lot of time identifying patterns that you’d like to continue in order to achieve future success. Aquarius is also associated with rebellion, so expect to feel confronted with feelings of anger or outrage. This retrograde is calling you to manage any impulsive tendencies.
Focus on:
Observing your emotions to gain perspective on patterns
Finding creative solutions to reoccurring issues
Planning for the future with realistic goals
Release:
Unproductive or combative reactions to situations
Unrealistic expectations of others
Unattainable goals
Mercury Retrograde
May 29th - June 22nd
24°-16° of Gemini
Planet - Mercury
Mercury is the planet of communication, education, and transportation. This is likely the retrograde you’re very familiar with because it gets blamed for computer or media dysfunctions. This is because of the strong association with communication. The main themes of this retrograde are to choose your words carefully and protect files that can be lost. I know it sounds cliché to tell you to save your data in case this retrograde disrupts files but it actually happened to me last year’s Mercury retrograde! So, now I’m a tad superstitious. Better safe than sorry 😉
Zodiac Sign - Gemini
Gemini is the talkative, curious, adolescent of the zodiac. The energy Gemini brings to this retrograde is calling you to be more patient in your communication with others. Gemini is strongly associated with siblings and friends, so be extra mindful of how you communicate with them during this time. Although this energy is typically very fast in their speech, during retrograde you’re encouraged to be more deliberate or slow with your speech. You obviously don’t have to take 10 minutes to explain a topic but just be more patient in waiting for others to reply.
Focus on:
Writing down your thoughts more to clarify them
Expanding your vocabulary (to give you something to work towards)
Revisiting media (like movies or books) that bring you comfort
Backing up your data!
Release:
The impulse to talk over others or interrupt
The impulse to ask prying questions (even if the curiosity is killing you)
Unhealthy gossiping behaviors
Mercury Retrograde
September 27th - October 18th
25°-10° of Libra
Planet - Mercury
You don’t get a break from this planet’s retrogrades 😅. Same themes as above.
Zodiac Sign - Libra
Libra is the diplomat, lover, and partner of the zodiac. The energy Libra brings to this retrograde is calling you to examine how you use communication as a conflict resolution. Do you assert your intentions onto others with your charm? Or do you agree and sabotage yourself in order to keep the peace? Hard-hitting questions are the themes of this retrograde. You’re being encouraged to examine how your words affect your relationships. This goes for any relationship; romantic, platonic, familial. Examine the way you talk to these groups and if you’re truly being fair in the way your settle conflicts.
Focus on:
Being a loving partner to yourself, self-love helps us communicate better
Balancing your desires with the desires of others; you both deserve fair compromise
Revisiting creative outlets that you’ve neglected recently; when’s the last time you painted?
Release:
Any people pleasing styles of conflict resolution
Any self-centered styles of conflict resolution
The fear of setting boundaries; sometimes that is the most fair option
Jupiter Retrograde
June 20th - October 18th
2° of Pisces -22° of Aquarius
Planet - Jupiter
Jupiter is the planet of luck, expansion, spirituality, philosophy, and social gatherings. Jupiter likes to always be expanding and growing, so when it goes retrograde this intense growth happens within ourselves. The themes of this retrograde are focused on growing your spiritual identity or revisiting topics that began your journey. Jupiter’s association with philosophy is heavily present during its retrograde period. You’ll be doing some soul searching and making profound discoveries about yourself that can shift your ideas on life. Pretty cool, right?
Zodiac Sign - Pisces & Aquarius
This retrograde is a two for one special! Pisces is the mystic, empathetic, and rather elusive sign of the zodiac. The energy Pisces brings to the beginning portion of this retrograde is calling you to retreat inwards to reconnect with your own emotions. Rather than focusing so heavily on feeling what others do and trying to identify with them, reconnect with yourself. Aquarius is the scientist and community organizer of the zodiac, very different energy. Aquarius will bring themes of reconnecting with yourself in a more academic way in the ending portion of this retrograde. This shift will feel like you’re diving deeply into your feelings and spiritual practices, then towards the end coming around to seeking new information to form new opinions. You’ll feel as though you’ve gone into hibernation and emerge a tad more philosophical. Pisces is the mystic who retreats, while Aquarius is the scholar who returns with knowledge from their time spent in isolation.
Focus on:
Reconnecting with yourself and your spiritual interests (what lead you here to this blog in the first place?)
Healing your own emotional wounds
Allowing new information to change your perceptions
Release:
Tendencies to adopt the emotions or mannerisms of others
Fear of facing your own feelings
Fear of changing your beliefs or your perception
Neptune Retrograde
June 25th - December 1st
23°-20° of Pisces
Planet - Neptune
Neptune is the planet of dreams, illusions, imagination, and inspiration. This is a common time for intense dreams and accelerated spiritual advancement. I always tell the story of when Gaia reached out to me through dreams and how I saw myself creating my astrology website during the Neptune retrograde last year. Pay very close attention to your dreams during this time because they hold a lot of information! They’re not always literal either, so writing down the images and themes/colors in your dreams is important to help you decipher what’s being said to you. This retrograde is heavily focused on dissolving illusions as well, so we might see some interesting “leaks” of information surrounding politics or celebrities during this time.
Zodiac Sign - Pisces
Pisces is the mystic, empathetic, almost reclusive energy of the zodiac. With its ruling planet (Neptune) steering this retrograde we’re called to use dream divination to find healing. Pisces is an energy that focuses a lot on healing the hearts of the world, so during its retrograde you turn this healing energy towards yourself. Your dreams may feel more real than usual and you may find it difficult to concentrate. But this time is very important for working through your emotional wellbeing. Allow yourself to really feel all of your emotions instead of searching for others to validate them. Your feelings are valid on their own, give them power.
Focus on:
Analyzing your dreams
Healing your emotional wounds
Validating your own feelings
Giving yourself creative freedom (make art even if it doesn’t come out the way you planned)
Release:
The need for external validation of your feelings
Fears of creative failure
Unhealthy sleeping schedules (sleep is important, stop neglecting your need for sleep!)
The obsession with being productive (it’s okay to relax!)
Uranus Retrograde
August 20th, 2021 - January 18th, 2022
14°-10° of Taurus
Planet - Uranus
Uranus is the planet of divination, rebellion, sudden change, and innovation. This retrograde can bring about really random circumstances, like having the sudden motivation that you have to find new employment or break a habit you’ve had for years. These sudden changes usually feel very certain to you, like something in you ‘changed’ and you just knew this was the right move for you. This doesn’t mean you need to suddenly do something random. Just to expect the unexpected. Be willing and ready to adapt to changes because Uranus is all about bringing you something better in the wake of upheaval. This is because of its association with divination, which stems from the lore about Uranus “seeing the future”. This planet can see what’s coming up next and uses this time to prepare you. It’s usually an innovative solution!
Zodiac Sign - Taurus
Taurus is the creative, affectionate, reliable, and sensation focused sign of the zodiac. The energy Taurus brings to this rebellion is calling you to become adaptive to change in material possession or creative influences. This can mean you’ll suddenly seek a change in artistic style or inspiration. If you’re a photographer maybe suddenly you’re inclined to explore knitting? This could also manifest as realizing you need to let go of the material possessions you have to make room for better versions. Maybe this is the time you finally throw away the wood in your back yard that you promised you’d repurpose.
Focus on:
Being flexible with changes
Being receptive to new (often better) opportunities
Seeking out new forms of creative expression
Release:
Stubborn attachments to places or things
Scarcity mindsets
Closed-minded approaches to new information
Venus Retrograde
December 19th, 2021 - January 29th, 2022
26°-23° of Capricorn
Planet - Venus
Venus is the planet of love, beauty, finances, and fashion. This retrograde is often feared as the break-up planetary movement, but trust me you’ll be okay if you’re in a healthy relationship! This retrograde has themes of miscommunication in relationships, yes, but the focus should be on building better communication styles. This retrograde will also bring heavy emphasis on caring for yourself, do not skip your skincare routine! Venus wants to take care of the physical vessels of this plane, which includes your body. Drink your water, eat yummy food, and pamper your skin during Venus retrograde. Venus is also associated with finances, so during this time it’s strongly advised to look over your money habits and assess whether or not you have good money hygiene. I like to update my monthly budgets during this retrograde. This wouldn’t be a good time to splurge or make a huge purchase because you’ll struggle with buyer’s remorse more than usual.
Zodiac Sign - Capricorn
Capricorn is the more authoritative sign, the provider and stern ruler over nature. The energy Capricorn brings to this retrograde is calling you to really focus on your financial health! Capricorn being the provider, and Venus being the caretaker energy this is a strong indication that you should look over your financial health during this time. Maybe check in on how often you’re using credit cards, and see if you’re close to paying any debts off. This would be a good time to pay off debts, but not take on new debt. Unless you have to of course, don’t put off buying that car you need just because Venus is in retrograde. Capricorn energy here also really encourages you to spend some time in nature and include that as part of your self-care.
Focus on:
Taking care of your physical body
Adjusting your financial budgets & managing debt
Being patient with your partner if you’re in a relationship
Spending time in nature
Release:
Financial self-sabotage behaviors
Insecurities related to beauty (you are beautiful as you are💕)
Combative or jealous behaviors in relationships
